Chapter 19
Age: [ERROR]
Scene: Interdimensional Space
Demigra flies through the interdimensional tunnel to the Demon Realm, admiring the seven Dark Dragon Balls in his possession. He is so engrossed in their sinister gleam, in fact, he fails to notice the purple-clad Super Saiyan rapidly approaching him from behind, kicking him in the neck and scattering the Dragon Balls about the tunnel.
Demigra: Ack! You little brat! Didn't I tell you it was pointless to resist me?
Vegito Jr: Sorry, but I don't think we've met. Allow me to introduce you to Vegito!
Demigra: And allow me to introduce you to oblivion!
Demigra attempts to blast Vegito's head off, but the fusion simply dodges to the side, counterattacking with a headbutt, then a blast of his own. Demigra tanks the blast and grabs Vegito by the neck, throwing him into a stray rift. Demigra barely drops his guard before Vegito returns, kicking him in the chin and blasting him down below. He charges towards the demon for a follow-up, but Demigra freezes him in the air with a demonic technique.
Demigra: You waste my time, boy! These pathetic attacks of yours are mere annoyances!
Vegito Jr: Oh, you think I'm annoying now? You haven't seen anything yet! HAAAAAAAH!
Vegito quickly powers up into Super Saiyan 3, undoing the paralysis. He continues his assault on Demigra, pummeling him against the floor of the tunnel until reality gives way, sending Demigra through the floor until he comes right back through the top. Vegito kicks him back up, sending him back to the bottom, but this time Demigra slashes at his chest, taking Vegito aback.
Vegito Jr: Damn, I kinda liked that shirt.
Demigra: Don't screw with me!
Quickly losing his temper, Demigra charges at Vegito, only to find himself flying straight into the side of an energy blade.
Vegito Jr: Hurts, doesn't it?
Vegito swings his sword, leaving a gash across Demigra's chest that the demon quickly tries to cover, leaving himself open to a punch to the face from Vegito.
Vegtio Jr: Don't tell me you're out of steam already! And after all that talk, too. Time to finish this!
Demigra looks behind his opponent, and sees that the end of the tunnel is quickly approaching. A plan quickly begins to formulate in his mind, but Vegito remains oblivious.
Demigra: Yes…let's!
Vegito Jr: FINAL…KAMEHAMEHA!
Rather than waste his energy trying to push the beam back, Demigra simply blocks, bracing for impact. Vegito unleashes his strongest attack, but the sheer force of it pushes him backwards, rocketing towards the end of the tunnel. The portal to the demon realm sucks the fusion in, causing him to spiral out of control until he comes out the other side, dazed. A wounded Demigra makes a beeline for Mechikabura with the Dark Dragon Balls in tow, as Vegito attempts to gun him down.
Demigra: Lord Mechikaburaaaaaa!
Vegito Jr: Oh no you don't!
Demigra throws the Dark Dragon Balls to the summit of the spire where Mechikabura is imprisoned, with Vegito downing him with a large ki blast a second too late. With all seven Dark Dragon Balls lying at his feet, Mechikabura makes his move.
Mechikabura: Come forth, eternal dragon! Come forth and grant my wish!
Mechikabura wastes no time at all summoning Shenron, much to Vegito's horror. The corrupted Dragon Balls erupt into a pillar of dark energy, and out comes a massive black dragon spanning the entire length of the spire and then some.
Dark Shenron: YOU WHO HAVE GATHERED THE SEVEN DRAGON BALLS…STATE YOUR WISH. THERE IS NO LENGTH I WILL NOT GO TO FULFILL IT.
Vegito Jr: Die!
Vegito flies in, hoping to stop the wish, but Dark Shenron merely swats him away.
Dark Shenron: SILENCE! I WILL HEAR THE WISH OF THE ONE WHO SUMMONED ME.
Mechikabura: Eternal Dragon! Shatter these indestructible chains tying me to this accursed realm, so that my conquest of time itself may begin anew!
Dark Shenron: A SIMPLE MATTER. YOUR WISH IS GRANTED.
A moment passes, and the chains around Mechikabura's wrists briefly glow. Impatiently, Mechikabura jerks one arm to his side, and the chains binding it to the ground instantly break. Mechikabura laughs maniacally as he does the same with the other arm, his aura spiking up to the maximum. Vegito's continued dread is warranted; the energy that now permeates his senses is more than just the greatest he's ever witnessed - it's the greatest that has ever existed in this reality. Nonetheless, he still charges Mechikabura, but with just a glance, his Potara shatter, instantly defusing him and returning Goku and Vegeta to their weakened state.
Mechikabura: Hahahaha! HAHAHAHA! YES! Back to my old self! I'm invincible, once again!
Dark Shenron: THEN YOU HAVE NO NEED FOR YOUR REMAINING WISHES?
Mechikabura: What?!
Thinking quickly, Goku and Vegeta cry out for help, taking the opportunity to steal Mechikabura's wishes, turning the tide ever-so slightly in their favor.
Goku: Bring forth the ultimate Saiyan!
Vegeta: Bring forth the ultimate fusion!
Both: BRING FORTH GOGETA!
Dark Shenron: BEYOND TRIVIAL. YOUR WISH IS GRANTED. FAREWELL!
Dark Shenron disappears in a cloud of black smoke, retracting into the Dragon Balls. The dark coating falls off the wish-granting orbs, leaving them nothing more than rocks. However, Dark Shenron does not depart without leaving behind the result of the Saiyans' wishes.
Gogeta: What the-?! We're fused again? Where the hell are we?
Mechikabura: Tch…a last ditch attempt to save your pitiful selves, is it? Fine, I'll humor you. Watch closely as I reduce your savior to dust!
A dozen ki blasts suddenly orbit Mechikabura in the shape of a clock, the Demon King launching them at Gogeta. The fusion quickly creates a Big Bang Kamehameha in front of him to negate the blast, still charging it after the attacks dissipate.
Gogeta: Now I see what's going on here. Hmph! Fine, I'll take this guy on, but this'd better be a good fight, or you owe me!
Mechikabura: A good…do you think this is a game?!
Gogeta: Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't. For your sake, you'd better hope it's the latter, cause otherwise you're up against the reigning champ.
Gogeta finally unleashes his Kamehameha, but given ample time to react, Mechikabura opens one portal in front of his person, another behind Gogeta's. Gogeta notices the deception and quickly ascends to avoid his own attack, with Mechikabura following. The two exchange a brief glance before exchanging a much less brief series of blows. To Mechikabura's surprise and fury, Gogeta seems to have the upper hand in terms of raw strength.
Mechikabura: What the hell is this?! How can your power be so close to mine?!
Gogeta: I don't know, but it's a little disappointing. I expected much better from myself.
Mechikabura: Why, you!
Mechikabura attempts to blast Gogeta at point-blank range, but Gogeta cuts through the attack by concentrating a Soul Punisher in his fingertips, thrusting his hand into Mechikabura's stomach afterwards for massive damage.
Gogeta: Ha! It's no Spirit Sword, but this'll do just fine. Now I'd better hope Vegito doesn't go stealing my moves.
Mechikabura: Insolent whelp…you'd better hope you make it out of this alive!
Mechikabura projects a giant hand made of energy, tightly grabbing ahold of Gogeta. He summons another hand to strike Gogeta across the face a few times before throwing the fusion to the ground, sending a massive sphere of energy after him. As it closes in on Gogeta, the mass of energy suddenly slows its descent. Goten and Trunks have finally made it through the tunnel with the Supreme Kai of Time, and both Saiyans attempt to push back the energy sphere.
Trunks: Father! Goku! Don't worry, we're here to-
Gogeta: Hey. Stay out of my way.
Goten: What?!
Having found his footing, Gogeta fires a simple but powerful Kamehameha at Mechikabura's attack, pushing it back at him. Mechikabura is more than able to dodge, but such a thing doesn't ease his rage any. He flies towards Gogeta himself, with Gogeta coming to meet him in the air. The collision of the two's fists generates a shockwave that causes the nearby spire to collapse, giving Gogeta an idea. One after another, he tries knocking the falling chunks of rubble towards Mechikabura, but the Demon King creates a grid of energy all around him to destroy the projectiles, throwing it at Gogeta once the rubble has passed him. Rather than moving to the side to avoid the grid, Gogeta fearlessly dashes forward, coming out the other side unscathed.
Mechikabura: What the-?! How did you-?!
Gogeta: Don't be so surprised. I'm very flexible, you know! (…Nobody saw me use Instant Transmission just now, right?)
Mechikabura: We'll see just how flexible you are once I tear you in two!
Losing more and more of his composure as the battle drags on, Mechikabura animalistically lunges at Gogeta, but the Saiyan simply kicks him upward, letting loose a massive Meteor Explosion. Mechikabura emerges from the attack panting heavily, indicating to Gogeta that it's time to finish this. Gogeta pulls one fist back, gathering as much energy he can to put into a single strike. Before Mechikabura can recover, Gogeta charges at him, announcing his victory.
Gogeta: This is the end! DRAGON-!
A bright flash of light engulfs both fighters, the outcome already decided. When the light fades from the battlefield, so too does the light in the eyes of the onlooking Saiyans.
Goku: …Fist?
Vegeta: Crap! Crap crap crap crap crap!
Gogeta defuses right before the blow connects, leaving Goku and Vegeta to attack the air next to Mechikabura, not that they have the power to finish off Mechikabura unfused anyway. The genuine fear enveloping Mechikabura's face for the first time quickly turns into a malicious grin as he slashes at Goku and Vegeta with energy waves over and over, not letting up as they fall to the ground. Instead, Mechikabura begins to attack the remaining Saiyans, who were already lucky to be standing. Mechikabura laughs like a madman as the Time Patrol falls to its knees, preparing to finish them off until he is interrupted by a familiar, wounded voice.
Demigra; Wait, Lord Mechikabura…! Let me…let me finish them off! They owe me their lives after…after what they did to me!
Mechikabura: What they did to you? Nonsense! The only person you have to blame for those injuries is yourself! Your grudge is nothing compared to mine, weakling!
Demigra: Mechikabura, please! They may have wounded me, but I'm still more than strong enough to finish them off!
Mechikabura: I don't care if you're strong as an ox or sick as a flea! Your value has worn thin!
Without hesitation, Mechikabura shoots a hole through Demigra's chest, condemning him to a painful death. Demigra falls to the ground, desperately demanding closure through bloody teeth.
Demigra: Why…?! I was…your loyal apprentice…!
Mechikabura: Get serious! I only needed a successor because I was trapped here! Now that I'm back to my prime, I don't need a useless worm like you mooching off me, plotting my downfall!
Supreme Kai: He was useful for one thing…distracting you!
Mechikabura: What?!
The Supreme Kai of Time appears behind Mechikabura, having sneaked her way up to him during Demigra's interruption. Before Mechikabura can react, time begins to freeze around him, Chronoa trapping him and herself in a bubble as she unleashes the power of time.
Trunks: Chronoa! What are you doing?!
Supreme Kai: You can't beat him, Trunks. None of you can. So I'm sending you all far, far away from here until you can!
Goku Jr: Stop, Supreme Kai! This is insane, even for you!
Supreme Kai: This was always the plan, Goku. Don't tell me you really thought I came all this way just to give you some earrings.
Goten: But what about you?! Mechikabura will kill you!
Mechikabura: Kill her? Hahahaha! You're a fool if you think I'm going to give her a fate even half as merciful as that! Especially after this!
Supreme Kai: You four have been fighting so hard all this time, it's about time I start doing my fair share!
Vegeta Jr: Supreme Kai…we'll come back for you, I promise! And Mechikabura, you can count on it, too!
Supreme Kai: Everyone…! Thank you. Now get out of here! Live to fight another day!
Time itself warps around everything outside the bubble, lifting all the Saiyans into the air, including the unconscious Goku and Vegeta. The Time Patrol is sent flying back in time as far as Chronoa can muster, leaving only the Kai and the Demon behind as the bubble pops, Chronoa having exhausted all of her power. As immediately as he is able to move, Mechikabura grabs Chronoa by the throat, the sheer darkness exuding from him seeping into her very being.
Mechikabura: So, those weaklings intend to come back for us, do they? Lucky you. You get to be my puppet until they return, then you can helplessly watch them all die! HAHAHAHAHA!
Meanwhile, far in the distant past, the six Saiyans that were in the Demon Realm mere moments ago now lie unconscious on the cold floor of a spaceship, their tattered clothes exchanged for simple battle suits. Though they do not yet know it, they are en route to Planet Plant - the future home of the Saiyan warrior race.
Narrator: Utter defeat! Having failed to prevent the rebirth of Demon King Mechikabura, the Time Patrol has exhausted every option available to them in an attempt to stop him. Does the key to victory lie in ancient history? Or will the Time Patrol be trapped in the past as Mechikabura roams free? The answer is a long way away, but the Saiyans will take their first steps towards it, when Neo Dragon Ball Heroes returns!