*Chapter 15*
The door to chamber slowly closed behind them, the three Sons would be in there for the whole year.
Gohan and Pan already felt like their bodies were getting heavy and they could barely breathe.
It's just us three now," Goku told the kids, "You two will have to get used to this, are you guys ready for the same training as Trunks and Vegeta?" he asked then seriously.
"Yes," Gohan said with determination.
"You better believe it grandpa," Pan said fist pumping.
Goku smiled at his son and granddaughter, he knew they were going make him proud.
Vegeta and Trunks made it to a verity of islands where Cell was trying to make Eighteen come out of her hiding place with Sixteen.
"So you two are the next in line die hah?" Cell asked humorlessly, "Well I should warn you, if you want to live you better leave now otherwise I'm going to kill you," Cell said.
"Let me handle this Brat, you just stand there and enjoy the show, while I take care of Cell myself," said Vegeta going super and flying towards Cell, punching him in the stomach.
The impacted of the punch took Cell by surprise.
Vegeta smirked at him, "What's wrong? I hope I'm not making you uncomfortable," Vegeta said.
He took his fist out of Cell's stomach and let Cell go back a few steps before he ran forward punching Cell In the jaw, Cell went flying only for Vegeta to knee him in the back. Cell tried to get in a few punches himself, but Vegeta dodged them easily. Vegeta grabbed Cell by his leg and threw him down on an island, Cell went crashing down hard.
Vegeta landing beside him laughing, Cell was irritated, "You insignificant pest! Don't be proud of these little tricks you can perform. You'll need much more if you ever hope to beat me," Cell said.
Vegeta just smirked at him not in least bit intimidated.
"You a fool, have you forgotten? I know you; your cells are woven into my very being. You Vegeta are a part of me," Cell said wiping the blood from his mouth.
"Now I'm going to take you apart, how ironic," Vegeta said smirking.
"Clever to the end, hah?" Cell said before fly towards Vegeta.
The weeks had passed and Gohan was now a super saiyan, he and Pan would train together as Goku wanted it, then Goku would train with them one on one to see how far they had gone, they were getting stronger every day.
"You're getting better at controlling your super saiyan form dad," Pan said one day when she and Gohan were training.
"Thanks, now how about we stop talking and start sparring for real," Gohan said with a smirk on his face.
"You're on!" Pan shouted with joy.
Goku heard the kids sparring outside while he was kitchen preparing them all something eat, he couldn't believe how much they had improved in such a short time, they were so much stronger than he was when he was their age. They were both on equal terms with each other; he truly believed they were going be the ones to defeat Cell.
"Gohan! Pan! Come and get it" Goku yelled getting the kids attentions.
"Alright lunch," Gohan said happily.
Pan smiled at her dad he was just like Goku when it came to food.
"Coming!" they shouted running over to Goku.
"I hope you guys are hungry, because I made plenty."
Both their stomachs started growling, "Hehehe staving," Gohan said for the both of them.
"Oh hey, Gohan could you grill this for me?" Goku asked throwing up a roast beef.
Gohan used his power to fire up the roast beef and Goku caught it. He was about to eat it when it burst into flames and disintegrated.
Gohan and Pan stared at Goku in shock, "Uh dad, your hair," Gohan said his father's hair was on fire.
"Now son, what did I tell you about controlling your power," Goku said not realizing his hair was aflame.
"I know, but dad your hair's on…"
"No changing the subject Gohan."
"No grandpa he's serious your hair's on fire!"
"You've got to…" that how far Goku went before he realized his hair was aflame and started screaming.
"Haw! Put it out! Put it out! Put it out!"
"Hold still Dad/Grandpa," Gohan and Pan said getting the flame out of his hair.
No matter what Cell tried to do he couldn't get to Vegeta.
Vegeta definitely had the upper hand.
"How did you acquire this new strength? Enlighten me!" Cell demanded.
"I do lots of push-ups and sit-ups and I drink plenty of juice," Vegeta joked.
Cell anger boiled, "Listen here Vegeta, I came from the future where you were killed by android Seventeen and now I've absorbed android Seventeen. I have all of his power at my disposal in addition to my own. So tell me, how can you be stronger than he is?!" Cell said angrily, "It's not possible, you're bluffing!"
Vegeta smirked, "Look, if you think I'm bluffing, then call my bluff. Here, I know you're confused, so let me make it easier on you," Vegeta said as he turned his back on Cell.
"My back's turned, how's that?" Vegeta asked getting Cell angry.
Cell used the Gallic Gun on Vegeta only for it to back fire on as the impact of it made the rock on cliff where he was standing crumble under his feet and buried and him under the rubble. Cell came out of the rock pile thinking he won, but when the smoke cleared he saw Vegeta was unharmed.
"So this is it hah? I thought this was going to be a challenge. I can't believe we were worried about you," said Vegeta.
Cell was getting irritated at Vegeta, "Mock my words saiyan! You will pay!" Cell told the saiyan prince.
"I don't think so Cell, I'm afraid you're out classed in every way."
"No impossible! It's not true!" yelled Cell.
The fight continued and Cell kept getting his ass handed to him by Vegeta, finally realizing his couldn't beat Vegeta in his Simi-Perfect form, he decided to convince Vegeta to allow him to absorb android Eighteen.
(A/N: Vegeta lets Cell absorb Eighteen; Trunks try's to stop Cell only to be bitch slapped into a mountain. Cell absorbs Eighteen and achieves his perfect form; Cell now has the upper hand and has beaten Vegeta into a bloody pulp and Trunks has turned into an ascended saiyan.)
Trunks was freaking pissed! Cell had finally reached his perfect form; now the fight had begun for the Demi-Saiyan and the Cell. Trunks blocked Cell's attacks, soon they were in midair and Trunks knocked Cell to the ground making a huge crater. Trunks landed beside the crater while Cell started slowly flying out.
"Why don't you wake and smell the coffee, Trunks. I'm real, there's no way you can defeat me," Cell smirked.
"We'll just see about you sick diluted monster!" Trunks yelled attacking Cell once again.
The fight was lasting pretty long but Trunks was holding back, he was worried about his father who was still lying unconscious nearby. Trunks let Cell beat on him a little till he was sure Cell's full attention was on him and not Vegeta. He motioned for Krillin who had been there the time, to get Vegeta somewhere safe. After this was done Trunks started fighting Cell with everything he had.
Five months had passed and Gohan and Pan were getting really close, Gohan even started calling Pan, Panda. It took her by surprise at first; it brought back such wonderful memories of her father.
Goku watched them closely he couldn't help smiling; he son was going be great father someday.
As the weeks passed Pan was starting to get horrible nightmares, they always ended with Trunks dying. Cell had killed him and Pan could nothing to stop it, she had to stand there and watch her best friend die before her eyes.
She woke up in a cold sweat, she was breathing heavily as tears started forming in her eyes.
"Did you have the nightmare again?" Goku asked coming to sit on the edge of her bed. Gohan was sound asleep a ways off, the tears started coming down as she nodded. Goku wrapped her in his arms and let cry as he comforted her.
"Shh, it's okay Panny nothing going happen, it's just a nightmare."
"I'm so scared Grandpa, what if it comes true? What if Trunks…" Pan couldn't say it; she didn't want it to come true.
"It'll be okay Pan, it'll be okay," he said kissing the top of head and rocking her back and forth. He stayed with her till she fell back asleep.
"Alright you two ready for a challenge?" Goku asked the kids the next morning.
"You bet dad," Gohan said smirking.
"What's the challenge, grandpa?" Pan asked.
"You two are going to try to catch me, you have to do whatever it takes," Goku said before he flew into the void.
Gohan and Pan both powered up to super saiyan and flew after him.
"There's no use in hiding dad!" Gohan shouted.
"You know we can sense where you are, grandpa," Pan added.
They both felt Goku's ki behind them and quickly turned and threw a couple of energy blasts at him.
Goku dodged there attacks, "That's the way you two, but you're gonna have to do better than that, if you guys are going catch me," Goku said before he disappeared again.
Gohan and Pan kept finding Goku and kept throwing ki blasts at him.
"Whoa, that was I close one," Goku said as one of Pan's ki blasts almost hit him in the face.
It was getting tougher for him to dodge their blasts, he took cover by one of the pillars by the house thinking they wouldn't blast there… he was wrong, two strong blast came right towards him. He moved out of the way. Three more blast were fired at him, he defecated them with one of his own.
Goku looked confused when no more blasts were fired at him, he was surprised when Gohan and Pan appeared behind and tackled him to the ground, they all giggling.
"We got you, dad," Gohan said laughing.
"How was that, grandpa?" Pan asked.
"Not bad," Goku said praising them, "You two make an excellent team, what do you say about a nice big snack before we start training again," Goku said smiling.
"Well should probably clean up the mess first," Pan said as they looked at the bit destroyed house.
"Oops, sorry about that, that one was my fault," Gohan said laughing a little.
"Well we better fix this place up before Mr. Popo see it," Goku said.
Trunks and Cell's fight continued, as they threw hard punches at each other. Trunks did a spin kick on Cell before the monster elbowed him making Trunks crash in some rocks. Cell walked over to as he was just getting back up.
"What's that saying?" Cell asked, "Like father, like son. Yes you are as head strong as Vegeta, but soon you'll be wishing your head was stronger, when I'm crushing it," Cell laughed.
Trunks didn't say anything as he powered up even further, and Cell just stood there not really unimpressed.
"Nice light show their Trunks, it's such a shame your father isn't here to see you've surpassed him." Cell said.
"As long as I have the power to finish you off that's all that matters to me, you're coming to an end!" Trunks yelled.
Cell powered up as well, "Allow me to show my complete power."
"Go ahead and show me what you've got Cell, and you'll be first see the real power of the saiyan race," Trunks said before powering up once again.
It was like super saiyan on steroids, his muscles started getting bulkier. He flew towards Cell as the battle commenced once again.
Trunks punched Cell sending him flying before he appeared in front of him and started throwing ki blasts in Cell's face. When the smoke cleared Trunks saw that Cell wasn't there. Before he knew it Cell elbowed him the back. Trunks got back to his feet and appeared behind Cell and kicked him in the back.
They started attacking each other once again Trunks sometimes getting the upper hand and sometimes Cell. Cell head budded Trunks sending flying but Trunks caught himself and flew back at Cell at top speed and returned the favor with a head bud of his own. Trunks was throwing fierce punches at Cell, he then shot a powerful blast the monster, sending Cell crashing into the cliffs.
A couple of week had passed and Goku suggested that they all start focusing on their energy.
Gohan and Pan were sparring while Goku was meditating below them
What do you think my dad's doing?" Gohan asked Pan. He's just been sitting there for days watching us."
I guess he's trying to figure out how to ascend to the next level," Pan told Gohan, "It's gotta be pretty tough."
The saiyan teenagers continued to spar till they fell to the floor falling out of their super saiyan forms exhausted.
"Gohan, Pan," Goku said standing up getting the kids attentions, "Watch me," Goku powered up, he started screaming as his power started rising. It blew the exhausted teens off their feet send them flying a few feet away from Goku.
"Wow!" Gohan said in awe of father's new power.
"He's done it," Pan said happily as she and Gohan ran up beside Goku.
"Dad, your power, it's huge! You did it! You ascended to the next level!" Gohan shouted joyfully
"I could go one step further if I wanted to," Goku said putting shock on Pan and Gohan's faces.
Goku started powering again, his power was rising even further and muscles started getting bulkier. Gohan and Pan eye grew even wider, they were a little scared but mostly amazed.
"Yeah that's it! Wow you're more than a super saiyan now, Grandpa, nobody can beat you. I know you can defeat Cell, you can! I know you can! You're awesome grandpa!" Pan said in awe of Goku's new power.
Goku shook his head, "Not in this form," Goku said surprising the teens. "Not yet at least."
"What? Why not, dad?" Gohan asked his eyebrows arched.
"I know I look like I can you guys. But these bulky muscles make it hard to move fast, and if I'm going to beat Cell I can't have anything slowing me down," Gohan and Pan nodded, now understanding.
"I may have great power, but what good is it If I can catch my enemy, it takes more than brute strength to win a fight," Goku said as he powered down, "And transformations waste a lot of energy, it's not easy, right?"
Pan and Gohan both nodded.
"We need to find I way to keep our super saiyan powers without wasting so much energy," Goku said before their stomachs started growling.
"But first let's get something eat!" Goku said as he and the saiyan teens went into the kitchen.
"Impressive, I must admit you have acceded me, Trunks," Cell told him. "At least in the area of brute strength, and yet, you have absolutely no chance of defeating me."
Trunks powered up even more. He was getting a good few kicks and punches but every time he powered up, he started getting slower and couldn't catch Cell no matter how hard he tried.
Cell beat the living daylights out Trunks; he was losing energy fast while Cell remains relatively the same.
"You're such an armature," Cell told him laughing; "You said you'd show me true saiyan power. But all you've done is pump up your little muscles, and there's nothing special about that. I could do that too if I wanted," Cell said as he powered up just like Trunks did.
Now it was Cell on steroids, Trunks was taken aback as watched Cell power up.
"You see it's rather easy to transform In muscle stamina, but it's not going to get you anywhere if your opponent has any sort of speed. Honestly it's a very simple concept to understand, even Vegeta figured it out."
Trunks knew he was defeated, there was no way he could beat Cell. He powered down till he was back to his normal state.
"You can finish me if you want," Trunks said bowing his head in shame, "I failed."
"Well how noble of you to admit defeat, perhaps you're not as much like your father as I thought you were. Tell you what I'm going to allow you to live, so you can send a message to your other friends. I want to see just how powerful you can all become, I'll be holding a tournament in precisely three weeks that should be enough time for you all to progress, and I think I'll call it the Cell Games."
"Alright you guys," Goku told the saiyan teens a few days later, "We can't afford to waste any more energy; we need to get to point where it feels natural to a super saiyan, so we can stay like that all the time."
"But how dad," Gohan asked.
"I want you two to try to stay super saiyans for the whole day, we'll slow down our training till it stops feeling so wired, what you say?" Goku asked.
"Yeah, dad we'll do the best we can, right Panda?" Gohan said looking at Pan
"Yeah you bet," she said giving them the Son grin.
It was easier to stay super for the boys then it was for Pan she tried her best but she just couldn't hold it for as long as her father and grandfather could, it was really frustrating her but she wasn't going to give up.
It had now been ten mouths all together since they had been in the hyperbolic time chamber, it was the longest toughest ten months of Pan's life, she missed Trunks so much she couldn't wait to see him again. Her and Gohan were now fifteen years old, there hair was pretty long too and Goku decide it was time for them have a haircut Gohan's was pretty long it was down to his waist and Pan's was to her knees, yep it was definitely time for a haircut.
"Ok Panny it's your turn," Goku said after he was done cutting Gohan hair.
"Umm, I think I'll cut my hair myself," Pan said.
"What's wrong? Don't you like the way I cut Gohan's hair?" Goku asked a bit hurt.
"No it's not that I don't like dad's haircut, it's just I'm kinda worried you might cut my hair boy style," Pan said honestly.
"Oh," was all Goku said.
Pan took the scissor from her grandfather and went into the bathroom, an hour later she came out with her hair cut just above her waist. Gohan and Pan went back to training, feeling lighter.
It shouldn't be long now," said Mr. Popo from outside the time chamber, they have three hours till the year is up."
Trunks sighed three more hours, is this how it felt like for Pan when she had to wait? He really missed her all he had were those few minutes with her before he had to go fight Cell. Things had gotten bad since the Son family went into the time chamber; Trunks had already informed everybody outside the time chamber about the Cell Games.
"I'm sure they'll stay longer than that," Vegeta said, "They'll do anything they can to surpass me," Vegeta said crossing his arms.
"They're training so they can beat Cell, not you Vegeta," Piccolo told the saiyan prince. "There are twenty-one days left so you can afford to wait. Why don't you rest Vegeta, while I go in," Piccolo told him.
"What a waste of time," Vegeta scoffed, "You don't really except to become as strong as saiyan do you?" Vegeta asked amused, "Fine have your day then, but I plan to use the remaining twenty days for myself."
"I wouldn't count on that," Piccolo said with a smirk, "didn't you know you could only spend two days inside? Even the hyperbolic time chamber has its limits."
"What?! You lie! That's ridicules!" barked Vegeta.
"But it's true," said Mr. Popo. "After forty-eight hours the entrance will disappear and you'll be trapped inside their for eternity."
Vegeta gritted his teeth in anger.
"But father there's plenty of time we still have twenty-three hours left," Trunks said trying calm his father down.
They suddenly all felt three massive energy levels and stood up from where they were sitting.
"They must be done" said Tien, "I can feel their energy."
"But why now? That's not even a year," Vegeta said.
they heard footsteps, and Gohan was the first to appear, in super saiyan form as if it was natural, Pan walked up behind him her hair was its normal black, and Goku came up behind her, he was in super saiyan form like Gohan.
"Vegeta and Trunks, I knew I sense them you guys, but I can still sense Cell, though he seems much stronger," said Goku.
Their closes were ripped up like Vegeta's and Trunks' were when they came out of the time chamber. Pan saw Trunks and ran to him, almost tackling him to the ground in a tight hug as Gohan and Goku walked up to the others.
"I've missed you so much," Pan told Trunks smiling.
"I've missed you too, wow you grown up so much, you're taller," Trunks said as he cracked a smile.
Trunks noticed more than her being taller, she had literally gone from being a girl to a young woman in one day.
"Guess you can't call me pipsqueak anymore hah?" she asked him teasingly.
"I guess not," Trunks said with a smirk.
"So will anyone fill us in on what's been happening?" Goku asked the Z-Fighters.
"Uh…yeah…sure," Tien said.
"Oh, but before you start talking though, I got to get something into my stomach. Do you have anything good to eat Mr. Popo?" Goku asked his stomach growling.
Poor Mr. Popo had a sweat drop, knowing how much Goku could eat.
"Well at least he hasn't changed at all," Tien said laughingly.
Mr. Popo Brought massive amounts of food and Goku and Gohan, they started digging in. Pan sat with Trunks on the other side of them watching the boys eat, she laughed when she saw Trunks and others looks of amazement, she was already used to her father and grandfather's eating habits.
"Goku one question, okay," Tien side, "Well I mean wasn't there enough food inside the time chamber?" he asked.
Goku whose mouth was so full of noodles, said something but it was so muffled you couldn't understand a word he was saying.
"Grandpa, how many times have I told you not talk with your mouth full? Not only can't we understand you, but it's very rude! Honestly I don't know how granma puts up with you," Pan said crossing her arms and huffing.
Tien, Trunks and Mr. Popo were laughing, Piccolo was smirking. Pan looked so much like Chichi when she said that.
Goku slurped up the noodles and wiped his mouth, "What I was saying was Gohan and I can't cook very well, but we didn't want to let Panny do all the cooking or else she wouldn't have been able to train, so we took turns once a week. The only time we had a good home cooked meal was when Panny was cooking and well it wasn't Pan's week when we got out of the time chamber," Goku explained.
"They can't cook to save their lives," Pan said smirking, "They practically burned everything they cooked."
"So Trunks why don't you tell us what's been happening?" Goku asked when he and Gohan were finished eating.
Trunks, who was still shocked from all empty bowls and plates looked up, "Okay, yeah, sure," he told them everything, from Cell absorbing Eighteen to the tournament.
"A tournament huh? Sounds interesting," said Goku.
"What, interesting?" Piccolo asked confused.
"Hey Mr. Popo do you still have the clothes we left here?" Goku asked.
Sure, I do, they're somewhere," Mr. Popo said as he went to go find them. He came back a minute later and handed them their clothing.
"Thanks Mr. Popo," Pan said as she went into another room to change. She remembered the capsule her grandmother gave with her father's old gi in it. She decided she was going wear it, she took the capsule out of her jacket pocket and threw it, and out popped the gi and she put it on.
"You know, I'm sure my mother would make you some new saiyan armor if you asked her."
"Nah this will do fine," Goku said putting on his gi shirt, "I want to fight as a earthling."
Gohan asked Piccolo for a gi just like his and Piccolo was more than happy to oblige.
"Wow dad that outfit looks awesome on you!" Pan said walking up to the boys.
They all stared at her in amazement, she was wearing the orange turtle hermit gi only she was just wearing the shirt which came down to her thighs with a dark blue tank top underneath it, she was wearing black spandex shots and a blue belt, blue wristbands and boots. She also had an orange head band tide around her forehead.
"Wow Chichi did a great job on redesigning your dad's gi," Trunks said liking how the gi looked on her.
"That used to be mine," Gohan asked.
Pan nodded, "it was grandpa's before it was yours, Trunks and I thought it would be good idea if I kept the tradition going,"
"Well it looks good on you," Goku said giving her thumbs up.
Vegeta finally came out of the woodwork and started talking to Goku about Cell.
"So do you think you'll be able to defeat Cell with your new power?" Vegeta asked.
"I'm not sure Vegeta, I haven't seen Cell since he absorbed android Eighteen, I'll have to check him out."
With that Goku instant transmission himself where Cell was holding the Cell Games and came back several minutes later.
"Well he's a lot stronger than the last time I met him," Goku told the others, "I won't know how strong though till I see him fight. If I fight him now, I know I'd lose."
"You and the kids still have one more day left in the time chamber," Piccolo said.
Goku and the teens shared a look that said 'no way José.'
"No way I'm not going back in there!" Pan said.
"Weakling," Vegeta muttered under his breath.
"I'm with Pan," Goku said, "There's twenty-one days left, me and the kids will just train for the rest of the three weeks out here, besides it takes so much energy out of me it wouldn't even be worth it."
"What about you Trunks?" Pan asked beside him, "Are you going in?"
Trunks cringed at the thought, he didn't think he could stand another year in that room. "No I don't think so, I'll just train out here."
"Well we're going to be off," Goku told the Z-Fighters, "Pan are you coming?" Goku asked.
"I'm going with Trunks to Capsule Corp, but I'll be sure to come over for a visit," Pan told him.
"Okay, well make sure it's soon or your grandmother might have a fit," Goku said before he transmission himself and Gohan to Master Roshi's to pick up Chichi.
"Well you ready to go?" Trunks asked Pan.
Pan nodded, happy to finally be with Trunks again. They took off to Capsule Corp.
"Trunks!" Bulma screamed when she saw Trunks and Pan come into the living room, she ran towards them giving Baby Trunks to Pan and squeezing Trunks in a hug. "I'm so glad you're okay, where's your father?" Bulma asked looking around.
"He's back at the lookout, he's going spend another day in the time chamber," Trunks answered.
Pan was holding Baby Trunks by his arm pits looking at him blinkingly, it was awkward holding her best friend as a baby, though he was a cute baby.
"Oh wow Pan you look older and I love your outfit," Bulma said taking Baby Trunks from her.
"Thanks Bulma," Pan said sweetly.
"Are you going to be staying with us here at Capsule Corp for the remainder of your stay?" Bulma asked Pan.
"Yeah, if it's not too much trouble."
"Are you kidding me, I'd love for you to stay here with us. Trunks would probably be lonely without you anyway," Bulma said giving the saiyan teens a wink and walking away while Trunks and Pan stood there blushing.