"Vegeta! Buddy! Trunks didn't tell on me, did he?" I asked with a shaky grin while my eyes flickered between him & Trunks, making sure to keep an eye on the half-saiyan as I wasn't sure if he would be patient enough to wait until I finished speaking with Vegeta.
"I have no regards for what my spawn does as long as he does not embarrass the Saiyan name."
"Really feeling the love here, father." I was a bit surprised at Trunks' sarcastic answer before remembering that the two of them have been stuck in the same room for a full year so he was probably used to the insults.
One had to grow a thick skin when you lived together for that long with Vegeta.
"W-Well, nice to see you, but as you can see, I'm kind of busy here. Perhaps I can find time for you later."
"Oh, but I want that time now." Vegeta's growl with that made me slightly nervous as I slowly took a step back, trying to see if the Androids were still behind me.
That was my mistake as I felt the Saiyan's ki appearing in front of me the moment I looked away, barely able to turn back to look at him before the world around me went white as a blinding pain exploded in my stomach.
'God…Damn!' That was the only thought I could form as Vegeta pulled his fist from my stomach, barely giving me time to fold over in agony before my brain rattled as a knee slammed into my chin and sent me tumbling ass over kettle through the air.
'…Ooh, look at the stars.' I thought with a blissful smile as I stared at the bright stars above me before blinking as I realized that was the sun, shaking my head to rid myself of the confusion and instantly regretting it as I felt like throwing up my intestines.
"Y-You know, y-you're not your usual self t-today, Vegeta." I was barely able to form a coherent sentence as I slowly stood up, almost not able to make out Vegeta's form as the Saiyan landed in front of me.
"Let's just say that you Androids are starting to piss me off with how you keep popping out of thin air."
"Y-Yeah, I get that. S-So, why not help me?" I asked, watching as the Saiyan prince scoffed while giving me a look of revulsion & derision.
"And why would I do that?"
"W-Well, right now, we both know I'm not a match for you at all. However, if I absorb #18, I will become strong enough to mop the floor with you, Trunks & #16 at the same time."
"Ha! Even if that was true, how do I know you are telling the truth?"
"Father, you aren't considering this, are you?"
"Boy, quiet!" Vegeta barked at his son while giving him a glare, to which I smirked as I turned towards Trunks with a smug grin.
"Yes, Trunks. The adults are talking. As for the answer to your question, Vegeta, are you scared to find out? I didn't expect for the Saiyan Prince to feel fear, but I guess you learn something new every day." I said with a shrug, though I knew that my answer would not get me killed as Vegeta gave me a baleful glare before scoffing as he floated back up into the air.
"Carry on with your business, but if this Perfect form of yours is not as powerful as you say it is, you are going to wish that I kill you."
'Oh, Vegeta. It is quite easy to manipulate you.' I thought with a smirk as I looked back to where #16 & #18 were supposed to be only to frown as I saw them missing.
However, before I could even think of going after them, my eyes widened and I leaned back as a foot barely missed kicking my head off, kicking out to the side only for Trunks to block it with little effort.
Unfortunately, that did nothing but anger Trunks as he grabbed my leg and threw me through the air, to which I quickly spun to face him only to wheeze as a hammer fist came from behind me and sent me crashing face first into the ground.
"Vegeta! A little help here, please!" I shouted as I flipped out of the ground, thankful for how I could manipulate the Saiyan as he appeared besides Trunks & stopped him from sending a Burning Attack at me.
Not wasting any time, I rocketed away as the two Saiyans arguing, my heart racing a bit as I felt Trunks quickly catching up to me before sighing in relief as Vegeta's ki appeared in front of him.
'Now, time to find #18.'
Contrary to what I thought, it did not take me long to find #16 & #18, though I have to admit that eradicating every island I saw along the way to make sure that they weren't hiding there.
Usually, that thought would have left me unsettled, but right now, I felt nothing but a growing hunger & greed controlling my mind & body as I was searching for my final part for completion.
However, I have to admit that as I floated above the island I found them, the scene in front of me made me pause as I decided to watch it play out.
"S-So, you're going to sacrifice yourself…for me?" I heard #18 ask as I landed on the ground behind a boulder, making sure to keep my ki low as I watched a surprised #18 talking to a determined Krillin & #16.
"Y-Yeah, I mean, what kind of man would I be if I didn't help out a lady?"
'You know what, Krillin? I hated that you got together with #18 in my past life, but I have a newfound respect for you.' I thought with an impressed smirk as Android #18 blushed at Krillin's words before both of them turned as #16 spoke up.
"Apologies for interrupting your flirting, but I detect Cell's energy nearby."
"W-We were not flirting!"
'Damnit, I guess Gero gave him the best energy sensors known to man. Another reason to hate the old doctor because he gave everyone the good stuff and left me to gather it all.' I grumbled at that thought while walking out of my cover, watching as all three fighters spun to face me.
"Now, #18! Ru-!" Before Krillin could even his sentence, he was already knocked into the earth with naught but a tail swipe to the back of his neck, but I couldn't care less for his attack nor #16's as the Android rushed towards me.
Quickly ducking under his grab, I swung and caught his chin with a bone-shattering jab, watching as his lower jaw was knocked off before my tail came up from behind me & sent him flying into the ocean.
"Please, don't kill yourself." I spoke out loud without even turning to #18 as I watched #16 sinking into the water, my tail having already lashed out & slapped her hand to point at the air just as she unleashed a powerful ki blast.
Before she could even think to point her other hand at herself, her eyes widened as I spun towards her and caught her hands in a tight grip, smirking as my stinger expanded to be able to fit her.
Scanning #17's memories, a powerful electromagnetic barrier quickly surrounded #18 & I as a booming fist crashed into it, making me smirk as I turned to see a growling Trunks behind him just as my tail came down & began to absorb #18.
This time however, I already knew what to do and quickly accelerated the process, making sure to turn towards Trunks with a victorious grin just as I finally felt the Android sinking into my body.
When I had first absorb my clone, the pleasure that came from it was enough to put me in a blissful state for the next few seconds.
When I absorbed #17, it was a mixture of pleasure, pain and power that flooded my mind and made me unable to think straight as I felt my body transforming.
Neither transformation compared to the utter ecstasy that flooded my mind, body & soul as I felt #17 & #18 finally clicking together with me at the cellular level and my body began to change.
First, I felt my tail slowly sinking back into my body as my wings began to grow out once more, my body mass shrinking to a somewhat lighter & shorter build than I was in my Semi-Perfect Form.
Along with that, I could also feel the sides of my face twisting & turning to form what I knew were the purple stripes that Frieza had and as I felt a nose growing & my lips shrinking to a more acceptable size, I couldn't help but chuckle as I clenched my fists & grinned at the absurd power inside of them.
However, what surprised me the most was that I could feel every cell in my body, especially a cluster of them inside of my chest that felt far more durable & powerful than any of the rest around them.
'So, that must be the core that Cell had in the canon universe.' Frowning as I grasped the cluster with metaphorical hands, I grinned as I pushed & pulled it all throughout my body, deciding to store it in the back of my head.
However, it appears that me playing around wasted the time I had left as my body finished transforming and the light around me began to die down, to which I simply smirked as I took a deep breath & dispelled the barrier around me.
'It's show time.'
"Damnit, Father! See what happens when you play around?!" Trunks shouted at Vegeta as the light surrounding Cell began to die down, to which the Saiyan Prince simply scoffed as the two of them landed next to a shocked Krillin & a wary #16.
"So what if he transforms? Your new power will be enough to defeat him let alone mine."
"Energy scans indicate that he's surpassed both of you in power." #16's words ruthlessly destroyed Vegeta's argument, Trunks giving his father a glare as Vegeta in turn glared at the Android.
"Your scanner is broken."
"Impossible. My scanners have been designed to survive several planet-ending attacks."
"Like! I! Said! It's! Broken!" Vegeta growled out at #16, to which the Android simply frowned at him before their eyes widened as a smooth yet regal voice spoke from behind Vegeta.
"Be careful there, prince. Your pride's showing." Cell spoke with an amused smirk as he rested his elbow on Vegeta's head, not even stumbling as the prince quickly spun around & landed a vicious hook to his jaw.
However, the prince was not as amused as Cell as he quickly leapt away, stopping himself from cradling his arm as he had felt a bone snap in his forearm the moment he punched the Bio-Android.
'Impossible! I must have held back unconsciously with my first strike.'
"You didn't hold back, Vegeta. That was a full power blow and you nearly shattered your arm on my perfect jaw line." Cell spoke with a smirk as he stood besides Android #16, raising an eyebrow as Krillin rocketed towards him with a roar while Trunks tried to stop him.
"No." Cell spoke one simple word as he spun to the side and connected to Krillin's back with a roundhouse, the wind knocked out of the Earthling's sails as a loud snap echoed in the air and he was sent ragdolling across the ground.
"You might want to give him a Senzu if you have one." Cell said to Trunks while pointing at Krillin, who was lying facing the sky while his entire lower half was pointed to the right.
Watching as Trunks quickly flew over to Krillin's side, Cell hummed as he turned towards Vegeta just as the Saiyan unleashed his full power and before, the power would have had him shaking in his boots at how powerful the Saiyan was.
Now?
Cell actually wanted to yawn at how utterly weak he felt compared to him, but he quickly curbed his pride as he remembered that arrogance was the reason why Cell lost in the original timeline.
After all, he could have just blown up the planet instead of hosting the Cell Games.
'I have no need for that, but I did promise Vegeta a battle if he helped me & he did help me. Actually…'
"Vegeta, before you start, may I propose a more acceptable proposition?" Cell asked, making Vegeta frown as he slowly drew his power back in.
"And what is that? If you're scared, you should just say so and I'll make sure your demise is long & painful."
"Amusing, but that's not it. What I do suggest is a little tournament in ten days' time. It will be myself against every powerful fighter on this planet in a little something I like to call the Cell Games. Now, before you start shouting about how you will not wait for your battle, I am both doing this to spare your pride from suffering an easily-avoidable loss right now an-!" Cell couldn't even finish his sentence as Vegeta gritted his teeth at the last comment and rocketed towards him, to which the Bio-Android sighed as he rolled his neck.
"Very well, I was trying to be nice." Cell muttered as he leaned out of the way, Vegeta stopping his fist before slamming his elbow to the side of Cell's head.
However, the move was easily avoided by the Bio-Android as he simply ducked under the attack, blocking the rising knee with a simple finger before slamming his fist into Vegeta's unguarded stomach.
Immediately, the wind was knocked out of the Saiyan prince as spittle & blood flew from his lips, but Cell was not done as he grasped Vegeta by the back of his head & pulled him closer, his other fist flying forward & landing a punch that sent the Saiyan Prince flying backwards.
"Vegeta, dear. Please, stop. You're just making yourself look bad."
"I'll make you look bad! Galick…Gun!" Vegeta roared as he pulled his hands back, laying his right hand over his left with both a claw shape before thrusting them forward as a violet beam of chaotic energy fewl forward.
Yet, Cell was not even amused nor nervous as he held a hand up, Vegeta's eyes widening as a concentrated blast of ki slashed right through his attack and it was only him leaning out of the way that saved his life as the ki blast sailed past him.
'Hmm, perhaps I should tone down the power of my blasts.' Cell hummed with a thoughtful frown as he watched an archipelago to the far north-west being erased by his ki blast, finally tuning back into the battle to feel a barrage of ki blasts exploding against his body.
"Vegeta, may I offer a better option than just wasting your energy?!" Cell shouted, waiting for a few moments before smiling as the ki barrage finally stopped.
As the smoke died down, he raised an eyebrow at Trunks & a healed Krillin floated behind Vegeta before ignoring them as he turned back to the glaring Prince.
"Listen, we both know that any weak attack you try from here on out is just going to bore me. So, please, let me explain what I was going to say and you'll get to live without your pride being shattered.
"I'd rather die!" Vegeta growled and Cell sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose before nodding.
"Very well. As you wish." Before anyone could blink, Vegeta's world went black as Cell's foot crashed into his face and before he could even be sent flying, Cell appeared behind the Saiyan & slammed a knee directly into his upper back.
Watching as the Saiyan Prince spat up blood, Cell's hand flashed out and caught Vegeta by his hair, Cell's other hand pulling back before slamming bone-shattering punch after bone-shattering punch into his face.
"Cell! Enough!" Cell blinked as he heard Trunks shouting, looking away from the mangled mess that was Vegeta's face to look at the enraged glare on Trunks' face.
"Let him go." The rage in Trunks' voice made Cell raise an eyebrow as he turned towards the Saiyan hybrid, catching the knocked out Vegeta by the hair.
"Give me a moment. I'll kill him and then you and I can fight."
"Let him go and we can talk about your Cell Games."
"Hmm? You want to know about it?" Cell asked as he lifted Vegeta and poked at the Saiyan Prince's forehead, frowning a bit in disappointment at the knocked out Prince before smirking as an idea came to mind.
"Sure, what do you want to know?" Cell asked as he floated closer towards Trunks, making sure to hide himself behind Vegeta as his tail grew out slightly and stabbed the Saiyan Prince in the back of his head.
"What does it entail?" Trunks asked, his eyes flickering a few times towards his father in slight concern as Cell smirked and shrugged, subtly retracting his stinger as he dropped Vegeta to the ground, Trunks looking a bit relieved before glaring at Cell as the Bio-Android chuckled.
"Like I said, it's nothing more than a gauntlet of battles between myself and every fighter on this planet. If any of the fighters win, I will leave Earth in peace. If I win, I want one wish."
"So, you're after the Dragon Balls." Trunks spoke with a frown, to which Cell chuckled as he nodded.
"Yes, I am. I've thought up a wish and while I could just go & take the Radar for myself, I would prefer to be a gentleman & ask for it nicely."
"And what if we don't?" Cell heard #16 ask from below them, looking down at the Android with a smirk before answering.
"Simple. I blow up the planet and go about my way."
"So, this is more to give us a chance to stand up for ourselves?" Trunks asked, frowning as Cell nodded.
"Exactly and to make it even more fair, I'm even going to give you all ten days to gather the best fighters & get as strong as you possibly can. Although, I don't think anyone would be able to keep up with me that isn't named Goku."
'And Gohan.' Cell thought with a smirk as he watched Trunks contemplating his offer, waiting before smiling as the Saiyan Hybrid nodded.
"We accept."
"Excellent! Now, I'll be off to ma-!" Before Cell could finish his sentence, he blinked as a cold sensation washed over his lower body, his mind subconsciously activating an electro barrier that blocked Trunks' Burning Attack & #16's Hell's Flash.
Looking down, he was confused to find his lower half lying on the ground before a circular saw made out of energy crashed into it & completely obliterated it, not even caring for #16's & Trunks' attacks as he turned around to see Krillin giving him a smug grin.
"That was for #18." Krillin said and Cell only stared at the Earthling in shock before complete & utter rage took its place.
In the blink of an eye, #16 found himself flying straight into the ground while Trunks wheezed as a fast flurry of blows slammed into his chest & made him see stars.
Krillin barely had a moment to blink before he was buried skull first into the ground, the pain he felt from that not even fully processed as Cell's stinger flew out & impaled his skull.
"Time and time again, I try to see the good in you all and time & time again, you show me that I'm being taken advantage of. Trunks! Forget the fucking tournament! You wish to act like savages?! So be it!" Before Trunks could stop him, the Saiyan Hybrid could only watch in horror as Krillin was drained up within the blink of an eye, Cell activating his full power & rocketing into the sky.
With a deep breath & a malicious grin, Cell activated his Ki sensing to encompass the entire planet, ignoring all the weak ki signatures he felt as he went from country to country until he grinned as he found the ones he was looking.
'I hope the Lookout Tower is ready for battle, because I am doing being nice!'
A/N: Goodbye, canon! It was nice knowing you!
As for those that would rage that Krillin's Destructo-Disc shouldn't have done anything, I'm making his attack a One-Hit Kill since I always thought it should have worked like that.
If you don't like it, well, this is fanfiction so…eh.
Also, I so wanted to do the TFS Cell song, but that's been overdone so many times so I decided not to. That and I want to use that for something else down the line.
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova for seven chapters ahead on this story, ten on The Unholy Wolf and seven of King of Hellish Gravity. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
As always, read, enjoy, review and until next time…
Ba-Bye~!