Chapter 35: The Final Battle Begins
"We have given you your rewards young one." Aimi stated with a smile. "Just remember everything that we have informed you. Also, even though you were able to pull the sword out of its sheathe, it was only because so you would be able to be tested."
"I will be there at the battle with you Gohan, trying my best to aid and support you the best I can. Now that you know who I really am, I do not want you to be telling your friends about what you have experienced here." Eri says while looking at me with trusting eyes.
"You have my word." I promised. Eri and the five guardian spirits gave one another a look and smiled warmly.
"Your bravery and courage shall surely help you in your battle against Cell and Eternal." Isamu confesses before coming up to me and kissing my forehead. I stiffened a little.
"Your honor towards those in your life will have a significant role during your lifespan. Your honesty will cause others to feel that they can trust and come to you when needed." Says Misaki. Unlike Isamu, she just stood in place and smiled.
"I'm sure the wisdom you have will most surely aid you in difficult making decisions." Chieko confirms before also coming up to me and just ruffling my hair. "By the way, with more practice i'm positive you'd be a great daddy someday in the future."
I blinked unsure of what to say. "Thanks... I guess."
Chieko returned to her spot and Keninchi and Aimi simply bowed their heads in respect. I did the same and looked up to see that the five of them disappeared. Eri and I had returned to the empty white room we had been previously before.
I narrowed my eyes to the sheathe lying on the floor. Eri grew suspicious of me and asked what I was thinking.
"I was just wondering why you were in there. You told me that half of your soul lies in Tania while the other half is within Eternal... How are you able to control it?"
"I don't." She answers, confusing me. "That sword had once belong to Thornkin. You can say it has a mind of its own really. At the moment you pulled the sword out, I left Tania's body and caused this whole setting to take place. It was the only way that I would be able to speak with you. Listen, you must know that you aren't the one to truly wield this blade. It was meant for Tania, but since we've decided to have you be tested instead of her, we let you release it."
"But why would you choose me for this task?"
Eri then began to circle around me again. "I chosen you because since Tania has lost her memory, she would not be able to understand any of this quite yet. And as I mentioned before, this sword belonged to Thornkin some time ago. Being his reincarnation, its only natural that you'd be the one other than Tania to release it. Besides, I can feel that you're much more purer since Eternal's spell still somewhat has an affect to Tania's being."
My eyes widened a little. "I thought I purified the evil in her heart."
"Yes, but you were only able to purify the part of her that wanted to do nothing but kill and destroy. Her heart is still considered impure and there is only one way I can think of for you to help regain that girl's memory and purity."
I continued to stare at Eri hoping that she would continue on with what she was saying. However, she didn't tell me how and only explained that she would be the one to awaken Tania's memory and purity but I would have to do something for it to be fully restored. I don't know what will trigger it. I'll just have to wait and see.
"Since Tania is not yet able to wield Wisheater, you're going to have to be the one to carry it wherever you go. Please Gohan, remember everything that the spirit guardians and I have informed you about. The rewards we have given to you will very much help you with this great battle." The baby spirit pleaded.
I simply nodded.
"I'll be with you. Inside of Tania. As for Eternal, she has locked me out of her being and I no longer am able to help make the good decisions for her. Oh yes, don't hesitate to do what you need to do. There are many lives being taken away even as we speak. I leave the fate of this worlds safety in your hands."
"I promise to do my best."
TANIA'S P.O.V
It had been a few hours since everyone saw that Gohan had pulled out the sword. He has been training with it for what seemed like a million years. There was a look of determination in his expression as he did so. I layed on the tiles with my tail wrapped around my waist and stared up into the sky in deep thought.
Now that we have the dragonballs, we can wish back the lives that were lost by me, Eternal and Cell after we bring peace back to this world. I feel so ashamed though... I killed a lot of people. Even Yamcha and Tien... How can they forgive me so easily?
My dark brown eyes focused on Gohan who was still swinging his sword in a professional manner. I just don't understand that strong sense of justice that he has in him. He risks his life just to save strangers even if it means the cost of his own life. That's just... Crazy.
"Hey kiddo." Krillin greets before laying down next to me with his arms crossed behind his head. He turned and looked at me. "What are you thinking?"
I smiled. "Nothing important really."
"Aw come on, you can tell me. I won't bite."
I let out a small chuckle."Well okay then. I was just wandering why you guys would save all these people even if it meant that you'd get killed in the process?"
Krillin smiled. "That's an easy answer. We do it because we love the peace that this world has. Killing others is wrong and in my opinion whoever does this evil act intentionally should be destroyed. However..."
Krillin began to stare up at Gohan and sighed softly. "Gohan and Goku are the type of people who would give their enemies a second chance to give up their evil ways and turn to the good side."
"How does that turn out?"
The bald man closed his eyes. "At times not very good. Some of the foes do apologize, but they never really mean it and when Gohan or Goku would turn their back, they would foolishly attack them. Only to end up dead in the underworld."
"Was there anyone who actually turned from their ways?" I inquired. Krillin got up and put his hand on his hips and cocked his head to the side.
"Well, I know that Piccolo and Tien are examples. Vegeta... maybe, I don't really know. However, I do feel like he's on our side now." He answered.
I then got up too. "Piccolo and Tien seriously? I can't even imagine them being evil. I can only see Vegeta like that though to be honest."
"It's true. Each one of these guys was given a second chance by Goku."
"Krillin, who's this Goku person you keep talking about?" I asked curious. Krillin once again turned his eyes towards Gohan and pointed. "It's his father."
"Gohan's?"
Krillin nodded. I blinked a few times. I guess that makes sense. The way Krilin was talking about how merciful Goku is makes me believe he's Gohan's dad. The names too.
As Krillin and I watched Gohan train, we suddenly sensed something. Gohan stopped and slid his sword back into its sheathe. He looked at me, knowing that I can feel what he was feeling also. In an instant him and I flew full speed out of the lookout towards the lands beneath.
"WAIT YOU TWO!" Krillin yelled. "DON'T GO BY YOURSELVES!"
---
"Are you really going to use that sword to fight?" I asked the half saiyan as we headed to a city. Gohan looked at me and smiled.
"No." He answers. "I'll save that for later."
For that second, I knew that there was something that he was hiding from me. I bet that sword will have a great significance to this battle against Eternal and Cell.
We continued to our destination when suddenly somebody kicked Gohan into a lake, creating a huge splash. "Gohan!"
I turned around and saw that Cell was standing behind me. He just stood there giving me a glare. I brought my leg up and tried to kick him. He caught it and began to spin me around before finally releasing me. I recovered and charged at him.
Cell smirked and flew by the water where Gohan was. All of a sudden, the water in the lake turned into walls, and Gohan came out in his super saiyan two form. Gohan and Cell floated in the air, and let the water fill up the lake again. Gohan powered up and disappeared. Cell looked around. Then put his elbow in the air and Gohan flew right into it. Gohan looked at Cell, powered up and disappeared again. Cell disappeared also. When Gohan reappeared, he didn't see Cell anywhere. The all of a sudden Cell elbowed him in his head. Gohan powered up and flew backwards. Then he flew into something hard.
"You really are pathetic, you can barely keep up with my movements," Cell said. Gohan tried a roundhouse kick, but Cell was gone. Gohan looked around. All of a sudden, he felt a knee in his stomach causing him to ram into a cliff. Cell started punching him in his stomach and chest.
"Gohan!" I yell proceeding to aid him.
"NO!" He shouts after dodging a punch to the head."Stay back!"
I stopped dead in my tracks still holding onto the sword. I strapped it securely around my shoulder and back then flew down to the ground. Thankfully, Gohan had began to have the upperhand and slammed his laced up fingers onto the androids head.
Cell then came racing down to the ground next to me. As soon as he hit the ground, a large crater circled around him. I flew back a few feet with my arms covering my face. Once I got back up to my feet, I glared at Gohan and shouted, "Watch where your aiming Gohan! He almost flew right into me!"
The saiyan scratched the back of his head. "Sorry..." His eyes then widened. "Tania watch out!"
There was a chuckle. "You really are a fool."
I turned and looked in front of me to see that Cell was uninjured. He had the tip of his index finger pointing straight to my heart. How did he get so close to me if he was all the way over there?! I noticed that Gohan had positioned his two fingers to his forehead and disappeared then reappeared in front of me.
He clutched onto Cell's arm then kicked him into a cliff.
"Are you alright?" He asks. I nodded and smiled. "Yes, I am. Thank you."
After the evil android dusted himself off, he flew over to Gohan and I and stood there floating, giving the two of us a smirk. "Tania? it's such a shame that you had to come here with this boy. I knew you would betray us eventually."
"Betray?" I repeat. "You and Eternal were the ones responsible for making me act that way. Besides, I believe with all my heart that Gohan and I WILL defeat you!"
Cell laughed. "You two wouldn't be able to kill me. Especially at the level you two are currently at."
"I guess i'm gonna have to go to the next level then." Gohan comments shocking Cell and I. The android clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. "You're lying!"
Gohan just smirked then hunched over slightly and kept on powering up as the floor cracked underneath him. Wind picked up surrounding both Cell and Gohan. Gohan's hair grew longer and thicker, turning bright yellow and really spiky. It grew all the way to his toes and expanded around his shoulders, waving and billowing in the sky as an ocean of energy.
I tried my best not to get thrown back. I shielded my body from the winds. Cell was wide eyed and looked as though he was about to coward away. Gohan yelled out a loud growling scream as his ki energy turned from yellow to bright silver blue. His hair expanded more and his muscles were increasing even bigger.
After all was silent, lightning was surrounding his aura. He looked back at me to see if I was hurt and I saw that his eyebrows had vanished. "No way..."
Gohan turned back to cell, who was dumbfounded. After a moment, the green mechanic machine changed his confused attitude into that of a furious one.
"What's wrong Cell?" Gohan asks. "You're not going to try to blow yourself up like last time, are you?"
"Don't get too cocky!" The android warns with an obvious fright in his voice. He then charged at Gohan and tried to land a hit on him. Gohan dodged and elbowed Cell in the face hard! Cell's face dented like a car smashing into a wall.
I felt my jaw drop. Was he hiding his true strength all along? Even when we fought?
Gohan kneed Cell in the stomach, making blood spurt out of the android's mouth. Cell countered with a knee also to the stomach. Gohan responded by roundhousing him in the jaw and sending him flying miles into a cave. Gohan roared as he flew through the air into the cave. At the cave he blew up the whole entire area and realize Cell was in the back of him. Cell headlocked Gohan and flip kicked him in the head sending Gohan plundering through the ground.
"For a second there, I really thought that I was..", Cell trails off, but then was cut off by Gohan's kick to the head. This time Cell was hurled down to the ground. I made sure that I had my guard up just in case he'd try to ambush me again while i'm distracted.
Cell flew over to Gohan and uppercutted him in the head hard sending him up through the air, while Cell flew up and kneed Gohan back down to the Ground. Gohan got up a little dazed.
"I'll kill you...", Cell screamed...his power increased..and his muscle mass as well.
"You think you're so tough Cell, you might be very strong but you're never going to be as strong as me", Gohan muttered while getting back to his two feet.
Gohan's body was beginning to look a little worn out. Was it because of the amount of energy that form needs?
Cell surprisingly didn't seem to notice and descended to the ground. The two got into a ferocious battle of kicks and punches. Gohan was mainly on the defensive side while Cell threw the punches.
It seemed like to me that those punches Cell threw were too slow to hit Gohan directly. He dodged them with ease. He blocked one and did a left hook in Cell's jaw. Gohan continued his assault with five hooks in Cell's face, and a low kick in his stomach. While he was gasping for air, Gohan hoisted him on his shoulders and slammed him on the ground. Cell gasped and spat out blood.
"Give up Cell," Gohan said coldly. "You can't beat me."
"The day I give up to you is the day I DIE!!!!!!" Cell yelled and charged. He threw a fast jab at the young super Saiyan 3, but he blocked it and with a swift roundhouse kick, he knocked Cell to the ground again. Cell got up and fired a ki blast at Gohan, but he slapped it away. When he looked back at Cell, he met a face to his face. Then a left hook on his cheek. Finally, a jab to his stomach. Cell smirked, but a face of horror soon replaced it since Gohan turned his head to face Cell, and looked as though the punches never happened. Cell stepped back. Gohan charged and jabbed the bio-android in his face. Then did rapid punches in his stomach. Cell laced his fingers together and was about to bring them down on Gohan when he disappeared.
"Where did that little brat get to!" Cell growled.
"Try looking behind you idiot!" I yelled out.
Cell turned around, and got a foot in his face. Gohan was behind him and did a high kick in his face. When Cell recovered he charged, and so did Gohan. The two had a frenzy of punches and kicks. But Cell was getting pummeled. Gohan was landing a lot more punches than him. In fact, he barely got a hit off of the young Saiyan. Gohan started doing rapid hooks in Cell's face. With one last punch, Gohan knocked Cell into five cliffs in a row.
'This can't be happening, not again!' Cell spoke. 'I cannot fail!'
"Having second thoughts Cell?" Gohan asked as he walked towards the android. Cell started to step back as he advanced. "Don't try and hide your fear."
"I AM NOT AFRAID OF YOU!!!!!!" Cell bellowed and charged Gohan with a punch. Gohan jumped to the right and kicked Cell in his jaw with a roundhouse. Cell was knocked back a few steps, and he was stumbling. While he was still stumbling, Gohan attacked with powerful punches. Cell grabbed one of Gohan's punches and side kicked him in his chest. Gohan was going towards a cliff. Gohan did a flip so his feet hit the cliff, and he used it as push off. He shot back Cell with such speed even Cell nor I saw him until he came to a complete holt right in front of the androids face.
He's really fast
Gohan then did a fierce left hook at Cell's jaw. Cell countered by grabbing his arm, and throwing him over his shoulder. As Gohan fell, he side kicked Cell in the back of his head. They both got up and charged again.
Cell was knocked through a mountain by Gohan's strong jab. The bio-android shot through the rocks and into the air. He glared at Gohan. Then he put his index finger and middle finger on his forehead, and shouted,
"Special Beam Cannon!!!!!!!" the corkscrew ki blast shot towards Gohan. Gohan just let it hit him head on. Cell smirked.
"GOHAN!" I screamed flying into the air as the blast made a huge impact.
"Fool that attack has a lot more attack power than at the tournament!" Cell laughed. When the smoke cleared, Gohan was still there, smirking.
I stopped in complete shock. How did he survive that? That blast could've easily...
"You're right about one thing, that attack does have a lot more attack power than last time, but it's still not enough Cell!" Gohan said. Then he took off his shirt. Revealing all the cuts and scars he has suffered from all his years of fighting, and this fight.
I covered my mouth with my hands. I never saw those scars on his body before. I saw him take his shirt off, but I never saw it... Didn't Dende say that those senzu beans heal scars and wounds? So then, why isn't it not working?!
I then felt my body aching for a quick second. Lifting my arm up a little, I saw that I also had received scars. In fact, there were scars covering half of my body. I freely letted my tail swing around then brought it to view. Good, atleast my tail isn't scared with anything.
"You're gonna have to turn it up Cell if you want to survive another minute."
Cell was mad, and he charged. He knocked Gohan into the lake with a fast jab. Then he started firing rapid ki blasts at the water. When he stopped, smoke was coming out of the water.
'That had to have gotten him,' Cell says panting. He was wrong. Gohan soon emerged out of the water. He still had that smirk on his face that terrified Cell.
"Nice try, but what were you aiming at?" Gohan asked. Gohan then put his hands over his head, and shouted his signature move.
"Masenko HA!" The yellow blast hit Cell head on. When the smoke cleared, he was missing his right arm. His left hand was missing. Both his legs were gone, and he was missing one of his horns.
"You little heathen!" Cell shouted weakly.
"Go ahead regenerate, you'll be signing your death wish," Gohan said not losing his smirk. Cell was now really afraid. Then he thought of something. He regenerated and started laughing.
"What's so funny?" Gohan asked.
"You fool have you forgotten!" Cell replied.
"Forgotten about what?" Gohan asked.
"My ultimate power!"
"You mean that big slow form of yours that I totally beat up last time?" Gohan asked. Cell continued laughing.
"Yes, but because of Eternal, I won't be big and slow!" Cell laughed. Gohan smirked and said,
"We'll see go ahead, make my day."
NO! Gohan mustn't let him do that. What if he ends up becoming more powerful than him?!
"Gohan! NO! I don't think it's very wise to let him do that!"
Gohan looked at me and smiled. "It's alright, i'll be fine."
I'm not to sure of that...
Cell started powering up. A flaming blue aura surrounded him, and his muscles and himself started to grow bigger. The ground started to crack, and cliffs started to crumple apart. Cell's power started making earthquakes, and I saw from far off that buildings started to fall. Waters started to make huge waves, and whirlpools. Animals scattered to wherever they thought was safe. Gohan just kept his smirk as Cell's power kept on growing. I, on the otherhand, was worried.
There was a sound of a helicopter. I shifted my attention to the flying object and witnessed a camera crew jumping off the helicopter. They landed safely on the ground and ran over to a safe spot where they got their camera's ready.
"What are you people doing?! Get out of here now! Can't you see it's very dangerous to be here right now!" Gohan warned them with a look of concern.
"We interrupt this broadcast for this special announcement," the reporter said. That snapped me out of my trance. I walked over to them and told them to leave.
"There seams to be strange events happening all around Japan and other parts of the world." He continued. I began to get annoyed and snatched the microphone from his hand. He looked at me angry, but then changed it to what looked like overwhelming joy and relief.
"Tania?" He says. The cameras were then pointed straight at me. The reporter got up and took my hand. "It's a pleasure to see you again!"
I cocked my head to the side. "What are you talking about?"
The reporter blinked his eyes a few times and was about to ask me something when finally Cell had powered up to the max. His eyes were now completely red, sparks were flying all around him. The once sunny clear skies were now filled with dark clouds. There was thunder, lighting high winds. It looked like at any moment the Earth would destroy itself. And in the middle of it all Gohan was still smirking. Cell's muscles went down. His big, bulky form turned back into his normal perfect form, his eyes were now their normal. Cell was completely normal. The strange events around the world just stopped. The skies turned back the beautiful day. And everyone was baffled.
"Surprised Gohan? Because of Eternal, I don't get bigger anymore! I'm now more powerful than you!" Cell laughed.
"You wish," Gohan said simply.
"What!"
"I can become just as powerful as you Cell," Gohan said.
"Impossible, your bluffing!"
"You'll see," Gohan smirked. He started to power up. The glow around him started to get bigger. The ground started to crack even more. Pebbles and rocks floated near Gohan, and broke into gravel as soon as they got close. Gohan stopped all of a sudden. The glow went back to its normal size.
"Is that it?" Cell asked. "If that was all then you have no hope kid." "You'd be surprised," Gohan said and charged. Cell did the same. When they collided, they were evenly matched. They matched each other completely. Fist for fist, feet to feet. Head to head. They punched each other's fist. Kicked each other's shin, and head butted each other.
"Wow, ladies and gentleman, look at those two go!" The reporter shouted excitedly as he threw his fist into the air. He turned to the cameraman. "Are you getting this?"
The camera guy nodded and gave the reporter a thumbs up. I sighed. "Please... You guys need to get out of here right now! It's not safe for you to be here."
Immediately after, someone had began to tug on my tail. My energy completely left me and I fell to the ground. "HEY! LET GO OF ME!"
"I don't think so, Tania Ayame." A female voice says as she squeezed onto it harder. I painfully turned my head around to see that Eternal was responsible for this.
GOHAN'S P.O.V
Cell and I both stumbled for a while before recovering.
"I see, you have improved since we last fought," Cell panted.
"So did you I see," I replied panting as well. Cell put his hands together like a triangle. He gathered a lot of energy and shouted,
"TRI BEAM!!!" The large blast shot straight towards me. I shot my hands in front of me and held the blast. It started to push me back. I tried holding my ground, but the blast was too powerful. Gathering a lot of energy, I pushed the blast back at its sender. Cell kicked the blast into a cliff. When he turned around, he saw me charging towards him. He blocked my five hooks, and side kicked me in the chest. I countered by teleporting in front of the android, and jabbed him in his stomach. Then I laced my hands and hit Cell across his face. Cell brought up his left foot, and kicked me in the neck. We both fell deep in the ground. When we got up we stared at each other for a while, then charged again.
"Gohan! Help!" I hear Tania's voice. I immediately looked back to see that she was bleeding heavily and that the news crew were killed. Eternal was firing energy blasts at the young girl.
"Tania!!"
As I was about to rush over to her aid, Cell had kicked me in the face which then sended me flying over to a cliff. I coughed out blood and slowly picked myself up.
"You should really learn how to pay attention to your opponents boy!" Cell suggested. He then shot towards me, but before he reached me, I putted my two fingers on my forehead and used the Instant Transmission to get to Tania.
Although, I don't like to fight women, I had to kick Eternal away from my best friend. The self proclaimed "goddess" flew over to a cliff and smashed into it.
"I'm sorry." Tania apologizes, confusing me. "I'm sorry for getting in your way."
I picked her head off the ground and made eye contact. "You shouldn't be apologizing. You're not getting in my way."
"Gohan, I couldn't turn super saiyan for some reason."
I blinked. She can't turn to a super saiyan? Why not? She did it the last time we fought. What's going on?
I then noticed that her scars had returned from the previous battles she's been in and the newly aquired ones. I don't understand, I watched the senzu beans heal her. The scars should be gone.
I then looked at my body and discovered the scars I had from years ago and today. Something is just not right.
Just then, I felt my power leave me. I had dropped out of my super saiyan three state and returned to my normal state.
"What happened?" I asked myself while beginning to pant very hard. Tania's eyes looked as though they were beginning to get tired.
"Your power ran out Gohan." She says exhausted. "That form requires a lot of energy."
Cell then appeared out of nowhere with Eternal and they both laughed. "Oh this is just amazing first you were the savoir now you're the punching bag!" Cell laughed, and charged. He started pummeling me with fast punches and kicks. I couldn't even dream of dodging, the attacks were just too fast. Cell grabbed me by the neck, and slammed me on the ground.
"Go-Gohannn." Tania's voice croaked. She was still immobilize to the surface. Her eyes was looking over to me. Eternal picked her up by the hair and made her watch as Cell carelessly attacked me from every angle.
I suffered another hard blow from Cell. My energy was going down with every blow.
"And here I thought you improved, looks like I was wrong," Cell said and stomped on me, and then he started laughing. I got up and charged, Cell chopped me in my neck and into the lake. When I tried to surface, Cell put his foot on my head. I swung my hand around in the water. I can't breathe!