A/N: So, after getting a certain review, I realized how utterly not like-me this story is and decided to change up the chapters and add some more excitement and crazy changes to the plot. Embracing Myself got a much needed "upgrade" in the plot department and I hope you all enjoy its revamped changes. And now I have a major warning for you:

Warnings: ANGST. Tragedy. Character Deaths (These are serious-not-going-to-come-back deaths). Controversial issues (the good ol' Jerry Springer issues XD). Most will only be touched on, just as a reference, etc while others will be detailed in full.

This will still be about Gohan finding himself, etc, but with more … fun added to it. You'll just have to read to see what I mean! :D And on another note, does anyone know a lot about the Yardratians? There sure isn't much about them! XD Oh and one last note: I can be really evil, especially to my favorite characters... But I do like happy endings. Wanna see if I want one in my own story? ;)

Embracing Myself

Chapter 3

Gone Forever...Again?

Goku Son was not too technologically sound, especially when it came to space ships. He usually could figure out the controls if they were easy enough, but sometimes, he messed up. Like right now...the ship was shaking thunderously as he covered Gohan's still form with his own, grunting as he held his son close.

"Autopilot system: Failure. Navigation System: Failure. Engines one and five: Destroyed. Engines two and three: Failing. Crash course to planet: Yardrat," the computer was flashing bright red letters at the Full Saiyan as he looked up with black, wide eyes, curling around his boy more as the ship began to countdown the time til they crashed.

"Ten seconds til crash landing. Nine....eight....seven...." Fire erupted around the round ship as Goku pressed his son more securely into his arms before ducking his head against the boy's. "Six...five...four...three...t-" There was a jolt as a piece of engine went flying off, Goku watching as it went out into space behind them.

"One..." The first Super Saiyan flashed his energy around the both of them as the space ship crashed into the ground, the monitor disconnecting from its tower and smashing into the floor as the walls seemed to undulate before everything stopped. The sound of fire could be heard as Goku sighed, letting his energy go as he picked himself and Gohan up.

The space ship looked still intact for the most part except for the monitor and a few places where the metal hard been torn off. It was a miracle they had had enough oxygen with the holes in the ship, but Goku didn't dwell on it as he sensed many kis walking toward them cautiously. Placing Gohan's unconscious form on a bed and tucking him in hurriedly, the Full Saiyan walked to the door of the ship, wondering if it would even open as he pressed the button. The door flew open-and away as it unhinged and skidded across the ground to land in front of a lot of red and pink creatures.

Their eyes all stared at Goku as his first instinct was to go on the defensive, but he shook his head and smiled widely. Walking slowly towards them, the Full Saiyan relaxed slightly as a larger greenish-blue creature walked forward, bowing to him.

"Saiyan that defeated Freiza... We humbly accept you to our planet, Yardrat...I am Soba, the leader of the Yardartians... and you are?" Goku blinked before bowing and grinning widely.

"I am Goku Son, but-but how did you know I defeated Frieza? And Gohan helped!" Soba nodded, causing the ones around him to run to the ship and making Goku flail in bewilderment.

"Well, Goku Son... there's a lot you're going to learn from us...We'll get to fixing your ship and maybe we could talk of some training for you...For now, are you hungry?" At the mention of food, Goku's stomach rumbled loudly, making the Yardratians laugh as the man blushed before he joined in.

"Okay, just let me see if I can get my son up... he's been passed out since we got on the ship..." Soba's face turned from blank and neutral to worried as he walked with Goku to the boy in question.

Gohan was still asleep, blankets curled around his legs as he fitfully turned in his sleep. Goku frowned, wondering what was keeping his son asleep before the leader of the Yardratians touched his hand to the half-Saiyan's forehead. The creases there disappeared as Gohan relaxed, his movements stopping as Soba turned to the full Saiyan.

"He's had a serious injury and is recovering... I took away the pain, but his body is fighting my healing... He will be in this coma until he feels better or an ultimate need to awaken arises. For now, he'll be fine...We can move him into our healing quarters after you eat..." The father's brow furrowed as he lightly touched his son's cheek with rough-padded fingers before he followed after Soba, to food, and maybe new training.

---X

Gohan sat in his white mind-scape with a pout on his lips as he waited for Omni to show up. But no matter how much he wanted to see this other Gohan, the less it seemed likely for him to show himself as the minutes ticked by.

Then he showed up...but, it wasn't Omni... It was a different Gohan this time...

This new Gohan had longer hair, to his mid-back, his eyes were hard, but sparkled with intelligence. He was taller and older than Gohan by a few years, had a sword strapped to his back and had a peculiar aura around him. His clothes were peculiar too and in purple, orange and white. It seemed like he was wearing a white uni-tard covered by a flowing purple, strangely-cut over-shirt. An orange loincloth-looking piece fell from his waist, reaching just to his mid-shins while white boots like the ones Goku wore adorned his feet.

-Gohan... the one we're all trying to change for the better... well, I hope this works...- the older Gohan sighed before smiling and walking up to his counterpart and holding out his hand. -Hello, Gohan, call me Kakou. I will be your next 'guide'- Kakou smiled widely as Gohan shook his hand with a perplexed look on his face.

-Nice to meet you, Kakou...- Gohan said in reply before Kakou was throwing his sword into the ground with a quick flick of his wrist. Startled, the younger boy fell on his butt, blinking when he found Kakou right in his face.

-You're lucky, y'know...- It was said with such an intense stare that Gohan looked away before Kakou realized he had confused and scared the younger boy. -Uhh, yeah, so anyway...- the older Gohan laughed, rubbing his head as he turned around before he glanced back at the original Gohan. -So, let me tell you something... There are many transformations that you in particular are going to be able to reach... Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2... Super Saiyan 3... And something called 'Mystic Form'... I've reached all of them...and so will you...eventually...- he grinned widely as he leaned his weight on his sword, peering at Gohan, who sat on his butt still.

-But for now, you need to rest... your body is recovering from that Death Beam to the side...- Gohan was patted on the head, making him blink before blackness took the place in front of his eyes.

---X

The repairs on the ship were going quickly since the Yardratians were very adept in fixing things, especially wrecked space ships. They had just finished patching the holes and attaching new engines when they were called to stop, to celebrate the vanquishing of the evil tyrant, Frieza. They left the space ship, one Yardartian accidentally tripping as he rushed after the others. A metal object flew into the ship, hitting something and making the once dead monitor flash to life.

"Launching sequence started. One minute to launch. New coordinates acquired. Heading to Planet...IOAGI290UCFK quadrant..." The machine hummed to life as the loudness of drums covered its noise from the inhabitants of the planet. The newly equipped engines hummed happily as the controls lit up and started to countdown. The whole ship thrummed as it got to ten, the door that had been thrown off closing with a large THUD as the countdown got to 1.

"Launching. Will break planet's atmospheric pull in three minutes. Autopilot locked," Then the ship lifted into the air and promptly flew straight up.

---X

-Go...Goh...Goha....GOHAN!- Gohan opened his eyes to his white mind-scape, Kakou having shook him "awake" at least consciously in his mind. The teen's eyes were wide with fright before he looked at Gohan.

-WAKE UP!- it startled Gohan enough that he woke up with a gasp, instantly falling out of his bed. Hands on the floor in front of him, the boy panted heavily before the ship shook below him and his onyx eyes widened in utter fear. Feeling for his father's ki, Gohan looked up, his eyes slitted as he hissed in pain.

"Oh no, what happened?!" Gohan yelled aloud, dragging himself across the floor to the controls and pulling himself up with his minimal strength. Trying to make the ship stop, the boy felt tears fall down his cheeks as all he got was: "CONTROLS LOCKED".

"No...no...no...please, no!" Gohan sobbed, jolting out of his chair as the ship pushed its engines to go faster. Hitting his bed, the half-Saiyan pulled himself up, pressing himself against the window as he screamed one word:

"DADDY!"

---X

Goku paused in eating the strangely delicious red fruit in front of him as he felt a spike of ki. Gohan's ki. Blinking as the implications flew over him, the full Saiyan stood to his full height, making every alien stare at him.

"Gohan... something's wrong..." And he flew off, his chair smashing into pieces as he crashed through the side of the building. That's when he saw it: their space ship flying up into the air with increasing speed. Goku felt his breath leaving him as he watched in horror before he screamed, gold flowing over his features as he blasted off.

Gritting his teeth, the Saiyan pushed all his power in reaching his son, feeling hope bloom as he got near the white orb. Reaching out to the door, he screeched in pain as he was easily burned, glancing to the side and seeing Gohan crying against the window.

-DADDY!- was clearly what the boy was screaming, and it struck Goku hard in the chest as he moved over to his son and smiled at him. Gohan blinked before smiling back, though albeit more sadly. Tears flew down both of their cheeks as Gohan's small palm pressed against the window, Goku bearing the pain as he pressed his own over his son's.

"I'll find you..." Goku said, knowing Gohan would read his lips as the boy shuddered.

-I'll come back...- was his answer before the altitude finally got to Goku and he wheezed, shaking harshly and making the half-Saiyan inside scream in terror.

"I'M SORRY!" Goku choked out, tears running down his face as his Super Saiyan transformation dropped, falling back to the planet below, now unconscious. Gohan let the tears fall more freely as he pressed himself back against the window as he mouthed slowly:

-I won't let you be alone again, father...Wait for me...- the black haired boy crumbled into a ball, curling in on himself as he let out a shuddering breath. His white space ship broke the planet's pull and shifted before blasting off, away from Yardrat.

A being smiled in their own ship, clicking some buttons at the controls before their ship flew after Gohan's.

"Now, my chance has come... finish the plan, then go after... Goku..." Hatred oozed from Goku's name before the being grinned, an evil grin that made the person's face become warped from its natural innocence. "Then he will know true pain..."

A/N: So, no one knows "Super Sonic Speeds"? Seriously!? Wow, I'm just going to wait and see if anyone can guess it, and I will reveal the identity of the above mystery person to the "winner"! OOOH!

And if you try to guess who that is, well... I won't tell you! Until the story reveals said person. Then I will make you all go "WHAT?" and I will feel satisfied! XD

Anyway, thanks for the reviews, they're awesome and make me actually write on this, I mean seriously! I get a review, and about half of a page goes up. So, review please! I'll update faster :3