Hope everyone is as excited as me for another chapter! Sorry about the long wait. I was really busy with school, being sick, and some computer problems. I am hoping to start updating a bit more at night time so I hope that will help to get more chapters out. Hope you enjoy this one as well!

Chapter 5: Awake

All Gohan could do was stare at the ground as his father announced the next fighter. Gohan heard Piccolo shout something, but he was too stunned to listen.

Me? Gohan thought, suddenly becoming interested in the grass he was staring at. Daddy wants me to fight Cell? But if he couldn't beat Cell, then how do I have a chance. I don't want to mess up again. I don't want anyone to get hurt. I don't…

Gohan felt his father's hand on his shoulder. He looked up at his father's face with uncertainty.

"You can do it right, Gohan?" Goku said as he looked at his son.

"Me, fight with Cell?" Gohan hinted a question as he tried not to look away. Everyone else started to throw in comments, including Piccolo, who told Goku to think about what he was doing.

"Guys," Gohan heard his dad say after a minute, "Just think about it. Since Gohan was a kid, he has been able to keep up with us. I know that when I was his age, I wasn't even half as strong as he is now."

Gohan also heard his father say something about a "great power" inside of him that none of them could begin to imagine.

It is true that I can keep up with everyone, but that's only because I have been training since I was four or five. Of course, that's natural! Daddy said that there is a hidden power within me that nobody can imagine. I doubt that; I can't even imagine it myself, Gohan thought as everybody else continued to argue.

"Just trust me," Gohan heard his father say after a few minutes, "I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't know it would turn out ok."

Goku turned back to look at Gohan. He saw that his son was still looking a bit confused if not frightened at the idea of fighting Cell. Goku knew that Gohan could handle it; after all, he was Goku's son.

"Gohan, at any time when Cell and I were fighting, were we ever too fast for you?" Goku asked as he knelt back down to Gohan's level.

"No, but I am sure if both of you would have been fighting at your full power…" Gohan began but was soon interrupted by his father.

"Son, I know I can't speak for Cell, but I was giving it my all out there. You were confused because the whole time we were fighting, you were comparing my power level to yours." Goku stated truthfully.

Gohan once again felt a wave of doubt, but the more he thought about it, the more he knew it was true. He knew he hadn't been meaning to compare power levels, but he guessed that it had just come naturally. Gohan looked at his father and then around at his friends. He could see that they were confused at the prospect of what his father had just said.

"Do you think you could give it a try, Gohan?" Goku said as he went to stare back at his son.

Gohan was going to say that he didn't know, but then something hit him. His father believed that he could beat Cell, even though Gohan didn't himself. He also felt something urging him forward, almost like an invisible force trying to tell him something.

"Ok dad, I'll do my best," Gohan said as he started to smile. He stood up and, looking out at the Cell Games Arena, removed his shoulder pads. Gohan knew that this would be one of the toughest battles of his life, but he knew that his father believed in him, and that was all he needed.

Gohan focused his Ki and flew down to the dirt floor below. He looked up at a sudden change in air movement and saw Cell slowly floating downwards, amusement dancing in his dark purple eyes.

"Well aren't you loyal? I don't know of many sons who would fight their fathers' battles, let alone die for them." Cell said in an amused voice. Gohan didn't care to answer; he wasn't going to be taunted by Cell. He stared at Cell as he went into a fighting position. Cell seemed to be even more excited at this, falling into a fighting position himself.

Cell suddenly rushed forward and aimed his hand for Gohan's side, but Gohan dodged as he felt Cell continue to chase after him. Cell kept coming again and again, but Gohan wanted to avoid the possibility of a fight as much as he could.

Gohan jumped into the air, Cell copying his movement, and dodged a barricade of punches and kicks from the android.

"Not bad kid," Cell stated as he stared at Gohan, "I have to give Goku credit for choosing you to fight me, but his praise was over exaggerated. Let's see how you do against my real speed!"

Gohan saw a blur before Cell grabbed him by his shirt and started to punch him in the face multiple times. He then kicked Gohan and flung him to the ground, sending a Ki blast that sent Gohan crashing to the Earth below, piles of rocks hiding the half Saiyan from view.

Gohan had barely had time to scream in pain before rocks had come crashing down on him. Everything went dark for a few seconds as his body started to complain with the pain it was in. Gohan could hear the rest of the Z fighters yelling, but he couldn't understand them. He knew his Ki felt weak now and he knew that he would need to try and power up again. Just as Gohan let his Ki rise, he heard his father yell something at Cell. The rocks flew away from him as he stood up and started to walk back towards the green android. Cell turned around and Gohan had to admit that the android looked happy to see him.

"Well Gohan, I didn't give you as much credit as I should have," Cell stated as the half breed reached him.

"We don't have to do this," Gohan started, "this fighting its pointless."

Cell started to laugh and said,

"You want me to stop my tournament just because you don't want to fight?"

"Yes," Gohan said as he started to stare at the ground, "I don't want to kill you."

At this Cell looked interested. His purple eyes lit up with curiosity.

"Did I just hear you make a threat to kill me? What makes you think that you would actually be able to?"

"I'm starting to understand why my dad thinks that I can beat you," Gohan said more to himself than anyone else, "ever since I was a kid, I have had trouble controlling my anger. When I got angry, it was like some kind of hidden power within me awakened, and I wouldn't stop fighting until the other person had felt pain or was incapable of fighting back. I remember the first time was when my Uncle Raditz was beating up my father. I hated to hear him scream. My father had shown him kindness and mercy, but Raditz had returned him with pain. I wanted to make him feel that pain, and so I did. The other time was when Freiza was hurting Krillin on Namek. We were all trying our best to fight him till my father would arrive, but I wasn't able to protect anyone. I guess I finally snapped whenever I saw Krillin fall into the water and not come back up. I wanted to save him, but Freiza wouldn't let me; he stood in my way. So I felt that power again, wanting to hurt Freiza for all the pain he had caused my friends. I kept beating into him until I finally had the sense to calm down. I don't want to kill anyone, even someone as evil as you. I believe that everything has a chance to change and live. I hate killing, as much as I hate you. That's why I think dad chose me to fight you."

Gohan heard silence after that. He couldn't believe that he had told Cell his whole life story, but he hoped that Cell would change like Vegeta, if only he…

"That's an interesting story," Cell said as an evil smile crept onto his face, "but sadly for you, it didn't work. In fact, it actually gave me something to work for. Now I want to see this power for myself."

Before Gohan could react, he saw a blur of green before he was slammed into the ground, Cell stepping on his head. Gohan started to scream again as Cell continued to add more weight to his foot. He heard the android saying something to him, but the pain in his head drowned out all other sound.

After a minute or two, Cell lifted his foot off of Gohan's head and picked him up. Gohan usually like hugs, but that was only from his family. As he was trying to get his thoughts in order, Gohan felt Cell start to tighten his grip around him. Gohan once again started to scream as he felt Cell starting to break him. All Gohan felt was pain, horrible pain, as the torture continued. He was starting to have a hard time breathing, and over his scream he could hear everyone on the cliff yelling. He started to try and break away from Cell, but every muscle in his body protested as he tried to. Cell finally dropped him on the ground, frowning at his unsuccessful results.

"I guess since I'm done with you," he said, "I can now play with your friends."

At that statement, Gohan tried to stand up and hit Cell, but he got smacked away before he could hit the android.

Gohan saw that Android 16 had tried to blow up Cell, but the bomb inside of him had been removed, allowing Cell to blow the peaceful android to pieces.

There is no way I am going to let you hurt my friends, Gohan thought as he heard Cell counting to himself. Before Gohan could comprehend what was going on, seven mini versions of Cell appeared in front of him. They were blue in appearance and had very high Ki levels, almost as high as Cell himself. Gohan heard Cell tell the 'Cell Jrs' that they could kill his friends.

No! Gohan inwardly screamed as the mini Cells started to fly towards his friends on the cliff. He didn't know what to do anymore. He watched as the Cell Jrs continued to maul his friends. Krillin, Yamcha, and Tien were the first to go down. Piccolo, Goku, and the others followed suit. Gohan was horrified that even after his friends were down the Cell Jrs continued to beat them.

Daddy what do I do? Gohan thought as he closed his tear filled eyes as to tried to block out their screams. You trusted me and I'm failing again! Why did you have to have so much faith in me? Why can't I stop this!

Gohan suddenly felt that familiar feeling inside of him again, and apparently Cell noticed it too; Gohan saw that he started to smile. Suddenly, the head of Android 16 appeared in front of him.

"Gohan," the android started, "I know how you feel, but you must let go. My scanners have sensed the power within you, all you have to do is let go. Please, do it to protect the world."

Cell noticed the android and walked up to where his head lay, placing his foot on it.

"Thanks for your words, Android 16, but I think it's time for you to go!"

Gohan then watched in horror as Cell crushed the head beneath his foot, ending the peaceful android's life.

"Another life you could have saved." Cell said as he smiled at his work.

No! Android 16, you loved life. Why did I let you die? Why can't I do anything? I CAN'T WATCH THIS ANYMORE! Gohan thought as he suddenly felt the walls holding his power in give way. Gohan started to scream as pain and waves of Ki went through him. All he could see as the screaming continued was the pain and death of everyone he knew over and over again. As sudden as it came, the rush of pain left. Gohan didn't have much time to think things over, but he looked up at Cell. He knew he had changed but it didn't seem to matter to him.

"So you have finally arrived," Cell said with amusement as he smiled at his success. On any normal circumstance, Gohan would have thought,

I have been here the whole time.

But this wasn't any normal circumstance. Cell had finally broken down the walls that Gohan had been using to protect that power for years. Gohan only had one thought going through his head as he stared angrily at Cell.

Make him pay!

Sorry again that this took so long! Also, sorry I know I stink at battle scenes, but I know that they will get better soon. Being sick really does stuff to my thought process. Anyway, I hope you liked it! I am sorry to report that I will not be able to start the DBZ: Wipeout fanfiction for awhile. Also, I can promise you that hopefully after the Cell Games and a few other events, this fanfiction will be updated more frequently. Please R&R!

~AnimeWolfGirl9