A/N: Deepest apologies for taking six months to update. I hope that I still have readers. Thank you so much for the PMs, reviews, favs, and follows over the past six months. Longer explanation at bottom.
Chapter 6: Mr. Satan's Dilemma
Gohan sat on the ground, completely in shock at what had just transpired. His mouth gaped open as so many emotions filled his mind while he completely ignored the physical pain. The last twenty minutes or so caused him almost be in a daze; however, he knew now was not the time for this. His father would immediately jump into action to create some sort of plan, but the thought of doing that just seemed impossible at the moment.
Videl was also just as shaken as Gohan. Not only had Mito, the person she grew to despise was also in fact Cell, she had also witnessed Son Gohan, her dorky classmate, somehow transform into the Gold Fighter and take on Cell alone. Also, several people from the first Cell Games appeared seemingly out of nowhere when the crisis occurred. During it, Cell injured Gohan so badly she thought he'd died, but miraculously, somehow, he seemed alive and well. An entire building collapsed on him, yet he appeared to be fine. Sure, he was scratched up and had some blood running down his face, but he was alive.
None of it made any sense, and despite her shock, Videl wanted, no demanded answers. Her father killed Cell years ago. That she was certain of but how was it that Gohan was the 'Delivery Boy'? Cell made it appear as if he came back from the dead, but that was impossible. None of this made any sense. Even in the face of Cell's return, she couldn't accept anything less than the defeat of Cell by her father.
Piccolo, Vegeta, Krillin, and the two boys, Trunks and Goten, also stood in disbelief at what had happened. Cell had returned and seemed to thrash Gohan. The timing of this couldn't have been worse because Goku no longer was with them and the powerful adult Trunks had returned to the future. How were they to create a successful plan to defeat Cell without their beloved Goku?
"Figures," Vegeta scoffed with a scowl breaking the silence. "This is why I always said we have to be prepared."
Videl looked in the direction of the Saiyan Prince. She recognized him from before when Mito showed her his power not long ago along with the green alien. Gohan affiliates with these tricksters or that's what her father called them, and she was tired of being left in the dark.
"Big brother, are you alright?" Goten asked as he dried his tears.
Gohan turned to his beloved brother. "Yeah, just a bit shaken up."
Piccolo turned toward Gohan. "Vegeta's correct. We better get you a senzu bean back at the lookout and somehow devise a plan."
Gohan looked up to his master nodding his head. Vegeta meanwhile didn't know what to feel. He had spent the past six years vigorously training to distract him of his rival's death; but suddenly, that training seemed to have more purpose now. Sure, he was pumped to show Cell once and for all, his superior first class Saiyan strength, but for some reason, the feeling just wasn't the same as it was six years ago. Something about it this time made him uneasy, perhaps because he had a family to defend. He grunted at the fact that his emotions may be affecting his judgment.
"Let's go," said Piccolo.
"We are coming too," Trunks and Goten said in unison.
Gohan looked toward Vegeta and Piccolo for advice regarding Goten and Trunks. Sure, the boys would be safer with them, but perhaps they should return to Capsule Corporation to inform Bulma what had transpired. A seven and eight year old should not be forced into this battle. However, he didn't trust Cell this time around to go through with the Cell Games 2. Gohan believed that Cell had learned from his past mistakes and could potentially be leading him and his friends into a trap with the Cell Games 2. Cell was smart, and nobody should underestimate him.
"Absolutely not! I demand you return to your mother instantly!" protested Vegeta.
Trunks was not going to back down. "No, we want to help too!"
Vegeta's eyes narrowed, instilling fear in young Trunks. He didn't dare backtalk to his father; however, given the circumstances, Trunks believed he could help make a difference. He had grown up hearing about the stories of Frieza and Cell, and this time he would be alongside his father and Gohan, defending the Earth.
"Yeah! We can help," Goten defended.
Vegeta spat on the ground. "Nonsense. You two are no match against Cell. This is an adult job. Go home."
Trunks and Goten turned toward one another, smirked at each other and nodded their heads. Out of nowhere, the two released an enormous amount of ki, transforming into the legendary super Saiyan as if it was nothing to them. The shock on everyone's face was an understatement. Nobody saw it coming.
"See? We can help!" Trunks said confidently.
Vegeta's eyes enlarged in confusion. "W- What? My son. A Super Saiyan?"
Gohan was equally astounded as he stared at his little brother. "Go- Goten? How? When did this happen?"
Krillin gasped at the boy's power which was far stronger than his. How did he fall so far behind these Saiyans. Would he be of any help for this new threat now?
"We're going!" Trunks affirmed, and it appeared that he and Goten had the power to back up his assertions.
"We're wasting time," said Piccolo despite his shock at the boy's power. Perhaps they could be of some use but to put a seven and eight year old on the battlefield, just didn't sit well with him. This was not the old days when Gohan was one of the few that could equal his power.
"You kept this from me son?" Vegeta slowly asked. Trunks shuttered at his father's question, looking for his best friend for support, while Goten looked at his big brother.
"I wanted to surprise you big brother, but I was afraid mom would be mad," Goten admitted.
"Yeah, I was afraid you'd be mad at me dad," explained Trunks.
Vegeta narrowed his eyes at his son. Where did he find the time to train and earn this power? Hadn't he been with him every step of the way? Clearly, he had outside training because he should have seen this coming. Was it possible that the two boys trained together, gaining strength he could only dream of at that age?
Piccolo cleared his throat. "We can talk about this later. Let's get to the lookout immediately."
Vegeta nodded his head. He most certainly would have a discussion with his son about hiding his power from him, but there was no hiding the fact that he was proud of his son. His eight year old son, a first-class prince, transformed into a super Saiyan. Incredible.
Meanwhile, Videl shook her head both in shock but also not wanting to give up this opportunity to get an understanding of what was going on. Now there were two little gold fighters, and none of it made sense. Her eyes flashed in distrust. Who the heck was her nerdy classmate, Son Gohan?
"No. Gohan, you will tell me what on earth is going on right now," demanded Videl.
She was tired of being left in the dark. Not only did she witness several deaths from her fellow schoolmates, but she also found out she hardly knows her friend, Son Gohan. She wasn't about to let him go without hearing something.
Gohan scratched the back of his head. "Umm, Videl, I promise I'll tell you everything later, but can't you see something more important is going on here?"
Her eyes narrowed. "No Gohan. You know what the Cell Games mean to me considering my father, and you kept the fact that you were the 'Delivery Boy' from me? I want answers, and I want them now."
Gohan sighed. While her building friendship with Videl meant a lot to him, the world was in grave danger, and those answers for Videl would have to wait. Unfortunately, he would have to leave and hoped that Videl would understand, maybe one day. For now, it seemed like Videl would never talk to him unless he explained everything, which was not an option at the moment.
"I'm sorry, but I can't. I promise I'll tell you soon, but we have to go," Gohan tried to explain; however, Videl became furious at the answer.
"Can you fly?" asked Piccolo.
"Yeah, I think so," Gohan concluded and lifted his injured body off the ground.
He gave Videl one last glimpse and could see her fury at being left out. Gohan's eyes drooped at the fact that Videl might never forgive him. Her classmate, no friend, who was so incredibly brave and selfless, unlike her father, hopefully, would understand his decision one day.
Piccolo followed Gohan, and then Vegeta, Trunks, Goten, and Krillin followed shortly after leaving Videl, Sharpner, and Erasa watching them fly off into the horizon. The Z-Senshi needed to come up with a plan quickly. Cell only gave them three days.
Meanwhile, Videl collapsed to her knees, partially in anger, but also in distrust in Son Gohan. The whole situation seemed bleak at best. After six years of peace, it appeared that Cell returned. Despite the truth staring her right in the face, she believed her father was the one to defeat Cell notwithstanding Mito's absurd statements that somehow Gohan was the one that best him six years ago. Was there any truth to that? No, my father would not lie. It's not in his nature. He's the world's greatest hero, she confirmed.
Erasa and Sharpner ran over to their friend. The area was vacant of any people as they had all scattered once a few buildings near Orange Star High had collapsed after Gohan pummeled into them. How was it that anybody could survive that? Erasa, Sharpner, and Videl were kept asking themselves how? The only person who had witnessed this before was Videl's father.
Yes, she would definitely have a discussion with her father because those tricks as he called them, didn't appear to be any tricks she had ever seen. Everything was so real, and she knows her eyes don't lie. Somehow, she had to gather the will to go back home, warn her father so he could get prepared for the Cell Games 2. This time around, she would be there despite how terrifying that thought was.
"Videl are you okay?" asked Erasa as she crouched down to Videl.
"No. Does it look like I'm okay? Cell is back from the dead, several Orange Star students are dead, and I found out Gohan was the Delivery Boy at the Cell Games and he completely ignored me and flew away with his friends," she said in frustration.
"Oh my god. It's absolutely insane. I know, but we got to get out of here, it's not safe here," said Erasa.
Sharpner shook his head. "This has to be a nightmare. I have got to wake up from this!"
Meanwhile, Gohan and the crew landed on Kami's Lookout while Dende ran out toward them.
"I could feel it below. It was Cell, wasn't it?" asked Dende. The fear in his voice was evident.
Piccolo nodded. "Yes, it appears this was the vision I had so many weeks ago had some truth to it. He's back, and we need to come up with a plan and quickly. We have three days." The atmosphere was certainly bleak at the moment.
"Here Gohan. Relax, let me heal you," Dende said while Gohan sat down on the ground.
"Thanks Dende," he said meekly smiling.
What was he to do now? He couldn't defeat Cell in his current state. He didn't even know if he still could transform into the ascendant super Saiyan as he barely defeated him last time using that power. He suspected he was quite a bit weaker than six years ago and he cursed at himself for being too relaxed since his defeat of Cell. Vegeta was right. He wondered what his father would think of his weak self now.
He needed his father. The only way he defeated Cell last time was through the support of his father, and he doubt he could fill those shoes. He wondered if his father could sense what was occurring on Earth right now or was he in the dark? Surely King Kai would be aware of the situation on Earth?
"What I want to know is how that monster managed to get back! What wormhole was he talking about?" asked Krillin breaking the silence.
Piccolo shrugged. The only method to return to the living world was through a very select few beings. A wormhole? It made no sense, and as the former Guardian of Earth, he thought the Kais should be aware of such a method. It didn't matter. Only one thing that mattered at this point was defeating Cell and protecting Earth.
"Well what do we do?" asked Krillin.
"What are you blabbering about Baldy? We have three days. That's enough time to train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber and destroy Cell. That's the only logical solution," sneered Vegeta.
Krillin eyes narrowed. "You know Vegeta, I have hair now."
"Gohan, how do you feel right now? Do you think you can take on Cell again?" asked Piccolo.
Gohan looked up to his mentor. "Do I even have a choice?" He sighed and looked back to his friends and family. "I admit, he caught me off guard, and it's hard to judge how much more powerful he's become, but what Vegeta says does make sense."
Vegeta nodded his head. "Of course it does. That's the only solution. You should have kept up with your training Halfling," he sneered. Anything to take a jab at his rival's son.
Despite the insult at him, he knew Vegeta to be truthful. Yes, he should have maintained his training. He hoped that he could make strides in his training in the hyperbolic time chamber over the next few Earth days.
"There's only one problem. You, Vegeta and I have already used up a significant portion of our allotted time in the Chamber. If you exceed 48 earth hours, the door shuts forever," warned Piccolo.
Gohan looked down toward the ground. Yes, that presented a problem. He had forgotten about that small detail. He had used almost 24 hours and both Vegeta and Piccolo were close to their 48-hour mark from their previous training for the first Cell Games. He needed Vegeta and Piccolo to be prepared as backups if he failed. There was no daddy to bail him out this time if he made mistakes.
Piccolo stepped forward. "But we still have a chunk of time and Gohan you have the most. We should take advantage of that."
The group of warriors contemplated their next move as time was of the essence. Gohan thought back to Videl and felt a tinge of regret leaving her there with Erasa and Sharpner but what was he supposed to do? He couldn't sit down and explain everything given the circumstances they were in. He sighed at the thought of his friend.
Breaking news reports indicated that several Orange Star students died in the collapse of buildings. There were even rumors around that an evil person that had the capability of tricks as Mr. Satan had described was responsible for it. There was even a rumor circulating that a few Orange Star Students and Videl Satan were involved in the fight.
Hercule Satan picked up the phone and called her daughter once more, but there was no answer. He desperately wanted to know the whereabouts of her daughter considering the situation at Orange Star High School.
"What are you waiting for?" yelled Mr. Satan. "Get another team together and find my daughter!"
"Y- Yes Sir," stuttered Mr. Satan's butler.
"My daughter could be hurt or worse yet, she could be… NO. I refuse to believe that. I had better hear good news from your team," Mr. Satan asserted.
"Of course Mr. Satan; but, we are doing the best we can. I doubt she's hurt. She's the daughter of the defeater of Cell after all!" the butler explained.
His reassurance didn't help at all. Despite his assertion, Mr. Satan knew the truth. He was no defeater of Cell, and while he was powerful, her daughter was only human. Of course, he was supposed to be worried. He cursed at himself for letting her daughter do the reckless things she does with the police force. He would find out who was responsible for this and make them pay.
Meanwhile, Videl landed her copter in her back lawn area, ready to alert her father. She still thought this was some crazy dream and that she would wake up, but reality was setting in. This was no nightmare. This was real, and she needed to alert her father immediately.
"Are you going to talk to your dad now?" stammered Erasa as she exited Videl's copter, while Sharpner followed after her.
"Yes," responded Videl.
Just hearing that helped relieve Sharpner and Erasa's anxiety levels, but just a little. They had witnessed just how powerful Cell really was and even they suddenly doubted Mr. Satan's ability. How could Hercule defeat Cell considering that he is only human? Those were not tricks, and both Erasa and Sharpner didn't see how anyone could believe that after what they'd witnessed. Despite the doubt, they were still firm believers of Mr. Satan's feat of defeating Cell all those years ago.
Videl hurried into her back door followed by Erasa and Sharpner. Once inside, they heard some yelling down the hall.
"Why haven't I heard anything yet?" Mr. Satan demanded while pounding his foot on the ground.
Videl immediately ran toward her father. Upon rounding the corner into her dad's office.
"Dad?"
Mr. Satan immediately turned around at hearing her daughter's voice. Upon seeing her well, he quickly embraced her in a tight hug. His anxiety level had calmed down at seeing her daughter alive and well.
"I was so worried about you! I'm so glad you're safe!" said Hercule.
"It's okay dad, I'm alright, but we have got to talk," explained Videl in a serious tone.
Ignoring her daughter, he said, "Why haven't you picked up your phone? I've heard the news, and you should have immediately called me."
Videl's blinked in confusion. Yes, she had lost her phone after the skirmish with Cell and Gohan but didn't matter at all. What mattered was telling her father that Cell had returned.
"And you left your dad so worried," squealed Mr. Satan.
"Dad."
"How can you let your father be in the dark?"
"DAD!" she yelled getting his attention.
"Um, what is it?"
"We need to talk. Now!" Videl demanded.
"What? Yeah sure," he said confused.
Videl looked at Mr. Satan's butler. "May you excuse us please?"
"Why certainly Ms. Satan," the butler said as he removed himself from the room.
Mr. Satan cleared his throat. "Umm, should your friends hear us talk?"
"Yeah, they were there for it," Videl eluded.
"Umm alright. What is it? And don't think we won't talk about you not answering my calls," scolded Mr. Satan.
Videl narrowed her eyes and spoke in a very serious tone. "Dad. Cell is back. He was responsible for the collapse of those buildings."
Mr. Satan knew her daughter very well. She was loyal, strong, beautiful, and most of all, when she was serious, she would not joke around. His heart sunk at hearing of Cell's return and a wave of anxiety, no a tsunami of anxiety went through his body. His daughter was not joking.
"…And he said he is expecting you at the Cell Games 2."
Mr. Satan's eyes widened, and a distinct look of fear was plastered on his face. Sweat immediately began to build on his face and back at hearing this. This was not the reaction Videl nor Erasa, and Sharpner thought or hoped they'd see. This was not the look of a confident, strong fighter. Videl looked her father peculiarly.
"Dad. You have to do it again. You have to defeat him."
"W- What? T- That's impossible!" stuttered an incredibly anxious Mr. Satan.
"No, dad. It's true. Somehow, Cell was disguised as a student at Orange Star High. It's such a long story, but he enrolled under the name of Mito and looked like a normal teenager. He had this grudge against me for some reason and had an even bigger grudge against one of my other friends, Gohan."
Mr. Satan's eyes widened again. Gohan. Why did that name sound so familiar to him? He pondered that for a few seconds then suddenly, he remembered. The memories of the Cell Games flooded his mind. The name Gohan was said multiple times at the during the games. He remembered, the blonde kid, had to have been named Gohan because so many people yelled his name during the games.
"Umm sweetie, w- who is this G- Gohan?" he stuttered.
Videl's eyes narrowed. Why would he want to know about Gohan so quickly? Should he be asking more about Cell? Dad must have remembered his name from the Cell Games as he was the Delivery Boy, she thought.
"Dad, he's a friend, who also arrived at school. Well, he might not be my friend anymore as I found out he was the Delivery Boy and lying to me all this time," she responded.
"Oh," was all he said.
Sharpner interjected. "Mr. Satan. You'll defeat him. I know you will. You're the world champ after all," he said proudly.
That didn't help one bit. Yes, he was the current reigning champion; however, none of that mattered. He didn't defeat Cell, the Delivery Boy, or Gohan did. Somehow, that boy had entered the same school as his daughter unbeknownst to him, and Cell followed him there. Yes, he was a little angry, but more importantly, he was about to witness his whole world crash beneath him. What would his daughter think? The anxiety left a tight knot in his stomach.
"Dad? What's wrong? You have to get ready. Cell said he was going to have another Cell Games, called the Cell Games 2, and he demanded your presence," Videl explained.
My life, it's over, thought Mr. Satan as he was sweating bullets. What could he do? The only people he could depend on was the Delivery Boy and those tricksters. He sighed. There was no point in calling them tricksters anymore.
"May I have your attention!"
Suddenly, the TV was blasting volume in Mr. Satan's office. The four immediately turned toward the TV in Mr Satan's office. Their worst nightmare was confirmed. Cell was on live TV, so now the entire world could watch.
"I don't get paid enough for this!" the anchorwoman screamed as she ran for her life while on the camera.
"Well, thank you for that. Anyway, I'm sure so many of you are glad to see me on the screen again. No, this is not your imagination. I, Perfect Cell, am back," said a confident smirking Cell. The camera was shaky as it zoomed in on the maniacal creature, Cell.
Mr. Satan, Videl, Sharpner, and Erasa were glued to the television as they stared directly into fear itself.
"I'm sure many of you may be asking, how is he back? Didn't Mr. Satan defeat him? Well, that conversation is for another time," he said smirking.
He then narrowed his eyes. "The point is, I am expecting the one who defeated me six years ago to return and fight me again. In three days, the Cell Games 2 will commence, and Earth may bring their best fighters to challenge me, one on one. After I have defeated them, with the World Martial Arts Tournament rules, of course, I will destroy the Earth," he said then smirked.
Cell could just feel the fear imitating from the Earth. Yes, the look of fear on human's faces was so satisfying to him. His confidence was so high right given his preparedness in Hell. Yes, his time is now, and this time he would not be made a fool of.
"Oh, and Videl Satan, I do expect you to be there, along with your father," he said on national television.
Then suddenly the television went blank. One could only imagine what had happened at the television station. This time, Cell's patience was not as high this go around given the fact the Cell Games 2 was only in three days.
"This is insane!" whimpered Erasa.
Videl meanwhile, settled in a state of fear. Cell had requested him. Of course, he would given the friendship she had with Mito. She should have known something was off about him. Ever since meeting Mito, she could tell something as wrong with him. She would never have thought it was because of Cell and it appeared Cell followed Gohan to school, unbeknownst to him.
Her thoughts wandered back to her friend, Son Gohan. The dorky teenager had entered her friend group, and at first, Videl didn't want to have anything to do with him, but after a while, she realized how incredible of a person he was. What she didn't know was that Gohan was in fact at the Cell Games at just a child. She couldn't even fathom going to the Cell Games now and he did it when he was an eleven year old boy? Who was the hero now?
Mr. Satan meanwhile needed to be alone. The thought of disappointing her daughter and coming clean with his lie was too much to handle right now. He needed to hide and get away.
"I need to train," was all he said as he exited the room leaving Videl, Erasa, and Sharpner alone in his office.
Videl was slightly saddened that his father was not going to spend time with her, but she understood his duty to the planet Earth. What she didn't know was his true reason for exiting the room.
"What are we going to do?" Erasa whispered.
"I don't know!" cried Sharpner.
Videl was scared for her life, but she had to show up to the Cell Games 2. If her father were going, she would too. But what about Gohan? Would he show up there also? He has to! He is the Delivery Boy!
Gohan was much more than the Delivery Boy as she found out today. She'd always suspect him hiding something but this? The question remained, was he strong enough to defeat Cell? She doubted that but seeing how he bounced back after taking that absurdly strong punch from Cell, she was beginning to question that. How could her father survive such a punch from Cell?
"What about Gohan?" Erasa gulped.
"I don't know," responded Sharpner.
"We all saw what happened! Gohan is powerful! I don't think those are tricks anymore," whimpered Erasa.
"Yeah," Sharpner agreed.
"Videl?" said Erasa.
"Yeah?"
"What do you think? How can your dad still call those tricks? They seemed so real," explained Erasa.
Truthfully, she had no idea how her father could call those tricks. They didn't seem like tricks. They felt so genuine, and her father had either been lying about those tricks, or he was misinformed. However, that logic made no sense to her because her father was at the Cell Games the entire time and the skirmish with Cell and Gohan today, if she could even call that, lasted just a few minutes. Also, her father's reaction to finding out about Cell just now was just off. Something didn't fit right with her, yet she had to defend her father and his claim of trickery. Was there something bigger here that she was missing? I mean, dad defeated Cell, for that I am certain.
She cursed her self for questioned her father. She had never done so before, so why should she entertain such thoughts now. Despite what Cell had said under Mito, also what Gohan had just done that day, and how real those tricks were, she couldn't believe otherwise. They had to be tricks, and her father did in fact defeat Cell. She had to remain positive. Her father would beat Cell again and this time for good.
"I don't know Erasa! The only thing I know is that dad did defeat Cell six years ago, and he will defeat him again!" she said confidently.
Despite the confidence in her voice, she admittedly deep down was concerned and even questioned if her father could defeat Cell. It was different seeing Cell in person, and he terrified her to no end. She had to remain positive, if not for herself, for her friends. She sighed at the events of the day.
Meanwhile, little progress had been made up at the lookout. They still were not sure what the best course of action was. Normally, Goku took the lead in these situations despite the group effort, and without Goku, they were at a loss. Gohan although, realized he needed to take charge and follow in his footsteps, but how?
"I'm going in the hyperbolic time chamber, alone. Clearly, I am the strongest fighter and the one that will take on Cell," Vegeta explained.
"Umm," Mr. Popo said looking toward Dende and Piccolo for advice.
Piccolo nodded. "Yes, the chamber wouldn't hurt, but you had better return before your hour is up. Mr. Popo can you lead Vegeta to the time chamber?"
Mr. Popo nodded and started walking toward the man building on the platform of Kami's Lookout. "Right this way."
Right before Vegeta followed Mr. Popo, he heard a plane in the distance. He squinted his eyes and sensed out the ki in the plane. It was none other than his wife for better terms.
"It's Bulma!" said Gohan.
The plane landed, and Bulma immediately jumped out.
"I came as soon as I heard the news!" shrieked Bulma. She got a good look at the group and saw Gohan, who had his clothes all torn up.
"Oh my god! What happened Gohan?" Bulma asked.
Gohan sighed. "Cell happened. It's a long story, but he challenged me at school. I didn't even see it coming, and he caught me off guard."
Bulma felt for her godson. She so wished that her best friend, Son Goku was still alive to give guidance, be positive, and help solve the situation. Something about Goku just screamed positivity, ever since he was just a child when they traveled the Earth looking for dragon balls. She shook her head at the thought of Son Goku.
"Vegeta! Just where do you think you're going mister?" she shot.
"Woman. I am going into the time chamber to train alone. I will be out in one Earth hour," he said in a serious tone as he continued to walk with Mr. Popo.
She sighed. Training was the only solution for Vegeta. She knew better after traveling the world with Goku, going through Space to fight an evil tyrant, and dealing with Cell six years ago. Yes, she had been through a lot and this time was no different. They would succeed, even if it were without Goku. They had to.
Piccolo had never seen Vegeta so serious before. Usually, he would go into battle without a plan based on his pride, but this time, something was different about him.
"Trunks. Goten. Boys, what on earth are you doing up here?" asked Bulma.
Piccolo stepped in. "They came to the battlefield, along with all of us. They are safe here though."
She sighed. Yes, they were safer with Krillin, Gohan, and Piccolo than with herself. Of course, the two boys followed the others. They wanted to be a part in this just like all the stories they had heard over their short lives.
"So what's the plan? Please tell me we have a plan?"
Gohan, Piccolo, and Krillin looked away. There was no plan as of yet, and they needed one soon.
A/N: Again, I have no excuse for taking so long to update. Honestly, I got caught up this summer with an internship and had little time to write. On top of that, the time I did have to write, I spent it on my other story, Burden of Lies. Honestly, this story is much more fun to write (probably because it's the most AU I have written), but I'm struggling with ideas here. Should Goku return? I think not, but what do you think? Either way, I am so thankful for all the PMs and reviews trying to get me to hurry up. I hear you, and I promise I will complete this story. We are a long way from completion (not even halfway) so lots more to come. I promise to update sooner rather than later. Thank you.