Oh, hello there? Did you think I wasn't coming back? Fool! You should never doubt me or my inevitable return!
Actually, doubting me is totally what you should've done, because I had every intention of abandoning this fic. As time went on, I just grew to hate it. Not in the sense that I hated working on it, but in the sense that I felt like the whole thing was just... silly. Not only did I grow to despise how I'd wrote the thing, but I also wrote a bunch of cringe author's notes, and I eventually I let all those negative voices in my head drown out the good.
Now, I'm not promising that I'm back. I wrote this chapter- or rather finished this chapter- while in a pseudo-fever-dream-like state fueled by a heat wave during which I've had little to no air conditioning. I won't lie to you and tell you I'm back, but I wouldn't have posted this if I didn't want to at least finish the fic either. And I do want to finish it... eventually. I hope I will.
With that said, please enjoy dear reader...
Moving my body was awkward at first. I am Videl, and this was my body, but it was also... new somehow? Master didn't prepare me for this, but I guess that's because he thinks I can handle it on my own...
Probably. Or maybe I'm just cannon fodder? Whatever, Master is too smart for me to figure out his plans anyway.
-'Master is too smmaaart' Blegh!'- I could hear the ridicule and derision in my burden's voice. You've only been here thirty seconds and I already can't stand you! Shut the hell up and give me my body back already-
'Just shut up!' I yelled inside my mind. 'Don't you see? With this power up, you'll finally have a chance to catch up with everyone. And after this, Master will grant us even more power! Have you given up on your dream already!?' I scoffed. This dumb bitch.
-You looking down on me now you fucking bitch? First you steal my body, now you're just going to ignore me!? And what's with this 'I am Videl' shit!? You aren't me!
'Yeah Einstein, no shit.' I told her. 'But I am Videl.'
...
-The fuck does that mean!? I don't have time for this shit, just shut your crazy bitch hole and give me my fucking body back!-
I rubbed the bridge of my nose. This was going to be a loooong day.
-"Hello? Hello!? Are you receiving my voice Videl?"- The thought-voice of my Master thundered through my mind.
'Yes Master,' I answered. 'I hear you loud and clear.'
-"Good! Let's get down to business shall we? Prince Vegeta has rebelled instead of obeying my orders to kill the Supreme Kai, but he's fighting Goku so it's not a total loss"-
'That arrogant prick! He dares disobey you!? After all you've done for him-'
-"Honestly I'm more impressed than angry,"- My master spoke with some amusement "Do you have any idea how many people I've enslaved? It's a lot! And not a single one broke free until now!"-
I nodded my head, awe-struck by Master's prowess. 'That's a very good record! You should be proud!'
Master giggled, -"Yes I suppose it is impressive! Flatter me more, Videl! Praise is so much better coming from someone so young and... attractive."-
-Oh god I think I'm going to be sick- My burden made gagging noises. Enslave me if you have to. Torture me even! But for the love of god, NEVER say ANYTHING even REMOTELY like that again-
I gave a humph, folded my arms, and turned up my nose. 'Master compliments us and that's how you thank him?! You're so ungrateful!'
-"Eh, still hung up about Goku huh? I understand. You'll get over him eventually though, he's way too old for you! AHAHAHAH!"-
-What the fuck is that supposed to- How do you even know about- Fuck you!-
"You're not even going to deny it..." I muttered. I remembered each and every time she saw him. I remembered what it felt like. Just thinking about him... it caused a shiver to run up my spine. Poor girl was head over heels.
-Hey I can fucking- see or feel or- experience whatever the fuck you're thinking and it's not true! I just met the guy, i-it's just a crush anyway!-
-"Oh this is getting good! AHAHAHA!"-
-You stay out of this!-
'You know I have your memories right?'* Who am I kidding, we're not smart enough to figure that out on our own. 'You keep acting like you're not into him, like it makes you feel soooo guilty, but the truth is that's just one more thing to love about him right? How utterly taboo it is- It makes you feel all warm and funny inside… and below…'
-Sh-shut up! That's fucking gross! A-And a lie!-
I snickered. 'Oh come on don't be like that! You're practically a grown woman- What? Daddy's little girl can't handle a bit of dirty talk? Just admit it- the moment he walked up to you at the prelims you were fucking soaked.'
I giggled as she spat curses at me. 'And it was so fun at first! It was like a game for you- freaking out whenever you thought about him, trying to 'punish' yourself with guilt you didn't actually feel, because there was just no chance right? But then he gave you a shoulder to cry on in your moment of weakness- and what's worse is he didn't even judge you for it…'
I sighed in satisfaction thinking back to those moments. It had been so long since she'd been vulnerable around someone- or at least, someone that didn't see her as less than. 'And then, after all that, even after seeing you a pitiful, crying mess, he still believed in you. When anyone else would use it as evidence of your weakness. And the truth is… that scares you.'
-please… just stop-
'And then, not an hour ago, you find out the truth. It turns out this stranger believes in you more strongly than your own father. How fucked up is that? And now... when you hear his name, when you think about him... Oh but the things you feel are wrong! But you don't care anymore, do you? I know, because I don't either. Not really.'
I closed my eyes and held an image of his smiling face in my mind. What we wouldn't do to see those eyes staring back at us with the same kind of longing we felt. But…
It was not meant to be. I had Master now. I lived for him. I would die for him. There was no room for anyone else.
-"Oh? Done with your little girl talk? It was interesting but I have so much more to- Oh wait! I almost forgot to give you your orders! Now that would have been a gaffe. AHAHAHA!"- Master talked as if he were singing a wonderful, happy melody. Every syllable rose and fell like notes in a song.
-More like the death screams of a cicada...-
-"First things first! Let's make our conversation private shall we?"-
-You guys do realize you're talking in my head? How exactly are you going to make things private?-
...
-Oh you shut my eyes, that's great. That makes things sooo private. Well, it's not like there's much to see anyway, just sand, rock, and sadness.-
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-Fine, I admit it. You can really keep things private I don't really care about your plans, I can't do anything about them, but I am starting to get bored, so can you just- stop ignoring me?-
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-Alright motherfuckers, I'm starting to get fucking pissed! It's not enough that you posses me and keep flirting with each other and mocking me!? You bastards gotta close your eyes and ignore me too!? I'm not in the mood for this shit!-
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-Okay, haha, very funny. You can open my eyes now. I'll admit it's kinda creepy when you just shut everything out like that-
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-Are Goku and Vegeta through fighting...? I can't hear them anymore-
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-Come on. It's not funny anymore! I can't do anything, just let me... let me at least see what's going on!-
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-P-Please. It's so dark. Just... just let me see. I promise I won't complain anymore! You can have my body, I wasn't even using it anyway!-
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-Didn't you hear me! I said I would cooperate! That's what you wanted right!? Let me go! Please... please just let me see!-
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-I-I'm sorry okay! I don't know what I did but I'm sorry! Just- just please say something. Don't leave me alone like this!-
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-"Oh woops! I forgot to turn this thing back on! Welcome back, sorry for leaving you for so long AHAHAHAHAHA!"-
Whatever, it's already over.
=What do you mean it's already- GOHAN NO!-
Oh yeah, the dork. He was currently face-first in the dirt, Cell's boot… foot… thing resting on his head. The bastard had a complicated look on his face- the fucking audacity to actually fight back against Master's control. At least he couldn't go rogue like Vegeta- wherever he was. How that prick managed that feat I'll never understand. But then again, I don't really understand why someone would fight back at all.
-I certainly can-
'I didn't ask you now did I?'* I sneered.
-Where's that purple guy, Shin? The god or kai or whatever-
In answer, said creep dropped out of the sky- smoking like a chimney and clothes reduced to torn rags. Frieza descended upon him, arms crossed and one fucked up foot perching upon the god's shoulder. Heh- there's a joke about angels and devils on shoulders in here but for the life of me I can't come up with it.
"At last!" Master's voice, his real voice, echoed out over the wasteland. His magnificent form-
-Oh god he's the color and shape of a dried up booger what kind of fucked up—
'Be quiet or I'll ask Master to put you back in the dark!'*
-… whatever, continue verbally sucking his dick what do I care-
As I was saying, Master's magnificent form glided across the desert surface with grand purpose. He stopped before this defeated god- defeated by a minion no less- and grinned down in divine amusement.
"Well, well, well. Looks like your plan just wasn't up to snuff huh? You know, if that tournament hadn't drug out quite so long, then it might have worked. I wouldn't have had the time to summon those two from Other World." He ground a cloth shoe into the god's eye. "Too bad! You were too slow! AHAHAHAHAH!"
There was a beeping noise and Master looked down at some unnamable device in his hands. "Hmmm? Looks like it's almost ready. Cell! I want you to-"
A distinct and now familiar pop interrupted him.
"Stop right there! I can't let this go on any longer!"
I shivered at the sound of his voice despite myself. He stood there basking in that faint golden glow, top-half of his gi ripped off and exposing every inch of perfectly sculpted form. The dirt, scratches, and specks of blood covering him lit a fire inside of me I didn't know I possessed. FUCK I could just imagine it! Rough hands gripping me tightly as he-
-Oh my god shut the fuck up- just ew… Fucking control yourself! Honestly-
'Really? Like you* weren't thinking about it'
-As a matter of fact—
'Hold on!… I have an idea…'*
-Oh god no! Don't you fucking dare!-
"Master!" I cried out, taking him by surprise.
"Oh? What is it, Videl?"
I raised a hand, pointing at Goku. "After all this is over, could you let me-"
It was then, just Master's full attention was on me, that I saw a red flash come from behind him. I dove towards him immediately. "Master, look out!"
His eyes widened a bit, then a thin red beam slicked through his heart. "Wha-" His head turned as he collapsed, face twisted in surprise as he saw the traitor with his arm outstretched.
"Oops." Frieza smiled cruelly. "My hand slipped."
"You bastard!" The scream ripped its way through my throat as I charged him. His pupil less red eyes stared me down in contempt, stirring a violent rage within me. "How could you!"
Just before my fist could meet his face, a hand grabbed my wrist with impossible strength- stopping me cold. "Back off." Cell warned, throwing me into the dirt. I reached within myself for master's power, but halfway to my feet I felt it leave.
"You… too?" I groaned as all strength left my body and I collapsed back into the dirt. if I could only just-! No it's already too late… Master… I've… failed… you…
…
…
Weakly, and fully expecting it not to respond, I willed my hand to move and... it did. It hovered there in front of my face, skin caked in blood and dirt… So… no longer trapped inside my own mind. Good.
… Now, what in the metaphorical fuck just happened?
Apologies for the length, but I needed to do it for my sanity. I don't have the energy to work on it anymore and I'm afraid that if I don't release it now I'll talk myself out of it later and never release it at all. I really, really want to finish this story, but- it's a fight for some reason.
Maybe it's cliche, or sappy, or it will come off as insincere, but it's the reviews that brought me back. Even after I disappeared, people kept leaving little encouragements, which always made me smile, even when I thought I would never return. Thank you, honestly, everyone who has read and enjoyed my story- such that it is. It feels me with pride to have created something that people have enjoyed, even a little bit.
Until next time, dear reader...