Chapter 14: The Dark Prince Returns
Vegeta walked the streets during the day. Other than the initial few that stared, the people were rushing past, oblivious of the terrible being that walks amongst the masses. The saiyan strolled around with hands in his pockets, as if he came to not cause a stir. Vegeta, at least in his head, was playing a game. The point of his little game was how long it would take for his now nemesis Gohan to come and do battle.
Thoughts rushed through the full-blooded warriors head, like if he should leave the boy alive for Beryl to play with, or just outright kill him. His thoughts were interrupted by an errant teen bumping into him.
"Hey, watch where you are going old man!" shouted the teen.
Vegeta just smirked as he flicked the teenager on the head. The poor teen flew into a group of people and all seven of them were knocked down like they were bowling pins. The group stirred around, but Vegeta had already walked a great deal of steps ahead of them and the crowd hid the prince as crowds often hide people without even noticing.
"Damn, I have a headache," the poor blond teen said as he held his cranium and tried to get his focus back.
The group gave up on looking for Vegeta and just went about their business. The prince on the other hand went toward the arcade, where he saw Motoki speak with another boy. Vegeta overheard him call the other boy 'Endo.' The prince ignored the two of them and made his way down the street.
Vegeta made his way toward the butcher shop. The saiyan entered the building and looked toward Chi chi. The son matriarch stopped in her tracks as did Krillin and 18. The cyborg kept an eye on the saiyan as he advanced toward the counter.
"I'm going to ask once. Where is Gohan? I don't feel his presence here," Vegeta said.
"He's in school Vegeta, Making himself more than just some layabout like you," Chi chi said with mirth for she did not fear the prince.
"Layabout you say, I would choose my words carefully woman," Vegeta said as he let a little of his energy crackle in his right hand.
Eighteen took it upon herself to jump the counter and charged the prince. Vegeta smirked as he flashed into Super Saiyan, and blocked the punch. The prince immediately countered with a knee to the cyborg's gut, the surprise of the hit had her sink to the ground, grabbing her stomach.
"Such hostility, I'm only here to deliver a message. I want the boy to meet me at Tokyo Tower tonight," Vegeta ordered.
Eighteen rose to her feet and threw a kick. Vegeta blocked it effortlessly and proceeded to land a combination of heavy blows to the body and face. The saiyan then took his battered opponent and threw her outside through the glass door. The saiyan shot outside toward the cyborg, who was on the back foot now more than she felt she was against Cell six years ago. Chi-chi couldn't even plead for the fight to stop as she was in such shock because what happened.
Krillin, on the other hand, ran out of the shop and left to follow his wife. The woman was still in shock as the fight went further and further away from the building.
Gohan was eating his lunch in the cafeteria. The saiyan was consuming huge amounts of food as he normally would. As he ate the last part of his bento, Gohan felt an immense energy. The saiyan, after only a second or two, recognized it instantly. A change was also noticed in the very familiar ki, as it had gotten much darker than the previous time.
The saiyan excused himself from the table and put his empty boxes into his capsule. His usual friends and a couple of new ones watched as Gohan made his way outside of the cafeteria. Videl rose up as if to follow him, but Gohan had all but disappeared by the time she made it to the front of the school.
'Damn it, where is he?" the girl wondered as she searched for the boy.
Meanwhile, Gohan had already changed into his Tuxedo Mask costume in the sky and flew with purpose to the source of the energy. When he arrived, he saw that Vegeta had kicked 18 through the wall of a nice shopping mall. Tuxedo Mask went into his Super Saiyan form immediately and landed in front of the hole. The top hat flew off of his head to reveal his golden hair, but the eye mask was still on his face.
"Well, well boy! I see you have that ridiculous costume on. I believe those fashion idiots would call it 'Haute Couture." I don't give a damn anyway!" Vegeta spat.
Behind Gohan, 18 emerged as she was holding her left arm. The cyborg was furious, especially at the irony that around six years ago she broke the left arm of Vegeta. She slowly walked her way to beside the tuxedo hero.
"We aren't done yet!" 18 said through the pain as she tried to take a stance.
Gohan put an arm in front of the cyborg and gave her a look. She knew that from the single gesture that he felt it was his turn, but did not reciprocate as she gave a glare of her own.
"I can keep fighting him!" she shouted at Gohan.
"Yes I know. And that's what will get you killed. It's me he wants anyway," Gohan told her.
Cyborg 18 had no choice but to relent. She knew that her infinite engine gave her enough stamina, but strength was another matter. The woman backed off and flew toward home, holding her arm and what was left of her pride.
Her husband Krillin, who watched the whole scene unfold, took it as his time to leave. He would have to nurse his wife after all. Krillin gave a silent good luck thought to Gohan as he left the scene.
"I was going to have us fight at the Tokyo Tower tonight. But I think now is as good of a time as any!" Vegeta said as he went into his stance.
"I have one question….what about Bulma?" Gohan said.
A flicker of doubt crept into Vegeta's mind. However, the saiyan had gotten back resolute as quick as he had his doubt.
"I don't have any regrets!" Vegeta simply said.
As Gohan went into his stance, a voice broke through. The two saiyan men looked toward the voice that was behind Tuxedo Mask and saw Sailor Moon at the crater. Vegeta became visibly annoyed while Gohan couldn't help his surprise.
"Tuxedo Mask, you and him don't have to fight!" pleaded Sailor Moon.
"Sailor Moon," Gohan managed to get out.
"No Tuxedo Mask, Vegeta has loved ones, Don't tell me Metallia has made you forget about them," Moon said as she tried to get through to the prince.
"Shut up Woman! I don't need to hear your preachy tripe! Metallia has made me into my old self! I only care about my strength! Your little boyfriend and his father humiliated me many times! Kakarot, that damn clown, had the audacity to surpass me and reach the legend of the Super Saiyan first! I should've avenged our race, but Kakarot took my place!
Your boyfriend defied me once on Earth! I put him in his place only for him to reach Super Saiyan as a mere child! Then he ascended past Super Saiyan properly, not even going through the imperfect forms I reached! The boy then had the gall to save my life...as if I were a mere weakling! The final humiliation happened mere days ago. I finally ascended properly, only for him to throw it back in my face!"
"Vegeta," Gohan had gotten out.
"No boy! You deserve your punishment! I have been made a mockery of for the final time! I don't care about Beryl's little crush! I'm going to turn you into ashes if it's the last thing I do!" Vegeta yelled.
Gohan gave a look toward Sailor Moon before going into his stance. Sailor Moon was about to speak, but Gohan gave a sideways glare toward her. Usagi froze for a second. Luna appeared out of the hole and pawed the boot of her charge.
"Usagi, let Gohan handle this," Luna ordered.
"Luna I," was all that Usagi could say.
"Usagi! Gohan is in a mood to fight! Let him!"Luna ordered more forcefully.
"Usako! Don't worry about me. I might be able to get through to him," Gohan said.
Usagi knew at that point to trust her man. Though he did glare at her, he did not say anything harsh to her or anything in an angry manner. The girl smiled before walking away toward the hole.
"Vegeta, let's get out of this city. You want me at my best after all," Gohan said to the enslaved Saiyan.
"But of course," the prince said.
The two of them flew away from the shopping center and toward any countryside. Usagi looked up from the wall hole as the two of them disappeared into the sky. The senshi looked down at Luna and then behind her as she saw her fellow senshi.
"I guess we have faith in Gohan," Jupiter said.
"Yes, he is powerful, but so is Vegeta. It will be closer than their last match," Mercury predicted with utmost accuracy.
"I feel for Bulma and Trunks. It must be hard for the man in the family to be enslaved into the Dark Kingdom," Mars said.
"What we heard it seems came from the heart from Vegeta. He must've held that resentment in for a long time. Metallia took advantage of those deep-seeded feelings," Venus pointed out.
"Whatever it is, I believe Gohan can see us through," Artemis said.
"Yes...I just wish we could help him," Sailor Moon said.
The group, having nothing else to do there, exited the wall and flew away inside their golden energy spheres that they would conjure up time after time. One soul was left however to survey the damage. The poor teenage girl clerk who sank to her knees and started crying her eyes out.
"I'm going to get fired! Again!" the clerk cried as tears shot out of her eyes like two fountains.
Beryl sat on her throne at D Point in the North Pole. She watched through her staff as the two saiyans made their way to an empty field to do battle. Beryl was angry at what Vegeta was doing, as she wished that Vegeta would fight Tuxedo Mask in the city. Though the action did remind her of a day before the battle, when she learned about Saiyans from Vegeta.
'Saiyans love a good battle above all else,' she remembered as she imagined Vegeta speak that day.
'Well Vegeta, I'll let you have your fun. But you will not kill my Endymion,' Beryl also thought as she watched the events unfold.
Kunzite took it upon himself to enter the room. Another soul entered as well, though he looked to be more slave than man. The silver haired general looked over and thought he had seen a ghost. In fact the person he saw was none other than a resurrected Jadeite. The risen, sandy haired general smiled as he gazed upon his fellow commander, along with his queen.
"Shall we attack the senshi," Jadeite asked the queen.
"They are vulnerable without Tuxedo Mask around," Kunzite added.
"Hmm….let those two fight for a while...then we will make our move against those Sailor Senshi," Beryl said with a smirk. The two generals smiled with her as she watched Gohan and Vegeta stop over a chain of islands.
The two saiyans stood there in the air, neither willing to make the first move. Both fighters decided to reach into their energy reserves and scream as they channeled their ki. Lightning sparked from both fighters as the ocean around them tossed and turned. Whirlpools and water spouts appeared as the two of them transformed.
What stood there next were two Super Saiyan 2 fighters. Energy sparking from their very bodies as they started to size each other up once again. Vegeta smirked as he disappeared for a moment, only to reappear and throw a kick at Gohan. The teen was ready as he had gotten his guard up and was able to block, but was moved back several inches in the sky from the force.
Gohan threw a punch to counter, only for Vegeta to catch it with his shoulder and roll with it to lessen the impact. The Saiyan Prince threw a punch of his own, but the Earth Prince was able to move his head so that the attack would miss. The prince then went into a flurry, putting Gohan on the back foot and having him go backwards with dodges and blocks.
The teenage saiyan found an opening and threw a hook. Vegeta however anticipated this and was able to dodge and counter with a punch of his own. The strike hit true as Gohan took the punch square to the face. The saiyan flew backwards several feet before flipping and stopping himself in mid air. Vegeta charged in and attempted to follow up, only for Gohan to disappear in front of him. Tuxedo Mask then flew toward his opponent at an angle that the Saiyan Prince wasn't expecting and caught him with a kick. Vegeta flew downwards toward a big island and flipped onto his feet, digging his heels into the ground to stop his momentum.
What awaited him next was Gohan coming at him, full speed. Vegeta blocked the punch and the two of them went into a flurry of strikes. Vegeta was on the back foot this time, the two of them going through a hill on the island. Both came out on the other side, not even paying attention to the fact that a tunnel had been dug by the scuffle. The two of them broke apart and then immediately charged each other. Both punches struck true, sending the two of them down onto the ground and landing on their feet.
The saiyans rubbed their cheeks where the impact of the punches landed. The two of them went into their stances as if to start fighting again.
"I should've known you wouldn't go quietly," Vegeta said out of the blue.
"Hmm...well I know one thing, Metallia has made you stronger hasn't she?" Gohan asked as if he knew the answer.
"Heh, that much is obvious. Beryl is but a footnote compared to her. Beryl wants you alive, no doubt her little crush on your previous self," Vegeta said with venom.
"Hmph, I don't plan on doing anything with her. So I guess she will just have to settle for unrequited lust," Gohan spat at Vegeta.
"I thought so boy. That's why I plan on killing you. Be prepared to join your father!" Vegeta proclaimed.
"You might be joining yours instead. In Hell most likely," Gohan returned.
Vegeta glared at Gohan and the two of them clashed once again. The two engaged in a knuckle lock and both fighters throw headbutts. The two foreheads clash as hard as they could, Gohan's forehead and Vegeta's four-pointed star mark repeatedly smashed onto each other.
Luna and Artemis watched the fight at headquarters, along with the Sailor Senshi. The group could not believe what they were seeing, as they observed that this fight was much more brutal than the spar they had mere days ago. Usagi in particular was worried because she was watching her boyfriend fight a man that wants to kill him.
A tear couldn't help but escape the eyes of Usagi as she watched what she would say was a brutal scene. Two warriors, scarred and bleeding, beating each other with powerful strikes and energy attacks. At one point she gasped as Vegeta bound Gohan with energy rings to a rock face, only for moments later to seeing her paramour break free and smash boulders over his opponents head.
"This battle...it's so savage….and so...wrong," Usagi heard Luna say as the feline too was watching the display.
"You may be right Luna," Artemis said as he too was saddened by what he was seeing.
"I have Faith," Usagi said out of the blue, surprising the entire group.
"Usagi.."Luna said to her.
"I have faith in Gohan...I know what we are seeing is gruesome. But I have faith in him," Usagi said.
Minako walked up to her friend and her frown changed into a smile.
"Who knows, maybe Gohan can weaken him to where you can bring him back into the light," Minako said.
"Perhaps we can," Usagi said. The senshi looked onto the display, watching the battle unfold.
Vegeta had gotten behind Gohan and had got his arm around his neck. Gohan was fighting the hands with his neck muscles and hands, which kept Vegeta from locking in the choke. The teen then slipped the possessed fighters arm toward his lips as he gritted his teeth. Gohan's head preventing the back arm from fully leaning onto him, his two hands had put Vegeta's arm in the perfect position.
Tuxedo Mask then opened his mouth and with his teeth clamped down hard upon his flesh. The prince screamed in pain as Gohan dug his teeth into his arm. Vegeta let go of the choke and Gohan released his bite. The prince held his arm as blood leaked out of each of the teeth marks. The teenager backed off and spit out his opponents blood for he did not like the taste it seems.
"You bastard! You bit me!" shouted the Saiyan Prince.
"I don't remember any rules in this fight!" Gohan said as he charged at Vegeta to press his new advantage.
The saiyan placed a hard right hand onto his jaw and sent his elder opponent flying into the tunneled hill. The small hill collapsed around Vegeta, burying him into a rock pile. Gohan took it upon himself widen his stance and cup his hands. The tuxedo fighter then brought his hands towards his hips and pivoted his body into position. A small, white blue ball of energy formed into his hands.
Before Gohan could fire however, Vegeta exploded out of his rock pile into the air. The royal full-blooded saiyan looked down upon his opponent. The prince then screamed into the heavens, his energy crackling around him. The lightning went from a pure white into a startling dark black. A black oval enveloped the prince, causing Gohan to stop charging his attack.
The shape then dissipated and Gohan was startled in what he saw. Vegeta had become a purplish black creature, which retained the prince's shape. The hair was still golden, but the eyes went from the turquoise of a super saiyan to a scarlet red. Red and Black lightning crackled from the dark form as Vegeta smirked.
"Like my little transformation," Vegeta said in a deeper, almost disembodied voice.
Tuxedo Mask stood there as shock overtook his senses. Gohan gathered his nerve however, and went into his stance, ready to fight. The teen watched as Vegeta flew toward him, faster than the tuxedo clad fighter had anticipated. A punch landed onto Gohan's midsection, which caused him to double over. Vegeta followed up with a hard kick to the face of the slumped Gohan. The half saiyan flew up into the air and seemed like he wasn't going down. The possessed prince disappeared and then reappeared behind the flying saiyan. Putting his hands together, Vegeta struck Gohan with a hard hammer blow, which sent Gohan crashing into a neighboring island and through that islands forest. Many trees were either uprooted, splintered into pieces, broke in half or any combination of the three as the teenager's body created a huge ditch.
Vegeta flew with great speed down that gully as his opponent struggled to rise out of the pile of stone, wood and dirt covering that ditch. Gohan just barely made it out when Vegeta connected with a right hand, sending his opponent speeding toward a mountain. The mountain collapsed around Gohan, burying him into a huge pile of rock.
The prince stood there at that pile. A smirk graced his features as he waited for a few minutes. At the end of that time, Gohan was able to crawl out of that rock pile. The teenager was worse for wear, as his tuxedo became torn in various places and ragged. The teen staggered around for a bit before falling down to all fours, sweat dripping from his form and blood leaking from a cut just below the eye where Vegeta struck. It wasn't the only place where blood came from however as several spots of the suit were covered in that very same blood.
"What's a matter boy, my transformation too much to handle!" taunted Vegeta.
Gohan was wordless. The boy had finally made it to his feet, which caused the prince to hit him with another super fast dashing punch to the gut. The boy was uprooted by the force of the punch and landed face first, flat onto the black ground. Vegeta then kicked the boy over onto his back. Gohan struggled to get up, but he just couldn't as his hair went back to black. The boy then laid back down and looked up into the sky as he tried to take in vital breaths of air.
"Well, looks like I win. Take comfort in knowing that your friends will be joining you soon. Should I start with Piccolo, that Namek was always annoying. Or how about that bratty brother of yours, he looks too much like Kakarot," Vegeta said with confidence.
"Why...don't you start with your wife…."Gohan said.
"What was that boy!" shouted Vegeta.
"Start with….Bulma….you might as well…..you...sick….bastard," Gohan groaned out.
Hearing that name, Vegeta felt a pain inside his head. An image of Bulma appeared in his mind, causing the prince to put a hand onto his skull from the headache. Gohan sat up slowly as the prince struggled with the pain.
"Then move on...to Trunks...your son….Goten's...best friend," Gohan moaned as he slowly rose to his feet.
The pain doubled onto Vegeta's head, causing him to grab it with both hands. Out of nowhere, a blast caught the distracted Vegeta onto his back, causing him to take a stagger step forward. Both him and Gohan looked up and saw Piccolo, who hovered over the ditch.
The Metallia side of the struggled within Vegeta's mind regained control as he gave a wicked smile toward the Namekian. The prince powered up and charged toward the green alien. The saiyan prince however found that his fist hit nothing but cape as Piccolo used the distraction to land beside Gohan.
"You look worse for wear," Piccolo said to his former pupil.
"Heh, I can't believe Vegeta had gotten this strong from Metallia's control," Gohan said
"I think you might take that thing you packed into your pocket and use it," Piccolo suggested.
Gohan did exactly that as he took a senzu bean out of his pocket. The boy placed the bean into his own mouth and chewed it up. A few seconds after he swallowed it, his energy returned back to full. The saiyan flared back into Super Saiyan 2.
"I want you to remember something Gohan. You need to focus your anger. Remember that he could go after me next. If he isn't stopped here, then no one is safe. Goten, Chichi, Krillin, and even your girlfriend Usagi will all be in danger," Piccolo urged.
Gohan went into his stance, ready for the fight to come.
The sailor senshi watched the fight on the monitor, but not long after something else graced their screen. Somewhere in the city, Beryl with her two generals were at a police station. The queen was sitting on one of the officers desks, while various youma stood over a decimated police division. Many officers were laid out unconscious and some were even dead from various wounds.
Beryl smirked as with a wave of her hand, someone was risen up. A raven-haired girl in pigtails was tied to a stake with black magic ropes. The girl's hands were bound together above her head and her feet were tied close to the stake. A rope was wrapped around her waist and tied. Various tears were on her clothes as she had the evidence of battle scars all over her body.
The queen had all of the sudden became really close to her face. The girl tried to yell curses at Beryl, but the gag around her mouth muffled those to only murmurs. Beryl stroked the young girls face in a vain attempt to soothe her.
"Videl," Usagi uttered as she recognized the girl instantly.
"You know this girl Usagi?" Luna questioned.
"Yes, she's a friend of Gohan's," Usagi answered.
"Looks like she's in a bad way," Ami said.
"We should help her," Jupiter said.
The group transformed into their various senshi forms and teleported to the police station. What they saw looked like a war zone. Overturned cars, shattered guns and broken bodies of the men and women of that precinct greeted them at the doors. Sailor Moon was aghast as she couldn't believe the carnage that she was seeing.
Three fighters joined them at the doors. All three were diminutive in size as one was Chibi Tuxedo Mask, the second was the purple ninja Saiyaman, and the third was someone in a Piccolo style gi and cape. The only difference was that a black mask was covering his nose and mouth.
A small group of green youma charged at the group. The little one in the Piccolo outfit held a hand over his head and a disk formed. The warrior then threw his disk, and sliced through three of the seven youma. The disk then swung around and sliced through the other four as it returned to the user. The youma screeched loudly as they fell apart and disappeared. The mysterious third fighter dissipated the disk. The warrior then reached for the lower part of his mask and removed it to reveal his face.
"Mr. Krillen?" Mercury asked.
"Why yes," Krillen answered with a smile.
The human fighter then put his mask back on. The warrior silently thought in his head about how he and his allies were supposed to keep their identities a secret.
More youma poured out of the station, which had both Chibi Tuxedo Mask and Saiyaman jump into the fray. The two of them threw small blasts at some of the youma to destroy the adversaries. After turning some of them into powder, the two of them came at the group from all different directions. Picking off various creatures from many different angles with attacks that seemed very coordinated. The two finished the last two of the youma throwing one handed blasts side by side. The two little half-saiyans decided that they would march up to the doors of the Police Station.
"Follow them," Krillen shouted.
The senshi and Krillen stood behind the two saiyans as the group marched up to the front doors. With no more resistance for the moment, the group entered the station ready for anything.
Gohan and Vegeta went back to clashing into each other. The saiyan was boosted by his anger, just like he was in the past. Though most people couldn't tell, Vegeta recognized this instantly. The saiyan prince knew that this bout of anger was minor and raised Gohan's power enough for him to mount more of an offense.
Some blows did connect and cause a little damage. However, Vegeta was able to keep his wits about him and throw a hard punch to the face, which sent the teenage half-saiyan flying back down onto the ground. At least this particular time, Gohan flipped to his feet and stopped himself from making another ditch. Such a feat was of little comfort as his jaw felt a powerful jolt of pain.
While staying in the air, Vegeta extended his right hand out and began charging an attack. A blue energy sphere formed and began to grow in size. The blast had gotten to the size of a basketball, but packed a great deal of energy inside.
"Dodge this and lose this planet!" Vegeta threatened.
Gohan watched as the attack continued to charge. The boy stood ready to withstand the assault to come as he saw Vegeta finish charging the blast. He saw Piccolo to the side, looking somewhat stoic. Tuxedo Mask could tell that his former mentor was worried.
"Big Bang Attack!" shouted the Saiyan Prince as the dense ball of energy rocketed out of his hand.
Gohan outstretched his hands as he held the ball at bay. The fighter felt the ball push him into the ground as he stood firm. The muscles began to feel an intense burn as he struggled to hold the ball at bay. Feeling in intense pain and himself loosing ground, Tuxedo Mask screamed as the ball expanded to a size around 10 times in diameter.
As Gohan felt himself give in, he began to remember things. Chichi, Krillen, Trunks, Goten, Bulma, Usagi, the Sailor Senshi, Piccolo and his late father Goku appeared in his mind. The teen remembered those people as he pushed himself to try to resist this attack.
Another memory flashed into his mind. His time in the Room of Spirit and Time at age 9 began playing in his head. A vivid scene of Goku appeared as he sent a Kamehameha at him. Gohan tried to push as he did back then and remembered something in particular. The memory of him focusing his power. The teenager focused his power and began to scream. The sound came out and echoed throughout the island. Though some might've picked up a roar of a beast behind that scream.
The boy began changing. His muscles became somewhat bigger, and yet longer at the same time. Gohan felt his push of the attack easing up as his bio-electricity seemingly went into overdrive. His hair grew to the point it went to close to his buttocks. The boy then was able to fling the attack toward the sky and into unknown space.
A crater stood where the attack touched down. Vegeta, or at least the Metallia part, was frightened at the figure who rose out of the crater. Gohan was a little taller as a result of the transformation and with the hair was a much larger forehead and no eyebrows. The mask of the costume was gone and only the lower half remained as the upper half was destroyed without a trace.
The biggest change was his demeanor. The teenager who was reserved and quiet was gone. Gohan glared at the prince with intense anger as he rose out of the crater and went into the air slowly.
Gohan looked over to Piccolo, who had the good sense to get out of the way of the Big Bang Attack. That look was rather quick as he put his eyes back onto Vegeta.
The wild haired teenager flew at the possessed Saiyan at incredible speed, closing the distance almost instantly. A fist all of the sudden was placed onto the gut of the saiyan royal and the force of it felt like Gohan had punched right through him. Vegeta held his gut and couldn't breathe, let alone speak as he lowered himself to the ground. The prince pushed himself back to his feet, only to stumble back down to all fours.
The twice ascended Saiyan then flew at Vegeta again and planted his shin across his face. The prince skyrocketed back to the sky before the teen appeared behind him and spiked him as if he were a volleyball back down to the earth. The island became a crater and began to fill with sea water.
The prince slowly rose out of the ocean. Both blows looked like they did damage as cracks were around the midsection of the black armor-like skin. Vegeta also held his cheek, which looked to have those cracks as well.
"Damn you...boy.." Vegeta uttered out weakly.
Gohan appeared in front of his fellow saiyan as quickly as he did the other two times. An attack didn't come however, as the half-saiyan glared at his opponent.
"I will give you one more chance Vegeta. What about your wife and son? Do they matter enough to you?" Gohan asked coldly.
The saiyan again had a headache, much stronger than the last time Gohan mentioned those two. Vegeta held his head as if he felt it was about to explode. More vivid memories appeared, like his son Trunks turning Super Saiyan for the first time, and him actually doing a few little things for Bulma. Even him tearing an employee a new one because he overheard said worker say bad things about his wife. Metallia was able to get just enough control of the Saiyan Prince to have him create a portal. The saiyan leapt through the doorway and the dark hole shut instantly.
Gohan stood there in his new form for a moment while Piccolo flew toward him. The saiyan just looked at his former mentor before powering down to his base form. Gohan's energy was sapped, but he knew he was ok.
"You ready to go to the lookout?" Piccolo asked.
"Yeah," was Gohan simple reply with a smile, his normal demeanor returning to him. The two fighters flew toward Kami's Lookout for a healing session.
While the Gohan/Vegeta battle took place….
The Sailor Senshi and their allies were in for a shock as they entered the building. The group still couldn't believe the carnage although it was seen on the screen first. The biggest shock was when Sailor Moon looked up and saw the captured Videl, now suspended into the air and the crystal touching the ceiling.
Just below the crystal was Beryl, smirking at the group. The gray skinned monarch of the Dark Kingdom brushed aside strands of her auburn hair as she stared. Sailor Moon stood and summoned the holy sword into her hands. The girl gripped the ornate, black weapon with both hands and was ready for battle.
Saiyaman joined Sailor Moon on the left, while Chibi Tuxedo Mask showed up on the right. The two of them went into their stances, Trunks with a metal bo staff and Goten with his cane into his own staff. Queen Beryl laughed as she saw the two little ones.
"Looks like a little wannabe hero, and a miniature version of my Endymion," Beryl scoffed.
"Who's Endymion?" Chibi Tuxedo Mask asked in confusion.
"She's talking about Tuxedo Mask," Sailor Moon said to Goten while keeping her focus on Beryl.
"Oh you mean G," Chibi Tuxedo Mask almost got out before stopping himself.
"You idiot, you almost gave his identity away," Trunks scolded.
"Sorry," Goten said.
The conversation was cut short by the general's coming toward the two little heroes. The sword of Jadeite was blocked by Trunks with his staff, while the sword of Kunzite was blocked by Goten's extended cane. The two of them pushed off, causing the Generals to go backwards before landing on their feet.
The Queen intervenes by firing a dark blast at the two. Both attacks strike true and knock the little heroes down to the ground. The group gasps as both children seemed to not move for a second. After that second however, the two rose to their feet, though the blast did cause some pain.
"We can't let ourselves get hit like that Saiyaman," Goten told his friend.
"Ya think," was Trunks's sarcastic reply.
The two kids decided to turn Super Saiyan. Their head gear came off as the two of them became golden-haired with green eyes. The eyemask of Goten however stayed on his face. The two of them fired energy attacks at Beryl, but something was blocking them from connecting. The two kids shot more energy blasts, but all of them were being nullified. Beryl was not lifting a finger as this was happening.
"Foolish children, I am protected by Queen Metallia," was her simple answer before knocking both Super Saiyan's down again with an invisible attack. The two sprang up immediately and tried to charge at the queen from both sides. When the two struck however, a shock went through their bodies before being flung back down to the floor.
The group was shocked at this. Queen Metallia's protection baffled the group as the two saiyans struggled to their feet. Mercury however was tapping away at her computer. The program found something on the evil monarch.
"Her necklace Sailor Moon, try to remove the necklace," Mercury told the Moon Princess.
"But...they can't lay a finger on her...how can I," Moon replied.
"It's called a holy sword for a reason. Maybe it has properties which will bypass her protection," Mercury urged to her leader.
Moon clutched the sword, but felt that she could not make a move. Mercury had gotten a bright idea as she saw her leader struggle.
"Everyone attack Beryl," urged Mercury as she fired an aqua mist. The senshi had gotten the gist and the senshi fired their trademark attacks. Mars's Taisan, Jupiter's Supreme Thunder, and Venus's crescent boomerang all struck Beryl. Those attacks were nullified as well.
"You fools," shouted Beryl as she fired an attack with the same ferocity as she did with the little Super Saiyans.
Sailor Moon then saw the opening. The fact that the queen was distracted by the senshi and the little saiyans encouraged her to attack. Feeling the time was the right time, Sailor Moon charged forward and thrusted upwards with the blade. Beryl had not the time to react as she watched her necklace be cut off by the holy sword and fall to the floor.
The witch felt her powers weaken and continue to go down by the second. Trunks and Goten were both about to charge a Gallick Gun and a Kamehameha respectively. There was no need however as the queen began to wither away and turn to dust.
"Endymion.." was her last word as she fell to her knees and became a withered skeleton. The bones disappeared a couple of seconds afterwards. The generals retreated after seeing the fall of Beryl and the crystal disappeared along with Videl's bonds. The girl dropped from the ceiling, only to be caught by Chibi Mask. Goten slowly lowered Videl to the floor and the entire group ran to her.
Videl was barely conscious as she looked up at the group. Krillen, the Super Saiyans and the senshi looked to Sailor Moon. The girl nodded and rose her moon wand up.
"Moon Healing Escalation!" shouted Sailor Moon as light came out of the crystal.
The Police Station was restored to pristine condition. The cars became unbroken and the officers that were living healed. Videl also was healed by the wand and immediately rose to her feet.
The daughter of Mr. Satan smiled at the Sailor Guardian, who couldn't help but return the smile.
"Thank you Sailor Moon," Videl said before giving a traditional bow.
Moon was about to reply when she noticed something. She noticed the corpse of a dead officer laying there a few feet away from them. Tears formed in her eyes as she looked more at the dead man than she did at the girl she saved.
Videl noticed this and walked up to Sailor Moon. The girl looked eye to eye with the increasingly distraught guardian and placed both hands on her shoulders.
"You can't save them all," Videl said to Moon.
"But...why….," Sailor Moon said as tears started to fall.
"Maybe because his soul is at peace, he died in the line of duty Sailor Moon," Videl said.
The senshi mirrored Videl's sentiment and surrounded Usagi. They wanted to cry themselves, but felt that they had to remain strong for Sailor Moon. Moon gave a tearful nod and the group decided then and there to leave the station, before any of the other officers could ask them a single question.
A/N: It's been a while, at least I felt that it has been. Anyway I thought that this was the best way to end Beryl's journey. Can't have it be too much of a one to one story now can I? Please Read, Review, Favor and Follow. Thank you.