It had been around a month and a half since Gohan and Dende had departed for New Namek. While Trunks sincerely hoped that his mentor had arrived at his destination safely and was kicking evil alien butt, his thoughts were ruled over by an entirely separate matter.
He was bored.
He still sparred with Videl but he found little satisfaction in it. The woman's power was growing at a steady and rather impressive rate, but it wasn't enough for Trunks. He wanted to throw himself against the brick wall that was his teacher until he broke through or broke down. He wanted to claw and scrape for the golden power of Super Saiyan until his hands bled. He wanted to prove that he was powerful, that he was useful. He also wanted to do something other than help with construction work. He enjoyed seeing people laugh and smile and knowing that they were building a better and brighter future, but it was stale. Trunks was itching for something new.
He sat on a bench in his mother's workshop as the woman toiled exasperatedly over the bodies of the androids. She had been careful, trying not to disassemble them too heavily so she didn't end up at a point where she couldn't go back. She had gained enough of an understanding of their basic functions to make a new arm for Gohan, but according to her there was still something fundamental that she was missing out on. Time and time again his mother muttered to herself under her breath about how it all would be much simpler if she only had Gero's schematics.
That's when it hit him. Trunks knew the perfect way to alleviate his boredom.
"Mom!" Trunks said, scrambling out of his seat and making his way over to his mother. Bulma looked at him with a look that said 'This better be important'. She was a woman that didn't take kindly to having her work interrupted, even if it was her own son. "Do you have any idea where Doctor Gero's lab may have been?" He asked. Bulma was taken aback by the question. She had been complaining about not having the man's blueprints and such to work with, but she hadn't actually thought about trying to retrieve them. The question sparked a neuron somewhere deep within her mind. It itched and she scratched and scratched but just couldn't pull the information out.
"I read an article about him a long time ago. It was back when I was still young and fit. I feel like it mentioned something about the whereabouts of Gero's work. I know it talked about how much every other scientist alive hated his guts. Dad and I had a good laugh." Bulma said. Trunks didn't even try to respond. His mom wouldn't have been able to respond anyways. She went into this strange trance sometimes, when she was trying to work out an idea or remember something. She would just talk to herself, letting whatever words that came to her mind spill out like a leaky faucet. Trunks tapped his foot patiently as he waited for her to continue.
"Dad said something about it, actually. He had met Gero on an occasion or two. Gero actually complimented him on his capsule technology. It surprised him because apparently Gero was a cranky git who was not very well liked in the scientific community. Gero even went as far as to invite dad out to his laboratory in…" Bulma said, trailing off as tried to remember the details of the story. Her fingers drummed restlessly against the metal table. "North City! I remember because dad said 'Now what kind of nutcase builds a lab in the North Mountains?'. That was driving me crazy." Bulma said, her voice streaked with relief. North City wasn't terribly far from West City. Trunks could get there without too much hassle.
"Why do you ask, anyway?" Bulma inquired. Trunks was hoping she would pass his question off as general curiosity. Once he told her what his plans were, she would be difficult. His mother was a troublingly perceptive woman when she wanted to be.
"Well, you've mentioned from time to time how your research on the androids would be easier if you had access to Gero's research…" Trunks trailed off. He knew by the squint of her eyes that she had already picked up on Trunks's idea.
"Trunks, do you really think that I, as your mother, can allow you to go gallivanting off to an evil scientist's mystery laboratory? Without Gohan around?" Bulma asked tersely. She had always been a bit overprotective of her son, but how could she not be? Their world had been terrorized by those mechanical monstrosities for a decade and a half. They had killed everyone she had ever known. Her childhood friends were slain and there was no machine her brilliant engineering mind could craft to bring them back. Her parents had died from the stress, her father first and then her mother from the woe of the loss. Even that stupid fool Vegeta wasn't around to yell at and berate her any longer. How could she allow her son to venture off to follow that gruesome path?
"I can survive without Gohan…" Trunks muttered, his face cast aside and shadowed moodily by his bangs. "I know you see Gohan as this epitome of strength, as this hero but…I'm more than just his shadow, mom. I have power of my own. Besides, we're making a lot of assumptions about how dangerous it could be. It's probably nothing." Trunks said. He wasn't able to meet his mother's eyes. He tried to act stoic and responsible, but it wounded him sometimes. He trained so hard, pushing his body to the limit and striving for greater heights. Gohan was strong, far stronger than himself. He wasn't her though.
"Oh, sweetie…that's not what I…" Bulma sighed, unable to find the proper words to comfort her son. She knew what it was like to be a teenager and to want to prove yourself. Sure she had started out on her original quest for the Dragon Balls with such a silly quest as to wish for a boyfriend, but that wasn't the only meaning behind her journey. Her father, brilliant man as he was, was not exactly a people person. She was just trying to prove herself to him. That's why she whipped up the Dragon Radar, to prove that she was smart enough to find that which was thought to be a myth.
Trunks suffered from something similar, she could tell. He was her son after all. His words made it clear how he felt. As a shadow in the golden light of his mentor's power. He felt like he couldn't add up to Gohan, not being able to transform into a Super Saiyan. This desire to venture to Gero's mountain laboratory was just a way to prove that he was worth something. Bulma just couldn't wrap her mind around the idea of letting her baby boy go. The thought of him running into some new monstrosity of Gero's and never coming back? She shuddered. She couldn't hold on to the boy forever, though, especially when he could fly. Chi Chi loosened up on Gohan and he became the savior of the world.
"Fine." Bulma said. She almost wished she could take the words back as soon as they left her tongue. It terrified her, imagining her only son out on his own. She didn't regret any longer as soon as she saw the light that bloomed in Trunks's eyes.
"Really? Oh you won't regret it, mom! I'll find all of Gero's research, just you see!" Trunks exclaimed. He was out the door of the workshop before Bulma could even holler at the boy to pack a lunch and put on a thicker jacket. She chuckled to herself, parenthood was hard enough when your son wasn't a super-powered half alien.
Trunks raced through the halls of the Capsule Corporation, feet barely touching the stairs as he raced towards the surface. He burst through the doors and let the magical rays of the sun wash over him. It already felt like a new day and Trunks was ready to take it on head first. He gathered his lavender hair in his hands and tied it back with a bit of string from his pocket. It had grown long enough to scrape his shoulders and it made flying difficult sometimes.
"Woah, where are you rushing off to?" A voice asked from his left. Trunks glanced over to find Videl relaxing on a lawn chair. She wore her normal outfit but was accessorized by a pair of sunglasses that rested on top of her nose. Her arms were folded behind her head and her skin had been tinted a darker shade by the light of the sun.
"I'm off to Gero's laboratory to try and obtain his research for my mom." Trunks explained. There was no point beating around the bush about it. Videl had learned plenty of strange information about their lives since Gohan had saved her. She didn't even blink an eye once Trunks told her about his mission.
"Oh, that sounds interesting. You mind if I tag along? I've got nothing better to do and I'd like to see a crazy old man's lab." Videl asked. Trunks snorted, though he couldn't help but agree. His mom was cluttered but she was far from a mad scientist. Gero on the other hand? He took the stereotype and beat it to death with a stick.
"Sure, don't see why not. Your flying gotten any faster?" Trunks asked.
"Maybe not fast enough to keep up with you, but I can fly as well as I run at this point." Videl said.
"Ha, well do your best to keep up." Trunks said, rising into the air. Videl followed suit and with little delay they were off.
Gohan wasn't sure what he was expecting when they touched down on the surface of New Namek. He remembered the vibrant green sky of the Namek in his childhood and the brilliant blue grasses of the planet's surface. He remembered it being a planet abundant with the breath of nature. There was always the warm glow of Namek's three suns shining down upon them. These were not the sights that greeted Gohan as the spaceship opened.
The sky was a crimson red, as malicious and startling as the sigh of freshly spilled blood. The air was stagnant. It didn't have the same refreshing quality that it once did. Every breath felt dry and tasted bitter. The grass had withered and died; its blue hues having diminished to a brownish beige. The three suns were nowhere in sight, leaving the planet dim and lifeless.
"It wasn't always like this, was it?" Gohan asked. He stepped down the ramp of the ship and planted his feet on the ground, wincing as the dead grass crumbled underneath him.
"No. It used to look the exact same as Namek. The same green skies painted by the light of the three suns of Caracol. Slug's evil magics have left our planet in this desecrated state. He draws the life right of the planet to use for himself. There's no time to dwell on that, though. We need to get out of the open before Slug or his Demon Clan tracks us down." Dende informed him. Gohan nodded. He pulled a capsule out of his pocket and clicked the button on its end. With a puff of smoke, their spaceship disappeared. Gohan figured it would probably raise suspicion if he kept it out in the open and this way it diminished the chances of his way out of here being destroyed by some wanton energy blast.
"I've heard you mention this Demon Clan a few times now. I figure they're Slug's lackeys? Are they powerful?" Gohan asked. It would probably be best to get the minions out of the way first before trying to take down Slug. He figured he would let Dende take the lead, however. This was his fight; Gohan had just been drafted into it.
"Yes, Slug's Demon Clan is composed of the four strongest warriors under his command. He has plenty of other foot soldiers, but the Demon Clan is trouble. Are they strong, you ask? Certainly. Perhaps each is about equal to my strength, but none are mages." Dende admitted. Gohan had to raise an eyebrow. Each of these warriors was that strong? Before the androids such strength was rare, but Slug's army proved that Gohan had only seen a small portion of strength in the galaxy.
"How did Slug gather so many people that were that strong?" Gohan wondered aloud. He wasn't quite expecting a genuine answer, so he was surprised when Dende spoke up.
"Do you remember the ritual Elder Guru performed on you to unlock your hidden potential? Slug performed a similar ritual on the members of his Demon Clan, but he augmented it. He amplified the power of the ritual by drawing life out of the planet itself. That's why my world looks like this. The very life of my planet flows through the veins of those evil monsters." Dende said, venom dripping from his tongue. It was strange to hear Dende speak with such casual hatred. He supposed he was much the same when he spoke about the androids, though, so he couldn't blame him. "My hope is that killing them will release the planet's life and heal its terrible wounds." Dende said, kneeling down and running a clawed hand through the broken grass around them. He stood back up and shook his head wearily before setting back on the path once again.
"That's terrible. The androids ravaged and killed and stole but to steal the very life from the planet? That's pure evil." Gohan admitted. He felt the rage boiling in his stomach. It was true that he had come to this planet because he wanted to help Dende and the namekians but the more he learned about Slug the more Gohan wanted to take him down just because it felt like the right thing.
"We're set up just a ways from here in some ancient ruins. We have to keep small gatherings hidden around the planet, so we aren't found by Slug's magic sensors. He can't sense energy the way that you can but through magic he can accomplish something similar. Which reminds me…" Dende said as he swung his staff around and tapped it into the ground. Gohan watched as a violet fire blazed around his irises. It was similar to how he had looked when he had awoken from his rest after Gohan first found him.
"Is that the way you sense energy, then?" Gohan asked.
"Yes, since I don't have much combat power, I can't sense ki the same as you. I tried to learn but I could never quite get the hang of it. This spell, however, allows me to sense life signatures with my vision. It's rather handy and you are rather bright, turn that off. If it doesn't blow up the sensors it will definitely set them off." Dende scoffed, bringing a hand over his eyes to shield himself from Gohan's power. Gohan shrugged and let the golden power of Super Saiyan flow away. He kept his power level as low as he could, but Dende's words suggested that magic sensed his power differently.
"How does magic work anyways? How am I able to sense your power but you can't sense mine without a spell?" Gohan asked. He had been wondering ever since he saw Dende in action during their sparring session.
"Hm, there's no time to give you a complete rundown on the intricacies of Namekian magic. I can tell you the basics though. Your power, ki as you call it on earth, draws from a combination of your body and spirit. My magic draws from the planet itself. Not like Slug's where he forces the energy out, it's like a conversation." Dende began explaining. "When you see me tap my staff into the ground, that's me talking to the planet and asking permission for its power. That is why I have this staff carved from a tree born of the planet' soil. With the ancient dragonspeak words of power writ upon it, it allows me to converse with the planet itself." Dende said simply. Gohan had a feeling that it was much more complex than Dende let on, but he believed he had a firm grasp of the information that he had been given.
"Was it different, asking my planet for power then?" Gohan asked. He assumed it was a fair question, but Dende looked at him in surprise. Maybe he hadn't expected Gohan to think that there was a difference between the two actions.
"It was actually, yes. I thought it would be harder but since your planet had a namekian guardian and Dragon Balls the planet was much easier to converse with than I expected. The earth is full of rage. I could barely contain the power that I had drawn upon." Dende admitted, somewhat embarrassed. Gohan recalled seeing his energy as a blazing maelstrom when they sparred. So that was energy from the planet he called home? It was nice to know that despite what it had been through it still harbored so much power.
"Maybe once this whole ordeal is over you can teach me a bit of magic. It would be nice to have multiple cards up my sleeve in case another threat comes around." Gohan suggested. Dende mulled over the question but before he could offer a reply Gohan held up a hand. He felt something. It felt like an energy signature, but it was muffled and obscured. He couldn't register how strong it was. Another one popped up on the other side. Gohan's eyes flitted back and forth, searching and scanning for movement. Dende saw Gohan's sudden change in disposition and looked around as well.
"There is an ambient aura in this area. There is clearly something here, but I can't pin it. It must be a cloaking spell of some sort. A true cloaking spell wouldn't be able to be sensed, though. That makes it clear it isn't Slug, just one of his lackeys." Dende said. That was good. It meant that there was a chance that Lord Slug still hadn't learned of his arrival. It was probably just a few of his Demon Clan.
Gohan took in a deep breath and centered himself. If he couldn't track down the enemy with his ki sense he would have to rely on his other senses. His vision sharpened and the desolate colors of the broken world became like a mosaic of hues. The hair on his harm stood up straight, tingling in the brisk wind. The grass caught in the breeze and…there it was. A discrepancy in the scenery. There was a shimmering about thirty feet away. It was almost like a distortion in the air itself, like the heat rising off of sunbaked pavement. Gohan didn't want to go launching around wild energy blasts so that no magic sensors were triggered. He would do it the old-fashioned way. He rushed towards the foe with a fist cocked and let it fly forth with brutal precision. He felt the air shift as the enemy dodged and his ears caught an almost imperceptible squeak of fear.
Dende watched out of the corner of his eye as Gohan swung at the air. He didn't pay it much mind as he was sure that the man knew what he was doing, but Dende had an idea to make the fight much easier. He dug his staff into the soil and felt its presence roiling inside of his mind. Planet, forgive me that I must continue to ask for your assistance in this wounded state. These evildoers steal your life for this wicked spell that hides them from me. The warrior I've brought along with me can save you but first you must help me. Dispel this cloaking spell so that we may save you. I beg you. It was weak. Like a water faucet with a weak stream, the magic was coming to him but slow and unsteady. A ruffle of grass and a sharp pain across his cheek found Dende sprawled across the ground. Come on, just a little more. Dende begged, rolling out of the way as he heard his foe approaching. He felt the energy rising and the runes on staff began to light up. Dende sent a thanks to the planet and released its energy out into the atmosphere. With a flash of violet light all was revealed. The entity standing a few feet away from him was stumpy and green with shoulders that slouched. It was like someone had taken an earth frog and smashed its features onto a vaguely humanoid shape. Its eyes were a startling shade of yellow and they clearly hungered for violence.
"Medamatcha. I should have figured, Commander Zeeun could have actually pulled that spell off with a decent amount of competence. He may even have gotten the drop on us." Dende spat the insult at the creature's feet. Medamatcha grinned wildly and his pupils spun around until they focused on him properly.
"Oh…if it isn't the little mage. Dunder was it? Thought you got a ship and got away. Why return? Finally going to give your will and spirit to fuel our mighty Lord Slug?" The creature asked. Its voice was sickening, like a poisonous slime coating the inside of his ears.
"Never. I'm here to kill you and give your power back to New Namek and then wring Lord Slug's neck with my own two hands." Dende growled. He stood to his knees and planted his feet comfortably on the ground, staff raised threateningly in Medamatcha's direction. The creature didn't show any sign of fear or wariness, merely a hunger for battle.
"Lord Slug wants you, little Dunder. You have the power of two inside of you. It is not fair to hoard so much power from our lord. Give it back. Give yourself to him." Medamatcha urged. Dende snarled openly, no longer trying to hide his utter hostility.
"My brother's spirit stays with me and me alone. Slug will never have it." Dende said coldly. He was infuriated that the raving beast would dare bring it up. It was their fault that it ever had to come down to that to begin with. That day all four members of the Demon Clan ganged up on him at once. He had barely made it out with his life. He would not let this filthy creature spit on his brother's honor and legacy. Medamatcha looked at him with blank eyes and Dende knew that no level of intuition would lead him to an insight about what thoughts passed through the creature's head other than a vision of unmitigated violence. Medamatcha shrugged and dove at Dende with teeth bared.
It was strange for Gohan to see the figure that he was fighting shift from an outline of refracted light into an actual physical being. It was like an invisible paint had washed off after a bucket of water had been thrown on it. The first thing Gohan noticed was the pair of wings that stretched out behind the creature's back. They twitched excitedly as the creature attacked. Gohan worked under the assumption that it didn't know that the veil had faded and thus thought that it held the upper hand. The second thing he noticed was its overbearing size. Similar to the foe that Gohan had faced on the original name, Dodoria, Gohan's new enemy sported thick skin with rough spikes along its thick forearms. Its armor was interesting. It was of a similar shape and make as the battle armor worn by the saiyans and Frieza's army, but it looked older.
The winged creature swung a hammer-like fist down at Gohan's head with an amount of force that would assuredly crack open the skull of the average human. Gohan swept to the right and avoided the attack entirely. The creature lost its footing and stumbled forwards from the sheer weight thrown into the attack. Gohan was sure that Dende would not have trouble with a foe as inept as this one if he were to face him in single battle. He had a considerable amount of strength but absolutely no control over his body.
The creature gained its footing and spun back towards Gohan. Gohan turned his gaze to meet the creature but didn't make a move. If it were a competent fighter, it would have noticed when Gohan's eyes met its own and realized that he was able to see it. However, the creature continued to march forwards unabated. It cocked a fist back and swung a wild haymaker with all of its might. The sweep and reach of the attack were rather impressive. Gohan pulled up his cybernetic hand and caught the attack in a hand made of cold steel. A burst of wind shot past Gohan and ruffled his hair as all of the force of the attack sunk into Gohan's hand.
"What do they call you?" Gohan asked. He would try to finish this soon to see if he could help Dende with his own fight. For the moment it seemed worthwhile to try and gauge this creature's intent and intellect. It paid Gohan little mind, staring dumbly at its fist in Gohan's iron grasp. That was the problem with bullies and dictators. Many a time that got to the heights that they did because their power was unchecked and unsurpassed. When they met someone stronger than themselves, they either died or fell in line and used their power for their superior. They weren't often used to being outmatched.
"You…Slug will want your power." The creature muttered. Gohan would just refer to him as Wings to make things simple. Apt to his newly given name, Wings carved one of the flight-worthy appendages down at Gohan's face. It was tipped by a bone white claw and as sharp it looked Gohan figured it might have gifted him a new scar if he hadn't pulled his face away from the arcing wing. The statement troubled Gohan. Slug would want his power? Namekians could only fuse with each other, the technique did not work between races. Did that mean that Slug's magic was so strong he was able to absorb the strength of anyone into his being. It was an uncomfortable notion.
"Why are you doing this? Torturing these people, stealing their planet's life, causing so much death and suffering." Gohan asked. After fifteen years he didn't try much to reason with the androids. As a child he had. He was young and full of hope and believed that maybe the androids had some sort of shred of humanity inside of them. They were good actors and convinced him once that his words had actually worked. Gohan was rather close to dying that day, saved only by the whims of fate.
"It is Slug's will." Wings responded in monotone, pulling its wing back and wrenching its fist from Gohan's grasp. The androids at least had a will of their own, as despicable as it was. It sickened him to see a creature so senselessly devoted to evil through the will of another. Was it mind control? Considering the magical aspect of his enemies it wasn't an impossibility. It didn't matter much, though. Gohan didn't know how to break such a spell and he was sure that Wings had killed far too many people for him to care enough to offer him redemption. The tips of Wings's wings came together and a ball of sickening green energy formed between them. It sputtered and crackled and shot out beams of deathly energy. In a split second it extended into a lance that shot at Gohan. Gohan batted it away with his hand, directing it into the air to make sure that it didn't land where it could hurt somebody.
Wings's eyes were dull, and they hid very little intelligence behind them. Gohan still saw something simmering in the back of the Demon Clansmen's mind, though. It was hatred and sick glee. It was the longing for bloodlust and violence. They were the kind of eyes that lit up and came to life with twisted glee once they saw bone pop out of the skin that was supposed to contain it, as they watched blood gush into the air in a gruesome arc of viscera and death. That glimpse told Gohan all he needed to know.
It was a swift death, more than Wings deserved. Gohan had raised his cybernetic arm and allowed it to access the storage of energy he had pumped into the last time he turned Super Saiyan. A slot in his palm opened up with a click and the energy shot forth like a bullet. It drove neatly through Wings's skull. There wasn't any blood. From the distance Gohan was at he couldn't even see the hole that was made. Wings stood there unmoving for a moment before Gohan caught a slight hint of movement. It was in the knee. It had started to buckle. Then the other one followed suit and Wings fell to his knees before his head followed them to the ground a moment later.
Dende grunted as he batted away Medamatcha's claws. They scratched and tore at him with a ferocity that didn't match his blank eyes. Dende snapped Medamatcha's wrists to the side and pointed the head of the staff at the disgusting creature before he could react. A power swelled within Dende. He had done himself a favor and asked for a little extra power from Earth to store away for later. The Earth, blessedly, was kind. A tempestuous gout of flame leaped from the end of Dende's staff and hissed and roared at his opponent. Summoning and manipulating the elements was more difficult and taxing than regular energy manipulation, but it could be worth it.
Medamatcha screamed as he tried to dodge the flames they snagged and burned at his body. Eventually he dropped to the ground and rolled away from Dende completely. The action smothered the flames and acquired him some distance from Dende. Medamatcha leaped to his feet and began launching bolts of violent energy at Dende. They were haphazardly formed and highly volatile. Dende danced around the bolts that burst into sparks and flames around him until one detonated earlier than he expected. The blast snapped Dende's head to the side. It only took a second to orient himself, but that second was all Medamatcha needed. Dende watched as the grubby creature did what he truly hoped he wouldn't.
Medamatcha's skin twisted and expanded from his back. From these expanded lumps of slimy green flesh exploded four creatures. They were all but miniature clones of Medamatcha himself. Dende grimaced as he remembered them. Medamatcha's clones had a penchant for latching onto someone and drinking them of their energy. It was a dreadful feeling, like a cold wind inside your own body. They leapt at him ferociously in a blur of movement that Dende had trouble tracking. He smacked away a clone to his right only for one to scuttle up his right leg and sink its fangs into him. Dende groaned as he felt his energy leaving his body. It left his leg weak and shaking. With an effort Dende kicked the clone off and slammed his staff into the ground. The dirt shuddered before exploding in a pillar of blinding light underneath the clone. There wasn't a trace of it left.
The next one Dende was prepared for. He intercepted it as it rocketed for his rib cage. Dende caught the creature on the end of his staff and in a fluid motion he aimed it downwards and slammed the clone into the ground. The ground roiled and opened up, swallowing the screaming and terrified creature whole. Manipulating the soil of New Namek was a rather easy endeavor for Dende compared to summoning fire. His connection and understanding with the planet gave him much power over the ground beneath his feet. The same was true for the calm waters that lay in the seas of New Namek. Dende pivoted and began rushing for the coastline that was a few hundred feet behind him.
Medamatcha and his remaining two clones rushed after Dende in haste. It wouldn't be long before they caught up to him. Most of Slug's warriors had their ki empowered by the planet's energy and ki enhanced the body's natural capabilities. There were spells that allowed a mage such as Dende to utilize the planet's power to boost his own physical abilities, but Dende had never learned any of them. So, Medamatcha's superior physical stamina would soon overcome Dende's. Dende's antennae twitched as he felt a clone leap for the back of his head. In a last-minute gambit Dende threw himself to his knees, sliding across the dead grass. The clone flew over Dende's head and landed in the water with a flailing splash.
Dende swept his staff across the water and prayed for the planet's assistance. The response was a whimpering plea for salvation with such despair it almost brought a tear to Dende's eye. A pressurized geyser of water erupted underneath the flailing clone ripping it to pieces. Dende placed his weight on one knee and spun himself around to face his last two foes. He swept his staff across the air and unleashed a carving scythe of water that bifurcated the last clone. With one last roar of effort Dende plunged his staff into Medamatcha's staff chest, halting his momentum.
As Gohan approached the battle to try and assist Dende he saw the young namekian's face through the massive hole in his enemy's chest. The water from the pressurized blast fell from Dende's arcane grasp and splashed upon the withered grass. Dende stood up with a slow breath and approached Gohan. He looked panicked with eyes that darted one way and then the other, searching for any other enemies to come. As he realized that they were safe he relaxed and gave a nod of greeting to Gohan.
"Well, that's two down. How are you feeling?" Gohan asked. Dende wasn't sure how to answer the question. It was relieving to know that two of the Demon Clan that hunted him for so long were finally defeated and dealt with. There was something else that bothered him. The mournful plea of help from his planet still rang in his ears. Dende couldn't help but notice something crucial as he looked past Gohan to the rolling fields of grass. The planet was still dying. Killing the Demon Clan members hadn't healed it.
"Their power must have gone back to Slug. The planet won't be healed until he's dead. Come on, we're almost there." Dende sighed. He said the words, but he wasn't sure if he believed them. What if his planet was doomed and there was nothing he could do to stop it?
"This seems like as good a place to stop as any." Trunks said. Videl shrugged and with that the pair of them dropped out of the sky and landed in the snowy mountains of the North City area.
"I should have brought a jacket." Videl chuckled. She tried to stop her teeth from chattering and rubbed her arms along the goosebumps rising on her skin. Perhaps it wasn't the best idea to wear a tanktop to an area that was well known for being cold.
"Circulate your ki through your body. It will help keep you warm." Trunks suggested. Videl figured it was worth a shot. She breathed deeply and brought her energy to the surface of her skin. Rather than releasing it like she would to fly or create a blast of energy, she just pushed it around through the inside of her body. After a few moments the circulation of energy made her skin begin to warm up. Videl nodded in satisfaction and began to look around the area. There wasn't much to it. It was mostly slate gray mountainside and fresh white snow.
"So, what's the plan here, chief?" Videl asked. Trunks stroked his chin for a moment trying to decide how best to answer the question. In truth he hadn't really thought this far ahead. There wasn't exactly a plan for finding Gero's lab. He just figured that once they got out to the mountains they'd look around and find it eventually.
"I guess we split up and look around for anything that seems suspicious. If you find anything just flare your power level and I'll come running. I'll do the same." Trunks responded with a shrug. Videl snorted and nodded at the idea. It was as good as anything she was going to come up with. With a burst of energy Videl leaped up to a small plateau and gave a small wave to Trunks as she disappeared from view. Trunks himself began to climb down into the rocky crags of the mountainous area. He wasn't quite sure exactly what to look for, so he just kept his eye out for anything that looked somewhat peculiar.
It was a mentally taxing endeavor and after a while all of the rocks and snow blended together in a blur of grays and whites. He hadn't felt a surge of energy, so he knew that Videl was not having any more luck than he was. Then Trunk caught a hint of darkness out of the corner of his eye. It seemed like the entrance to a cavern of some sort. Trunks began to walk towards it. It wasn't mere curiosity that drew him. There was something else. There was something inside of that cavern that resonated with his energy. It was like his ki was singing inside of his body and the singing grew louder the closer he got.
As he entered the cavern, he couldn't see a thing. It didn't stop his progress. He continued to step through the dark. His feet somehow knew exactly where to take him. He continued until the singing in his bones grew so strong he didn't know if it could become greater. There was something sitting there, directly ahead of him. Trunks raised a hand and allowed energy to gather into his hand. He altered the energy to allow for less heat and more light, and the room was bathed in a bright yellow glow.
It was a sword. It was a simple longsword with brown leather wrapped around its grip and a sleek silver blade. The length of the blade was plunged into the cavern floor. The sword couldn't have possibly been there long. The blade shone without a hint of rust and the leather grip looked freshly oiled. Trunks couldn't help himself; he almost wasn't even thinking as his hand reached forwards and wrapped itself around the blade's grip. An intense presence burst forth in his head and Trunks stumbled, knees shaking. He brought his eyes up to meet those of a spectral figure standing behind the blade.
"So, after all this time a new hand wields the Brave Sword."
Thank you, Akira Toriyama. You were an inspiration to myself and hundreds of thousands of others. I hope that your training in Otherworld goes well.