Chapter 21

Fizz had been searching for hours it seemed, but there was no sign of Judith and he was becoming more and more concerned with every passing moment. It would be turning dark soon and the temperature was dropping fast. He had to find her… and soon.

'Where could she be?' he thought. 'She couldn't have gone that far.'

Fizz was not concerned that she would die from exposure… that would be impossible, instead, he was more concerned in what state of mind she was in. Zamasu had surely left, Fizz could not sense his Ki, and there was no telling what effect this might have had on Judith.

Fizz resumed his searched with renewed fervour, desperate to find her.

… Planet Barbary …

Gowasu and Zamasu watched from a cliff on Planet Barbary as two clans of barbarians clashed in battle. Every brutal blow, every mindless roar, every dead bloodied body only served to strengthen Zamasu's resolve, but it also caused his already confounded mind to rebel against what he should do and continued to return to what he so desperately wanted… Judith.

"They take what they want by savage force. Their so-called society is based on nothing else. They possess neither justice nor order." Zamasu commented. Gowasu merely nodded. Zamasu's brow furrowed in anger. "They were gifted with life, brains capable of wisdom, yet they waste it completely." He looked at one of the repulsive creatures now lying dead on the battle field. "Should these gifts not be taken back?"

"Zamasu!" Gowasu said scornfully at his apprentice's musings. Just then a shadow appeared behind the two Kais standing on the bluff. Both Gowasu and Zamasu turned to face the creature, the very same creature Zamasu watched beat his fellow being to death. The enormous creature roared as he raised his club high, aiming its swing directly at Gowasu.

Gowasu looked on helplessly. Zamasu frown only deepened as the creature readied its attack. Just as the beast brought his weapon down with astounding force, Zamasu appeared in front of Gowasu, his one arm outstretched as if to catch the stump, his other still clasped behind his back. Purple energy had appeared in the palm of Zamasu's outstretched hand which soon transformed into a forcefield. As the creature made contact with the shield, it was instantly knocked back with brutal force and into the cliff face. Zamasu momentarily felt a chill run down his spine, but it was so faint, he could have imagined it.

As the dust settled the beast looked back at the two shin-jins, its teeth dripping with saliva, it roared in anger and stormed toward them again.

Zamasu stared the creature down as it stormed toward them. He turned and faced to advancing beast, his hand slipping from behind his back and started to glow with his grey Ki. Gowasu had deduced Zamasu's intent in horror, he was preparing to use Instant severance on the defenceless barbarian.

"Zamasu!" Gowasu yelled at him, but Zamasu was well beyond the point of listening to his master. This creature's insolence was unforgivable.

"You must not strike!" Gowasu yelled in vain.

Everything slowed down. The barbarian was close enough for Zamasu to smell it's disgusting odour. He saw every single particle that made up this creature. A creature created by the gods, but with unforgivable flaws. He stared at his foe emotionless as he raised his hand, now ingulfed in Ki. For a moment he paused… and then he made his decision. He brought his hand down in a swift motion. This time it was unmistakable, a tremble ran down Zamasu's spine as the life was ripped from the creature and much to Zamasu's distress, it felt exactly like the sensation he experienced as Judith's branding appeared, only this was so much more intense.

The cliff they were on split in to by Zamasu's powerful lacerative attack, the barbarian fell before him, cut cleanly into two pieces. For a moment he simply looked at the revolting creature and then the strange sensation came to mind..

"What have you done?" Gowasu asked in disbelieve at the merciless execution dealt by the hands of his apprentice. "How could you?" he asked as he grabbed Zamasu's shoulder, shaking him. "Zamasu. Answer me!" he order angrily.

Zamasu merely stood in a daze, a flood of emotions washing over him. Something has happened to Judith; he was sure of it. He had taken a life… his first life… he had destroyed what the gods had created and yet, he felt not a shred of remorse or guilt. What he felt was distress. All he could think about was getting back to Judith.

Before he knew it, they were back in the courtyard of the temple on the Planet of the Kais. Gowasu was furious at what he had done.

"The potara, now!" Gowasu demanded with his outstretched hand. Zamasu dropped the jewel into his palm. He stood in front of Gowasu solemnly.

"Why did you take his life?" Gowasu asked more calmly. "We could have easily returned without interference." He looked at Zamasu seriously and immediately noticed the anger and frustration written all over his apprentice's face. Zamasu was making no effort to conceal his feelings, nonetheless, Gowasu continued. "For all we know that individual could have had a major impact on the future of the Barbary… A warrior who saw the light and led his people to true reformation. You may have robbed them if that." Gowasu finished.

Zamasu's frustration only grew with every word the old fool spoke. How could he bare to live with himself, knowing creatures such as the Barbari were allowed to live. Creatures unworthy of minds and life.

From far away, he heard Judith's voice. "I will follow you to end of time." He had to see her, but Gowasu was not going to excuse his apprentice that easily.

… Planet Venera …

Judith had reached a plateau. The valley lay beneath her in a sea of green. She breathed in the fresh cold air deeply, the spinning in her head had somewhat dispersed. Her mind, which was fighting against her had gone quiet at the beauty of the scene.

"Aaah!" Judith screamed at the sudden overwhelming pain that assailed her body. It felt like her blood was literally boiling in her veins and she collapsed onto one knee. Her vision blurred slightly and when it came back into focus she stared in horror at her hands. Every vein, every capillary had turned black and the mark on her chest was aching dully. She did not know that somewhere, far away, one-thousand years from now, Zamasu had blasted a barbarian into a mountain side.

Judith breathed heavily as she made to stand up, but before she could straighten herself up an indescribable excruciating pain shot through her. "AAAAAHAH!" she yelled in agony. She heard her heart beating in her ears, her vision turned to red. For a moment she lay on the ground, incapacitated by the pain… and then… she felt… The pain receded ever so slowly until it had vanished completely. Judith slowly stood up, her vision still shades of red. She felt… exhilarated! It was as if someone had injected a shot of adrenaline straight into her heart…

From afar, Fizz had felt the sudden surge in energy, he recognized it immediately. "Oh, that's not good." He said as he flew of in its direction at supersonic speed. He found her at last, standing on a plateau on the mountain side, engulfed in a pitch black aura, her eyes turned completely red. No matter how many times he had seen her in this transformed state, she always managed to scare him.

Judith felt as the strength surged through her body. Her blood which had been boiling not seconds ago was turned to ice. The sensation was somehow familiar to her, like a dream she had somehow forgotten. Judith was blissfully unaware that her transformation was triggered the moment Zamasu had snuffed the life from the barbarian.

Fizz watched as her energy grew, the earth turning black, the plants withering and dying as her aura spread. Even the sky had turned an unnatural dark. Fizz watched trembling as Judith stood engulfed in her own Ki. 'What in the name of all that is good has Zamasu done!?' he thought helplessly.

There was a loud grinding noise that emanated throughout the valley, which was so peaceful only moments ago, as the ground beneath Judith cracked. For a moment she stood staring down at the rumbling earth before she said in a small voice: "Oh shit." The words had barely left her mouth when a cavern opened beneath her and she fell into the abyss.

… Universe 10 Planet of the Kais …

Gowasu was once again seated beneath the Tree of Balance, leaves falling all around them as lives came to an end. He watched as Zamasu prepared a fresh pot of tea and poured him a cup. Zamasu had been extremely quiet since their return, in fact, he had not spoken a word after the altercation on Barbary.

Gowasu decided to break the silence. "You lack faith in mortals. Tell me why?" Despite everything the Grand Minister had told him and Zamasu's actions, he desperately wanted to help him. Truth be told, Gowasu had grown quite fond of his apprentice over the years.

Zamasu placed the cup of tea in front of Gowasu, offering no answer. Gowasu looked down at the cup, and just as he anticipated, the tea was swirled. "This tea is a mirror pointed inward. If the soul of its maker is clouded, the tea will be as well." Zamasu merely stood to Gowasu's side, eyes closed. "So is it fear that clouds this cup," Gowasu's eyes fell to Zamasu's potaras and noticed the red was indeed spreading, "or bewilderment?" His voice betraying nothing at his concern of what the meaning for this change in colour might be.

Zamasu finally looked up at Gowasu, his eyes cold and emotionless. Zamasu had to fight the urge not to lash out at the old Kai, screaming at him to shut up about the damned tea, to stop trying to cloud his judgement with bullshit and to just allow him to leave… allow him to find Judith… he could not sense her normal Ki.

"Speak." Gowasu invited.

Instead, Zamasu began speaking in a monotone voice. "Master Gowasu, you have said something often. To make mistakes but learn from them, thus forging a better world. That is the essence of a mortal spirit." Gowasu nodded in acknowledgement. "But as far as I can see, mortals do not learn this way at all. Planet Barbary is no outlier Master. You've seen this countless times before."

"Patience Zamasu." Gowasu replied. "Every seed needs time to grow."

Zamasu was quiet for a moment before he spoke again, his voice had changed and held a malicious tone. "Gardens are tended, not just watched." He said bitterly at Gowasu. "Should a gardener not pluck the weeds?" His growing anger was making it difficult for him to keep his voice steady. "When I was invited here I thought you would teach me divine justice, but all you seem to do is watch while monsters stain existence with each other's blood!" The tea in Gowasu's cup had turned black.

Gowasu looked at his apprentice, considering his response. "Zamasu? Do you ever ponder the relationship between good, evil and justice?" he asked.

"Yes. All the time." Zamasu answered with a sigh. "Evil is the great obstacle to good and justice the sword by which good can overcome this obstacle and flourish."

"That is one perspective." Gowasu said. "But I have come to view it this way: Justice is not a sword eradicating evil, but a scale keeping good and evil in balance."

"Balance, Master?" Zamasu questioned.

"One could succumb to evil but reject that darkness and rediscover the light with new understanding. Justice makes that journey possible." Gowasu explained. "Evil informs good, and that is why we give the mortals their minds."

Zamasu listened expressionlessly to Gowasu's disposition, his annoyance growing. "You give corruption far too much credit." Zamasu stated as Gowasu picked up his cup of tea. "Evil does not inform good, it sullies it." Gowasu looked up at Zamasu and saw a sad smile play on his features. Zamasu was disappointed in Gowasu's lack of wisdom, knowing he would never grasp the concept Zamasu was destined to fulfil and much to Zamasu's relieve, he was regaining his composure. "Like the Barbary sullied their world with violence and that arrogant Goku sullied the sacred soil by swinging his fists as a god."

Gowasu had put his cup down without tasting the tea, regarding Zamasu closely. "And what of Judith?" Gowasu asked, unaware that he was about to strike a chord he should never touch. "Did she sully our-" He was cut off my Zamasu.

"Do not dare speak of her!" he yelled, his eyes flashing with malicious intent as he looked Gowasu square in the eyes. "Mortals receive the divine gift of intellect, the potential for wisdom, but they misuse it to destroy the beauty of creation." Zamasu turned away from Gowasu, who was still in shock at his outburst, and looked up through the leaves of the great tree. "Mortals do not succumb to evil; they are the evil. They create, spread it with minds they shouldn't possess. How can we call ourselves gods if we watch this plight and do nothing to stop it?"

Gowasu watched as the tea in his cup turned from black to crystal clear, he was still in shock at Zamasu's response to the mere mention of Judith's name. Carefully Gowasu answered his apprentice. "Zamasu. You have a strong hunger for justice and that can be a great thing, but we must put temperance over righteousness and guide lost children to the good path at a pace that seems slow even for us. Do not forget the true reason you have hold your fighting ability is to strengthen you mind for your journey toward enlightenment." He turned serious. "Being gods does not make us perfect." He said sternly. "We to must learn and mature over time."

Zamasu turned to face Gowasu again. The intent in his eyes made Gowasu uncomfortable, but before he could act on his feeling, Zamasu bowed deeply at Gowasu in mock respect. He had long since lost any respect for this old geezer.

"Reflect on our discussion as you make more tea." Gowasu ordered and watched as Zamasu pushed the tea trolley back toward the temple. Gowasu was secretly relieved that he was once again alone. Even though he would never admit it but Zamasu was indeed very intimidating and commanding in his presence, to be alone was a welcome reprieve and he needed some time to consider his outburst. He knew that Zamasu cared for Judith, but now Gowasu was convinced that something must have changed since that day in the tea garden when Zamasu's true feelings briefly came to the surface.

Once Zamasu was out of eye sight of Gowasu he slowed to a stop and looked up at one of the moons orbiting his planet. "Merely watching? That's a sin too. Don't you see?" he said out loud. "You will never speak of her in such a casual manner again Gowasu." Zamasu swore under his breath before continuing on to fetch the damned tea. Once it was done, he would return to Judith. Something was very wrong with her as he felt for her energy, but only sensed… darkness.

Gowasu looked at his tea suspiciously, expecting it to change in consistency, but it never did. Zamasu's heart was as pure as it could be, but his mind, his mind was in chaos.