~Tournament Saga~
Chapter 37 – Rival Rematch
As the light faded, people slowly reopened their eyes. They blinked, slightly confused at the turn of events. Krillin was now standing where Trunk's had been. The announcer however, whom with his shades had seen everything, quickly pulled up his microphone. "And the winner by ring out is Krillin!"
The crowd murmured to one another, wondering what exactly happened. The Z-fighters looked down at the ground in between them and the stage, finding the young Trunks struggling to get up. Krillin suddenly fell backwards, rubbing his head in pain. "Agh! That hurt!"
Trunks slowly got up, keeping his eyes fixed on the ground. Great, he had lost and his father had seen everything. His golden hair slowly faded back to its normal color, and with a sigh Trunks turned to face the others. With tentative steps he walked back, stopping in front of his father. Vegeta looked down at his son for what seemed like quite a long time. Finally, he brought up his hand and placed it on his son's head, his voice slightly softer than normal. "We'll start training harder when we get home."
Trunk's looked up, amazed that he wasn't getting yelled at or chewed out for fighting so sloppy. Vegeta walked past his son, towards the fighting stage. Finally, it was his turn.
Goku quickly walked up to Krillin and knelled down next to him, "Hey buddy, you ok?"
"I think so." Krillin looked up to Goku, still rubbing his thumping head. The body of a super saiyan felt harder than solid stone. Maybe headbutting him off the stage after blinding him hadn't been his best idea. "Hey, you fight next, right?"
"Ya, me and Vegeta go at it next." Goku stood back up, a smirk crossing his face as Vegeta stepped up onto the stage as well. His eyes were shining like they hadn't in a long time. This was going to be exciting.
Krillin slowly stood up, dusting himself off. Glancing at the two fighters, he could sense they were about to go at it even if he didn't move. "Well, good luck to the both of you."
Quickly Krillin ran off to join the other fighters. Even though he had just won, his spirit still wasn't exactly happy. He had to fight the winner of this fight next. Great, just great. Gohan and Videl watched as Goku and Vegeta stared the other down. The excitement was thick in the air. Even the crowd was picking up on it. Just looking at these two, you could tell they were rivals. It was in their eyes, in the way they stood next to each other. You could just sense it from them.
"So, Kakarrot. Are you read?"
Goku gave a small nod, his grin never leaving his face. "Of course. I've been waiting for this for a long time."
Vegeta huffed, chuckling to himself. "That's my line. I'm going to beat you, proving that I am the strongest."
"Not if I can help it..."
The announcer looked back and forth between the two fighters. His announcer senses were tingling up, down, left right, and everywhere in between. This next fight was the reason he had become a fighting announcer. He could feel it. "All right people! Are you ready to get you're money's worth? This fight is between the old champ Goku vs the man known as Vegeta. I have it on good authority that both these fighters are rivals, and either of them could win! You know they'll be giving it their all. So lets get this started! I give you Goku vs Vegeta!"
The announcer waved his hand down and then quickly scurried off the stage. The only movement on the stage however was the dust being blown by a soft wind. The two fighters were locked onto the other, forgetting the world around him. Almost instantaneously at the same time, like a mirror of the other, the fighters took their own stances. Goku leaned forward slightly, his arms extended out forming a large C that was slightly tilted forward and down. Vegeta leaned back and to his right side. His base was wide, his feet far apart from one another. His left arm was held up near his face while the other was balled into a fist out extended to his right.
The entire stadium grew quiet. One could cut the tension with a knife. Videl watched with wide eyes. They were focusing their energy and to be honest, it was already huge. Gohan smiled as he settled into his spot. Finally a fight where the world wasn't at stake. It was nice for sure.
Once again at the same time, both Goku and Vegeta leaned forward onto the front foot, pushing off the ground and shooting towards the other. Imprints of their shoes were left into the stage tiles from the force, and sonic booms rocked the island as they gained speed. They both crashed into one another, blocking the other with their forearm. The ground below the two caved under the force, creating a crater even though both were still mid-air. Second's later, a burst of wind shot from the center where the two had clashed, forcing the crowd to block their eyes and hold onto their hats.
Goku and Vegeta finally started the battle, both launching punches and kicks while blocking the others. To the onlookers, it looked more like their bodies and heads were floating while their arms and legs were mere blurs moving around them. The Z-fighters, who could see a lot more, still were impressed that they were now this good in their normal state. Every time their fists connected, or they needed to block, a sonic explosion would rock the poor island again. And to make things even more intense, they were even.
The two were consumed in a golden flame as both suddenly jumped to super saiyan, kicking things up a notch. Both started flashing around the stage, leaving the crowed watching after-images of the fight. It just was to much for them to see what on earth was going on. The Z-fighters eyes zigzagged back and forth, the only ones still able to keep up with the pace Goku and Vegeta were fighting at.
The golden fighters zipped across the sky, Goku currently on the defensive. As Vegeta shot closer, the flame haired saiyan arched his arm back, focusing his energy for the punch. Finally as he caught up, Vegeta unleashed the high powered punch. Goku leaned back, matrix-ing the attack as he watched it fly over him. Bringing his leg up, Goku tried to counter with a kick to Vegeta's stomach. Vegeta caught the kick with his free hand and pushed off to the side, rolling around the kick. Mid-twist Vegeta extended his arm, swinging it around as he tried to backhand punch Goku. Goku brought his forearm up, blocking the attack. When the two arms connected, a gust of wind and energy exploded from the two.
The two flew away from each other, landing on the ground. It was only for a second, because the next moment they were upon each other again. They once again launched volleys of attacks at each other. It truly was amazing to watch, even if most of everyone there couldn't see much.
Trunks and Goten watched with wide eyes as their father's fought it out. They had always imagined a fight between their fathers would be amazing, but actually seeing it really was amazing. And they were so close to each other in talent and power. It was impossible to figure out who would win!
Both fighters jumped back from one another, crying out as their golden aura's grew and blue lightning started to dance around them. Vegeta's hair didn't change much, but it did take a softer golden color and spiked together more than normal. Goku's hair spiked up more, leaving two small bangs clinging tightly to the side of his face while a larger one hung down over his forehead. The Z-fighter's eye's widened slightly as both powered up to super saiyan two. So, Vegeta was that strong too? No wonder they had gathered the dragonballs to make sure no one was hurt.
The two silent fighters shot towards each other once again. Most of the Z-fighters could still follow what was going on, but many of the attacks were starting to look more like blurs. It was ridiculous to think that these two had gotten this strong just so they could fight each other once again.
Goku charged in towards Vegeta, charging a golden energy ball in his hand and then throwing it towards Vegeta. The saiyan prince flew backwards, charging a blue ball in his two hands. As the golden ball neared him, Vegeta held out his own energy ball, blocking and thus deflecting the energy ball over his head. In one movement, Vegeta threw his arms forwards throwing his ball now at Goku. Goku brought his free hand forwards and deflected the blue ball to his side, continuing on his pursuit of Vegeta. Vegeta planted his foot into the tiles, holding his arms in front of himself. Goku locked hands with Vegeta, pushing him back before both finally came to a stop.
Both fighters dug their feet into the ground, pushing against one another as they tried to overpower the other. Lighting danced around their bodies as their golden aurora's flared, becoming one large flame of energy. They both grit their teeth together, their muscles bulging as they tried to force the other back. The tiles started to break apart and rise into the air, and the ground started to shake. Both arched their heads back, and then threw their heads forwards. Both headbutted the other, causing either to lose their grip on the other and stumble back.
Both held their forehead as blood started to roll down their faces. Righting themselves, both jumped to opposite edges of the stage. Goku dropped down, cupping his hands behind him. Vegeta leaned back, cupping his hands in front of him.
"Kame...hame..."
"Final..."
The ground started to shake again as a yellow orb formed in Vegeta's hands and a blue one in Goku's. Blue lightning danced around each of their bodies, concentrating around their attacks as they gathered power. The Z-fighter's watched with wide eyes as a finally energy blast equal to Cell and Gohan's was about to go down. It really was a good idea they wished the dragon to make sure no one was hurt. Everyone was way to close.
"HA!"
"FLASH!"
Both fighters unleashed their attacks. They weren't normal beams of energy. They were closer to flames as the gold and blue attacks shot towards one another. Both attacks collided into each other in the center of the ring. Since both attacks were flames, instead of forming a large ball of energy at the center, both attacks mingled with each other creating a gold and blue flame that stretched out, easily consuming the entire stage area. Both fighters strained under the pressure, trying to muster all they could to push the other back and win the energy struggle.
Goku and Vegeta roared out as they kick things up a notch. The flames grew in size, rising up as high as the top of the stadium. Suddenly, both attacks slipped by the other. The gold flame slipped to the right, while the blue one slipped to the left. The attacks passed by their targets, just to the side of them. Goku looked to his left, feeling the dangerous attack passing a few mere inches from his side. Vegeta looked to his left, straining his face as he too felt the danger of the attack passing just by him.
The attack's crashed into the stands, the magical dragon barrier protecting those watching. The crowd cringed as the flames rose up high above them. They could see the attack, feel the heat, and even though they couldn't sense energy, their sense of preservation and survival told them that this was not a safe place to be right now.
Both attacks faded, Vegeta and Goku slightly huffing and hunched over as they sucked in air. Vegeta stood upright, dropping his guard. "So, Kakarrot. I think that was good enough for a warm up. Ready to fight for real?"
"Heh, thought you'd never ask." Goku smirked as he spread his base, separating his legs from one another. His golden aura surrounded him, sweat rolling down his face.
The crowd nearly fell out of their seats after hearing that. They were...warming up?
"HaaaaaaAAAAA!" The Z-fighters felt it before they could see it. Something big was coming from Goku. Untapped energy levels that were higher than most of them had ever thought of in their craziest dreams. Goku's voice roared out, seemingly lasting forever as blue lightning started to dance around his entire body. His muscles bulged, but not so much that they would slow him down. A golden light surrounded him, making it look as if his orange gi were actually closer to gold itself. His hair started to grow as well, stretching out and then down due to its own weight. A sudden final flash of light consumed the stadium blinding all the onlookers.
As the light faded, the crowd was taken back, but nothing compared to the Z-fighters. Goku's hair had grown so long that he looked almost like Raditz. All his hair went backwards exept for one bang that hung infront of his face. His eyebrows had also been seemingly erased, leaving a stern look constantly on his face. "Ah, there we go. Super Saiyan 3."
The Z-fighters looked on in amazement. Of all the onlookers, only Gohan could sense exactly how much power Goku had just unleashed, and he was startled at how much it was. In fact, the only one in the stadium not surprised was Vegeta. The saiyan simply smiled. "I'll beat you, here and now while you're at your best. You will finally be forced to bow to your prince!"
Vegeta fell into a similar stance that Goku had taken. His own voice now consumed the stadium, roaring out as lightning started sparking around his body. Now all the Z-fighter's attention was focused on Vegeta. There just was no way...could Vegeta be just as strong as Goku? Could there really be more than one person with this kind of power?
Something started to change however. It wasn't exactly the same as Goku, and it didn't feel like Vegeta's normal energy. The blue lightning started to fade to black, and it grew in frequency, arching closely around his body. His hair started to grow out and then down like Goku's, and his eyebrows started to fizzle away from the intense energy, but something started to appear on Vegeta's forehead. At first it was splotchy black spots. Sweat started rolling down his head, vein's in his arm and forehead bulging ridiculously. Dark outlines started to form around his eyes as the spots on his forehead connected, forming an M.
Goku's eyes were wide, staring at what was happening to Vegeta. What was going on? Gohan nearly stood up when he finally remembered where he had felt this energy before. It had been Vegeta just after he had come to after him and Darkon had separated. Vegeta's energy seemed like it had been tainted or something, and it felt the same as what Vegeta was doing right now.
Vegeta's roar intensified as part of the M started to dissolve. The two legs of the M faded away, leaving a black V imprinted onto his forehead. Black lightning sparked all around him as a darker golden energy consumed his body. Everyone in the stadium, the Z-fighters especially, could feel something wrong with this new transformation. It wasn't the energy or something you could sense. It was more of a voice inside their head that said he was dangerous, and they should be running away right now for safety.
Vegeta straitened up, smirking wildly as he locked eyes with Goku. "Super Vegeta ... has been reborn!"
Author's Annotation:
The finally of Goku and Vegeta's fight will be next chapter! Who's gonna win? Please remember to review and pass the word on if you like the story!
In other news, I have started a second story about Mirai Gohan and his struggles with the world he is now left to protect. It is called Memoir's of a Survivor, and if you like reading this story, please read and review that story too!