And then the Grinch got an idea. An Awful idea. A wonderful awful idea.

Haha yeah, I ended up writing this chapter pretty quickly when I realized where I'd get to end this chapter. It could not have worked out better.

Fortunately or unfortunately, I got so excited that I'm posting it early. Also, been having some pretty bad health anxiety lately, so free dopamine

Unfortunately, I now have to actually finish the next POV chapter.
You'll probably be able to guess who by the end of this chapter.

thewittywhy: Thanks ^.^ And I suppose we'll see

guestyperson: lol thanks, but don't worry about it man. I do find it funny how some dude copy pasted some lame hate comment from last week only to immediately be immediately followed by two saying the exact opposite when part of that comment was that "everyone" felt the same

TheHaragiri66: Thanks, and much like my previous response, it's fine. Hate comments can be annoying, but one that can't even write their own and just copies and pastes? Not even worth a second glance

I don't know what I expected but by the time we got there, an amusement park this time, Cell was already gone.

The abandoned clothes on their own weren't horrifying on their own but the knowledge of how they got there…

I scratched at my arms as I stuck closer to Krillin than I'd otherwise admit.

It didn't matter anyway. Cell obviously wasn't here, so back into the Jetcopter we went.

And back to Kame House at that.

"Are you drawing on your arms?" I heard Raditz ask.

"Yeup," I glanced over to see -her- with her jacket sleeves rolled up, seeming to trace over scars and clear skin alike in permanent marker.

"Why?"

"Why not?"

I refocused on the TV.

We were stuck watching the news once again, waiting for Cell to strike. This whole thing was a terrible system, but it's not like we had any other options.

It definitely didn't help that I was fairly blind to what would happen for now. I knew Cell was supposed to find the Androids, but I had no idea how since he couldn't sense them any more than we could. Which, seems like a design flaw on Gero's part actually. A fortunate one in our case.

-She- decided that waiting was boring and decided to go out searching anyway. I don't know what she expected to accomplish exactly but whatever.

Slowly the day's events and the lack of sleep for the past couple days started to catch up to me.

It was decided that everyone would take turns sleeping, that way there'd always be someone watching the news.

No one mentioned making me do any watch, and I didn't volunteer. 10-year-old child came in handy for once.

Once things began to settle, I settled down beside Piccolo, who insisted on staying awake regardless, and slowly drifted off…

…

I was woken by the sound of knocking.

"Hey, quick question, did Bulma say she was going to visit? Because I can't think of anyone else who'd be knocking," Yamcha asked.

"Uh, no I don't think so. I'm pretty sure she's still looking at those prints we found at Gero's lab…" Krillin said.

Eyes half open I got up and opened the door.

"Hi. Is Goku home?" Seventeen stood on the other side, Eighteen and Sixteen standing further onto the small beach.

"No." I closed the door.

…

There was a moment of silence.

Then someone knocked at the door again.

I did not open it.

"You will open this door or I will break it down."

Begrudgingly, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and flushed Ki through my face and limbs to wake me back up.

"I just said he wasn't here," I said as I opened the door.

Seventeen did not look amused. Eighteen did.

"You, you little-"

"Child. That is a child," Eighteen inputted, a very amused grin on her lips. She was in a new outfit from before. I'm pretty sure it was from canon but she does change outfits more than most, if any characters so it's hard to say. Looked nice though.

"I'm aware!"

Gonna be honest, kinda surprised that that matters to them. Even knowing they weren't as bad as the other timeline.

I think this world has desensitized me a bit too much.

Not that their reluctance to hurt a kid seemed to matter much since in an instant Piccolo was in front of me, and the others followed. Some more willingly than others. Starting to notice a pattern with Raditz.

Regardless now all the actual fighters were out on the beach, Piccolo in front, as the only one who could actually do anything.

"Goku is not here," Sixteen announced, causing Seventeen to glance back, annoyed.

"Wow, who would have thought-"

"Don't! You start." Seventeen interrupted.

"Whatever we needed to talk to you anyway." I ducked around Piccolo so that I was clearly visible again.

"You-" I paused, "actually no, before that-"

"No."

"Quick question-"

"I will hit you."

"Did it really take a ten-year-old making fun of you for you to fix your stupid socks?"

"No!" Seventeen tried to defend but Eighteen was already laughing, "Yeah. yeah he did."

Seventeen glared at his sister but it clearly accomplished nothing.

It certainly did nothing to hide the fact his jeans were now free of their awful socky prison. They were a tad too long maybe, but it's not like I can judge in that regard. I once wore a pair of jeans long enough that they got holes at the bottom from how often they fell under my heels.

"Ok! Goku isn't here! So where is he?"

"No. Nope. That is not what we're talking about."

"Yes. It is."

"No, you two," I pointed at Seventeen and Eighteen, "if you see a bug man thing you leave. Immediately."

"What? A bug? Oh, I get it, you're trying to distract us from finding Goku. Points for creativity. But seriously, where is he?"

"No that's- look, I realize it sounds weird but-"

"I'm done playing games with you kid. Why don't you let the adults talk."

I'm gonna kill him. Yep. That is how this is going to go. Solve the Cell problem right then and there.

"Goku isn't here, but maybe I can take his place."

What?

I sharply turned my head up to Piccolo.

"No thanks. Just Goku. I already beat you once."

"Beat me again and maybe I'll tell you where he is then."

"Yeah, no. How about I beat you, kill you, and then ask the rest of your friends after."

"Fine by me," Piccolo pointed off the island, "an island a mile or so that way, just you and me."

"Fine, if you really want to," Seventeen rolled his eyes as he lifted off the ground and began to fly in the direction Piccolo pointed to. Sixteen and Eighteen followed.

"The rest of you stay here," Piccolo demanded as he too took off.

Yep nope, not doing that. I immediately rushed to grab my sword and followed after Piccolo who glance back and frowned.

'I said-'

'Yeah, I heard you. Just ignoring you. What are you doing? We have more important things to worry about, named Cell."

'I'm well aware. If I can take out one or both of the Androids he needs to absorb that'd take care of part of the problem.'

'But, they haven't actually done anything. Seventeen just threatened to hit me. As if that's a real threat at this point.'

'We can't value two lives over the planet. Look, if it really bothers you that much, Goku can just take you to New Namek after we get rid of Cell and you can use their Dragon Balls. It won't be able to bring back everyone Cell has killed, but you can get those two back at least. Use the third wish to make them not want to kill anyone or something.'

'This is still dumb and a waste of time. What if Cell senses you fighting someone he can't sense? Yeah, that isn't suspicious at all.'

'It's the only choice we have right now. If Cell shows up, then I just beat him instead, I was stronger than him last time and he can't have killed enough people to be that much stronger now.'

'You don't know that.'

'We don't have many choices at the moment. But Doing nothing obviously isn't working.'

Before I could make any other retort in this very circular conversation, Seventeen glanced back and finally noticed me following, "wha- no. No. You're not bringing the kid."

"It's still going to be a one-on-one fight. Gohan just decided to follow," Piccolo said, once again glancing back in slight annoyance.

"That's not-"

"Oh Seventeen's just worried that the kid will keep making fun of him," Eighteen interrupted.

"That is not- no one asked you!"

Seventeen turned forward and sped up either to ignore us or Eighteen. Probably both.

At the new faster speed though we got there a whole lot faster at least.

Seventeen and Piccolo stood across from each other. Eighteen went to sit on a rock, and Sixteen just stood off to the side.

"Tell me where Goku is and I'll go easy on you," Seventeen said as he rolled up his sleeves.

"I think we've already been over this," Piccolo pulled off his cape and hat.

His gaze traveled to the other two Androids, then to me.

'Make sure the other two don't interfere. Warn me if they do.'

'Yeah, no problem.'

Not that this fight should be happening at all, but at the end of the day, I was still hoping for Piccolo to win.

I glanced off to the side as Piccolo began to raise his Ki, looking for a place to sit.

Would it be weird to sit close to Eighteen? I think that might be weird.

That was the only sitting appropriate rock in the area though…

I took a single step in that direction.

Seventeen waited remarkably patiently for Piccolo to charge up his Ki.

I took another step.

Sixteen cupped one hand over the other to protect the birds he had been holding from now flying debris.

I took anoth-

"Either sit down or scram kid," Eighteen don't glance over as she spoke.

I rushed the last few steps and dampened my Ki sense because Piccolo's was starting to get a bit overwhelming.

"Something is wrong. I sense two powers coming from Piccolo," Sixteen said.

Seventeen glanced back and Piccolo took that opportunity to strike with his elbow.

Seventeen stumbled forward, "you know, I waited very patiently for you to-" Seventeen looked back only to get punched in the face.

After breaking free from a torrent of blows that he eventually caught up to block and dodge, Seventeen wiped at the corner of his lip with his thumb, "ok. Game on."

And thus the actual fight began. Seventeen reminded me more of a street fighter than a practiced martial artist like Piccolo or most of the people in the group, but what Piccolo had in skill, Seventeen made up for in the fact that Piccolo will eventually get tired, while he will not. It made sense that Piccolo would want to finish this quickly then.

The fight got further from the island and much like with Vegeta vs Eighteen, trying to sense their movements wasn't entirely practical.

Sixteen was intently watching the fight while Eighteen kept half an eye on it and toyed with the Pearl necklace she was wearing.

Eighteen only looked amused when Seventeen looked like he nearly lost. Her lack of concern was justified when Seventeen dodged out of the way of Piccolo's blast that was clearly meant to kill.

The sight of Seventeen wiping away clearly red blood was not comforting. I was no stranger to blood in this world, but most of our enemies tended to have blue, or purple, or whatever color blood. Even Frieza's was magenta instead of red.

After a moment Seventeen was back to his normal borderline, or actually, just arrogant confidence, and Piccolo actually looked like he was having fun with this fight.

That didn't change the end goal here though.

It was dumb for me to be so concerned. Piccolo was technically right when he said this was the best solution for now. And I had more personal stake in making sure Eighteen survived than Seventeen.

But it still didn't feel right.

"Hey kid, don't look so worried. Seventeen probably won't actually kill your friend when he wins," Eighteen said, completely misinterpreting my concern.

I, probably shouldn't correct her.

Seventeen dodged the blast Piccolo sent at him. Then began dodge the array of blasts. Then he stopped dodging. Piccolo kept sending out blasts, they were just completely missing now.

"Uh, hey. I stopped dodging. Are you even trying to hit me?"

"No," Piccolo said as he sent one last blast up, forcing Seventeen to deflect it before he could register what was said.

"What? Oh…" Seventeen glanced around to see a minefield of blasts around him, "oh...oh shit."

"No escaping this one! HELLZONE GRENADE!" Piccolo shot one last blast causing all the blasts to collide and explode onto Seventeen.

Eighteen watched with her brows raised but didn't jump up in concern or anything.

Once again, her lack of concern was justified as the smoke cleared with Seventeen no worse for wear, a literal force field surrounding him.

Ok, that was actually pretty cool.

Glad I didn't say that out loud though, can't have that on the record.

That did not help Seventeen's arrogance in the fight however, only fueled it further actually.

"How is it that Piccolo is so much stronger than he was before?" Sixteen asked me.

"Huh, oh. He fused with another Namekian named Kami. Kinda an exponential growth kind of thing."

"I see."

"Guy called himself god? Seems kinda arrogant if you ask me," Eighteen commented, which I only shrugged in response.

Seventeen flew up and landed so that he was right in front of Piccolo.

Piccolo matched his stance and they stood like that for a moment. Then two moments. Then to the point, it was almost getting silly until Seventeen struck first.

The initial flurry of attacks was somewhat impressive, even if the number of backflips Piccolo did at one point was probably excessive.

Then it continued looking like an actual fight for a few moments.

Then they basically just started taking turns punching each other.

"This is so dumb. This could not get any dumber," Eighteen commented, clearly bored with how the fight devolved.

"So…do you like Krillin?" I asked.

"What?"

"Krillin, the shorter bald guy."

"Yeah, I know who you're talking about. Gero programmed in all of Son Goku's friends. Is this because I kissed him?"

I hummed in response and Eighteen rolled her eyes.

"Look kid, I just got free. I'm hardly looking for a relationship."

"Well, when you are, Krillin is just about the best guy I know."

"I'll keep that in mind."

The ground beneath us started to crack. The three of us lifted off of it as the island started to crumble away. Sixteen had a small army's worth of squirrels on his shoulders from the now sunken island.

"Men. They always have to destroy stuff," Eighteen commented looking down at the rubble.

"As I recall, it was you who tore down that forest," Sixteen replied.

"That's different, I was creating a road. They're just destroying things."

The two fighters found a new island, and they were actually fighting again. Mostly

In the form of grappling and tossing each other around and- nope. No, they were just punching each other again.

Boys.

"Hey kid, how long until your friend starts to tire out? This is starting to get boring."

"Piccolo can be pretty stubborn…" was all I said in reply,

"Great. This is going to take forever."

Though, I suppose I should check on how Piccolo was doing, energy wise. I refocused my senses and the two once again landed across from each other and-

I froze.

I shot an energy blast between the two as the quickest way to get their attention.

"What the hell?"

"Gohan! I thought I told you-" Piccolo paused, seeming to notice how on edge I suddenly was.

He followed my gaze.

And immediately jumped back until he was a safer distance away.

"What are you-" Seventeen looked up only to recoil himself, matching Piccolo's movement, "what the hell is that?" He asked.

Because there at the top of the rocks looking down at us, was Cell.

Wow, he was actually hideous to look at.

"Creepy bug man."

"Wait, you were serious about that?"

"Yes of course I was! You need to get out of here, like, now," I turned to Eighteen, "you too."

"Oh please. I'm not running away from some weird bug, monster thing," Seventeen said, back to his usual, now annoying, arrogance.

"This isn't a joke! If he gets a hold of you two, everything is doomed!"

"Aaannnddd, you're not making sense again. C'mon kid, if you're gonna make ominous threats like that, at least make them make sense."

"What Gohan means is, that thing is another Android created by Dr. Gero. He was made to absorb you and Android 18 to become unbelievably powerful. He came from the future to do just that."

"From the future? Yeah right, and I'm a park ranger."

I opened my mouth, then closed it, shaking my head. Too easy.

"That story doesn't even make sense, Gero is dead. I know, personally. He couldn't have made any more Androids."

"Cell was created with his computer, not him directly."

"Bottom line is, he can't get to you, so leave, now," I emphasized.

"I already told you. I'm not running. Not from you, not from this freak. Doesn't matter what he wants, he's still not stronger than me."

"That doesn't matter! He only needs to get lucky once!"

I froze, looking back over as Cell began to charge up his Ki. I could hardly breathe. It wasn't even layers of Ki at this point. It was just an erratic amalgamation of Ki's. too many of them. Too many. Too many.

Almost against my will, I backed away, drawing my sword as if that would help.

Cell began to walk forward, and past Piccolo. Cell took the time to taunt him before continuing on.

One moment Cell was slowly walking towards Seventeen, the next Seventeen was barely managing to dodge his tail.

Cell would have succeeded right then if Piccolo didn't kick him away.

"SEVENTEEN!" Sixteen suddenly shouted out, "It is best for you and Eighteen to leave. This Cell is much stronger than you. I highly recommend that you do not attempt to fight him."

"I'm not scared of this freak," and with that Seventeen launched forward, prompting Piccolo to do the same.

It was not a fight. The two of them would punch or kick at Cell only to be effortlessly blocked and slammed into the ground.

Cell was walking towards Piccolo.

Away. Stay away.

Despite myself, my feet remained rooted to the ground. I wanted to do something. Anything.

I couldn't.

Even if I did, I wasn't as strong as Piccolo. What could I even do?

What could I do?

I had to do something! That's why I was here! Why else- why else would I have stayed?

Why won't my feet move?

Piccolo began to charge up a last-ditch Ki blast. It was the most powerful single attack I'd ever sensed.

Cell wasn't intimidated as he just continued to walk forward.

I was suddenly seeing the outcome of the blast from the air as half the island was obliterated.

I blinked, glancing up to see Sixteen, his gaze as unwavering as ever on the scene even as he had an arm around me, apparently the one who had grabbed me away.

Just as quickly, he descended, depositing me back on the ground.

Though out I could still feel the hideous Ki from Cell. Cutting off my senses did nothing.

I shook myself out of my stupor and ran up to Seventeen.

"There! See! He's stronger than either of you! You need to leave! Now!"

"You expect me to believe it survived that? Please, I was almost taken out and I actually bother to get out of the way."

"No. This Cell is still alive, the child is right. The two of you must leave," Sixteen once again repeated.

"How could it have possibly survived? I think your-" Seventeen was cut off by Cell rising from the water, completely unphased.

Cell walked forward. He was saying something, but none of his words registered.

One moment they were standing across from each other, the next, Piccolo was on the ground.

It was like I was watching from a haze. I could do nothing as Cell lifted Piccolo by the Gi.

Then he blasted a hole through Piccolo's stomach.

I was sure I squeaked, or made some other small noise, and yet, my feet were still latched onto the ground.

Cell carelessly tossed Piccolo into the ocean.

"Hey kid, do, you have any of those Senzu Beans?" Seventeen asked.

I shook my head.

I left my backpack at Kame House. Stupid. It wouldn't have taken ten seconds to grab that too. Why did I leave it?

Cell leveled his gaze on us, or rather, Seventeen.

"Ok, look. There might be time for you to save him still. So, why don't you just, go grab him and get out of here. Take him somewhere safe."

I shook my head. It was all I could manage to do that. I kept my sword up in front of me, more the have something between me and Cell than anything else.

Piccolo was fine. He had to be fine. He isn't supposed to die here in canon so he had to be fine.

Unless something changed and he wasn't.

No. No. I hadn't done anything. Nothing could have changed. He was fine.

Couldn't let Cell get the Androids.

Couldn't-

Couldn't-

Something snapped.

All that mattered right now was keeping Cell from the Androids. I could do that much, I had to-

Just as quickly it was gone. I suddenly felt lightheaded and nearly fell over.

Something grabbed me and I was flying backwards.

I hit the ground and looked up to see Seventeen now in front of me. His arm was outstretched as if he had thrown me back.

I looked forward to see Cell's tail implanted into the ground where I could only assume I was previously standing.

"Ok kid. Enough of this. Just get out of here."

I scrambled to my feet, grabbing my sword, "you- you have to leave. That's more important- you can't- he can't-"

"You can't even stand on your feet properly. get out of here."

Before I could snap back I felt a twinge at the edge of my senses.

I glanced over to see -her- floating at the edge of the island.

Seventeen followed my gaze.

"Who…is that…?" There was an odd twinge to his voice. Confusion? Concern? Whatever.

Cell took a moment to glance back at -her.-

Something moved behind me.

Then I wasn't looking at the field anymore.

My sword clattered onto white tiled floors.

"What?" I looked around before seeing Goku standing behind me, a hand on my shoulder and the other still in front of his forehead.

"What? What? No! What are you- why?"

"Hey, just calm down-"

"No! No! What, why? You- I can't- you! You can teleport. Teleport them away from there."

"I can't use my instant transmission on the Androids, I can't sense their energy."

"Then- then use it on someone else in the area! Do something! Anything!"

"It's not that simple Gohan. I'd do something if I could but-"

"You could! You could do something! Like you just did! Piccolo- Piccolo didn't-"

"Getting yourself killed won't change what happened. We just have to honor his sacrifice-" he was still talking but I recoiled back.

Because Piccolo was fine. He had to be fine. That- he- he was fine.

So instead I glowered, "whatever," I muttered as I backed further into the room, sitting with my knees pulled close to my chest.

I cut off my senses completely from there. I couldn't do anything. Why torture myself when I could do nothing?

I still had to duck my head down and focus on blocking it out when Cell's power spiked.

Goku was still paying attention to the fight, however. He said something about Tien being in danger.

"We just have to honor his sacrifice," I muttered, glowering over my knees.

"That's not what I meant," Goku said, but I wasn't quite listening anymore.

Eventually, Goku decided that he could, in fact, do something and teleported down there.

I glanced up when he popped back in-

Piccolo.

I scrambled to my feet Goku leaned over and carefully set Tien, then Piccolo onto the ground.

The second he was on the ground, I was by his side, my hands tangled in his Gi. Blinking just a tad too often.

It was weak, but his Ki was still there. He was fine.

Goku flickered away and back again. I had to actually glance up to confirm that it was Raditz he came back with because his Ki was so erratic.

But that's all it was, a glance, before I was once again focused on Piccolo.

"I'm going to get some Senzu beans," Goku said, softer than usual, before flickering away again.

When he got back he gave Piccolo a Senzu first.

As always, the effect was immediate. Piccolo sat up and I didn't even bother to try and prevent my crying, instead just muffling it into his Gi as I hugged him.

Piccolo initially stiffened at the contact, before relenting, "alright," he said, placing a hand on my head.

"I'm sorry," I heard Goku say, "a Senzu bean isn't going to help."

"Why," I heard Raditz growl, more genuine rage than I'd ever heard from him, "Why in the goddamn hell didn't you do that thirty fucking seconds sooner?"

I blinked, wiping at my eyes, glancing up.

Piccolo was grim as he looked over.

I followed his gaze.

I wasn't wrong in that Raditz was the only person I sensed the second time Goku reappeared. Since the other person there no longer had any Ki to speak of.

-She- lay at his feet, eyes closed and hair splayed out. And, of course, an ever so slight hole through her stomach.

"I came as soon as I could-"

"Bullshit. You can bounce in and out all you want."

"Why do you care?" I asked, and that sounded wrong. Because it was good that he cared- it just, didn't make sense. It didn't make sense for him to be so angry about it.

Raditz's eyes flickered to me, then sharply away.

"Yeah, I mean, it's good that you care, but you never get this worked up about anything. You didn't even blink when the first Androids killed half a city," Goku took the attention away.

"You- you- forget it," Raditz settle on, no less rage in his voice, "how long until that stupid time chamber opens?"

"Very soon now," Mr. Popo said and I started, not even knowing he was there until he spoke.

"Fine then," he picked her up in his arms, "she didn't want the purple kid to know right away," he explained.

"Follow me then, I will find a place for her, for now."

And with that, Mr. Popo lead Raditz deeper into the building.

I didn't want to, nor was I in the right mental state to even begin unpacking, any of that.

Do I have any canon backing for how the Androids interact with Gohan? Absolutely not. But there is also nothing in canon to contradict me. The only time any of them interact with a kid before the Buu Saga was 16 with Gohan during the Cell fight.
During the Buu Saga and after, at least 18 is pretty good with not only her kid, but Goten and Trunks too.

Was there anything- Nah I'm pretty sure that's the only thing that happened in this chapter

Oh, right, duh.

I wasn't actually gonna kill Piccolo or anything. C'mon guys.

...yeah, that should cover it