A/N: Thanks for all the wonderful reviews guys, especially PremierArchange on Ao3, love our conversations! You really helped me reconnect to the story once again, which has inspired me to get this underway a whole lot quicker, an ultra long chapter. These Cell Games are going to blow your minds away, so brace yourselves as we continue to navigate through this awesome and incredible journey!
Chapter 72: No turning back
He truly was the legendary Goku and yet in the eyes of a certain biomechanical fiend, the legend didn't nearly do justice to this incredible warrior, the likes of whom this planet had never seen. Such were the villain's thoughts as he exchanged blow after blow with Earth's altruistic hero, each and every cell of his, igniting with a fresh flame of fiery, feverish fervor with every hit that landed, whether it landed on him or on his opponent. At this point, he just stopped caring and was entirely immersed in the exhilarating thrill of it all. Best part was that this was only the warm-up round.
Goku was mired in similar thoughts, yet unlike Cell he was not surprised in the least. He knew just how powerful his opponent was and that there were many cards in his deck that had yet to be revealed. The rustic Saiyan's purpose here however, was not to end the threat that was Cell. He didn't think he had that in him, however if he could make the dastardly villain unveil his secrets and give the others a chance to observe and discern everything for themselves, it could ultimately prove to be a game changer. He'd discussed as much with Vegeta and the two had come to an agreement on the matter (A/N: Refer to Chapter 69).
"I'm just dying to know how you become so powerful, Goku." The insectoid smirked, giant figure deluged with frenzied excitement, as the two powerhouses stood opposite one-another. "I must know."
"You really think I'd ever tell you?" The Super Saiyan smirked right back, himself barely able to keep from shaking at the thunderous thrill of it all.
"Well, I can always beat it out of you if that's what you prefer." The villain's violet eyes were dancing with effervescence, at the mere thought. "It's definitely what I prefer, I'll tell you that much."
"Well, get used to disappointment, cause I can assure you that things won't go your way, for much longer." The rustic hero confidently declared, tone resolute.
"Oh, you're quite the joker my friend, quite the joker indeed." The apocalyptic creature laughed. "After I'm through breaking you down, piece by piece, I'll run roughshod right through your precious friends, beginning with his royal highness, the Prince of all Saiyans." He paused for a moment, smirk widening. "Though he won't be needing that title much longer, I can assure you."
"You've no idea how badly Vegeta wanted to tear you apart himself and how hard it was for him to let me fight you first." Earth's hero was no longer smiling, a vicious glare embedded on his handsome features, as he once again assumed his battle stance. "You'll pay for everyone you've hurt Cell, including the Trunks from the future, who's time machine you stole."
"Ah so that's what Vegeta's all upset about!" The fiendish villain peered in the direction of the Saiyan Prince, a sadistic grin plastering his visage, as he noticed the latter's embittered scowl. This explained why his majesty was extraordinarily livid when they last encountered one another, in the prelude to his ingestion of Android 17 (A/N: Refer to Chapter 62). True, the flame-haired Saiyan was known by all accounts to be perpetually irate, yet the unbridled anger he felt from him both then and now, was something well beyond that. Now it all made sense, yet this was a most pleasant revelation, from Cell's perspective.
"Most interesting indeed." He soliloquized, raising a curious eye Vegeta's way, till a pulverizing hook to the jaw, shattered his concentration.
"You should focus on your opponent!" Goku yelled indignantly, following up with an aggressive onslaught of attacks, though after a few moments on the defensive, an enraged Cell was able to regain his footing and counter his enemy's assault. It seemed that the Super Saiyan likewise had more power up his sleeve then he initially let on, though Cell was fully confident that this battle would inevitably end in his favor, as would all those that followed.
Ki blasts were hurled to and fro, a plethora of techniques brought front and center as little by little, the gargantuan duo started taking things up a notch. Ultimately the two adversaries' fingers were interlocked in an excruciatingly painful game of mercy that ironically had none to speak of, each party struggling to gain dominance over the other. It was at this very moment that the difference between the two began showing and despite the most painstaking efforts on his part, Earth's valiant hero was slowly but surely being subdued.
"You ready to give up now?!" Cell grinned feverishly, as he continued to subjugate the Super Saiyan, whose only response was a series of distressed grunts. "Go on, say it! Say mercy!"
"Not on your life UGH!" Goku cried out as the villain bent his poor fingers even further, dangerously close to snapping the agonized phalanges.
"GO ON, SAY MERCY!"
On the sidelines, a certain young half-Saiyan was bristling with a fiery rage, as he witnessed his father suffering at the hands of this vile, sadistic monster, his incensed aura drawing the attention of all those near him.
"Gohan, calm down." Piccolo placed a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder, though he quickly withdrew it when the preteen shot him an uncharacteristically vicious glare, teal eyes scorching with a flaming inferno.
"How am I supposed to calm down?!" The demi-Saiyan furiously snarled. "My father's in pain, I have to help him!"
"You can't Gohan." Trunks shook his head, himself dismayed yet still calm enough to avoid acting hastily. "I know its hard, but until and unless the fight's over, we just can't interfere, no matter how bad things get."
"Says who?!" The apoplectic boy vexedly spat back. "Cell?! The bastard who wants to destroy this entire fucking planet!"
All the Z fighters save Vegeta, gaped at Gohan in absolute shock, having never expected to hear such colorful language from the usually tenderhearted half-Saiyan, though it did make sense given his father's painful predicament. The Prince himself was undoubtedly stunned, yet maintained a stoic expression all the while, raising a curious eyebrow at the enraged child. He shifted his teal eyes back to the battlefield, his attention now captured by something else altogether.
"Save your anger boy." The flame-haired Saiyan spoke in an eerily calm manner. "It seems that Kakarot isn't out of the game just yet."
Everyone's gazes subsequently turned towards the ring, at Vegeta's bold, yet doubtful claim. They didn't notice anything different until two seconds later when another pair of arms abruptly popped out of the subdued Saiyan's shoulder blades, thumbs pointing outwards and catching Cell by surprise as they struck him directly in the eyes.
"ARRGGHHHH!" The creature howled in excruciating pain, forced to release his grip instantly and fall back several paces, as he held his hands over the bloody mess that had become his face. "YOU BASTARD!"
Not quite used to this technique, Goku quickly drew back the ancillary appendages and took advantage of the much needed reprieve, trying his utmost to rub the pain out of his abused fingers.
"Yes, that's it Goku!" Tien cheered jubilantly, grinning as he held a fist up in triumph, overwhelmed with pride and elation in the knowledge that his technique, the four-fist attack, had been used to escape the inescapable. It really raised the spirits of the three-eyed warrior and he hoped that with the advantage now on his side, Goku would be able to defeat this evil bastard once and for all. Vegeta likewise was impressed by his legendary rival. Having a keener eye for battle than the rest of the crew, the Prince had taken notice of Kakarot's ploy well before any of the others had.
The truth was that since the finals of the recent World Martial Arts Tournament, Goku had wisely heeded Piccolo's sage advice and done his utmost to expand his arsenal of techniques so that in any future match-up he would fare better against his legendary rival, as opposed to being on the losing end the whole way through and relying on a trump card to acquire victory (A/N: Refer to Chapter 55). That particular decision had greatly paid off, case in point. He really dodged a bullet just now and felt he owed his thanks to both Vegeta and Tien, rival and ex-rival alike.
His vision impaired, Cell found himself in a frenzied state of panic, desperate to escape this quandary. He really shouldn't have let his guard down and underestimated someone as seasoned in combat as Goku, who was literally renowned for emerging triumphant time after time, when all the odds were stacked up against him. Thinking fast, the villain undertook a drastic measure, knowing that his gargantuan foe would be on him at any moment. Everyone looked on in absolute horror, shock and revulsion as Cell literally pulled both his eyes, straight out of their sockets and hurled them in the general direction of an incoming Goku, stunning the latter to the point where he was forced to dodge and cut off his advance, thereafter staring in nauseating disgust at the putrid sight of a pair of detached orbs, rolling across the ring like a set of fleshy golf balls. The gruesome distraction worked like a charm. Before anyone knew what had happened, Cell quickly regenerated his eyes and took advantage of the moment of shock, furiously rushing towards Goku and catching him with a hard right lead to the jaw. The insectoid followed up with a deft series of offensive maneuvers, thereby turning the tide of battle back in his direction.
"That idiot!" Vegeta growled, clenching his fists indignantly. "He had the advantage and he blew it!"
"It's not his fault, father." Trunks vehemently insisted, coming to the hero's defense. "He just got caught off guard. That could've happened to any one of us."
"That's bullshit boy and you know it!" The Prince scowled pointedly at the young demi-Saiyan. "He should've remained vigilant and pressed his advantage, while he still had the chance! Cell's not going to fall for that trick a second time!"
The rest of the crew could only watch in despair as Goku was battered mercilessly, by the dastardly fiend. With his regenerative abilities, Cell had the upper hand. While he could regrow any part of his body damaged or impaired during battle, Earth's hero could not. His fingers were badly wounded, making it difficult to even clench a fist, never mind throw one or effectively block his enemy's attack. Meanwhile, though moderately exhausted over the course of this grueling battle, Cell's eyes were razor sharp, as though they'd never been struck to begin with. This fight was a good as his. A spinning back kick to the solar plexus sent Goku careening across the ring and ultimately outside of it, as he landed on his back in the dirt, coughing sporadically thereafter. He really felt that last blow.
"Oh no, Goku lost." Krillin looked on in utter despair, at the dreadful sight of his best friend and hero, lying on his stomach as he desperately tried to catch his breath, diaphragm paralyzed momentarily.
"I beg to differ." Cell countered, drawing his foot back and standing upright, as he levitated into the air. "Henceforth, I have decided that this entire planet is my arena, not just this ring!" A feverish smirk set his features alight, upon making the shocking announcement. "Get up right now, champion, for I'm not through with you just yet!"
"Everyone, up on the cliffs now!" Vegeta commanded, as he gestured back. "If you stay here, you'll only get in the way."
"But- but dad-"
"Gohan, do as Vegeta says!" Piccolo fervidly exclaimed. "Your father can't fight at his fullest if any of us risk being caught in the crossfire."
Following a moment of deliberation, Gohan begrudgingly nodded and the Z Fighters collectively fell back, now at a much higher vantage point.
After finally catching his breath, Goku was able to stand up at last and hopped right back into the ring. Knowing he was on his last footing, Earth's hero decided to play his trump card, drawing his hands by his waist, as he began chanting.
"Kaaaa Meee."
Vegeta immediately knew what the younger Saiyan was up to, having been on the receiving end of this exact same technique in the previous World Martial Arts Tournament, a technique that had cost him a fight that he was very much winning up until the last moment (A/N: Refer to Chapter 55).
"Really Goku, is that it?" Cell scoffed, shaking his head. "I must say I'm rather disappointed."
"Haaa Meeee."
Cell placed his fists by his side, squaring up in a solid position as he braced himself for the incoming blast.
The Z Fighters were shocked, having been certain that the villain would've flared up a counter Ki attack, as opposed to trying to withstand Goku's assault. Battle instincts as sharp as ever though, Vegeta realized that something was amiss and he was fairly certain he knew what it was.
"No Kakarot, don't do it!" He desperately yelled, but to no avail.
Using his instant transmission, Goku immediately teleported straight behind his enemy and was about to let loose his final attack, until a brutal right elbow ploughed straight into his solar plexus, Cell having anticipated the assault and having carefully prepared for this very moment. Vegeta's suspicions were confirmed. Somehow Cell both knew and predicted his opponent's attack well in advance.
Unbeknownst to the Z Fighters, their archenemy had acquired a tape of the last World Martial-Arts Tournament and closely analyzed the key fights therein. Hence, he knew more or less what to expect from his opponents, although he couldn't have predicted that Goku would learn one of Tien's moves and use it to overcome him in their little game of Mercy. Nonetheless, he was aware of the Instant Transmission Kamehameha and had meticulously developed the perfect counter maneuver. The result was fantastic, case in point.
"Ugh-" Goku's eyes widened, Ki dissipating and spittle flying from his mouth as he lost the Super Saiyan form. The moment his adversary drew back his elbow, Goku's knees hit the ground before he fell flat on his stomach like a fresh slab of meat, each successive thudding sound adding a new wave of despair in the eyes of the human fighters. They couldn't believe it, Goku had been defeated.
"Well fought, Goku." Cell grinned in bona fide respect and reverence, as he aimed a palmful of sapphire Ki towards the unconscious Saiyan, ready to finish him off, once and for all. Earth's hero had given him an incredible battle, truly incredible! He far exceeded his legend and while the titanic Saiyan was soon to expire from this world, his memory would remain forever. "Truly well fought, indeed."
"NOOOO!" Gohan bellowed and faster than anyone could follow, the half-Saiyan sprang into action, landing a flying kick on an unsuspecting Cell's jaw, launching him completely out of the picture. He knelt by his father's side immediately thereafter and turned him over, heart racing with trepidation.
"Gohan no!" Piccolo yelled in protest, but it was already too late.
"Dad, are you alright?!" The demi-Saiyan frantically shook him, to no avail. "Talk to me dad! Please, talk to me!"
"Gohan, you can't be here!" The Namekian growled askance, as he joined his pupil, desperate to spirit him away from danger. His words fell on deaf ears, however.
"Trunks." The Saiyan Prince turned towards his son's future counterpart and the two looked at each other for a moment before nodding in unison, as they too descended towards the ring, standing guard in front of Gohan.
"Both of you, get Goku to safety now!" The older half-Saiyan was facing Cell's general direction, as he relayed the instruction to both his younger counterpart and the former Guardian of Earth. "My father and I will handle Cell, okay?"
Gohan stared up at the other demi-Saiyan for a moment or two.
"Alright Trunks." The preteen nodded in assent, he and Piccolo getting ready to carry Goku back atop the cliff face.
"You're not going anywhere!" An incandescent Cell snarled as he quickly re-entered the scene, expression marred with an indignant scowl. He glared at the royal duo, guarding the trio behind them. "Get out my way, now! You're breaking the rules of the game, all of you!"
"Fuck your game, cocksucker!" The flame-haired Saiyan snapped back.
Cell grit his teeth at the royal encroachers, before squaring himself up and smirking.
"You'd do well to remember that these games are your only chance of survival, not that you had any to begin with." The villain argued. "Should you decide to withdraw or violate the rules in any way, this entire planet is doomed."
"You really think we're just gonna sit back and let you destroy the Earth?!" Trunks resentfully spat back. "You'll die before that ever happens!"
"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you." Cell's smirk widened. "Nonetheless, if you're too cowardly to engage in a simple one-on-one, I'm more than happy to fight you both at the same time, but don't think for a second that you'll fare any better than your precious Goku."
"You're one to talk, you piece of shit." Vegeta's lip curled in disdain. "You're more than happy to fight an opponent when you know you're stronger than they are, but the instant you face someone superior, you flee with your tail between your legs, like the coward you are." (A/N: Refer to Chapter 59)
"There is no one superior to me." The insectoid growled angrily, then smirked in challenge. "Unless of course, any of you would like to try and prove otherwise." He looked between the pitiful posse, gathered before him.
"As a matter of fact, I would!" The reply came from Trunks, the half-Saiyan more than ready to respond to the challenge, teal eyes gleaming with fiery zest. "I'll gladly take you on myself and show you the true power of a Saiyan Prince."
"Is that right?" Cell chuckled mirthfully. This boy sure was full of himself and he found it rather amusing. Then again he was Vegeta's son and the older Prince clearly had an impact on him, in more ways than one. "While killing you does indeed sound appealing, it also seems rather redundant I'm afraid."
Vegeta bristled at the callous remark, overwhelmed with a billowing cyclone of rage, as he was reminded of the demise of his son's deceased alter-ego from the future, whose time machine had been stolen. Just as he was about to step forward though, the living counterpart of said son held a hand in front of him.
"Let me take care of this, father." The boy looked imploringly at the older Prince, who turned towards him with a frown. "You've seen what he can do." The half-Saiyan vehemently argued. "But you've also seen what I can do." He smiled reassuringly at his old man. "You know I'm stronger. You know I can defeat him, don't you?"
Cell frowned, as he witnessed the bizarre exchange, struck with a moment of trepidation, wondering how the boy could possibly be so sure of himself, when he'd seen just how efficiently he dispensed of the mighty Goku. He was either bluffing or just plain delusional, because there was no way anyone in the entire cosmos could possibly pose a threat to him, right? Doubts began to fester, but Cell immediately quelled them. He was perfect after all, the perfect blend of the most powerful warriors in the entire Universe. There was no one who could possibly match him.
The flame-haired fighter weighed his options. As a Saiyan warrior, he was incredibly proud of his son's willingness to face this daunting threat all by his lonesome, yet the father in him didn't want to risk the boy's life, especially given what had happened to his other counterpart, from the future. Nonetheless, the boy had earned his spurs and certainly earned the right to choose his own battles, not like before. He could not begrudge him of this, given all the great strides he'd made on every level: physical, mental and emotional. Moreover, Trunks was right. Vegeta knew the boy's capabilities, since they'd both trained together in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. While the older Prince was roughly the same level as Kakarot and honestly could not see himself faring any better against Cell than his rival did, he could see his son emerging victorious. Trunks had the necessary power, technique and physical and mental fortitude needed to win this fight. And so the older Prince nodded his head.
"Send him to hell, where he belongs."
"I will father." Trunks faced the insectoid, heart pounding in exhilaration, as he took up his stance and flared his golden aura. For once in his life, he wasn't fighting an enemy solely for the sake of survival, but also for the thrill that came with the prospect of a good challenge. The Saiyan in him howled for blood, just dying to get this underway.
"Trunks, are- are you sure?" The younger boy asked, as he held up his father's unconscious form beneath the arms, concerned for the elder's welfare.
"Trust me Gohan, I've got this." He gandered at his mentor's alter-ego, teal eyes filled to the brim with surety. "You just sit tight and let me handle this."
"Yes, do sit tight Gohan." Cell chuckled, his focus now shifting towards the adolescent boy, whom he'd forgotten about earlier. This unruly brat had the gall to interfere in his fight with Goku, preventing him from finishing off the latter. Didn't these idiots realize that they were only prolonging the inevitable? They would all perish, sooner or later, including this impertinent fool Trunks who had the nerve to deem himself worthy of challenging a titan, such as himself. Nonetheless his attention was fixated upon Gohan and he sought to rile up the boy, for his audacious impudence. "I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, now does it?"
"Just what the hell's that supposed to mean?!" The younger demi-Saiyan demanded, gently laying his father back down, anger returning in spades, as he glared at the biomechanical monster.
"Oh it's rather quite simple, boy." He replied disdainfully. "It means that you, like your father, are a weak and worthless loser, who doesn't have the balls to finish what he started."
"You take that back, you son of a bitch!" The half-Saiyan snarled, overwhelmed with uncurbed fury. "My father's worth a thousand of you!"
"Don't listen to him Gohan, he's trying to provoke you!" Piccolo vehemently cautioned, as he tried to hold back his pupil and keep him from acting rashly. "Let Trunks handle this!"
"That's right Gohan, run along and scuttle back home to your bitch mother."
That right there was the preteen's melting point and it took every ounce of effort from both Piccolo and Trunks to hold Gohan back, as the boy tried making a mad lunge towards Cell.
"Gohan stop, calm down!" The older half-Saiyan berated. "You're not yourself! Let me fight him, okay?!"
"NO!" The boy roared back, in apoplectic rage. "HE INSULTED MY FATHER AND MY MOTHER. I'LL MOUNT HIS FUCKING HEAD ON A SPIKE!"
Cell immediately decided that he wanted to save the fight with Trunks for another time, now more eager to take out his amusement on the younger brat. This boy was full of fire and he was more determined than ever to bathe in the flames, before stoking them permanently. Sure, Trunks was no doubt a much greater challenge, but as he'd pointed out before, killing him would be redundant. A battle with the legendary Saiyan Prince Vegeta, would likewise prove to be exhilarating in its own right, yet he'd beaten him near death once before and therefore felt that doing so again, would also be somewhat redundant. Pounding the life out of Goku's whelp however, seemed fitting, especially right after he'd crushed his father. He also had to admit that the boy packed quite a punch and so a fight with him would certainly be invigorating.
"That's it boy, just say the word and we're on!" Cell purposefully prodded.
"No Gohan, don't!" Piccolo desperately shouted.
"You're on, it's you against me!" The younger half-Saiyan agreed.
"Dammit boy, let Trunks handle this!" Vegeta intervened, glowering at the preteen in irritation. "He's older, stronger and has the right temperament! You, on the other hand, are completely off balance and overcome with rage! Cell's going to exploit each and every single weakness!" He paused for a second or two, looking pointedly at the child prodigy. "How do you think he was prepared for your father's Instant Transmission attack?!"
"Wh-What?" Gohan asked, momentarily forgetting his rage, as that last question suddenly plagued his young mind. He hadn't even thought about that. By all accounts, his father should've been able to land his attack, which would've most likely won him the fight. Even with his regenerative abilities, a Kamehameha at point-black range would've probably left Cell with nothing to regenerate. Yet for some odd reason, the villain had seen it coming. The only question was how?
"He's been preparing for this." Vegeta phlegmatically answered the unspoken question. "He's been watching us and somehow knows about the battles we fought in the last World Martial Arts Tournament, I've no doubt about it. That's why Kakarot wanted to fight him first. He knew he couldn't win, he told me so himself. His aim here was to make Cell reveal all his cards and at least in that, he may've been successful." He paused a moment, before taking a breath and continuing. "But if you rush in there blindly, you'll pour cold water over all his efforts."
"That's right Gohan!" Piccolo ardently added. "I've been training with the others and Trunks is the strongest one of out all of us, by far. If Vegeta thinks he can beat Cell, then I've no doubt about it myself."
"While I do find your little tiff to be quite entertaining, I'm afraid we must continue with the proceedings." Cell chuckled in amusement, before looking towards the preteen with a smirk. "Now then, I do believe you accepted my challenge, am I right?"
"No!" Trunks furiously cut in, positioning himself like a golden shield between the fiend and his mentor's young alter-ego. "Your fight's with me Cell, leave Gohan out of this!"
"Don't be impatient boy, your time will come!" The insectoid glared at Trunks, before shifting his violet eyes back towards the miniature frame of the adolescent. "Now then, since you did agree to fight me Gohan, I'm afraid you must either step up or forfeit. There is no third option."
"He doesn't have to do either!" The Namekian snapped back, knowing that the dastardly villain was luring his disciple into a trap. While the boy was pure and kindhearted to a fault, he still had the pride of a Saiyan warrior and would never yield in battle, especially when facing a vile monster like Cell. Hence, the former Guardian sought to redirect the conversation, back to where it belonged. Concern for his pupil's welfare aside, he knew that Trunks stood a much better chance in this fight, not just because of his superior physical prowess but because of his sound mental and emotional disposition, which stood in stark contrast to a young boy like Gohan. "The onus is on you to fight Trunks, so why don't you heed your own advice and try taking him on, instead of avoiding him like a coward?!"
"I'm afraid you're quite wrong, Piccolo." Cell smugly replied, seeing right through the Namekian's pathetic endeavor to divert attention away from the matter at hand. "You see, I never accepted Trunks' challenge to begin with, whereas Gohan did accept mine." He looked pointedly at the preteen once again. "But if you're too frightened to even try and finish what you started, then by all means, withdraw." He paused a moment, before adding. "After all, isn't that what your future-self taught Trunks?"
"What the hell are you talking about?!" The older demi-Saiyan scowled indignantly, at the grave insult to the memory of his beloved mentor and foster brother.
"Well you see Trunks, while it's clear that you've made considerable strides in both your power level and confidence, that's entirely owed to Vegeta's mentorship, I've no doubt about that." The insectoid answered, temporarily turning his gaze to the future half-Saiyan, before fixating it upon Gohan once again. "You on the other hand, spent years in the future timeline, teaching him how to run and hide like a coward, before the Androids finally got to you." He laughed at the visible anger exuding from Gohan in palpable waves, exhilarated at just how easily triggered he was. These were his games after all and everyone would play to his tune, willingly or otherwise. "So much for living up to your father's legacy, eh boy? At least the Vegeta of that world, met his end like a man. Then again, I guess one timeline's not so different from the next though, is it Gohan?" Cell's provocations were working like a charm, the preteen's mountainous ire steadily reaching a point, where it could no longer be contained. "Once a coward, always a coward, am I right?!"
"ENOUGH!" Gohan exploded with rage, as he stepped forward, overcome with tunnel vision, seeing nothing but Cell in front of him and no one else. He was a warrior, through and through, just like his father! He never ran away from anyone in his life and would never back down from a challenge! He would never allow this timeline to be ruined like the future was, not while he was still living and breathing! Cell would pay dearly for everything he'd done, for all the people he'd hurt! "If it's a fight you want, it's a fight you'll get! I accept your challenge!"
"Dammit Gohan, what are you doing?!" Piccolo ardently objected, deeply alarmed by this catastrophic turn of events. "You're falling straight into Cell's trap! He has you right where he wants you!"
"You're wasting your breath, Namekian!" An exasperated Vegeta growled, before sighing in resignation and shaking his head, deciding that if Gohan wasn't going to back down, they might as well make the best of a bad situation. "He won't listen to you, nor anyone else." The Prince walked towards the half-Saiyan boy and placed a hand on his shoulder, whereby the preteen looked up at him, somewhat calmer despite all the rage. "If you're going to do this, you do it right, got it?!" He looked at him pointedly. "Get a hold of yourself and focus! Cell wants you to be frustrated and angry, so he can use it against you! Don't let him dictate the pace of this fight, under any circumstances, you understand?!"
Gohan blinked a few times, rather surprised at the sage counsel being imparted by his father's rival, of all people. Reflecting on the profound advice for just a few seconds, the preteen quickly realized that Vegeta was absolutely right. He couldn't dance to Cell's tune like a puppet on strings. He was better than that, so much better. He was the son of Goku and so with that in mind, he took a deep, reposing breath, regaining his composure and nodding in agreement.
"Alright, Vegeta." The demi-Saiyan smiled reverently, voice firm with conviction. "I won't let you down, I promise."
"See that you don't." The Prince tightened his hold on the preteen's shoulder, feeling that while Kakarot was out of the picture, he had a responsibility towards the boy, especially given the sacrifices he'd endured in the future world, ending with his untimely demise. He would see to it that such an event would not transpire in this timeline. "Remember that every accusation is a confession. If Cell's trying to gaslight you into thinking that you're a coward, it's because he's one himself. You're a warrior Gohan, you're a Saiyan through and through. Never forget that and never let anyone tell you otherwise."
"I won't." The boy adamantly replied, smile widening and heart racing, as he was beset with an overwhelming deluge of pride and renewed vigor, now more determined than ever to win this battle. He admired Vegeta just as much as he did his father and Piccolo and was therefore deeply moved by the flame-haired Saiyan's heartfelt adulation. It almost brought tears to his eyes, yet he held them at bay, knowing that the Prince was never really one for sentiments. "Thanks Vegeta." Gohan nodded, before turning towards the older demi-Saiyan. "It's alright Trunks. I know I'm not as strong as you are, but I'm still strong enough to beat Cell." He averred, with newfound grit. "Don't forget, I trained in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber just like you did."
"But Gohan-"
"Trunks." Vegeta frowned at the older half-Saiyan, the teenager subsequently turning towards him. The flame-haired Saiyan shook his head, tacitly telling his son that it was too late. Gohan would never live down the shame of backing away from a fight he'd already agreed to and so there was no turning back now. Cell may've been a shameless bastard and a coward, but Gohan was neither of those things. True, the boy was clearly an idiot for falling prey to the monster's mind games, yet he could still turn the tides in his favor, if he played his cards right. While Gohan wasn't the ideal candidate here, he did still have the power to pull this off and Vegeta knew it. It was just a matter of overcoming Cell's sordid attempts at psychological warfare and keeping his focus squarely upon the fight at hand.
"You've got the future to worry about Trunks." The preteen smiled in reverence. "Let me take care of the present. I won't let my father's sacrifice be in vain, I promise. I'll make you all proud."
Trunks dithered for a moment, before releasing a sigh of surrender. While he wanted to pulverize Cell and rip him apart with own two hands, he realized that fate had set another course and there was no reversing it. Best he could do was to give Gohan the push he needed, to emerge victorious in this epic battle for the ages.
"Alright Gohan, I believe in you." He smiled encouragingly. "Just remember to keep your attention where it belongs. Don't fall for any of Cell's tricks, okay?"
"Sure thing Trunks." The boy affirmed, with a resolute nod.
Piccolo seethed to himself, but just as Vegeta said, the damage was done and all they could do was make the most of it.
'Darn it Gohan.' He mentally cursed, then took a moment to collect himself, deciding that the only option now was to spur up his wayward disciple, just as the royal pair before him had. While Cell's provocations had indeed played their part, he supposed that this unexpected development was at least somewhat due to Gohan being cooped up at home, doing nothing but homework for the last week or so. After nearly a year of arduous training with his father, the kid clearly had a lot of pent up energy and Cell was the perfect outlet. 'He's perfect from that perspective, at least.' He chuckled to himself wryly, before looking intently at the boy.
"You can do it Gohan." The Namekian encouraged his foster son. "Remember everything your father taught you. Remember everything that I taught you."
"You got it Piccolo." The young half-Saiyan gave his mentor a hearty thumbs up before frowning and turning his attention back towards Cell, as he assumed a battle stance and flared up his golden aura. Vegeta and the others fell back to the cliff face, with Trunks and Piccolo carrying Goku's immobile form with them. It seemed that Earth's hero was really out of it, his biomechanical adversary having done quite a number on him.
Meanwhile, Cell cursed inwardly, wishing that he could've continued toying with the brat's mind before ending him, yet these annoying interlopers just had to come along and sap the fun, right out of it. When Gohan mentioned the Hyperbolic Time Chamber though, it piqued his curiosity. Whatever that was, it must've explained the unforeseen power increases of this pathetic crew. He would have to look into it, at a later stage. Better yet, he'd torture these fools into giving away the information.
On the other side of the fence, the brown-noser Jimmy Firecracker was asking Mr. Satan a series of loaded questions, each one presupposing that the fighters currently facing Cell were nothing more than a bunch of phoneys and tricksters.
"It ought to be me fighting in there instead, I tell ya!" Hercule confidently asserted, arms akimbo. "These guys just don't understand what real Martial Arts is all about! Well, that's alright, once I take on Cell, I'll give them a lesson they'll never forget! They'll be stamping my face on thousand Zenii bills when I'm through!"
"There it is folks!" The four-eyed journalist excitedly declared, pointing towards the wrestling champion as though he were one of the Seven Wonders of the World. "This man right here just personifies masculinity and will no doubt, live up to his words and finally end the menace that is Cell!" He shifted his attention back to the ring, adjusting his glasses as he did so. "But as of right now, it seems that some young blonde kid is going to be fighting the monster next! Oh I do worry about this one, don't you Mr. Satan?!" The obsequious fellow asked, genuinely concerned for the youngster's welfare. "Trickster or not, he is just a child and I do hope he doesn't get hurt!"
"Come on Jimmy, you really think I'd ever let Cell harm a boy?!" Hercule smirked assuredly, shaking his head. "Well, not while Mr. Satan's around, I'll tell you that!"
The inane back-and-forth continued and while most listeners worldwide were more interested in the footage of the battle at hand, rather than the hogwash commentary that accompanied it, there were still a sizeable portion of the populace that bought Mr. Satan's garbage propaganda, hook, line and sinker.
A/N: I must admit, I had so much fun writing this chapter. Now some may argue that Vegeta praising and encouraging Gohan like that seems out-of-character, but remember that this version of Vegeta is very close to Trunks, as a result of the training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber and Trunks was practically raised by Gohan, so he feels a strong connection towards the boy (not to mention their history, in this timeline). On top of that, if you recall earlier chapters, Vegeta was vexed by his future counterpart for getting himself killed prematurely, thereby leaving a 10-year old Gohan to carry the burden of Earth's safety entirely on his shoulders, only to ultimately die protecting Trunks. Thus, he didn't like Cell insulting Future Gohan's memory and so wanted to reassure his present counterpart. Also remember that since the virtual training alongside Goku, Piccolo and Trunks, Vegeta's become less of a lone-wolf and more of a team leader, so to speak and so he also feels a sense of responsibility towards individual members of the team. In a nutshell, he's undergone a much more rigorous level of character development than his present counterpart had at this point (character-wise, one may consider him to be kind of like a post-Buu saga Vegeta).
Anyway, that aside, I really loved writing my own unique version of the fight with Goku, especially showcasing how he expanded his arsenal of techniques, in the aftermath of the World Martial-Arts Tournament, hoping that next time around he could keep up with Vegeta a lot better. The four-fist technique really is something special and I honestly find it unfortunate that a lot of the old-school techniques in Dragon Ball are just forgotten in the later parts of the series, even though they could've undoubtedly come to good use. I also made it so that Cell was aware of the Instant Transmission Kamehameha and effectively developed a counter attack. I felt that was a cool change, from the original storyline.
In the canon, Goku literally obliterates the entire upper half of Cell's body, but the latter is able to regenerate, which is utterly ridiculous because we learn soon afterwards that he still needs a part of his head to remain intact, for him to regenerate. Major contradiction there, so yeah.
Lastly, I really enjoyed Vegeta standing tall before Cell, fearlessly cussing and calling him out on his crap. That's Vegeta for you, absolutely dauntless and I loved writing him that way!
Now a good question is: Are Trunks and Gohan really powerful enough to defeat Cell? Or are they just overconfident and getting too far ahead of themselves? Or maybe Cell's the one who's overconfident? All these and more will be answered, as we continue to delve deeper and deeper, into the story so stay tuned and until then, please share your thoughts and hit the review button.