The group flew for several miles, the terrain beneath them transforming from verdant fields to rocky landscapes littered with canyons and crags. Tension manifested differently across the airborne formation - Gohan's gaze darting anxiously between his father and Vegeta, Krillin's protective hovering near his young friend, while the Saiyan royals maintained their calculated distance ahead.
"Hey, Gohan, try not to worry!" Krillin attempted reassurance, noting the boy's growing anxiety. "Your dad knows what he's doing. Goku is the toughest guy in the whole world! Plus, you and I are a team. I got your back in case something happens."
"But Krillin, you can't fight this battle for me. I have to prove to Piccolo his sacrifice wasn't in vain."
"Gohan-" Krillin's protest died at the sight of fierce determination replacing fear in his young companion's expression.
The half-Saiyan's attention shifted to Cellera's form ahead. Her combat intent lacked the cruelty emanating from her father or Nappa's earlier presence. Despite clearly outmatching Nappa's strength, she had refrained from joining the previous battles - a detail that hadn't escaped the tactical assessment Piccolo had drilled into his student.
Multiple subtle signs had drawn notice throughout their encounters - her aborted intervention when Nappa first attacked, the flash of discomfort near Piccolo's body, that oddly gentle look when Nappa had demanded combat before Goku's arrival. Even her reactions to Gohan's moments of fear had carried the same disappointed edge as Piccolo's.
He'd seen her move to intervene when Nappa had tried to attack them before his father stepped in. He'd caught her discomfort near Piccolo's body, almost as if she felt remorse. She'd given them that oddly gentle look when Nappa had still wanted to fight before his father arrived. And every time he'd shown fear, she'd seemed disappointed, much like Piccolo used to be. His father's muttered words broke through his thoughts.
"Yeah, no one will get hurt if we fight way out here." Goku's quiet assessment preceded his descent toward one of the massive rock formations. Cellera and Vegeta touched down on an opposing plateau, their synchronized movement speaking to years of coordinated combat.
"Kakarot," Vegeta announced, "I have a proposition for you. I'm only going to say this once, so listen carefully."
The announcement drew varying reactions - Cellera's glance between her father and Goku carried an unexpected flicker of hope, while tension radiated from the Earth defenders.
"I, Vegeta, Prince of all Saiyans, would like to offer you, Kakarot, the opportunity to stand beside me in this conquest. With Nappa gone, I could use a good man! Of course, your son would be welcomed as well."
The proposal sent ripples of surprise through the observers. Gohan's expression shifted rapidly between confusion and disbelief - the offer's extension to him particularly unexpected. His gaze darted to Cellera, wondering at her potential influence in this inclusion, while the revelation of Vegeta's royal status cast his assessment of the young female Saiyan in new light.
"Think about it..." Vegeta continued, his voice carrying dark promise. "We would rule the planets. You could have anything you desired. There's no one in the universe that could touch us! What do you say, Kakarot?"
"I could have everything I ever want right here on Earth! So I'll have to say... no thanks." His father's reply was firm, leaving no room for negotiation. "Besides, I've seen how you treat your partners. Not much job security."
Gohan noticed Cellera's expression fall slightly, her hand moving to her mouth in that thinking gesture he'd observed before. Her eyes took on that distant look he'd seen several times now - the one that suggested she was processing something deeply. Vegeta's chuckle drew both his and Cellera's attention.
"Alright, then, so be it! You had your chance." Vegeta turned to Cellera. "Take your fight a little ways from here, but don't stray too far."
Though it was clearly a command, Cellera simply nodded before looking at Gohan and Krillin, tilting her head to indicate they should follow. Gohan gave his father one last look before he and Krillin took off after her.
[NO POV]
The air crackled with tension as Cellera touched down across from Gohan, her movements deliberately casual despite the battle raging between their fathers nearby. She studied him with the same analytical gaze she'd worn throughout their earlier encounters, but now there was something else in her expression - curiosity, perhaps even anticipation. She took off her scouter and crushed it beneath her boot, causing both boys to look at her in surprise.
"It's practically useless with how you can all hide your power levels," she said with a slight grin.
Gohan recognized that eager expression - it was the same one his father wore when practicing new techniques outside while Gohan did his homework, or when telling stories of adventures from his own childhood.
"Hey baldy, your name is Krillin, right?" Cellera asked, turning to the warrior who stood at Gohan's side.
"Huh?" Krillin flailed slightly at being addressed by the powerful girl. "Y-Yeah! What's it to ya?!"
"I want no interference from you," she stated, turning back to face her true target - the boy who'd impressed her by landing that kick on Nappa. "This battle is between us."
Cellera dropped into a defensive fighting stance that mirrored her father's perfectly. "Your turn to prove yourself, half-breed. Show me what the Namekian taught you."
"You've got this Gohan! Take her down!" Krillin cheered from the sidelines.
Gohan balled his hands into fists and took up Piccolo's signature stance - a detail that didn't escape Cellera's notice. The two young warriors studied each other for a moment before charging simultaneously, exchanging a flurry of punches and kicks. Despite his best efforts, Gohan found himself holding back with each strike, his mother's lessons about never hitting girls echoing in his mind.
Cellera could feel the hesitation in each of Gohan's attacks as she blocked them. A scowl darkened her features. "Fight me like you mean it, dammit!" she yelled, driving a hard punch into his chin. Gohan retreated quickly as she pressed forward with another strike.
"Sorry, my mom always told me not to hit girls..." Gohan said, rubbing his chin. The words had barely left his mouth when he realized his mistake. Cellera's expression turned murderous - the most threatening look he'd seen from her yet. Both he and Krillin took an involuntary step back.
"Oh?" Cellera's eyebrow arched dangerously, her tail unwinding slightly from her waist in growing irritation. "Is that so?!" She took a deep breath, consciously trying to control her anger, determined not to lose control like Nappa had.
When she'd collected herself, she let out a sharp laugh. "Your mother's manners won't save your planet." She vanished, reappearing behind him with startling speed. "The universe isn't polite, Gohan."
Gohan barely managed to block her kick, the force still sending him skidding backward. She pressed forward with a series of precise strikes - not meant to damage, but to test his defenses. Gohan studied her face as he defended, trying to read her intentions.
"Your father, Kakarot, is over there giving it his all!" She launched a roundhouse kick toward the right side of his head, which he blocked. "And here you are pulling your punches. Do you truly care what happens to you all if my father and I win?!"
Gohan gritted his teeth as he blocked another punch. The frustration in her eyes reminded him so much of Piccolo during their training sessions, when his mentor knew he could do better.
"At least you have something worth fighting for," she continued, her voice taking on an edge as she drove him back. "A home. A family. People who actually care whether you live or die." Her next punch carried more force, genuine emotion bleeding through her controlled facade. "Some of us never had that choice."
Gohan caught her fist, finally meeting her gaze. "What do you mean?"
"Our planet was destroyed long before I was born," she replied, breaking away to create distance. "My father and I have been forced to live under the rule of a tyrant for years, who I suspect had a hand in my mother's death! Not to mention, my whole race is practically gone and all that remains are us." Her eyes hardened. "So spare me your politeness. Sometimes fighting is the only choice we have."
Before Gohan could respond, they all felt a powerful shift in the atmosphere. Their attention turned toward where Goku and Vegeta were battling, where a glowing orb hung in the air, almost resembling a moon.
"Father... you really had to resort to using *that*..." Cellera's voice carried a mix of resignation and concern.
"What is that!" Krillin demanded.
"To keep it simple, a fake moon that creates something called 'Blutz Waves,' which are needed to transform us into what we refer to as 'The Great Ape,'" Cellera explained, turning away as if the sight itself was distasteful. It was clear she had no intention of using that transformation for this battle.
"W-Wait! So you're telling me... All of you Saiyans turn into that giant rampaging ape?!" Krillin asked, horror creeping into his voice.
Cellera nodded. "That's right. Based on your reaction, I'd say you've seen Kakarot transform before. For my father to use this, he must be in a bind." A mighty roar echoed across the battlefield, causing her to grimace at what Kakarot would now face.
"Krillin." Gohan's voice carried an unexpected authority. "Go and help my dad." "But... Gohan!" Krillin's protest died in his throat as he met Gohan's stern gaze - an expression that Cellera noted bore an uncanny resemblance to his father's.
"I'll be fine. He needs you more than me right now."
Krillin looked between Gohan and the direction where his best friend fought, conflict clear on his face before he made his choice. "Alright then, be careful Gohan." With that, he took off toward where the two fathers battled.
Cellera launched forward again, pleased to see that Gohan maintained his guard. Their exchanges grew faster, more intense, though Gohan could sense that Cellera's attacks still felt more like tests than genuine attempts to harm.
Frustration mounting at the level of combat that even a Saiyan infant could handle, Cellera decided the only way to get Gohan to fight seriously was to provoke his anger. "How pathetic. I know you were mentored by the Namekian, but I thought Kakarot would have at least trained you better than this."
"I don't like fighting," Gohan admitted, causing Cellera to blink in surprise. The concept of a Saiyan who didn't enjoy battle was foreign to her, especially given how clearly his father loved it. "So my dad never trained me. Piccolo was my first teacher once we found out you guys were coming here." His eyes narrowed slightly at her.
The pieces began falling into place - his hesitation, his fear, his uncertainty in battle. She had initially attributed it to inexperience in life-or-death situations, but this made far more sense. A Saiyan child, never trained until mere months ago. All the more reason to make him understand why he needed to fight.
"Well, that explains it. Your technique is decent," she observed between clashes, "but you're holding back. Is this really all the Namekian could teach you?"
"Don't talk about Piccolo like that!" Gohan snapped, his power flaring. "He was a great teacher!"
"Was he?" Cellera's smirk held a challenge. "The same teacher who let you run and hide when Nappa attacked? Who couldn't even prepare you to—"
The rest of her taunt was cut off as Gohan's fist connected with her jaw, raw emotion finally overwhelming his hesitation. His power surged, just as it had when Piccolo fell. Their battle shifted into a higher gear, Gohan's emotional strength meeting Cellera's technical precision. She found herself genuinely challenged, having to utilize every bit of her training to stay ahead of his wild but powerful attacks.
Their exchange of blows intensified, each strike carrying more power than the last. Cellera found herself having to dodge rather than block some of Gohan's hits - his raw power becoming dangerous when fueled by emotion. Still, she needed more. He wasn't fighting with everything yet.
"You know," she said, launching a ki blast that Gohan barely deflected, "after we're done here, maybe I'll convince my father to keep your mother alive. She could make an excellent servant." The taunt felt hollow even as she said it, but she pressed on, watching his power spike. "Or maybe we'll just destroy this whole planet like we did the last one. Your choice."
Gohan's aura flared brighter, his attacks becoming more precise even in his anger. He launched a series of ki blasts that Cellera had to work to evade, each one leaving craters in the landscape behind her. "You won't touch my mom!" He charged forward, his speed increasing. "You won't destroy my home!"
Cellera smirked, though something in his growing power made her wary. "And who's going to stop me? You? The boy who couldn't even save his own mentor?" She gathered energy in her palm, the blue light casting shadows across her face. "Face it, Gohan. You're too weak to protect anyone!"
The look in Gohan's eyes shifted - no longer just anger, but something deeper. His power level began to climb rapidly, just as it had during his fight with Nappa. He brought his hands above his head, energy crackling between them. "Masenko~!"
Cellera braced herself, recognizing the deadly attack from his attack against Nappa. This was what she'd been pushing for - his true power.
"HA!"
The beam that erupted from his hands was massive, far stronger than what he'd used against Nappa. Cellera's eyes widened as it approached - she might have pushed too far. But just as the blast was about to hit, it curved upward, exploding harmlessly in the sky above her.
Gohan stood there panting, his hands still raised. "I won't finish it," he said firmly. "Because you don't really want to hurt my mother, or destroy Earth." His eyes met hers. "You're not like Nappa. You're just trying to make me stronger... like Piccolo did."
Cellera stared at him, genuinely stunned. This child had seen through her act completely. More surprisingly, he'd shown her mercy not out of weakness or fear, but out of understanding.
For a moment, they just stared at each other, both breathing heavily from their battle. Then Cellera did something that surprised even herself - she laughed. Not mockingly, but with genuine appreciation.
"You're an interesting one, Gohan," she said, wiping blood from her split lip. "Most warriors show mercy out of weakness. But you... you choose mercy from a position of strength." Her tail swayed thoughtfully. "Like my mother used to. She believed true power came from knowing when and when not to use it."
"Is that why you give quick deaths?" Gohan asked, understanding dawning in his eyes. "Because you don't like causing pain like the others do?"
Cellera's expression sobered. "There's enough suffering in the universe without adding to it needlessly." She looked toward the horizon where another massive roar echoed. "Especially with tyrants like Frieza out there."
"Frieza...Who's that?"
"Someone who's truly evil. My father's and Nappa's brutality is nothing compared to him." Her fists clenched. "That's why we need the Dragon Balls. Not just for immortality, but for a chance to free ourselves. To restore our planet and race that was unfairly taken from us"
Gohan's eyes widened in remembrance. "Are there more Dragon Balls? On that planet you guys mentioned before - Namek?"
Before Cellera could respond, a devastating crash interrupted them. They turned to see the Great Ape form of her father holding Gohan's father in a crushing grip. Even from this distance, they could hear Kakarot's screams of pain.
"We need to go," they said simultaneously, then shared a brief look of understanding before taking off toward the battle.
"Father!" Cellera cried out, while beside her, Gohan called "Dad!" with equal concern.
They arrived just in time to see a flash of metal - some fat human with a sword slicing through the air - and then her father's agonized roar as his tail was severed.
Cellera stared at the fleeing swordsman in shock before turning back to assess her father's condition. Kakarot had clearly done significant damage during their battle - a shoulder piece of her father's Saiyan armor was chipped, with scuff marks littering its surface. His right eye remained closed, suggesting injury.
"Gohan..." Cellera said, glancing back toward where the mysterious warrior had disappeared. "Who was that? He wasn't with your group earlier."
"Beats me! I have no idea!" Gohan replied.
"Yajirobe!" Krillin exclaimed as he landed beside them. "He... did it!" His excitement died quickly under Cellera's sharp glare.
The Great Ape form continued shrinking, Kakarot slipping from her father's rapidly diminishing grasp. Gohan winced as his father's battered body struck the ground. "Daddy!" he cried, concern evident in his voice.
Cellera couldn't fault his worry. Kakarot had clearly taken the worse beating - while her father could still stand, Gohan's father lay motionless on the ground.
Vegeta's heavy breathing echoed in the wake of his transformation and tail loss. His gaze snapped to where his daughter stood with the half-breed. "You're all going to... pay!" he snarled, rage filling his voice.
Vegeta's rage-filled eyes swept over them, lingering on his daughter with particular disappointment. She had one task - eliminate the half-breed - and instead he still stands there, alive and well.
"And you," he snarled, suddenly appearing before Cellera. She barely had time to register his movement before his fist drove into her stomach with crushing force. "I expected better from my own blood!"
Cellera doubled over, shock written across her face more than pain. She'd seen her father's anger before, but never directed at her with such force. As she crumpled to her knees, she heard Gohan call out her name in concern.
"Stay focused on your own survival, boy," Vegeta warned, turning his attention to Gohan and then to Krillin. "You're the ones truly responsible for this humiliation. A lowborn soldier and his half-breed brat... You'll both die for this insult!"
Cellera tried to push herself up, but the combination of her earlier fight with Gohan and her father's unexpected attack left her struggling to maintain consciousness. Through blurring vision, she watched as her father advanced on the two Earth warriors, his power crackling dangerously despite his injuries.
"Your... fight's with me... Vegeta..." Kakarot's strained voice came from where he lay.
"Oh, you'll get your turn, Kakarot," he promised darkly. "But first, I'm going to make you watch as I eliminate these insects!"
"Gohan, get out of there!" Krillin yelled, watching Vegeta's gaze shift from him to the boy who stood practically within the Saiyan prince's reach.
Before Gohan could react, a fist collided with his face, sending him tumbling backward several feet. As he pushed himself up, he found Vegeta standing over him, wearing a malicious smirk that reminded him too much of Nappa. Gohan felt his body begin to tremble.
The Saiyan delivered another punch, matching the force he'd used on his daughter, leaving the boy clutching his stomach and gasping in pain.
"A brave Saiyan like yourself shouldn't be scared. It's not becoming." Vegeta raised an elbow, ready to strike, but paused. "I guess those powers of yours are taking a nap. Pity."
Just as he prepared to land his next attack, Krillin charged toward him. Vegeta reacted instantly, delivering a roundhouse kick that sent the smaller warrior flying through multiple rocky formations.
"Patience, little man. You'll get your turn." Vegeta laughed before turning back to Gohan, placing his foot on the boy's head and grinding his nose into the dirt. "Up, you brat. Get up! I'm not through with you just yet!"
Gohan struggled against the pressure, but Vegeta suddenly hoisted him up by his gi.
"Come on, boy! Defend yourself. Aren't you a Saiyan? I bet that's what my daughter was trying to teach you earlier, wasn't it?"
Gohan's eyes drifted to Cellera's unconscious form nearby. Even she hadn't been spared her father's ruthless tactics.
"So fight me! Show me what you're made of!" Vegeta continued goading. Seeing Gohan try to lift his head gave him an idea. He jerked the boy forward suddenly, slamming their foreheads together. Gohan's cry of pain echoed across the battlefield as a nasty mark formed. "You're low-class scum just like your father."
Vegeta yanked Gohan in his grip again. "I think it's time I threw you out with the rest of the trash. You're all used up." His gaze drifted to his daughter's still form. "Normally my daughter has such good analytical abilities, but I guess even she can make a mistake. She actually thought you could be worth something and asked if I would extend the proposition for your father to you as well."
Vegeta began walking toward the cliff overlooking where Goku lay. "You and your measly planet of fighters have made her too curious, causing her weakness to show, and that's one mistake too many."
With those final words, he hurled Gohan over the cliff, the boy landing in a battered heap beside his father.
Hearing his son land beside him, Goku stirred. "Gohan...It's dad."
"Well, Kakarot's awake again," Vegeta mused to himself. "He just doesn't know when to quit, does he?"
"Gohan, please don't give up." Goku continued, cracking open a tired eye to look at his son. "Listen, my body is shredded. I can't use it anymore, so you're going to have to fight both of us." He gave a once-over towards Vegeta, taking in his opponent's disheveled form from their battle. "He's got to be hurting pretty bad too...This is our only chance. Please, Gohan!"
Gohan remained on his back, eyes closed in pain as he responded. "Dad, I don't think I can do it! He's just too strong for me." The next words tasted bitter on his tongue. "I'm scared of him!"
Vegeta's rough voice echoed through the area. "I hate to say I told you so... But you and your son really should have joined me, Kakarot. Now it's too late! You had your chance. Now you, your son and the bald guy will be history!" He shot an icy glare in the direction the fat man had run. "And let's not forget about the sneaky bastard who cut my tail!"
Yajirobe gave a small yelp in fear and clung harder to the rock he was hiding behind.
"Don't be scared, son." Goku tried to encourage Gohan again. "You're a lot stronger than you think. Piccolo trained you well." He glanced over to where Krillin was slowly trying to pick himself up from the nasty kick he'd taken earlier. "You're not alone. You still have Krillin to lend you a hand."
Gohan struggled, attempting to get up from his back, but to no avail. "I can't move. I don't think I can do it, Dad!"
"Yes you can!" Goku protested, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I know it, and so did Piccolo! He believed in you. That's why he gave his life to save yours." Goku knew Piccolo wasn't a fool - he wouldn't have sacrificed himself if he truly didn't think Gohan had a chance.
This sparked something in Gohan. His eyes flew open as he relived the event that had happened only hours ago - his mentor taking a hit meant for him because he couldn't overcome his fear and move out of the way.
"I believe in you too, son. And as crazy as it may seem, I think that girl does too." Goku didn't know exactly what, but he could sense that the Saiyan girl wasn't driven by destruction like her father. If anything, she seemed more interested in testing her strength. However, he knew she could be cold and kill if what Vegeta said earlier was any indication.
Goku began painstakingly attempting to stretch a hand toward his son. Gohan noticed and tried to meet him halfway. Just as their fingers nearly touched, Vegeta appeared and slammed his knee into Goku's already damaged abdomen, causing him to cry out in agony and spit up blood. Gohan cried out at the ruthless display as Vegeta gave a satisfied smile.
"Being a good fiend is like being a photographer..." Vegeta mused, "you have to wait for the right moment."
"G-Gohan!" Goku called out desperately, only to receive a kick to his skull from Vegeta.
"Sorry! Father-son time is over!" Vegeta continued stomping on Goku's abdomen and kicking his sides, each hit drawing out another cry of pain. His psychotic laughter filled the air. "So nice of you to point out my daughter's failure to me in 'believing in' your little runt! Perhaps I've been too lenient with her! I'll let her know she has you to thank when I teach her her lesson!"
Gohan watched helplessly as Vegeta continued to mercilessly attack his father - a father who couldn't even move to fight anymore. The anger began welling up inside him again. "No...Stop!" he pleaded, but Vegeta just continued his assault. He couldn't take it anymore! "I said STOP!" he screamed, a burst of energy surging through him enough to help pick himself up off his back.
Vegeta turned in surprise to see the half-breed back on his feet and in a fighting stance.
"You heard me!" Gohan shouted angrily, his body trembling with a mixture of fear and rage. He wasn't sure which emotion was stronger, but he knew he couldn't let everyone down now. "Let's go!" he challenged.
"Sure kid! Why not? I'm game." Vegeta smirked, accepting the boy's challenge with dark amusement.
Nearby, Cellera finally began to regain consciousness. Though still unable to pick herself up to fight, she managed to turn her head enough to observe the battle. For a moment, she thought her vision must still be clouded from the blow - because when she looked up, she swore she saw Gohan landing a solid kick to her father's jaw.
"Little punk!" Vegeta snarled.
Gohan attempted to press his advantage with another blow, but Vegeta swiftly maneuvered himself into a backflip, returning the kick Gohan had given him. They traded blows in the air for several moments before Vegeta finally connected another solid punch to Gohan's face.
"Well, it seems there is more to you. My daughter may have been right after all." Vegeta cast a glance at Cellera. She had regained consciousness, he noted, but it would still be some time before she could rejoin the fight.
The battlefield had grown eerily quiet save for the sounds of combat between Gohan and Vegeta. Cellera, still struggling to rise, noticed something strange happening with Kakarot. Though battered and seemingly helpless, his face had taken on an intense look of concentration.
Krillin crawled closer to his oldest friend, trying to keep his movements subtle to avoid drawing Vegeta's attention. He could feel something different in the air around Goku, a familiar sensation but somehow larger than anything he'd felt before.
"Krillin..." Goku's voice was barely a whisper. "Come close. I need you to listen carefully."
Vegeta remained focused on trading blows with Gohan, unaware of the exchange happening below. Cellera, however, found her tactical mind engaging despite her injuries. Something about Kakarot's demeanor and the way his remaining energy seemed to be gathering...
"Take it. All of it." Goku strained with effort as he began to transfer the collected energy.
The power transfer was subtle - nothing like the flashy energy displays of their previous battles. But Cellera saw it, her eyes widening as she realized what was happening. This was why her father had always warned her never to underestimate an opponent, even when they seemed defeated.
Krillin's eyes grew wide as he felt the enormous energy flowing into him. He had to fight to keep his composure, to prevent his power level from spiking and giving away what might be their last chance.
"Don't force the energy," Goku instructed softly. "Just let it flow through you."
After a few moments, Krillin seemed to get the hang of having so much energy in one hand, as he was soon able to mold it into a spherical shape hovering above his palm. "Wow, I did it!" he exclaimed in amazement, his face then morphing to one of confusion. "Um...what did I do?"
"It's a Spirit Bomb," Goku explained. "King Kai taught me... Listen, you can do this!" His face twisted in pain as even talking proved difficult. "I know you can... But you have to be careful. We only get one shot."
"Got it! I promise I'll do my best!" Krillin assured his best friend.
Cellera watched the spherical ball of energy in Krillin's hands, amazed that Kakarot could keep something so powerful hidden from her father throughout their battle. Not to mention, passing off the task of handling it to someone else... The closest she had ever gotten to that from her father was mission logistics. He had always taught her to rely on herself and her Saiyan instincts. These Earthlings, however, seemed to trust not only themselves but each other.
Her attention returned to the battle between her father and Gohan. The boy now lay on the ground after taking a nasty hammerfist to the back of the head - punishment for landing that elbow to her father's already damaged right eye.
"He's just way too strong," Gohan muttered, more to himself than anyone. "If my dad couldn't beat him then how could I? I'm just a kid!"
His own words reminded him of Cellera. The girl who had been doing this probably since she could walk. She was his age. He knew she had trained much more than he had, and even she had gone down with one punch from her father. And yet...
"At least you have something worth fighting for!"
He clenched his fists, terrified yet sure, and picked himself up again.
Vegeta descended to the ground, laughing as he strode over to Gohan. "I've got to hand it to you, your strength is surprising! Yes, you should be proud. You fought well."
Cellera watched her father approach the bruised and bloody Gohan, conflict churning inside her as she remained unable to move. Even if she could, she wouldn't make it in time, and even then - what would she do? Defy her father again? She had already seen where that path led. But watching Gohan die... the thought of more needless death made her stomach turn.
She may have feared him, but she also respected her father. Often she wondered if their world hadn't been destroyed by the meteor, if they hadn't been taken in by Frieza, would he be different? Would this ruthlessness still define him? Nappa, having been by her father's side since his youth, had mentioned offhandedly during their spars how Vegeta had grown more violent and ruthless over the years. Cellera could only assume this was the result of losing their home, losing her mother, and living under tyrannical rule for so long.
'Dammit!' she thought as she gritted her teeth and slammed a fist on the ground. Defying him felt like betraying her own blood, but even worse, it felt like giving up hope that they could find any semblance of happiness together, any chance of peace. She slowly tried to pick herself up as her father spoke again.
"But unfortunately for you, it wasn't well enough. Think of it - if my daughter had only done her job earlier, you would've had a quick and painless death. So you have her to thank for what happens to you next."
Finally able to push herself to her knees, she looked over to see Krillin getting into position behind her father with the sphere of energy Kakarot had given him. Perhaps this could be their chance? If they could land this hit, maybe she could muster enough energy to get her father away from here - if the attack didn't kill him.
She watched as her father began sending ki blasts toward Gohan, who barely managed to dodge each one. However, the assault didn't stop. As the ki blasts continued their relentless path toward Gohan, the boy kept backing away.
"You can't run forever!" Vegeta shouted, not letting up for a moment.
Krillin still stood on the pillar, holding the ball of energy, frustration evident on his face as he wrestled with the decision to attack.
Vegeta finally landed a hit when Gohan stumbled during one of his dodges. The blast sent him crashing into a cliff side, the impact causing rocks to cascade down upon him.
Cellera's breath caught for a moment, but she released a small sigh of relief when she saw the rubble move and Gohan emerge. The relief proved short-lived as Vegeta sprinted toward him, the half-breed still dazed and unaware.
"I hope you're watching this, Kakarot! Get a good look! Because it's the last time you're going to see your son!"
Cellera squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to witness what her father was about to do. Suddenly her eyes snapped open as she remembered! She whipped her head toward Krillin, who evidently had the same revelation that this was the perfect moment to attack.
"That was it!" Krillin yelled.
"Krillin! What the hell are you waiting for? Just throw the damn thing, will you?"
Cellera whipped her head toward the unfamiliar voice, seeing the fat man from earlier. She couldn't believe he was still here, and she currently wished he wasn't - his loud mouth may have just ruined the Earthlings' chances. However, she noticed Gohan was now alert, looking toward the battle rather than the ground.
Her tactical mind raced. There might be one last option if the attack from behind failed! V
Vegeta snapped to attention, turning around to see a bright ball of energy hurtling toward him, its light nearly blinding. "What is that thing?!" he shouted in confusion as it approached.
"Come on, hit!" Krillin pleaded. His stomach dropped as he watched Vegeta barely manage to jump over it in time. "I missed him!" he yelled in frustration.
"No...There's one more option..." Cellera muttered to herself. Suddenly an unfamiliar voice echoed in her mind.
"I'm all ears."
She startled, looking around for the source of the voice.
'Calm down, kid! I'm speaking with you telepathically. The name is King Kai.' Cellera recalled hearing Kakarot mention that name to Krillin when passing over the energy, and earlier...
"Well, I was trained in the art of Kaio-Ken"
'So you're the one who trained Kakarot for our arrival,' she confirmed.
'Yes, but there's no time for that! While I would rather not take advice from the daughter of someone currently trying to destroy the Earth, beggars can't be choosers.'
Cellera didn't bother to argue - he wasn't wrong. 'Is there a way to rebound this attack?'
Silence stretched for a few moments before King Kai spoke again. 'It is possible, so long as there's no evil in the heart of the one who rebounds it.'
Cellera smirked as she watched the ball of energy heading toward Gohan. Perfect. 'This should work then. I believe Gohan can rebound the attack. It would be the last thing my father would expect from him.' She glanced over to where Kakarot still lay. 'Relay this information to Kakarot so he can tell Gohan! Quick!'
The mental connection fell silent.
King Kai quickly contacted Goku, relaying Cellera's idea about Gohan rebounding the Spirit Bomb back at Vegeta. Goku couldn't help but give a pained smile - he had known the girl couldn't be all bad when he'd seen his son still in one piece after their fight.
'Gohan, it's Dad! Can you hear me?' Goku called out through King Kai's telepathic link.
Across the battlefield, Gohan's head snapped up at the sound of his father's voice. "Huh?"
Cellera watched Gohan's surprised reaction and allowed herself a small smile, seeing the plan being relayed. All that remained was to hope the attack wouldn't completely kill her father.
'Bounce it back, Gohan. That ball won't hurt you if there's no evil in your heart! You have to bounce it back!' Goku instructed firmly.
Gohan stared in apprehension at the massive energy sphere approaching him. He hesitated for a few moments until another voice echoed across his thoughts - a familiar, female one.
'You can do it, Gohan!' Gohan glanced over to where Cellera sat on her knees, still worn but no longer face-down on the ground. Their eyes locked for a moment and she gave him a slight nod.
Gohan held out his hands as the ball of energy made contact with his palms. He concentrated, trying to imagine the energy bouncing off his hands like a rubber ball against a wall. Suddenly, the force of the reverb sent him backward, his back slamming against the rocky cliff behind him.
The Spirit Bomb rebounded off Gohan's hands with incredible force, shooting back toward Vegeta who had barely registered what was happening. Cellera watched, her heart pounding, as her father turned just in time to see the massive sphere of energy hurling back at him.
"WHAT?!" Vegeta's eyes widened in shock. He tried to dodge, but his previous injuries and exhaustion had slowed his reactions.
The impact was devastating. The Spirit Bomb engulfed Vegeta completely, its pure energy lifting him high into the air as he screamed in agony. Cellera had to shield her eyes from the blinding light, her emotions warring between concern for her father and relief that the battle might finally end.
Light erupted across the battlefield, temporarily turning the dark sky bright as day. The energy pulsed outward in waves, causing the ground to shake and rocks to crumble around them. Krillin and Gohan braced themselves against the shockwave while Goku remained motionless, conserving what little energy he had left.
When the light finally faded, Vegeta plummeted from the sky like a meteor, crashing into the ground with enough force to create a small crater. The silence that followed was deafening. '
Cellera struggled to her feet, her legs shaking with effort as she tried to sense if her father still lived. She could feel his ki - severely weakened, but still there. The relief that flooded through her was quickly replaced by uncertainty about what would happen next.
Gohan made his way towards his father, who hadn't moved from his position, his body too broken to shift. "Dad... are you going to be okay?" he asked, his young voice trembling with worry.
"Yeah, but I'll probably be sore for a while," Goku replied, managing a weak smile for his son's benefit.
Krillin approached them, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, I gotta admit, I have seen you look better."
"Maybe so. But it could be worse."
From her position, Cellera found herself puzzled by Kakarot's optimism. How could it possibly be worse with his body as broken as it was? Then her gaze drifted to her father - his armor shattered, blood streaming from multiple wounds as he struggled to even lift his head - and understanding dawned. This was the man who had shown mercy to Nappa, even after everything. Of course he would find hope even now.
"Yeah, you could be that alien!" The three began to laugh, though Cellera noticed how even their laughter held pain.
Krillin's expression suddenly hardened as he got up and made his way towards Vegeta. Cellera watched him tense as her father began to stir in the crater, each movement clearly agonizing. "I don't believe it..." Krillin's voice shook with a mixture of fear and anger. "He's still alive! We can't risk him recovering! He's too dangerous to leave alive!"
Those words sent ice through Cellera's veins. Despite her own conflicted feelings about her father's actions, the thought of watching him be executed made something primal inside her revolt. Fighting through her own injuries, she forced herself forward.
"Wait!" she called out, her voice raw with desperation.
Krillin turned toward her, his remaining ki already forming the deadly disc above his palm. His expression flickered with sympathy at the sight of the injured girl stumbling toward them, but his resolve held firm. "After everything he's done - Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, Piccolo... How many more people have to die?!"
"If I could have it my way, none!" The words burst from her before she could stop them. She positioned herself in front of her father, her stance protective despite her trembling legs. "My father wasn't even the one who killed them," she argued, knowing even as she spoke how hollow the defense sounded. "That was a Saibaman and Nappa!"
"But he let it happen!" Krillin's ki disc pulsed brighter with his anger. "If anything, he gave the go ahead! He even hurt you! His own child!"
"He's beaten." The admission felt like ash in her mouth. Never had she imagined speaking such words about her father, but these Earthlings had a way of making her question everything she'd ever known as truth. "He can barely move!"
Krillin held his position, the Destructo-Disc still humming with lethal energy. Cellera took a deep breath, knowing she needed to appeal to their demonstrated capacity for compassion. Though this wasn't just for show - every word that followed came from a truth she'd barely acknowledged to herself.
"You're right about him," Cellera admitted, her admission stunning both Krillin and Gohan. Her voice cracked with emotion she'd never been allowed to show. "He is dangerous. He's done terrible things. But..." she trailed off, feeling an unfamiliar sting in her eyes and a tightness in her throat that she fought to control.
Saiyans didn't typically express emotions like love or sympathy, favoring instead the more acceptable displays of anger and pride. Or at least, those were all Cellera had ever witnessed and experienced in her short life. Yet that knowledge couldn't stop her next words, nor did it make them any less true.
"Your strength today came from protecting what matters to you." Her gaze moved from Gohan to his barely conscious father, unaware of the tears now trailing down her cheeks. "He's what matters to me! He's all I have left!" With that declaration, she moved from standing protectively before her father to crouching over his body. "And if you're going to take his life, then you must take mine as well."
Her declaration stunned the Earthlings - and even her father himself.
Vegeta weakly grasped her wrist, attempting to pull her away, to die as a Saiyan warrior with his pride intact, but she remained immovable. His grip held no strength, a testament to how close to death he truly was.
She met Krillin's gaze unflinchingly, letting him see the absolute truth of her words despite the tears staining her face. The determination in her eyes made it clear - she would follow through on her declaration. She felt her father's grip go slack, and a quick glance confirmed he had finally lost consciousness.
"Cellera..." Gohan's voice was soft with understanding. He remembered what she'd told him about her mother's death, about their race being practically extinct, about the remaining four now fighting for their very survival.
"Krillin... let them go," Goku's weak voice broke through the tension.
"Goku?" Krillin turned to his friend in disbelief. "Show him... we're different," Goku continued, each word clearly an effort. "Show mercy..."
The word struck Cellera like a physical blow. Mercy. The only mercy she'd ever been allowed to offer was that of an instant, painless death. This kind of mercy - sparing a life - was a luxury she'd never had under her father's teachings or Frieza's command.
"But Goku..." Krillin's energy disc began to waver as his resolve weakened. "After everything he's done..."
"I know." Goku managed a small smile despite his obvious pain. "But killing him won't bring them back. Besides..." his eyes moved to Cellera, carrying a warmth she'd never seen directed at her before. "I think there might be hope."
Cellera rose at his words, forcing herself to stand straight though the effort made her wince. After a moment of internal struggle, she unwound her tail from her waist, wrapping her fingers around its base. She knew her father would be livid at what she was about to do, and found herself grateful he wasn't conscious to witness it. At least they'd match now.
"What are you-" Krillin started to ask.
"Saiyans take great pride in their tails," Cellera explained, keeping her voice steady despite her trembling hands. "It's a symbol of our warrior heritage, our strength." She met first Krillin's gaze, then Gohan's. "But today, you've shown me there are different kinds of strength."
With one decisive motion, she severed her own tail. The pain was intense, but she didn't cry out - wouldn't cry out. Her father had taught her better than that. She let the tail fall to the ground between them, a bridge between what she had been and what she might become.
"Consider this my proof," she declared. "We will leave your planet. You have my word."
Gohan's eyes widened in understanding of the sacrifice she'd just made. Even Krillin finally dispersed his attack, struck by the gravity of her gesture.
"Thank you," Cellera continued softly, "for showing mercy. For showing that strength can mean knowing when not to kill." Her gaze drifted to her father's broken form. "Maybe... maybe there's another way to be strong."
The words rang true in her heart, but deep down, she wondered if she could ever convince her father of the same. Then there was Frieza... She pushed those thoughts aside. Those were concerns for after she got her father to a healing pod.
Krillin finally relaxed his combat stance completely. "Alright," he conceded. "But if you ever come back to threaten Earth..."
Cellera nodded, understanding the unspoken warning. She pulled their space pod remote from a built-in pocket of her damaged armor. The pod responded immediately, landing meters away with an impact that created yet another crater in the battle-scarred landscape.
Hooking her arms under her father's shoulders, she began the arduous task of moving him. Her exhausted muscles screamed in protest as she dragged them both toward the pod. As she passed Gohan, something made her pause.
"You proved me right," she said quietly. "About having something worth fighting for."
Gohan managed a small smile. "I know you'll find something too." He hesitated, then continued, "You know, I meant what I said - I don't like fighting. But..." his gaze drifted to his father before returning to meet hers, "you made me understand something. Sometimes we have to fight, not because we want to, but because the things worth fighting for are far more important than our fear and dislike of fighting."
"The universe isn't polite," Cellera echoed their earlier exchange, a faint smile touching her lips despite her exhaustion.
"No, it isn't," Gohan agreed. "But that's why we need people who fight to protect things." He glanced again at his father's broken body - broken while defending their home.
The parallel wasn't lost on Cellera - her earlier words about having no choice in fighting now stood in stark contrast to Gohan's choice to fight for protection rather than destruction. It was a different kind of Saiyan strength than anything her father had taught her.
Looking at the boy who'd helped her see things so differently, Cellera felt her smile grow more genuine. "A shame you couldn't be introduced to fighting in a less life-threatening way. Maybe you would've formed a different opinion."
She paused, struck by the novel sensation of having a friendly conversation with someone her own age. The feeling was... pleasant.
"What would you be then, if not a fighter like your father?" she asked, genuine curiosity in her voice.
Gohan's face lit up. "I want to be a scholar!" he proclaimed proudly.
Cellera couldn't suppress a chuckle - probably the most genuine laugh she'd shared with anyone besides her father, and even those had been rare. "A Saiyan wanting to be a scholar." She met his eyes one last time, seeing all the possibilities there. "Gohan, the scholar and protector. I like it."
With those final words, she continued her path to the pod, carrying both her father and a new understanding of what strength could mean.
NOTES: Soooo, I saw no point in Gohan turning into the Great Ape when I was rewatching DBZ. LMAO. Even if it was for him to beat Vegeta...we still technically got that with him rebounding the Spirit Bomb? Also, after this the Great Ape form never returned to the series so I didn't see the point of keeping that whole scene. Hopefully you guys are still enjoying. Until next time!