~Babidi Saga~

Chapter 15 – For Every Sword

Videl, Goten, and Trunks landed onto the snow, just as Vegeta started to calm down. He was hunched over and on his knees in the snow. Trunks made it half way to his father, looking at him, quietly wondering what was going on. A rather small man was sitting behind Gohan who looked as if he was in a trance, and his father was on his knees in the snow. Vegeta's energy felt wrong as well, it was off somehow.

Trunks stopped, reaching out with a hand towards his father even though he was still a long ways away. "D-dad?"

Babidi huffed, turning back to Gohan. "Vegeta is it? Take care of the new pests. I'm tired tired of un-invited guests."

Goten walked up and stood just behind Trunks. "Something's wrong with him. That' isn't you're dad."

Trunks was quiet for a while. He had seen his father angry before, but he had never felt energy that high before. It was amazing for the small boy. And the worst part was that something was wrong with Vegeta, he couldn't enjoy the fighting because something deep down inside him was letting Trunks know something was wrong.

Turning to Babidi, Trunks yelled, trying to keep his voice free from the strain of the pain seeing his father like this was giving him. "What did you do to my dad?"

Goten stepped out next to him. "And Gohan too!"

Vegeta slowly stood up, an M written in black was on his forehead. The two young boys stepped back, looking at the new tattoo. Slowly Vegeta grinned. It sent shivers down their spines. Something was cold and evil about it, and it didn't sit well with their stomachs.

Vegeta turned to face Babidi and bowed. "Yes...master. But one thing first. These two are strong for what they look like, and with my current energy level so low from the previous battles, I wouldn't last long. So if you please, spare some energy and heal me back to 100%."

Babidi sighed, turning to face Vegeta and held out a hand. "Fine, but no interruptions after this!" A bit of dark magic, which looked a lot like energy just that it moved more like a liquid or something of that nature, slowly seeped from Babidi's hand and made it's way to Vegeta. Slowly, the scrapes and stains from the previous battles disappeared from Vegeta, only leaving some of this tattered clothing as evidence.

Trunks let his mouth gape open a little as his father turned to face the two. "D-dad..." Turning to Babidi, he grit his teeth. "You'll pay for this! I'll make sure both turn back to normal."

Trunks and Goten then took fighting stances next to each other. Both looked at the other and nodded. In a roar of energy, the two young children started to power up. The white energy shot out carrying snow and ice way from them. Their hair started to rise up from it's normal resting position, spiking up as the aurora around them changed to a gold one. They both went from bent over to arched back as they yelled out simultaneously, letting their anger feed their fire. The snow surrounded them, falling back down from the sky. The two looked from Vegeta to Babidi and Gohan. Majin Vegeta blinked. "Trunks, you never told me you could do this. Since when?"

Trunks just looked back at him, a sour look on his face. Goten glanced at his friend quickly, "Ready?" Trunk's just nodded.

Videl, who had finally made it off the cloud safely, looked up from the snow, shivering to see the two fighters to have changed their hair style. Th-they are golden fighter's too? Is that some kind of fighting style or something? Watching quietly, forgetting about what they had come

Just as the two were about to make their move, an energy explosion came from the direction of Gohan and Babidi. The snow was being blown away from Gohan. Babidi jumped up, throwing his hands in the air. "It's happening! Finally, I will have enough dark seeds to take over the entire universe!" He continued to celebrate, squeaking out laughs and cackles.

Everyone else was momentarily stunned. The dark energy was growing darker, and bigger. The snow around him had been blown away, and he was now levitating. The dark marks over his body slowly started to grow and expand, coating his entire skin in black. Small white dots started to appear in the darkness, as if the light was ripping away at him trying to get out.

Videl found her strength first and ran up next to the mini super saiyans, only to lose it again. Standing still, she watched as Gohan slowly began to morph. Her hands clenched into fists at her side. "Gohan..." Barely a whisper at first, but then found her voice, "Gohan!"

-DBZ-

The fake pointed two fingers at Gohan, shooting dark rings at him. Not being able to dodge, the rings wrapped around his hands and legs, holding him in place in the air. Gohan grit his teeth together, trying with no avail to break free. The fake walked up to him and smiled. -It won't be long now. To speed things up, I want to show you something.-

The fake jumped back a few feet and pointed his palm forward. Just before him, a screen appeared, it looked like a movie from you-tube or something. It had a big play button in the center. Many other screens popped up, creating a circle around the fake. He smiled happily as he flicked his arm back and forth, making the screens spin around him as he looked for the one he wanted. He huffed happily as he found the one he wanted, and tapped it with his hand. The screen flew in front of Gohan, just stopping a few feet from his face. For some reason, Gohan couldn't take his eyes off it, or close them for that matter. The play button pressed itself when it stopped moving, and Gohan watched in horror as a memory from the past started to play right in front of him.

The screen brought him back to a very young childhood. He saw himself in his funny looking hat with the dragonball on it. The young Gohan looked scared, and he was crying. Gohan watched as his younger self powered up and broke out of the spaceship.

Energy surrounded the boy. "Leave my dad...ALONE!" He shot right at Radits head butting him right in the chest, cracking his armor. Gohan winced slightly as he watched his younger self pass out. He had never seen exactly what had happened after that, but he had been told.

Goku grabbed onto Radits' from behind. "Now Piccolo!"

Without being told a second time, Piccolo aimed two fingers at Radits, and fired. "Special Beam Cannon!" The purple energy shot at great speeds right for the two, hitting it's target. The energy went right through Radits and Goku, leaving them both limp on the grass.

Gohan finally closed his eyes in pain as the video stopped. The fake smiled, calling back the memory to the circle around him. -That was the first time someone had to die for you.-

Gohan opened his eyes and looked at his feet. It was true, but he had been just a four year old child. How could have I done something. You and I both know I did all I could.

-Perhaps.- The fake shrugged, giving the circle of memories a spin.. Carefully, he looked for the next one. Gohan tried to concentrate, to find his energy, but for some reason, he couldn't find it. It was being hidden somehow.

The fake found it's next target, and clicked it. The video flew in front of Gohan, and once again his eyes were somehow drawn to it.

As it started to play, he could make out the planet Namic. A figure came into view, and he instantly knew who it was. Frieza in his final form. An energy beam was shooting right for his childhood self. Gohan flinched when he saw Piccolo jump in the way.

Piccolo shoved Gohan out of the way and the beam struck right through him. Slowly the green man fell to the grass under him, limp.

Gohan finally broke his eyes from the screen, trying once again to break free. The fake smiled as the video came back. -Don't you find it strange? Out of all the Z fighters, you're the only one not to die? Sure Trunks and Goten haven't, but their still kids. Oh wait, Trunks did die. Let me see...-

The memories circled around the fake once again, and Gohan knew what was coming. He stopped trying to break free, finding that he couldn't. What's the point. Show me...let's get this over with.

-What? Giving up? Aww, that's no fun. Let's see this one anyway though. It's my favorite.-

The fake clicked the screen, and it few to Gohan. Gohan watched as his teen self appeared on screen. He was smiling, playing with Cell. Gohan grit his teeth, even though he knew what happened, he wanted to tell himself to finish it now, somehow change what happened.

Teen Gohan landed a kick to the monsters stomach. Cell took a few steps back and fell to his knee, coughing. Teen Gohan stepped back and smiled happily as he watched his opponent deal with the idea of losing. In a twist of fate, Cell's coughing got worse as a white liquid started to seep out of his mouth. Before long, he had coughed up 18 and had gone back to his second form. Cell back up, knowing now he had no chance. Teen Gohan huffed as he walked forward.

Cell stepped back as Teen Gohan walked forward. "N-no...this can't be. I'm...I'm perfect. I won't be beaten. I can't be. This isn't happening. Noo!" The monster started to swell up like a balloon, catching Teen Gohan off guard. "Ahhahah! I may die, but when I go I'm taking you and this entire planet with me!"

Teen Gohan fell to his knees, realizing that he had failed. He punched the ground, cursing himself. A light along with a familiar energy flashed in front of him. Looking up, he saw his father. "Don't worry Gohan, I got him from hear. Tell your mother...that I love her and you very much." With a wink, Goku was gone along with Cell.

Gohan continued to watch the screen, tears falling from his face. As much as he wanted, somehow the screen kept his eyes fixed. His body was limp, surrendering to the fake. He just wanted it to stop.

The screen kept playing. Just as the Z-fighters were about to leave, a roar of energy and dust came from behind them. They turned and faced a perfect Cell, who had lightning dancing around him. Faster than they could react, an energy beam had been shot at them. It hit Trunks square in the chest, and burst through the other side, leaving a bloody mess behind.

The video stopped and went back to the fake, who seemed to have a rather large dark energy aurora around him. -Ahh, now that tastes good.-

Just leave me alone all ready...you won.

-But we have one more memory to watch together before I leave! I want to be at full power when I go out, and you're sad thoughts grow stronger the more I show you.- The fake laughed. -Don't worry, one more. I think you know what it is?-

A little bit of Gohan tried to fight against it, but his body didn't move. It felt tired and heavy and weak. The fake smiled coldly as he found the screen he was looking for and clicked it. It flew in front of Gohan. As the memory started to play, he could see Videl. His body winced. I...don't make me see this one again...

-It will be quick and then it will be over, I promise.- The fake's smile grew even bigger.

Just as the swordsman appeared behind Videl, the screen turned to static. Gohan blinked, and the fake stepped forward. -What?-

Gohan watched as the screen came back into focus. It was his teen self, his father, and Krillen all next to a river taking a cat nap just before the Cell games. Gohan somehow found the energy to laugh when Krillen through a rock at his father, hitting him in the head.

The fake looked around, frantic. -What's going on?-

A familiar voice echoed through the darkness. "Gohan, it's not like you to give up."

Gohan twisted his head around to see his father standing there, waving to him. "Hiya!"

Gohan blinked. D-dad? The fake looked at Goku and grit his teeth. -What are you doing here?-

Goku's face changed from happy to serious in an instant. "King Kai is letting me talk to you guys in here. I'm just reminding Gohan about the happier times in his life."

Gohan turned to the screen as another one popped up. It was back when Piccolo was training him to fight the saiyans. Back then it might not have been a good experience, but now Gohan looked back on those times happily. He really respected and looked up to Piccolo now because of it.

The fake tried frantically to get the happy screens to leave, but they stayed in front of Gohan. Gohan turned back to see his dad and found Piccolo standing there as well. Piccolo had his serious face on, looking at the fake. Gohan smiled slightly. Piccolo...

Piccolo turned to face his student, a grin crossing his face as he huffed, letting Gohan know he heard him. Turning back to the fake, his grin disappeared.

The fake stepped out from the circle of memories, anger clearly on his face. -Just like you Gohan, to call for help. You never could do anything on your own.-

Goku spoke up before Gohan could answer. "You're point? If you remember Gohan, when was the last time I didn't try to win without everyone's help?"

Gohan blinked, thinking about it for a moment. In almost all of his fights, Goku did use someone's help. The spirit bomb, his fathers signature move, was it itself a move that called on everyone to share some of their energy.

Goku continued. "Asking for help doesn't make you weak. You know that Gohan. You also know never to give up."

Gohan could feel his energy returning to his body. Shaking the remaining tears from his face, Gohan's face changed to determined. Once again he tried to break free from his imprisonment.

The fake once again smiled. -It's to late anyway. I have what I need, and soon I'll be free!-

Another screen popped in front of Gohan. As it started to play, he could feel more energy coming back to him. It was his memory of when Goten was born. He had been standing next to his mother's bed as she was holding him. He could also make out Goku standing there quietly behind him, smiling happily.

Yet another screen popped into view. This one was a memory of his first day of class, and the three friends he had made. Sharpner was leaning back in his chair. "Come on Videl, there's no way he could be the golden fighter. Have you ever heard of a book nerd being a super hero? His hair isn't even right"

Gohan roared as his energy started to flow out of his body. The black rings that bound him were starting to give as he slowly inched them from their resting spots.

The fake grit his teeth. -Like I said, it's to late!-

From behind Goku and Piccolo, yet another voice rang through the darkness. Gohan continued to try and break free, only moving his eyes to where the sound came from. It belonged to Videl. Goku and Piccolo turned to where the sound was coming from, even though all they could see was darkness. They smiled, turning back to Gohan. Piccolo smiled, and Goku stepped forward. "We all have faith in Gohan. You can do this!"

Videl's voice grew louder in Gohan's mind. "Gohan!"

Gohan finally found all his energy, and let it all out. The black rings broke from around him, and the screens of memories faded. Gohan let his body relax as he looked at his fake.

The fake took a step back, a flash of worry crept over his face. -I told you it's to late!-

-DBZ-

Videl shielded her eyes as the dark energy surrounded Gohan in a black bubble and sent more snow flying, yelling Gohan's name again. "Gohan!" Talking more to herself than anyone else, she started to whisper. "What's going on..."

The bubble grew out, and then fell in on itself before exploding in darkness. Everyone shielded themselves, holding their ground in the snow and ice. It seemed to take forever for the snow to stop flying into their face and fall back to the ground. When they looked up, they saw two people. One was standing, and the other was face first in the snow.

The one standing looked a lot like Gohan. He had white hair, black rings around his eyes, pale skin, and those same dark lines outlining his muscles. The man had a cold grin on his face.

The one on the ground was the Gohan they were used to. Videl closed her eyes and started to run at the two. Please don't be dead...Gohan...please.

The man with white hair jumped back next to Babidi, who was dumbstruck staring at the person standing next to him. "Wh-where's my dark seed tree? W...what the fuck happened! Where the hell is it?"

The man looked down at the mini alien. "It died after it gave birth to me."

Babidi blinked. "Wh-what?"

The man smiled. "My name is Darkon. I am sorry, master, but yo are no longer needed." Darkon powered up an energy blast in his hand and shot it at Babidi.

Babidi flailed his arms out in a last ditch effort. "What! Y-you're going to kill me! Why you ungrateful...gaahhh!" The energy ball consumed him and he disappeared into dust and was blown away by the wind.

Videl, was kneeling in the snow next to Gohan. She was shaking his limp body. "Gohan!" No repsonce. "Gohan!"

Goten ran up next to Videl and did the same, trying to hold back his tears for his older brother, not wanting to give up on him.

Trunks started to run towards Gohan as well, but stopped and looked at his father. The M on his forehead was gone. "D-dad?"

Vegeta huffed as he looked from Gohan to this Darkon. "Trunks...are you ready?" Trunks could only nod stupidly, not sure what he was talking about. Vegeta glared at Darkon. "I think the real fight is just starting."

-DBZ-

Piccolo opened his eyes. He was sitting on the edge of the lookout, looking towards where Gohan and the others were. He had been able to mentally talk with Gohan, but when the explosion of power happened and the dark energy got it's own body, he had lost the connection. To make things worse, he couldn't reconnect with Gohan.

Dende noticed Piccolo had opened his eyes. "Is everything good now?"

Piccolo kept looking out over the earth. "I'm not sure...I lost connection."

Dende looked down. "I see."

After a few moments of silence, Piccolo turned to Dende. "Let's go, they'll probably need you're healing ability."

Dende nodded as the two started to fly towards where Gohan and the others were.

-DBZ-

Goku took his hand off of King Kai's back and sighed, deep in thought. The blue man turned around and looked down. "Sorry Goku. After the explosion, I lost connection and I can't seem to get it back."

Goku stood silently, thinking about what was going on. Grand Kai slowly walked up to the group. "Hey cool birds...whats happening. It's not good when Goku looks serious."

Goku didn't answer, so King Kai did. "Babidi is on earth, er...well he was. He's dead now. But before that happened, he planted the dark seed into Gohan...and something strange is happening down there."

Grand Kai blinked. "Ya don't say. Well, let's take a look, shall we?" Holding up his hand, a crystal ball formed. He set it down on the ground, and sat next to it as it started to focus in on the white snowy area where everyone was. King Kai also sat down. Goku however continued to stand up, only turning to see the ball.

Goku crossed his arms, still a serious look on his face. "It's up go Gohan now."

Author's Annotations:

And there you have chapter 15. Sorry for the late update. I just got Assassin's Creed 2 and well...I've been spending most of my time on that. For those who have played it...is the ending epic or what? Now that's how you make a cliff hanger. Those credits slapped me in the face pretty hard. Lol Anyway, please remember to review and tell you're friends if you like the story!