Gohan: Development of a Hero
This is a Dragonballz fanfiction. To my eternal sadness, I do not own or in anyway profit from Dragonballz or any of the characters in this story. This fic, as you can guess from the title, centers on Gohan, and begins right after the cell games. It is an AU, and reviews are welcome and appreciated.
Part 2 – Revelations and Explanations
Gohan's mind raced as he left the clearing to head back to his house. Everything he'd learned from Sensei was still bouncing around in his mind, and Gohan was just barely getting his head around it. Another evil was coming, one more powerful than Cell. Gohan was the only one who could stop it, yet he couldn't tell anybody. And there was a Saiyan from the future stronger than Gohan who was going to help him stop the evil.
Despite the feelings of deja-vu and strangeness, Gohan didn't doubt that Sensei was telling the truth. Oh, he was hiding a few things, of that Gohan was sure. After all, there's no way his real name was Sensei. Still, there was something about him, some innate quality that made Gohan believe he was telling the truth. Whoever he was, Gohan felt that he was here to help. And yet, so many things were a mystery.
Perhaps the largest mystery was the amulet. Gohan's hand touched it as his thoughts turned to it. He'd been given it in that other place, wherever that was. However, it had somehow been around his neck when he'd woken up. How was that even possible? Sensei had promised more answer the next time Gohan slept, but he wasn't sure he could wait that long.
Gohan's thoughts were interrupted as he saw his home approaching quickly. Slowing down and making his descent, Gohan landed softly outside his house. Even now, after so much had changed, Gohan still felt his muscles involuntarily tense. This was going to be one of the worst moments of his life, even eclipsing his battle with Cell. He'd delayed it as long as possible, but the time had come. He had to tell his mother about his father.
Slowly, Gohan opened the door, and said, "Mom, I'm hom…" Before Gohan could finish speaking, he found himself being swept off his feet as his mother pulled him into a crushing hug.
"Gohan! Oh, my baby boy! I was so worried about you," Chi-chi screamed, "Where have you been, it's been hours since Cell was killed? Are you okay, how is your arm? I saw how you were injured there. Did Dende heal you?"
"Um, Mom…" Gohan began, trying desperately to get enough air to pass through his lungs to speak.
"Gohan, I know it's been a long day, but I expect an answer when I ask you a question. And don't think you'll be able to keep training," Chi-chi interjected crossly as she continued to crush Gohan. "You have a great deal of catching up to do Gohan. I've been more than lenient when it comes to your schoolwork, but no more. You're going to study around the clock until you catch up on everything you've missed, and then some. I'll make a scholar out of you yet."
Chi-chi looked down at Gohan as she added, "Well, aren't you going to say anything? I just don't know what the world is coming to these days. At least your hair is back to normal instead of that blonde color. I just couldn't believe you'd dyed your hair, just like a common criminal."
"Mom, you're crushing me," Gohan gasped out.
"What? Oh, right," Chi-chi mentioned as she relaxed her grip.
Gohan stumbled slightly before righting himself, as he took deep gasping breaths. He was probably one of the most powerful beings in the universe, and at least a hundred times stronger than the most powerful human on the planet. And yet his mother was still able to hug him hard enough to take his breath away. It was strange.
"Well," Chi-chi demanded impatiently. "Honestly, I'm glad you're okay. I still can't believe you fought Cell. My little baby, I don't know what Goku was thinking. When he gets back I'm going to give him a piece of my mind, among other things. Forcing you to fight like that, I just couldn't believe it."
Gohan felt a lump form in his throat as he realized the moment had come. Swallowing convulsively, Gohan said, "Mom, dad isn't coming back."
Chi-chi turned and raised an eyebrow, "What are you talking about?"
Taking a deep breath, Gohan forced the words out, "Dad died."
Chi-chi shook her head, "I know Gohan."
"You do?" Gohan gasped.
"Of course I do," Chi-chi supplied, "After all, I watched the fight on Baba's crystal ball. It's how I knew about your injury. Don't worry; the others will bring Goku back to us with the dragonballs soon."
Oh, of course. Gohan thought. She doesn't understand. "Mom, dad won't be coming back with the dragonballs."
"What?" Chi-chi whispered softly.
Fighting to keep his composure, Gohan added, "We already summoned the dragon Mom. We were going to bring dad back. We even planned to go to New Namek because we needed the extra power. But dad contacted us. He wouldn't hear of it. He told us that it was best if…if he stayed dead."
"…oh." Chi-chi muttered softly. She forced a smile onto her face. "Well, you know your father. I'm sure he'll start missing my cooking soon enough, and demand to be brought back. Speaking of cooking, I'll go whip you up some food. I bet you're absolutely starved after all that fighting." Chi-chi didn't wait for an answer, but went straight into the kitchen.
Gohan sat down heavily in a chair and put his hands on his head. He could feel the fluctuations in her ki. Despite all the noise from her cooking, Gohan could still faintly hear the soft pitter-patter of drops of water landing, and the muffled sobs. He knew his mother was crying, and he wanted more than anything to be able to say something, do anything, to cheer her up and stop the tears. But there was nothing he could do, and Gohan knew his mother tried to keep strong in front of him. It would break her heart more if she knew Gohan could hear her.
As Gohan sensed her ki, he felt something puzzling about it. Gohan opened his eyes and stared in her direction as he tried to figure out what was going on. It was higher than normal. Now, Gohan knew that extreme emotion could cause ki to rise; after all, it was how he'd become an ascended Super Saiyan. But this was too high to be from her emotions. And it seemed to be emanating from her abdomen instead of where ki normally could be sensed.
It hit Gohan like a bolt of lightning, "OH MY GOD!" Gohan shouted before he even realized he'd spoken.
Chi-chi came running into the room, "What's wrong Gohan?" she demanded.
Gohan could see the lines on her face from her crying, but he couldn't stop a smile from coming onto his face, "Mom, you're…you're…"
"What is it? What's wrong?" Chi-chi almost screamed.
"You're pregnant." Gohan finally stated.
"WHAT?" Chi-chi gasped.
Gohan nodded excitedly, "I can feel it. You have two separate ki's inside you, and one of them is growing. You're pregnant mom."
A smile came over Chi-chi's face," This is fantastic. It's been so long, I was afraid I would never have another child. Don't get me wrong, I love you Gohan, but I've always wanted another child. Goku and I have tried for…" Chi-chi trailed off as her hand almost subconsciously began to rub her stomach. "He would have been so happy to hear the news."
"Mom…" Gohan began. He'd been sure the news would make her happy. But it had been so fleeting.
Chi-chi visibly shook herself. "I'm fine. And with news like this, I think we need to celebrate. I'll even let you forgo on your make-up work until tomorrow. Tonight, let's do something together, mother and son."
Gohan lips curved upward in a slight smile as he responded, "Sounds great."
"Welcome back. Did you have a good conversation with your mom?" Sensei asked as Gohan opened his eyes.
Gohan grinned, "My mom's pregnant, I'm going to be a big brother. This day just got a whole lot better."
Sensei hesitated slightly before he said, "That's great Gohan. I'm happy for you and your mom."
Gohan frowned. He didn't sound sincere, and there was something in his face that worried Gohan slightly, "What wrong? Do you know something?"
Sensei shook his head, "No, it's nothing. Sorry, it's just a rarity to hear good news in the future. I just got a little surprised. Really, congratulations. I suppose we'd better get cracking. After all, you've now got a little brother to protect as well as a mom."
Sensei gestured, and the mist receded. Gohan looked around in surprise. The place now looked exactly like the Room of Spirit and Time. "Wow, that's impressive. How did you do that?" Gohan asked.
Sensei laughed, "It's not too hard. With the amulet doing most of the work to maintain our link, it's rather simple to change this place. Well, simple if you know how."
"What is this place exactly," Gohan questioned curiously.
"This is the Dreamscape. It is a very special place, one only a few people have the skill to enter. Counting me, I believe there are only two other people in your time who could come to this realm, and not even they could come here specifically." Sensei answered.
"If so few people can come here, how come you know how? Who taught you?" Gohan pressed.
Sensei sighed, "I should have guessed you wouldn't leave it alone. In the future, one of the two people who know how teaches me. I was sort of his apprentice…until he was killed by the Destroyer of Worlds. But don't feel left out. I plan to teach you everything he taught me. Who knows what could possibly be of use to you in the coming battle after all. But that is for another night." Sensei stated the last with a tone of finality, indicating he wouldn't discuss the matter further.
Gohan sighed inwardly. "So, what is on the agenda tonight."
Sensei smirked as he slid into a fighting stance. In a flash of light, he ascended to Super Saiyan 2. "Tonight, we're going to spar. Let's see what you're got boy."
Gohan felt an answering smirk come over his face as his blood began to race. Gohan could sense his Saiyan side shivering in anticipation of this fight. Gohan screamed as he powered to his maximum and settled into his own fighting stance. Sensei gazed at him impassively for a few seconds, before he slowly gestured with his right fingers in a come-here gesture.
What followed was perhaps the most exhausting two hours of Gohan's life. At least, it felt like two hours. Sensei pushed him to his limits, as Gohan struggled to even hold his defenses. Sensei hadn't been kidding when he's said the place could be changed as a person saw fit. Gohan found himself not only Sensei but also the sheer unpredictability of the environment. Temperature, lighting, even the gravity seemed to fluctuate wildly, and caused Gohan to stumble or overbalance himself often. And each time, Sensei was there to take advantage of it.
Finally, as Gohan felt his legs give out, Sensei stopped. He looked at Gohan for a few seconds as Gohan struggled to breathe. "Not bad," he finally pronounced, "You've got a lot of work to do if you'll have any chance of winning, but you at least aren't totally hopeless." Sensei gestured, and a ball of energy shot from his hand. It slammed into Gohan, and he felt his wounds and aches heal.
Sensei turned to leave and added, "As I teach you more, we'll be able to squeeze more time in every time you sleep. But for now, this will have to do. It's time."
"WAKE UP!"
"WAKE UP GOHAN!"
Gohan sat up in his bed. He took a couple of deep breaths, and then heard his mother's voice again, "GOHAN, IT'S BREAKFAST TIME!!! HURRY UP AND COME DOWN!!!"
Gohan slowly got out of bed and started to stumble downstairs. Apparently, the training session had lasted all night, and it was a new day. Gohan thought back on all that had happened in the last twenty-four hours, from Cell to his mother's pregnancy to his first training session, and one thought came to mind.
My days just got a whole lot longer.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Well, I have to admit, I like the number of reviews I got for my first part. I hope you all liked this part, and continue to read my story. I hope to have another chapter out in the next couple of days, and if you have any suggestions, feel free to offer them. If I use them, I'll make sure and credit you.