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Chapter 9

The Z-Warriors converged at the epicenter of the power tearing across the Earth. Krillin watched in horror as Vegeta vanished. Even his ki was gone. He turned towards the dueling blasts, a throwback to Cell Games.

"Who's attacking Gohan?" Krillin shouted over the roar.

"That's not me!" The reply drew the attention of the gathered warriors. "There's another me running around and a second Piccolo!"

"That's getting too big!" Yamcha called out in alarm, pointing at the massive sphere of energy before Gohan.

The cacophony on the battlefield lowered abruptly. The contrast was terrifying. A bright bubble suddenly surrounded Gohan and the energy from the clashing blasts.

Piccolo could do nothing but watch as Gohan trapped himself within the sphere. 'Super Saiyan or not, I can and will knock you into the next reality if you don't get out of there kid.'

'Working…on…it.'

The reply was nothing more than a pained gasp running through Piccolo's mind. He followed Gohan's movements as he put everything he could spare into a shield, blocking as much of the damaging effects as possible. Less than a minute passed before Gohan was able to drop the sphere. Nothing was left but a shockwave. Gohan collapsed to the ground as the darkness swallowed him whole.

Piccolo shook as the pain Gohan's body moved through his own. Stumbling forward, he grabbed a sano leaf out of his bag. If he could just get Gohan to rouse enough to eat the restoring leaf, he would be okay. 'Kid, come on, Gohan, wake up.'

Gohan collapsing startled the Z-Warriors out of their passive position. Racing forward they surrounded the visitors.

Piccolo fought against the agony racing through his mind and body. Gohan was slipping away.

"We need to take him to Dende. I'll grab him…"

Piccolo heard someone speaking but the words slurred into obscurity as his world went blank.

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Gohan heard the violent storm crashing across his awareness. Groaning at the dull ache in his head, he looked around. He was on the Lookout, being supported by his counterpart. Slowly, he straightened. The Z-Warriors, except for Vegeta, were all in attendance. That did not surprise him. What did was seeing Shin and Kibito glaring at him.

'Piccolo?'

'They showed up just after we both blacked out. Apparently Kibito healed you, it just took a moment for you to wake up.'

'Ah, we started to separate again huh?' Gohan could clearly remember the sensation from Namek. At least this time they were not out for days. Raising a brow in question, he looked at the visiting Kais.

"Nice of you to join us," Shin frowned, clearly upset with the Guardians. "Of all of the irresponsible behavior ever displayed by a Guardian. Do you think this is a game? That you can just recklessly sacrifice yourselves? We cannot replace you! Have you forgotten your mission? You aren't just trying to save a world. What is the use of saving a single planet if it brings about the end of everything?" Shin panted in anger as he berated Gohan.

'Piccolo, you remember the whole play nice thing?'

Grunting softly, Piccolo let his acceptance and support flow through to Gohan, understanding what his friend needed. They had more to worry about right now. Maculo and Papula were still at large and Vegeta was trapped in the Fold.

Gohan strode to Shin, standing tall and firm. Righteous anger flowed through his body causing his eyes to flash dangerously. His voice though, was low and deathly calm. "No Shin, I haven't forgotten. But I think you have. What is the use of saving one world? Everything. Are you so far removed from the mortal realm you watch over that you no longer realize that? And no, I don't think this is a game. Games are fun, pleasant things. You sent us out here as your personal assassins. I do not see that as fun."

Shin flinched in surprise, opening his mouth to speak.

Gohan cut him off. "There may be a difference between what you wish from us and murder. However, leaving everyone on this planet to die would have been murder. I have enough innocent blood on my hands already Shin; I refuse to add anymore. No one dies by my inaction." Gohan shook his head, "We do not have time for this. Kibito, Papula grabbed Vegeta and took him to the Fold. Can you retrieve him, like you did us?"

Kibito stood gaping for a moment; no one ever spoke to the Supreme Kai in such a manner.

"Kibito! That man is trapped within the Fold; the same place that drove the jumpers insane. Can you retrieve him?" Piccolo snapped when the Assistant Kai did not immediately answer.

"No… I was able to retrieve you because I knew where you were. It is an infinite place; there will be no retrieving him." True regret flashed in Kibito's eyes as he spoke.

"Wait, what exactly is going on? Who are you people? What is going to happen to Vegeta?" Tien stepped forward, asking the questions on everyone's minds.

"We are from a different reality, long story." Gohan answered vaguely. "My name is Gohan, that's Piccolo, the short one is Shin, the Supreme Kai, and the tall one is Kibito, his assistant. We have been chasing a couple of gnomes all over creation and back again. One of them took Vegeta to the space between realities. He is stuck and we need to get him out of there before it is too late."

Kibito scowled at Gohan in disapproval for both the introduction and the implied offer. "It cannot be done. The mortal is lost to us."

A soft gasp drew everyone's attention. Standing on the edge of the Lookout was the Demon Duo. Trunks looked at the group in horror. "You can't… that's my Dad!"

Goten grabbed his friend as he looked on in confusion.

"That boy is not going to grow up without a father Kibito. Nor will we allow Vegeta to slowly starve to death. That is if his mind doesn't shut down first." Gohan tugged his hands through his hair in agitation. "Can we find him? Piccolo and I can feel the imbalances present within the Multiverse. So shouldn't we be able to scan the Fold?" Gohan asked urgently.

"That has never been done before Gohan." Shin said softly, his eyes brimming with pity. "No one has the energy required to search the Fold. Not even you two."

'Obviously he does not know us as well as he thinks.'

Gohan could feel the determination in Piccolo's mental tone. 'There is nothing to be lost trying.'

In a flash, Piccolo and Gohan distanced themselves from the main group. Curling into their floating lotus poses, both slid into deep meditation with the ease of long practice. When searching for Maculo and Papula, they had to skim across the Fold, never reaching into it. As they immersed themselves in the Fold, it felt as though their energy was being slowly drained away.

Subconsciously, both Gohan and Piccolo reached further into themselves. Drawing from the massive well of power available to them, they allowed it to merge and sweep the void. A burning sensation gripped the Guardian's chests as they poured more energy into their search.

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A fierce wind swept over the group as the Guardians conducted their search. A maelstrom of light swirled above Gohan and Piccolo, growing in strength and intensity. A bright glow surrounded both Guardians as their power rose higher. As Gohan slid into his transformed state, the Z-Warriors present looked at each other in disbelief.

Shin struggled to retain his composure. He had not intended for them to attempt this, to pour everything into a doomed endeavor.

"How are they doing that?" Kibito murmured. "Their marks are reacting…Nothing in the ancient texts speak of such a thing." He could see the brands emitting a white energy. Piccolo's top seemed to glow from within while Gohan's tattered gi displayed his for all to see.

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'Come on, where is he?' The words ran in a loop through Gohan's mind. If this Vegeta was anything like theirs, he would be powered up to his maximum in an effort to escape. They should be able to feel him. In an ever-widening spiral, they combed the endless expanse.

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Trunks stared at the visitors in awe. They had been at the center of the storm for what felt like forever in his mind. He looked from the Gohan he knew to this new Gohan. They were so different. "Hey Gohan, I didn't know you could do that."

C.R. Gohan laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "I can't Trunks."

"Why did his hair go all white? I thought Super Saiyans had yellow hair?" Goten's face was scrunched in puzzlement.

"Maybe he isn't a Super Saiyan," Trunks's eyes went bright with excitement. "He must be like that video game Mom got me, remember, Mystic Warriors. The characters go white and glow. So he's Mystic Gohan!"

"Oh!" The sound was drawn out as Goten processed the information.

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The Guardians could feel a spark of something on the farthest edges of their combined senses. Instantly Gohan reached deeper. Pouring more power into combined effort and fortifying their ability, granting them a longer reach.

'There, but he's moving.' Piccolo tried to latch onto the Saiyan Prince, but he was moving too fast. He kept just in their periphery sense.

'Keep him in sight.' Gohan focused a beam of energy into the void. 'Come on Vegeta, come look at the birdie.'

For a moment, it seemed as though it was too little, too far away, when suddenly Vegeta wheeled around. He rocketed towards the only thing he could feel in the void.

'Hold the anchor.' Gohan felt Piccolo's acknowledgement as he locked onto the Saiyan and away from the reality.

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Vegeta looked around him desperately. Had he died and not known it? Had his past crimes earned him this hell? Was this Hell?

One moment he had been speaking to the Namek, and the next, this place. This was so much worse than the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Inside that room, there had been a home base. Here there was nothing, no structures, no wind or fire; it was a void.

Vegeta flew, as hard and fast as he could. There had to be something, somewhere. Disoriented and unsure if he was coming or going, he almost missed it. There, right behind him, was a ki!

Gohan staggered as he materialized in the Fold beside his beam. The distance straining his mental link with Piccolo was excruciating. Bracing his legs to keep from crumpling under the sensation, he waited.

Vegeta approached the energy; stopping abruptly in front of Gohan. He narrowed his eyes; this was not the boy he knew. Even if he ignored the bleached hair, his eyes were wrong.

"Who are you?" Vegeta demanded.

"A friend, Vegeta, I'm a friend. You need to come with me." Gohan held his hand out. He sighed as Vegeta stared at it in obvious distrust. "Come now Vegeta, surely the Prince of all Saiyans isn't afraid."

Vegeta's pride flared at the insult. Snarling at the stranger, he grasped his hand.

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Piccolo lurched in the air as Gohan left him. The feeling coursing through his body reminded him of the first time he and the kid had tried to block for King Kai. Using every bit of control at his disposal, he held firm.

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The wait was becoming anxious for those watching. Shin started to step forward, to stop the Guardians' futile effort. As he did so, a blinding beam shot through the center of the whirlpool above them. Stumbling back, Shin shielded his face with his hands. Just as his vision cleared, he watched as one of his Guardians vanished.

Alarmed, everyone looked to Piccolo. He was visibly shaking. The light around him was flickering wildly; except for the beam. That bright beacon held steady.

A minute passed, then two. The warriors began to look at each other nervously. The thought that something had gone wrong was running through their minds. The light flared dramatically for just a heartbeat before going out. Gohan and Vegeta stood beside Piccolo.

"Dad!" Trunks flew to Vegeta, standing in front of him. "Are you okay?"

For just a brief moment, relief could be seen on Vegeta's face. Then the moment passed and his usual mask of arrogance was in place. He smirked at his son and crossed his arms over his chest. "Of course I am fine. I am a Saiyan."

Piccolo lowered himself cautiously to ground. Feeling grateful that at least their mental link was no longer stretched to the breaking point, he waited for the aftereffects to pass.

'That was almost as bad as that ridiculous school trip.'

Gohan silently chuckled as images from the survival trip flowed through Piccolo's mind. Looking at the sky, he judged the progression of time by the sun. 'Well, at least we were only at it for a few hours this time instead two days of pure strain.'

Shin motioned to Kibito. "Go restore them my friend."

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Gohan looked up at the brilliant blanket of stars overhead. Shin and Kibito had stayed to help with explanations, smoothing an awkward situation over. Both he and Piccolo had expected them to leave directly after, but they hadn't. Instead, the Kais had lingered. Now, the soft night had fallen on the Lookout. Everyone of this world had gone home; only the residents of the floating sanctuary remained.

Piccolo was in deep mediation, leaving Gohan with only a rich, soothing rumble for company. Breathing deeply, Gohan let the tension flow from his body. It had been close today; too close. Feeling a presence behind him, Gohan made a low sound of acknowledgement.

Shin came to stand beside the demi-Saiyan. As he had watched his Guardians fight for the life of a single mortal, Gohan's previous words had reverberated through his mind. It was a rare thing for him to feel foolish, but it had happened today.

He had chosen his Guardians knowing their beliefs and strong protective instincts. He had even experienced much of Gohan's life vicariously while marking him. He should have realized it earlier. This innocent, this pure soul, believed that he had blood on his hands. He believed that he had committed murder through his actions. Shin had felt it that day, but had been so overwhelmed that he had missed it, until today.

Never turning to look at his companion, Shin spoke softly. "Piccolo died once, in an act of selflessness. When he was brought back, his heart came back in a purified state and through his actions, there it remained."

Gohan hummed a small sound of confusion. Why was Shin telling him this? He was well aware of the pure heart Piccolo carried, whether the Namekian chose to admit it or not.

"Did you know that the mark you carry can only be given to the pure of heart? If there was truly innocent blood on your hands, if you had killed your father the way you believe, I would have been unable to put that brand on your chest. You, Gohan, are just as pure as your counterpart." With those words, Shin melted back into the darkness. A moment later, both Kais disappeared.

Gohan stood silently for a moment, his thoughts racing. Suddenly he could feel a strong sense of self-satisfaction coming from Piccolo.

Piccolo allowed a small smile to grace his face. He had been trying to tell Gohan that it was not his fault for six years. Hell, everyone had been trying to tell him that. 'Now do you believe me kid?'

Piccolo's only answer was the feeling of a weight easing in Gohan's chest.

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A/N-Thank you to everyone that is enjoying this! Just to let you know, I will probably not be able to update for a few days. But hey, at least I didn't put this note at the end of the last chapter!