Tsuki was already waiting when the three landed. She gave a gentle smile, though only Gohan responded, albeit halfheartedly.
"There is something you must know," she stated, skipping formalities. "And yes, Piccolo, it is something Gohan needs to hear," she added, meeting the Namekian's eyes.
"What is it?" he asked wearily, his hand instinctively resting on Gohan's shoulder.
"The others, as you obviously know, are already dead. However, that does not mean they cannot die. I have pulled them back by reweaving their broken threads. Should they die, the thread will unravel and cannot be repaired. They will cease to exist, not even in Other World."
Gohan's body immediately stiffened and Piccolo pulled him back against him. The boy's muscles began to quiver and nervous ki began to burn against his legs.
"Fantastic," Vegeta deadpanned, his usual sarcasm just barely lacing his voice.
"Do they know this?" Piccolo asked.
"Yes, they know the risks. I did not force them to join."
"What about our threads?" Vegeta asked suddenly.
Tsuki hesitated and Piccolo's body became as tense as Gohan's. "I...am not sure," she admitted. "Your threads have not been broken before, with the exception of Gohan's, which is now a completely different situation. But... Amat's army will be of their own threads, mostly threads he created. Even though some of his threads have yet to be broken, I cannot promise you they will not completely destroy yours as well."
"But why? Why would their threads be any different that they would do more than simply cut ours?" Vegeta pressed, his voice becoming angrier with each word.
"I regret to tell you this, but... I gave a lot of my life away when I healed Gohan. I have been slowly dying since then, and so my work has weakened. I have East and Elder Kai, and they have helped tremendously, but I cannot tell you for certain my threads will all hold, regardless that yours have not been cut. Amat has been using dark magic, and he's had help from another. But your threads are strong still, since they were created long ago. Your ki has not weakened in any way. I just cannot make these promises though."
"WHAT?" Gohan shrieked. The heat of his elevated ki became searing in panic, forcing Piccolo to step away. Unable to control his fear, the boy jumped straight into Super Saiyan II, the force of it pushing everyone back.
"Gohan..." Piccolo tried, trying to calm the boy. He reached out to touch his shoulder, only to yank it back as Gohan flared his ki, practically burning his hand.
"NO!" he screamed. "No! You all need to leave! Please Lady, make them go home! Don't bring the others back!" he begged. "This is all my fault! I have to do this myself! I can do it alone!"
"No, you can't," Piccolo said. "You need-"
"FUCK OFF!" Gohan screeched, whirling on him. "Don't tell me-"
"Whoa..." Krillin's voice suddenly came from behind them. "You've been spending too much time around Vegeta, kid!" he joked, coming to stand beside the Saiyan.
"He called my an asshole last night," Piccolo said lightly, trying desperately to lighten Gohan's mood.
However, it was in vain as Gohan crossed his arms over his chest and turned his back. "You deserved it," he muttered coldly.
The air shimmered, and then Goku was in front of Gohan. "Hey kiddo!" he greeted enthusiastically.
"Hi," Gohan murmured, not meeting his eyes and brushing past him, walking away as the others began to arrive as well.
"Um..." Goku pondered, looking to Piccolo.
He sighed. "I think he believes that being mean will persuade everyone to leave; to not fight with him."
"Why would he want that?" Goku asked in confusion.
The annoyance Piccolo had always had for the Saiyan reared its ugly head. "Because he's afraid, Goku," he practically snapped. "He isn't like you; he isn't like me. He doesn't like to fight and he never has. He's always terrified he will lose and lose his friends' lives as well. He's nine, Goku. Nine! He's just a little kid doomed to live forever, and he is terrified he'll be alone. He doesn't care if he dies, provided we don't as well. Your son sacrificed himself for me when he was five years old! And now, he intends on doing it again."
"I'll go talk to him," Goku volunteered, already walking away.
"Goku, wait, that might not be a very good idea...Well damn it, there he goes..." Krillin tried to warn, but the Saiyan was already out of earshot.
But Piccolo wasn't. He listened closely to the conversation, motioning to Krillin to keep quiet. The monk caught on and remained silent, looking at Piccolo expectantly.
"Hey kiddo," Goku greeted lightly. "What's going on?"
"Nothing. Go away," Gohan snipped.
Goku cocked his head. "Looks like a lot more than nothing to me. Come on, tell your old man all about it."
Piccolo felt the minute change in ki that sparked with Gohan's anger. "Oh no..."
"What? What's happen-" Krillin started.
"I said go away, Goku!" Gohan snarled loudly, thrusting his hand out to push the Saiyan back with a wave of ki pressure.
"Well, everyone heard that," Krillin muttered as everyone whipped around to stare at the pair.
Vegeta quickly stalked over. "You had better get over there before your boy self-destructs!" he ordered.
"Already on it," Piccolo answered, brushing past the Saiyan, Krillin at his heels. Gohan looked up as he approached, noticing the stern look on the Namekian's face, and he immediately deflated and flinched back.
"Please don't," he whispered.
Krillin came up behind Goku and rested his hand on his elbow, steering him away. "C'mon Goku. Let Piccolo sort this out. He didn't mean it," he reassured at his friend's forlorn face.
"Enough is enough, Gohan. It isn't going to work," he stated evenly. "We aren't going to leave you, no matter what you say or do. All you are doing is hurting feelings, but that will not make them leave."
Gohan's eyes began to water. "But-"
"No," Piccolo cut off. "Everyone is staying. Vegeta is staying. And you know he'd leave if he didn't want to stay. If he's not leaving, then you know everyone else won't either. We all want to fight for you; with you."
"Yeah!" Krillin chimed in, walking up behind Piccolo. "And between you and me, kid- and you cannot tell him I said this; I can't stress this enough- but, well... Vegeta does love you Gohan, in that really screwy, frankly messed up way of his. He's practically told me, just not in so many words because God forbid anyone knows he feels!"
"What did he say?" Gohan asked, now curious.
"He said, and I quote: 'I don't hate the kid. He's a Saiyan...You can't tell him this, but I actually do like him.' Sorry Vegeta, it needed to be said..." he added as an afterthought.
"Um... Krillin, that just means he likes me, not loves."
"Kid, there is absolutely no in-between with that dude. No grey areas; everything is black and white. You know that! He either tolerates or loves you. It's a weird type of love, and I'll admit there are somewhat different levels to it, but it's love nonetheless. Now hatred is a different story all together, so we're just not going to go into it. Which, by the way, Piccolo, he does not hate you. He tolerates you."
"Feeling's mutual."
"So yeah, Gohan. The point is, everyone here loves you. That's why we came, despite the risks. Well, everyone besides Jeice, that is. He doesn't know you; he's here for Vegeta. Talk about loyalty...The guy was killed by him."
"Do you understand now, Gohan?" Piccolo asked, looking down upon the boy. Gohan met his gaze with watery eyes before throwing himself at him, hugging him hard around the middle. Piccolo rested his hand at the back of his head. He was suddenly aware that they were not alone and he looked over in Goku's direction. The Saiyan's face was a mix of love, pride, and...was that sadness?
It struck Piccolo then that it must hurt, at least on some level, to watch your son love another in your place. Goku's gaze lifted to Piccolo and the Namekian jerked his head, indicating for the Saiyan to come over. As he approached, Gohan looked up and stepped away from Piccolo. He took a few hesitant steps towards his father. At Goku's warm smile, Gohan quickly stepped up to him, embracing him. Goku's smile became brighter, returning the embrace fervently.
"It's all going to be okay, kiddo," he assured. "I promise." Gohan stiffened and Goku looked to Piccolo, who shook his head discretely.
"Gohan, come here please," Tsuki called. Piccolo breathed a sigh of relief, eager to break the tension that had begun.
"I have to go," Gohan said softly, though his voice was stiff. He pulled away from his father and began to walk to the goddess, throwing one last glance over his shoulder.
"Thank god," Krillin breathed, breaking the tension.
"What did I do?" Goku asked, confusion written clearly on his face.
"Gohan doesn't like promises," Piccolo answered. "He believes they will be broken. Too many of them have."
Goku nodded in understanding. "I won't do it again, then. So Krillin..."
Piccolo tuned them out, watching Gohan and Tsuki speak. He could not hear them well, but from the look on Gohan's face, it was not good news. He watched the boy shake his head in denial, a terrified expression on his face. He took several quick steps back. His ki sparked and Piccolo prepared to rush over. Then, Tsuki raised her hands in a placating manner, and Gohan calmed a bit.
Good. As long as she's around, she can calm him when I am not. He won't try to-
"Piccolo? Piccolo!" Krillin's voice cut through his subconscious.
"What?" he asked distractedly.
"You're planning something, aren't you Piccolo?" Krillin asked seriously.
Piccolo tore his gaze away from the boy and goddess and looked upon the monk and Saiyan before him. "Gohan doesn't think he can win. He thinks he's tapped out, that Old Kai released everything in him."
Krillin's eyes became huge. "You're going to do what you did with Broly? Only...oh my god, you're going to do it for real this time, aren't you?"
"What are you talking about?" Goku asked, confused.
"When we were fighting Broly, Gohan thought he was losing. Piccolo dropped his ki and made Gohan believe he died. His anger pushed him to kill Broly," Krillin explained.
"Why not try it again then?" Goku suggested.
Piccolo shook his head. "It won't work. We've been together for so long...We're too attuned to one another now. He'd know instantly. It has to be for real this time."
"Piccolo, you can't! Don't do that to him!" Krillin gasped.
"I have already had this conversation. It doesn't matter who it is with, my answer will not change," he said, his voice clearly agitated now.
"But...he needs you," Goku protested. "Let it be me. Losing my existence is worth making sure my son is with you. Let me be the sacrifice."
"Goku...I hate to break it to you, but... that wouldn't spur Gohan enough. He loves you, but...Piccolo... he's the one who would spur an ascendance. You've been dead too long. He doesn't really...know...you anymore. You know?"
Goku sighed. "Yeah, I know. I just don't want him to be alone... Can I not try first? If it works, Piccolo can stay with him. That's what he needs. He doesn't need me; he needs you."
"Your death would be in vain," Piccolo said. "Maybe it would work, but if not, you're gone forever. Gohan isn't going to be able to handle both of us dying. I fear the ascendance spurred with that much pain would kill him outright."
"And you don't think you dying isn't going to make that happen?" Krillin pressed.
Piccolo gave a low growl. "This conversation is over. My mind is not changing. You're wasting your breath, so just stop." He narrowed his eyes and turned his attention solely on the Saiyan. "Not a word of this conversation is to be shared. With anyone. So keep your big mouth shut, Goku."
"Does Vegeta know?" Krillin asked.
"He may have an inkling, depending on how much Bulma told him, if she said anything at all. But no, I haven't told him."
"I think he knows, Piccolo."
"What makes you say that?"
"He keeps looking over here. Looking at you. And then at Gohan. And then you again. I think he's going to-"
Krillin was cut off as the sky suddenly became blindingly bright. And then, a noise like thunder sounded and the sky darkened.
"PICCOLO!" Gohan's terrified voice cried.
The three sprinted for the group as Shin made his appearance as well. Krillin went to stand with Vegeta and Jeice as Piccolo planted himself to the right of Gohan, Goku on the boy's left.
"They're coming!" Shin announced breathlessly. "They're he-"
A booming laugh sounded, and then there was another bright flash. When it faded, Amat hovered above them.
"Ah, a welcoming party. How sweet. You really shouldn't have, sister, but I am honored!" Amat said mockingly. He glanced at the small army of warriors and let out sharp bark of laughter.
"Really, Tsuki? This is who you gathered to fight? This ragtag group to defend the Earth? They've all died, have they not? And easily at that, if I remember correctly. And I am certain I am... Well, I have seen yours; would you like to see mine?" His eyes scanned the group quickly, looking upon Gohan. "Are you ready, my boy?"
Gohan didn't rise to the bait, meeting the god's eyes, blue locking onto gold, a low growl growing in the back of his throat at the words my boy.
The sky around Amat darkened, and then figures were stepping out from the shadows. The first two to step out drew a growl from Vegeta. Piccolo wracked his brain, trying to place the two familiar beings. The larger of the two looked like Frieza in his second form, the smaller like his fourth.
"King Cold and Cooler," Jeice gasped.
That's right. Tsuki said Amat created them with Frieza... Speak of the Devil...
Vegeta's growl turned into a snarl as Frieza emerged from the shadows to stand beside his brother and father.
"He's stronger," Krillin whispered. "Do you feel that? How-"
"KAKAROTT!" a crazed voice bellowed, the darkness giving way to a flash of brilliant gold.
"Broly," Piccolo muttered. "He's stronger too..."
Goku cocked his head in confusion, gazing up at the other Super Saiyan. "That's my name... How does he know m-"
Goku was cut off when Gohan's small hand clutched at his tightly, painfully. He heard a small hiss of pain and looked over to Piccolo, noticing Gohan's other hand clutching his just as tightly, if not more so. The boy was seemingly staring past the god where the shadows darkened into a pitch black void of nothingness.
The nearly overwhelming surge of dark magic and powerful ki hit and washed over the group like a tsunami. A small yellowish being appeared and then a soft light glowed softly beside him, a deceivingly childish laugh tinkling on the breeze. Then, the void exploded in a blinding flash of pink, causing everyone to close their eyes tightly.
Another squealing laugh pierced the air.
Piccolo opened his eyes as the light faded and his heart dropped.
There, in all his terrifying glory, was Majin Buu.