The Horse with No Name
Chapter Twenty
Return Service Requested
The house is quiet save for the hum of the fridge as Gohan passes it. In the night time shadows, the world is made up of shades of wintery blues, very much echoing the bite of outside. December keeps the kitchen particularly chilled but he doesn't feel it.
Each step is measured. He knows what he wants.
The blade is taken from his mother's knife block. She keeps them sharp. The sharpening stone rests right beside the blades. Perhaps she might have even used it today.
The knife glistens in the very little moonlight. For it to have an impact, he's going to have to apply a lot of pressure.
It's definitely going to hurt…
Gohan's bedtime routine has always been the same for as long as he can remember. First he would bathe. He's never been keen on morning showers as it could chance waking up Goten, and Sleeping Goten is a much easier Goten to deal with than Awake Goten. Next he'd have a cup of hot water, sipping at it slowly as he reads a book for thirty or so minutes. The book of choice is usually non-fiction because he's got to keep up to date on those studies, and who doesn't love The Biography of Tom Lehrer? After sliding the book under his bed, now donning a free library-given bookmark within, he'd turn off his bedside lamp and finally set his alarm clock for 06:00AM sharp; all before closing his eyes for the night.
It's all very samey-same, really.
And in preparation for such a routine, Gohan would boil himself that cup of water on the kitchen stove. Goten has long since vacated the bath and so it waits for him outside, but Gohan doesn't like to go to bed without his hot water so he plans for that first. The send-off of a warm beverage and a good book always has him sleeping soundly, and he's very much a creature of habit. Every night, he stands here, like clockwork, waiting for the pot to heat up so he can load his cup and patter up to bed.
And so, as a result, his dad knows where to find him.
He takes it back to his bedroom, closing the door behind him. It clicks with a sense of finality.
His dad enters the kitchen, towel worn around the neck and grin stretched across his face. And so, Gohan huffs for he's definitely here to steal Gohan's bath time… again.
"I won't be long," Dad laughs when Gohan sends him a look, "I promise. I'll be super, super quick."
"I always go now," Gohan grumbles. It's been a part of the ritual longer than his dad has been home, and he points out as much. That, and the guy smells like a barn.
"In my defence, I've been training since this morning." There's a wink. "I've gotta' get stronger if I wanna' be any sort of challenge to you, after all, Mister World's Strongest."
Gohan fights his cheeks warming, reminding himself that he's grumpy about his threatened bath time allocation. A sweaty arm drapes over his shoulder and Gohan physically reacts. "Eugh, Dad, you reek! Get offa' me!"
His pyjama top is shed, lying, folded meticulously on his bed. The knife remerges and in slow motion, he tests it, fluidly dragging it along the skin. There's little reaction as he feels the first taste of it. Everything is done in a sort of trance; moments filled with empty movements and a vacant expression.
"Aren't you gonna' use your telecomputer and send Videl love letters?"
"It's a phone and you know that. Eugh, c'mon, let go-"
"Phone love letters then. Got it."
"Dad!"
"When did you get so big, Gohan? I can barely reach you-"
"Let go, you smell!"
"Do I?"
"Yes!" Gohan groans. He pulls free and glowers at his own defeat, hands rising. "All right, all right, you can go first. But please can you not take all night? I have school tomorrow and I wanted to put Goten to bed after I was done. I promised him that I'd read him a chapter from my book tonight."
"Oh, don't worry about that. I just tucked him in. He fell asleep on Nimbus on the way back."
Gohan's brows crinkle. "Huh? Where'd you guys go? I thought you'd been training."
"Yeah, with Goten! Your mum did a great job to get him to Super Saiyan but there's only so much a non-saiyan can teach him about it, y'know?"
Yes, Gohan does know. He'd said as much to Goten the other day but the squirt hadn't wanted to know. Whilst Gohan doesn't have time to frivolously train like Dad, he had been open to joining them both in an afternoon of sparring at some point. He'd said as much but Goten had been too preoccupied with whatever game Trunks had lent him, turning him down. And so, that had been that.
But, apparently not.
His eyes drift back up to his oblivious father.
First, the bath time and now…
Gohan scratches at the back of his head, souring at his own reflection in the kettle. When a hand squeezes his shoulder, Gohan quickly realises that he's working himself up over nothing. He's just being a jerk. Really, why does this bother him?
"Goten said you were studying for some test today so I didn't ask," Dad says by way of apology. "How about we all go together next time?"
Gohan mentally logs Goten's lie but doesn't challenge it, instead smiling. "Sure, Dad."
Why is he doing this? He doesn't want to, but the compel –the desire- is too strong. It's with a sickening satisfaction that he retreats the blade from his hand up to his throat.
"We should train more, what with you going off to college soon. Let's go to the 235 Mountain District on Saturday. There's a lot of space out that way."
"Or we could go to the city. There's a book fair-"
"Eh, a book fair? But that's so boring!"
"Okay. Maybe we can hike near the Western Coast?"
"Hike? Why? We can fly, silly."
Gohan clicks his fingers. "How about the cinema? Have you ever been to one? I went last year for the first time and they have these giant TVs there with the newest movies-"
"Or we could train," Dad points out, "That's much more interesting than any old TV, right? You can show me all that new power you've accumulated. I don't want you holding back on me!"
Gohan deflates. "How about fishing? No…? Not even fishing?"
Dad's sunny expression is hard to fight, especially as it grows cheekier. "You don't wanna' fight your old man? You scared?"
"I just think something different might be fun, y'know?"
"Eh, I don't get you, Gohan. You were just sad about missing out on training today."
I was sad to be excluded.
He swallows the thought, choosing instead to laugh it off. The flavour of it is bitter.
"Heh. You're right. Training sounds… great. Sure, um, let's do it."
"Awesome! We should get out and about as much as we can before you move out. I don't think you'll appreciate me poppin' up at your college dormitory, will you?"
In spite of what his dad thinks, Gohan probably would. It feels like his dad has only been back five minutes, and so, hanging out with him will always be on the agenda for Gohan, even if it has to be just training. So he doesn't say as much. The simplicity of a shrug suffices and he's smiling when Dad squeezes his shoulder once more.
"Let's enjoy the time we have together, yeah?"
Just as Gohan goes to respond, the kettle does for him. Its whistle carries and he collects it from the stove hastily. Steam slowly dies out and from behind the silver, Gohan notices that his father is long gone. The bath is most certainly occupied now.
It pinches until it doesn't. It's like fire being dragged across his skin. It… it… Why is he doing this?
"It's time to go home," whispers a dark voice, "Cut until you cannot. Breathe your last few."
And so Gohan does.
"I want to be me again."
He brings back the knife and aims true. It strikes centre of his heart.
Yes. Yes. Yeees.
He sighs, pouring his water. What he doesn't know right now is that they don't actually have any more time together.
This would be the last time he'd see his dad. Later, he'd go in and check on a sleeping Goten anyway, ruffling his hair and saying an unbeknownst goodbye. The kiss on his mother's cheek would mark the last of his in-person farewells. And once that hot water is finished, the chapter read and the bath had, he'd text Videl his last message.
[Hello, I thought I would wish you a goodnight. Yours sincerely, Gohan]
The message is met with a reply, one Gohan would never see for he departs the mortal realm before he ever could. He does, however, crush his phone as he stands, eyes wide as they illuminate a rich golden hue. They see little.
But they do see the knife.
They see the tense pressure of his hand's skin threaten to tear.
And then they see the blood fountain over his bed sheets.
They also see the dark ceiling above as he falls; all this before they see nothing.
But soon… they do, they see once again. Black swirls into gold, and then into the rich vibrancy of life. Green against purple against blue; the colours of the Realm of the Almighty and the colours of Earth clash and warp. They overlap, nauseating him, making the universe taste like so many flavours that he becomes engorged on sensation, full; sickly.
So much is happening all at once.
The spectrum of colour around churns, forming and reshaping, growing and then shrinking, dying before being reborn again and again. All he can do is fall against it, feeling needed –called. Someone is calling him.
What's going on? It hurts. It's hot. Why does his throat hurt?
The blade hitches, falling eternally before clattering against the floor. Gohan sways before he too falls in its stead. Warm, pooling liquid turns his mouth metallic as he becomes heavy, so heavy. The weight anchors him.
So then, why is he floating so far up?
Quell? Did Quell do this?
Who's Quell?
The black swallows him ravenously and he falls into the sky. He falls high. He climbs low. As the world swivels, Gohan does too. It's as if someone has dislodged his mind from his body, only for him to remember that he doesn't have a body –doesn't need a body— and he panics, choking within the vacuum.
"Let's enjoy the time we have together, yeah?"
"You've come home, brother." Rixas?
"Let's enjoy the time we have together, yeah?"
"You really are a fool, aren't you, Mori?" Quell…
"Let's enjoy the time we have together, yeah?"
What time? Gohan doesn't have any time! Gohan doesn't even have any Gohan, never mind time! He's Mori of Revelation! Gohan the mortal is dead!
The blade clatters before the body does.
And then it's tight. Everything feels wrong. It's as if his entire self has been condensed into a pinprick size of what he truly is. He suffocates within. His soul hurts. How does a soul hurt?
There's a gasp.
And then there's another.
It's him. He's the one gasping. There's a final one, one that rattles his chest and has him rolling over and sputtering into thick clumps of dewy mud. He hacks ups, wondering why the air feels so damp –so humid- as rain pours down from out of nowhere. Hadn't he just been inside? Just where the hell is this place? Did Quell send him here? What has he done?
There's another round of coughing.
It all feels wrong.
Even he feels wrong. His body is tight, his ki restrained. It's like he's being pulled into the most suffocating vice-grip, somehow being forcibly contorted to fit in something two sizes two small.
When there's another cough, his hand rings his neck.
God, it's so difficult to breathe…
Above, there's shouting but it sounds so distant. It could be whispering to him. What are they saying?
He turns to face them but his vision is blurry, blearing against the white shine of skylight. And when he raises a hand to shield it away, warm fingers ensnare his.
A silhouette appears, mutating against the surroundings, dark but growing lighter by the second. And soon enough, Gohan sees all. His heart stops.
Croaking, his voice hardly works.
"…Dad?"
The colours are liberal. They disloyally bounce around the environment, latching sporadically as his eyes still struggle to focus on what he thinks he's seeing.
No… This can't be real.
Gohan swallows air.
It is haggard, strained as his chest expands with a curiously hefty weight. The heart beating against his ribcage drums so violently that that's all Gohan can hear, and alongside the patter of rainfall, his environment screams at him. He lumbers forward, fast, falling until he feels warm hands press against his cheeks. They're rough with calluses and painfully familiar. They grapple along his face, testing the skin beneath as Gohan can only watch, absolutely perplexed to what he's witnessing.
Rain latches onto his eyelashes but he doesn't blink them away.
This can't be real.
The scratch of the knife's edge snuffs him. Even though he wants to scream, he can't.
He snatches himself free of the grip. What is he seeing? Where is he? Has he been drugged? Everything feels fuzzy. And he keeps feeling… what's the word? It's just, there's a sensation of…
His hand rises up to his throat, tracing where he feels the heat.
The scattering of colours flash dangerously when his "dad" reaches for him for him once more. Gohan, of course, recoils, choosing to stand and only changing his plans when his legs won't cooperate. He's at the mercy of whatever is going on here, he realises with horror. There's no punching or ki-blasting his way out of this.
The man, this imposter, says something but Gohan doesn't catch it. When Gohan himself tries to speak, he realises his throat has become fire. It burns, thick with tarryemotion. Why, though?
None of this is real.
He's been attacked –maybe by Quell? Oh, oh God, it's Zamasu. Gohan knew the bastard was coming for him.
"Gohan," he finally hears, clear as day. It's a name he doesn't hear these days, spare the odd ironic usage. The tone sounds foreign… It sounds just like his dad's. "Gohan."
The last feeling he recalls, other than the blood dribbling over his chin, is the hard floor under his fingertips. His nail trails along the wet as the sweet numbness oozes him into his new life.
"Goodnight, Gohan Son."
It's dark again, only momentarily, for when he raises his head, everything seems to have settled at least a bit. He's not back at the estate, though. He's still looking directly at the relic of a life long since deserted.
"Let's enjoy the time we have together, yeah?"
Is this real?
It can't… no…
Dad?
Those hands return to his face as Gohan stares. They clamber, sudden, fiercely dragging him forward and ultimately pillowing Gohan into a stranglehold embrace.
I don't understand.
The wind is knocked out of his chest. It constricts as he finds himself breathing in the smoky scent of his father's gi, a smell long since forgotten to time. The earthly tones of pine and fire makes his head spin, suffocating him with nostalgia and snuffing out the last little resistance Gohan is attempting to cling on to.
The ki of this person presses against him. Heart to heart, something awakens within him. It's a truth only felt for him. Could… this truly be real?
Dad…?
Why is he questioning this?
Why isn't he questioning this more?
But really, these thoughts are meaningless when the person you love most in the world is finally in front of you again.
A sort of phlegmy sound erupts from him and he returns the hug. "Dad," he manages as a croak, "Dad… is it… really?"
Tattered fabric bunches in his fists and he inhales the pine and fire once more. Even with the ringing in his ears, the abuse of his senses and the beating of his heart, Gohan feels the rainbow of energies around him. Trickles of familiarity surround him in a flurry of flavours.
This is his dad, he acknowledges, burying deeper into the man's chest. It's as if he's a ten year old once more and not a fully grown adult. He's shameless but Gohan doesn't care. This is Dad.
Like a TV abruptly changing channels, Gohan sees Quell. He feels him.
They're at the estate, traveling, hiking, and then they're on Geo. They're drinking together, reading… fighting.
Gohan pulls free of Rixas, leans over and finishes his wine. "You know, maybe if you're lucky I'll return to you from my trip without my memories again, and then I'll be much easier for you to control." He slams the glass down beside Quell's "Lord knows how you didn't enjoy it more the first time around."
He's going to be sick.
Above, he senses Goten and Piccolo. Vegeta is there too with Trunks, and beyond, Gohan feels the rest of the group somewhere in the distance. That's when he realises.
God. This must be Earth.
He swallows the sick and then chokes on something between a sob and laughter. This is Earth. Somehow, he's ended up back home. As the questions of how and why start to fizzle away, he relishes in the happiness. His judgement is going off to die, Gohan can feel it filtering away as he grows drunk off of the realization that he's in his father's arms.
When, finally, his dad relinquishes him enough to keep him firmly in grasp, Gohan sees him in full.
God, he hasn't changed at all.
There's static again. When his dad moves forward, it blurs chaotically. One moment he's him and the next he's Quell. Under deft fingers, Gohan's cloak is fastened, leaving his brother looking satisfied. The languages shift when he addresses him. Gohan can't keep up.
"What?" he asks dumbly.
"I can't believe it," his dad breathes, returning to common-speak. "You're home. Gohan, you're home."
I'm home…
"You're really home."
I'm really home.
Wait… Earth is home? Is it? The Realm of the Almighty –the estate—snaps into vision.
But it goes forgotten quickly. Dad is laughing and it's contagious. There's blood smeared across his face and he's layered in filth, it makes him look quite the madman as he barely keeps both of them upright, but heavens, despite that, he's never looked brighter. Gohan could really drink it up all day.
For how many years has he avoided thinking about him? How long has he forced himself not to recall this place or these people? For what?
For who?
And then as crisp static, the visage of Quell returns with a vengeance.
"Don't be getting any ideas. I really cannot be bothered extracting you from that backward planet of yours should you get a little too nostalgic. If I end up there, then my hand will be forced and heads will roll."
He sobers up. The magical moment dies, electric to his system. This is planet Earth. Just what the hell is Gohan doing here? He can't be here. Quell… the bastard… he really would kill them all.
I… I have to go!
Gohan tears himself free, suddenly wrecked. And with the unwelcome terror, he's suddenly leveraged with the weight of constriction once more. His body is so stiff that it's tight; strangling itself almost and doing nothing to ease the panic. The dirt catches him when he falls against it.
"Gohan!"
When Dad tries reaching towards him, Gohan pulls further back into sloppy mud.
"I… how did I get here?" Gohan asks. "Is this really Earth?"
"Yes, this is Ear-"
"I can't be here. I-I shouldn't be— I don't understand. Did you bring me here?"
Dad settles in the sludge beside him, hands expectant, but Gohan slaps him away and presses back once more. He really can't be here. This isn't good. This isn't good at all. And to make matters worse, his legs are eager to fail him. Like a fawn in its first spring, he stumbles and collapses on each attempt, falling over and over again against the wall of the crater.
The grime soils his pants as he slides down, turning blue to brown.
What?
Just what is he wearing?
Or rather, where are his clothes?
Thin cotton, all in the same dusty blue, covers only the lower half of his body, reminding him vaguely of nightwear he'd owned once upon a time ago. His fingers trail down over the bumpy material. The grooves of the design ring bells; he knows this clothing. Realization soon dawns and the panic powers to overdrive in a matter of seconds. This… This is said nightwear.
"What's going on?" he demands. "What am I wearing? What year is it?"
"Gohan," Dad hushes, moving forward to smother him once more.
"Stop it! Stop! Get off of me!"
"Calm down. What's wrong?"
"Let go! Dad… Dad!"
"Ugh, I hate it when undead souls get like this. It is just so creepy."
Gohan halts upon hearing that voice. The drawl has his veins run cold.
No way…
Looking up, he spots the tail first, flickering between the drops of rain with a level of mild discontent. He's always hated that thing. Gohan's wants to rip it out every time he sees it beating languidly from side to side at every meeting he's attended. The wretched thing is always particularly active whenever Quell has the floor. Unfortunately, the tail is attached to something even more despicable. Upon seeing the bastard's turned face, Gohan feels his features grow impassive.
Beerus is behind this?
This… makes things even more complicated.
What the hell is Beerus doing here –on Earth, no less?
"What's wrong with him?" Dad panics.
Beerus sighs like he's experiencing the greatest inconvenience imaginable, batting a hand. "Oh, be quiet for a second and give him a moment to adjust. Souls do tend to get attached to the afterlife."
"Wh-What?"
"He's adjusting to a solid environment. Honestly, don't you people know anything?"
Gohan is doing more than just adjusting. His mind is racing a mile a minute with the possibilities of what is going on here. Looking between his father and his fellow god, he feels like he's been dragged into the middle of something big, especially if his dad's weary appearance is anything to go by.
"Souls like being dead," Beerus elaborates, "Otherwise they'd go around possessing everyone or forming ghostly coups. He'll settle in a moment."
Gohan flinches when his dad finally reaches him once more. "Hey, bud, you're all good. You're safe."
He doesn't reply, instead drawing his hands upwards. They're his hands but newer –clean, so clean.
"Whis recreated your body," Beerus continues, "Yes; he's quite excellent at it. You'll find it an accurate copy with all the usual mechanisms suited to your respective species."
Recreated?
But Gohan doesn't need a body. He's a god. Stuffing his soul into a piece of meat is akin to shoving a person into a teapot. Just what have they done? No wonder he feels so retched!
It all suddenly clicks in his mind. It makes sense.
This unease… He's suffering from rapid plane shifting. The flashes of memories and unsavoury images are at least easing.
Yet, how -how's this all come about? Did Beerus bring him here? Whis…? Why do the destroyers want him? Do they know about his connections to Earth? Gohan feels his head spin. The air feels thick with humidity here, so unlike the Realm of the Almighty.
"Gohan," Dad says again, standing far too close and drinking in Gohan's air. "You're back home on Earth. It's been six years but you're home, okay?"
Gohan nods. Okay. So it's been six Earth years.
Really? It's felt like so much longer.
"You died but you're back."
He nods once more, knowing as much.
"Can you remember what happened?"
"You can enjoy a family reunion later," Beerus snaps, and then finally addresses Gohan, "Oi, you, dead boy, hurry up and deal with the transition. You've been summoned not to be a ghostly layabout but to help provide a service."
Gohan looks up against the rain, squinting. There's a glitch in his environment. "What?"
Beerus groans. "Ugh. Yet another idiot joins the fold. I told you to shake it off! I am sick and tired of waiting for what I'm owed!"
The pitch has Gohan clasp onto his fresh ears. Why is everything so sensitive? Desperately, he needs a moment to organize his thoughts but tides of nausea have him struggling to focus. He's on Earth, Beerus is here –and Whis too. Why are they here? Why is he here?
I am going to be sick…
"Get up, boy, you're holding up the show!"
"Knock it off."
Gohan swivels upon hearing the familiarity of the voice. Piccolo.
Gliding into the crater, the namekian hovers between him and Beerus. It's an image so familiar that Gohan can't help but feel transfixed by it. "Give us some time to organize ourselves. I'm sure you can wait that much longer. Can't you see that he's struggling? How do you expect him to perform the ritual under stress?"
Ritual?
"Piccolo," Gohan breathes. "What's happening?"
"Yes," speaks yet another voice, one that Gohan had heard only weeks ago at a meeting; Shin's. He's atop the crater, looking sodden and pale. "A few minutes is nothing when you have come this far, r-right, Lord Beerus?"
Beerus looks between them all until settling on Gohan with a nasty sneer. There's a pause. "…Fine. You have three measly minutes. We shall keep count. Whis, set a timer."
"Yes, Lord Beerus."
And there he is.
The angel is looking right at him, equipped with his usual level of sparseness but Gohan knows he knows what he's done. Whis is not saying anything however, as evidenced by Beerus not kicking up a fuss. Angels hold an incredible amount of power but it mustn't have been the easiest feat for Whis to call forth Gohan's soul, no easier than calling forward a mortal one. He must know that Gohan's of divinity.
But Beerus clearly… doesn't.
Whis' mouth most likely only remains closed as is the way of his position.
So if they'd summoned him here as Gohan Son and not as Mori of Revelation, what's going on? Whatever would they need Gohan Son for? Gohan looks between the anxious gazes of those around him. Piccolo and the Supreme Kai, in particular, look fearful. What's Beerus doing here?
For now, he'll have to be all ears and no mouth. If Beerus realises who he is then things might take a disastrous turn, or worst of all, it'll get back to Quell in a snap. His head throbs under the pressure.
Piccolo steadies in front of him.
"You okay, kid?"
Gohan, numb, can only nod. The surreal conditions he's found himself in are still mentally locking into place. His next steps need to be cautious. Any wrong move can spell out a disaster for Gohan and for the Earth, which is just excellent news when he feels like he's just been slapped with a truck. His body –no, this faux meat sack— is useless and his mind is still trying to adapt. How the hell is he supposed to make any decisions under such duress?
And what can he tell his dad and the others?
'Oh, hey, long time no see. I'm a god now by the way.'
He can't. Not yet.
Gohan swallows. "I'm… still… trying to process things here."
Even speaking the common language feels strange after so long.
"You're going to have to process a bit faster," Piccolo replies, as blunt as ever, "You need to focus. We don't have much time."
"R-Right."
"The Earth is in danger."
He nods once more, figuring as much. Earth's general branding is global destruction.
"That guy is a god," Dad adds, "And he's real strong. He's so strong. We –I— need your help to beat him. Lord Beerus; he's called. Well, he really wants a good fight so he wants us to work together to complete a transformation, that's why his friend brought you here from… the…"
"Dead?"
His dad jerks his head, breathing hard, as if realizing everything all over again. "You're really here. I can't believe you're home-"
Piccolo claps at him. "Goku. Keep your head in the game."
"A-Ah, sure. Sorry." But he can't help himself. "It's just, we've been looking for you, Gohan, really, we have but we couldn't find you. It's not that we waited until now to bring you back just for this figh-"
There's an abrupt clearing of the throat.
"We don't have time for this."
Rapid, Vegeta touches down, toes first, face impassive for the most part. "Boy, you've been summoned to perform a ritual. So shake it off. Wake up and make yourself useful. If you don't then you're condemning us all."
"Vegeta!"
"We'll be here all day with your coddling."
"R-Right…" Gohan allows his eyes to drift back over to Beerus, who seems far more preoccupied with his own tail. "So he wants to… destroy Earth?"
"Yes," cements Piccolo.
Doesn't Beerus need a permit for that?
Out of all the planets, why the hell does that stupid cat feel the need to traipse here?
Gohan grasps at his hair (it feels weirdly neat), pulling against his mounting headache. He can barely think straight. Just what the hell does Beerus want to destroy the Earth for? There's a list. Gohan knows. He's seen it. There's a list of planets up on the chopping block and never has he once seen Earth's name there.
God, this is why he hates Beerus. That's one thing Gohan and Quell can see eye-to-eye on. The irresponsible bastard apparently does exactly as he pleases.
"So Dad needs to beat him with the power of a ritual?"
"Yes."
"That you… need me… for?"
Wait a minute.
Vegeta scoffs. "You wouldn't be here otherwise. That Whis guy brought you here after your father sang out his heart's desires to have you home."
"Six saiyans are needed, in total," Piccolo elaborates, "We'd tried it with five but it didn't work and that had angered Lord Beerus, enough so that he'd wanted you here, Gohan. That's why you're… back. We needed a sixth. We need you to channel your energy into your father so he can ascend and defeat Beerus once and for all."
Six saiyans…? No… No way. To complete the…
"I need to become a Super Saiyan God," Dad says, blowing Gohan's mind.
His legs buckle and both his dad and Piccolo move in to catch him at the same time. He accepts neither of their help, using the back of the crater as support. They're stealing his air, the little amount of it that he is able to drink up. It's thin and it makes his head continue to spin.
Surely, he hadn't just heard that right?
"A what?"
"A Super Saiyan God."
The very same thing that Gohan had been researching only days ago; just what are the chances? It's insane! What the hell are they doing playing around with devout powers like this? And… good god, why is Beerus letting them? Does the guy have no restraint at all?
Gohan had just vetoed this option for himself and now his dad, of all people, wants to go where so few saiyans have before? He doesn't know what he's doing! If he does this then he'll have achieved something mortals absolutely shouldn't touch! And people will take notice; the kais, gods… Quell…
"A god?" Gohan manages, "What? Dad, this isn't a good idea. Won't there be repercussions for something so… so serious? Super Saiyan is one thing but attaining something like Super Saiyan God, th-that should be out of the question. There must be-"
"If he doesn't try, we'll all die," Piccolo informs, grim.
"The dragon balls-"
"Are gone," Vegeta hisses, "We've been a little busy during your vacation away. And as much as you seemed to be fine with returning to the afterlife, we are not."
Gohan finds the tone disturbing. "Vacation?" he parrots, "Look, all I'm saying is that we don't know what will happen if—wait, did you say the dragon balls are gone?"
"Yes, we've had a hell of a month."
"What happened?"
"Like we have time for that-"
"Time is nearly up!" Beerus calls down, "Wrap it up!"
Shit.
What can he say to change the course of action? What can they do? What can he do? He can barely think straight. All around, there are still little glitches of light as he struggles to remain grounded. His body is equally unreliable. Darkly, he considers how easy it would be to step up and take on Beerus himself, possibly even killing him to prevent any such a mess from happening again. The bastard deserves no less. Desire doesn't equal power, sadly, and Gohan is stuck between a rock and a hard place within the confines of this… this lump of meat Whis has crafted up.
…Also, the council probably won't be happy with one god killing another. That never does go down well.
But a mortal killing a god? Gohan can only imagine the reaction to his father's unlikely victory. It worries him. With six of them, can they really manifest enough power for a mortal—wait, wait a second.
Gohan stumbles forward, counting on his fingers. "Hold on. Me, you, Vegeta, Trunks and Goten; there are only five saiyans including you, Dad. You said that you need six for the ritual, right?"
Vegeta is quick to crush his hopes. "I have a daughter."
Gohan splutters. "And how old is she?"
"Age is irrelevant for the ritual apparently," Piccolo tells him, "We need a quota, not the power."
Shit.
Dad advances, taking his shoulder and sending warmth all the way down Gohan's arm. He feels like he's ten all over again. "If we don't do this, it's the end for us all. I'll die, your mother, Goten –everyone. We need your help, Gohan."
Shit. Shit. Shit.
They're just opening a can of worms. If his dad does this then they're going to be wrapped up in all the same godly messes Gohan's found himself in. They don't want this. Gohan doesn't want this for them.
God, he… just…
His fists clench. He's going to kill Beerus!
A fresh streak of nausea has him grasp onto his dad, using him as a pillar as he wobbles. He's lightheaded and in no state of mind for this. Wasn't he just with Quell? Flashes of the memory batter him from every angle; he recalls the anger, recalls the frustration—recalls Rixas' anxiety with the lot of it.
He blinks and in the next moment, he's being supported by his father, arms encircling him. Did he just… It all went dark for a second there.
"Steady there," Dad says, "I've got you."
"And just how is he supposed to do this?" Vegeta snarls. "My infant child has it better together than he does."
"Be quiet. We don't need this right now," Piccolo returns.
"I'm f-fine."
In the background, there's a determined pop likely signifying Whis' timer coming to its conclusion.
"Time is UP! Hurry it along, Earth-people!" Beerus caws from his throne of dirt atop the depression. His hands clap together. "Unless you want this planet to become a thing of the past then I recommend you to get into position."
There must be another way…
"It's so good, Gohan, so, so good that you're home," Dad tells him, "And after this, I'll be here and we'll talk and –and-"
"Kakarot!"
"We've gotta' do this," he finishes, solemn. "I'm sorry to ask this of you when you're not at your best but we need you to step up. You've gotta' be strong –like we all know you are."
Vegeta scoffs, giving Gohan an impression that he's missing something here. But it goes ignored as Goku passes him along to Piccolo.
"Can you stand, kid?"
"I think so."
"Gohan…"
He turns to the voice and his heart breaks in two. It's his brother; his sweet, little brother. Goten looks so remarkably different and unchanged at the same time. His eyes are still so wide and childlike, alive with unabashed emotion. Crippled or not, Gohan doesn't hesitate in charging forward and reaching for his brother.
"Seriously, we need to focus," Vegeta admonishes, stepping forward before Gohan achieves his goal. "You can have your family reunion after this mess, whether that's here on Earth or in Otherworld, who knows."
"Shall we try this again?" Dad says, breathless, almost giddy. "All you have to do is take my and Goten's hand, Gohan. Then just channel whatever energy you can into me. It doesn't have to be a lot in one go but it does need to be consistent. You need to really focus on putting your heart into it. It's gotta' be personal."
Personal…
Speaking of which… Gohan looks up at Beerus and Whis. Whilst Beerus watches with hungry anticipation, Whis looks less eager. Does he realise that kind of situation he's thrown Gohan into here?
The moment he takes Goten's hand, another arrival slides into the depression.
It's Trunks. Gohan would recognize him anywhere with unchanging hair like that but he's no less amazing to see. He approaches, holding a baby that definitely must be his little sister. "I've got Bulla." He then gives a shallow wave, awkward. "Um, hi, Gohan."
God, he's huge too. He looks more akin to the Trunks from the future than the one Gohan remembers wrangling out of his bedroom. His chest hurts at the sight of it. Yet, before he's able to say anything, Dad takes him by his other hand. Trunks takes his spot on the other side of Goten, holding baby Bulla, and Vegeta is on the other side of her, reconnecting to his dad.
Dad nods, determined. "Let's do this."
"I'm next, remember that," Vegeta tells them.
Trunks snorts. "If we survive, that is."
This is such a bad idea.
"It's about time!" Beerus chides. "You should not keep a god waiting!"
Shut up, you stupid cat.
Beerus is so fixated on the god status that he forgot that he's a fucking clown too.
Piccolo retreats to the top of the mound as to give them space, signifying they start. Gohan isn't sure what entails next. From his previous reading, it's all rather vague, relaying only simple instructions as if to confuse the reader. Explosions could follow for all he knows. Earth could be swallowed up. There could be a rift in the universe. Worse has happened over lesser godly transformations.
He recalls a time he'd been training with Quell on what used to be Planet #34QI. They'd brought it to extinction only after an hour. Thankfully, it had been uninhabitable and so no life had been lost, but the fact that a simple training session caused such destruction is not lost on Gohan. After, Quell had laughed at Gohan's horror—
Flashes of ache strike, colour explodes and he winces.
Ugh, my head…
A knee drops but both Dad and Goten have either side of him. They keep him firm.
Think, Gohan, THINK.
But no ideas come to him and when the calling of the others' ki comes knocking, he knows that it's too late. He's too disorientated to think straight, too unstable to even find his own footing; any time he tries to apply critical thinking, his brain feels about ready to burst. A concoction of his failures has him frustrated. And so, he's unable to counteract this. He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.
He supposes he'll have to lean in the direction of the devil he doesn't know. His eyes close.
This is such a bad idea.
Unwillingly, a steady thrum of his own energy meets theirs, connecting and melding together to create its own colourful recipe. Despite the circumstances, Gohan can't help but sigh at the feeling. It's like coming home. And he relishes in the taste of nostalgia and love and all things that were once real, gone and now returned.
The others visibly react to the reconnection too. Gohan feels both hands grip tighter.
Dad… Goten…
Gohan feels them in particular and… it's wonderful.
He's floating again, lost in the black, swallowed but this time not alone. The energies of those around have him inebriated on the moment. They're with him, securing him, as his own ki bleeds out and towards his father.
"I can feel it," Trunks says, "Something's happening!"
It is. Around them, a conjoined aura grows from their individual illuminations. Whilst the others have achieved their super saiyan transformations, bar little Bulla, Gohan remains his usual form. White combines with gold and the assembly shines bright with something not unfamiliar to Gohan.
There's a gasp from his father. He must feel it now; the devout ki. It is energy reserved for those who have achieved godly status… and not at all meant for mortals. Even being in its proximity can bring the strongest of fighters to their knees. So, Gohan opens an eye to see how his father is coping. Whilst the man's hand trembles, his expression remains unwavering; a testament to his strength and one of the many reasons Gohan admires him so much.
Around, white and gold flicker indiscriminately until Gohan sees the tell-tale speckles of blue forming from each other them. It's working. The ritual is actually working!
It's more than just ki. It's a personal part of them that they're passing forward. Gohan feels a part of himself gifted to the blue and then to his father. The divine energy framing them builds and builds. The rain from earlier is no longer offered in trickles but now in thick, heavy droplets, and the clouds above darken and cracks of thunder aggressively sing their praises.
The pressure intensifies, crippling them all.
Dad cries out.
Yes, it must hurt. It'd hurt him too, the first time.
"Keep going!" Vegeta orders when Trunks and Goten dwindle.
Bulla is equally as unhappy. Her shrill wails overlap Dad's.
C'mon… A little longer…
Gohan's body isn't coping well with it either. Sweat bleeds out of him just to fly high into the wind. Just as he feels like the body is about to tear apart, a column of light carves a path through the clouds and upwards from his father. They're so close.
And through the chaos, there's a moment to breathe. Collectively, their spirits soar and they break from the pressure and the pull. Whatever ripping Gohan had felt from this body has halted. It seems unable to handle a fraction of his ki but at least enough to reach this point. He's struggling to keep up right, leaning against Goten when their father ascends upwards.
The chain breaks. Respective energies snap back to their users as their job is complete. The rest is now in the hands of one Goku Son, the man whose form is growing darker by the second as he propels forward.
"D-Dad," Goten calls out.
Gohan tightens his grip on his brother, keeping the sweaty hand firmly in his. There's nothing either of them can do for him now.
C'mon…
Then, a catalytic burst of light erupts. Blinding white has Gohan shield his eyes as the thunder applauds with its glee once more, clapping as lightning slices through the black and grey. It, however, does slowly evolve into something else…
"Snow?" Trunks questions, panting. In his arms, Bulla's seems soothed by the icy flakes. "Can't blame this one on global warming…"
Gohan, equally haggard, almost wants to laugh. Yes, the Earth doesn't seem to be having a good time of it. He hopes they haven't upset the ecological forces at play. Some planets don't cope as well as others, particularly water-based ones…
Oblivious, in the centre, Dad slowly hoovers back down as the black begins to seep away. In its place, dynamic red is born. Its explosive colour is almost too much to behold. The crimson has bleached the hair and the eyes, surprising Gohan somewhat. He'd expected more gold.
If anything has changed, it's that his dad has managed to look younger. Gods typically stop aging at fully-grown so Gohan wonders if the reversion has something to do with that. Equally as godly, Gohan feels something that wasn't there before; divine ki. His is suppressed as a standard, a habit Quell had gotten him into at the start of their training, so there will be no surprises just yet for his dad. Not that he would had have even noticed, Gohan thinks. He looks completely taken with the new power bestowed.
"This…" Dad starts, clenching and unclenching his fists, "This is unreal."
Vegeta looks equally star struck. "Super Saiyan God… I can't believe what I'm looking at."
The blue energy billows around Dad, slowly dying out until it's just the red that remains, burning like a swaying fire. There's an unsettling churn in Gohan's stomach looking at it, yet the scholar within can't help but appreciate what he's looking at. For a mortal to achieve a divine transformation like this; it's amazing –Quell would eat his heart out.
"How do you feel, Dad?" Gohan has to ask.
His dad turns to him, spared by the snow, pausing before offering the sincere smile Gohan's missed most. "Amazing."
Gohan has a feeling that he's not talking about the transformation. It warms his heart.
Nevertheless, Vegeta wastes no time in spoiling the moment. "Hello? The Earth is in danger! Get to it, Kakarot! I don't want my last moments to be watching this contrived mess!"
Trunks shuffles his sister when she reaches out towards the dying snowfall. "As much as I hate to agree with my dad, kick his ass, Goku!"
"Be careful," Goten adds.
Gohan nods. Yes, he needs to be cautious. Beerus isn't to be trifled with…
Dirt trickles down when the god above reminds them of his presence. "How touching," Beerus remarks as he jumps up to his feet. With a spring to his step, he gives Goku a once over, circling around much like the cat he is. His tail twitches at the appraisal. "This is hardly that impressive. I'll admit that it's quite the jump in terms of energy, but you won't be able to beat me. After all this build up, it's unfortunate that you're not going to be able to hold a candle to me."
"Yeah?" Dad clicks his neck. "Just give me that chance."
"Such a cocky mortal, you are. Ready yourself, Goku of Earth."
Gohan has enough sense to move away, bad sadly, lacks the correct motor functions. When he pulls back, he forgets that he still has Goten in hand and ends up dragging him into the slimy mud wall of the crater. Piccolo is at hand, at least. Just as Beerus and his dad power up, he hauls both Goten and Gohan up out and out of the groove. The gust of wind slams them back even further, though. All three are knocked off course and strike an unfortunate cliff behind.
"What power!" Piccolo manages.
Whilst Gohan is struggling to drag himself up, he realises it ironic that he disagrees. The power on display is just a fraction of what Beerus can reach. If Dad can't keep up with this then there's no hope for him. If that's the case, will Gohan have to step in then?
Revealing myself is too dangerous right now…
"You need to win this," Gohan mumbles, wiping his nude chest down and free from leafy debris. They're not in the best position to watch the fight. Foliage blocks where they'd just come from and so Gohan tries to make his way back over, despite his body's begging him not to do anything of the sort.
"You're bleeding," Goten then tells him, gesturing to his own nose.
Gohan touches his own. It's wet.
Jeez, what is the body made out of, Whis, paper?
What Gohan doesn't expect is a reply. "It's made from oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, calcium, and phosphorus for the most part. Did you know that saiyan bodies require more sodium than others of similar species? It was an interesting revelation."
He freezes upon hearing the angel's voice.
"Hello," it continues, obnoxiously chipper, "I didn't expect to be summoning a god of revelation this afternoon."
'I didn't expect to be summoned,' Gohan replies through whatever telepathic link Whis has managed to craft. He refuses to let himself be surprised by it (Especially since Whis seems to know him by name despite them never having met). He wastes no time in accosting him over the debacle. 'Aren't angels supposed to be impartial? Doesn't involving me in Beerus' whims go directly against your code of neutrality?'
"Ah, yes. It's been a bit of a tricky situation for me. I think I've –what's the expression? – messed up."
It's a rather tame version of what Gohan would have said, but yes, the angel has –severely.
"—han, Gohan… Gohan."
There's a nudge against his shoulder. "What? S-Sorry, Piccolo. What did you say?"
"This way," he next says, gesturing to a better view point. Goten is already half way up. "…Do you need help?"
He scratches at the back of his neck, feeling awkward about it. "Kind of. I mean, if you don't mind."
Piccolo has to hoist him up as Goten pulls him atop the ledge. There, they see Vegeta and Trunks not too far off in the distance, watching the same fight. Well, if that's what it can be called. Light ricochets around sporadically, clashing against the mountain tops, hills and whatever unfortunate mound happens to be in their way. It seems that the two are simply testing his father's new powers before getting into the heat of a true battle.
'And what do you plan on doing about this error?' Gohan asks of Whis, following the light show, steely-eyed. 'You've thrown me into a precarious situation, you know.'
"Oh, I hope I haven't made things too difficult for you," Whis replies, sounding annoyingly sincere. "It was such a queer turn of fate to have Gohan Son and Lord Mori of Revelation be one in the same. It certainly was not a twist I had expected!"
'I'm pleased to have made your day more interesting,' he thinks sourly.
"This does, however, close the mystery on why they were unable to summon you in the first place. My apologies. I should have done a little more digging before I repositioned you all the way out here. Do you want me to send you back now?"
Gohan spares a moment to look at his brother and his old mentor. They're engrossed in the fight and far to stricken to register Gohan's dilemma. Still, he can't help but reach out a hand to Goten until he notices. The latter looks momentarily horrified by it at first, but he does eventually take it, giving it a firm squeeze when Gohan does the same.
'No. That would crush them.'
"Just them? I'm sensing some emotional attachment to-"
'Get out of my emotions, you nosy excuse for a gatekeeper. I don't need you to tell me how I feel.'
"Very well. Then what do you need, Lord Mori of Revelation?"
'I need you to better control Beerus. I want Earth unharmed for a start –and that includes my dad.'
Gohan hears the chuckle from his side. "Oh, I think Earth will be quite fine. He doesn't admit such things but I believe Lord Beerus has found interest in the one you call your father, Goku Son-"
'He is my father.'
There's a giggle. "Honestly. You children of the Almighty sure are funny bunch," Whis comments, amused, "I must say that I find it remarkably cute that you went out and adopted yourself a mortal father. How I would love to hear the full tale."
Gohan chokes on the accusation, startling both Piccolo and Goten. He waves them off and takes a seat on the rockery below, citing his weary feelings.
"My apologies. Did I offend? Perhaps I am getting too old. I don't understand much of what you younglings do these days. Whatever the case, have confidence that Lord Beerus will be restrained should he choose to pursue exterminating the planet. That seems to be a fair trade, does it not? I cannot overstep as to -"
'Sway the balance,' Gohan finishes, 'Which you might have by bringing me here in the first place, but not in the way you imagine. Actually, I am more concerned about my brother finding me here than butting heads with Beerus. You see, should my presence here be revealed then things will become gruesome for the people of Earth as it was agreed upon that I am not to come here due to personal issues between myself and Quell. And I know that if Beerus were to find out who I'm related to…'
"Ah, say no more." Gohan even hears him sigh. "Lord Beerus is the boy with matches and Lord Quell is the fire waiting to ravage this lovely, little planet."
'Exactly. And that would be by your hand technically. You would have been the one to have brought me here to start a chain of events that I've been avoiding for years.'
"I see."
'Yes.'
"Then I suppose it might be best to keep this between us for now." There's a pause, timing perfectly with an explosion in the distance. "…And are you going to tell the mortals?"
Gohan feels his face pull, tart. 'Are you asking as due your pious duty or because you're enjoying the dramatics of my situation?'
"Your assumption is merely your window on the world, Lord Mori. Let's not judge harshly."
"Deflective bastard," Gohan whispers under his breath.
"Well, that's just rude. But I find your frustration understandable considering the situation. On top of such things, I can't imagine you're finding the body I'd made for you adequate enough for your status and ki. It must be like using cardboard to plug a dam. That being said, I cannot do much until you… evacuate it."
Several more explosions sound out. The dust clouds even reach them, scratching at their skin as rocks and other natural debris soar past.
'"Evacuate it"?'
Dad flies overhead, Beerus following closely on his trail. Energy rains down excessive from missed attacks, and Piccolo has to reach down and drag Gohan along the dirt until he's under the safe cover of a cave.
'This is ridiculous. Why does it feel so weak? I'm about as strong as I—'
"—When you were alive as Gohan Son. I replicated your original mortal body at the moment before it died. Right now, you must be experiencing some unfortunate side effects of a non-mortal soul being imprisoned in a mortal form. In time, you will transition without those nasty hallucinations or dissociations, but you will still likely face the aches of being slotted into a form unequipped to hold such power. Over time, your soul will probably evacuate it itself."
Ah. So that's what Whis means. 'The body will die? When?'
"It does rather depend. The more exert you yourself, the less time you shall have in it."
'But it must die for me to leave it?'
"Grisly, I know."
Above, the cave ceiling shakes, crumbling as an earthquake threatens to bring it down. The ground shakes, violent, rash, as Gohan feels his father reach a level that has his ki wobbling on unstable.
"He's so strong," Goten gasps, "He really could do it."
What a fool's dream. Even from this distance, it's obvious that Beerus is still holding back; still toying with their dad. He'd say as much to anyone else, but finds himself unable to crush his little brother's spirit. But that's when Gohan realises that he's in this camp alone.
Even Piccolo is awestruck. "I can't believe how much stronger he's become in no time at all."
Whis comes back with a touch of advice. 'Level your expectations. He's only mortal, and for that, he's doing amazingly well.'
It's just so hard for Gohan to accept the power difference between them, the gods, and his father is to this scale. For as long as Gohan has remembered, his dad was unbeatable. He was the champion –the strongest… the hero.
And now, he's the underdog.
Ahead, there's a catalytic boom. Heat barrels towards them, depleting the land of greenery. The cave above finally does collapse, but Gohan is slowly getting used to the meat sack body and manages to escape alongside the others. Outside, things look grim. The land has been stripped barren. Cracks run along dried up dirt, desperately thirsting for the falling rain as they climb with vigour along mountainsides.
"Dad!" Goten cries out.
Gohan looks over to where Goten's gesturing to.
On the ground, Dad lays, sprawled onto his back, hair coloured in its usual black instead of the mighty red they'd seen moments earlier. It's matted with grime and dirt, dyed by the circulating dust in the air. It, along with the body, fades into the ground. It's a wonder Goten had spotted him in the first place.
Beerus looms ever closer, hand poised with an energy blast ready to fire.
Despite Gohan's common sense and Whis' words, his legs move on their own accord and he dashes forward. He ducks before Piccolo can make a move for him.
"Gohan!"
'Make him stop!' Gohan orders of Whis, skidding along that dusty plain and barreling forward. 'Call Beerus back!'
Gohan hears other voices shout his name, and he hears this body's pleas for mercy –for him to halt, and so he does, only upon reaching his father's listless form.
"Stop this!" Gohan snaps, hoarse. "Stop it! Can't you see that he's had enough?"
Above, a battered and bruised Beerus continues his encroachment. He floats down –admittedly quite menacingly— and pursues his prey as if Gohan isn't there to begin with. Gohan is equally stubborn, however, and so shields his father from the possible onslaught.
Fine, do me a favour and crisp this body up something nice, you stupid cat.
The ki in his hand grows bigger and bigger, churning…
Finally, Dad stirs. "Gohan?"
"It's over," Gohan tells the other god, back pressing against his dad's side. "You've won."
"Gohan… G-Go! Move! Get out of here!"
Still, the ki snowballs. Flecks of energy start hissing and spitting out, burning Gohan's pyjama bottoms as Beerus hangs overhead. The blank expression is louder than anything Beerus could say.
"Gohan, move!"
The ki ball slowly bounces from Beerus' hand, slipping, falling in a horrible sort of slow motion towards them. Gohan's eyes close and he braces for the burn, knowing that dying won't exactly tickle.
They press tight.
He flinches.
And waits…
And waits…
And waits, apparently.
"Open your eyes, you silly thing."
And so he does, one at a time, still flinching. Whis' voice speaks at the exact time he notices the bubble of ki sizzling on the floor.
"I believe I told you not to worry. Lord Beerus will not destroy this planet… though I cannot guarantee that if you make any more heroic saves and reveal yourself. He then might exterminate Earth just to spite you at such a point."
Gohan stares as the energy burns and withers on the ground.
"I think this is enough Earth destroyed today," Beerus says from above, probably feeling very clever about his play on words. Gohan, meanwhile, cradles his head and practices deep breathing. "Yes, I do say that my appetite for destruction and a decent spar has been sated. Whilst not the strongest opponent I've faced, I'm content with it being a battle against a mortal. Even after dropping out of the super saiyan god form, you managed to keep some of the power acquired from the transformation. With training, I think you might become a worthy opponent yet, Goku Son."
Gohan rubs his eyes. I fucking hate him.
Beerus next considers him. "And you have a brave –albeit stupid— son. This is the one we brought back, am I right?"
Gohan feels his father's hand jerk at him. It's a protective motion. "That's right. And he's… staying," Dad replies, weak, but not in motivation. He's most definitely not asking permission. "You're not taking him back."
"Now that's down to Whis. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Goku Son. Just because I'm sparing you and your hick planet, it does not make us friends. In fact, I'd go as far to say that, at best, you're just a terrible host. Now, both of your sons have shown me disrespect today. You should teach them not to involve themselves in someone else's fight."
Dad splutters a laugh, along with a mouthful of blood. "I'm proud of both of them."
"Eugh, so sentimental."
"Heh, heh. That's Earth, for you."
"Of which I should really destroy. It's causing a great hassle for me. I cannot be chasing hooded thieves around here all day."
Dad gives a watery cough. "I-I'll protect Earth… I can stop them."
"And how about you? How do I stop you? You're illegal, you know, what with your use of Instant Transmission."
Gohan feels his chest become heavy with anxiety, remembering Yardrat and that entire situation. Oh… Oh no.
But Dad seems to find it funny. He has enough energy to laugh and raise a finger, wagging it. "Noh-huh. You said… that it's for gods only. And… and today… I…"
Gohan and Beerus seem to realise collectively.
"You achieved Super Saiyan God," Beerus finishes.
Dad can only laugh again, laughing so much until he falls silent.
"He's losing a lot of blood," Gohan informs Beerus, watching his father pale by the second, still smiling in his slumber, "He needs a healer."
"That's his own weakness should he die of such minor wounds."
"Internal bleeding isn't minor for mortals!"
"Oh, really? What a strange weakness."
"Allow him a healer please."
Beerus hums, scratching at his chin. "I'll tell you what. You give me an apology for your rude antics just now and I'll allow him his healer. If it's good enough, I might even leave this mud ball without further trouble. All I want is some respect that is owed of someone of my divine-"
"I'm sorry," Gohan says. He's managed to stand, bowing low. His eyes remain glued to the ground. "I promise that you shall come under no further disrespect during your experience here on Earth. On behalf of myself, my family and the people of this planet, I humbly hope you-"
There's a squawk from the cat. "Ehh, what's this; someone who knows how to show respect?"
"Please forgive us, Lord Beerus."
I'll fucking rip you limb from limb if I ever get chance.
He feels the god's hand slapping on the back of his head patronizingly, slow. "What a good mortal."
Gohan shuts his eyes, swallowing his hatred, thinking of his father and thinking of this being the easiest way to appease such an ego. If dealing with Quell has taught him something, it's to play into their sense of self-worth to get what you want.
And Gohan wants him to get the hell of his planet!
"Oh, have you had your fun, Lord Beerus?" asks Whis on the approach, now thankfully in person and no longer in Gohan's mind. "You look to be in good spirits."
"Yes, I think I am," he admits, withdrawing his hand. "Finally, it seems the people of Earth have learned their place. This one here just apologized to me."
"Oh, really?"
"Really. Consider me appeased."
"Excellent. Then we shall collect the ice-cream and be on our way, yes?"
"Hmm… Well, I… am becoming weary. It's been such a long day…"
Gohan coughs. "Then please may my father be healed now, my lord?" he bites out, tone as level as he can manage.
Whis' hands clap together. Gohan wishes they'd clap around his own throat –and clench. "Oh, he's very polite, isn't he, Lord Beerus? Are you going to allow him Goku Son's health?"
Beerus sighs, waving a hand. "Very well. Take him to the kai and his assistant. They're hiding pitifully behind that rock formation over there."
"Thank you," Gohan says after a final, low bow.
He wastes no time in scooping his father from off the dirt and lumbering him over to where he feels Shin and Kibito. Kibito takes his father without hesitation and begins the healing process.
"It's good to see you, Gohan," Shin says. "So very good."
Gohan nods, pretending that he doesn't see him every other week from atop the balcony in the meetings.
"It's taking… a lot to heal his wounds," Kibito informs. Gohan remains unsurprised. His dad has reached a higher level now. And as they say; the bigger you are, the harder you fall.
"Keep going," Gohan asks of him anyway. The guy looks wiped, but his father looks worse.
Slowly, in two groups, the others arrive, surrounding them and watching as his father settles into a state of stability. His breath is no longer rapid and thin, but slow; steady.
Gohan catches his own head as it lolls forward. What a day.
"He'll be fine," Kibito announces. "He just needs rest."
"We'll take him to the Lookout and have Dende keep an eye on him," Piccolo suggests, "That way he'll be monitored."
"Senzu beans," Gohan mumbles behind his hands. There's a fresh new tide of nausea coming for him, he can feel it. Now things are settling and the adrenaline has resided, he's likely in for another bout of dread. Still, he tries to remain composed for the situation. "I think," he swallows, "Dad might benefit taking one if he can."
"That's a good idea," Shin says. "Are you all right, Gohan?"
He hums.
"When Whis and Lord Beerus come over here, perhaps we can mention your acclimatization issue to them."
How peachy, he thinks bitterly.
"I think I'll be okay shortly," he says instead, feigning his best smile. "It's just a lot, y'know?"
"I can only imagine," Shin empathizes. "I'm sure Lord Beerus will allocate time for both you and your father to rest as we discuss the future of Earth. At the risk of sounding rude, it does look like you could do with a time out."
"I'm fine. Honestly."
A rummage of dirt sounds from behind as Trunks takes a seat, settling with his sister. "Really? You look like you're at death's door—Oh, I didn't mean it like that. I'm just saying-"
"Trunks," Piccolo scolds, "Shut up. For just a second, be quiet."
Gohan conceals his amusement behind his hands, trying not to laugh at the foot in mouth comment that could have been freshly served right out of Rixas' mouth. "It's just like a bad concussion," he eventually informs, "Everything is fuzzy."
"What do you last remember?" Shin questions, soft.
He raises his head when it becomes deathly quiet. The atmosphere seems to drop several degrees cooler in anticipation of his answer, and Shin looks like he's already regretted asking him. But… what does Gohan remember?
He thinks hard, trying to recall his last moments here prior to waking up in the Realm of the Almighty.
Honestly, he says; "Going to bed."
Vegeta speaks first. "That's it?"
"That's it."
"Nothing else?" Piccolo urges.
Just what sort of answer do they want from him? He considers what else could have happened before he died in his sleep. "I spoke to my dad, tucked Goten in… said goodnight to my mum. Oh, maybe I read a book. I can't remember."
There's a beat of silence, lingering on uncomfortable. Gohan is clearly out of the loop on this.
Finally, Shin addresses the group. "It's normal," he says, "It's just the way the mind copes. Oh, erm, don't worry about it, Gohan. We will talk about this later when you feel up to it."
How curious.
Gohan has a feeling that he's not going to like whatever he's going to be told. Something must have happened around the time he'd died. Just wh-
He brings back the knife and aims true. It strikes centre of his heart.
"Urghh!"
"Gohan, are you okay?"
Doubling over, his hands shield the light away. Good fucking god. That'd hurt. "Just… Just a headache. I…'m fine."
Shin doesn't sound convinced. "Just take it easy then. If it gets worse then I'll have Kibito heal you once he's had a rest himself."
"And after that?" Trunks dares to ask. "Does Gohan get to stay?"
Yes, what about 'after that'?
'Am I staying?' indeed.
Whis has pretty much said that it's Gohan's decision going forward. The crafty angel is probably over there feeding Beerus whatever he wants to hear just so he can manipulate him down the road. If Gohan wants to go back to the Realm of the Almighty? Sure, then he'll just tell Beerus that they should kill him again. And if Gohan wants to stay? Then he'll sing Beerus a song about how they should be merciful.
"We, unfortunately, do not have much of a say on Gohan's fate. That's down to Lord Beerus and Whis," Shin says, sullen. "If they wish to return Gohan from whence he came then so be it…"
There's an audible gasp and all eyes turn on Goten.
Gohan's brows press together. "Goten…"
"They… can't… They can't just do that, right?"
Don't cry…
But it's too late. Those huge eyes of his have long since started to pool with dense tears. "H-He's… just come back. We don't even know where he's been or… or—"
Trunks surprises Gohan when, still holding Bulla, he moves to comfort his friend. His hand moves along and up and down Goten's shoulder as all Gohan can will himself to do is walk away.
This is cruel. For any of us to be forced into this situation is cruel. His weary legs finally buckle under the weight of it all, and he sits against a lonely boulder. Fuck you, Beerus.
From his distance, needing a moment of fresh air, alone, he watches as the group deal with the drama of it all. There's talking –loud talking- and Goten seems to be getting worked up. He should go over there, really, and almost does until he spots Shin evidently making some leeway with the kid.
Speaking of kids… Gohan brings his baby-soft hands up to his face, examining them. They're just so new. As weak as the body is, he has to credit Whis on the craftsmanship of it. It feels so life-like, all the way down to how heavy the beat of his new heart is in his chest. As a soul, Gohan hadn't felt the lefty responsibility of real organs. They're just a construct, only forming from the fabric of the soul directly as to present itself.
But this body is very much real.
And young. That's not lost on him, either. If this is the body he had before he'd died, that'd make it seventeen years old. Gohan huffs, envisioning how scrawny he must look. If he doesn't kill the body, does this mean he'll have to go through the cycle of puberty again? It feels kind of dirty, he acknowledges. He's twenty-three and stuck in the body of a high-school kid… a half-naked one at that, too.
Couldn't have someone whipped him up a damn t-shirt and a pair of shoes?
Gohan would do it himself but the likelihood of something as demanding as materialization might strain the meat sack. He just hopes that when it does die, it doesn't do it grotesquely. Traumatizing the others won't leave the best impression for when he returns to the Realm of the Almighty –whenever that is.
And with that, Gohan supposes that Whis will want his answer sooner rather than later.
Ugh…
It's difficult.
Should he stay a while longer or take up the angel's offer and disappear now? His dad has said they'd been looking. Have they really been looking all the time? They'd never have found him if not for the stupid cat loitering about Earth doing –wait, what had Beerus said he'd been doing?
He said he'd been chasing thieves. Gohan mentally stores that for later, than along with the missing dragon balls. It seems there have been some changes on Earth, indeed.
The god sighs, resting his head back, watching as Trunks tries to settle Goten a little further away. They've grown so much, he mulls. How old must they be now; fourteen, fifteen? The body Gohan's in is barely older than that.
I've missed so much.
His chest tightens.
From earlier, his father's unfiltered joy just from seeing him has Gohan suffocate in the guilt. Gohan knows that his family loved him but he hadn't imagined coming home would be like this, and that's probably down to the fact that Gohan has never imagined it in the first place. It'd always hurt too much.
He'd moved on.
Have they?
He recalls his dad smile when he'd ascended and finds himself greatly wanting to see more of it.
But, by staying, I'd be acting recklessly… and selfishly, of course.
Yet, if he did stay, Gohan could even see his mother.
Gohan jostles up, excited by the prospect. Oh, God. His mother. It's enough to make his throat clog.
A moment passes for him to sober.
Still, I… I have plans… I have plans with ki. I want to change the universe.
But this is Earth. This is his true home… right? Earth is home. Gohan is home.
It's too dangerous for Gohan to remain here; if Quell were to find out…
Nobody can know…
He'd just be putting off the inevitable. This body will die.
But, also…
Going like this… will just hurt them.
They need closure.
…I want closure.
I… I love them.
He sighs once more, hollowing his chest. Finally, he decides what to do, for he knows the answer is needed –now—right now. He's on borrowed time and Whis will remind him of his ticking clock at any moment.
'I'll stay on Earth.'
There, he's said it. Gohan has made his decision. He repeats it, more certain this time as he sends it through the link and to Whis. When he says it a third time to no reply, he deems it time to get up and find the guy in person. But when he reaches the group once more, he realises that both Whis and Beerus hadn't even bothered to make their way over here.
"They're gone," Shin tells him, daring to look happy about it. "Gohan, I think they're allowing you to stay."
The air is drained from his lungs.
…That fucking angel.
.
.
.
.
.
Ahh, sorry for the wait. I'm working on Twenty-One now you shouldn't* be waiting too long. After finishing Nineteen, I'd needed to do another huge bout of plotting to keep on track. That's done so we should be fine for a while, although, I think a theme for my chapters is that they are all turning out longer than anticipated, which y'know… is great :'). Cry. Kagari-Asuha once again has beta'd this chapter and really helped me mould it together. The last few have been difficult to keep orderly so she's been a gem in neatening them up for me. She also named this chapter because staring at postal terms had me yearn for a quick death... But on the other hand, she's also liable for making me write these longer hell chapters so yeah, bittersweet relationship. Thanks, girl.
Moooving on, a few readers have made a couple of good points I'm gonna' mention. One is about Quell and Gohan/Mori balancing each other out in terms of beliefs. You're right, they do. Or rather, they did. Mori upset that balance drastically upon reincarnating into Gohan, hence; drama. Poor Rixas. He just wants everyone to be friends. What's worth a mention too; some reaaaally hate Gohan's goals. Good. Debate. Deliciously debate me. I think you should look at Gohan as a MC and think about what sort of person he is/is becoming. Just because he's the focus, it doesn't make his ideals right –or wrong, for that matter. The subject is decisive and that's how it'll be framed in the fic. Importantly, WHY is Gohan thinking the way that he is. Whilst plot is important, I have always written my stories with a character-led narrative.
Okay-dokes. That's it from me. I will see you on the next one. Thanks for all your reviews and PMs. I haven't been able to reply to some because of personal settings or that fact they're guest reviews. They do mean a lot, though, so thanks! And if you're enjoying the fic, please do drop me your thoughts. Cheers!