When The World Calls Again

Chapter 3

A whole week had passed since Gohan had sleepily spoken about what it felt like to have a sibling. During that time, in the fleeting moments that Goku had really thought about it, he began to question what that would look like for his family. He didn't really know many others that had a sibling, and ones that he did, like Master Roshi and Fortuneteller Baba, didn't seem to have a great relationship. It was no wonder that Goku had begun to think it was almost normal to have strong negative emotions towards a sibling.

What had borne out of this thought process was: why would Gohan or anyone want such a thing if it was only going to bring the boy misery like he had witnessed with others?

But when this topic of conversation was inadvertently brought up during a game on their day off, it began to creep deeper into Goku's thoughts.

"Are you doing your Sudoki thing again?"

"It's Sudoku, Dad." Gohan couldn't help but roll his eyes at his father.

"Oh yeah, right. How's it goin'?"

"It's good, do you want to try another one?"

Goku looked unsure; he wasn't a fan of written work, but if it mattered to Gohan, he would try again.

On this occasion, the man made it much further and - with some encouragement from his son - he completed a couple of sections.

The pair continued to talk sporadically throughout, as Goku carried on with the one Gohan had given him while the boy tackled his trickier version.

"And one time there was one puzzle so tricky, it started an argument between mom and Auntie Bulma."

"Uh-huh." Goku was deep in thought, thinking about the next lot of numbers to test out.

"Those two always find something to fight over whenever they get together. But they love and care about one another anyway; they really are like sisters in that way."

Goku looked up from the paper to Gohan. "Sisters?"

"Yeah, like you and Vegeta are kinda like brothers, actually, on second thoughts, not like you two at all…"

"He wanted to kill me too."

Gohan looked deadpan at the man. "Dad, brothers don't generally want to kill each other. Although they may say some bad things sometimes. A brother is more like what you and Krillin have; it's good and bad, ups and downs."

The boy had read and seen enough to know this over his short life, and he found it surprising that his father had never considered his friends around him in that way.

Gohan continued, "Raditz isn't a good example of a brother, although maybe if he had had a different life, he might have been different. Like you were."

That name struck a chord straight through Goku. And for the briefest moment, Goku envisioned a future where his so-called 'brother' had the capacity for good. The sensation brought out a feeling that he hadn't experienced in a while but knew it well. It was a pang of regret. As much as he didn't like to admit it to himself, let alone out loud, had it not been for his unfortunate injury and his experiences here on Earth, he too could have been as ruthless. Could that man have been allowed the opportunity to become something better, maybe even an ally, like so many of his friends?

He blinked as he stared at Gohan. On the outside, to the boy, Goku appeared empty, devoid of any emotion regarding the conversation. But on the inside, that fleeting, regretful moment was soon washed away by a renewed disappointment. That man, the one who turned his life and his family's lives upside down. The one that had stolen the boy who now sat across from him. The one who tried to force him into doing his bidding and fulfilling his supposed destiny as a Saiyan to annihilate life and work at the behest of the likes of Frieza. No. Goku no longer felt an ounce of regret. Only seething frustration.

It had been a number of weeks since Goku had told Gohan about his plan for Gohan to progress to a Super Saiyan, but each time the boy asked about it, Goku told him that he wasn't ready yet, and this increasingly frustrated Gohan as time went on.

Gohan was well aware of the goal, but it was proving so unbelievably hard for him to attain. Additionally, something else had been starting to grate on him; he didn't feel like his father was pushing him enough. He made sure to remind the man at every opportunity, and occasionally the older Saiyan would listen, and their fights would delve into a much more intense battle, but it still just wasn't enough.

On this particular day though, Goku had been pushing Gohan far harder than usual. He had seen the boy's aerial skills and freedom of movement improve significantly over the last couple of months, and the time had now come to put the half-Saiyan to the test before they could move on to the next stage.

Breaking from their fight, Goku stopped his actions and descended to the ground across from Gohan.

With a calm and slightly unnerving tone, Goku instructed, "I want you to come at me with everything you've got."

"Everything sir?" Gohan repeated it for clarity.

"Everything. Now that you're used to the gravity here and you've been pushin' the limits of your base, I need to see exactly where you're at."

"Okay, Dad-sir." The boy ignored his own misspoken words and briefly considered what this meant. He must think I'm almost ready.

The corner of Goku's mouth raised upward in a slight smile. He had absolutely no doubts about his son's ability when the time came, but the prospect of it being so soon, that filled him with pride.

Gohan thought to himself for a moment as he attempted to refocus. Right, I can do this. I can show him just how far I've come and that he's right to believe in me. The boy assumed his strongest fighting stance before kicking off from the blank ground, rushing straight up to Goku's front, and launching a barrage against the man.

The Saiyan was expecting this move and prepared himself to take the hits. On contact, he didn't flinch. He knew Gohan could do better than this; maybe the boy was nervous, or maybe his son was doubting himself again. Goku wasn't about to divulge that somehow the boy wasn't doing enough; he didn't want to discourage Gohan. Yet Goku knew he had to keep moving his son forward.

"Come on, Gohan, push it further!" He shouted as the boy jumped back after the connected shot.

Gohan muttered to himself as he landed a short distance away, "Damn, he didn't even flinch. I've got to try harder." Gohan threw himself forward again, putting all the strength he had accumulated in the past three years that they'd known about the androids' arrival, everything he had been taught by Piccolo and his father, and everything he had already achieved in this endless abyss.

He volleyed punch over punch, swinging his legs and kicking out, letting a growl escape from his throat in the process.

"That's it, Gohan! Keep it coming!" Goku shouted encouragingly. He could already see Gohan moving faster and faster; it was impressive how quickly his son could adjust when he put his mind to it.

Moving across the ground and then through the air at phenomenal speeds, the two continued to parry blows. It seemed to be working; Gohan was adjusting and anticipating each manoeuvre at a lightning pace, but after a while, the boy's punches quickly became more erratic and lessened in power. Goku couldn't help but think that he would need to talk to Gohan about this later. But right now, he needed to push the boy. Not only did Goku need to know, but Gohan also needed to be aware of and feel what his own body was capable of.

Throughout this, Goku hadn't really been attacking at all; he was keen to let Gohan have free reign to exercise his abilities. And if he ended up as a punching bag, then so be it.

But after many rounds of punches, kicks, swiftly dodging, and parrying moves, Gohan was now struggling to pull himself together to keep going. But the boy felt compelled to push on; he had to do something.

"You've gotta move smarter, Gohan, or the gains you made in speed will struggle if you haven't got the power behind it!" The Saiyan shouted out as Gohan circled him.

The half-Saiyan was barely registering the words; his mind was in a state of flux. Wanting a release to unleash and display his power and prove to his father that he was ready, yet all the forms that he had meticulously learned didn't seem to be as effective as they should. Gohan couldn't fathom what was going on with his own body, but he couldn't and wouldn't give up now.

They continued later into the day than either of them had anticipated. But as Goku looked over his weary son, he knew the boy had given the best he could, and that was fine by him.

Later on that evening, the sound of unrestrained laughter could be heard coming from the bathroom as Goku and Gohan - who had originally been attempting to soak their sore and overexerted muscles - had now descended into throwing masses of ki-heated water at one another.

Gohan fell backwards in the bath, clutching his abdomen in a fit of giggles, as the sight of his father's soaked hair, dipping under the weight of the water and sticking down to the sides of the man's face, was now utterly hilarious, especially with the addition of the foam caused by the soap.

With a forced accent, Goku protested, "Arrrrr, this 'lil scallywag is tryna start a mutiny against the Cap'n! There's only one thing for that kinda behaviour!"

Seeing his impending doom, Gohan tried to manoeuvre out of the way. "Daaaaaaad!"

"That's Cap'n to you, boy!" Came the shout as Goku launched another humongous wave at his still-jiggling son. The Saiyan quickly fell back into his own uncontrollable belly laugh as the water hit the boy square in the face, drenching him thoroughly. At least we'll both be washed properly without any arguments after this.

Now freshly cleaned and clad in their nightwear, the pair made their way to their respective beds. Goku had already decided to forego his additional training this evening in favour of a settled routine with Gohan. He had seen the boy push himself harder as a fighter, but while Goku had certainly advocated for that under his guidance, he was also aware that Gohan wasn't allowing himself the rest and downtime that he desperately needed either. If the father could just help him balance that a bit more, maybe it could allow the boy to focus better.

As Goku shook out his sheet, the material briefly obscured his vision as it floated down towards the bed, and in less than a blink, an overly excited, giggling boy had landed square in the centre of his bed. "Gohan, what're you doin'? You've got your own bed."

Gohan simply beamed with a wide smile in return.

It seemed the playful bath fun hadn't quite been as soothing on the boy as he had hoped, especially as it normally worked back at home. Nevertheless, Goku was rarely one to turn down a bit of fun. He proceeded to walk calmly over to Gohan's bed and grab the pillows from it before zipping up beside a waiting Gohan and launching a full-scale barrage of hits with the soft furnishings.

Eagerly anticipating the move, Gohan had already gripped the pillows from his father's bed tightly behind him, ready to strike.

What followed next was a flurried mix of soft hits and streams of bedding strewn across the living quarters in all directions.

With laughter ringing throughout the endless domain, the pair came crashing down onto Goku's bed. The area was a total mess, but neither of them were bothered by it, as both were completely lost in the joyful moment.

Laying top and tail with one another, Goku grabbed and tickled the half-Saiyan's feet, causing the boy to squeal and rotate around to snuggle against him. The father had certainly missed this; these moments did just as much good for him as they did for the boy; his wife had pleaded over the years to keep as many of them as possible, despite all they were up against. And Goku was starting to see that more clearly, especially as Gohan was now growing up. The warmth within him that he felt in times like these was a healthy reminder of why they fought as part of the Z-Fighters. Not only did they enjoy the thrill of the battle, especially as a Saiyan, and to protect the world from the evil that would threaten it, but the why, was for the smiles and laughter of the people who mattered most to them. For Goku, he never wanted those stolen away ever again.

With a content sigh, Goku asked, "So what do you wanna do tonight? You wanna play your game."

"It's okay, I like it here like this."

Goku hummed in agreement. He would definitely remember to do this more often when they got back home.

After laying in silence for a while and having thought about today's training, Goku spoke out to the air above, "Y'know, I was so impressed with your speed today; you've come a long way, Gohan."

With a small smile, the boy acknowledged his father's compliment, but he still knew he wasn't getting it right. And a slightly melancholic tone came over Gohan's voice, "It wasn't enough though."

"Not yet, but it will be. You're puttin' in so much effort with your speed, just so you get those punches in first, that you ain't thinking about where they're headed and the new angle they're at."

Sitting himself up on his elbows, Gohan looked over at his father, "So is that why it felt so…"

"Uh-huh. But we don't wanna slow you down. That speed of yours is a good thing."

"So, if I practice my katas at my new speed, that'll solve that, right?" Gohan's face started to brighten upon hearing a possible solution.

"Yeah, that sounds good, but Gohan, don't forget your slow forms too; they're the key, regardless of how fast you are."

"Yes, sir."

Goku's eyes quickly rolled over to meet Gohan.

"What? You gave me the master talk…"

"Alright kiddo, I'll let you have that one. Now let's get some sleep." He ruffled the boy's hair before pulling the bedding back to form some semblance of a bed.

Emerging from under one of the freshly laid sheets, Gohan asked, "How about you tell me about another one of your adventures?"

"Gohan, they're not stories; that stuff actually happened."

"I know, Dad, but there's something so cool about it all. I'll never get tired of hearing them!"

Goku chuckled lightly; he still couldn't quite understand how his son was still in awe, even with all the boy had experienced himself. "Y'know, you've had adventures of your own too."

"I know, but I like hearing about yours."

He didn't have an answer for that, so Goku figured he might as well give the boy what he asked for. "Did I ever tell you about how I met Oolong?"

Gohan shook his head, eager to hear what his father had to tell him. He nuzzled closer and began to settle as the sound of Goku's voice filled the space.

Still regaling the story from his childhood, Goku continued on, "So it was kinda-"

The Saiyan halted his own voice as soon as he heard the soft snores from his son lying beside him. Turning his head and craning his neck, he could see that Gohan was fast asleep. Although he was sure that Gohan wouldn't wake if he transferred the boy back to his own bed, Goku wasn't quite ready to leave this position yet and resigned himself to sleeping like this. It wouldn't be the first time after all.

But after a few hours, Goku still hadn't managed to fall off the edge into the sea of sleep. Instead, his mind was plagued by what his world would look like for his son if these threats kept coming. Even if they could get through this imminent danger, what would lie beyond even Cell?

Goku marvelled at the strength and combat ability that his son showed time and time again, but was that going to be this boy's life? This wasn't a competition to enjoy or a spar to rile one another; this was world-ending danger.

Maybe one day in the future, Gohan would take his place, but right now, Goku knew he needed to protect him. But as he stared at the ceiling, thinking about where his own capabilities were currently, he began to wonder, how?

Goku knew that the Super Saiyan form was not to be taken lightly, and getting his son to this point would be no easy task. And on top of that, to be able to control it too. Its sheer ferocity and power were exactly the reason that Goku had chosen not to return to Earth immediately after his fight with Frieza. So much had changed about him - about his body, about his capabilities, and about who he thought he was - over such a short period of time. At that point, he hadn't had a chance to digest it all, and he wondered whether Gohan felt something similar now. But what he did know was that this state held more than enough power to destroy planets - even the one he called home if it wasn't controlled - and much more. Once his son attained it, the boy would need to control and hone it so that he wouldn't be a danger to himself or anyone else for that matter.

If it had been any other time, Goku was fairly certain that he would have likely taken Gohan into space, finding a deserted world to train on. Although he knew his wife would probably all but forbid it, Goku knew that once he could explain the risks involved otherwise, she would understand, just like she did when he returned from Yardrat - well, eventually she did. But they didn't have that time; they didn't have that luxury. Cell had robbed them of that. No, he had to ensure that the young half-Saiyan could fully control himself here before he ever stepped foot back into their dimension. That was only the first step of his intended plan. Goku's thoughts about what exists for them beyond that would have to wait. Making his son a Super Saiyan like him was his top priority. After all, he knew that it was well within the realms of possibility, having seen that the boy of the future - the son of Vegeta - had achieved it, just as his former rival had, and now he knew it was only a matter of time before Gohan did too.

Goku had been thinking hard about what Super Saiyan would mean for his son. Sure, the form itself was incredible, giving speed, power, and dynamic ability, but Gohan was still a child. Could his mind withstand the rage that came along with it? The Saiyan was sure he was doing the right thing, but it didn't stop the thoughts plaguing him the past couple of nights.

"-Dad, hello, Dad?"

"Huh?" Goku was a little disoriented. Being pulled out of his deep thoughts, he looked at his son and then down to the table in front of him. Oh, yeah, lunch. He picked up the bowl and started eating the last bits that he had obviously forgotten about - at least, that's what he assumed had happened.

Gohan's face contorted in confusion; this wasn't like his father's behaviour at all, especially when it came to food. "Dad, are you alright? I didn't hit you in the head too hard today, did I?"

Letting out half a chuckle, Goku put the now-empty bowl down. "Nah, I'm alright. Just a bit tired, is all."

Still sceptical and with more than a hint of worry, the boy asked, "And your heart's okay?"

"Gohan, I'm fine. Now, what were you sayin'?"

Having to take his father's words at face value, Gohan continued, "Oh, I was just talking about how nice it is to spend time with you like this. Apart from training the last few years, it seemed like ages since we had this."

Goku smiled as he thought about life with just the three of them. "I know what you mean; I remember our walks, our picnics, a lots changed since then."

"Yeah, since Raditz."

Raditz. Goku's previously nostalgic-shaped eyes suddenly shot wide. It was a name that he had come to detest hearing. Goku didn't hate anyone, but that name served as a reminder of how his worldview and perception of himself changed in an instant, even after years down the road. And so hearing his son speak about that man so nonchalantly was a little too much to bear at the moment. Maybe this is a conversation for another time.

With his jaw slightly tighter, he answered, "Yes, it's different alright."

Gohan knew that talking about his uncle always brought about a weird feeling with his father; the man never angered over the topic, but the change in demeanour was enough to put off anyone bringing up the subject, and in that moment, Gohan instantly regretted it.

Trying to put a lighter note on the topic, Gohan tread carefully with his words. "Well, uh, now we at least know much more about it, Saiyans, I mean, and you've been able to train better because of it."

"That's one way of looking at it." Goku stood up from the table, stretched, and started to move towards the bedroom.

Still sitting at the table, Gohan called after him, "Come on, Dad, I know it's a tough subject, but we can't keep avoiding it, same as we can't not talk about how Mom feels." Gohan silenced his own mouth; he was feeling a little too bold for his own good in that moment.

Turning on his heel, Goku asked hesitantly, "W-What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing sir."

"You started this son, so you're gonna finish it. Whaddya mean?"

Gohan spoke sheepishly, but his eyes steeled themselves, ready to have this conversation with his father. "Well, it's just been hard sometimes. When you're not around, Mom's sad. She misses you."

Raising his voice slightly, showing his frustration. "I know that, Gohan. And I miss her too. But if I wasn't away training, then our family and even the world as we know it would have been destroyed a long time ago. She knows this; she always has, long before Raditz or anyone else since has come along. I have to maintain; I have to stay the strongest I can be; we never know what threats are gonna come along in the future."

Gohan stood up from his chair. He was just trying to convey what he had seen from his mother; he wasn't trying to upset the man, but he couldn't help thinking that he already had. Too late, I might as well see it through then. "It's not just about training though, Dad. You died once, and then she thought you were dead a second time, and then you just… you just didn't come home. She was - we both were - lost without you."

Seeing the melancholic look on his son's face, he knew there was no malice in what the boy was saying; Gohan just didn't understand what had happened and why.

While the man rarely angered, especially outside battle, he had occasionally found some things that triggered this emotion within him.

This time, the mention of his brother's name - the one that in his mind was responsible for setting up the chain of events that changed the course of his family's life - even albeit with newfound power - set Goku on a different pathway.

Letting out a steadying breath, Goku spoke with a much softer tone, trying to calm the fire within him that had been smouldering since his brother's name was mentioned. He was hoping to have the opportunity to explain to his son without opening up those less-talked-about wounds. "Gohan, look, I was dead. I died protecting you and your mom."

Gohan sighed. He knew this answer well and how this conversation was going to go from here. But he was older now and didn't need to be placated, waving his father off almost dismissively, "I know Dad, but-"

"NO!" Goku's voice boomed and cut through every miniscule sound in the entire dimension. His piercing glare - that now focussed on the boy - housed eyes that flickered teal, like an uncontrolled fire. "You don't know. Not yet."

The boy gulped slowly, his back stood straighter, and the fine hairs on the back of his neck bristled at the sound of his father's voice.

Goku let out a harsh breath and leaned against the wall that marked the boundary to the kitchenette, trying to curb his volume, although the tone was still bitingly harsh. "Gohan, after Namek, I was dangerous. I'd never felt such power, and the rage - it burned all over." He looked down at his hands as he picked at the healing scrapes. "I couldn't risk hurtin' either of you. You're the most precious things to me."

"Dad, you could never hurt us." Gohan said in earnest, taking a step forward towards his father, "We're safe because of you."

With a dejected sigh, Goku proceeded to slide down the wall to the ground. "That's where you're wrong." With his head dipped, his shoulders slumped, and his hands resting on his knees, the Saiyan continued his admission. "I broke your mom's arm when I sent her flying through the house when I came back. In fact, I hurt everyone just by being here on Earth."

Gohan, who was still standing, looked puzzled. What could his father possibly mean by that? "You-"

"I've, uh, I've been thinkin'... y'know, sometimes I wonder whether I was right to come back at all."

Gohan made an audible gasping intake of breath, making Goku wince at the sound.

Looking upwards and meeting his son's pained eyes, Goku tried to plead his case. "It's not that I don't wanna be here with you two and all our friends. It's just that trouble always seems to come lookin' for me. I'm both the reason it's here and the only one people look to to beat it."

Gohan understood that part; he had overheard a conversation that wasn't meant for his ears between his father and Piccolo last year in the woods outside their home on Mt Paozu. His father had expressed the same thoughts back then. Gohan remembered being shocked even further when Piccolo suggested that Goku could leave Earth after the androids had been dealt with. But the most concerning part of it all was that his father didn't even challenge the suggestion.

It left him quietly worried about what lay ahead after the androids for a while - that is, until he heard both of his parents talking about plans for the distant future. From that point on, he knew his father had no intention of leaving, and that was a huge relief for the young boy.

The half-Saiyan honestly didn't know what he would do without him anyway. The man was a hero, not just to the world - even if they weren't always aware - but to this little boy. But now, all those old feelings and worries about his father's death were fast being brought to the surface again with his father's admission. Is he still considering it?

Gohan walked over to his father and sat down beside him as Goku instinctively lifted his arm to bring his son in for a hug.

With the embrace, a sad smile tugged at the corners of Gohan's mouth as he spoke, "Well, I'm glad you're here, Dad."

"Me too, Gohan. Me too."

After lunch and their heart-to-heart, the two fighters found themselves back out in the desolate realm.

Gohan had taken to pushing himself again and again, trying to bring out the Super Saiyan form under Goku's tutelage.

The young half-Saiyan stood, legs astride, gritting his teeth, his whole body shaking under the crushing pressure of the ki he was generating as his aura burst and grew around him. Sweat dripped and ran down the sides of Gohan's head, and his face contorted as he yelled out in vigour, bolstering his power as it rose higher and higher.

Until it evaporated, all of the powerful aura faded away in wisps into the dimension's atmosphere, and his hair dropped from its steadily rising state to flop against his sweat-drenched brow. Gohan crashed himself down to the ground with a booming thud as he tried to catch his breath from the exertion.

Goku stood with his brawny arms crossed in quiet contemplation, watching over his son making these repeated attempts.

With the boy's eyes fixed firmly on the ground, "I-I think I'm almost there, sir. If I just keep push-"

"No."

The monosyllabic tone sliced straight through his words, and Gohan instantly looked up before pushing himself off the ground. Meeting the man's harsh gaze, he watched as his father's stern face softened slightly.

"Gohan, how many times have I told you? You can't transform into a Super Saiyan just by increasing your power level."

"No? But I thought with all the increase…"

"That increase you feel every time I transform is not me powerin' up; it's the form that creates the surge, not me."

"Oh, so how am I ever going to do this then?" The half-Saiyan cast his eyes downward, feeling the desire to resign pull at him.

Goku crouched down to look at his son. "Gohan, it comes in response to a need, not a desire. You need to create that need. Try using the pain of loss."

"How Dad? I haven't really lost anything. Well, except…"

Gohan bit his lip, wondering if he should tell the man, especially after their conversation earlier in the day.

"Except what, Gohan?"

"Well, I lost you."

Goku's breath hitched in his throat, and for what felt like the longest moment, the Saiyan couldn't breathe. Everything had been stripped away, and all he could hear was the pounding of his ladened heart that was hitting against his chest over and over. That was far from the answer he had expected.

After several attempts to swallow down the dryness and his voice now with a whisper of hoarseness, Goku tentatively asked, "D-Did that make you feel anger? Rage?"

"No sir, I was just… sad. And scared without you around."

The boy still hadn't met his father's heart-wrecked gaze when Goku then pulled his son in for a tight hug that they both desperately needed. They both held in this embrace for what could have been an eternity; it was just enough to lighten the loads of their weighted hearts but not quite enough to heal them.

Moving back, with his hands still resting on Gohan's shoulders, Goku offered, "It's okay, Gohan; I'm not going anywhere if I can help it."

The young boy nodded his head as he rubbed his brimming eyes with the backs of his gloved hands and sniffed to clear his nose. He hadn't realised quite how much he needed to hear his father say that out loud.

Standing back up to his full height, Goku ruffled his son's hair before taking a step back. "Now, let's try this again."

Immediately, the boy took his stance once more, ready to act on instruction.

"Bear with me on this; I want you to imagine that Cell is destroying everything. Me, your family, and all your friends, everyone."

"Yes sir," Gohan moved to concentrate on the upsetting thought before realising something, "But I, uh, I've never even seen Cell."

Goku placed his hand on the back of his neck as he let out a small, awkward chuckle. "Well, uh, try picturing Frieza instead. I know you remember that guy."

"How could I forget?" The boy answered, already knitting his teeth together at the thought.

"That's it, use it. Use that feeling."

Gohan's mind swiftly flooded with images - that weren't buried as deep as he thought they were - of how his friends, Dende and Piccolo, were picked off so callously by that tyrant. How his father was targeted again and again. Then flashing to the man's pained, breathtaking golden aura that was ignited in response to Krillin's brutal death. He felt it all. Gohan felt the rage burning inside himself. But when his thoughts showed him Namek blowing up and taking his father away from him again, something changed.

A pull. A spark. It formed in the dark anger and grief-entwined rage, and began to voraciously fuel the boy's inner maelstrom.

"Keep going, you can do this! Use it, push through Gohan!"

As the feeling intensified, Gohan let out a shout, his voice almost becoming a roar as energy bounced around him. His young, muscular frame pulsated as a radiant glow encapsulated him, and his eyes flickered, turning from their natural dark coal to the familiar teal of a Super Saiyan. The prolonged roar deepened, and his long, unruly hair whipped around in the winds created by the force of his raging aura as strand after strand turned from jet black to a full golden mane. And just as he had reached what looked like the entirety of the form of legends, it fell away from his body, just as the boy's world plummeted into darkness and his body hit the floor in utter exhaustion.

Goku chuckled, barely able to contain the beaming pride that brimmed inside.

His son. A Super Saiyan.

As far as the man was concerned, while Gohan might not have maintained it for any notable length of time, it was more than enough to show that it could be done and would set the path for the half-Saiyan to follow again. Stepping forward, he scooped the boy up in his arms and started walking back to the living quarters for his son to rest.

Gohan squirmed and groaned in his father's arms as he regained consciousness.

Looking down at him, Goku smiled brightly and said warmly, "Hey kiddo, it's alright."

"Dad, I thought I almost had it this time. I think I've got more in me to try again." The boy tried to say weakly.

"You did good, Gohan. That's enough for today. We don't want you to burn yourself out." He nuzzled the side of Gohan's cheek. "I'm proud of you."

He wanted his son to get as much rest as possible, for tomorrow they would do it all over again.

After his own training session that evening, Goku sat down on the floor of the endless expanse and quieted his mind. His thoughts moved through the familiar landscapes of Mt Paozu and up the garden path to where his wife was waiting with a smile.

He began to express his excitement out loud to her, with a beaming grin written all over his face. "Chi, you should've seen him today! I swear he was so close; he almost had it!"

His wife mirrored his eager eyes, proud of the boy and his achievements.

As he looked on, the image shifted as the colours swirled around him to imagine the married couple now sitting by the softly bubbling stream near their home with his head comfortably resting in her lap. He could see the leaves rustling above them, letting twinkles of scattered light filter through as the fresh breeze danced around them.

"I know you ain't always happy about him fightin', but you'd be so damn proud, Chi. I know I am." He beamed, allowing his gaze to meet her happy eyes. "Y'know, once he gets goin', he's a little firecracker like you; ain't nothin' gonna stop him. And he's strong like me too."

The Saiyan sat up from his wife's hold. "He's so strong, especially for his age; heck, I wasn't even half that powerful back then." Goku opened his eyes to the abyss again, and looked down at his hands for a moment, and wrung them. Something else had been gnawing at him, and he didn't quite know how to express it.

Even without the image in his head and with just the empty space ahead of him, Goku continued on, speaking quietly. "Gohan's come a long way so quickly, I can't help but feel that even when he does reach Super Saiyan - which won't be too long now - there's gonna be more for him, y'know? I mean, I feel like there's more for me too, but probably not much more." Looking back up to the nothingness above, he wished there were stars, that there was something, anything, to distract his mind. Running a calloused hand down his face, he sighed in frustration. "Hell, I don't know what I'm talkin' about. It'll be fine; we'll be fine. We have to be."