Gohan was flying around a dark room, his mind on high alert and his body prepared for anything, he heard laughter behind him and he spun around, casting a large blast in the direction he heard it come from. The light from the attack brought a cloaked figure into his sight, "You are weak boy, and I will destroy everything you care about…" it declared sadistically. Gohan charged the figure and let loose a barrage of kicks and punches that all went straight through his enemy. "You can't even lay a finger on me, how do you expect to protect people, especially the ones you love…" They trailed off at that and suddenly Videl was being choked to death by this mysterious figure with…pink mitten-like hands? Gohan tried to stop him but his arms felt heavy as lead and he couldn't seem to touch either of them.
Meanwhile Videl was came out the shower and emerged into the living room to see Gohan sprawled awkwardly on the couch and frowned. It just occurred to the girl that he probably lied about the errands he needed to run so she'd take the bedroom. She sighed at the sappy sweetness of his actions and, with a roll of her eyes, moved forward to check on him and wake him up. As she rounded the couch to face Gohan however she noticed the expression of terror on his face as he twitched and rolled in his sleep. She became concerned and moved in close to the boy and placed the back of her hand across his forehead and determined that he didn't have a temperature.
Suddenly his whole body tensed and he sat up, "Videl!" he cried in despair, soaked in cold sweat. He was panting like he had just done an intense workout. The girl eyed him curiously as his body seemed to begin to distinguish reality from whatever dream he had just been having. He looked up and saw her standing before him with an expression of worry marring her features.
"Gohan…what were you-"
"It was nothing you need to worry about" he interrupted with an assuring voice, "Just a silly nightmare." He told her as he calmed himself down.
Videl continued looking at him suspiciously but decided not to push the subject. The two dressed and prepared themselves, they ate breakfast and got ready to leave. Gohan led Videl to the window that he always used and turned to her, "Videl, West City is almost twenty-thousand kilometers away. My max speed is five thousand an hour, however I have a technique that will allow me to increase my speed exponentially." He told her.
She stared at him blankly in a way that clearly told her alien companion she didn't catch whatever he was trying to tell her besides the fact that he was very fast, "Okay…aaaaand?" she coaxed, trying to get him to elaborate.
"And I'll be moving at a speed you can't keep up with, so I'll need to carry you with me until we're at West City." He explained with a light blush, turning his face away from hers.
Videl's face heat up similarly and she could only say, "Oh, okay." In response to this information. Taking this answer as permission, since she didn't react badly to the news, he approached her and the closer he got, the brighter their faces began to glow. Gohan scooped her up delicately like they were newlyweds before walking back to the window and, taking a quick look around and making sure no one was near them or watching them, he lifted a foot and planted it on the windowsill.
"Hold on tight and close your eyes for a moment. The sensation will be easier to handle that way." He told her, and she obeyed. Gohan then leaned forward on his foot that was on the windowsill and pushed off out his apartment at the speed of sound. He rocketed at this velocity until they were a few thousand feet away from his apartment and above the clouds. He slowed to a stop and saw the slight green tone to Videl's skin.
"Are you alright?" he asked in a gentlemanly fashion, receiving a nod as she took deep breaths as she opened her eyes slowly. After letting her innards settle she nodded.
"Alright, I'm okay now, let's go." She suggested to her male companion who agreed with her, and with that, Gohan turned Super Saiyan and they began their flight to Capsule Corp. Gohan started off slow and steadily got faster and faster until he was at his maximum speed. Just over 4 times the speed of sound, but if they wanted to get there quickly he'd have to move at his maximum, "Alright Videl hang on, we're about to go a LOT faster!" he declared in warning.
"How could we possibly go any faster!?" She questioned like he was crazy, they were hauling ass!
Gohan didn't respond and when she looked at his face his eyes were shut and his brows were furrowed, a vein appeared at his temple and his jaw tightened. His fists clenched and his body shook slightly, "KAI-O-KEEEEN…Times two!" he bellowed and suddenly his Aura became a Purple-y Red colour that stained his Golden Hair a similar colour. She felt his muscles tighten and bulge beneath his shirt and they lurched forward suddenly. Gohan's speed doubled and Videl squeaked due to surprise at the change of both his pace and his musculature. She blushed indecently and hid her face in his chest, not that he seemed to notice since he was too busy streaking across the skies at about ten-thousand kilometers an hour.
They flew there in less than two hours and had finally reached West City. Rather it was about 3 kilometers away when Gohan suddenly started losing altitude. Gohan twisted his body so he was going feet first at the ground before be landed, sinking knee deep into the Earth. His Reddish Aura faded away, leaving both his hair and Aura Gold once again.
Videl gave him a concerned look as she climbed out his arms, "Don't *pant* worry…about *Huff* me" he told her, taking a few more deep breaths before he continued, "that move just…takes a lot out of me…" he explained, as his muscles twitched and spasmed slightly from the strain they had just been under. He grimaced as he pulled a leg out from the Earth. He pulled his other leg out and after resting a few moments they re-began their flight to West City.
They reached it and were steadily on their way to Capsule Corp. until… *BANG BANG* Gohan heard distant gunshots and halted immediately. Videl, not able to hear what he could, looked at him confused and questioned what the matter was but he was listening to intently to respond straight away as he tried to pinpoint it.
"Helloooo! Gohan are you even listening to me?" she asked with an indignant sound in her voice.
"There some kind of danger over here, I have to help. I'll be quick I promise!" he explained in a short manner that didn't give her a lot of time to process what he said but before she could utter a word of response he was set alight by golden hell-fire and he launched like a bullet across the skies.
She huffed and crossed her arms in annoyance before making the decision to follow him. She flew off in the direction she saw him leave, fruitlessly attempting to follow the rapidly fading Golden streak. She almost began to think it was a mistake when she heard people yelling and some kind of 'bang'. Figuring this was the place she dipped into the view of the area and saw the protective line of Police cruisers formed around the perimeter and several armed men both in uniform protecting the defensive line, and in dirty clothes and rags retreating into a building. Videl quickly realised the offenders were more of those highly advanced terrorists, she saw several dead bodies of civilians and Police Officers. It made her feel sick and she felt awful for the families of these poor innocent people. "I'm going to stop these bastards if it's the last thing I do!" she declared aloud as she looked over the carnage.
Then she remembered Gohan who was standing between the building they were holed up in and the police. Upon landing here Gohan had immediately caused a ceasefire on both sides just with his presence. He walked over to the first officer and asked him what was going on here. The man explained that they had simply turned up at this building in a large group and walked to the far end of the building and began killing at random, working their way back out and repeating on each floor. Most of the people got out and away, but an unfortunate minority of them were faced with a death of unfathomable pain and terror.
Gohan immediately got angry and stomped his way to the building when a loud gunshot rang out. Completely on reflex his hand snatched the bullet as soon as it came in range of his arms. He looked at it for a long time before looking back at the building it had been fired from. He heard the general area the shot had come from but as he looked over the few windows there was no one there. He reached out with his Ki and sensed someone hiding out of sight just below the second story window.
He growled and crushed the bullet in his hand. His blank face remained due to his sheer will to keep his composure and he demanded loudly, but calmly, that if they wanted to avoid confrontation with him they'd need to vacate the building and allow themselves to be arrested.
No one moved, or even responded to him, he could feel his rage bubbling up as his blood boiled in his veins. These cowards would come and execute innocent people but they were too scared of him to even respond to his demands or show their faces. He growled a very deep, very low rumbling growl.
Videl could tell he was getting angrier by the minute, this wouldn't last long before things went bad if something didn't happen right now.
"I can sense no organic Ki in that building! You've all been twisted and enhanced like Tao, but I didn't know it made you emotionally gutless as well!" He roared, again attaining no sort of reaction or results.
This was getting very bad very quickly. Gohan was losing him composure. "I need to do something before-" but then it happened.
A little girl, no older than 4 sat up confused as if she had been unconscious until just now. Immediately she saw the bleeding corpses of her parents laying either side of her. The girl tried to wake them up but soon began crying and wailing for her parents, shaking their lifeless corpses in between heartbreaking sobs.
Gohan's half turned head saw all this unfold behind him even from 30 feet away and felt a part of him break in his heart.
He let loose a roar of pain and anger and the whole city shook along with him. He screamed and screamed to the heavens without breathing as golden flames engulfed him so densely that Gohan himself could barely be seen from the outside. The bitumen road began cracking apart beneath him as all his childhood traumas came to life through that little girl.
"Time's up you freaks!" he bellowed bringing his hands to hid sides, with another roar he cast his gathered energy forward in a massive short-range blast that engulfed the whole building and rent a deep crater in the Earth before him. The size of the blast kept expanding and everyone knocked to the ground by the blast of wind that came from the attack. If they weren't being deafened by his prolonged roar than the sound of the blast ripping and consuming the building and all of it's inhabitants did. The murderers barely had time to scream as a searing hot light burned them for a moment before they were engulfed by eternal darkness.
Videl could only stare with a mixture of compassion and awe as his most raw emotions were projected as a blast so powerful, Videl's Ki sense couldn't measure it. It was like standing before a skyscraper and trying to see the top, she could see it but she couldn't begin to guess the difference between it and herself. The pain in his voice and in his expression drew her in, she wanted to see more, to know more, to understand his pain. "Gohan…" She whispered quietly with a face of empathy for her friend.
Eventually the scream and the blast faded away and everything went quiet. Gohan stood there panting but not from physical exhaustion, but from the sheer amount of emotion coursing through him in that moment. He felt like he wanted to scream and cry at the same time. All these people were probably being killed while he slept his morning away. He dropped to his knees and clenched his fists so tight that his palms bled. He fell forward onto his hands and began pounding the ground, each time leaving a slightly bigger crater than the last. He let out another scream of emotional pain as Videl ran over to him and put a hand on his shoulder.
The girl could feel him trembling and quaking beneath her hand so she whispered soothing words to him as the police finally got over what they had seen and had the sense to try and clear out the crowd and clean up the place.
Five minutes passed and Tien landed not far away from the two and made his way over to them, looking at all the destruction and death around the place, "Goh-ugh, Gold Fighter, I sensed your energy and came to see what was going on since I was nearby.
Gohan by now had calmed down enough to breathe and talk normally, "More of those terrorist cyborgs attacked this place at random and I had to deal with them but I'm glad you're here, there's something I need to talk to you about… in private" he added giving Videl an apologetic look. The Raven-haired teen sighed and made her way over to the girl who was still crying near her parents, intent on comforting her.
"So what's up kid?" Tien asked inquisitively, wondering what this could be about.
"Tien you'll be attending the tournament right?" Gohan asked suddenly, not making eye contact with the three-eyed fighter. "Ugh, yeah, ever since I heard Goku was going to be there it's been a no-brainer." He replied, still not sure what this was about.
"Would it…would it be too much to ask if you could stay in Satan City for a while?" he asked, "Within close proximity to me preferably." He clarified.
All three of Tien's eyes were wide with shock at the strange request, "I can do that but…why?" he queried the seemingly worried teen.
"My power, it's been hard to contain lately. I get spikes of aggression and my body itches to blow something up. My anger has been very easy to trigger and I don't know why, and you, Krillin and Vegeta are the only ones powerful enough to try to stop me." He explained and concern filled Tien's features.
"Have you asked Vegeta about this? He's a Saiyan too, so he's your best bet for figuring this out." The veteran Martial Artist told him.
"No, no I haven't. That's a good idea, I'm actually going to Capsule Corp. Today on a fiel-"
"GUYS! GUYS QUICK THEY'RE ALIVE!" Videl screamed frantically, causing the two men to spin their heads in her direction, "The girl's parents are still alive!"
Gohan was off like a shot, seemingly materialising into existence right before her, checking the pulses and life energy of the prone parents. Sure enough they were both alive, but just barely. Immediately a lot of the guilt in him disappeared and was replaced by urgency. He placed a hand on the backs of each parent and gifted them some of his Ki to give them more time, "No hospital will be able to heal them in time…but I know someone who can." He stated with determination before picking them both up as carefully as he could. Suddenly he rounded on Tien, "I need to get these two to the lookout NOW, take her with you, she can fly." He explained simply before shooting off into the distance over 4 times faster than sound.
"He's faster than I remember." Tien remarked, "Come on, let's go." He said simply before lifting into the air.
"Wait!" she called out, making Tien pause in confusion, he looked over his shoulder and saw her pick up the girl and dash over to the police chief of West City, reading his name from his tag, "Chief Ruler, I know its strange that I'm wau out here in the West but I need you to keep this girl safe at the station, we'll be back soon hopefully!" she declared in a rush but the girl began crying when she tried to pass her over. The chief sweat dropped as the girl nuzzled closer to Videl who knelt down and gently pried her away and sat the sobbing girl in front of her.
"Don't go" she begged, "Stay, I'm scared!" she wailed, making Videl smile warmly.
"What's your name?" Videl asked, making the girls cries subside a bit,
"Sophia…" she answered meekly.
"Sophia huh? What a pretty name. Listen Sophia, me and my friends are going to save your mommy and daddy, we'll be back for you and we'll have them with us I promise. So until then can you be a big girl and keep the Police man company?" she asked softly.
The girl had to think about it for a bit but eventually, with one more sniffle she nodded her head and walked over to the Police chief and took his extended hand.
Videl nodded at her approvingly before turning and floating up to Tien, who had a big grin on his face, she ignored it for the time being though and instead gestured for him to take the lead, and soon enough they were on their way to Kami's lookout…or rather Dende's.
(I used the official map of Earth in DB from Daizenshuu 4 for this fic with only minor additions and alterations. I will link the map and detail my changes at the end of the chapter for those who are interested.)
Tien and Videl were moving West from West City and soon were approaching a large expanse of open water, "This isn't good, it could take a while for Gohan to get there, I don't know what he plans to do. They'll die at this rate…" the three-eyed fighter remarked grimly.
"Where exactly are we going Mr…?" Videl paused not knowing what to call the man.
"Just Tien will do fine, and we're going to the sacred temple of the Guardian of Earth." He explained simply. Videl's jaw dropped at the explanation she was given.
"You mean, like, God's temple? Kami's temple?!" she questioned disbelievingly.
Tien gave her a strange look for her reaction, "Actually his name is Dende, Kami rejoined with his other half and retired from his post as Guardian." He told her with a tone that frankly told her this was borderline common knowledge in his opinion.
Videl forcibly pulled her jaw closed and shook her head, Gohan would explain it all soon enough.
With Gohan: Meanwhile
The Super Saiyan was shooting for the lookout but it was going to take an hour to get there, "Rrgh! I have to save them, I need to risk it!" he declared to himself, "KAIOKEN TIMES THREE!" he screamed for the second time that day, propelling himself faster, he was moving at 250 kilometers a minute. "Come on!" he urged himself. He was still going to take about 15 minutes, he didn't have that kind of time dammit!
His eyes widened as an idea suddenly ocurred to him, he carried one on his right shoulder, and carried the other under his right arm. After freeing up his left arm he cast it across his body downwards, "KA ME HA ME HAAAA!" a blue burst of Ki fired from his palm and suddenly increased his speed yet again. Within a matter of minutes the lookout came into view, but his body wasn't going to last at this rate, "Don't give…out!" he commanded, willing himself to make it. His Ki burst started sputtering and his Aura flickered. He let go of his blast and used his left hand to make sure that the passenger on his shoulder didn't fly off. He tilted the left side of his body in the direction he was facing. Then he felt himself suddenly feel empty, his body broke, and his Aura died, his muscles stayed stiff and pumped up with stress and energy. His momentum continued carrying but he began to fall. "No…I was…so…" he watched as the platform of the lookout seemingly rose as he fell just short of it. As he began to tumble out of the sky, he began trying to position himself not to let the humans be injured. Suddenly though he felt two pairs of hands grab his left arm and stop him. Looking up he saw Dende and Mr Popo flying above him, holding him up, "Save them…please." He asked, receiving a nod from Dende along with a kind smile.
Back with the others: Meanwhile
Tien suddenly stopped, prompting Videl to do the same. "Tien? What is it?" she asked with curiosity. She hated being out of the loop like this.
"Gohan! He made it! They're going to be okay." Tien declared with relief. Videl physically loosened up as well now. "Alright let's get going then, we're still a fair way away going at this speed." He pointed out.
"Am…am I slowing you down?" it dawned on Videl now that this Tien person was likely much faster than her if he could hang with Gohan.
"Don't worry about it, nothing you can do." He responded kindly, but Videl had an idea.
"Wait I just remembered that I have my Jet Copter! It's faster than I am" she realised happily before noticing there was no body of land around. She came up with a second idea, "Hey you're strong like Gohan right? If I deploy my Jet Copter in the sky you could hold it up until I'm in and have it going couldn't you?" She asked hopefully.
Tien chuckled at her, "Well I wouldn't say I'm as strong as Gohan by any measure, but I can definitely carry a Jet Copter." He replied.
Videl nodded at his response and pulled out her capsule, "Here goes!" she exclaimed, clicking the cap with her thumb and tossing the capsule high in the air. With a large plume of smoke and a poof sound, a yellow vehicle with "SATAN" written on the side appeared in the air, before falling. Tien flew up to it and stopped it easily and safely.
"All right! Let's do this!" Videl declared aloud as she climbed inside the vehicle and started it up, taking off with Tien in close pursuit.
"This girl must be rich to afford something this fast. I can't keep up!" he muttered in surprise, "Damn alright time to put King Kai's training to good use again, "KAIOKEN!" he bellowed, gaining speed instantly. The three-eyed fighter overtook her before mouthing the words, "follow me" to her. She nodded and off they went.
3 hours later:
Eventually land came back into view beneath Videl and she began looking for whatever it may be that Gohan rushed off to. She looked ahead and saw Tien pointing ahead of him. She couldn't see whatever it was yet and kept scanning the landscape looking for something. Then she saw it.
A gigantic tower, extending into the clouds above, could this be it? Tien held a hand out to signal for Videl to stop. He then asked her to follow him before dropping down to the ground. She landed her craft and climbed out, stretching.
After waking up her butt and legs she got around to asking what was up, "So why have we stopped? Gohan's up there right?" she asked.
"Well there's more to it but long story short, in keeping with tradition, no man-made vehicle is to be taken to the Guardian's lookout. We have to get up there ourselves, normally you have to climb your first time but in this case we'll make an exception for you." He told her before lifting off the ground and beginning the flight up. Videl took off along with him. Minutes past quickly and still the tower ever reached.
After another 10 minutes Videl began to feel as if there was no end to the tower. She could feel the air getting thinner as she breathed it and hoped she made it to the top before she got tired. As she flew she looked at the tower itself and watched as the cultural engravings blurred together due to the speed she was moving at. She was still comfortable but moving at her max speed was going to start affecting her soon.
As if he had read her mind Tien responded, "Don't worry, the trip is difficult but once we get up there Gohan would have had the Guardian adjust the air density on the lookout in preparation for you." Tien told her.
Videl's mouth hung open, God was going to such lengths just for "a friend of Gohan's"? Just how well did they know each other?
Finally the end came into view and Videl sighed in relief and began to slow down. Tien noticed this and slowed down with her as they reached the top of the strange towed.
"This still isn't the place you know?" Tien remarked with amusement, "It's further up." He told her.
"Seriously!? Any higher and we'll be in space!" she cried in disbelief.
"I'm serious, this is Korin's tower." Tien told her.
The young Martial Artist couldn't believe this. Then, as if on cue, a small anthropomorphic cat emerged from the depths of the tower.
"Hello Tien, what brings you here? Perhaps in need of Senzu beans?" he asked.
"Nothing like that, just stopping by before we head to the lookout." The Crane Master replied. At the mention of we, Korin noted Videl's presence.
"Interesting, you're a new face, who might you be miss?" he asked her with a friendly tone.
"Hello er… . I'm… ugh… Videl Satan…" was all she could get out in her nervousness.
"She's a friend of Gohan's, and a potential new addition to the group." Tien finished for her.
"I see, that explains it, I was wondering why I sensed Goku's boy shooting past faster than ever." He remarked, "Well I'll let you on your way then. Until next time Tien."
"Yeah, see you later Korin, let's go Videl." He said before flying upwards.
"Goodbye sir!" Videl called as she took off after Tien.
Eventually, with help from Tien, they made it to the top of the lookout and immediately Videl noticed that there was much more air here. She stood up straight and began looking around.
It was gorgeous, the sun was shining, their was a breeze that blew about the leaves and petals of the various trees and gardens that pockmarked the pristine white tiles just enough.
Then away from her was a massive mystical temple that looked partly inspired by Indian or Middle-eastern architecture but with a distinct unique touch that eluded her, though it dawned on her it was probably the other way around as this palace must have been here longer than any human. Each tower and peak was capped with brilliant Gold and the walls and floor were layed with the smoothest stone and concrete mix. It was graced with luxurious purple roofing on the 3 walkways that protruded from the palace at the front, left and write. And around it stood 4 thin, 30 foot-tall towers, though she was unsure of what purpose they served.
As she admired it she noticed Gohan, in his black-haired state, sitting on the tiles leaning against the wall of the temple. "Gohan!" she called out, running over to him, he didn't stir at her words which puzzled her but she kept moving.
She came to a stop at his side and waited for him to give some kind of response but he only remained silent. She reached out to touch him but was stopped just short.
"No wait don't touch him!" Called a young voice off to her side. She turned her head to see a short green boy with White Robes and a wooden staff approach her. Her jaw dropped at the boy as he reached her and came to a stop. Videl stood up straight as he began talking to her, "I'm sorry if I frightened you Miss but Gohan's body is in a terrible state right now and the slightest touch would cause him immense pain. He's been unconscious since he arrived." explicated the Lime Green youth before her who extended a hand upwards to greet Videl, as he did so his sleeve rode up his forearm and revealed more Green skin and strange Pink flesh on his bicep and forearm.
She had seen many different kinds of people on this Earth before but never had she seen anything resembling this person, she didn't want to offend them however and so only hesitated briefly before taking his hand in her own.
It felt mostly the same as a human hand she supposed but it was still a strange situation for her, "Hello Videl Satan, it's nice to meet you." He greeted formally, again shocking Videl in the process. How did he know her name? He said Gohan had been unconscious the whole time!
Tien walked over at that moment to interject, "Dende can read minds, that's how he knew your name and knew to change the conditions up here for you."
Videl's eyes widened. Was he seriously saying this Dende just read Gohan's unconscious mind and 'poof' knew what he needed to know!?
"That's crazy! How could this Dende-!" Videl paused midsentence, suddenly remembering Tien telling her the name of the Guardian.
"Videl, this is the Guardian of planet Earth." Tien introduced. Videl's whole world spun around her. She was in the presence of God himself and he had shook his hand. She suddenly felt at a loss for what to think or do. She decided bowing was a good start. She bowed respectfully to the short Green boy, "I apologise, I didn't know!" she apologised quickly.
She looked up to see him smiling warmly at her, "Hey no need to be so formal with me, I'm the new guy to this job, you've been here longer than I have Videl so relax." He responded kindly.
Videl took his advice and exhaled, trying to settle her body. When she felt she was ready she nodded before continuing, by now he had moved to Gohan and was emitting a strange Green light from his palms that coated Gohan. "Guard-er- Dende" she began hesitantly, "I hope you don't mind me asking, but you don't look like anyone I've met in my whole life, are you unique or…?" she trailed off waiting for a response from him.
"As a matter of fact there are plenty more people that-"
"HUAGH!" Gohan exclaimed, coughing up a mouthful of saliva as his muscles were sewn together and reattached to the bone by Dende's healing ability.
Videl could only watch with mild fear as he writhed and rolled in agony, surprising even Tien who winced, "What did Gohan do to himself to be hurting this badly!?" Tien called out over the pained yelling.
"He was using some kind of technique to increase his speed on the way here. That's all I could tell." Dende explained and Videl remembered the ability her classmate had displayed when they left his apartment.
"It was the Kaioken I think be said, he also used it all the way from his apartment to West City." She told them both causing their eyes to go wide with shock.
"He used the Kaioken WHILE he was a Super Saiyan!? That's insane! And to think he already did it earlier today!" Tien remarked aloud to himself in disbelief, this kid really was Goku's son.
Dende spoke next, "He must have really wanted to save these people, what a guy…"
Videl only looked on in concern, apparently Gohan had done something very risky for those people. He ruined his own body to save two strangers, what kind of person was Gohan? He seemed too kind to be real. He truly was a hero.
Soon Gohan stirred and returned to consciousness, having been fully repaired. He stood slowly and groaned as he stretched his sore muscles. "Are they okay Dende? He asked as he rolled his neck, stretching his stiff joints.
"They're fine Gohan, you were honestly in worse shape than they were by the time you got here." Earth's guardian commented lightly.
"You don't say" Gohan replied simply with a grin, "Thanks a lot for saving them Dende but I have a long flight back to West City ahead of me, so I have to get going." He told the young Namekian.
"You're planning on using the Kaioken to get there faster aren't you?" Dende asked suddenly, stopping Gohan in his tracks.
"Well yeah, it's the only way I'll get there before I die of old age!" He responded jokingly. Dende smiled at him but shook his head nonetheless.
"That ability puts too much strain on you Gohan, especially as a Super Saiyan. I won't always be able to heal you, and you're the only one on the Earth with enough power and purity to be relied on as champion." Sense explained in a rare assertive tone.
"You're being over-dramatic Dende" Gohan claimed in a care-free tone, "What about Vegeta?" he questioned to which Dende narrowed hi eyes.
"What about Vegeta?" he shot back with a raised eyebrow.
*Cue Flashback of Vegeta slaughtering a village of Namekians and allowing Cell to reach his perfect form*
"Point taken…" Gohan admitted.
"Gohan I want you to promise me you won't use that technique more than once a day." Dende requested.
Gohan sighed in defeat and agreed reluctantly, "Well we have an increasingly long flight ahead of us Videl since I'm Kaio-grounded so we better get going." The son of Goku declared as they began walking to the edge of the temple with Tien in tow.
"Wait! I have a way to get you all there in a few minutes!" Dende called after them making them stop.
"How could you possibly get us 5000km across Earth in minutes?" Tien questioned in wonder.
"Easily! Mr Popo may I please have your assistance for a moment!" Dende called out to the palace.
Shortly after the lookout caretaker emerged from the temple and came to a stop beside the young Guardian, "Yes Dende?"
"These three need to get back to West Capitol as quickly as possible. I told them you could achieve this in moments, could you help them?" the Green alien questioned politely.
"Of course" he told Dende before turning to his charges, "One moment please." He said before retreating around a corner.
Gohan felt a light breeze and a Ki behind them and spun around to see the deity upon a floating carpet. Memories flooded Gohan at the sight of it and a huge grin split his face. "The magic carpet!" He exclaimed.
"Ive never seen that before…" Tien muttered with wide eyes.
"After the Saiyans invaded almost 13 years ago, Mr Popo used this carpet to take Bulma in West City to Kami's spaceship in Yunzabit Heights almost instantly!" Gohan exclaimed with wonder.
Tien and Videl's jaws dropped at this revelation. "I can't take you all at once." Popo explained simply.
"That's okay we'll do three-" suddenly Videl gave Gohan a panicked expression that begged not to be left alone with this strange, disconcerting man, "Ugh, two trips. I'll carry Videl when you take me."
"I'm in no rush, you two have somewhere to be so you can go first." Tien told them. Gohan nodded thankfully but objected nonetheless, "No, we'll wait for you there, you need to bring those humans with you and I want to be the one to bring that little girl her parents back.
Tien smiled and nodded in understanding, "Alright then I'll see you in a moment."
At that Gohan responded in kind and picked up Videl, both of them ignoring the strong blushes they wore as Gohan hopped up onto the carpet, Videl came to rest in Gohan's lap and suddenly Gohan wished he hadn't seen Videl's puppydog eyes. Videl wishing that she had just gone alone with the creepy genie man.
"First to the Police Station in West City please Mr. Popo, but low to the ground please" Gohan asked.
"Wait Gohan! Your hair!" Videl suddenly urged in worry making Gohan roll his eyes at his stupidity. He uttered thanks and with little more than a grunt ascended into Super Saiyan.
Once everyone was ready, there was a lurch and next thing they knew they moved so fast everything around them blurred together and it looked as if they were in a tunnel of mixed blues, greens and whites.
Then as quickly as it started it ended and they found themselves in an alleyway a block away from the Police Station. They jumped off and the Guardian caretaker.
And just like that suddenly the carpet was gone again to retrieve Tien and the humans. Videl was looking around frantically in disbelief. They were in West City, they hadn't been exaggerating the speed of that flying carpet!
still carrying Videl, Gohan coughed and put her down looking away. Videl blushed a deep red and the two remained in silence. Videl felt as if one of them had to say SOMETHING about all their awkward moments and address what might be happening. But right as she opened her mouth suddenly the carpet reappeared before them.
Tien looked with wide eyes at the teenagers, "It really is fast…" he muttered in surprise. The fighter shifted the people on his shoulders and hopped off the carpet, landing beside Gohan.
"Thank you Mr. Popo, you helped me out a bunch." Gohan thanked the Alladin-garb-wearing caretaker, bowing to him slightly.
"Of course Gohan, it was no trouble. I'll see you next time you visit." The black-skinned deity waved goodbye and disappeared completely with whooshing sound.
Gohan stepped forward and took the mother from Tien's arm and sat her against the Alley wall. Tien did the same with the woman's husband, guessing that's what he was supposed to do. Gohan crouched between them and explained what he was doing as he attempted to wake them up. "Apparently, to avoid them waking up and seeing him or the lookout, Dende used his Ki to strategically block their energy network at some of their vital points to keep them unconscious" he explained, remembering what the Green Guardian had explained while he was being healed, "I just have to reopen the flow fully to wake them up." Gohan finished, poking both of them at specific points on their temple, forehead, the sides of their neck and the center of their stomachs.
As he leaned back away from them the two began to stir, groaning in pain from the stiffness they would feel and the headaches they probably had. They stretched and blinked a few times before freaking out and shooting to their feet, looking themselves and each other over, they both stopped instantly when they saw Saiyaman and Videl Satan standing before them. "Where are we and what do you want with us?" the husband demanded with a mixture of fear and uncertainty in his tone as he positioned himself between them and his wife.
"Hello Mr and Mrs…um. You probably know me, I'm Saiyaman, the superhero. You two were hurt pretty bad but we were able to save you…" Gohan said lamely, scratching the back of his head.
The two parents of Sophia relaxed slightly as they were perplexed by the strange response they received and they looked at each other in confusion.
5 minutes later
Gohan went through all the information that he had been given about the attack that victimised the couple. They grimaced once they were informed that the horrific event that had killed so many wasn't just a bad dream.
He went on explicating their incredible survival and his efforts to save them, obviously being vague or all-together leaving out the part about Dende's involvement in the matter. The two parents frantically questioned about their daughter Sophia, to which Videl responded that she had the girl placed under supervision by the Police, which is where they were going now.
Without hearing another word the married couple begged to be taken to their daughter. Videl went ahead of Gohan and Tien, leading the parents to the police station, with the two following behind them. Tien was in the middle of asking Gohan if he'd had any other significant encounters with the terrorist group lately when another distracted response made him follow the Saiyan's gaze to the girl before them.
Tien smirked knowingly, "You have it that bad huh?" He asked suddenly, making Gohan jolt back to reality.
"Huh? Who, Videl? No way, you know me Tien I have no time for girlfriends, I'm Earth's protector." Gohan defended quickly.
"Don't be ridiculous, your father was Earth's defender before you were born and he got married and had a kid, and you know how your father was" Tien responded sternly, Gohan nodded in acknowledgement, "He didn't feel how normal people do. You would excel where he didn't in the family department."
Gohan nodded once again and sighed, accepting defeat on this front of battle, though Tien decided not to push any further. A moment of silence passed before Tien smiled just a little, "You should have seen how Videl was with that little girl after you flew ahead. She's great with kids." He added innocently.
"She is?" he asked breathlessly before catching himself. Tien watched triumphantly as he saw Gohan blush like a freshman as the boy cleared his throat and shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Heh, if only you were here to see this Goku…" he thought wistfully. It sure was surreal to be standing next to the full grown son of the boy he fought in his youth. Even long after Goku himself had died.
They watched as Videl made it through the front doors of the Police station and stood at the open doors, watching as they leaned on the doorframe. They watched with smiles as Sophia rushed from behind the chief and ran straight into her parents arms, squealing with childish glee. The parents laughed and held her close, asking if she was okay.
Videl stood beside them grinning from ear-to-ear when the Police Chief stopped by her side, "Thank you Videl, without your help they'd surely be dead now."
Videl's expression became a confused frown, "Eh? Me? No, I didn't really do anything, the real hero I-"
"Saiyaman!" someone in the building called out. Gohan turned to the source of the voice thinking a fan or something had noticed him, but then he noted the clenched fists, the flared nostrils and the way the man was stomping over to him, "You reckless son of a bitch!" the man accused grabbing for the collar of his shirt.
Gohan's years of training in Martial Arts and combat made him defend himself on reflex, he grabbed the officers extended arm and twisted it behind his back, he cried out in pain and anger and Gohan snapped out of it, pushing the cop gently away from him, making him stumble off balance.
He suddenly felt many pairs of eyes centered on him and as he looked around, a lot of them were looks of judgement, annoyance and caution. The officer who had insulted him turned back to face the man and had to be restrained by two other cops, "Your little stunt blowing up the building today put my son in hospital!"
Gohan's eyes widened in surprise and murmurs broke out around the building, "I didn't-your son-I-what?" be eventually settled on, completely confused.
"A chunk of rubble from your "act of heroism" hit my son in the head and almost killed him!" the cop lambasted the super hero.
Gohan's face paled and his mind went blank, "No you misunderstand, I…I didn't mean to hurt anybody!" he claimed in defense.
"Just like you didn't mean to wreck the industrial section of West City in your fight with that alien? Just like you didn't mean to put dozens in hospital in that explosion beneath Satan City huh!?" He questioned, making Gohan's mouth run dry. At this point he was carried away by the officer's holding him back.
Tien placed a hand on his shoulder, "Don't let it get to you. He's just afraid because his son is in hospital." He tried to comfort the emotionally torn teenager. The boy nodded but another once over of the people in the room sparked uncertainty in him. They looked on with fear, caution, worry and disdain. He couldn't help but have that man's words eat at him. His actions had consequences when he lived in a glass city and he was made of stone. Very unstable, temperamental stone at that.
Pulling him out of his thoughts was a tug at his pants, he looked down and saw the girl, Sophia was it? Standing there looking at him with a big grin, "Thanks for fixing my mommy and daddy Saiyaman, I think you're the bestest hero ever!" the girl told him with a big nod. Most of Gohan's worries and doubts dissipated as he smiled back at the little girl, giving her a thumbs up, "It's what I do." He responded with a gentle gone.
After a talk with the parents who were eternally grateful for his actions, the trio left the happy family and headed in their directions, Tien go fulfill Gohan's request and find a place near Gohan that he could live. Gohan and Videl meanwhile made their way to Capsule Corp. Headquarters.
"We are more than a little late but Bulma won't mind, I'll just tell her that I ran into some trouble, she'll understand." Gohan thought out loud to ease Videl's concerns a little.
She sighed in relief, right, it still baffles me that not only are you a Super Hero, but you are on a first-name basis with THE Bulma Briefs. You're just one mystery after the other Son Gohan." Videl critiqued her friend in a light-hearted manner that made Gohan flash her a mischievous smirk.
"You don't even know the half of it Videl." He admitted vaguely, making Videl almost wish she hadn't given Gohan until after the tournament to spill the beans. Almost.
A.N. I would have had this up a few days earlier if my phone line didn't completely shoot itself. They sent me an obligatory phone to be used as a hotspot while a technician goes out and repairs my line but the speed of this internet is really limited and it hurts that I might not have full internet and phone privileges back until early next week. Hopefully this weekend tho. Anyway next chapter is a little longer than normal to compensate, already 1000 words into the next chapter so stay tuned, it shouldn't be more than 3 weeks until the next one if all goes well. Review response time now I suppose.
DBZfan the first: Thanks for the review, unfortunately this chapter is mainly character development and not a lot of action, hope you can wait for the next one.
Guest: Those are all VERY valid points and im glad you thought of them, but I'm not using ANY sources. I fully understand the actual multipliers in the manga and that no base Saiyan in Z But Potential Unlocked Gohan and Gotenks is stronger than Frieza. But I did explicitly say at the beginning that all characters would be toned down so feats would be easier to calculate and powers easier to scale upwards throughout the story.
And no Vegeta being SLIGHTLY stronger pre-majin is not favoritism, as Gohan is my favorite character, followed closely by Vegeta and Piccolo (who is not even in this story so far) which just goes to show you strength of characters isn't dictated by who I like more but by what's needed for the plot. (For example I eventually plan to get into material from DB Super and for the first half of it Gohan will be significantly weaker than Goku and Vegeta due to their God powerups.)
But keep in mind that Gohan was angry when he fought Cell, and Gohan gets a boost from his anger (evidenced by the whole Frieza arc, his transformation in the Cell arc and the early Buu Saga.) So while Gohan did train for a little of those 7 years, his increase is only relative to his CALM power from the Cell Games. Which, if you look at my latest power scale, puts current calm Gohan slightly above his angry Cell Games self. Current Vegeta is ever so slightly stronger than calm Gohan but as I plan to touch on next chapter, angry Gohan was enough to take out Broly and survive the explosion in Satan City earlier on.
So just as Vegeta remarked in the Buu Saga right before the fight with Dabura, he's surpassed Gohan, but there's no way of knowing what could happen if Gohan were to get angry like against Cell. Well I know and let's say it should satisfy your gripe with Vegeta being portrayed as a little stronger. I'm glad you made this review honestly, I'm glad there are other people in this community with a deep understanding of powers and multipliers in DBZ. I almost thought I was the only one.
Time Patrol Sage: Yes I know they mastered their Super Saiyan form to that degree but mind you Gohan hadn't trained a lot in the years between Cell and Buu. In fact after Buu blasts Gohan into that forest he fell unconscious and turned back to his baseform. As for being stronger than Frieza in Base. Look at the start of the response above yours, I explained why Base Saiyans are stronger than Frieza. Glad you're enjoying it otherwise.
Ignis Draconem: It is science, at least to a degree, DBZ is kinda funny with it scientific laws like characters much faster than light not collapsing and creating black holes and what not but we ignore that stuff because Toriyama isn't some kind of physicist so I forgive and ignore.