Avatar: The Void of Vegeta

by M0b1uz

Alone, wandering through the cosmos, the last of his kind, Vegeta finds himself not only marooned on a foreign planet rather similar to the one he had abandoned, but now he has been mysteriously robbed of his full power, stuck with a gang of idiotic children and their painfully cliche adventure to save the world; Unfortunately, his anguish has only begun. Post-Perfect Cell arc

18. Crossroad In The Stars

The Fire Nation was surprisingly quick to claim the Earth Kingdom capital for themselves. Tanks and Komodo rhino riders stomped through the streets, thundering past the shocked and helpless faces of the citizens as the message was systematically spread over the city:

"THE EARTH KING IS DEAD!" shouted a Fire nation captain through his blowhorn, standing proudly on a moving tank."BA SING SE HAS BEEN CLAIMED IN THE NAME OF THE FIRE NATION! SUBMIT OR BE DESTROYED!"

Buildings were broken into, the firebenders tearing or burning down any and every Earth Kingdom banner and quickly replaced it with the Fire Nation banner.

As the army stood before the palace, huge tapestries were dropped down along the front of the palace, showing the Fire Nation symbol to all.

A familiar cabbage merchant passing by on his ostrich horse, blinking for a second."...huh...". He was not nearly as mortified as the Earth Kingdom merchant should have been. But unlike most, he was prepared for this, as he got off of his mount and casually kicked his cabbage cart, causing a hidden mechanism to flip the Earth Kingdom symbol on the side of his cart to the Fire Nation symbol. He sighed with the satisfaction of being prepared for everything...

As he continued, the horse dragging his cart, a small pair of eyes within the pile of cabbages blinked. Aang quietly wormed out of the pile to check the new symbol on the cart's side in horror. "Not you too, Cabbage Guy..."

This prompted Aang to hop out of the cart and desperately flee to a different hiding spot. He ended up in an alley as he watched Earth Kingdom protesters be chained and/or killed on sight. He breathed uncontrollably as the nightmare unfolded around him.

"Firebenders," he whispered,"Firebenders everywhere; I gotta find my friends, I gotta get out of here, but there's a firebender everywhere I look!"

"Not true, I am clearly outside of your line of sight..." Iroh, right behind Aang, responded.

Being the young hero that he was, Aang did not quite scream like a bitch when he saw Iroh, though it was still loud and obnoxious; he fell over and crawled his back against a barrel." YOU'll NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE! I'LL NEVER SURRENDER!" he threw his finger in Iroh's direction.

"That is fine," Iroh said, his hands folded within his sleeves,"I actually need your help. I have not seen Prince Zuko since the invasion commenced, and I am worried that he is either deceased or currently attempting to capture you."

"Why would I help you with anything!?" Aang rose to his feet."You're Zuko's evil fat and lazy but still lovable henchman!"

Iroh blinked."...I am actually his uncle, and I prefer to see myself as a kind of sagely Wiseman- sort of character."

"Well I guess you must be really happy, Uncle Wiseman," Aang glared, flinging his hands at the conquered palace."Ba Sing Se has just been taken over! Now there's NOWHERE safe to run from you people!"

The poised old man allowed the you people comment to leave unanswered." Under entirely different circumstances, I would be," he said, looking at the Fire Nation banners of the palace with a somber expression."Years ago, I had dreamed of this day and invested my entire life into making it a reality. The price that I had paid to get as far as I had was itself too much..."

Aang's brow rose as he recalled the conversation with the cowardly general along the out wall."Wait...Aren't you The Dragon of The West?"

"Six hundred days..." the has-been general muttered,"...What a waste, what a fool I was, I do no deserve to be the Fire Lord after bringing such dishonor upon myself...not that it would matter who's the Fire Lord anyway..."

Aang too gained a somber expression."I know, nothing I do or fight for seems to matter anymore ever since I met Vegeta and learned about his dad..."

"Who is this Vegeta?" Iroh raised his brow.

"You know," Aang said, showing his palm."How the world almost got destroyed by the Saiyans, and all that stuff about the seal, and apparently Avatar Kyoshi had a daughter that the Earth Kingdom worships?"

Iroh stared at the sky, "Ah, I remember the tales..."

"Yeah well," Aang huffed, "Well now the Saiyans are back, I mean just two Saiyans, and they're both supposed to be the sons of King Vegeta. And then Cell came in, and Ghost Frieza and, and everything has just gone to poo..."

"That sounds crazy," Iroh noted.

"But the worst part of it is..." Aang let his head hang low, "I accidentally made friends with Prince Vegeta, even though it's apparently my destiny now to destroy him. And the more I get to know Vegeta, the more terrible things I learn about him, and the more it proves I have to destroy him. I mean, the Fire Lord was one thing, but he's not my friend!"

To this, Iroh raised a finger."Actually, Avatar Roku and Fire Lord Sozin were the best of friends; they even shared a birthday. Common Fire Nation history."

The current Avatar's eyes widened."Are you pooing me?"

"Nope," Iroh shook his head."And that made it all the more tragic when he let Avatar Roku die in a volcano eruption on Roku's own home island." He blinked."We should probably stop living on volcanos..."

Aang slumped."So you're saying Vegeta really will turn on me..." he dreaded.

"I didn't say that," said Iroh, "You said it. You cannot judge your friend on the merits of his relatives."

"Except that I totally can!" Aang growled."My Vegeta has invaded other worlds and apparently wiped out whole races, and sold the planets to Frieza. He admitted this to me!"

"Well, this might be a pathetic excuse, but I have invaded villages and wiped out innocent people as well - are you going to kill me?"

"I don't wanna kill anyone!" Aang cried.

"Then you should not; you should not be forced to kill your own friends," Iroh said."I know that I am undeserving of the brief and happy life I have lived in this city, after all I have done against it; but I know that if I am served justice, the friends and family that I have made along my journey will also pay. If I die, Zuko, not I, will suffer for it; I wish to live for his betterment, I want him to survive this war so that he can learn to never make the same mistakes as I have."

Aang stared at the old man, in light of this fresh perspective. Out of all the cruel things he knows about Vegeta, he also has come to know that Vegeta has friends and family in some other world out there in the stars. He knew Vegeta had an ex-girlfriend, and some other friends he made passing references to. He knew he was maybe friends with someone named Kakarot, but that person was dead, but maybe Kakarot had family that also knows Vegeta. But most importantly, Aang knew that Vegeta had a son, a baby son that could grow up without him. Maybe that was the reason why Vegeta got so sensitive about Mai's baby brother, or why Vegeta tried so hard to save Sokka when he got eaten. Maybe it was the reason he actually cared about his and his friends well being because he and his friends are just kids. Aang could still recall the very last time he saw Vegeta's face, just after Salza shot a hole through him, and Vegeta yelled for him to wake up, and how he actually saw him cry, as if Vegeta was...like a father to him...

Sure, Aang couldn't deny whatever horrible things Vegeta did in his dark past, but that was in the unchangeable past, but Vegeta has clearly changed. He has a family, a real one, and trying to punish him for his sins would only be a sin against his family, even against Aang and his own friends. He couldn't believe he was about to say this out loud but...

"My past life is wrong..." Aang admitted.

"Excuse me?" Iroh said.

"Listen, Mr. Iroh sir, I need you to help me find my friends, and yes that includes Vegeta; there's no place for us here, but maybe later we can regroup and solve this," Aang said.

"Of course, I will help you, Avatar Aang," Iroh answered, "I simply wish we can find my nephew also."

"Well Well Well..."

Aang and Iroh's backs chilled as soon as they noticed some Fire Nation officer discover them." If it isn't the Fire Nation's greatest enemy...and also the Avatar," the officer grunted, "I know of you and your treachery, General Iroh..."

The ex-general in question became comically nervous."A traitor? Who, me? No, No!" he waved his hands in fake innocence." You see while I was publically labeled a traitor by Azula, it was in fact a cover story as part of a very elaborate and highly top-secret plan that Fire Lord Ozai most definitely approved of. See? I have even captured the Avatar!"

"You really expect me to buy that?" said the officer."Everyone knows that you and the banished Prince Zuko conspired against Admiral Zhao and murdered him!"

"Actually, it was the physical manifestation of the Ocean Spirit," Explained Aang.

"mhm," grunted the officer."And I suppose it was also a spirit that killed off the Rough Rhinos?"

"Well, actually, I am glad you brought that up," Iroh raised a finger."I have come to understand that it was actually the ghost of the otherworldly lizard man that secretly rules the Fire Nation, who may or may not have possessed the body of Prince Zuko..."

"Enough jokes!" roared the officer."You both die here and now!"

"...no, just you..."

Iroh and Aang's eyes were briefly blinded by the blast of ki that erupted out through the firebender's stomach. His corpse plopped to the ground, revealing an extraordinarily unkept Sokka and his smoking hand.

"Sokka, you're alive!" Aang cheered, and ran up to his friend, hugging him feverishly.

Ordinarily, this would have made Sokka in turn feel better, for some strange reason, he didn't feel very comfortable to be touching the Avatar. He groaned as he felt his head."I jus' feel so weird. I hope Cell didn't give me permanent brain damage..."

"What happened to Cell?" Aang asked as he broke the hug but still held on to Sokka.

Sokka shrugged."Eh, you know, same ol' story: I tried to fight, and I lost and..." for a moment he seemed to stop thinking as he paused for an awkward amount of time."Hey, Aang, do you think you could go into the Avatar State for me?"

"I wish I could, but I still have no control..." Aang frowned."We could really use it right now," he said, scanning the palace; but then he had an epiphany, "Wait, Sokka, maybe you could do it!"

"Yeah, no," Said Sokka," that last blast was all I had left; better if we just find Katara and Toph and get out of here..." Sokka twitched,"...unless of course, you could go into the Avatar State?"

"I just said I couldn't," Aang reminded."Seriously, Sokka, you look awful."

"Well my bruised everything feels worse," Sokka twitched again,"Hey, you know what'd make me feel better? If you went into the Avatar State..."

"We don't have time for your comic relief right now, Sokka!" Aang grunted, taking him by the wrist and dragging him away."We gotta find the others!"

---

It was a wonder how Katara's brain had yet to explode, as she looked out the window to see the stars that would usually be above her now be in front of her, with the entire blue world far below. She found herself totally unable to look her captives in the eye, as they two were captives in their own bodies. She wished she would just wake up already.

"Katara, was it?"

She was chilled to the bone by the haunting dual voice; against her better judgment, she looked forward to see Zuko, but not really, those red eyes burning into her soul, and that incredibly un-Zuko-like smile across Zuko's face. She didn't know Prince Zuko very well, but even she could tell this wasn't like him.

He sat there with Zuko's finger folded "I've seen that look on the others so many times; all this must feel so very unreal to you; let me guess - up until this very moment, you believed the world was flat?"

Toph's brow creased."You mean it's not?" the blind Toph asked.

"I refuse to speak to you..." Katara said as she looked away again."You're all just a bunch of demons invading other peoples' bodies, and YOU are a traitor to your entire race!" she snapped her head at Ty Lee.

The gymnast sat in a meditative position, her eyes shut; she rose her finger." shush, I'm playing pool with my teammates."

"Who's winning?" Frieza asked.

Ty Lee smiles as she heard the 8 ball clang into the corner pocket."Me"

"Dammit! She's cheating!" cursed Guldo.

"True, Zuko did not ask for this," Cooler tilted his head,"But we are in fact working together; If I had tried to seize total control over this body, there's a chance I could end up like her..." he pointed Cooler's thumb to Mozula.

"Why don't we ask Zuko what he wants?" Katara said."Let him speak for himself, why don't you?"

"Cooler's not what you think," Zuko actually said." When he was alive, he crashed onto our world and lived here for years; this world is his home."

"Is THAT what he told you!?" Both Frieza and Azula exclaimed in disbelief, Frieza with a hysterical grin and Azula with a disappointed scowl.

"You know what? I'm with the lemur," Katara deadpanned."Don't tell me: you let yourself be possessed for a chance at catching the Avatar in your Fire Nation clutches?" she mocked with clawed fingers.

"I never expected any of this," Zuko said, crossing his arms," but to be fair, I did try to capture the Avatar yesterday..."

"Of course you did!" Katara snapped."You're a terrible person! Always following us, hunting the Avatar, trying to capture the world's last hope for peace! But what do you care? You're the Fire Lord's son. Spreading war and violence and hatred is in your blood."

"You don't know what you're talking about," Zuko said.

Katara grew angrier at this, "I don't?! How dare you!"

"How dare YOU!" Zuko shot from his seat." I'll bet your parents love you so much, don't they!? Well my mother is dead, and my father WISHES I were dead! I'm worthless to my father!" he pointed to his scar."This is what I got from him personally after speaking out of turn in a meeting, and I've been banished from my own homeland ever since! And if that's not bad enough, this bitch over here branded me and Uncle traitors!" he threw a finger at the lemur Azula."Capturing the Avatar is my last shot at having a normal life! But you know what!? Screw my honor, screw the Avatar, and screw the Fire Nation! The only person in the universe that's actually trying to help me is Cooler, not you, not Avatar Aang, not even my uncle! So if you don't mind, I'll just go ahead and stick with the demon!"

Katara's forehead was still creased from a certain bit of news."You mother...?"

"Executed for murdering grandfather," Azula stated matter of factly."Guess you're not the only one who hates the Fire Nation, are you?"

---

Aang was terrified. His friends were gone, Vegeta and Tarble were gone, Sokka was acting strange, and the only person he could look for consolation was a close relative of his arch-nemesis. The monks told him it wasn't gonna be easy to be the Avatar, but damn...

They managed to snag some Fire Nation armor to disguise themselves as they wandered back into the palace; it wasn't really a disguise for the firebending General Iroh, more like a demotion, as the general was wearing a lieutenant's armor.

"Where are they?" Aang's eyes went all over the throne room, where he last saw them."Sokka, what happened while I was in the Avatar State?"

"YOU'RE IN THE AVATAR STATE!?" Sokka spun to him, pointing a glowing ki ball that frightened Aang.

"No, Sokka, I'm not in the Avatar State!"

Sokka quickly inhaled."Oh, sorry," he replied, perfectly calm. He pointed his finger forward."Well, I remember Katara and Toph being right here-ish before Cell punched me out of the palace..."

"So in other words, you don't know where they could be..." Aang slouched.

"Maybe they crawled into this big hole?" Iroh pointed at the huge hole in the floor.

Aang groaned at this."That's where I came out of! Where are they!?"

"What do you think is the safest place they could be hiding at this moment?" Iroh offered.

Aang scratched his head, thinking."I dunno, it has to be a place the Fire Nation wouldn't know about..."

Then, something clicked in Sokka's mind; this time it was an actual idea of his own conception."Wait, Aang, what about the temple of Vetega? It's a place that only Be Sing Se's nobles would know to hide!"

"Sokka, you're right!" Aang realized.

"Temple to whom?" Iroh raised a brow.

"It's just another of our weird stories," Sokka said, "but the ending is that King Vegeta and Avatar Kyoshi had a daughter named Vetega, and the nobles think she's a goddess."

"How foolish," remarked Iroh, "taking some otherworldly abomination as your deity; we civilized Fire Nation folk know better, and that's why we worship fire-breathing dragons..."

"Let's just go, alright?" Aang reminded.

---

Lu Ten's eyes were shut, he exhaled audibly, tapping his crossed arm, one of the other two things about him that was clearly crossed, as he and the personel stood in the hangar, waiting for the ship to enter the moonbase. They watched as it passed through the forcefield surrounding a good portion of the moon. The soldiers cleared away for a space for the ship to land.

As expected, Lu Ten's insufferable Space Europian boss was the first to exit, wiping the last of that awful human disguise off his blue face."Ah, zhere is truly nozhing like the slow and ominous landing zhat heralds zhe return of a highly important individ-!" but then Salza was interrupted by the sudden presentation of a piece of paper right of front of his Space French face; his lips warped as he understood the nature of the document."Iz zhis a resignation form?"

Lu Ten held this paper with no change in expression."There are two ways you can retire, Captian: you can sign this yourself, or I sign it with your blood."

"HAH!" trumpeted Salza."and HAH some more! I am not signing merde! You zhink just because you've been keeping my seat warm for zhe last four years zhat you can tell me what to do? You have forgotten zhe pecking order, boy! And ol' Salza's about to redefine it for you in zhe most jaw-dropping of revelations...!"

"Lord Cooler has come back from the dead in my cousin Zuko's body," Lu Ten quickly predicted.

"LORD COOLAIR 'AS COME BACK FROM ZHE DEAD IN YOUR COUSIN...!" Salza froze, his dramatically flung hands still suspended "...how did..."

"Scouters, captain..." Lu Ten tapped the on over his ear."I've been intently listening to you all the entire time it took for you to arrive. Not to mention the latest scouter models come with cameras, so I already know who else has been possessed and by whom, and have had ample time to emotionally process this bizarre turn of events. Of course, I was already informed of the situation with Azula and Frieza long before you called."

"You fastidious bastard!" barked Salza,"Does nozhing ever surprise you!?"

"Well, I did have a very surprised look on my face when I heard Lord Cooler's voice coming out of Zuko's mouth; not that you'll ever see it," Lu Ten smiled subtly.

As Salza grumbled, Ty Lee couldn't help but stick her head out next."Excuse me, Salza, but is it okay to come out so I use the restro-HOLY DRAGON SHIT!" her eyes bugged out in shock."Lu Ten!?"

"Greetings, Ty Lee, whom has been possessed by the Ginyu Force," Lu Ten greeted calmly, rubbing in Salza's frustrated face how much he already knows.

Immediately after followed the other Fire Nation youths.

"Lu Ten!?" Mai cried.

"Cousin!" Zuko said.

"You're still alive!?" Mozula followed.

"Seriously, who is this?" Friezula craned Azula's neck with no expression.

The man in question rubbed his forehead in exhaustion."If I had a copper piece for every time I heard this..."

The children rushed to Lu Ten and hugged his midsection fiercely. The lost family member kept his arms raised, looking down at his old friends and family."Well, look at the four of you; you've all gotten so big...except for you, Azula, who appears to have become smaller."

"I don't understand," Zuko muttered through his tears of joy,"You went into battle and never returned; you-you left Uncle a note saying..."

"That I was off to win the war," Lu Ten finished,"But the outcome of this war has already been determined. Now, Prince Zuko, show him to us."

"What?" Zuko said, before his cousin gripped his shoulders.

"Our emperor lives within you, Zuko, I must speak with him!" Lu Ten insisted.

"You want to see Cooler more badly than me?" Zuko's brow creased,"What about your father?"

"His true father has returned!"

Zuko whipped his head to see Cooler, but not in the form of some imaginary construct in his head. He could clearly see the spirit of Cooler outside of his body, floating over the astonished faces of the human soldiers with open arms.

"I'm back, my children," Cooler said,"The unwanted, unloved children of this world, cast away by those you once loved and found by me, given a new purpose! With the Earth King unceremoniously murdered by my idiotic brother," he eyed Friezula, "The plan has changed. The balanced of this world had been thrown off; but worry not, for I have returned to you, to see this plan through to the end."

"I'm gonna assume that's Cooler..." the Blind Toph guessed.

"The plan...?" reappeared Katara.

"Yes! My plan," Cooler answered, turning around and descending before the terrifying Katara with his burning red eyes, "My plan to let your nations continue to duke it out in my pitched war, for the Avatar to fulfill his destiny by killing Fire Lord Ozai and peace balance to the world..."

Ty Lee blinked "...wait, so, you're on his side..."

"AND THEN...!"

Ty Lee squeaked in fear.

"I, Lord Cooler, will destroy the Avatar myself before his own people, shattering this world's balance and replacing it with my own!" Cooler finished with a tightened fist."And thus I shall in every conceivable faculty rule this planet, and in turn, this cursed solar system, once my prison, shall become my sole domain, that no other being can claim for themselves. The once thought unconquerable Void of Vegeta will be mine and mine alone. In other words, Katara..." he leaned right into the girl's face "you're looking at your new god."

"Oh my goodness," Frieza mumbled, slowly clapping Azula's hands."Surely you've been working on that speech for months."

"You're damn right I have." Cooler smirked.

"My lord..." Lu Ten kneeled before Cooler, along with the rest of the humans, to Katara's further astonishment.

"Lu Ten! Prince Lu Ten, how good it is to see you," Cooler greeted."I hear you've become Captain now."

"Oui, so about zat..." Salza raised his finger.

"Yes, my Lord," said Lu Ten, "I have ensured this planet has remained the same since the day you left six years ago."

"Six years?" Zuko noted.

"Yes, well, not entirely the same," Cooler observed Katara and Toph, "As the Avatar has now returned, and the Earth Kingdom has been conquered, but none of that is your fault, Captain Lu Ten."

At this, Salza gasped melodramatically, feeling as though he'd been skewered through his chest (again).

"This is fine," said Cooler, "I can work with this. It'll be all the more dramatic when the Avatar miraculously defeats your uncle, and even more so when I defeat the Avatar."

"And I will become the Fire Lord, yes?" added Lu Ted hopefully.

"Yes..." nodded Cooler.

Zuko simply eyed his living cousin in astonishment.

"Yes, yes, yes," Freiza mocked, rolling Azula's hand and kicking Lu Ten aside, "But I believe you're leaving out a very important aspect of your wonderful master plan, Coola: the part where you somehow give me and my soldiers new bodies, remember?" he lurched into Cooler's ghostly face.

Cooler playfully smacked his own temple."Oh yes! I almost forgot! How impertinent of me..." he leered.

"So spill it, bro..." spat Frieza, raising Azula's brow."Just how will you give us new bodies to resurrect us with, hm?"

"As I have been saying, Sis..." deadpanned Cooler, "It's all part of the plan..." he answered walking away from Freiza with his arms folded behind him. He held his fist up to his mouth and coughed, "You can come out now..."

Just then, the room was filled with a malevolent presence. All the occupancy of the hanger watched nervously as the air shimmered with a sudden feeling of darkness and terror. An enormous black form warped into their vision above their heads. The blackness gained more physicality, morphing into a trail of segmented carapace and legs, ending in a huge entity with the likeness of a giant centipede. Where this thing's head would be was only one single closed set of eyelids, which quickly split open to reveal a grinning demonic face. "GREETINGS!"

The humans and aliens and ghost aliens alike all screamed in horror at the giant evil spirit. Cooler just smirked wider."He's no wishing dragon, but he'll do."

Koh released a thundering cackle as he swung his craned neck down at the poor mortals."Ooooooh..." he hissed, snaking through the air. "Look at all these terrified faces...I have not seen so many at once in nine hundred years! So many to choose from..."

Cooler flung his arms out in a way that Freiza would have."Ladies, gentlemen, and asexuals, may I present to you one of the most ancient and feared spirits to plague this world: Koh, The Face Stealer!"

"Koh the Face Stealer!?" exclaimed Katara with wide eyes, shocked by the familiar name.

"Is there an echo in here, or do you kids just like to repeat everything I say?" inquired Cooler.

"Who's Koh the Face Stealer?" naturally asked Toph, who is typically out of the loop for all of the Gaang's adventures that predate her meeting.

"That's the evil spirit Aang needed to talk to during the battle at the North Pole!" Katara said.

"Evil?" overheard the entity, jutting right into Katara's face."And just what give you the right to call me 'evil', child? Because I'm seconds away from stealing your face?"

But Katara said nothing. In fact, she remained perfectly still (but not as perfectly still as Perfect Cell would have stood) while maintaining the most emotionless expression she could muster.

"...Toph, whatever you do, don't make any facial expressions, so he can't steal your face..." Katara said quietly.

But then, Koh's face switched to that of a baboon's."WHY ARE YOU WHISPERING!?" he howled in Katara's face. But then Koh's own face was unexpectedly yanked away from Katara, courtesy of Cooler's hand.

"Alright, enough of your ridiculous staring contest," Cooler deadpanned, feeling more than comfortable enough to stare back at Koh with his annoyed facial expression."You steal so much as one face on this moon without my express permission and I will end you, do you understand?"

"Oh, you're no fun..." Koh frowned with his baboon face.

"Tell me about it..." Frieza rolled Azula's eyes."Anyway, Cooler, do you mind explaining how this...thing...is going to resurrect me? Does it grant wishes?"

"Actually, could we rewind back to zhe part where you met zhis creature in zhe first place, Mah Lord?" Salza requested.

"How observant of you, my second favorite lackey," Cooler noted,"While I was alive on this planet, I partook in a few spirit walks along the other side, when one day, I had walked right into the lair of this handsome devil," he gestured to the spirit,"He stole my face, I stole it back, I threatened to annihilate him, and so he pledged to serve me for eternity in return for sparing him."

"And you believed him?" Freiza found himself saying again.

"But of course," said Koh,"A spirit's pledge is unbreakable." he shrugged with his bug legs.

"Lovely," said Frieza,"So does it grant wishes or not?"

"If you are asking whether or not I have the power to resurrect the dead..." Koh slinked back to his cobra-like position while blinking into his earlier face "...not directly..."

"So what is the indirect method?" Frieza crossed Azula's arms impatiently.

"Well, I'll be happy to explain, princess," the spirit joked."You see, my title as 'Face Stealer' is derivative of my mother, The Mother of Faces, the great spirit who bestows identity to every living thing in this world. So, not only can I take faces, but as per my original purpose, I can make faces."

"Which means what?" Frieza expected more.

"Use your brain, Frieza!" Cooler grunted,"Not only can he make faces, but he can also make bodies!"

This news brightened Frieza's (Azula's) eyes."Ooooooh, now I see where this is going, and I looooove iiiit!" Frieza sang.

"Now do you understand?" Cooler raised his palms."I knew Koh could do this, which is why we had to come to this planet. This void creates the ultimate hiding spot while Koh here weaves us new bodies for our souls to occupy, thus resurrecting us from the dead. And once were officially alive, neither King Yemma nor the Kais can say anything about it, leaving us free to live again undisturbed!"

"My, you really thought this through, didn't you, Cooler?" Frieza felt Azula's chin, estatic that he will no longer be having to use Azula's body to do everything soon.

"Hell yes, we're gonna be alive again!" Burter cheered through Ty Lee. then she twitched."But wait, what about Cell? He's still technically not alive, just undead like the ogres he gobbled up?" Guldo reminded.

"Peh, that's his problem," Freiza scoffed."So! About this body-making business..." he grinned.

"It's quite simple, really," explained Koh."I could weave you a new body from your own chi - all I need is a tiny portion." Koh made a "slightly" gesture with his legs.

At this, Frieza frowned."Now wait a minute, if this is one of those monkey's paw dealings, I'd rather destroy you now. Don't get me started on monkeys..."

"A wishing dragon would never do such a thing, why should I?" Koh reasoned with a cheeky tone.

"I think you've answered your own question..." eyed Frieza.

"Brother, "Cooler said, "It's either Koh or bust; unless you're fine with being a human she-monkey, I don't judge." Cooler shrugged.

"Screw it!" Frieza grunted, flinging Azula's hands up for hopefully the last time, "But I'm going first!"

"As if anyone would have dared to go before you..." Cooler lamented, looking away.

Frieza walked back up to the old spirit. He raised his vessel's finger, and produced a teensy-weensy Death Ball."Be careful with this, Mr. Face Stealer."

Koh gasped, leaning down as he switched to the face of an owl so that he could better observe the ball of energy."Oh my goodness, this chi is nothing like I've ever seen before! So malicious, and yet so divine! I sense no end to your power! Yes, I can make from this a truly indestructible shell for your soul to wear!"

"Would have preferred an 'immortal' shell, but indestructible will do," shrugged Freiza.

Freiza and his goons watched cautiously as the spirit carefully plucked the energy ball with its forelegs; Koh excitedly weaved a sort of spiritual silk around the energy ball like a fly in a spider's clutch.

"How long is this going to take?" Frieza asked.

"Don't worry, Frieza," said Cooler, "This process should take a mere five minutes," he then leaned into Katara's ear." That was a lie, it's going to take an hour, but he won't even notice." he chuckled to himself, as did Salza. Cooler then zipped over to the ruffled Lu Ten and grabbed his shoulder."Anyway, why don't you give our new recruits a tour of the facility in the meantime?"

"Of course, my lord," Lu Ten saluted. He gestured to the soldiers, human and alien, to lead Katara, Toph, Ty Lee, Mai, the lemur currently referred to as Azula, and Zuko with him further into the facility. Katara naturally tried to resist in futility, but he was muscled away with the group.

"I'm going to expect my body back after this, Frieza!" reminded Azula before being snatched by the ears by Lu Ten.

Cooler smirked, resting his ghostly fist on his hips."How does it feel to be at the doorway to rebirth, little brother?"

"Tch" went Frieza."It feels like I couldn't have made it soon enough..." he said, arms crossed, as they both watched the spirit weave the ball of silk into a gradually larger form.

---

The kids were led through Cooler's moonbase and its various components, with Lu Ten leading the way, the first of which was an enormous room shaped like a dome.

Lu Ten held his hand out."This is the training room, where you will learn to harness your chi for various purposes," he explained.

Katara saw dozens of young human soldiers working out in various ways, from lifting various barbells and dumbbells that were each labeled one or several tons, to looking up and watching some students sparring at hyperspeed in the air, to some shooting ki blasts and fireballs at various moving targets."I can't believe this. All this time, there were-"

"...were humans living on the moon and serving Lord Cooler, yes," Lu Ten finished her sentence almost verbatim,"Please get the shock of the situation out of your system so that we may continue."

"Meh," shrugged Captain Mai,"This is alright...for training equipment unapproved by the Frieza Force anyway."

"Oh really?" Lu Ten raised a brow at this."Well I hope that the gravity chamber can meet Lord Frieza's unattainable standards..." he rolled his eyes.

Ginyu chuckled, not picking up on the sarcasm."I highly doubt that-wait, the what?" he stared at Lu Ten.

"The gravity chamber," Lu Ten repeated, pointing his thumb at an isolated part of the space gym. Through a window, they could see humans doing what appeared to be normal pushups and sit-ups, with one walking outside for a moment to drink plenty of juice."That chamber increases the gravity within that room from twice to hundreds of times over, allowing trainees to exercise under extreme weights well beyond any material on this planet, allowing them to grow exponentially stronger."

Ginyu and the Ginyu Force collective caused Mai and Ty Lee's jaws to drop.

Lu Ten shrugged."But I guess Frieza's gravity chambers are much more efficient..." he intentionally paused, tapping his chin."...unless of course, the Frieza Force doesn't have any gravity chambers, which might explain how so many of your forces seem to remain at the same powerlevel all their lives..." he leered.

"It is kinda' weird how much stronger we were than Zarbon and Dodoria, who're supposed to be Lod Frieza's top men-"

"SHUT UP, GULDO!" Boomed the other three voices at once.

"Alright, alright, I get it, kid!" Captian Mai crossed her arms."So training equipment has drastically improved in the last couple years. But I bet once my subordinates get their bodies back, the addition of our Frieza-approved techniques to your fancy gravity machine will produce the greatest army the universe has ever known!"

At this former prince coughed."...I'm sorry, my knowledge of the Cold Clan's history is still growing, could you relate to me the point in time which Frieza approved of his soldiers twirling about like strippers?"

"YOU TAKE THAT BACK, YOU SON OF A-" but now was Mai's turn to cut the other voice off."Look, man, don't engage: there're three people on my world that can never lose an argument, and that is General Iroh, Prince Lu Ten, and Princess Azula."

"And apparently," Leered the lemur-fied Azula, standing on the still speechless Zuko's shoulder,"He has surpassed even myself in the art of lying..."

"Lying all the time is not the same as lying well..." mused Lu Ten without looking.

"Woah!" Toph marveled."This guy can even burn Azula!"

But then Katara roughly nudged her blind friend."Don't cheer for them."

"Moving on..." Went the new captain, proceeding with his captive entourage to another room.

---

Next wasn't so difficult for Katara to make out herself: it was a big library, dwarfed by the enormity of Wa Shi Tong's, but she doesn't like to talk about that one...

"This is the archives room," introduced Lu Ten,"Here you will have access to knowledge about the world that you never hoped to learn in your primitive villages, as well as the history of the Chilled Clan."

"Is that a gang?" asked Toph."Can I join it?"

"No, it's the name of the dynasty that Lord Cooler descended from," said Lu Ten, arms folded back,"From the humble beginnings of Lord Chilled and his planet trade organization..."

"You call that humble...?" Azula muttered.

"...to the great Cold empire that spanned the whole universe, along with its fall following the deaths of Cold and Frieza." Lu Ten finished.

This library, Katara noticed had many different things aside from just books: such as portraits and statues made of pure light, which presumably detailed all kinds of historical events about the different worlds throughout space.

"Well, I can't read," reminded Toph,"So maybe you can clue us in on how Cooler secretly took over the world?"

" 'the world'..." repeated Lu Ten at the narrow-minded phrase."I suppose I can summarize as we walk: a little over thirty years ago, Lord Cooler landed on 'the world'. With the Void vastly impairing his power, he was captured by-"

"Uncle..."

Lu Ten whipped his miffed face around at Zuko, who was looking at the ground.

"Uncle Iroh captured him and brought him back to the capital, and imprisoned in the royal dungeon for ten years," recalled Zuko.

At this Lu Ten visibly twitched."...correct...That is what...the general...did with Cooler. Ten years later, he escaped, and went through a sort of spiritual journey across our planet for some time. Eventually, he built his own ship and escaped the solar system, reunited with what was left of his forces, and brought them back here to set up his headquarters. Around that same time," he smiled as he went on," he secretly overthrew the Fire Nation monarchy and converted it into his puppet government, with himself as, what some consider to be, the true Fire Lord."

"So, first the Dai Li take over Ba Sing Sei and make the Earth a puppet," said Toph,"Then a spaceman takes over the Fire Nation and makes the Fire Lord a puppet. So basically we've been fighting for a puppet to defeat another puppet. Not even Mai could have made this sound more depressing."

"Lies!" argues Azula."Are you seriously expecting me to believe that Fire Lord Azulon would surrender the throne to someone else!? And that no one knew about it!?"

"Yep," answered Lu Ten casually.

"Well then I suppose you're not as good a liar after all!" the lemur threw her little finger."Grandfather was the most honorable man to have walked the earth. He would rather have died than surrender!"

He quickly inhaled"Oh, he did," responded Lu Ten.

Azula's angry lemur face turned into a confused lemur face. Zuko was also confused.

At this point, Lu Ten stops walking, eyeing the books and scholars organizing the records."By dragon fire, I still remember that day perfectly: I was just a child, sitting next to Father and Uncle in the council room. Father was still begging for Fire Lord Azulon to fund an invasion of Ba Sing Sei, and then suddenly, the ceiling went off like a bomb, the rubble smashing the atlas of the world before our very eyes - like a premonition of events yet to come. Cooler and his squad descended before us; we were dumbfounded. I had no idea what was going on, but the look on Father's face told me that this must have been someone he knew. Without a word, Cooler killed grandfather right there. Before we could even think to rise in resistance, he gave us a choice: for us all to die and the Fire Nation destroyed, or listen to his proposal..."

"What happened?" Zuko said.

"Well, after most of the council said no and payed the ultimate price, we were slave to Cooler's plan for us: for the Fire Nation never to be informed that Azulon was dead, but that he was 'as healthy as ever'" he mocked,"while Cooler ruled the land in secret. As you can imagine, it was quite the revenge for the Fire Nation having him imprisoned in secret for so long." Lu Ten explained.

Azula's crossed her lemur arms."Wow, what an extravagant tale..." her lemur brow creased."Except you're leaving out the part where that would have happened before I was born, and I still quite clearly remember Fire Lord Azulon not being dead up until six years ago!"

"Six years..." Lu Ten repeated, looking up at the ceiling,"Has it been that long?"

"What?" Zuko asked.

Lu Ten closed his eyes and sighed."...that was around the time that Lord Cooler left our world; he never told us why..." he eyed his cousins."It was also one year later that Frieza and his family died...Coincidence?"

Zuko looked at the ground."Cooler still hasn't told me exactly how he died..." he noted. But then, he blinked in realization."Wait a minute, six years go? That was when..." his pupils darted around tensly.

Lu Ten just blinked."Go ahead, say it..."

"What happened six years ago?" Katara asked Zuko.

The prince turned to the girl anxiously."That was when my mom died."

Just then, the lemur currently referred to as Azula felt her head in pain, until the Momo finally shrieked, and the spirit of Azula flew out and away from the party's sight uncontrollably.

---

Frieza stood there with someone else's arms crossed...but then, something dawned on him."Wait a second...It has been FAR longer than five minutes, you lying prick!" Frieza shot a death glare at the smug ghostly Cooler.

Just then, Azula's spirit screamed across the hangar and back into her own body. She gasped, and fell to her knees in shock. Azula breathed loudly, her forehead perspiring, holding her actual self up with trembling hands."It can't be true..." she exhaled.

"Princess Azula?" Cooler realized.

"You..." she hissed, rising to her feet, meeting the ghost's eyes."It was you all along!" she threw her finger at Cooler."You took Lu Ten from us! You killed my grandfather! You're the reason Father hates Zuko so much! You're the reason Mother abandoned me! You're the reason I'm such a cold, unfeeling monster that no one loves! YOU RUINED MY-!"

But she was interrupted as Cooler's ghost hand phased into her body, and yanked her spirit right out again, allowing Frieza to gasp for air himself.

"Curse you humans and your ridiculous need to breathe!" cursed Frieza, clutching Azula's neck.

"What are you going on about?" Cooler demanded the girl.

"Don't play stupid with me!" yelled the transparent Azula (as this was the only way Azula could ever be transparent)."I saw you with my own eyes! Grandfather didn't tell Dad to kill Zuko, YOU DID!"

The alien's lips sagged, racking his brain as to what she meant."...Oh I see, you're talking that time..." he understood.

"That time?" repeated Frieza."What is this 'time' you speak of and why is it so important?"

"It's nothing too severe," Cooler dismissed."Just the time I made a new decree to Ozai right off the top of my head, the one that made him the new Fire Lord. If I recall, Little Azula here was eavesdropping on the conversation."

Azula had to watch in disdain as her own body laughed at her.

"Oh, I see! So she caught you right in the act of your adorable conspiracy?"

"Only for a moment," Cooler said," she likely dismissed it as a dream, I wouldn't know, because that was one of the last orders I gave to her people before I left Planet Avatar to, you know..." Cooler leered,"avenge my family's death at the hands of a Saiyan?"

"You always were fond of poetry, Brother," Frieza taunted.

Cooler exhaled aggressively through his ghostly nostrils."Mock me all you wish, but in the end, you must thank me for bringing you back from the dead, Frieza. As for you..." he looked down at Azula pensively."I left your planet a long time ago since then, so all of that nonsense about how your parents mistreated you and you being some heartless evil monster is none of my doing, so don't project your negative feelings onto me."

Azula's angry glare turned into a sobered expression.

"Awww," cooed Frieza sarcastically, folding Azula's hands in fake sadness," and for a precious moment there, you thought you were the victim, when in fact you were always the cause of the suffering of others around you..."

Azula furiously lurched in her body's direction but was still retained by Cooler."Stand down, child," Cooler said,"You'll get your body back when we're through with it, as you've been told. And you, Frieza..." he looked to his brother,"Your new body will be something special."

"Special?" Frieza paused, then glared."Special how?"

Cooler smirked."I'm sure that Koh can put it into words better than I."

The giant face-stealing spirit chuckled."Are you familiar with the process of reincarnation?"

"Is that not another word for what we're trying to get done?" Frieza once again had to raise Azula's brow.

"That and more..." explained the spirit."This body I'm making for you: unlike the body of the princess, it's an empty lifeless vessel; once your soul enters into it, it will be far more than your resurrection - it shall be your rebirth, and you shall return to this world as a child of Planet Avatar."

Freiza forced Azula's eyes to widen."Excuse me!? Are you saying I'm going to be reborn as a disgusting human!?"

"Of course not," Koh replaced his face with the face of a kind old lady as he cooed."This is why I needed your chi so that I could create a body identical to your former one. The only difference between the two is that this new body, having been born within the void, shall, just like the humans that are born and live within it, become totally immune to the void's effect."

At this, Freiza was fairly certain that Azula's heart had stopped for an instant."...I...no, wait...Do you mean that I will be returned to my full power?"

Koh blinked his face back to his usual kabuki face."Precisely."

Freiza looked at the floor completely stumped. After a sec, laughter escaped his current vessel's throat. He bent over in laughter, with his fingers clawed."Oh dear, it sounds too good to be true! In the current state Vegeta is in, I'll be able to swat him like a fly!"

Nothing Azula heard from this conversation sounded like good news to her.

Salza now felt it to be an apt time to ahem audibly."Mah lord, do you really zhink it wise to let your brozzer have such a powerful new body first?"

"Now, that's a sentiment I can wholly agree with..." Freiza turned to Cooler with a questionable look."Brother, you do understand that I could destroy your precious planet Avatar with a flick of my pinky?"

"As you know, I've lived here for some time, Freiza," said Cooler," and having to spend your life constantly surrounded by beings that could possibly kill me has taught me something I never could comprehend on the outside: trust. By letting you go first, I am putting my trust in you, trust that you will not do such a thing as kill us all the moment you are strong enough to, just as I have trusted Lu Ten, who at this moment is still the strongest in the solar system. I trust that you can let me have this one little system, while you go on to rule the rest of the universe. Surely such an unfair arrangement is enough to please you."

"And I thought I was abusive to those around me..." lamented Azula.

"Then it looks like you finally know your place after all, Cooler!" beamed Freiza."Now everyone will get what they deserve: I have the universe, you have one worthless planet, and Vegeta has death."

"As well as Goku's child," Cooler added,"It's only a matter of time before the gods wise up to where we are, and send their little champions in an attempt to return us to hell. But none of them will see this coming; they will fly right into the void like a spider's web. Once we're reborn, we will finally finish what you started, brother, and eradicate the Saiyan species from existence!"

The sons of Cold shared the evilest of laughs, with Azula looking in between the two, stunned that this was supposed to be a real conversation.

But, alas, their laughter was cut off by a powerful, space station rocking boom. Cooler, Frieza, Salza and Azula slowly turned around to see a small spherical space pod, smoldering in its little crater in the hanger. The pod hissed open; the mist cleared up, revealing a weathered Vegeta.

Vegeta huffed."I see that you're all rather puzzled. Allow me to explain..."

---

Aang, Sokka, and Iroh stared up at the solid gold temple, lined with jewels, built to worship the Saiyans.

"I have never seen such an ostentatious structure in all my years..." Iroh's brow sank.

"Hopefully, this is enough to satisfy Vegeta's ego..." Sokka deadpanned,"...hopefully..."

"Hopefully" repeated Aang," Katara and Toph are here, and we can just wait the invasion out until Vegeta gets back. Help me with the door."

Both Sokka and Iroh (surprisingly) put their backs into it as they pushed open the other set of big fancy doors open. When they were done, the three were able to see the interior of the sanctuary...which was stained with blood and littered with the bodies of Ba Sing Se's surviving nobles. To their horror, the only living thing left in the building was currently looking at the statue of Vetega, before he turned around and smirked.

"Oh hi there," greeted Cell,"I certainly hope you weren't coming here to live."

Aang and Sokka were motionless in fear, while Iroh was justifiably confused.

"Do you see this garbage?" Cell gestured up at the statue."The Saiyans came down here and rained hell on this poor little world; King Vegeta tried to murder a defenseless little girl to get this planet; he went out of his way to become the devil of your people, and what happens?" Cell lifts his hands to the statue."He becomes their god! Or at least his bastard daughter does, but you see my point?"

All that Aang could "see" was the cold-blooded green monster smiling at him with a disturbingly friendly expression. He was now essentially alone with Cell, without Vegeta to stand in his way, and he could not think of anything to say or do to avoid death at his hands at this very moment.

"While I'm at it," Cell went on,"I'd just like to formally apologize for Frieza's impulsive actions back there in the palace: killing the Earth King and conquering the Earth Kingdom was most certainly not part of the plan, but conquerers gotta conquer, ya know?" Cell shrugged.

Aang remained silent...

"Oh come on!" Cell barked."You have nothing to say to me? No ice-breakers? No jokes you've heard recently?" He crossed his arms."Should I just kill you three right now and be done with it?"

Aang's lips tightened and twitched; he managed to scowl at the monster."You...you ruined the balance..." he said weakly.

"I ruined the balance!?" Cell let out defensively."All I've done was smuggle a few souls to the living side, your balance was ruined a thousand years ago when they came!" he tossed his thumb to the statue of Vetega."Or how about when Cooler took over your world thirty years before you had to find out the hard way!? You think you would have faired any better against the Cooler Force once Sozin Comet arrives?"

Aang, Sokka, and Iroh shared glances.

"What?" Cell huffed."Do you think I didn't know about that? This stupid ki-sucking spell is the only reason I came here; having to put up all this time with this disgusting vulnerability so that Vegeta and Gohan didn't instantly hunt me down and kill me. I wasn't even planning on destroying your planet if that's what you're thinking, because, unlike Frieza, I am capable of compromise." He spread his arms."This planet is to be claimed by Cooler, and the rest of the universe by Frieza, we all agreed on this long before I got here. You don't have to throw your lives away, just surrender now - get with the program."

"We can't do that," Sokka said.

"Course you can," sneered Cell."You just won't. But let's be real here: say there was no Cooler Force, say I never came back from the dead and brought the devil with me; you'd still have to deal with Prince Vegeta."

Aang's and Sokka's poise was shaken by this.

"Now how many times has he threatened to kill you and destroy this planet before running into me, hm? You can only dance around it for so long: he's a destroyer, descended from a race of destroyers, the destroyer that would have destroyed you long ago were it not for your past life's little life hack. If it weren't for me, it would have been him you'd be facing against come Sozin's Comet, and you know it."

"I'll tell you what I know," said Aang" I know that Vegeta has changed. I know he used to be bad, but now he has a family somewhere on another world that he needs to get back to."

"You mean Bulma and Trunks?" Cell cocked his head."Cause I already killed Trunks, and I can only assume Vegeta went across the universe and ended up here because things didn't end well with him and Bulma."

Their breaths were taken away by this claim, and Cell clearly delighted in this sight.

"Let me give you some valuable wisdom: you don't know Vegeta, the Vegeta who scorches planets for business and pleasure, who killed Nappa for the sin of being handicapped, who's beaten down children younger than you, who dedicated years out of his life to killing Goku, or 'Kakarot' as he calls him, with his bare hands. You've lived to become his 'friends' only because he couldn't kill you even when he wanted to."

The near verbatim caused Aang to gulp.

"But all that's nothing compared to his greatest achievement: me," Cell hissed.

Aang blinked, his fear replaced with confusion.

"What, he didn't tell you?" Cell leered, slowly walking towards Aang."I wasn't born, I was created in a lab by a scientist, using the blood of the universe's strongest warriors, including Kakarot, Frieza, and Vegeta, but that's not all!" Cell dramatized, gesturing to his face."See, I wasn't always so handsome and perfect, I used to be a repugnant talking insect, a mere fraction of Vegeta's full strength. The first we fought he could have killed me so easily, but - and mind you, this is the grumpy family man you've come to know yourselves - I told him that I could beat him, if only I could achieve my Perfect Form. This hero you love so much took this knowledge in...and decided to let me transform into this gorgeous all-powerful god you see before you just for pride's sake. Can you hear me? He willingly put his family's, and his home's lives on the line just to stroke his ego! And what happened next?" He stopped before the three, leaning forward,"I kicked his Super Saiyan ass, I killed Goku, then Trunks, and I almost annihilated the entire solar system, but then Goku's son, not too older than you, came to the rescue and with all his might couple with a cheap shot from Vegeta, finally put an end to the scourge of Perfect Cell, the one Vegeta himself set in motion! And that is why Vegeta hates me so, because as long as I live, I remind him of what a selfish, cold-hearted rat bastard he truly is!"

The temple echoed with Cell's outburst.

He looked between the two boys."...Speaking of the old bird, where has he gone?" Cell picked up casually.

They didn't answer.

"...So you don't know?" Cell gathered. He looked up."Well you never know: Maybe he found a way off of this hellhole and took it without a second's pause."

Aang blinked."...the ship..."

"Excuse me?" Cell responded."A ship? Vegeta found a ship to leave this planet with? Is that the last time you saw him?"

Aang's and Sokka's hearts stopped, as that was precisely the last time that they saw him or Tarble.

Cell let loose a loud wheezing laugh, and clapped his hands."Well, there you have it! The Super Saiyan Bros have left the building! I say that as a pun, because Tarble is not a Super Saiyan. Guess it really is just you, me, and your new emperors, once they attain their new bodies that is, which should be any moment now. Like I said..." he leaned right into Aang's face "...not too late to give up."

The airbender couldn't help but let tears drip from his eyes, as they were locked with Cell's piercing gaze...which was warped by Sokka's fist, sending Cell sliding back through the temple, sparks flying as he stopped himself.

"You can take your suggestion and shove it up your ass!" Roared Sokka, his punching arm flexed.

Cell felt his cheek and sighed."This again..." He raised his hands over his head."MASENKO!" he fired a yellow ki beam that Sokka had to push Aang and Iroh out of the way from before taking the full force of it himself, sending him flying through the court yard and tumbling across the ground. Cell appeared and grabbed Sokka's neck.

Aang got up and turn around to see his friend's predicament, and gasped."Sokka!"

Cell had Sokka in a chokehold, facing the Avatar."Alright, here's how this is gonna go, either you go into you Avatar State and give me a proper fight, or you watch Sokka die for real this time!"

"No! You cannot do that!" Iroh suddenly yelled, stopping in front of Aang.

"What?" Aang looked at Iroh, then it occurred to him."Wait, do you know?"

"We all know!" Cell mocked."It's perfectly fair for both of us, don't you think!? The two of us lay our lives on the line in honorable bloodshed! This is your only chance to defeat me, boy! Don't you want to 'restore' you little balance!?" he tightened his hold on Sokka's neck, making Sokka gag."Of course, alternatively, you could just let me kill your friend, that way you won't have to risk breaking your precious cycle; I think that would be far more pragmatic, don't you agree, Sokka!?"

Sokka struggled and wormed his neck lose long enough to say:"I SAY ALIENS DON'T EXIST AND WE'RE NEVER GONNA SEE VEGETA OR TARBLE EVER AGAIN!"

Silence...

Cell blinked twice."...Oh come one. Do you really think you're that much of a jinx?"

"You bet..." wheezed Sokka confidently.

Just then a powerful boom rocked the whole area, blasting strong winds from behind the bewildered Cell, who slowly turned around to see quite a shock: it was a small round space pod, similar to the ones Saiyans landed in, only this one didn't make nearly as big a crater, as though it slowed its landing before impact. The pod hissed open; the mist cleared up, revealing a slightly weathered and, most conspicuously, bald Tarble.

Tarble huffed."I see that you're all rather puzzled. Allow me to explain..."

---

The spaceship suddenly halted.

Vegeta and Tarble looked around in confusion.

"Why'd we stop?" Vegeta asked."You rodents better not be trying to put us out to pasture...?"

"This is where we must go no further," said the human soldier. He pointed out to the front window."Just out there is the end of the Void."

The Saiyans were arrested by powerful feelings of shock that they were not ready for. As Vegeta found himself saying to him over and over throughout this adventurous purgatory: finally...finally...finally after all this time it was all about to end. He didn't have to be pushed around by anyone or thing, he could be himself again, one of the most powerful mortals in the universe.

And Tarble? He'd return to his own miserable purgatory, being pushed around by everyone and thing, hated for the sins of his father, fleeing from every space pirate and despot that just so happens to annihilate every planet he feels content on. And above all, being the shame of his royal lineage and likely alienated once again by his brother.

Whatever way this was interpreted, both Saiyans understood that this saga in their lives was over, they could see the end right before them.

"...well, this is it, brother..." Tarble lamented.

"Yep..." Vegeta muttered.

"We're gonna be free now..."

"Yep..." Vegeta added.

"You can go back to being Super Vegeta, and I can go back to being weak little Tarble..."

"Yep..." went Vegeta yet again.

Of of the soldiers produced before the two a pair of space suits."Unfortunately, this is as far as the captain allows us to go. You can use these suits to leave the Void yourselves; they contain beacons you can activate to signal to Galactic Patrol, they'll pick you up in a few hours."

"And don't even think about turning around and blasting us the moment you pass," established another soldier,"your ki will be instantly absorbed by the Void, just keep floating and get on with your lives," she ordered.

"Yes, I cannot wait to get on with the hell that is my life," Tarble muttered.

"And I can't wait to confront my ex," Vegeta dreaded.

The two Saiyans stared into literal space...

Tarble clicked his tongue."Say, Vegeta..."

"Mhm?" Vegeta acknowledged.

"Do you think I could come with you to Earth?"

"Oh yeah, sure," Vegeta answered casually.

Tarble shrugged."I mean, if you've lasted so long under the radar on that particular planet..."

"m'yeah..." Vegeta understood.

"...then perhaps that's the planet for me too..."

"I get it, I get it" nodded Vegeta.

More silence...silence that made the guards uncomfortable."Excuse me, are you gonna take the suits to not?"

"Cell has likely killed off the kids by now," Tarble assumed.

"No question about that," snorted Vegeta.

"You know, guys," said the male soldier,"they say that longer goodbyes are more painful; but the longer you two douchebags stand there and ignore us, the more I can't wait to throw you out myself. Take the friggin' suits!"

"Alright, jeez," complained Vegeta, closing his eyes and begrudgingly grabbing his designated space suit."Where's the zipper on this thing?"

"Come back, Vegeta."

"The zipper's on the 'comeback'? What the hell is a com-WHAT THE HELL!?" Vegeta exclaimed as soon as he reopened his eyes. He was no longer in the space ship, let alone deep space. He found himself standing in some kind of meadow, surrounded on all sides by walls of ice; it was night, and the full moon was out. To his right, there was a tori gate, above a small pond.

His jaw hung in disbelief, then shook his head."To hell with it, my mistake was to think anything was still going to make sense, I'll just go with the damn flow," he grumbled, walking to the pond which he presumed he was supposed to walk to. The melancholy Saiyan looked down into the stupid pond, watching a pair of stupid fish swim in a stupid circle.

He crossed his arms and tapped his fingers impatiently."Okay, I'm staring at the fish; I'm sure this is important in a way my tiny Saiyan brain can't understand. Go on, fish, do something weird - I am a slave to your narrative."

One of the fish, the white one, began to glow brightly.

"Please don't leave, Vegeta," the disembodied feminine voice called out.

Vegeta scoffed."Leave? Oh, don't you worry your little fishy head about that; the gods have made it painfully clear that I couldn't leave no matter how hard I try."

In response, Vegeta noticed, the reflection of the moon in the water also began glowing, and he could make out a humanoid figure seem to appear in front of the moon's reflection.

Vegeta sighed."That the best you got? It's going to take a lot more than this to piss me off; you could show me Kakarot in bed with Bulma and I wouldn't budge."

The entity emerged from the water, floating in front of the prince."I'm not trying to anger you. My name is Yue. I was once the princess of the Northern Water Tribe. When I was a baby, I was very sick, and my parents came to this place so that the Moon Spirit would - "

"Lemme stop your ad-libbing right there, because I could not be more disinterested," Vegeta raised his hand."You were saying earlier that I shouldn't leave? You think I actually want to do this willingly? I resist, I die; I leave and come back, I die; I go back to Earth and convince Bulma or preferably Dr. Briefs to construct a time machine to go back in time to stop this from happening, I create a parallel timeline in which everything will likely go even worse, and BOTH versions of me die. As a wise wishing dragon once said: this matter is beyond my power, so piss off, ghost girl."

"I told you he would not heed..." whispered another voice dismissively. Vegeta noticed the black fish glowed as this happened.

"Listen to your boyfriend, fish woman, I'm good as gone," Vegeta affirmed.

"You don't understand!" Yue pleaded,"You're the only one who can save the Avatar and the world!"

"I TRIED!" bellowed Vegeta furiously, pointing to the ground."I tried every damn thing I could to make sure that Aang could restore the balance and beat the Fire Lord, all while making measures not to expose myself as an invasive species that would have turned your people into a xenophobic warrior race! " he began to mimic Katara's tone," 'but then, EVERYTHING CHANGED when the Fire Nation attacked' ! How the hell was I to know that the Fire Lord's nephew was a badass space warrior that used to serve under Cooler!? What makes you think I could fight him in my current state now versus before!?"

"Because this time, we will help you," said Yue.

"Yes, I will be so useful with the ocean that is thousands of miles apart from your moon..."

Yue didn't turn around, she just breathed."Because now, I will help you."

"Wait a second," Vegeta felt his sinus,"What are you, some kind of moon goddess?"

"I am the Moon Spirit," answered Yue,"which I was going to tell you before you interrupted me."

"So what do you need MY help for!?" squealed Vegeta."That's your moon they're colonizing, go kick their asses yourself!"

"I told you, I am the Moon Spirit, not a moon goddess; I did not create the moon, nor do I have total control over it; my purpose is to transfer energy from the moon to all waterbenders that are under the moon at night."

Vegeta blinked, then snorted to himself,"Wait...are you telling me that you- hehehe- turn waterbenders into giant primates!?" he rationalized, getting a kick from the thought of Katara turning into an Oozaru and mauling Sokka or something.

Yue's brow creased."What? No, I just enhance waterbending."

"Of course, you can't do anything to make ME happy at someone else's expense," Vegeta raised his brow,"And unless you can grow my tail back, your moon beams are useless to me."

"When I saw that there were people living on the moon, I didn't see it as a problem. In fact, I was happy to see humans living peacefully on the moon with otherworldly beings. It did not seem like a problem, until Cooler returned. I could never hope to defeat Cooler as he is now, essiently being a powerful spirit in his own right, but could make you stronger than you are now," Yue offered."You just need to return to the moon."

"I see," Vegeta said sarcastically,"So all I have to do is overpower these human soldiers that aren't at all affected by the ki-draining force that essentially makes me no stronger than A low-class Saiyan!" Vegeta reminded."Look, I can't help you, your planet is beyond saving, your people was screwed decades before I even landed here. You're just going to have to watch helplessly as Cell and Ghost Frieza take over your stupid planet; but hey, at least the seal will keep them trapped here forever so they can't ever be my problem."

"You don't fully grasp the situation," Yue said,"the truth is that they will be returned to their full power soon,"

If Vegeta were still in his corporeal form, his heart would have stopped."...Nandato?"

With a wave of her hand, Yue caused the pond beneath her to ripple; it changed from a reflection of himself, to the hangar that he left before. First he saw that unused Mortal Kombat fighter that booted him and Tarble off-world in the first place, watching a ship land in front of him; out of it came that dirty Space Frenchman still alive and jovially talking to Lu Ten, who then threatened to fire /execute him, and then he saw that Ty Lee girl, Mai, a very familiar looking teen with a scar, and Aang's pet lemur rush Lu Ten, hugging him lovingly with tears in their eyes (it kind of looked like the lemur was also crying, but why though?) and then Azula, who was also Frieza, and...the kids? Katara and Toph!

"What!?" Vegeta kneeled closer to the pond, resting on his hands in surprise."No! No NO NO NONONO! This can't be happening, what are they doing up their!? Where's Aang, where's Sokka!?"

"I cannot say," Yue lamented,"the sun still shines over Ba Sing Se as we speak."

"I..." Vegeta choked a little, as a previous conjecture reared its ugly head in his mind, filling him with dread. He clench his teeth and smashed the ground."GODDAMN YOU, CELL! YOU KILLED THEM! YOU KILLED THEM BOTH! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DO THAT!? They were no threat to you, but you just had to do it anyway, just to get to me!? Why!? WHY COULDN'T YOU JUST KILL ME INSTEAD OF MY BOY!?"

The spirit world itself lit up as Vegeta managed to explode into a Super Saiyan; Yue was naturally frightened, as well as confused. She watched the Super Saiyan bury his face into the dirt. clawing his hair and continuing to curse to himself.

Vegeta flinched as he felt Yue's hand, a most gentle hand, land on his shoulder.

"...He killed your son, didn't he?"

But Vegeta reeled away like an angry dog."Don't you introspect me, moon bitch! That bug will never get to me again! My first mistake was allowing myself to be emotionally compromised by another bunch of weaklings and their little niceties in return for me sparing their lives. I refuse to ever again be pulled down by anymore deadweight."

"You mean a family?" Quired Yue.

"Exactly!" Vegeta threw his finger at Yue."What's it good for? Ruining your life? Making you weak? Feeling someone else's pain? Somehow suffering vicariously as you watch them die!? I've had it! In fact," he got back up on his feet."Just wake me up already. I have no intention of returning anymore; I'm done with your planet, and I can't WAIT to get my full power back and take over the whole friggin' universe myself! You've got the wrong Saiyan; your mistake was asking a Saiyan for help in the first place."

Yue simply stared at him for a moment...

Vegeta stared back. He tossed up he hands expectantly.

"...You're a terrible liar," observed Yue.

"Gimme one good goddamn reason to turn around!" Vegeta demanded.

"How about him?" Yue pointed into the pond.

Now Vegeta saw in the water something to make him die of a heart attack if he were still in his body: The kids were now faced with a gigantic worm/centipede abomination that kept switching his face into various faces. Normally The grownup Saiyan would've whaled and launched back from the pond like a frightened cat; but instead, he calmly pointed to the water."Now, see, what you have there is a goddamn good reason for me NOT to go back."

"That is Koh," explained Yue,"And he is currently weaving a new body for the one called Frieza, so that he may be reborn on our world..."

Vegeta nodded."Yeah, your problem, not mine, we've covered this."

"...and immune to the seal..."

Vegeta's eyes widened like fish eyes.

"...as will his brother Cooler, and their minions...and eventually, Cell."

Vegeta's jaw trembled."I...I don't understand..."

"Like any mortal," the black fish spoke up again," anyone born into this world, born within the Void will not be affected by it; this can apply to whoever is reborn as well. If this plot of their works, then they will be able to destroy our world with just a finger."

Vegeta uncrossed his arms; his fingers twitched.

"But let us say that this plan does not work," mused the Ocean Spirit,"Let us say that they are not returned to their full power upon rebirth: they are still capable of leaving the Void, just as you are about to, any time that they wish, which would also be very soon. This IS your problem, son of Vegeta; after our destruction, your enemies shall follow you to the ends of the stars to destroy you; they will use this other Earth that you clearly treasure to coerce you to confront them yourself; they will use the love I can sense in your mind as a trap, you will offer your life in exchange for the ones you love, and they will destroy them all the same"

"You..." Vegeta breathed "...Y-you;re just making it up on the fly, you're tricking me into coming back!"

The black koi fish stopped swimming around, and look straight at Vegeta.

"Why would I desire that another Saiyan should stay here, and spoil the earth sea, if only because you are the only one who can stop those that will without question destroy us all?"

Vegeta tightened his lips, unable to argue. This spirit thing wasn't talking about good and evil, he was talking about pure survival. If he was telling the truth, and Vegeta left, they, not Vegeta, would be the first to suffer for it, not him; hell, if it came down to Cell returning to Earth, another bout with Gohan would easily put an end to that, assuming Gohan wouldn't just use the damn Dragon Balls to resurrect Kakarot as well. The fish had less to gain by lying because Vegeta going back and killing Cell and etc. would lead to Vegeta destroying this spirit for tricking Vegeta into staying in this insufferable "Void" any longer than necessary.

He turned around and kept mulling it over, considering all the definite facts. He spun around," But if Frieza couldn't be brought back to life, Cell could still leave the system with Lu Ten's help, and Gohan and possibly Katarot would kill Cell, and I don't have to get involved at all! If you're lying and I leave, I have everything to gain!"

"But If we are lying, does not answer the mystery of why the demon called Cell would come to our world, and willingly be drained of his full power, why he would implant spirits of the dead into unwilling vessels, and allow himself to be vulnerable to your wrath? Why come here?"

Now that was a damn good question: why would ANYONE come here willingly? Obviously, "hide my powerlevel from Gohan" did not require coming all the way to Planet Ki-sucker, as Cell could already suppress his own powerlevel to accomplish that. It also did not explain how Ghost Frieza fits into all this - assuming he's actually trying to resurect Frtieza, Cell couldn't use the Dragon Balls, because he would need Bulma's Dragon Radar for that, and if he kills Bulma, then that's a pretty big red flag for Gohan to investigate. And how did he even end up with Frieza's soul inside of him in the first place? And how is Cell ALIVE in the first place!? How did he know about this planet!? And how did he GET to this planet!? Even using Kakarot's Instant Transmission requires knowledge of where you want to go before you do it-"

"F^%^! F&*^ING F&*%!" Vegeta beat his head. Why was Vegeta avoiding the obvious? The only logical narrative was the one these fish were currently giving him; he could not just spend the rest of eternity debating the piscine's credibility. "FINE! You've got me to take the bait, fish, I hope you enjoy the irony. Let's just get this shit over with before I start having another one of those daydreams of Aang blowing his damn brains out!"

"I knew you cared about Aang," Yue smiled.

"YES I CARE ABOUT AANG, GODDAMMIT! There, I said it! What is this, Tarble all over again!? YES, Aang reminds me of Trunks; he makes me think of how baby Trunks will be when he turns twelve, all wide-eyed and innocent and full of stupid questions that make you do the right thing no matter how badly you just want to blow up the planet! Katara is like the daughter I've never had, barring her disturbing urge to lose her virginity to said hypothetical father figure. Toph is, frankly, EXACTLY how I hope baby Trunks will turn out, excluding the blindness. And Sokka? Well, he's EXACTLY like Trunks! The mature teenage Trunks who always takes the moral high ground at every opportunity to remind you of want a cosmic douchebag you've allowed yourself to become! I APPLAUD them for putting up with my sociopathic bullshit and all the mayhem I caused on their planet. I value their friendship! I-!"

Yue quickly but softly placed her fingers over Vegeta's running mouth, smiling warmly."Maybe you should tell them yourself."

Vegeta huffed."Yeah..." he sighed, looking at the ground."...so, what's your grand plan for dealing with these soldiers and getting back to your moon?"

Suddenly, the Ocean Spirit chuckled."Worry not, mortal, that matter has already been taken care of, thanks to you..."

"What, did you take over my body and kick their asses or something?"

"uuummmmm..." Yue rubbed the back of here head anime style " Let's say it's the 'something'..."

---

"Vegeta! Vegeta, wake up!" Tarble pleaded, shaking Vegeta's motionless form like crazy. Vegeta remained silent, cockeyed, and his tongue hanging turned to the soldiers."Help! He's stopped breathing!"

Even the soldiers panicked, their training in emergency protocol kicking female soldier spun to her (totally platonic) male partner."Go get the epinephrine, I'll try to resuscitate him!" she began pressing Vegeta's chest in intervals.

The other soldier ran to the back of the ship."Where's the epinephrine!?"

"In the med kit next to the escape pods, dumbass!" the young woman barked.

This immediately gave Tarble pause; no longer worried for his brother, he subtly tilted his head back while the woman was distracted to see the young man searching near what was clearly a pair of emergency escape pods that very much resembled old fashion spherical space pods, like the one he used to land on Aang's planet. He blinked...

"I don't see it!" that man yelled.

"Shen, I swear to Lord Cooler, if you forgot to pack the freaking medkit...!"

Tarble made a loud cough."Why don't we bring my brother to where you think the medkit is?"

"Sure, I'll take the legs!"

Without another word, Tarble picked up the dying Vegeta by his shoulders, and they carried him to the rear side of the ship.

The woman soldier glared "Please tell me you found the-"

"Found it, Lin!" Shen exlcaimled as he put the medkit case on the floor next to Vegeta and pried it open; he quickly picked the adrenaline shot."Okay, now get'em out of that suit so I can-"

"THE HELL YOU WILL!" Vegeta roared out of nowhere. He grabbed the soldiers by their arms and flung the back to the cockpit. Tarble fired a ki ball at the windshield, and the vacuum of space sucked the soldiers right out, along with the space suits. Then Tarble forced the cargo door closed.

"Get in the pods!" Tarble shouted.

In no time, the two Saiyans were blasting off for earth in their own separate pods, leaving two unlucky soldiers floating in space, holding their breaths while desperately finding the zippers on the space suits.

---

"...And THAT'S how I successfully escaped your forces' clutches, WITHOUT killing either of them!" Vegeta smiled widely in satisfaction, arms crossed."And yes, the fishes told me about the demon worm and the whole face-stealing thing: seriously, big guy, just try it, I'm sure you won't end up like the last spirit that tried to screw me..." he gestured with his fingers for anyone to come at him.

Cooler, Ghost Azula, Salza, Ghost Frieza, and Koh himself stared at Vegeta with equally blank expressions...

As soon as Cooler got over it, he took a deep breath."...I'll be right back..." he said before performing an Instant Transmission.

---

"What's this thing?" asked Toph.

Lu Ten gestured his palm toward the work of art: a stone sculpture having the faces of Lord Chilled, Lord Cold, and Lord Cooler."This is a scale model of Mt. Coolmore. It was to be carved on the inside of Ba Sing Se's outer wall, but Lord Cooler almost immediately scrapped the project when he realized he'd have to include the face of-"

"FRIEZA ON A STICK!" blared Cooler through Zuko, frightening all those around.

"My lord!" Lu Ten saluted."What is the matte-"

"You're about this find out!" he said, grabbing Lu Ten's shoulder and, with Zuko's body, performing Instant Transmission again.

---

ZuCkooler appeared in the hanger with a confused Lu Ten. Cooler then pointed to Vegeta."That, Captian, is the matter."

Lu Ten's mouth sagged."...you used the escape pod, didn't you...?"

"All two of them," Vegeta smirked.

"Two escape pods, in ONE ship!?" Salza glared at Lu Ten in disbeleif.

The new captain crossed his arms behind his back and looked away."We had resources in excess; it's better than to have it and not need it."

"Kind of like two captains..." scowled Cooler."Now rectify this oversight before I turn you back into Salza's intern!"

"Ye-yes, Lord Cooler..." meekly replied. He then dashed out of sight and reappeared right in front of the Saiyan.

He looked down at Vegeta, while Vegeta look down at him, and at this point, it finally occurred to Vegeta that, after all these years of having to look up at his opponents, then perhaps he might actually be slightly shorter than average...this made Vegeta want to kill this man even more.

"You do realize that now that you have embarrassed me in front of my emperor and Salza, death is a fate much too merciful for you..." Lu Ten hissed.

All the personnel in the hangar decided it best to leave the captain to his business and give them as much space as possible.

"I gotta say," Vegeta smiled,"You're awfully powerful for a human; I think you could have given Nappa a run for his money...but would you believe that I know this human that grew exponentially more powerful than you have in about probably a shorter frame of time? His name's Yamcha."

"And I'm sure that you could easily have destroyed me as a child," replied the captain,"But, sadly, you chose to continue our fight within the Void, and alone."

Vegeta's smile never wavered."Would you like to know what it is that we Saiyans hate most?"

"Apparently, it's to leave even a single world in existence unconquered," speculated Lu Ten.

"Silver medal," said Vegeta,"No, what we hate most is to have an unfair advantage over our opponent; there's no sport in it."

"Then I'm sure this will be a most sporting beating you shall receive..." Lu Ten growled, his aura growing steadily.

"Not in the slightest, Louie," Vegeta said."Ever since I landed on your stupid planet, I have suffered through a very unfair advantage between myself and your people: I've had my clothes stolen and imprisoned by the Fire Nations finest fodder, humiliated by a small blind girl in a tournament, and have been forced to globetrot around your annoying planet as though I were one of you. I'll tell you right now, human: I'm not impressed by your Frieza Force-tier powerlevel in the slightest, because ultimately, it's absolutely nothing compared to the power that has been unfairly taken from me. And if your stupid planet isn't up for a fair fight with Super Vegeta, then neither am I."

Vegeta began to glow with his own white aura, if one could call it that, since the strange energy seeping from the Saiyan clearly was not his. Just then, Salza had a new reading on his scouter; realized it was coming from Vegeta, which should not be possible."Er, mah lord...?"

"I can feel it too, Salza," noted Cooler."Lu Ten! Remember that we have an artificial atmosphere over the entire moon; you might want to take this outside."

"Yes..." said Lu Ten without emotion.

Vegeta's lip twitched."Hey, moon girl, how's the status on my powerup?"

"You're almost as strong as Lu Ten is, be careful," replied Yue.

Vegeta smiled."Just the way I like it..."

In a dual bust of energy, the two blasted off out of the hanger, streaking across the moon surface; Lu Ten and Vegeta skid along the ground and dash for each other, their shoulders clashed.

---

"YUE!?" Sokka exclaimed,"You talked to Yue!? How was she!? She's not in a new relationship is she!?"

"Sokka, I thought you had a thing with Suki now?" Aang reminded.

Sokka pouted."Yeah, well, I had a thing with Yue first, alright?"

"But Suki was the first girl to kiss you.."

"CHANGING THE SUBJECT!" Sokka barked.

Tarble took long breaths in and out, receding into a battle stance."Sokka, Get Aang to a safe place, I can handle Cell."

This left Cell himself wide-eyed."Handle me, will you? Well look at the brass Dragon Balls on you! Thinking you can fight me by yourself and survive; I guess you really are Vegeta's brother."

Tarble made a tch sound." I think that the only mistake I've made thus far is to be afraid to fight, I was too afraid to fight Azula, to fight Frieza, forget someone like you, just because they hurt me. But I'm done being afraid because no matter what, I know that none of us aliens can have a powerlevel any higher than my own. This leaves us with a different question..." His aura enveloped him. Cell Was surprised to actually feel Tarble's energy."This isn't about whether or not I have the balls to fight you, it's about you having the balls to fight fair, you overrated INSECT!" The little Saiyan exploded, making a shockwave that shook the insides everyone around him.

Tarble dashed straight for the unprepared Cell, who hastily guarded a kick from Tarble, but the force still sent Cell flying over Aang's hand, hitting an bouncing off the golden temple, sailing upwards. Tarble flew after him, and lashed out with a series of hyperfast punches that Cell dodged; unlike Vegata's assault earlier, this was making Cell anxious.

"Damn! He's in control of his power!? He must be keeping his level slightly under a certian threshold, otherwise he'd have suffered the seal's effect by now. I'll have to end this hard and fast!" Cell thought, powering up himself and catching Tarble last punch, and hooked Tarble in the cheek repeatedly, then he kneed Tarble in the stomach, and unleashed a ki blast in Tarble's face, which Tarble blocked but was still knocked away from Cell.

Again Tarble ceased control over his breathing. He smiled."Don't think that I can't see that stressed look in your eyes; if you're hoping that a simple beating is going to deter me this time, you put your chips in the wrong...slide...cabin..." Tarble shook his head,"Look I don't gamble, I dunno that kind of vernacular. Now perish!" He shouted firing a Ki volley at Cell, who blur passed all of them in the blink of an eye, and caught Tarble's wrists.

"Look at you, you're finally becoming a real Saiyan! And if you're gonna enjoy this, so will I!" He announced as he pulled a Piccolo by firing a Ki beam from his mouth, blasting Tarble away. But Table slowed himself down, and shielded his face from Cell's mouth ray.

Aang looked up in awe."I've never seen Tarble fight like this! He's not afraid at all."

"Avatar, we must leave while we have the chance," Iroh reminded Aang.

"Right," Aang nodded."Let's get out of here, Sokka!" Aang said as he started to run, but was snagged by his wrist by something; he turned and saw that it was Sokka, holding firmly onto Aang's wrist, but not moving."Sokka?" Aang questioned.

Sokka was merely standing there, rather slumped, totally silent, his eyes staring blankly at the ground.

"Sokka, what're you doing? Let me go!" Aang jerked his arm, but neither his hand nor Sokka would budge.

---

Two blurs fazed in and out of sight all across the moon field. Vegeta and Lu Ten sized each other up as they moved beyond human sight. Their fist collided, making a crater in the moon surface; they disappeared and repeatedly clashed over and over, fist meeting fist, kick meeting kick, punch meeting kick, and so on. Their brawl caused the ground beneath them to fracture into cracks, craters, raining hail all around, and covering the surface in dust.

"Excuse me, Prince Vegeta," Yue spoke with a hint of passive aggression,"Do you mind being more careful with my moon?"

The Prince was perfectly comfortable exchanging blows with his opponent while essentially talking on the phone."Oh, pardon me, I thought you weren't the goddess of moon, so why do you care, now shut up and let me enjoy this!"

Vegeta, a smile on his face, anticipated a straight from Lu Ten and parried it with a backfist, then drove his left fist into Lu Ten's gut, then swung his left elbow into Lu Ten's face, sending him upward; Vegeta aimed a charged ki blast, and his whole body rattled as he fired it. Lu Ten flipped his body upright, just in time for his surprised face to be hit with the energy. The explosion sent shockwaves and stong winds that spread along the moon's surface.

The occupance of the hanger looked on at the explosion.

"Impossible!" Salza gaped, checking his scouter."How can zhe Saiyan 'ave a powerlevel!? He could actually kill Lu Ten!" he blinked."On zhat note..." he cupped his hands around his mouth."Hurry up and kill zhat 'uman already, you stupid monkey!"

"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Salza," Cooler smiled with Zuko's face, but Zuko changed back."Cooler, we have to help Lu Ten!" "He'll be fine, now shut up," Cooler replied as he shut Zuko back in rather abruptly.

"I honestly can't believe my eyes," Azula marveled,"Lu Ten was always a powerful firebender, he always frightened me; but who could even imagine even someone like him rising to these heights?"

"I could have," said Frieza dismissively,"You humans, fretting over a measly twenty-something thousand powerlevel; I excepted nothing less in my ranks, anything less was unfit to live...speaking of living..." he tapped Azula's foot impatiently,"Surely that new body is finished by now, centipepe?"

"So close..." Koh breathed,"You cannot rush a work of art." he said as he spun the silk cocoon further.

Frieza's twitched at the sight of all that silk...

Azula noted the spirit's progression as well, will a great degree of worry.

Just then, Katara, Ty Lee, Mai, and Toph ran back into view.

"Is that Vegeta!?" Katara realized.

"Sure feels like it," Toph confirmed.

"Cool," Ty Lee and Mai said nonchalantly.

"Take a good look, peasants...," Ghost Azula crossed her ghost arms.

"Azula? where are you?" the blind-to-ghost Toph asked.

"...because I doubt your alien friend will survive this fight," Azula finished.

"What makes you so sure?" Katara glared.

Azula exchanged anxious glances with Mai and Ty Lee.

"What's with the silence?" Toph asked

Azula's face tightened,"... it looks like he just frustrated the wrong firebender..."

"How do you like less than one percent of my full power, asshole!?" Vegeta called out, continuing the beam while clenching his shooting arm. But then he felt a proverbial disturbance in the Force...

The moon rang out with the enraged yell of Prince Lu Ten; with his aura alone, he split Vegeta's beam down the middle as he rocketed down for him; before Vegeta knew it, he was pinned to the ground by his neck, staring up at who he was not sure was the same human...

The berserk Lu Ten growled at Vegeta, his pupils shrunken, his visage feral."I WILL BRING YOU DOWN!" he roared, picking Vegeta up by his neck and slamming Vegeta's head against the ground repeatedly; then he went blasting off and dragging Vegeta across the moon, create a long dust trail. Vegeta punched the crap out of Lu Ten's unflinching face as he was dragged with no sign of slowing down. Lu Ten smashed Vegeta into a moon mountain. Vegeta, beside himself and stuck into the wall, groaned in pain as the younger prince continued his assault of punches into Vegeta's stomach and face. As Lu Ten cocked another fist, Vegeta managed to twist away from the rival prince's next punch, Lu Ten's arm briefly wedhed into the stone, and elbowed Lu Ten in the back of his neck, smashing his face into the stone; Vegeta kicked off of Lu Ten's back, flew a distance away, and unleashed his ki volley, which bombarded the whole mountain into a cloud of smoke.

Vegeta, finished with the volley breathed heavily, but while smiling."Hot damn!" Vegeta taunted."Look at the bad temper on you! Am I detecting a sort of Saiyan-esque pride in that noggin of yours!?"

The smoke was instantly blown away by another enraged aura discharged from the screaming Lu Ten, who spun around, looking up at the Saiyan with hatred; literal steam came out of his nostrils as he heaves breaths."...not pride, Saiyan, honor!" he aimed his twitchy fingered palm up at Vegeta. Fire, lightning, and ki all chaotically crackled together in Lu Ten's hand, creating a little star-like light in his hand."SOZIN'S COMET!" Lu Ten fired a massive fireball at Vegeta, who responded appropriately.

"Big bang ATTACK!"

The ki ball and fire ball collided, causing a terrifying nuclear-like explosion.

---

Cell and Tarble were charging for each other, before they felt a massive energy surge, causing them to freeze in mid-air.

"Vegeta?" Tarble looked around in shock.

"Felt that too did you?" Cell acknowledged."I thought powerlevels were off the table, but I can feel Vegeta as well as someone else going at it somewhere...does this mean the seal's wearing off?" he entertained, enjoying the terrified look on Tarble's face as the idea hit him as well. Cell proceeded to hit Tarble again, not with an idea, but a knee to his chin while he was distracted. Cell would have grabbed Tarble's hair if he still had any, but settled for his collar, and flung him down into a building, producing an explosion of dust.

"Let me go, Sokka!" Aang persisted to free his hand, both his feet pressing against Sokka's side.

Just then, Sokka looked up in the sky, detecting the energy as well.

---

Piccolo was shaken out of meditation."Vegeta!?"

The Z Warrior and co. were minding their own business, when they were surprised by Piccolo.

"What about Vegeta, Piccolo?" Gohan asked.

"I can sense Vegeta's energy," Piccolo elaborated."Somewhere out in the East Galaxy, it's small, but I can feel him."

This was a great surprise to the team.

"But I thought that Vegeta's ki was inert," Tien reminded.

"Did he escape!?" Krillin wondered.

"Escape!?" Master Roshi hunched over,"Don't tell me we goin across the universe for nothin!"

"Guys, wait," Goku paused,"I can feel it too; it's like his putting out as much energy as when we first met."

The warriors that could sense energy all stop to feel for the energy...

"What're you people on about!?" Raditz demanded."Are you wearing invisible souters or something?"

"It's called sensing energy, kid," Bardock answered, piloting the vessel,"It's a pretty well-known technique that most guys never get around to learning. And in case you're wondering, I can feel it too."

"But what does it mean, Goku?" Chi Chi tugged her husband gi."Is he off the planet or not?

"Nope, he's still where the East Kai said he was," A smile crept along Goku's face."I guess it means Vegeta is having one hell of a battle out there..."

---

The whole moon base quaked. Dozens of Cooler Force members fell over or held on to something; Toph managed to keep her balance by quickly rooting herself into a stance, and Katara tried to stabilize herself by grabbing Azula, but she fell through the ghost.

Azula shrugged."Butter fingers."

Zuko fell on his hands and knees coughing."Cooler, please! Don't let him die!"

"There's nothing I can do that he hasn't tried already, Zuko. Lu Ten is fighting the Saiyan with all the power he has, and yet it is somehow not enough."

"Then take over Vegeta's body or something!" Zuko begged.

"I could barely stand to be within the Avatar's body for one second, but you think I can hold the reigns of a Saiyan? Your cousin is on his own."

"Or, is he...?" Frieza mused, before chuckling indulgently.

All turn to see what Frieza was happily observing: Koh had split the silk apart, revealing to Katara's horror and Frieza delight, a body in the perfect likeness of Frieza's final form.

Koh switched to his baboon face and grinned widely. "I am finished."

Katara's eyes trembled."no..."

"YES!" Frieza laughed madly, zipping over to and beholding the new body."Look at it! It's beautiful! No cyborg augmentations! No severed tail! All four limbs intact! its perfection makes Cell look like a joke!" he bugged out Azula's eyes in wicked bliss.

Ty Lee raised an eyebrow."Wait...THAT'S what Frieza looks like?"

"I know, isn't he awesome!?" Burter praised.

"It looks like a naked Kyoshi warrior on steroids," Mai noted."I hope for your sake that was a compliment!" warned Ginyu.

"Did I not tell you that you cannot rush art?" said Koh."I take this new body is to your liking."

"I LOVE IT MORE THAN IMMORTALITY ITSELF!" Frieza squealed."Just tell me how the hell I get in there!"

"Oh, that's quite simple," Koh switched to the face of certain beautiful woman,"It's practically your own flesh and blood already; all you need do is...touch it..." the centipede limbs held the new body just a little closer to Frieza.

Frieza quickly turned to Captian Mai."Ginyu! Get this on camera! I'm about to make history!"

"As you command, Lord Frieza!" Ginyu was already holding up a Space Samsung 9 in front of Mai's face."This shit's gonna get trillions of views!"

"No!" Katara called out and ran for Azula's body, but Ty Lee casually caught Katara with one finger around her hair loopie.

"Sorry, that's my boss," Ty Lee said.

"You've lost your goddamn mind!" Katara shouted.

Ghost Azula watched, paralyzed, as her own body inched her hand towards Frieza's chest. She was speechless, she was terrified...but then, she was outraged."...oh, no you DON'T!" she erupted, sprinting and diving forth into her body, which dropped to the floor, unconscious.

"LORD FRIEZA!" the entire ghostly Ginyu Force wailed in horror.

"Azula!" Zuko let out.

"Oh my..." went Koh.

The bodies of Ty Lee and Mai slid to their knees before Azula's body, regardless of which consciousness was concerned for which.

"What do we do, Cap'n!?" cried Jeice.

Captian Mai blinked."I mean, I could try swapping bodies-Like hell I'd let Frieza's soul into my body!" regular Mai let out."Hey! Shut it, you have no say in this!" "That's my best friend, my ONLY friend, and I'm not gonna let you-You shall have your friend back as soon as we solve this issue at hand!"

"What do we do guys, what do we do!?" Recoome paniced."Okay! I have an idea!" started Guldo."Let's just take the princess's hands and place it against Lord Freiza's new body?"

"Ooooh, I wouldn't do that," Koh dramatized,"If you do it now, then they will both be reborn in the new body."

"Of course!, Shut up, Guldo!" Burter yelled."Why is it me who always has to shut up!?" Guldo demanded."Because..." Burter growled " Aside from Ty Lee who's just a kid, YOU have the lowest powerlevel of the team! THERE! I said it!"

Ty Lee almost choked to death, as the entire Ginyu Force, including Ginyu, gasped in shock. Ty Lee could hear the whimpering of Guldo. "...mffp...f...fe...fu...ffff&*%$ YOU GUYS!" Guldo shrieked as he ran off crying into the deeper recesses of Ty Lee's mind. Even Ty Lee was speechless."...Burter..." she exhaled in supreme disappointment.

"Cooler, seriously, what do we do?" Zuko asked.

"You mean aside from just sitting here and laughing my ass off? Not much," said Cooler."Although, as much as I'd enjoy watching this nonsense unfold, this just gave me an idea..."

Then, Cooler left Zuko's body, and flew out over the moon's surface.

---

Meanwhile, in Azula's mind palace...

The scene resembled a sort of Ba Sing Se that was on Planet Namek. This surreal place was the battlefield over which Azula and Frieza fight over ultimate control of Azula's body. Blue fireballs and purple ki beams shot across the dream ground. Frieza dashed into Azula, who met him with jetting fire from her feet. They both clashed.

"Are you serious!?" Frieza exclaimed." I was just about to leave you worthless body to yourself, just as I has promised!"

"And I supposed you would have used your new body to kill me AND both our brothers afterward!? I don't think so!"

Frieza back fisted Azula, sending the princess flying through dozens of imaginary buildings, yet feeling quite real pain. She skidded along the concrete, her tumble converted into a flip as she landed on her foot and knee. At first Azula was stunned as to how she was still alive, before reminding herself that this was all some sort of dream. This in mind, it occurred to her that anything could happen in here.

Just then Freiza burst into her view, his white fists tightened in rage."At least, if you received your precious body, I would have shot you from behind so you'd die happy. Now I'm going to slowly beat every ounce of life and hope out of you; and once your soul is destroyed, I'll lend your corpse to GINYU!" he said as he snapped his fingers. Then his old space ship appeared above Azula, and Frieza let it fall from the sky to crush the girl.

Azula was frightened for a moment, but then she regained herself."Is that the best you've got?" Azula said, pressing her fingers against her cranium to imagine something herself. From behind Azula, the ground burst as the gigantic Fire Nation drill literally drilled upward, and drill straight through Frieza's spaceship.

"My spaceship!" Frieza yelled.

"That wasn't real, remember?" Azula deadpanned."Also, weren't you trying to drop it onto me?" she crossed her arms.

"Don't you lecture me from whence to derive my satisfaction!" Frieza barked, settling for firing a Death Beam at Azula. Azula gracefully twirled to the side as Frieza's dream-beam passed her harmlessly. Then, Azula charged some lightning, halfway realizing she didn't have to actually charge it all the way, and so immediately fired it at Frieza, who was hit by it.

Frieza screamed from this new kind of pain he was not accustomed to."How is this possible!? Lightning cannot harm me!"

"What part of this being a dream world do you not understand?" Azula said as she continued to fire her lightning. Then, she lightinged her fire, and blew Frieza away with the electrified stream of flame.

---

As the smoke cleared, Lu Ten lay on the ground, breathing heavily, his top knot gone, leaving his black hair in a mess. He struggled to rise to a sitting position, and that was when he saw Vegeta, who was holding his hand out as if to help Lu Ten up. Lu Ten smacked the hand away and scrambled to his feet, distancing himself from the Saiyan.

"Oh dear, I guess you're all tuckered out aren't you?" Vegeta mocked."Looks like someone's been skipping his pushups..."

The messy hair complimented Lu Ten's perfectly stupefied expression."...how...?"

"The moon spirit has been steadily feeding the energy that is constantly draining from me right back into my body, thus returning some semblance of my full power back to me: still don't believe in ghosts?"

The younger prince let out a battle cry, and ran fist cocked for Vegeta, who deflected the swing and elbowed Lu Ten in the back, making him trip onto his knees.

"This is what you get for going all out for the entire fight," Vegeta explained,"It's best for you to give up."

"NEVER!" Lu Ten roared as he tried to tackle the Saiyan; but Vegeta locked arms with him."I will never admit defeat to you! To anyone!"

"I know what's going through your head right now," Glared Vegeta,"If you lose, it will reflect on the dignity of your family and your entire race. You're not really fighting me, you're fighting your dad; you've spent your whole life training and fighting and improving yourself, all in the hope that one day, your father will finally putting his hand on your shoulder and say 'I'm proud of you, son'...spoiler alert: never gonna happen. I never had the chance to make my father proud of me instead of proud to have me, there is a difference; and if my father saw me now, a goddamn Super Saiyan, well, he'd just be jealous, he'd want to kill me, because he couldn't bare the thought of any Saiyan being above him!"

Lu Ten swung Vegeta away, but he landed gracefully.

"But in your case? Turning your back on your people, conspiring with someone else to overthrow your family's dynasty? My god, if you're father knew you were still alive, he'd wish you were dead."

Lu Ten's countenance was shattered. He shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice broken, powering up all over again, making a small storm/earthquake, neither which fazed Vegeta.

"Keep losing your temper, prince, it's been doing wonders for me on this crazy planet, let me tell you!" Vegeta joked.

"You're absolutely right..."

Vegeta was surprised, nay, his own composure was shaken; and Lu Ten was then dead silent, as Cooler appeared behind him, his ghostly hand on Lu Ten shoulder.

"After all these years, you're still fighting for Iroh's approval? Why? He understands nothing, he's incapable on recognizing your glory. And besides: you certainly made me proud, son."

Lu Ten was breathless."m-My lord..."

"Now, my son," Cooler began again,"I suggest you relax and lend me your body for a moment."

"What!?" Vegeta cringed.

Cooler instantly slipped within the body of the shocked Lu Ten."My lord, what'reyou-" Lu Ten then screamed in pain, feeling his head, as an overwhelming energy overtook him. He then exploded with an aura that exceeded his own.

Vegeta was standing there watching this, actually wanting to help the other prince somehow.

Lu Ten's shut eyes sprung open."Perhaps using Prince Zuko's body was a mistake," Cooler lamented through Lu Ten,"True, his body is also immune to the seal, but he and his sister are far too weak to contain my power should I cease to hold back..." The red eyed prince smiled widely,"But I think my apprentice can handle it just fine!"

Vegeta watched Lu Ten's body be totally consumed by Cooler's powerful aura. His senses were suddenly bombarded by the feeling of Cooler's...Lu Ten's? Whoever's rising powerlevel. By all accounts, what Vegeta was feeling should have been impossible, but it seems that Cooler had found some sort of loophole in the seal's effect, and was working rather well.

---

Perfect Cell perfectly punched Tarble in succession, sending him through multiple (and quite real) buildings, as the citizens of Ba Sing Se ran for their lives. As they exploded through another building, they were caught in an arm lock; but Cell easily overpowered the smaller Saiyan, causing Tarble's boots to plow across the concrete street.

Standing in awe and terror right in their path was a certain merchant and his precious cabbage cart behind him."WHY DO THE GODS DESPISE MY PRODUCE SO!?" he clutched his head in his stupor, before he dove out of the way.

But ironically, Tarble managed to halt Cell's push, slowing down mere inches from the cabbage cart.

The merchant turned on his back and saw this. He slapped his head."Oh, right! It only happens when the Avatar is near! Thank goodness!"

Perfect Cell's perfect eye twitched perfectly as he glared down at the defiant little Saiyan. But then, Perfect Cell found himself perfectly dumbfounded as he felt a familiar energy, and in a rapidly increasing potency."What...what is this power? It feels like...Cooler?"

Tarble, who had not learned the ability to sense ki, was still doing his best to push against Cell. But then it occurred to him, recalling his previous pushing match with Azula, that perhaps this whole arm-pushing business might actually be a bit unpractical. Thinking this, he opted for a different maneuver - Tarble let go of Cell's hands, and wrapped his arms around Cells waste, lifting the blindsided Cell overhead, and jumped back, bodyslamming Cell head first into the cabbage cart, causing an explosion of concrete, wood, and common green vegetables.

"OH COME ON!" the merchant shreiked.

Nevertheless, Tarble flew off, leaving Cell's body stuck halfway in the ground, his legs wobbling clumsily.

He hastily landed before Aang."Why're you still here!? You should be taking the nearest coach as far from this area as possible!"

Aang's feet slid against the ground trying to distance himself from his friends grip."I can't! Sokka won't leave and he won't let me go!" Aang complained pointing to the silent Sokka, who was staring at the sky.

Tarble felt his sinus, as he began to have an understanding of the nonsense his brother must have gone through on this planet."We don't have time for this!" Tarble groaned. he shook Sokka's shoulder."Listen, we have to get out of here right now while Cell is preoccupied. I've given it all I can, but I can't beat beat him, we have to run-"

Tarble gagged from the sudden force of Sokka left fist into his stomach; Aang and Iroh were stunned as they saw the Saiyan fall to his side, clutching his gut.

"You will do no such thing, boy."

Aang, Iroh, and Tarble were frozen at the sudden new voice. To the airbender and Saiyan, it was nightmarishly familiar, as they looked the face of Sokka, which was baring heartless black pupils down at the prince, with a hawklike scowl that was all too haunting to Tarble.

"For the first time in your worthless life, you act like a real Saiyan and NOW you wish to run!? I will not stand for it! You will fight your own battle till you die, or I shall kill you myself!" the dual-voiced form of Sokka bellowed.

Tarble looked up at those hateful eyes the same way he did as a small child, speechless and seeping with tears."...father...?"

"And as for you, oh last airbender," King Vegeta's gaze swerved to the petrified Aang,"You WILL use your Avatar State to fight back, or else I will destroy everything left in your desolate life that is dear to you: you do not...have a CHOICE!"

Aang's wrist was easily snapped by a simple twist of Sokka's hand, causing the boy to whale in agony, to the point where his voice was barely recognizable, and dropped to his knees. Iroh tried to intervene but was back fisted by King Vegeta, caving the old man's nose in a bloody fashion, and Iroh fell to the ground motionless.

"As I stated centuries ago, Avatar: You should have ended me when you had the chance!"

---

The East Kai freaked right out of her lawn chair."Me almighty! What is this power!?"

"Who's power!?" the North Kai lept to attention, along with the other Kais.

"I dunno!" East Kai said,"But it's definitely on or near Planet Avatar!"

"But you said there was a void that weakens powerful beings," South Kai reminded.

"I know what I said!" pouted East Kai."But I think someone might have found a way around it."

"So whose is it!?" West Kai demanded.

"I can't tell! The seal is blocking my telepathy!" East Kai responded."Whoever it is, this mortal seems to be on par with Frieza!"

"FRIEZA!?" North Kai gaped.

West Kai felt his chin"But...there's only one who be as strong as Frieza..."

Pikkon happened to he shadow boxing in the background, when he caught wind of this conversation. He zipped to West Kai side."A person as strong as Frieza? East Kai, would you mind letting me feel this energy?"

"Sure," East Kai shrugged.

Pikkon touched East Kai's shoulder, and closed his eyes...and then he was stricken with shock and anger."No! That can't be possible! He's dead!"

"WHO'S dead!?" North Kai demanded, clearly livid that someone else may have escaped death.

"Who do you think, North?" West Kai said in a surprisingly somber tone."It seems to be the very villain that killed Pikkon. He's Frieza's older brother, Cooler."

---

"COOLER!?" Goku exclaimed.

Piccolo blinked."On Planet Avatar, with what feels like the full power of his original body intact? What the hell is happening?"

"But Daddy!" Goku yelled.

"What!?" Bardock growled.

"Didn't you say that Cooler was the last guy to be on Planet Avatar?"

"That was just a rumor," Bardock said."But yeah, I guess it must be him. How the hell do you know about him?"

"How do you think!?" Roshi yelled."That's cause Goku kicked his purple ass! Twice!"

"Bullshit!" called Raditz.

Goku scratched his hair."I mean, technically, I needed Vegeta's help the second time, and that was...wait when did I fight Metal Cooler?"

Krillin paused."I think was right after you recovered from that space virus, right?"

"But Goku never left earth when that happened!" Yamcha noted.

Krillin felt his forehead."I know, but...I really feel like it happen; I remember being there."

"Me too," said Gohan."But, weren't we training to beat Cell too? We never left the Hyperbolic Time Chamber until we were done, and then we did nothing for ten days-oh wait, we had to fight Broly!"

"Who's Broly?" Goku ask genuinely."All I remember doin' before the Cell Games is fightin' Hatchiyack."

"Bless you," Chi Chi said.

"No, That was the name of an android made by this alien scientist named," Goku paused,"ummm, Truffles?"

Piccolo felt his head,"yeah...didn't we like...fight Cooler and Frieza?"

"And Turles," Gohan added.

"And Slug," Goku followed.

"What the hell're you guys talkin' about!?" Tien went,"I don't remember any of that! I mean, I do remember fighting Turles and his minions after..." Tien paused with a disturbed expression,"...Nappa killed all of us..."

The ship was arrested by a feeling of infinite confusion.

Bardock snickered."Sounds like you guys have tripped through some serious branches in the timeline."

"Holy shit," Krillin rubbed his head,"Maybe Trunk's time travel really had some worse side effect that we thought..."

"Or maybe this is what King Mai meant when he was talking about those Towa and Mira people..." Goku thought out loud.

---

The Supreme Kai of Time, watching this continuity unfold through a time scroll, sighed loudly."...Indeed...which theory do you think is more valid...Trunks...?"

The unwilling Time Patroler just happened to be standing between the Supreme Kai of Time and the Elder Kai, along with his new partner, Korra, who watched the timeline as well.

"Wait..." Korra paused, using her hands to keep track of her train of thought."This timeline...This timeline is the reason why I was recruited! Why else would you have recruited the Avatar!?"

With all eyes on him, Trunks simply could not scratch his head hard enough."...yep...it uhh...it's definitely Towa and Mira's fault..."

---

Salza's scouter exploded, along with every activated scouter on the moonbase. Amongst all the confusion in the still shaking base, one thing was clear to this Space Frenchman."YES! Lord Coolair has miraculously achieved his full power!"

Zuko was flabbergasted by this knowledge."...I can't believe it..."

"Believe it, boy!" Salza gloated, pointing his fingers in the faces of Zuko, Ty Lee, and Captain Mai."ZHIS is zhe power of Coolair, Zhe rightful emperor of zhe Zeventh Universe!"

Vegeta was bracing himself the entire duration of the powerup. He could hear the laughter of Cooler, and only Cooler. When the dust cleared, he saw something that would have made any Saiyan lower than himself to soil their suits, which would be doubly unpleasant for the ones that just wore underwear:

It wasn't Lu Ten with Cooler's eyes, it was Cooler himself, still glowing like a spirit but he was no longer transparent, and he in his hulking final form."Now bear witness! For I am now UNBOUND!" He thundered to the heavens.

Vegeta was so speechless, his face resembled Saitama's...

"Ahem! Yue...assuming I went Super Saiyan, you think I'd become stronger with your help?"

"Vegeta, I don't really think that's a good-"

"DOING IT ANYWAY!" Vegeta yelled, flashed into Super Saiyan, for whatever it was worth, and flew at Spirit Cooler with an incoming punch...

What do you think happened...?

Cooler didn't even notice, marveling at his own new form, while Vegeta was left on the ground cursing as he felt his knuckles (which were definitely broken this time)."Look at this...I'm thinking maybe I don't need a new body after all! Not that I actually planned for Lu Ten to serve as my personal Avatar, but I suppose dumb luck can eventually swing in one's favor!"

"Yeah, wish it'd swing MY way sometime...!" Vegeta grumbled as he pushed himself to his knees, to see with genuine surprise that Cooler was holding his hand down as if to help Vegeta to his feet.

"All things considered, Saiyan," said Cooler,"You don't have to be my enemy. Your quarrel is with my brother, who destroyed your planet out of sheer paranoia, but I know better. I would not fear my one soldier for being stronger than myself, that is their very purpose! Your Super Saiyan power is immeasurably good for me: with you and your people on my side, my rule over the universe will become absolute. Imagine it, you will be my hand, my vast armies, Or should I say Frieza's armies at your beck and call, answering only to your emperor. I will ensure that the Saiyan race repopulates, under your exclusive rule! You will be more than a king, you will achieve what all Saiyans dream of, you will become the greatest warrior in the universe! What do you say, General Vegeta?"

"General...?" Vegeta muttered. No one, let alone Frieza, had ever come with him with such a grand offer, to be both a king and a leader of legions, revered and respected beyond any Saiyan that had ever lived in this cruel mad universe. It was sobering, and enlightening, to hear it said out loud. Wasn't this what he truly wanted? What he always wanted? What his father wanted, and nearly did, starting with this very planet? Cooler was offering to give back no more or less than what the Avatar and Frieza took from him, what KAKAROT took from-

A sudden stream of memories surged through his mind, losing to Kakarot in a full power beam struggle, the very same clown begging Krillin not to kill him, fighting alongside Gohan, Krillin, and Piccolo for their lives against Frieza, Kakarot singlehandedly avenging the Saiyan race by defeating Frieza as a Super Saiyan, his race and bloodline avenge as Future Trunks killed Frieza as a Super Saiyan, all the years of agonizing training to keep up with Kakarot, while legitimately falling in love for the first time, turning his future son into a real Saiyan, nearly undoing all of that by allowing Cell to reach his Perfect Form, his son's outraged face as he fought against his own father for what he thought was right, watching Kakarot die, watching Trunks die, he and all his earthling allies throwing every last ounce ki to make Perfect Cell flinch just so Gohan could have the right moment finish him off...

This chain of events was kicked off by Kakarot defeating him, alongside his friends and family to do everything it took to save the Earth from Vegeta himself. Wishing to undo that day was fueling the fire that kept him alive for so long, and yet while letting that fire literally push him through hell and back, he never really stopped to wonder...what if he did beat Kakarot?

"my god..." Vegeta gaped.

"Are you referring to me?" Cooler asked."Not that I am imposing any divine rule, mind you. Truly, my authority over you will be a written law and not enforced by superior powerlevels or whatever Frieza did-"

"If it wasn't for Kakarot," Vegeta interrupted, staring at the ground,"I never would have had the courage to stand against Frieza...I never would have become a Super Saiyan...I never would have found a family." Vegeta realized,"I would have been the same dirty little monkey with a pathetic powerlevel of 20,000, selling planets to Frieza...Tarble would have had it better than me..."

"And I'd still be alive," mused Cooler,"Enough with this conjecture: I am giving you a tangible offer, a true opportunity to redeem yourself, Vegeta. You know that if you deny me now, I will have to kill you?"

Vegeta, still not looking at Cooler blinked."...redeem myself?"

There was still a little vision in his head, a pleasant-looking picture on top of Dr. Breif's mantle piece. It was a cute little photo of him and Bumla at the hospital, both smiling at the newborn Trunks in Vegeta's arms...he never knew he was smiling until he saw that photo.

"REDEEM MYSELF!?"

Cooler had to shield his eyes from the golden flash that enveloped him and that side of the moon, it could have been seen from Aang planet.

Katara definitely saw it while she was still in the hangar.

Cooler was finally able to uncover his red eyes, seeing the Super Saiyan with a new surge of vigor, his golden aura now crackling with blue electricity.

"I REDEEMED MYSELF WHEN I LET MY HEART WEEP FOR MY SON'S DEATH, YOU BASTARD!" Super Saiyan 2 Vegeta thundered as he swung another right hook, which Cooler easily blocked, though the shockwave created the field behind Cooler to shatter to rubble.

Cooler sighed."Wow...This power would have been enough to kill me instantly...outside of the void, genuis..." Cooler said as he pulled back his own fist, and punched Vegeta right in the diaphragm, leaving Vegeta breathless

---

Cell landed back to the yard in front of the temple with a crash; he didn't give a damn how perfectly he did it. There was a smoking cabbage stuck on the horns of his crown."You did NOT just pull a fraudulent Wrestlemania move on me!" he yelled at Tarble. But then he saw that Tarble had something else to be shitting his pants over...

"DO IT!" King Vegeta shouted."Go into your Avatar State and fight me like a man!" he sounded, as he continued to twist Aang's feeble arm.

"Father, stop!" Tarble begged, trying to pry Aang from his father's grip but the king elbowed his second in the face.

At this, Cell released a hysterical sigh of relief."Finally! He decides to take action! Your timing is worse than Frieza's, Grandad."

King Vegeta noticed Cell."There's your real opponent, boy..." he kicked his son in the face, making him fall over in Cell's direction."Maybe you'll fair well against this glorified Saibaman than as a child."

"Um...ouch?" Cell muttered.

"I was three, you crazy old bastard!" Tarble yelled back.

"You dare insult me...?" King Vegeta seethed, frightened his son. He pulled Sokka's fist back and fired an Orga Blast at Tarble, which sent the prince flying at Cell, who caught Tarble by the Saiyan's neck.

"Welp, I guess we're back to my previous threat!" Cell beamed, throwing Tarble to the ground and stomping on his head. He twisted his foot, grinding it against Tarble's shaved cranium."Either the Avatar goes into the Avatar State, or I kill his friend...not that I was going to kill Sokka, for obvious reasons; so this time I'm not BLUFFING!" Cell stomped Tarble head again.

"Just do it, Aang!" Tarble cried.

"I...I can't...ahhh!" Aang also cried from his forearm popping out of its socket.

"THINK, AVATAR!" exclaimed King Vegeta."You're fighting to watch everyone you love die! If I kill you as you are, I will kill off your entire race afterward! I will kill you in your next life! And if your next life dies in the Avatar State, then it will all be over." King Vegeta forced Sokka's mouth to smile devilishly,"This is your only chance to save your world from me again. Are you really going to prolong your life at the expense of your people?"

Aang gasped for breath."...I...I won't...give you what you want..."

"Then SUFFER!" King Vegeta shouted as he punched Aang in the diaphragm, unleashing a cry of pain out of the boy.

"AANG!" Tarble cried.

---

Vegeta yelled over and over, with each punch to the midsection that Cooler delivered. Vegeta was coughing up bits of blood at this point.

"Any rational thinking mind would have done anything for this to stop," Cooler remarked,"But of course for a Saiyan, common sense must be conditioned through pain."

"Eat my ass, Barney the Dinosaur..." wheezed Vegeta, actually glad he remembered that one other show Bulma made Baby Trunks watch, but then Cooler punched him so hard that it possibly surpassed the feeling of seeing Trunks enjoy that show.

"You do know there's no way out of kneeling before me, right?" Cooler remind as he continued to beat the Saiyan like a drum."I'm not so stupid as to kill such a valuable asset. If you continue to resist, I will kill all of your would-be students one by one. I will make this world burn, and the only thing left of it when I'm through will be the Cooler Nation, and even then you will STILL be alive! I will groom the next Avatar to be part of my squadron. What will you do then? Will you kill the Avatar, over and over, spending an eternity on this planet suffering for nothing? Just swallow your pride; where has it gotten you!?" Cooler slammed Vegeta to the ground. He stomped onto Vegeta's left knee, breaking his leg.

Cooler crossed his arms."Soon, I shall receive a new body. I will have this solar system in the palm of my hands. And afterward, I will only have to wait it out until Frieza eventually angers Lord Beerus for the slightest inconvenience, and then I will become the ruler I was always meant to be. It would be mercy for me to kill Frieza right now! Not that I will spare you that mercy..."

---

Frieza kept his guard up, constantly enveloped by flaming lighting and electric fire. The next blast knocked Frieza through the imaginary wall of Ba Sing Se. He skidded to a halt along the desert ground of Planet Vegeta, which looked as though it had been colonized by the Fire Nation.

"Damn you!" shouted Frieza."To think I am so close to my resurrection only to be hindered by a pathetic human!"

Azula jetted across the dream area. It was quite a weird sight, but the sight of a Fire Nation colony on this alien planet made Azula smirk."You know you speak to me as if you;re so far beyond my comprehension, and yet," she felt her chin,"I find myself scaling your space empire down to my own nation, and when I do, I see it for the mess it truly was."

"What are you talking about!?" Freiza demanded."We are nothing alike! I am a god compared to you!"

Azula giggled as she landed before Frieza,"You say that but I seem to recall you yourself making a similar comparison, something about of both born with the divine right to rule, and the only difference is that you are more powerful. But do you know the difference that I see?"

"That one of us is an annoying filthy MONKEY!?" Freiza shouted, firing Death Beams from both fingers.

Before they could hit, Azula disappeared in a puff of smoke, and reappeared behind Frieza."You have...no restraint, do you?"

"Of course not, there is no limit to my power!" Frieza yelled, trying to back fist Azula again, but she duck away with a wide grin.

"That's not what I meant..." sang the princess."I mean look at yourself..." she said, pointing behind Frieza.

Frieza followed her finger, and saw she was pointing at one of his most pleasant memories: the day that his father announced to King Vegeta that he was giving over his empire to Frieza, and how every one of those monkeys was frozen in fear at the sight of him. How he demonstrated the new scouter technology to the monkeys by detecting a sniper with a gun aimed at him, which he killed, along with the rest of the snipers, and the look of hopelessness on King Vegeta's face, so delicious!

Frieza chuckled."The only thing I seemed to have missed in this instance is your point?"

"Was that really necessary?" Azula questioned."You had to start killing off your own soldiers from the very beginning? What point were you trying to make?"

"What a silly question!" Frieza said."I was showing the monkeys that there was no hope of rising against me!"

"And why would they want to rise against their own emperor?" Azula asked."I mean, if they didn't before, they certainly do at this very moment, don't you think?"

"Who cares what they think?" Frieza raised a brow."They're the dirt beneath my feet!"

Azula sighed."That is precisely the viewpoint that makes for a tyrant - or as I say, a bad emperor. Of course a ruler should be concerned with his own public image, but it seems you couldn't have cared less. Just how far do you think my father would have gotten if he had so willingly burnt his own colonies to the ground."

Frieza laughed."One thing is not like the other, child: It's not as if I had to actually worry about these weak little mongrels attempting to kill me!"

"But didn't you?" Azula raised a brow.

"Super Sayain...Super Saiyan God..."

"What!?" gawked Frieza, spinning his floating body around to see that he was now in another memory. He saw his younger self sitting in his control room, overlooking Planet Vegeta. If he recalled, this was when he tricked the entire Saiyan race to return to their home world for a "special announcement".

"It's the perfect plan to wipe out the Saiyans," said the past Frieza,"planet and all."

"It seems like you went a smidge out of your way to rid yourself of a little dirt, Lord Frieza..." Azula stood next to the past Frieza,"And over some legend you knew so little about? If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were quite afraid, and would rather have destroyed an entire planet than admit it."

"Ha!" huffed Frieza,"And yet I turned out to be right, didn't I?"

"Which makes it all the more stupid for you to have killed them!" replied Azula,"So the supposed emperor of the universe sees the untapped potential in these savages, and instead of nurturing it to create an army of Super Saiyans to make his rule over the universe absolute for the rest of eternity...!" she extends her arms hysterically, then lets them go limp," you instantly become paranoid and impulsively kill them all just to satiate your inner fear. As I said, you have no restraint: you kill whatever you wish whenever you wish, wherever you wish, totally blind to any consequences or squandered opportunities, and you actually wonder how you died?"

"Don't you lecture me!" Frieza protested,"Killing off the Saiyans wasn't even my idea! It was-!"

"It was Lord Beerus, I know," Azula rolled her eyes.

Her answer actually sent a chill down his back."What did you just...?" But then he had to shield his eyes, from a sudden flash of light. He turned to see what was left of an exploding planet. He thought it was Planet Vegeta at first, as all planet bursts looked alike. But it didn't matter which, because what really mattered was this was a memory of himself in space, destroying multiple planets at once, in an effort to impress the being floating next to his younger self...

Beerus and Whis clapped as though he were spectating a game of golf,"Most impressive. I have never seen so many planets destroyed in such a short span of time since Majin Buu roamed the stars," Beerus complimented.

The base form Frieza bowed like a performer in a concert."Surely, you have second thoughts about the title of the emperor being passed to Coola?"

"Who?" Beerus inquired.

"Lord Cold's firstborn, my lord," Whis explained.

"Ah," Beerus acknowledged,"Well, I don't care who was born first, It's obvious that you are the strongest mortal I have ever met, stronger than even you know, child. I cannot think of a better agent of destruction. But before I make it official, I have a favor to ask of you..."

"My hand is yours Lord Beerus," Frieza praised.

"Would you mind wiping out the Saiyans for me?" Beerus asked.

"The what?"Frieza inquired.

"The angry monkey-tailed hominids," explained Whis.

"Ah," Frieza acknowledged."Would it be a sign of defiance to ask why?"

"Well, I would get funny looks from the other gods if I did it myself. You see, Frieza-"

The memory was frozen; Frieza looked to see that Azula had literally pressed the pause button on her remote."blah blah blah, something something 'prophecy', something something 'Super Saiyan God', you get the picture."

"HOW DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT!?" Frieza demanded."This is the first time you've ever seen my memories!"

"As far as you know, you mean" Azula tilted her head,"But I've seen these memories and more before even having this conversation," she claimed, holding up an open scrapbook with the words YOUR MIND stamped on the cover.

"That's impossible!" Frieza threw his finger at her,"You never once had the opportunity to be doing that! You were imprisoned in the back of my mind! And we've been fighting over control up until this moment!"

Azula disrespectfully tossed away Frieza's mind book like Luke Skywalker his own lightsaber,"I wouldn't exactly call this a 'fight', Frieza, or did you forget that nothing you see here is real? It's all just an abstract and symbolic facsimile constructed by my subconscious to allow your tiny brain to comprehend what is commonly referred to as a 'mindf$#)'. To keep this in perspective, you trapped me inside your head, which in turn was inside mine. I had plenty of time to study your past as well as your insane plan to resurrect yourself, or should I say Coola's plan? I even know that you've already planned to betray your brother and destroy my planet once you get your new body back, leaving the Ginyu Force, Cell, and your own father trapped in an astral void - naughty naughty, Fwieza," she wagged her finger.

"You little bitch!" Frieza growled."I don't care what's real or not; the only constant here is that I will destroy you!" he shouted, flying for Azula fist cocked. But his fist met with a glass wall, which he fell right through, falling to the ground. He sprung up to see another memory...

Vegeta, Nappa, and some other Saiyan bowed before the past Frieza, flanked by Zarbon and Dedoria."We have succeeded in conquering Planet Shikk, Lord Frieza." Prince Vegeta said

This memory was also paused by Azula."Now, what is wrong with this picture? Did you not just twenty years before agree to your very god that you would wipe out the entire Saiyan race? I see three live Saiyans kneeling right in front of you, which you did not kill. In fact, it sounds to me that you employed them, nice to know you came to your senses eventually, even if it puts you at odds with the great destroyer."

"Th-they didn't all need to be killed!" rationalized Frieza,"They just needed to know their place!"

"Of course, the dirt beneath your feet and all that," Azula shook her head."What's the harm in keeping a few Saiyans alive, despite a god's clear warning? Nothing detrimental could have come of that, especially after killing of most of them and allowing the few survivors to find out it was you who destroyed them, right? Don't you agree, Goku?"

"Goku?" Frieza paused. But then he screamed in pain, as a humanoid hand squeezed his hand tightly. He was not in his throne room, he was on Namek, and he found himself kneeling himself, before the first Super Saiyan he'd ever seen.

"You can destroy planets, but you can't destroy one man?" taunted Goku.

Frieza continued to scream.

---

Meanwhile, back in the physical world, Azula's eyes suddenly sprung opened, starling the Ginyu Force. They looked down in shock and confusion as each eye glowed a different color, a deep blue, and a dark purple respectfully.

"Wha the bloody 'ell's appenin' now!?" Jeice freaked out.

But Koh could not have peered at this sight with any more enthusiasm."Oh my! Could it be!?"

"Could it be what, bugthing!?" Captian Mai clenched Mai's fist.

"I think they're fighting for control in there," Zuko explained,"I tried it once against Cooler, but it did't work out in my favor."

"Oh, but these souls have gone far beyond that..." Koh hovered over the body whilst biting his lip, moaning sensually."I have not seen this power since the Lion Turtles walked among us! The opposing wills have pushed too deep, and now, their very energies are being bent as the elements! Only one will shall prevail!"

Zuko blinked in distress."You mean Azula could die in there?"

The spirit chuckled like a demonic clown, as well as switching to the face of one."Ohhhh, so much worse than that...!"

"Hold the stone," Toph interjected," are you tellin' us that Azula is actually fending off Frieza all by herself!?"

"BULLSHIT!" contended the Ginyu Force.

"This is no longer a matter of power," said Koh with glee,"But of the ultimate test of strength."

"What's zhe difference!?" wonder Salza.

Soon, the two lights covered Azula's whole body, as those she was made of pure light. Either side shone opposing lights, which became too bright to stare at.

"You are about to see, mortals," hissed Koh,"and it would seem that your emperor is weak in ways you have never considered..."

---

"Oh, the irony..." Azula lamented as she circled the two,"So eager to destroy, too lazy to finish the job, what a horrendous emperor you turned out to be..." she pet the furious Super Saiyan on the head."Look at this monster - if you had just stopped and considered your options at that glorious moment where you had a whole species of this in the palm of your hands, this one would be serving you, instead of serving your hand back to you."

Frieza groaned in the same agony as before."grrrr...I have had ENOUGH!" he roared, bursting with ki, and dissipating the entire memory, converting it into a memory of the destroyed and soon-to-blow up planet Namek."You think you can't toy with me, ME!? I am Frieza! You are nothing! You are not even a spec in comparison to my limitless power!, I could destroy you and your planet with a blink of my eye! I wi-!" but then his lips were literally zipped shut.

"Oh for god's sake, is that all there is to you?" Azula asked frankly."'Destroy' this, 'my power' that, 'know your place, filthy monkeys!'" she mocked."You are so utterly consumed by this god complex of yours that you haven't seen clearly your entire life! You actually compared me to you, but looking at you now, I find that insulting. I don't give a slag how much of a bloated chi sponge you are, do you know why?" she asked, zooming into Frieza's face."You. Didn't. Earn it. You were born this way, had all this potential, and squandered it; you've never trained a goddamn day in your life! You're like a rich prince wasting his money on whores and wine. You have no discipline, no self-control, no willpower; and when the time came when you finally met your equal in power, you were utterly humiliated by an opponent who actually knew how to fight. I would think that what transpired on Namek would have sobered your black hole of an ego, but did it?"

Azula pointed to the distance, where they witnessed the dismembered Frieza attempted to repay Goku's mercy by blasting him while he wasn't looking.

"YOU IDIOT!" Super Saiyan Goku replied with his own ki blast that engulfed past Frieza.

"I couldn't think of a better word," Azula shook her head."You didn't even have the sense to run away when you had your opening to, take your severed limbs and fly away from Namek as fast as you could. You could have had your limbs reattached, recovered, and actually carried on as emperor of the universe, got away with genocide!" Azula flung her hands up."But what did Frieza do next? He ran away to daddy, demanding you be taken right back to the man that killed you with a scrapped-together body and zero preparation. Does it honestly matter whether which Super Saiyan killed you in the end? Be it Goku or Vegeta or some remarkably good-looking swordsman, you walked right into the gates of hell willingly. And so you, your father, and your empire were reduced to nothing, all because of you. Lord Frieza, the dumbest, vainest, and WEAKEST tyrant to have ever existed! "

The ground under Frieza cracked like glass. He stumbled as the world around him collapsed, revealing a place that he never remembered being in, and yet it felt familiar all the same. It looked like the middle of deep space; he was surprised to see that he was standing on some kind of bridge made of light. At either end, there was a gigantic sillouette of an entity, one looked like Frieza, the other looked like Azula; both were holding a swirling orb of energy. Frieza was arrested by a desperate desire to be within the orb that the giant visage of himself was holding. He could not fly, so he carefully walked along the thin light bridge to get to it.

---

Azula's body shifted colors; the purple side was shrinking as the blue side was gaining more portions of Azula's body.

---

Frieza breathed heavily, inching closer to the suddenly precious orb.

But Azula was fine where she was, watching the once great tyrant quite literally fleeing for his life. She shook her head."Look at you, so desperately clinging on to what's left of yourself, when you've never truly known who or what you ever were: not a god, not a monster, just a mortal like everyone else. You were never strong, you were your whole life a living breathing lie. Your chi makes you special, but the truth is that it doesn't matter how high your powerlevel is, because all you've ever been is weak."

Right in front of Frieza, the Frieza silloutte suddenly collapsed, as though it was dropping dead. Frieza shrieked in horror, as the path in front of him disappeared. With no where else to turn, he dashed in the other direction, sprinting across the vanishing path for Azula, as though she were his only salvation.

Azula actually extended her hand. The mad-eyed Frieza leaped for her; she caught the panicking Frieza, his face begging her not to let go." I have always known I was strong; but thanks to you,"resonated Azula,"I now know how strong I truly am. Let me show you..."

The next instant, Azula dashed backward, dragging the terrified Frieza with her into her orb, which brighten with anew light in the hands of the Azula visage

---

The purple light in Azula's eye was finally consumed by blue light, which became so powerful as to blow away everyone close to it. many soldier flew out of the hanger; Katara slammed into the rim, and managed to catch the creaming Toph, holding onto her wrist with all her strength. When she slipped, it was Zuko who caught her, keeping both girls from flying away.

The top of the base blew apart as a blue column of light shot into space.

---

"Kindey punch...kindey punch...kidney punch..." Cooler grunted in boredom as he dug his knuckles into Vegeta's side repeatedly, until he felt a new power surging from behind him."What the...?" he turned around, and his red eyes widened at the sight of the light beam firing from his base.

---

"You either use the Avatar State right now or else-!" Ghost King Vegeta was interrupted by a massive feeling of power that most certainly was not Cooler.

Cell stared into the sky in confusion."That's...not Frieza..."

---

The Z Warriors paused, and looked amongst eachother.

Oolong look at their worried faces, and begged the question:"Vegeta's dead, ain't he?"

Goku blinked."No..but...who's this other person?"

---

"Well, this is a twist..." East Kai adjusted her shades.

All the three other Kais, and Pikkon, held the East Kai's shoulder, stunned to feel a new power rising on Planet Avatar.

"Feels like a member of that people has just become as strong as...wait, nope, stronger than Cooler..."

---

"KATARA!" Toph yelled."If we don't make it outta this, I just wanted to let you know that I had a crush on you brother!"

"At least your crush was more tangible than mine!" Katara admitted.

"Is it too late to say that I've always thought you were really pretty since that whole 'I'll save you from the pirates' thing!?" Zuko broached.

"YES! Yes, it is!" Katara responded.

The energy waves finally died down, and Zuko, Toph, and Katara fell to the floor. The three were breathing heavily.

"Azula!" was Zuko's first instinct to flip to his feet and run to his sister

"Hey, Katara?" Toph breathed.

"yeah...?" groaned Katara.

"Vegeta doesn't age. So maybe, if you just wait it out for a few years, you and him might actually become a thing..."

"Toph..." muttered Katara,"...you're my best friend..."

Ty Lee felt her back as she rose to the floor."Whew! That was nuts! Are okay in there, guys?" she tapped her head.

"The pool table's broken!" whined Recoome.

"Aw man, I was on a hot streak..." huffed Ty Lee.

"Private Lee!" sounded Captain Mai.

"Sir!" instantly saluted Ty Lee.

"What is the status on Lord Frieza!?" the captain demanded.

"No idea, Captain!" the girl responded.

It was then that chilling laughter echoed through the hangar, which gripped the bones of all who were still remaining. Zuko skidded to a halt as he saw his sister (or Frieza) seem to rise off the ground. The rest all slowly turned to see a new light source occupying the space above the spot Azula was lying. As far as they could see, it was still Azula's body floating their, her hands spread out like Frieza's. But it was only until the blue aura'd Azula open her mouth that they understood who they were looking at.

"Azula?" Zuko peeped.

"Frieza?" Ginyu hoped.

"Frieza?" Azula quired, hair black hair floating above her shoulders, grinning widely."There IS no Frieza...only AZULA!" she announced, spinning around and firing a ki blast that vaporized what was meant to be Frieza's new body. She then released a loud yell, reminiscent of a Saiyan, and burst with a firey blue electric aura, and blasted off out of the hangar, the waves blowing Ty Lee and Mai to the ground.

Koh blinked."...I worked rather hard on that new body..." lamented, shifting into the face of a sad puppy.

---

"Who the hell is that!?" Cooler exclaimed, before he was nailed in the stomach by Azula's kick, sent flying into a mountain.

Vegeta fell to the ground, powering down; he breathed loudly. He slowly and painfully opened his eyes; his blurred vision managed to make out a feminine figure with raven black hair and surging with blue ki."...mommy...?"

"No, but you should be trying for her all the same," Azula replied, holding her hips confidently.

Cooler's feet slammed into the ground in front of Azula."What is the meaning of this, Frieza!?"

Azula snorted."...do I look like Frieza to you?"

Cooler paused, but then he took moment to feel that powerful energy."...wait a minute...that's not possible!"

"This..."Azula said, recending into a battle stance."...is for killing my pap pop..." she said, before yelling, and dashing elbow-first into Cooler's chin. Cooler managed to block the next two strikes, but Azula punt kicked Cooler's face upwards, then flipped to bring down a flaming axe kick into Cooler's face, driving him into the ground and, causing an explosion of rock that sent the injured Vegeta rolling away.

"Screw this!" he grunted, powering up and flying away for the hanger, as the brawl between Cooler and Azula continued

---

"Okay guys," Burter said nervously,"What did she mean when she said there was no Frieza?"

"It means," said Koh," that this mortal has achieved the impossible: she has bent the energy of another to her will, just as with the element. Now your master has been corrupted and consumed, and all but ceases to exist. Essentially, the one who was once Frieza is now nothing more than a part of Azula."

"She WHAT!?" Guldo finally came out of his crying fit.

"NOOOOOOOO!" Captian Mai felt on Mai's knees, and cryied to the heavens hysterically."LORD FRIEEEEEZAAAAA- oh thank fire, he's gone..." Mai sighed.

As the Ginyu Force did the same in her mind, Ty Lee clutched her head anxiously."b-b-But that means...ohgodohgodohgod, Azula's back in control!? She's gonna friggin kill me!" she hopped on her left and right foot rapidly.

"If your relationship with her was anything like mine with Nappa," Vegeta said, as he lazily floated into the hangar,"You're most certainly dead."

"Vegeta!" Katara cried, hugging his sore body. He let a tear fall from his eye as he patted Katara on the shoulder (the tear was for the pain).

"I dunno what's going on and I don't give a shit; I'm running on fumes, let's get out of here..." he said as he grabbed both Katara and Toph by their waists, produced a ki field around the three of them, and flew out fo the hangar, out of the moon's artificial atmosphere, and straight for the planet.

From their vantage point, Katara could see a bunch of explosions discharging on the side of the moon."Vegeta, you're not gonna believe this but Azula-"

"Don't care, no more talking..." grumbled the Saiyan.

"But she's so powerful-!"

"Shuddup and let me save you!" Vegeta cut her off.

Katara just watched the fight go on in the distance.

---

"Who's power is that!?" King Vegeta stared into the sky in shock."It's not Cooler's or Frieza's!"

"I have no clue," responded Cell in a genuine tone."Could it possibly be one of Cooler's human soldiers? No, not possible, Cooler wouldn't be stupid enough to let someone become as strong as him.

"Whoever that is, I can only hope that Cooler rises the victor, or else this world will soon have a new ruler..." the king speculated. As he was doing this, he did not for a moment notice a certain faint light gleaming off his chin. He didn't have enough time to react to Aang, now in the Avatar State, blast him away with airbending, sending Sokka into a building.

The glowing Aang grunted as his arm snapped back into place; he pulled his fingers back, sucking Cell toward him, and swung another powerful airblast that blasted Cell into another building. Aang flew for Tarble and lifted his arm over his shoulder. Then, Aang quickly sunk both himself and Tarble underground, disappearing from sight.

The two badguys rushed back to where they were.

"DAMN HIM! They escaped!" cursed King Vegeta

Cell chuckled."Well, so much for you and your element of surprise, Grandad."

"Do not jest with me!" roared the king."I was so close to having my revenge! I just needed a little more time, and then that brat came ruined everything!"

"You know," Cell rested his knuckles on his hips in a fatherly manner,"I had seven kids of my own before I died, and loved them all equally."

"Oh, make no mistake," growled Vegeta the 3rd,"My son Vegeta is traitor to his race! Even when he discovered my history with this people, he STILL spared the Avatar's life! I tell you now, this day, Cell, that you and you alone are my only true so-NO! I won't let you hurt Aang, you mons-!"

Cell quickly bonked Sokka on the head, knocking him out."Just great, this crap again..."

---

Cooler roared in fury, blowing a crater below him as he powered up.

Azula breathed heavily, receding back into her stance."You know, we're both civilized despots; surely we can talk this matter out. I'm willing to forgive you for killing grandpa. I mean really, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have become the strongest firebender in the universe!"

"SHUT UP!" Cooler yelled."Decades I have spent willingly stuck on this planet; I only left to avenge my brother! I left this world a noble and benevolent god, I clawed my way from hell just to get back! And I am not going to let some brazen human child foil my destin-" but then Cooler doubled over, falling on his hands and knees and coughing loudly. He looked down at his hand, and was surprised to see blood."w-What? How can this be? My body is not physical..."

"My lord..." wheezed the voice of Lu Ten."That...is my blood...please, I cannot fight any longer...y-you're killing me..."

"No!" Cooler resisted, shaking his head."I cannot let her win! You cannot! I am the true ruller of Planet Ava-"

He was cut off by a swift chop down onto his head, bringing his whole body to the ground. The astral body of Cooler faded away, leaving only the body of Lu Ten; and without the covering, he was revealed to be quite the worse for wear: his armor was cracked all over, his hair was stained with his blood, and his breath was quite and labored.

The spirit of Cooler fazed out of Lu Ten's useless body. Back in his default form and incorporeal, he could only cross his arms and scowl at Azula.

Azula could only cross her arms and smile at Cooler."Oh? You're willing to talk this out now? Good, now let us discuss the terms of...well..." she tapped her chin "...I suppose I should say that it is me that is doing the surrendering."

Cooler looked at her in confusion.

---

The company in the moonbase's hanger waited deathly silent for whatever came next.

Zuko breathed in and out."You don't think that Azula-" Zuko suddenly jerked and doubled over in pain. His eyes grew red as Cooler returned.

"Ma lord!" Salza lifted Zuko's body back upright."I knew that you would turn out zhe victor! I never doubted you for le second!"

Cooler exhaled."Unfortunately, Salza," he said,"I never doubted myself either..." he pointed behind Salza.

Salza and his other soldiers were paralyzed with terror, as they watched Azula fly back into their sight, carrying her half-dead cousin in like a suit case. She smiled and flung his limp body with no care whatsoever onto the cold metal floor.

Mai's eyes bugged out at the sight. "...Hey, uh, Azula? You good..." she hesitantly waved at her.

"AZULA!" Ty Lee beamed out of nowhere, sliding on her knees before the princess, her arms out stretched."There you are, ol' buddy ol' pal! Finally, you can save me from all these mean aliens in my head that forced me to be complicit during your possession and say all kinds of cruel, treacherous things about abandoning the Fire Nation and making you my pet lemur. You didn't think it was your bestest friend in the whole wide world that was really saying all that stuff..."

"Shhhhhhhh..." shushed Azula, softly putting her finger to her "friend's" lips, Ty Lee's pupils like pees and sweat raining from her head."The sooner I forget, the better. Now, Cooler and I have come to an agreement; and if you and Mai keep your wits about you, it should turn out even better for you than if I had actually perished..."

"Seriously?" Mai said."I can't believe you're being more merciful on her than I would have." she crossed her arms.

Azula continued to pet Ty Lee as though she were a frightened kitten."Not mercy, pragmatism: a good empress needs generals she can trust. I can trust you're not stupid enough to turn your back on me this time, can't I, Ty Lee?"

The gymnast fiercely nodded. The Ginyu Force dare not to speak, lest they all die. In a weird way, it was comforting, like still being in the presence of Frieza when he was upset.

"Empress?" Zuko repeated."Cooler, what's she talking abou-SHUT...your damn mouth...nothing has changed..." Cooler finished. Without making eye contact with anyone, he had Zuko's body stomp passed his confused soldiers, stopping before Koh; the spirit tilted his head in curiosity. Cooler's red eyed glared up as the centipede."Well? What are you waiting for? Hurry up and make us some damn new bodies."

---

Piccolo sighed."And, they're gone."

"He's dead!?" Chi Chi panicked.

"Nah, just same as before," said Goku,"Whatever went on over there, it's over - no more sensing energy."

"That last energy was crazy, though," Tien said,"I never felt that energy before. I have no idea who it could be..."

"Well, at least it's nowhere near as strong as you or Gohan," Krillin sighed.

"Yeah," Yamcha scoffed,"But it was that strong on a planet where there's not supposed to be powerlevels that high."

"That is a mystery..." Piccolo breathed."Look, Goku, if we feel Cooler's powerlevel again, we're gonna have a problem. If He found a way around it, then so will Cell."

An awkward silence went down the walls of the ship.

"Maybe..." Goku considered."But if Cooler and Cell could do it, then so could we right?"

"If Cell doesn't kill us all first," Tien reminded.

"I do not like the idea of Frieza's brother returned to full power," noted Raditz.

"Hell, I didn't even put a stretch on Frieza at less than one percent of his power," Bardock recalled.

Goku perked up."Hey, I know what to do! I'll just ask King Kai what happen-"

"Don't bother, I have no clue," North Kai responded.

"awww..." Goku was sad.

"But what we can tell you," said East Kai,"Is that this unknown energy must belong to a resident of Planet Avatar."

"Really?" Gohan said."Maybe was the Avatar himself!"

"Can't say for sure, so be careful when you get there," North Kai cautioned.

"Hey, Goku!"

"Pikkon?" Goku realized.

---

"Listen up, Super Saiyan," Pikkon kept his hand firmly on the East Kai's shoulder."This guy we're talking about, Cooler? I never got to tell you, but he was the one who killed me and destroyed my planet."

---

"I know you can take him no problem. If Cooler kills you, I'll kick your ass for all eternity, you hear me?"

Goku just chuckled."I hear you, Pikkon. When I'm through..."

---

"...you be kicking HIS ass for eternity."

Pikkon smirked.

"Goku out!"

---

"How sweet," Piccolo rolled his eyes."You went and made a new rival in Heaven; Vegeta will be so jealous."

"Yeah, sure did" Goku smiled."That guy beat Cell in two hits!"

Gohan looked out into the window with a hopeful smile."Don't lose hope, Vegeta, we're coming."

The huge spaceship continued it journey to the East Galaxy

---

Later that evening. Vegeta had passed the atmosphere; they were descending to an east target, the plains within the outer wall of Be Sing Se

"Okay, look, Vegeta," Toph said,"You tell us what crazy thing happened to you first, and then we tell you?"

"Fine," Vegeta gave in,"I and Tarble were almost about to leave the system, not willingly, mind you. But then, I was contacted by, er, do you know anyone named Yue?"

"Yue!?" Katara exclaimed.

"Who's Yue?" asked Toph.

"Stop asking about people we met before you!" Katara complained."Anyway, so Yue stopped you?"

Vegeta nodded."The fishes told me about Cooler's evil plan to come back to life. She gave me a little powerup so that I could fight Prince Lu Ten Proper. But then, Cooler took control over that guys body and achieved full power, broke my leg, and ruptured my kidney Frieza-style. So, I suppose here is where your side of the story comes in?"

"Okay this is crazy," Katara began."Right before Frieza could get into his new body, Azula jumped back into her body. I guess they were fighting for control; but the real crazy part is that not only did Azula win, but it looked like she stole Frieza's power, and fought Cooler! Azula is as strong as Cooler, Vegeta!"

"Of goddamn course she is," breathed Vegeta."At least it wasn't Mother after all..."

They finally landed on the grass. Toph's first response was to drop down and kiss the earth beneath her.

"Finally! I can sense things! I promise I'll never leave you again, best buddy!" Toph nuzzled the grass.

"Yeah," Vegeta said,"and I can resume this stupid adventure; now let's find a body of water so Katara can heal me already."

Just then, the ground behind them exploded with a geyser of wind. They would have been frightened, but the vast displays of power throughout the day rendered their senses numb to such shock. Avatar Aang emerged from the hole with Tarble.

"Sup, guys,"Toph greeted casually,"What's your crazy story?"

Both Aang and Table fell to the grass. Aang rose dizzily back to his feet, feeling his sore wrist. Tarble shook his head and rubbed the bruises on it.

"Now, Aang, you're probably wondering why Tarble is bald," Vegeta raised his hands submissively,"You see, it all started after I crushed Salza's second heart..."

"VEGETA!" Aang shouted, hugging the man without thought."You're still here! I knew Cell was lying! You ARE a good person!"

"After all the bullshit I put up with on your watch," Vegeta said,"I better be. Even Kakarot would have murdered you by now."

"Classic Vegeta..." Aang breathed.

"Where's Sokka?" Toph realized.

This question caused both Tarble and Aang to lock up, they both looked at eacother.

Vegeta looked at Tarlble and Aang looking at each other. The worst came to mind."He's...he's still alive, right?"

Aang blinked. He let his hands slip from Vegeta's stomach."Yeah, he's alive but..."

"Completely mangled?," Vegeta guessed,"burnt alive? Skin removed? Touched inappropriately? Work with me, boy!" Vegeta shook Aang's shoulders for an answer, but Aang kept looking down.

"Vegeta..." Tarble's breath was uneven, like he wanted to vomit,"Sokka called it: he is possessed."

The older prince's brow raised in surprise. Katara held her hand. Toph was dead silent.

Vegeta snarled and shut his eyes."Crap! I knew it all along, I just wanted to hold on to that stupid thing you humans call 'hope'." Vegeta crossed his arms."So who's in there? Is it Lord Cold? Turles? Bojack? Broly? Please, for Kai's sake, don't tell me it's Kakarot-!"

"It's Father."

Vegeta's blood ran cold."...huh...?"

Tarble finally looked up at his brother, tears streaming from his eyes."Vegeta, it's Father, Sokka is possessed by King Vegeta the 3rd."

Vegeta's jaw hung in disbelief."...f-Father...?"

Tarble's teary face twitched."It all makes sense: he kept silent and just observed us, observing you and me, observed Aang and his friends. He didn't mind losing to Frieza, it's the story of his life. He was waiting this whole time for Aang to go into the Avatar State with his back turned. He refused to help me fight Cell, he forced me to fight him alone, a-and even though he was killing me, he wouldn't stop, he kept making me fight, and no matter how much I wanted to give up, he wouldn't let me, Vegeta! He wouldn't let me! He..." Tarble hugged his brother tightly, crumbling into a sobbing mess."I..." he sputtered "...I'll never be g-good enough, never..."

Vegeta didn't look at Tarble, he just stared forward at nothing.

"Our planet's greatest enemy is back," Aang said,"I...I can't do this, I can't fight King Vegeta, I can't fight Cell, I can't even fight the Fire Lord! I'm just a little kid! I can't take this anymore!" he felt his head."Eveyone told me it was my destiny to save the world...but it's a load of crap! My past life barely survived the Saiyans! Ever since Cell got here, there's nothing I could do to stop him. Ever since YOU got here, Vegeta! The balance isn't real! I'm no one's savior, I'm too weak!"

"YOU ARE NOT WEAK!" Vegeta powered into Super Saiyan."The only lie you heard is being told that you were weak, but you're not, NONE of you are! They said Katara was weak because she's a girl; they said Toph's weak because she's blind; they said Sokka's weak because he can't bend; they said you're weak because you're twelve! They said Tarble was weak because his power level's too low, and they said I was weak because I'm a F*%^ING SAIYAN!"

The Gaang just looked at Vegeta, astonished he could possibly talk about himself while using the word 'weak' in the same sentence.

"That's what they want you to think! That you're beneath them! That you can't beat them! That you'll always be nothing compared to them! You know they tell you that shit, boy? To make sure you 'know your place'! To stop you from EVER trying to become any stronger than you currently are. Well guys, guess what I did! I got stronger! I killed Qui, Dedoria, Zarbon, I matched Frieza in his base form when most couldn't lay a finger on him and live! I died and came back! I trained like hell, and I became a Super Saiyan! I trained even harder, and became Super Vegeta! I surpassed every expectation place upon me, including my own, several times over. I made Perfect Cell flinch! I remained in a committed relationship for four years with a child out of wedlock and let me tell you that it took every ounce of strength I had not to jump into hyperspace the moment Bulma uttered the words 'I'm pregnant!'. I didn't dump her, She dumped me! I left out of respect because I know I'd make a shitty father anyway! You better believe I am not and will never be weak again!" the farm echoed with his seemingly nonesensical rant.

Vegeta pointed to his team."And neither are any of you! Azula's stronger than Cooler, you say? That's old news! I am going to personally train all of you, and purge any sign of weakness, doubt, and fear from your tiny bodies! You will become the champions of this galaxy! You will fear nothing, for it is YOU who shall be feared! And whenever you look in the mirror and think that no amount of training can prepare for such powerful opponents, just remember the hilariously optimistic mantra that only a complete bat shit dumbass like Son Goku could have conceived of: That with enough training, ANY low class warrior can defeat an elite!"

By end of this speech, Vegeta was left heaving breaths, his face red, and sweating bullets, clenching his fist before his posse.

While it was nice and uplifting, there one part of that epic lecture that left a question hanging on their tougues...

"Who's Son Goku?" everyone asked Vegeta.

The Saiyan blinked."...What...?"

"We said, Who is Son Goku?" Toph asked."I mean, I half-expecting you to bring up that 'Kakarot' guy again, but I've never heard you mention a 'Son Goku'. Was he your teacher or fellow soldier or what? Who the heck is Goku?"

Vegeta scanned their collective confusion."...Oh! No, see, that's, um, that is Kakarot. It's this name he acquired ahem, while he grew up on Planet Earth, and only recently did he find out that was not an an earthling, but in fact, a Saiyan named Kakarot, who was sent their as a baby, to destroy Earth, but never did and um, yes, that's they call Kakarot on Earth...and it's also a name that I...don't think I've ever referred to him directly as...and have..actually...gone rather far out of my way to...never say that perticular name...under any circumstances, be it pain or death..."

Silence...

"...until this very moment..." Vegeta finished, the gravity of the moment sinking into his head as he stared blankly into space, almost cockeyed...

The Gaang look at eacother quitly...

Aang twiddled his thumbs..."Um...You can..yell really loud again if you want..."

"Thank you..." Vegeta smiled.

---

Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor all slowly approached Thanos.

The Titan smiled as he sat amongst the rubble."...You could not live with you failure...where did it get you: back to m-"

Just then, the Mad Titan found his monologue cut off by a feint scream that seemed to reverberate throughout the entire universe. Even Tony Stark and Steve Rodgers looked around in confusion, trying to find the source of the scream. Stark wondered if it was coming one of the millions of alternate timelines where the Avengers lost to Thanos; while Rodgers thought that it could possibly be that "Emergence" phenomenon that his elderly self didn't want to say much about.

Thanos's jaw slacked, staring into the sky."...Who the hell is making that-"

He was cut off, figuratively and literally, as Thor yelled and swung his axe into Thanos's throat, severing his huge purple head from his hulking body. The son of Odin proudly raised his weapon, Stormbreaker, over his own head, laughing as he placed his boot over Thanos's corpse.

Tony pointed his armored finger at Thor's axe and clicked his tongue. "You know what? Maybe, when the next bad guy comes around to destroy the universe, we should just lead with that."