The Day of Reckoning Arrives! Can Hercule Do It?!
Vegeta sat up in bed on instinct as the first light of dawn crept over the horizon and into his bedroom window. He sat alone and in silence for several moments with no other noise but the sounds of his breath and his heartbeat. He climbed out of bed and, to his mild surprise, found another clean gi sitting on top of his dresser. This one had come with white fingerless gloves. He was sure that he had locked the door the night before so how in the Nine Hells had the matriarch entered his room? He decided the question was unimportant and showered in water that humans would consider scalding. It would make their skin turn red, make them cry in pain, and shrink from the heat. For the King of Saiyans, it was barely warm enough. Then he shook himself dry and dressed in his fresh clothes and knelt in front of the window with his hands on his lap, facing the sun. He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath as he reflected on the prayer his father had taught him when he was young. It was no ordinary battle prayer that was taught to the Low Class, or the Elites, or even the Super Elite. This was a King's prayer. Despite all the fighting Vegeta had done in his life, he had never had an opportunity of such perfect stillness as this to contemplate it.
'Let my strength never wane, no matter the struggle. Let my courage never falter, no matter the foe. For I am no mortal man, no beast crawling in the mud. I am a King. I am greater than all the others and so my resolve must be greater still. I am a pillar of strength. I am a beacon of light. I am the one that all must follow. It is to me that all shall bend the knee. This foe is mine to crush. This glory mine to claim. I am the King. It is my right. When the battle is done, all shall sing my praise.'
Vegeta knelt in silence for several minutes more as the sun slowly rose and touched his face while the world began to wake. Cell would pay for her foolishness. She would pay for mocking him and casting him aside. As would Kakarot, for disregarding him so flippantly. Who was she to think that she would look down on him? He was her King! They would all see how foolish they were.
"Of course they will," he heard himself say sarcastically. He opened his eyes and glowered at his reflection in the mirror above his dresser before spitting in disgust onto the floor and instantly transforming into a Super Saiyan. Then he flew out the window and toward Cell's energy. He had heard the woman rambling to his bastard that Kakarot planned to have everyone meet on the Lookout and arrive at the Cell Games together with her Instant Transmission. As if he would sully his honor by appearing to be part of their ridiculous merry band. The very thought of it made him nauseous. He would face Cell as he had faced every challenge. Alone.
OoOoOoO
Piccolo watched the sunrise crest over the horizon and turn the world a bloody shade of red. He only hoped that would not be an ill omen.
'Wonderful,' he thought sarcastically. 'I picked up the old man's superstitious musings.' Although Kami's spirit of responsibility could finally be at peace now that Dende was guarding the world, it seemed as if some part of the ancient Namekian would be a part of him forever. As well as Kami's desire to protect this world that he loved so much and that Piccolo himself had come to love. Even if he no longer desired to conquer it. Even if he could not defeat Perfect Cell, he would stay in this fight. Fighting Cell had been one of the the first things he had done once he had merged and been reborn. Besides, from what Trunks had told them of Vegeta's battle with Perfect Cell, Piccolo's own DNA had helped to make her so formidable.
Piccolo wondered, absentmindedly, how Kami's age affected Piccolo Daimaou's wish for eternal youth. Perhaps he would gather the Dragon Balls next year and wish for an answer to that question. Or perhaps he didn't want to know. He was only fourteen, as baffling as it seemed. Barely older than Gohan. Hardly the age one starts to consider his own mortality. 'Though you have died already,' he thought again. He really needed to start talking to Dende more if he was going to live up here. His inner thoughts were far too sarcastic.
OoOoOoO
Tenshinhan, Launch, and Chaozu ate breakfast quietly that morning. There was a tension that hung over the kitchen table as they munched on toast, ate scrambled eggs, and drank coffee. They all looked at each other with an unspoken understanding exchanged between their glances. They all knew that they were probably just going to be spectators today. Which was frustrating and somewhat demoralizing but didn't come close to comparing to the underlying fear that if they were forced to get involved in the actual conflict, there was an overwhelming likelihood that one or all of them could die today. Especially Chaozu, who had the least reason of all to go and had trained the least of the three. Yet even so, he wouldn't let his friends go off to fight alone. It was a feeling that made Launch put a hand instinctively over her stomach. Ten had tried to persuade her at length the night before that she should sit this one out.
Launch had almost broken his nose.
Once breakfast was finished and the dishes washed and put away, the trio left the house in silent solidarity and flew off toward the Lookout. There was simply nothing left for the three to say that hadn't already been said in the days or weeks before. Their bond was stronger and deeper than they could express in words. They would simply have to face this danger together and face it to the end.
OoOoOoO
Krillin sat up in bed in the room where he, Goku, Yamcha, and Launch had slept when they were students with a groan and a slight headache. Upon reflection, it was definitely not his smartest idea to get a hangover the day that the fate of the world was at stake. But Roshi had wanted to have a little fun with Krillin being so serious these days and had dared him to have a few swaps of sake with him. Apparently it was ancient, enchanted stuff that he'd won from some priestess in a card game or that some empress had given him when he'd saved her kingdom. It was all hundreds of years ago and the stories for how Roshi got his various trinkets and baubles tended to blur together. The point was that whatever this magic stuff was it was apparently strong enough to even give people like them a buzz. To Krillin's surprise, Roshi had gone with him shot for shot. What, was the old man doing secret training these days? Then again, Roshi was still snoring upstairs while Krillin brushed his teeth so maybe not.
As Krillin got dressed in his gi, he thought about what Roshi had told him the night before. That he didn't want Krillin to die. Not just for the obvious reasons, of course, but because as Roshi had told him, "Someone'll have to reopen the Turtle School when all this mess is done." That had startled Krillin beyond words. Roshi hadn't meant him, had he? Krillin, who never made it further than the second round of the Finals? Krillin, who had never won or accomplished anything? Krillin, who still lived in his master's house and didn't have a job? Krillin, who was weak?
"Shut up with that talk," Roshi had scolded him. "Who else is it gonna be, huh? Goku's no teacher. She's done alright by Gohan but the boy's as naturally gifted as she is. She wouldn't know how to impart the teachings or help someone who was struggling. Yamcha's too settled down and Launch has spent more than a decade as a Crane. But you, Krillin? You've been a Turtle through and through. Strong and steadfast. And you worked hard for every bit of it. You've survived every battle and struggle, you've been out into space and fought enemies far tougher than this old man ever saw. You should be proud of how far you've come." Then Roshi had looked him in the eye and told him earnestly and sincerely, "I always thought when I was young that once I was old and all battled out, I'd pass whatever school I opened onto my son. Well, I never married or had any children that I know of… but I'm proud to say that's exactly what I'm doing now." In his inebriated state, the sentiment had nearly brought Krillin to tears.
'Okay, admit it,' Krillin thought as he pulled on his socks and shoes. 'You bawled like a big, bald baby.' Of course now Krillin was left with a dilemma. Did he take over the Turtle School as Roshi wanted him to or pursue his own passion and become a police officer? Was he really that sold on the idea of becoming a cop, anyway? It was just a passing idea that he'd studied for a day. Okay, a year, but whatever. Still a lot less time than he had devoted to the martial arts. 'Forget it,' Krillin thought to himself as he flung open the window. 'Just focus on being alive after today.' He put his foot on the windowsill but stopped himself before flying off and padded softly over to Roshi's room. The old man was snoring and laying in a tangle of limbs, his blankets strewn across the bed and his left leg hanging off the side. Krillin sighed and shook his head with a chuckle before fixing Roshi more comfortably in bed. 'So long… Pop,' he thought as he flew out the door.
OoOoOoO
"So wait," Bulma asked as she, her son, and her future son sat down to a breakfast that her mother had made for them, "You've never had waffles?"
"I told you," Trunks reminded her as he watched Bulma feed a tiny chunk of bread and sugar to his infant self. "Pretty much all supplies of regular food are gone in my time. I've basically been eating synthetic foods my whole life. Which are okay but, now that I've eaten actual food that wasn't repurposed air and dirt molecules, I can definitely tell the difference."
"Well before you head back," Bulma promised him, "I'm gonna make sure I give you a whole capsule full of boxes of waffle mix." The suggestion made Trunks laugh but as he was flying toward the Lookout in a new set of Saiyan Armor, he thought about what his mother had said: "Before you head back." He would only be able to head back if Cell was defeated. Once again, he struggled to come to grips with the idea even as a concept. He had almost never known a time in his life where the looming threat of Cell hadn't hung over the world like a cloak of dread that smothered everything. He had thought that Cell had actually been defeated before, when it looked like his father was going to kill her. Which just reminded him how much hope was good for.
'It's going to work,' Trunks assured himself as he rocketed up into the sky. 'It has to. Goku is alive. She has to have a plan. She's supposed to be the best of us. She'll know how to stop Cell.'
OoOoOoO
Suno and Gohan woke up that morning to the smell of blueberries and the sound of someone whistling a song. Although it was the second time Suno had woken up, as when she first woke up about two hours previously, she and Goku had both decided "five more minutes" and went back to sleep. So she was a little surprised when she woke up alone in bed. Gohan had slept fitfully the night before and had tossed and turned, his dreams and his bouts of sudden wakefulness fraught with the pressure of this day. Could he really do it? Could he save the world? He'd have to, right?
Mother and son walked out of their bedrooms and into the kitchen to find Goku making blueberry pancakes. She turned and smiled at them with a spatula in one hand.
"Good morning!" she greeted cheerfully as she pointed to the tall stacks of pancakes on their plates.
"Goku!" Suno exclaimed in surprise as she and Gohan sat down. "Since when do you make breakfast?" For all her love of food, Goku had never been much of a cook. So to see what could only be described as picture perfect pancakes sitting in front of her was more than a little surprising.
"Whoa," was all Gohan could say as he sat down at the table. His own stack was so tall that it obscured his mother from sight when he sat across from her. Despite all his worries, he was hungry. He was a little bit less surprised by his mom's ability to cook since they'd spent a year making their own food in the time chamber. What surprised him was that this was good.
"It was something my Grandpa used to make when I was little," Goku told them as she sat down with them. "You're always the one to make food so I figured I could handle it for a change!" Suno put a forkful of syrupy, buttery pancake in her mouth and her eyes went starry.
"Okay," Suno muttered while shoveling pancake eagerly into her pancakehole, "You are officially on breakfast duty from now on." Goku laughed and the Son family ate as if it was a perfectly normal morning. Suno couldn't help but feel as if Goku was putting it on a little thick just to try and put Suno at ease. She was being far too casual considering the day that they were facing. On the one hand, that was just Goku. Yet at the same time, there was something… different this time. As if Goku didn't have a single worry in the world. Was she really that confident she could beat Perfect Cell?
OoOoOoO
Yamcha took his sweet time getting ready that morning. He had stayed in bed with Chi-Chi for a while and then took his time getting dressed. He was surprised his old gi still fit, actually. He wasn't sure if he'd have put on more muscle or lost it with being half-retired but he guessed it had all evened out. He took Ocha and Shouronpo flying around out in the yard while Chi-Chi made breakfast, which she had insisted she could handle herself while he played with the kids. Then when it seemed like there was nothing left to do, Yamcha finally started out the door before Chi-Chi grabbed him and pulled him into one last kiss.
"Come back to me," she whispered softly as they held each other close. "Please." Yamcha was about to say something when they heard two pairs of feet rushing toward them and Yamcha looked down at the twins clinging to his legs. God, they were already getting so fast.
"Daddy, daddy, daddy!" Shouronpo cried excitedly over and over as she let go of his leg and held out her hands. "Up, up, up!" Yamcha laughed and scooped the kids up into his arms.
"Okay," he told them, "One more up! Gosh, you two are getting heavy!" He was only playing, of course, but it still made them laugh.
"Go win, daddy," Ocha told Yamcha supportively as he put his arms around his father's neck. Yamcha laughed again and gave each of them a kiss on the cheek.
"You got it, kiddo," he told his son before handing the twins off to Chi-Chi. He gave them a wave and flew out the door towards the Lookout. They were his whole world. He would do anything for them. So if his son wanted him to win? He'd manage it somehow.
OoOoOoO
Everyone had gathered on the Lookout by the time that the Son family arrived. Everyone with the exception of Vegeta, of course, although Goku kinda expected that. He was still kind of a loner, after all. But he'd come around in his own time.
"Hey, everyone!" Goku said with a grin and a wave. "We ready to do this or what?"
"You mean ready to watch you kick Cell's butt?" Launch asked sarcastically. "'Cause I'm not sure what you expect us to do." Suno's eyes drifted to Launch's stomach and she couldn't help but say something.
"A-hem," she coughed. "Uh, Launch, not that I don't appreciate you being here but are you sure that it's–" Launch cracked her knuckles and Ten quickly shook his head and waved his hand across his throat a few times. "Okay then, never mind." Goku laughed and while Krillin watched her make small talk with Trunks and Piccolo, he couldn't help but notice how much happier she seemed now than when they'd been fishing the other day.
OoOoOoO
"Hey Goku," Krillin said while the pair of them looked up at the clouds and waited for a fish to bite their line. "What's up? You seem kinda down. I figured you'd be all pumped up with the Cell Games coming up. What's eatin' ya?" Goku sighed and sat up with a shrug.
"It's nothing," she told him. "It's just… I missed hanging out with you, Krillin. You're the only one who still treats me like a person." Krillin blinked at her in surprise.
"Like a person?" he asked in confusion. "What the heck does that mean?" Goku sighed and looked down at the ground, plucking up a blade of grass as she spoke and slowly peeling it apart.
"No one really looks at me as an equal anymore," she explained. "It just feels weird. Like, I know you guys are still my friends and I know Suno loves me. I love you all, too. But some time ago, I dunno when, everyone stopped looking at me and started looking up to me. I didn't ask to be a hero or a savior but that's what I am now. Everyone's been counting on me for three years now to be the one to defeat Cell. It's a lot of pressure, Krillin. Maybe after–" but Goku stopped when she saw her lure bob beneath the water and laughed as she hopped to her feet. "Got one!" she cried before diving into the lake. She popped out a few moments later with three enormous fish writhing in each hand, an enormous grin on her face and her introspection completely forgotten.
OoOoOoO
Krillin had been wondering for the last few days what the "after" was that Goku had been talking about and now he wondered what had caused the sudden shift in Goku's attitude. Maybe she'd just been anxious having to wait for her big fight and was happy it was finally here. That would be just like Goku, after all.
"Hey Gohan," he called and approached the young hybrid while he was talking to Dende. "You alright, buddy? You look how I feel." The slight reddening of Gohan's cheeks made it clear that he'd been trying to hide how nervous he looked and was embarrassed to have been outed so easily.
"I-it's nothing," Gohan assured him. "Just another one of these days, you know?" Krillin nodded sympathetically and patted him on the arm. The poor kid had been in these "end of the world" situations since he was four years old. Krillin would have honestly been more surprised if he wasn't worried.
"Hey," Krillin told him with a grin, "Don't worry about it. Your mom's got this."
OoOoOoO
Caesar Firecracker had a single bead of sweat rolling down his forehead as he looked into the camera and gave the morning news. He had already dropped his notes once and had stuttered a few times while reading the teleprompter. As he was already being recognized in his young career for professionalism and calm delivery, this was a little surprising. Still, Caesar could hardly be blamed. After all, his big brother was live at the Cell Games which might erupt into a warzone at any minute. It would be enough to shake even the strongest nerves.
"We–" Caesar's voice cracked and he cleared his throat before starting again. "We take you live now to the scene of the Cell Games as we continue our comprehensive and exclusive coverage of what will surely be the most important day in human history. Jimmy Firecracker is standing by. Jimmy?"
OoOoOoO
"As you can see, Caesar," Jimmy said as he stood on the edge of the ring where the battle would take place, "We are still waiting on the appearance of Hercule and any other champions that might come to defend Earth's–"
"Excuse me!" Perfect Cell called from over Jimmy's shoulder. "Would you mind just moving a little to the right? Otherwise I'm not in the exact center of the shot." Jimmy looked back at her and swallowed nervously before taking a few steps to the right. "That's Perfect, thank you. You can continue." Jimmy nodded and patted his forehead with his pocket square before turning back to the cameraman. Jimmy had made his name as a young reporter covering the conflict between the Red Ribbon Army and the Royal military and had done a multi-part series on the aftermath of the East City Event which had won him much of his acclaim. Even so, he couldn't imagine any more terrifying a scenario than the one he was in right now.
"As I was saying," Jimmy continued, "We wait for–" he stopped and looked up into the sky as a blue and gold blur streaked toward them and landed emphatically several yards off to Jimmy's left, the impact of his landing nearly knocking Jimmy and the cameraman off their feet. "What's this?!" Jimmy declared excitedly. "It seems we have a champion here to challenge Perfect Cell and save the world!" It was a man in a blue gi with white fingerless gloves and white sandals, with blond hair that bordered on radiant and piercing teal eyes. He glared at Perfect Cell with murderous intent and there was something about his face that Jimmy found strangely familiar. "Excuse me, sir!" Jimmy called as he and the cameraman approached the stranger, "Are you here to fi–"
"Come any closer to me," the man warned them, "And I will vaporize you with a breath." Jimmy and the cameraman exchanged looks and moved back several feet.
"Sir," Jimmy said again, "Do you intend to–"
"That does not mean speak to me from a distance," the man told them coldly, "That means do not speak to me at all. I am above peasants such as you."
"Oh, Vegeta!" Perfect Cell called in a sing-song voice. "Have you come to fight? Or are you just here to cheer Goku on from the sidelines? I honestly think it's safer for you at this point. Unless you want another beating?" She laughed as Vegeta bared his teeth and balled his fists.
"I will give Kakarot the first shot to make a fool of herself," he boasted. "After that I will teach you the price for your insolence!" Perfect Cell gave a Perfectly demure chuckle as she brought one hand tastefully up to her mouth.
"Oh, that I have to see," she teased. Vegeta glared at her and before Jimmy Firecracker could get in another word, nine more people suddenly materialized out of the aether.
"And look at this!" Jimmy Firecracker declared as he and the cameraman rushed toward them. "Nine new contestants seem to have arrived!" Jimmy held his microphone up to the blonde woman's face excitedly and she looked down at him curiously. "Jimmy Firecracker here with ZTV news, ma'am. Tell us, are you here to compete in the Cell Games and save planet Earth?!"
"I'm Son Goku," she declared excitedly with a blazing smile as she pounded her fist into her palm, "And I'm here to punch Cell in her face!"
"Perfect Cell," Perfect Cell corrected as she stood in the exact center of the ring. "And I see the gang's all here!" She cracked her knuckles and rolled her shoulders with an excited squeal not unlike the sort of sound Goku herself would make at the prospect of a challenge. "Oh, this is gonna be so much fun! Who wants to take the first shot?" Before Goku could step up to the plate, however, they all stopped and stared as a large airship with Hercule's face painted onto the side came down onto the field. The doors opened and out rushed a fleet of technicians while they watched in confusion, disbelief, and in Goku's case, interest.
The technicians set up pyrotechnical displays at the four corners of the ring and a black entrance aisle that connected from the back of the plane to one side of the ring, as well as curtains across the back of the plane and smoke machines along the entrance aisle. Then they laid out a stage off to one side as well as two guitars, a bass, two microphones, and a drumset. After which they spent several minutes setting up the sound system and then after that, the band EngineSkull, of which Hercule was good friends with and who played his theme music, shuffled out in all their black clothes, long hair, and scruffy beards. The lead singer was still smoking as he tapped the microphone and they ran sound checks. As if things weren't already absurd enough, a man with a microphone in one hand climbed out of the plane in a blindingly-sequined three piece hot pink suit with enormous lapels.
"Llllladies and gentlemen," he declared sonorously as Jimmy Firecracker's cameraman focused on him, "The time for terror has passed! Your fear is over! Because he has arrived! The World's Champion! The Strongest Under the Heavens! Your Hero and Mine! Here he comes, it's HEEEEEERCUUUUUULE!" EngineSkull started aggressively rocking and the lead singer let out a wordless, guttural roar as massive clouds of white smoke billowed up from the entrance aisle, through which Hercule's dramatic silhouette was barely visible. The heroes and Perfect Cell only watched in bemusement. Vegeta found himself tapping his foot despite himself. The man was as good as dead but at least he had good taste in music.
"And as we fall," the chorus rang out as Hercule emerged dynamically from the smoke with his cape billowing behind him, "The spirit carries on! That a hero will come and save us all! As we call the ones we left below, we all dream of the day we'll rise above!" Hercule tossed away his pristine white cape and walked right up to Perfect Cell as the pyrotechnics exploded in the air around them, the camera following Hercule's every movement. Hercule took a few steps back and roared in defiance, flexing in front of Perfect Cell as the song went through the second verse. He roared and posed some more as the song went into the chorus again and got into a fighting stance as the song finished playing out. A stunned silence followed before Goku started clapping enthusiastically. Suno could only marvel at Hercule's intense and resolute expression. Did… did he actually think he could win?! Perfect Cell seemed to be wondering the same thing before she suddenly began to snicker and even laughed aloud.
"Are we really gonna let him do this?" Krillin muttered out of the corner of his mouth.
"Eh," Launch shrugged. "He put all this effort into it. Might as well." Perfect Cell wiped a tear from her eye and shook her head.
"Thank you," she sighed. "I-I needed that. I don't think I've ever seen you before. This is new! I like it!" then she waved her hand away as if she were shooing off a stray dog. "Now run along, mustache man. The grownups are going to fight and–" she realized Hercule was still staring at her. "Oh my Perfection, are you serious?! Are you really going to fight me?!" Then she laughed again. Perfect Cell laughed so hard that she snorted and doubled over at the waist, her whole body convulsing with laughter.
"Shut up!" Hercule snapped at her as he clenched his fists. "I don't have any fun catchphrases for a murdering piece of bug garbage like you, Cell! I'm here to put you down!" That just made Perfect Cell fall backwards and kick her legs in the air, helpless with laughter. For half a second, Hercule faltered. Why wasn't she taking him seriously? Was… was that how little of a threat he posed to her?
OoOoOoO
All across the world, people sat glued as the news played on every television, a similar feeling of dread passing through them and sitting in their stomachs like a lead weight as Perfect Cell laughed at their hero. Was this it? Were they doomed? A muttering passed through the crowds in the streets of the capital cities as they stood below the massive screens that were playing the footage in the city square.
"This is it," they muttered. "We're dead. If Cell's laughing at our greatest heroes, what hope do we have? It's all over. We haven't got a chance." Once voice rang out in protest.
"Come on, Hercule!" a young boy cried as he sat on his father's shoulders, a Hercule action figure clutched desperately in his fists. "You're the Strongest in the World! You can beat her up! Don't be scared!" His hope passed through the crowd and they all cheered and gave words of encouragement.
"Come on, Hercule!" They cried across the world. "You're the greatest! You're our hero! You can do anything!"
OoOoOoO
Hercule seemed to hear their words and it filled him with a fire as he pounded his fists together. His eyes flashed with light and he let out a roar as he charged at Perfect Cell with one fist drawn back. Perfect Cell had barely gotten to her feet as Hercule leaped into the air, putting everything he had into the ultimate punch.
"Hercule Supreme Megaton Blow!" he bellowed as he brought down his fist with an almighty force. Perfect Cell blinked at him and a rush of air struck Hercule in the chest, sending him rocketing away from her and hurtling into the sky. Goku was suddenly in the air and caught Hercule's prone body after Cell had launched him away with a kiai.
"Hey," she told him encouragingly as she descended, "Nice fight. You gave it your best shot." Then she set him down beside his plane and cracked her knuckles before stepping into the ring. 'Don't worry,' Goku told Gohan telepathically, 'I'll take the first shot. It'll give you a chance to study her fighting style and everything.'
While she did this, Cell laughed and got into her guard. "Now this," she declared excitedly, "Is more like it! A proper challenge for my Perfect Form."
"Go to Hell!" Vegeta snapped, although neither she nor Goku paid him any mind. They both stood their in their guards for a moment, analyzing each other and this moment.
Perfect Cell had been Perfectly designed for this. For almost the sole purpose of killing Goku. All of her techniques, all her knowledge, and the knowledge and skills of everyone Goku had faced. Decades of travelling throughout time and space had let to this moment, to this Perfect battle. Goku, as prepared and as powerful as she could be, and Perfect Cell, at her Perfect peak.
Goku couldn't imagine a better opponent. It was as if her whole life had led to this moment. Meeting Bulma, going after the Dragon Balls. Fighting Tao, the Red Ribbon Army, Ten, and Piccolo Daimaou. Finding out she was a Saiyan, fighting Vegeta, battling Feeza, becoming a Super Saiyan. Heck, the ring even looked like a bigger version of the Tenkaichi Budoukai Ring. All the knowledge and skill she had gathered throughout her life, to battle the ultimate opponent.
"Just so you know," Perfect Cell told Goku, "You can win by ring-out, submission, knockout… or death." Goku flashed her a grin.
"Awesome," Goku retorted eagerly. "Nothing to hold back, right?" Cell nodded. They were the two most powerful women in the universe. The ultimate martial artists. One who had gathered her skills over a lifetime and fought to push herself past her limits. One who had been bred for and carefully created for this battle. A bloodthirsty warrior who had become a protector. A protector who sought to bring the end of all things. It had all come down to this. One was life. One was death. After today, nothing would ever be the same.