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This is a flashback

"This is Gohan thinking"

Chapter 3: Vacation

Gohan and Goku squared off, taking up fighting stances. Elder Kai appeared to have a sudden, and unpleasant, realization, and rushed toward them. "Wait, you two! Not on my plan-" Blue and white auras burst out of the two fighters, sending the venerable elder tumbling like a leaf in a tornado. "His shrieks of protest were carried away along with his person as the father-son duo leapt toward each other in a storm of energy.

They interlocked hands, each struggling to overpower the other through sheer strength. Father and son's yells filled the air, growing in intensity as they matched each other in rising power. "Man, he's strong. Even with the power boost I got from using god ki, he's matching me easily so far. And he's not even using the Kaio-Ken! Wow, dad." As the struggle reached a crescendo, Gohan smiled, and Goku grinned in response. They broke away at the same instant, springing back. As he flew backwards through the air, Gohan charged a Masenko, hands over his head. Goku responded in kind with a Kamehameha.

"Masenko-Ha!"

"Kamehame-Ha!"

The yellow and blue waves crashed together, streaks of lightning carving furrows in the ground. The unfortunate Elder Kai, who had just managed to stand up on shaky legs, was promptly knocked back off them and blown further away, enraged yells drowned out by the titanic battle that was taking place on his planet.

"Alright Piccolo, lets see how your attack does against my dad's Kamehameha!" Gohan's hands were beginning to shake. Goku's wave began to push back the Masenko. "I know my dad loves a long warm-up, but this is the perfect opportunity to test my full strength against him!" Gohan yelled, veins popping out on his outstretched arms. "HAAAAAA!" His white aura burst out once more, streaming away in the opposite direction from his attack. The Masenko doubled in size, and began rapidly pushing toward Goku. Gohan heard an answering shout from his father, and felt his beam being pushed back again as his father began to overwhelm him. "Ah, crapbaskets".

Within moments the blue wave completely enveloped him. Gohan stood in the blue stream of energy holding a small yellow sphere in front of him like a shield. He staggered slightly. "He's so strong! What can I do against this kind of power?" He gritted his teeth. "I'm still not ready! I can't even stand against my dad and he still thinks this is a warm-up!"

What was different about Goku? How did he always manage to bring his power to the next level? In a matter of years, he'd gone from a skilled martial artist, to the strongest in the world, the the embodiment of a legend, to a god. And then, during the tournament, he'd gone beyond that. At a time when everyone else was worrying only about survival, Goku had overcome his limits once again and surpassed even the gods.

The small sphere cupped in Gohan's hands began to fade.

"He treats everything like a chance to find his limits, and to push beyond them".

Gohan's eyes began to close against the increasing force of the Kamehameha.

"I've reached my limit in this battle".

As his eyes closed, he turned his focus inward, searching… "There!" It was less a location than a feeling. The limit to his power. He pushed against it, but it refused to yield. "Come on! I'm so close!"

But the barrier refused to budge. The Kamehameha finally destroyed the last remnant of Gohan's Masenko, exposing him to the full power of the blast. He was lifted off his feet, yelling in pain. As his consciousness began to flicker, he turned his gaze inward again toward his limit, pushing, pushing.

He gasped. The pain no longer existed. There was no more outside struggle. Only the limit remained, mocking him with its presence. With a final, earth shattering scream Gohan turned his entire being into defeating that limit. His fists clenched involuntarily at his sides as he screamed his lungs out. Then… a hint of success. Gohan felt his limit...shift, and he could feel the incredible power that lay beyond. He had time to smile in triumph before his awareness faded into darkness.

Goku's eyes widened as he felt his Son's power fluctuate wildly, then drop sharply. He broke off his attack and dropped to base form, then hurried over. "Gohan!". He anxiously propped his son's head up, looking over the burns his attack had caused.

Gohan's eyes opened. "What… Crapbaskets! Seriously, I passed out again?"

Goku chuckled. "Looks like it, son! I guess I should probably get you to Dende, you're pretty beat up. Sorry about that".

Gohan shook his head. "No dad, I needed to push myself. Though passing out wasn't part of the plan".

Goku laughed again, a hand behind his head. "Well, no worries, Dende'll get you fixed right up". He put two fingers to his forehead.

"WAIT!" screamed an irate Elder Kai, sprinting toward the pair. "You two better help clean u-" He broke off as the two disappeared, and skidded to a halt. He stared at the recently vacated and mostly destroyed patch of ground, then sighed, turned, and began searching for the porno magazine he had dropped. Work was for the youth; he'd let the Supreme Kai fix things this time.

…

"You really need to be more careful when you're training", admonished Dende, arms held out to heal his friend. "This is the second time I've had to heal you in the past few days! What's the hurry?"

Gohan gave a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of his head. "No pain, no gain right?"

Goku laughed. "Now you sound like Vegeta! Maybe he did teach you something in the chamber after all!"

Dende shook his head in disgust, then dropped his hands, the glow fading. "Alright Gohan, all better. Next time I see you better not be because you're half-dead again".

Gohan held up his hands in defeat. "Fine, I promise I'll be more careful. Happy?"

Dende smiled. "Happy enough. Oh- I just remembered. Universe 6's Angel contacted me recently. I was relieving myself at the time- it was quite a shock". Goku and Gohan laughed. "Anyways, she asked if anyone from universe 7 wanted to come over for a playdate- her words, not mine".

Goku jumped to his feet, excited. "Of course! Oh, man, I'm so excited to fight Hit again. And those universe 6 saiyans weren't bad either, what were their names again? That's right, Kale! Kale and Cauliflower!"

Gohan smiled. While he didn't quite share his father's childlike enthusiasm, a trip to universe 6 would be an interesting opportunity to learn from some powerful fighters. He might even gain some insight into the Saiyan race that could help him become stronger. He suspected Vegeta would decide to go as well, and maybe Piccolo. He frowned. If he, his father and Vegeta all went, there wouldn't be any fighters left in 7 capable of beating Frieza. He sighed. They'd either have to bring along the alien lizard, or kill him. Oh well.

…

"Is everyone ready to depart?" asked the elegant blue angel. The group stood arrayed around him holding hands to maintain contact, some more grudgingly than others. Beerus had decided to stay behind, saying something "taking a nap" and his "stupid brother". That left Gohan, Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Frieza, Videl and Pan. Videl had decided to come, saying it "might be interesting to learn about the heritage that produced such a handful of a daughter". Frieza had only agreed to come along after Gohan had stated in no uncertain terms, Vegeta looking on with a cross between a scowl and a smirk, that the lizard could choose between coming along peacefully and dying. Whis had agreed to keep him on a leash for the duration of the visit.

Everyone nodded to the angels question. "All right," he said, "Three, two, one.." And then the scenery changed.

They were standing on earth, but it appeared to be less technologically advanced than the one Gohan knew. "That's right, it was destroyed, then Beerus wished it back". Human bystanders looked on in astonishment at the motley group, but no one payed them any heed. Vados and Champa were already there waiting, along with the three universe 6 saiyans. Champa almost looked disappointed at his brother's absence, then quickly erased the look. "Welcome universe 7!" he said. "I think you'll find our universe is just like yours, but better! Enjoy your stay!".

Caulifla teleported over to stand in front of Goku, eyes shining with excitement. She began to speak rapid-fire, alternating demands, questions and exclamations, most of them somehow fighting-related. Kale trailed shyly behind. As Cabba walked up to Vegeta, calling him master and saying something about meeting a king, Gohan looked to Piccolo. "What are you going to do with your vacation time?" he asked.

"I think I'll pay a visit to my counterparts on Namek," rumbled the tall alien. "I hear they never had an ecological collapse, so I'll be interested to see the planet in its prime".

Gohan nodded. Each of the visitors from universe 7 had brought capsulized spaceships, so they could go off on their own if necessary. "Well, have fun Piccolo! Say hi to those two Namekian warriors for me, would you?"

The Super Namekian smiled. "Will do, kid. See you later". He waved a hand as he began to walk away.

Gohan turned to his wife, who struggled to keep a happy Pan under control. "What do you say we head to planet Sadala first?" he asked.

Videl nodded. "Maybe we'll be able to pick up some tips on Saiyan parenting while we're there," she suggested hopefully.

Gohan grimaced, remembering the way his father had been dealt with as a baby. "Then again, these universe 6 saiyans seem a lot more civilized than our counterparts". He glanced at Caulifla, who was yelling something at his father angrily. "For the most part, anyway". "Maybe," he agreed. He pulled out his spaceship capsule. "Let's head out then," he said, clicking and throwing the capsule.