Tapion leapt across the rooftops, eventually arriving at the abandoned factory he called home for the time being. He didn't want to admit it, having refused to believe it up until now, but with Hirudegarn's lower half's appearance, it was now clear that Minotia was dead, his younger brother gone for good. He lowered his head, looking up when he heard it, someone was there.

Tapion shot to his feet, drawing his blade and readying himself, only for Trunks to peer around the corner, looking on cautiously. The red-mohawked warrior relaxed, taking his hand off of his blade, Trunks approaching him.

"What do you want, kid?" Tapion asked.

"I...I brought you drinks...in case you get thirsty." Trunks said.

"Go." Tapion growled.

"C'mon, there's no need to be all moody." Trunks replied.

"Get out!" Tapion shouted.

"Okay, okay, I'm leaving!" the half-Saiyan replied, taking off.

Later

Tapion lay asleep, slowly he shifted onto his back, the Ocarina he carried around his waist falling off and bouncing away. Energy began to rise from his body, gathering above him and forming a small portal.

Tapion sprang up, awake, crying out in shock as he saw the gateway, only to realize his ocarina was absent. He looked down incredulously, glancing up in time to dodge a massive arm extending out of the portal, another claw pulling it open wide enough for the monster's entire upper body to crawl out. He quickly drew his sword, charging and releasing a ki blast, the explosion having no effect on the monster.

The vibration from the attack shook loose a pile off rubble, the refuse revealing his flute. Tapion flew to the instrument, picking it up and crashing to the ground. Hirudegarn chased after him, a massive claw reaching for him, stopping right in front of him and flexing it's fingers. Tapion began playing the same tune from before, Hirudegarn falling back, growling at the warrior before dematerializing and being sealed in the man's body once again.

Tapion looked at the wreckage around him, sweat dripping from his brow, he couldn't afford to let that happen again.

Morning

Trunks hopped over an abandoned car, a tray with two sandwiches and a small carton of milk on it in his hands.

"Wow, what happened?" he mused. The young half-Saiyan quickly made his way into the factory, seeing Tapion sitting against a piece of rubble. "Hey! You're okay!" he exclaimed.

Tapion merely glanced at him, grimacing in response.

"I'll just...leave it here." Trunks said before flying off.

oOo

"There have been twice as many dishes to wash since Trunks' new friend showed up, I think he's been sneaking him food." Bulma said.

"That's cute of him, you've got a nice kid." Kyuuri said, looking bored as she scrubbed the dishes.

"You know, he's always envied Goten for having an older brother, I think that's what Tapion is kind of like for him." Bulma said.

"That's who he's been hanging out with?!" the Saiyan girl exclaimed.

"Yeah, Tapion doesn't seem like a bad guy." Bulma replied.

"If you say so, but I need answers." Kyuuri said aggressively, rinsing her hands off and walking away.

"Just leave me to do these all by myself, just like Vegeta." Bulma groaned.

oOo

Tapion stood outside of his home, playing his ocarina and taking in the night air.

Trunks took this opportunity to dart into the factory, seeing a cat finishing the breakfast he brought Tapion.

"Hey, stupid cat! Get away from there, that's people food!" he yelled, shooing the animal away.

Tapion walked into the factory, eyeing Trunks angrily.

"Oh, you don't have to stop because of me, you sounded good." Trunks said with a smile.

Suddenly Hoi dropped from the roof, shooting passed Tapion and knocking the flute out of his hands.

Trunks dove for it, picking up the instrument and dodging several punches and kicks from Hoi.

"Trunks, here!" Tapion yelled.

"Right." Trunks responded.

"Wait, hear me out!" Hoi began. "Tapion is not a hero! It was he who destroyed the city!"

"Trunks, he's lying to you!" Tapion yelled.

"Give him the flute and he will summon the monster again, and he won't just stop at your planet, he'll destroy the whole universe!" Hoi said.

"Is that so?" a voice rang out, Gohan levitating down behind Tapion.

"We saw both of you after the monster attacked earlier, and we need answers." Kyuuri continued as she appeared.

"You two, fine young warriors! Please, get that flute for me and we'll save your world!" Hoi exclaimed.

"Don't listen to him! He's evil." Tapion warned.

"We know." Gohan said.

"Tapion, here!" Trunks yelled, tossing the flute to him, the warrior catching it with ease.

"Fools!" Hoi yelled.

Kyuuri flew at Hoi, attempting to grab him only for the small alien to leap upwards with surprising agility, disappearing into the night.

"Damn, I can't sense him!" Kyuuri growled.

Tapion looked at the newcomers cautiously, a hand on his blade. "You said you knew he was lying...how?" he asked.

"Easy, we saw him watching the battle from above." Kyuuri said.

"Seemed pretty mad when you showed up and made the monster disappear." Gohan continued.

"Did you guys follow me? So not cool." Trunks bemoaned.

"Don't worry Trunks, you did good." Gohan said.

"Now that that's all cleared up, you're coming with us." Kyuuri informed Tapion.

Trunks grinned at the Hero, his smile disappearing when Tapion glared at him.

"We...we should leave." Trunks suggested.

"Well, I am hungry." Tapion said with a small smile.

Trunks looked up ecstatically, grinning ear to ear.

oOo

"And you're sure you saw him there?" Bulma asked.

"Well, he can't be in two places at once." Kyuuri commented.

"I'm sure it was him." Gohan answered as they looked into Trunks' room, the boy excitedly showing his toys to Tapion.

"He's really taken a liking to him." Bulma said with smile.

Later that night

Trunks pulled the sheets over himself as Tapion got the lights, beginning to head for his bed.

"Tapion, do you have any brothers or sisters?" Trunks asked.

"Yeah, I had a brother." Tapion answered.

"Ha! I knew it, what was he like?" Trunks asked.

"He was a good kid, a lot like you." the warrior answered.

"Where you came from, was it like Earth?" Trunks pressed on.

"It was pretty similar, it had all the same water and greenery...but that all changed when Hirudegarn, the demon of mist and shadow attacked." he said aggressively. "What he found in peace he left in pieces, completely destroyed. It was said there are many but I only saw one, it reduced the land to ash and hunted my people to near extinction, but just when we thought all was lost and there was a handful of us left..." Tapion said, trailing off as he looked back at Trunks, the boy being fast asleep.

Tapion quietly slipped out of the door, turning around only to find Bulma and Gohan looking at him curiously.

"Where ya off to?" Gohan asked.

"You're welcome to stay the night, we have plenty of room." Bulma added.

"I can't do that." Tapion said, tilting his head forward.

"Trunks would be thrilled if you were here when he woke up." Bulma said.

"Yeah, you don't have to leave." Gohan said.

"Having me around is dangerous." Tapion said.

"Dangerous how?" Kyuuri asked groggily from the couch as the talking awoke her.

"If it's difficult we can talk about it later." Bulma said.

"No...it's just...there's a demon, locked inside my body."

"What? A Demon?" Kyuuri questioned.

"You must remember Hoi...he was a member of a species called the Kashvar, they believed themselves to be superior to all other species. What they lacked in power they made up for with magic. They used their power to destroy many races throughout the universe. When they finally reached my world, Konats, they revived an evil we all thought had been vanquished long ago...they called it Hirudegarn." Tapion exclaimed.

"I'm guessing that's who those legs belonged to." Gohan said.

"Exactly." Tapion answered. "Hirudegarn destroyed most of our population...but just when we thought everything was lost, one of our own, a wizard appeared, he granted my brother Minotia and I ocarinas like this." he said, withdrawing his instrument. "With these we had the ability to exert control over Hirudegarn...we froze him in place, the wizard cutting him in half and sealing both his halves inside of Minotia and I. After this they sealed us in music boxes and sent us to opposite ends of the universe."

"I've should've known that guy was bad, as ugly as he was." Kyuuri hissed.

"We were hailed as heroes before that, but sealing us inside the music boxes was the only way to keep Hirudegarn away from the Kashvar, the wizard promising to release us when they had been destroyed for good."

"What about your brother?" Gohan asked.

"Probably dead." Tapion answered, a sad tone to his voice. "I've awoken a thousand years later and nothing has changed, I'm still a prisoner on the outside, unable to sleep, if I do Hirudegarn will escape."

"Wait, you haven't slept all this time?" Kyuuri asked.

"No, I can't." Tapion replied.

"I have an idea! I still have you music box in my lab, I can replicate the material and build a whole bedroom out of it!" Bulma suggested.

"That...that'd be great, I don't know what to say!" Tapion exclaimed.

"Just one condition. You have to spend time with Trunks." Bulma said.

"Deal." Tapion agreed.

The next day

Tapion flexed his arm, effortlessly lifting Trunks as the boy laughed.

Bulma stepped out onto the balcony, smiling at the scene. "Tapion, it's done, I'm finished!" she shouted.

"This I have to see." the man said.

"The chamber generates the same frequency the original box did, you'll be able to sleep while still maintaining control over your cognitive functions." Bulma said.

"Thank you." Tapion said, lying down inside.

Meanwhile

Terrified citizens ran, Hirudegarn's lower half stalking after them, his tail lunging towards them, the end opening to reveal thousands of tentacles, each grabbing a person and draining their life away, only leaving shreds behind.

"Yes, yes! Hirudegarn this is only a taste of the flesh you'll consume once you're whole!" Hoi shouted.

Tapion sat bolt upright, screaming as the portal opened, the room hadn't worked. Hirudegarn tore through the walls like paper, almost crushing Tapion.

Gohan and Kyuuri flew outside in time to see the beast dragging itself towards the city.

"I won't let you do this!" Tapion yelled, he pulled his ocarina free, beginning to play it, the monster being resealed inside of him.

"Tapion!" Trunks yelled as he flew down to them.

"When I volunteered to stay here and watch him with you I thought the point was stopping the monster's other half from being released." Kyuuri growled.

"What's going on?" a voice called.

"Dad?" Gohan answered.

Goku dropped to the ground, Goten behind him.

"We could sense a massive ki at home, what's happening?" Goku asked.

Bulma ran outside, a panicked look on her face.

Tapion crawled from the rubble, shaking. "Kill me! He's too strong...we can't let Hirudegarn's upper half reemerge!" he called.

"But Tapion..." Trunks protested.

The warrior withdrew his blade, tossing it forward. "Just do it!" he yelled.

"Don't touch him!" Hoi shouted.

The group looked up to find the wizard hovering above them.

Trunks picked up the sword and ran at Tapion, only for Hirudegarn's lower half to appear, crashing a foot down right in front of him.

Tapion let out a scream and collapsed, suddenly a torrent of energy erupted from him, flying up to Hirudegarn's legs and coalescing above them, forming his upper body.

"Finally, you have been completed." Hoi laughed. "Hirudegarn! Destroy humanity! Don't let a single person live!" I am the last of the Kashvar and I am your Master!" he called, laughing maniacally.

Tapion recovered, bringing his ocarina to his lips and began playing, only for Hirudegarn to swipe his tail at him, knocking him off the building on which he stood. "No!" Tapion yelled as he watched his instrument fall away.

"This ends now!" Goku yelled, powering up into his Super Saiyan 2 form, Goten going Super Saiyan with him.

"Kyuuri, you have to stay behind!" Gohan said.

"The hell I will!" she protested.

"Let's see if I can still do this." Gohan muttered. He let out a loud battle cry, a white aura surging around him.

"Gohan...your power." Kyuuri said.

"A long time ago a friend of mine released my full potential to fight Majin Buu, I thought I lost access to it, but I just needed the right motivation." he said.

"Wait!" Kyuuri said, watching as Gohan flew off. As much as she hated to admit it, Hirudegarn was far too dangerous for her to face, even at her current level.

Trunks carried Tapion to a nearby building, setting him down on it's roof. "Just wait here and rest, we've got this!" he assured his friend.

"Wait...but I..." Tapion stammered, holding out a hand.

Goku flew at the monster, dodging it's arm as he tried to land a punch, Hirudegarn turning into a thick mist and materializing behind him.

Goku looked back as Hirudegarn fell onto him, knocking him to the ground.

"Dad!" Goten yelled as Hirudegarn pounded the Saiyan man into the ground.

Gohan charged at the beast, only to be easily knocked aside by it's massive arm.

Goten shot multiple blasts at it, not a single one stopping the monster, just as it's eyes settled in the boy, Trunks flew in, landing another blast to the back of it's head.

Gohan helped his father up, the man easily regaining his footing.

"I might have to go all out." Goku said.

"I'm already giving my all and he knocked me away like I was nothing." Gohan answered.

The two Saiyan men sprang from the ground, both locking eyes with the beast. Goku launched a kamehameha, Hirudegarn assuming his mist form, the blast going straight through and hitting a mountain in the distance.

"Dad, watch out!" Gohan yelled as the monster reappeared, swatting the Super Saiyan out of the sky.

Gohan threw multiple punches and kicks. Hirudegarn evading all of them in his mist form.

"Damn, I can't track his solid form." he growled. Just then Hirudegarn reformed, gripping the half-Saiyan.

Kyuuri leapt into the air, catching Goku as he flew towards the ground. "Thanks, Kyuuri." Goku said as he regained his balance, he and the Saiyan girl turning to see Gohan being crushed in the beast's grip.

"Gohan!" she screamed.

Just as the half-Saiyan thought he might be crushed, a bolt of energy hit Hirudegarn in the arm, causing him to release the man.

"Hey you!" Vegeta yelled. "I was enjoying my first day off in over three months when some mutated, flat-footed behemoth stepped on my house!" he growled. Vegeta flew at Hirudegarn, unleashing a volley of blasts, the monster roaring as they made their mark. The Saiyan Prince managed to dart in and land a kick, the monster subsequently turning to mist and reforming behind him, swatting him into a nearby office building. Vegeta recovered in time to see the beast send a jet of flame at him, and after glancing at the frightened workers around him, raised a shield in front of the building, managing to block the flames. "I was...too easy on him." Vegeta groaned before collapsing, the employees coming to his aid.

Hirudegarn stalked towards the building, only to be knocked away by Gotenks. "Oh yeah, Super Saiyan 3 right out of the gate!" the fusion of Goten and Trunks said. The monster turned and roared at them, sending a blast of flame their way, Gotenks dodging to the side and raising both hands. "Take this! Die-Die missile!" the fused-half-Saiyan yelled, unleashing a barrage of powerful ki blasts onto the beast. Hirudegarn fell onto it's side, groaning before it's skin took on a hardened appearance, looking as if it were turned to stone.

"Hm, how'd this happen?" Gotenks pondered.

Just then Kyuuri swooped in, grabbing the fusion and pulling him back.

"Hey, what are you doing?!" he protested.

"Can't you see it?" the Saiyan girl asked.

Hirudegarn's shell had begun to crack, suddenly shattering in a burst of green energy, the monster erupting forth in a winged, golden insect-like form.

The new Hirudegarn easily swatted Gotenks to the ground, causing him to defuse into Goten and Trunks instantly.

"Goten, Trunks!" Gohan yelled, not noticing as Hirudgarn's massive tail gripped him crushing him before throwing him to the ground.

"You have to have a weakness, everything does!" Goku yelled as he powered up. Charging the beast, the Saiyan man threw numerous kicks, punches and blasts, Hirudegarn evading each one before punching the man to the ground, smashing him underfoot. "All these people...I can't let them die." he muttered before going unconscious.

Kyuuri levitated into the air, sending a blast at the monster, Hirudegarn turning to look at her, growling the entire time.

"Just you and me now, the Saiyan girl yelled, a bead of sweat dripping down her forehead.

Right as the monster came at her, a ki blast struck it, none other then Tapion standing on a nearby building. Hirudegarn left Kyuuri in favor of killing the man who imprisoned it.

The warrior withdrew his ocarina, playing the familiar tune.

"Fool, you'd think he would have figured out that wouldn't work by now." Hoi hissed.

Hirudegarn fired a jet of flame at Tapion, the Konatsian easily raising an energy shield and deflecting it.

"What?!" Hoi exclaimed.

"You've hurt too many people, caused so much destruction! I can't let this happen again." Tapion said as he levitated towards the monster, his song succeeding in resealing Hirudegarn within himself.

"Tapion, you did it!" Trunks said as he landed right next to him. "You really are a hero."

"Trunks!" Tapion yelled, unsheathing his blade. "I can't hold him forever, please, strike my heart it's the only way to be rid of Hirudegarn." he pleaded.

"But...but I can't." Trunks protested, holding the blade shakily.

"Please...little brother." Tapion said.

With tears streaming down his face, Trunks raised the sword, readying to deal a fatal blow to his surrogate brother.

"Don't touch him!" Hoi yelled as he descended.

Just then Tapion screamed, energy streaming from him, Hirudegarn reforming behind Hoi.

"See! I told you you couldn't control him! Only I can! Hirudegarn, kill them all, don't leave a single one alive!" he said, his face going blank as he looked up, a scream escaping him right before Hirudegarn's foot came down on the old man, killing the sorcerer instantly.

"What do we do now?" Trunks asked, Tapion being too exhausted to answer.

"Thanks again." Kyuuri said, pulling the battle suit on.

"No problem, I don't think Vegeta will miss it." Bulma said cautiously.

"I'll put it to good use." Kyuuri replied before powering up, a white aura surrounding her as she took off.

Trunks looked up in terror as the monster bore down on them, suddenly coming to a halt.

"Huh?" Trunks said.

The Saiyan girl flew into Hirudegarn feet first, the kick knocking it back a step. "Take this!" she yelled, throwing dozens of blasts at the beast. "And this!" she bellowed. "KA-MAY-HA-MAY-HA!". A blue stream of energy tore from her palms, striking the monster in the back. The Saiyan girl tied her hair back as the monster recovered, standing to face her. She drifted back a ways before reasserting her position, she was the only one with any energy left, and she damn well wouldn't waste it. "Here's some more! Masenko!" she yelled, the golden blast going right through the monster as it assumed it's mist form. "Oh..oh no." she muttered

Hirudegarn solidified behind her, gripping her in it's massive fist before slamming her into the ground.

Kyuuri screamed as she hit the pavement, groaning as the beast lifted it's hand away. She tried to move, her muscles aching as if begging her not to. "Come on! Come on!" she thought, her body tensing when suddenly an idea hit her. The Saiyan girl generated a white ball of ki in her hand, tossing it upwards as she staggered to her feet. "Time to pick on someone your own size." she growled.

Gohan stirred, watching in awe as Kyuuri stood, towering over everything in her Great Ape form.

"Come on, we have to go." Trunks said, lifting Tapion over his head and flying off.

Great Ape Kyuuri lifted both hands, smashing them into Hirudegarn and sending the beast sprawling on it's back. She roared, ki filling her jaws as she let loose a torrent of energy, Hirudegarn turning to mist and circling around behind her, whipping her to the ground with it's tail. Kyuuri stood, letting loose an enraged roar and pouncing on the monster, pinning it to the ground and letting loose a volley of ki blasts from her mouth, Hirudegarn roaring in pain before reassuming it's mist from, rematerializing next to Kyuuri and swiping at her with it's claw, the Great Ape catching the strike and punching the monster dead center in the face, Hirudegarn staggering to it's feet as Kyuuri lunged at it. The beast once again turned to mist, traveling around Kyuuri, solidifying behind her and grabbing ahold of her tail. She roared as she tried to turn, the greatest pain she had ever felt hitting her and radiating through her body as the monster tore her tail clean off.

Kyuuri shrank back to her normal form, tears streaming down her face as she collapsed, her battle suit torn and cracked. "I can't let it end like this I can't." she said as she staggered to her feet. Hirudegarn looked down at her, baring it's teeth. She stood no chance now and she knew it, she would die, but even worse, it would kill Gohan, Goku, Goten, Vegeta, Bulma, Trunks and there was no doubt the other Z-Fighters would try to fight it eventually, Piccolo, Tien, Chiaotzu, Yamcha and even Master Roshi would fall against it. "I can't lose them, I won't let you kill them! I won't lose my friends! I won't lose my family!" she screamed, a golden aura swirling around her before erupting into a full on explosion, carving a crater into the ground around her. Kyuuru looked down at her hands, the ache in her muscles being absent. "Am I..?" she trailed off, watching the golden aura flow around her, her now golden hair having burst free of it's tie. "Finally." she growled, levitating into the air. She flew at the beast, managing to strike it in the jaw, causing it to stagger to the side, it attempted to use it's mist form to get behind her, Kyuuri evading it's attacks as it solidified. "Masenko!" she shouted, the golden beam of energy hitting the beast dead center and sending it crashing into a nearby building. Right as the beast regained it's footing, it was struck in the chest again, by a kamehameha this time.

Kyuuri's chest heaved with every breath, her now turquoise eyes flashing furiously. "More where that came from!" she roared, preparing another blast. In an instant Hirudegarn assumed it's mist form, reappearing behind her, opening it's mouth wide and letting loose a blast of flame. The Saiyan girl raised both hands to defend herself, lowering them as the blast seemingly disappeared. In front of her a man stood, a golden aura surged around him, long golden hair stretching to his knees. "Goku?" Kyuuri asked. She felt a wave of shock wash over her as the man turned, Gohan's smile greeting her.

"You finally did it Kyuuri! You're a Super Saiyan!" he said excitedly.

"And you..so are you...I mean...a Super Saiyan 3." she stammered.

"I know! I guess we're quite the motivators for each other!" the half-Saiyan exclaimed.

"I'll say." Kyuuri replied as she powered up, her golden aura flaring around her.

Hirudegarn roared, it's red eyes settling on them.

"If we don't..." Gohan began.

"Who will?!" Kyuuri continued.

"Ka-may-ha-may-HAAAA!" both Super Saiyans roared, the blue blast, fueled by the golden energies of their Super Saiyan forms barreled towards the monster. Hirudegarn attempted to turn to mist, finding itself locked in place as Tapion stood atop a nearby building.

"You're not getting away this time." the warrior thought as he played the instrument.

The monster roared as the blast enveloped it, burning it away into nothingness.

"It's over, we did it." Gohan said as he fell back into his base form, Kyuuri doing the same.

oOo

"I can't thank you all enough." Tapion said sincerely.

"You don't have to thank us, we just did what was right." Gohan answered.

"Besides, this whole thing finally got me to go Super Saiyan." Kyuuri said.

"We don't know what we would've done without you." Bulma added.

"I totally agree, I just wish you could stay and train with us, you'd make one hell of a fighter." Goku said.

"Thanks...but I have to return to my people." Tapion said. "They must know that it's finally over, I'll tell them all of the brave warriors who put an end to Hirudegarn."

Trunks stood on the fringe of the circle, holding back tears.

"Hey" Tapion said, walking over to the boy. "You were brave, braver than I am." he said with a smile.

"Really?" Trunks asked as he looked up.

"Yeah, for sure." Tapion said as he removed his sword, sheath and all from his back. "I want you to have this." he said with a grin.

"What? Really? For me?" the young half-Saiyan asked.

"For you." he said, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder before standing up. "You deserve it, you're quite the hero yourself." he said. "And you two." he added, looking at Gohan and Kyuuri. "It was an honor fighting with you." he said.

"The honor is all ours." Gohan replied.

"If you hadn't held him there, we might not have won." Kyuuri said with a grin.

Tapion nodded. "I'll never forget all of you." he said as he climbed into the Time Machine Bulma had supplied.

"And we'll never forget you." Bulma said, the group nodding behind her.

Tapion waved as the glass hatch on the machine closed, the machine lifting into the air and fading away, the proud warrior returning to his world, his people.

oOo

Hello everyone! Sorry for the long while without an update! I hope you enjoyed the new chapter! Please tell me what you thought of it! Thanks for reading!

-Prometheus17