Author's Note:

Oh man, is this the showdown between Gohan and Erai? Hah... next chapter!

Disclaimer: I wish I could purchase the rights to Gohan. If I have Gohan, who wants Vegeta, Goku, ect?

CHAPTER NINE:

Piccolo closed his eyes, focusing on Gohan's mind. Piccolo's Ki expanded, surrounding his former pupil.

"Gohan! Stop dithering and kill them already!" Videl snapped, stomping her foot on the ground. "Do I seriously have to go up there and do it myself?"

"Videl, I can't harm any innocents!" Gohan said, just as hotly. "I-It's not right!"

"Didn't Erai teach us that we have to do whatever we can to destroy Son Goku? He's a ruthless opponent, Gohan... he'll do anything to murder you!"

Gohan still had a pained look on his face.

"But..." he shook his head, Erai's teachings conflicting with his soul. Gohan soon had a determined, set expression on his face. "No."

"No?" Videl raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I'll fight on my own terms, Videl!" Gohan shook his head violently. "I can't allow innocents to die!" the boy started screaming, powering up. His aura rippled, the waves coming down faster. He threw an energy shield around his body, protecting the planet from the force of his power. He let his shield down, staring down at his opponents. Vegeta's left eye was twitching, and Goku was staring at his son with an open mouth.

"Don't harm any innocents. Erai, Videl, they're wrong." Piccolo murmured. Videl snapped her head to the side, glaring daggers at Piccolo.

"Some sort of mind control, huh?" she cracked her knuckles, stepping towards Piccolo dangerously. Krillin, Yamcha, and Tien blocked her path, just as serious.

"You will not disturb him." Tien said. "Piccolo, hurry. Restore Gohan's spirit!"

"You will do no such thing!" Videl snarled. She launched off of the ground and at Yamcha – the weak link in the defense. The three were moving faster than the eye could see, blurs of colour and motion being the only things anyone could see of the four fighters.

Gohan watched the fight below. He wanted to go help Videl, but after seeing her clobber Tien to the ground, he decided against it and faced his opponents. Gohan floated back down to the ground, glaring daggers at Goku and Vegeta. His hair whipped in the wind, giving off electricity that connected to his aura and died out.

"Are you two finished bickering?" Gohan asked softly. "Or should I just take a nap or something?" he was being completely serious; better if the two worked out their issues, then continued the fight, instead of fighting as they were now.

"How dare you mock me, the Prince of all Saiyans! I rule over you!" Vegeta declared, narrowing his eyes. "After I kick you to the curb, you overgrown brat, I'll destroy Kakarot!"

"If you can catch me." Goku raised an eyebrow at his... ally.

"Ple-"

"Seriously – are you two done?" Gohan asked, exasperated. He shook his head, remembering another one of Goku and Vegeta's fights. Suddenly, Gohan froze, his body stiffening.

"What is it?" Goku asked, confused at his son's sudden behavior.

"Y...Y-You fought Vegeta before." the fourteen-year-old Saiyan stammered.

"Yeah. Nine years ago, wow!" Goku grinned. "That's one long time, huh, Vegeta?"

"If your memories were wiped by Erai, how did you know that?" Vegeta chose to ignore the annoying Kakarot and focus on Gohan instead.

Piccolo grinned grimly. "That's it, kid."

"Oh, must be that thing Piccolo was talking to me about." Goku said. "Piccolo said that he had a telepathic connection to Gohan. Now that Gohan's right here, Piccolo must be trying to unlock Gohan's hidden memories!" Goku grinned, scratching the back of his neck.

"So... I am your son, then." Gohan's voice had no emotion in it.

"Yes sir-e bob!" Goku grinned.

"Then you're the one that betrayed me?" Gohan shook his head. "I remember the fight with Cell now. How could you do that to me?!" Gohan screamed. His aura flared wildly with his temper. "How could you?"

"Hey, it's not like I meant to!" Goku put his hands in front of him for defense. Gohan was hearing none of it and launched himself at Goku. Goku yelped, not able to dodge, as the furious half-Saiyan punched him right in the cheek. Gohan twisted, kicking Goku in the back. As his father flew towards the ground, Gohan gathered Ki in his hands, holding the Ki above his head. It spiked with his emotions.

"Maskeno... HA!" Gohan screamed, throwing it towards his father. As Goku collided with the Earth, the Ki slammed into his stomach. Goku gasped, lying on the ground, barely able to move. He coughed up an extreme amount of blood, passing out.

"Kakarot!" Vegeta watched as his ally passed out, his hair shrinking and turning it's original black. Goku's aura faded, his Ki dropping to a very low level. Vegeta gritted his teeth and did a double-take at the boy, Gohan.

"D-D-D..." Gohan couldn't bring himself to say the words, horror etched across his face. He floated to the ground, gently, falling to his knees. "What have I done..."

Videl had taken a pause in her battle.

"Finish him off, Gohan!" she screeched. Tien took advantage of the situation and hit her swiftly on the back of her neck. Videl's eyes rolled up into her head. She fell forwards, being caught by Yamcha. Her eyes closed. She was promptly passed out.

Gohan had never held his Parity transformation this long before. His hair faded to black, relaxing into it's normal stuck-up shape. It stopped moving, the one rebellious bang hanging in his face. His aura faded into nothing, his eyes darkening to black, as he fell forwards on his face and passed out.

"There." Piccolo said. He walked to his pupil's side, picking the boy up. Piccolo cradled Gohan against his chest, staring down at Gohan's face.

"Piccolo, what are you doing?!" Krillin demanded, flying over. "Listen, I liked Gohan just as much as you did! I don't want to see him die, but he's dead-set on killing Goku! I'm sorry to be the one to have to say this, Piccolo, but..." Krillin scratched the side of his head with one finger nervously. "Gohan has to go. It's just way to dangerous to have him around!"

"Lay one hand on him, Krillin, and you're the one who has to go." Piccolo snapped. He glared at Krillin, Piccolo's Ki blasting the monk away from him and Gohan.

"Jeez." Krillin rubbed the back of his head, glaring sideways at Piccolo. He had flown backwards into Tien, and slamming into that guy was like slamming into a brick wall.

"Let's take them to the Lookout." Piccolo suggested. He blasted off, not waiting for an answer. Yamcha quickly gathered up Goku and followed. Tien and the others followed soon after.

As they were flying, Piccolo could only stare down at his pupil.

Gohan. Piccolo thought, his eyes narrowing slightly. I will get you back.

~DBZ~

"Hey, Mommy! The fighting's stopped!" Goten said.

"Oh dear!" Chi-Chi bit her lip, a worried look on her face.

"How did it go, Goten?" Bulma asked.

"Well, Dad's and Goku's Ki have dropped." Trunks butted in.

"Hey, not fair Trunks!" Goten complained. "Gohan's Ki dropped too! It was really, really big! I think that Gohan beat up Daddy and Mr. Vegeta, then he got beat up! By Mr. Piccolo!"

"Piccolo? Huh, didn't know he was that strong." Bulma remarked.

"They're heading for the Lookout!" Trunks realized. "C'mon, Goten, let's go!" Goten nodded and jumped on Trunks' back.

"Hey, get back here!" Bulma and Chi-Chi cried, but Trunks took off. He blasted away, Goten laughing on his back. They headed for the Lookout, determined to see Gohan and their fathers.

Bulma got out the Capsule Corp jet plane and hopped in. She revved the engine, Chi-Chi clambering in. Both of the women's eyes were narrowed, determined to find their sons.

~DBZ~

Piccolo set his pupil down on the Lookout floor, staring at Gohan.

"Dende. Come here." Piccolo said. His tone of voice said everything; Piccolo was not to be messed with right now.

"Do you want me to heal him?" Dende asked.

"Heal him, but don't restore his energy. That should keep him unconscious until we figure out what to do with him."

"Of course, Piccolo." Dende nodded. He held his hands over Gohan's motionless body, his healing magic repairing the wounds.

Dende's stomach was twisted in a huge knot of emotions. Dende had looked up to Gohan on Namek – Gohan was one of Dende's best friends. And here he was, after three years of being gone, trying to kill Goku and all their friends. I hope we can fix this, Gohan. Dende felt like praying, but it would make no sense, praying to himself.

Piccolo sensed Dende's mood, and picked his student up again. He watched at the other Z Fighters landed on the Lookout.

"Piccolo, destroy the brat and get it over with." Vegeta snapped. "You're being soft!"

"Dende, heal Vegeta and Goku." Piccolo ordered, ignoring Vegeta completely.

"Of course." Dende nodded and walked over to the two warriors. Within minutes, Goku was up and stronger than ever.

"So, what are we going to do about Gohan?" Goku asked awkwardly. "I mean, I'd prefer that he'd stay alive..."

"We can't allow him to die, I agree. If anyone does try to kill him, I will personally ensure that you're the one who dies." Piccolo threatened, locking eyes with everyone in the room.

"I have a question." Yamcha raised his hand, eyes widened.

"Go on." Dende said gently, seeing no one else was going to answer the human.

"What if Erai comes looking for these two?"

~Yamcha makes a good point! Erai has promised the end of Piccolo's interference. She's also determined to kill Goku. If... hah, not if, WHEN Erai makes an appearance, can the Z Fighters stop her? Which side will Gohan choose? Find out, next time!~