06-05-2004, 02:48 AM
***
Chapter Nine: Brothers Torn by War
***
Level by level the pair of Saiyans increased their power until they could go no further. Each swing, each kick, every twist and turn took one hundred percent of their energy, yet they were fueled not by ki alone. One for pride and the other for anger, though the two can hardly be without each other?s company. Both were pushing far beyond their means, and Raditzu?s extreme training in a form that surpassed his current state gave him an even fighting ground against Goku. The brawl quickly took to the air as their energy pushed skywards.
A quick snapping fist bounced off Goku?s head causing him to tumble backwards through the air. He righted himself in a moment and narrowed his eyes at his older sibling. Powering up and pointing forward he unleashed an unusual maneuver.
?Ashide Kame Hame HA!? he screamed and blasted forward quicker than Raditzu thought was possible. As the familiar blue beam was launched through Goku?s legs it pushed him through the gap between the two faster. A pair of knuckles caught a surprised Raditzu in the chest and cracked his armor, though he recovered before Goku was ready. The older fighter brought his hands down onto the other?s exposed back and pounded him down. Quickly following that, he launched a beam straight for Goku. It struck home, ending in a quick flash of raw power. As the air around the blast point cleared, Raditzu could see that his brother?s body had disappeared, but hadn?t caught where he had run off.
Surely, Kakarotto couldn?t be so weak as to have been destroyed by such an attack?? Raditzu thought while scanning the sky by sight and mind. He found where Goku had run off too, or rather felt it. A sharp kick to his back revealed the all-too-close location and launched a very surprised Raditzu through sky. Flaring his aura and gaining better control over his flight, the Saiyan turned back around to resume the fight. Both of them extended an arm, a wave of ki flowing from the limb towards the other. The attacks collided in the usual brilliant flash but neither Goku nor Raditzu paid any heed and continued to fly to the heart of the explosion. Once they met, the battle raged on.
?Why don?t you Charm Son Goku as well, Babidi? I?m sure he could use the boost in strength!? Paragus asked in a fluster while watching the ongoing fight outside the palace. He didn?t even notice how the little magician perspired even though they were not a meter apart.
?Because? *huff, huff*.. there is only so much I can do at once. We?ll be lucky enough to escape with our lives, Paragus? Let me, let?s try to save us before we go and do too much,? he wheezed. All this was taxing the limits of his Magikal prowess, and he would soon be tapped out. First things were first, ?Paparapa Pa!?
Raditzu received a fierce heel to his already bruised chest and backed away to regroup with himself. The scuffle had turned seriously dangerous, and not in his favor. A feeling of sickness suddenly overwhelmed his body causing him to doubled over and his stomach fluids expelled themselves. Goku smiled devilishly, which only made him madder.
?Think you can take me, huh?! Well, let?s see how you deal with this!? Raditzu screamed and started to perform a confusingly intricate dance-like maneuver. When he had finally reached such a speed that it was hard for those who watched to keep his with the movements Raditzu shoved both hand forward, palms out, energy flaring, the attack prepared. ?Burning ATTACK!?
A bright golden ball shot through the air on an intercept course with Goku, who stopped and readied himself for the attack. As it reached him he swung an arm out to deflect it, but it exploded in a hail of bright particles and heavy smoke. It caught Goku by such surprise that he didn?t even think to expect Raditzu?s sneak attack, which landed square in his kidney. Goku crashed into the underbelly of the palace, for they had battled their way around the floating structure. As quickly as was possible Raditzu launched an immense beam of energy that pounded the palace like a hammer and burned the hole that Goku?s body had just made into a melted blemish.
Panting from nearly depleting his entire reserve of power, Raditzu coldly said, ?When you find your son in the afterlife, tell him that his uncle sends his love??
***
Chapter Ten: There Can Be Only One
***
Raditzu started laughing, but whether he was happy in defeating his brother or simply light in the head from lack of energy no one knew. They weren?t given time to find out, for a volley of energy bolts rained out from the hole that Goku had supposedly died in and beat the prideful giddiness from him. Raditzu cried out in anger and pain as the seemingly endless string of attacks pushed him down. When all seemed lost they suddenly stopped. The air was thick with the heat and plasma of the numerous times fighters had channeled their ki, and everything was uncomfortably silent.
Son Goku, his body scarred by the countless battles and clothes in shreds, floated out into the open sky. The stony visage that was his face was completely focused on Raditzu, whose jaw had nearly hit the ground, even from the height that they were at. The frighteningly devilish glow of Kaio Ken covered Goku?s body, and its power washed over the heavens, drenching it blood red. Drawing his hands back to his right hip, he began to summon the all-powerful attack.
?KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!? he shrieked, but never went past that. The pitch of his voice continued to raise until it and the roar of his energy matched, and it sounded like the wail of a banshee. It chilled Raditzu to the bone. Not even slowing down to take a single breath Goku let loose the furry of his Kame Hame Ha. The size of the beam itself quickly blotted out Raditzu?s vision of the sky.
There was no escape and he had been beaten. Raditzu closed his eyes and smiled, embracing his defeat. The beam quickly disappeared behind the lower clouds and vanished, leaving nothing else in its wake. Goku sighed, letting his muscles relax and the red halo of power fade.
?Very good brother. You won, fair and square!? Raditzu said, causing Goku to whip around in surprise. ?What? You should be proud! You won! Still not satisfied? Oh, right. I forgot to mention this didn?t I?? his said, letting the last few words hang in the air. Raditzu grabbed Goku by the shoulders, ?Why don?t you let me congratulate you on a job well DONE!? and he accented the last part with a swift kick to the abdomen. Not letting his one and only brother have any time to catch a second wind, he took them both up and around to the upper side of the palace and drove Goku face first into the courtyard. ?Let me thank you again!?
Jumping into the air, he came back down on Goku?s shoulder blades, breaking them. He went back up, but only to bring his fist into the small of the other?s exposed back. He would have went again, but Goku?s energy was already dwindling to near nothing, ?Weakling.?
?Well, I hope you?ve had your fun, Raditzu. It?s time to finish this,? the Namek said.
***
Chapter Eleven: Fall From Grace
***
Ha! Those fools haven?t got a clue as to who they?re dealing with! Vegita thought bitterly to himself while hovering high in the air. He had collected what was left of his energy and tried his best to block out the pain that various oozing wounds were sending to his brain. Now that he was ready, it no longer mattered if he contained the swelling power within his body and away from their senses, And after having Son Goten blind side them with an attack like that? they won?t live to regret it twice!
?What?s that?? asked a frantic Raditzu. The entirety of the ki flooded over them all and the three beings of evil all craned their necks to see a figure flashing like a bolt of lightning. ?Is that Vegita?! That?s impossible!?
?What can he do? That body of his won?t last much longer with that kind of power. He?s finished! Ha ha ha!? the Namek boasted triumphantly. And it was true. Vegita wouldn?t survive to see the end of the next day. But if all went well with the rash move, neither would they. The Ultra Saiyan started to plummet like a rock, a comical whistle of air being cut preceding his kamikaze attack. When he was only several score meters from them, Vegita shouted his last words at those he intended to destroy.
?Take this: Saiya-jin Sai Shuu Sai Go no REZAAAHH!? and with that the power harnessed within his body exploded. As the churning ball of death expanded, the Namek?s eyes grew as big as a fist. This was the last thing he had expected, the thing he was last prepared for. He had come so far, fought so hard and for so long? all to end like this at the hands of a single Saiyan. His fear quickly turned into madness, madness to rage. And at that, he jumped up, aiming straight for the heart of the blast. He had accepted that there was no other way but to die here, but he was going to kill Vegita with his bare hands before that happened. His aura grew large enough to block the progress of Vegita?s Final End, but the output was destroying his body piece by piece. Because his arms were stretched forward they were the first to be eaten away by the ravenous explosion. Then the skin began to peel from his face, but still he continued with the single driving thought of destruction.
When he neared the center of the blast he finally caught a glimpse of Vegita. The royal Saiyan was a burning mass of fleshless muscle, the pain evident across features that went relatively silent in the surrounding explosion. And it looked at him. What it saw must not have been any more pleasant than what it was, but they recognized one another and raw hatred took control of the pair. They lunged at one another, and their paired energy reached a peak? and detonated.
A hole in the ceiling. That was the first thing Babidi saw once he regained consciousness. Where was he that could possibly have a hole in the ceiling? Busted walls, a room filled with debris and a glowing pot? the glowing pot. He was at Dende?s! But didn?t Vegita and the Namek destroy everything? Well, there was only one way to find out. He got up and started his way on over to the Magikal kitchenware, but stopped once he knew that someone else was in the room with him.
?Gah!.. oh, it?s you. Finally! You almost gave me a heart attack. Hey, how long have I been out?? the little wizard said and asked, almost in one long breath.
?Not long. I just got here,? the youth replied.
?Then maybe? maybe there?s still time!? he shouted frantically and ran over to the viewing pool in the pot. Babidi danced his fingers over the water and spoke, ?Paparapa pah!?
Raditzu picked Koola up and they both stared in silent wonder at the Namek. He was standing across the courtyard from them, alive and well. Before either of them could ask a single question he started to bark orders.
?I tired of these monkey games! Destroy them all! Destroy them all now!!? and both of the others jumped to it rather quickly out of fear from the tone in the Namek?s voice. Raditzu jumped over to Goku, a fist full of energy and ready to blast when he was surprised even more and stopped. The whole group appeared out of nowhere.
***
Chapter Twelve: Escape
***
?Ah? Trunks.. what?re you doing here?? Son Goku asked over a bleeding lip while the young warrior wrapped both of his arms around the defeated Saiyan to stand him to his feet. Trunks turned halfway around to eye the Namek, who had stopped in mid strike at the sudden appearance of the halfling and those with him. In answer to the question that had been asked, Babidi spoke up.
?You were supposed to be waiting until everything was ready, Goku-san. I was trying to call as many warriors here as fast as I could, but you tried to?? the little magician?s voice trailed off. ?Save Goten? would have been the next part of the phrase, but he didn?t have the heart to say it. Now wasn?t the time to keep worrying about that anyway. Trunks took the cue right on time and extended an arm. Babidi and Paragus took hold of it and they all disappeared, leaving the rest of those who were alive in bewilderment.
That is until they saw the group on the opposite side of the courtyard. Paragus picked up his still-unconscious son and hustled back over as quickly as he could. When Babidi went for Vegeta Ou Trunks snapped at him, ?What do you think you?re doing?? He?s one of them!?
?Well, be that as it may, he helped us, which is why he?s in the condition he?s in now,? the charmer said after pausing for a moment. In the moment that followed that Raditzu, Koola, and the Namek all dropped down around them in a three-point position.
?Aw, leaving so soon, Kakarotto? You spoil sport,? Raditzu scoffed, letting his pale hair radiate an eerie luminescence almost in defiance as to his finally achieved victory over his brother.
?Kill them all now! Don?t let them get away!? the Namek commanded as he pointed a glowing palm at the entire group. Babidi?s went wide open as he felt the overwhelming power flood the heavens. Trunks saw this. ?Hurry up!?
As the magician darted to grab Vegeta Ou, Koola and Raditzu also started to focus their energy into a single destructive point. As he picked up the kingly Saiyan the attacks were unleashed. Time slowed down. Every step that Babidi ran took a short eternity, and the ki beams seemed to run faster. He knew that he wasn?t going to make it in time, and in a best case scenario Trunks would have to teleport away without the two of them. Then Goku raised his arm up and extended it. All three attacks exploded. The flash caused all three evildoers to turn their heads until it subsided. Once the light and dust had faded, one of them spoke up.
?Did we get them?? Koola asked, rubbing the ache from the wrist he had just strained with the flux of power. He and Raditzu looked at the Namek. The green titan of ki sighed as he reverted back to his normal state, dragging the time farther along than either of the others thought was necessary for such a response.
?No,? he simply said, but a sly and toothy grin spread across his face, ?But we didn?t need to. They?re nothing compared to what I have become.?
Chapter Nine: Brothers Torn by War
***
Level by level the pair of Saiyans increased their power until they could go no further. Each swing, each kick, every twist and turn took one hundred percent of their energy, yet they were fueled not by ki alone. One for pride and the other for anger, though the two can hardly be without each other?s company. Both were pushing far beyond their means, and Raditzu?s extreme training in a form that surpassed his current state gave him an even fighting ground against Goku. The brawl quickly took to the air as their energy pushed skywards.
A quick snapping fist bounced off Goku?s head causing him to tumble backwards through the air. He righted himself in a moment and narrowed his eyes at his older sibling. Powering up and pointing forward he unleashed an unusual maneuver.
?Ashide Kame Hame HA!? he screamed and blasted forward quicker than Raditzu thought was possible. As the familiar blue beam was launched through Goku?s legs it pushed him through the gap between the two faster. A pair of knuckles caught a surprised Raditzu in the chest and cracked his armor, though he recovered before Goku was ready. The older fighter brought his hands down onto the other?s exposed back and pounded him down. Quickly following that, he launched a beam straight for Goku. It struck home, ending in a quick flash of raw power. As the air around the blast point cleared, Raditzu could see that his brother?s body had disappeared, but hadn?t caught where he had run off.
Surely, Kakarotto couldn?t be so weak as to have been destroyed by such an attack?? Raditzu thought while scanning the sky by sight and mind. He found where Goku had run off too, or rather felt it. A sharp kick to his back revealed the all-too-close location and launched a very surprised Raditzu through sky. Flaring his aura and gaining better control over his flight, the Saiyan turned back around to resume the fight. Both of them extended an arm, a wave of ki flowing from the limb towards the other. The attacks collided in the usual brilliant flash but neither Goku nor Raditzu paid any heed and continued to fly to the heart of the explosion. Once they met, the battle raged on.
***
?Why don?t you Charm Son Goku as well, Babidi? I?m sure he could use the boost in strength!? Paragus asked in a fluster while watching the ongoing fight outside the palace. He didn?t even notice how the little magician perspired even though they were not a meter apart.
?Because? *huff, huff*.. there is only so much I can do at once. We?ll be lucky enough to escape with our lives, Paragus? Let me, let?s try to save us before we go and do too much,? he wheezed. All this was taxing the limits of his Magikal prowess, and he would soon be tapped out. First things were first, ?Paparapa Pa!?
***
Raditzu received a fierce heel to his already bruised chest and backed away to regroup with himself. The scuffle had turned seriously dangerous, and not in his favor. A feeling of sickness suddenly overwhelmed his body causing him to doubled over and his stomach fluids expelled themselves. Goku smiled devilishly, which only made him madder.
?Think you can take me, huh?! Well, let?s see how you deal with this!? Raditzu screamed and started to perform a confusingly intricate dance-like maneuver. When he had finally reached such a speed that it was hard for those who watched to keep his with the movements Raditzu shoved both hand forward, palms out, energy flaring, the attack prepared. ?Burning ATTACK!?
A bright golden ball shot through the air on an intercept course with Goku, who stopped and readied himself for the attack. As it reached him he swung an arm out to deflect it, but it exploded in a hail of bright particles and heavy smoke. It caught Goku by such surprise that he didn?t even think to expect Raditzu?s sneak attack, which landed square in his kidney. Goku crashed into the underbelly of the palace, for they had battled their way around the floating structure. As quickly as was possible Raditzu launched an immense beam of energy that pounded the palace like a hammer and burned the hole that Goku?s body had just made into a melted blemish.
Panting from nearly depleting his entire reserve of power, Raditzu coldly said, ?When you find your son in the afterlife, tell him that his uncle sends his love??
***
Chapter Ten: There Can Be Only One
***
Raditzu started laughing, but whether he was happy in defeating his brother or simply light in the head from lack of energy no one knew. They weren?t given time to find out, for a volley of energy bolts rained out from the hole that Goku had supposedly died in and beat the prideful giddiness from him. Raditzu cried out in anger and pain as the seemingly endless string of attacks pushed him down. When all seemed lost they suddenly stopped. The air was thick with the heat and plasma of the numerous times fighters had channeled their ki, and everything was uncomfortably silent.
Son Goku, his body scarred by the countless battles and clothes in shreds, floated out into the open sky. The stony visage that was his face was completely focused on Raditzu, whose jaw had nearly hit the ground, even from the height that they were at. The frighteningly devilish glow of Kaio Ken covered Goku?s body, and its power washed over the heavens, drenching it blood red. Drawing his hands back to his right hip, he began to summon the all-powerful attack.
?KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!? he shrieked, but never went past that. The pitch of his voice continued to raise until it and the roar of his energy matched, and it sounded like the wail of a banshee. It chilled Raditzu to the bone. Not even slowing down to take a single breath Goku let loose the furry of his Kame Hame Ha. The size of the beam itself quickly blotted out Raditzu?s vision of the sky.
There was no escape and he had been beaten. Raditzu closed his eyes and smiled, embracing his defeat. The beam quickly disappeared behind the lower clouds and vanished, leaving nothing else in its wake. Goku sighed, letting his muscles relax and the red halo of power fade.
?Very good brother. You won, fair and square!? Raditzu said, causing Goku to whip around in surprise. ?What? You should be proud! You won! Still not satisfied? Oh, right. I forgot to mention this didn?t I?? his said, letting the last few words hang in the air. Raditzu grabbed Goku by the shoulders, ?Why don?t you let me congratulate you on a job well DONE!? and he accented the last part with a swift kick to the abdomen. Not letting his one and only brother have any time to catch a second wind, he took them both up and around to the upper side of the palace and drove Goku face first into the courtyard. ?Let me thank you again!?
Jumping into the air, he came back down on Goku?s shoulder blades, breaking them. He went back up, but only to bring his fist into the small of the other?s exposed back. He would have went again, but Goku?s energy was already dwindling to near nothing, ?Weakling.?
?Well, I hope you?ve had your fun, Raditzu. It?s time to finish this,? the Namek said.
***
Chapter Eleven: Fall From Grace
***
Ha! Those fools haven?t got a clue as to who they?re dealing with! Vegita thought bitterly to himself while hovering high in the air. He had collected what was left of his energy and tried his best to block out the pain that various oozing wounds were sending to his brain. Now that he was ready, it no longer mattered if he contained the swelling power within his body and away from their senses, And after having Son Goten blind side them with an attack like that? they won?t live to regret it twice!
?What?s that?? asked a frantic Raditzu. The entirety of the ki flooded over them all and the three beings of evil all craned their necks to see a figure flashing like a bolt of lightning. ?Is that Vegita?! That?s impossible!?
?What can he do? That body of his won?t last much longer with that kind of power. He?s finished! Ha ha ha!? the Namek boasted triumphantly. And it was true. Vegita wouldn?t survive to see the end of the next day. But if all went well with the rash move, neither would they. The Ultra Saiyan started to plummet like a rock, a comical whistle of air being cut preceding his kamikaze attack. When he was only several score meters from them, Vegita shouted his last words at those he intended to destroy.
?Take this: Saiya-jin Sai Shuu Sai Go no REZAAAHH!? and with that the power harnessed within his body exploded. As the churning ball of death expanded, the Namek?s eyes grew as big as a fist. This was the last thing he had expected, the thing he was last prepared for. He had come so far, fought so hard and for so long? all to end like this at the hands of a single Saiyan. His fear quickly turned into madness, madness to rage. And at that, he jumped up, aiming straight for the heart of the blast. He had accepted that there was no other way but to die here, but he was going to kill Vegita with his bare hands before that happened. His aura grew large enough to block the progress of Vegita?s Final End, but the output was destroying his body piece by piece. Because his arms were stretched forward they were the first to be eaten away by the ravenous explosion. Then the skin began to peel from his face, but still he continued with the single driving thought of destruction.
When he neared the center of the blast he finally caught a glimpse of Vegita. The royal Saiyan was a burning mass of fleshless muscle, the pain evident across features that went relatively silent in the surrounding explosion. And it looked at him. What it saw must not have been any more pleasant than what it was, but they recognized one another and raw hatred took control of the pair. They lunged at one another, and their paired energy reached a peak? and detonated.
***
A hole in the ceiling. That was the first thing Babidi saw once he regained consciousness. Where was he that could possibly have a hole in the ceiling? Busted walls, a room filled with debris and a glowing pot? the glowing pot. He was at Dende?s! But didn?t Vegita and the Namek destroy everything? Well, there was only one way to find out. He got up and started his way on over to the Magikal kitchenware, but stopped once he knew that someone else was in the room with him.
?Gah!.. oh, it?s you. Finally! You almost gave me a heart attack. Hey, how long have I been out?? the little wizard said and asked, almost in one long breath.
?Not long. I just got here,? the youth replied.
?Then maybe? maybe there?s still time!? he shouted frantically and ran over to the viewing pool in the pot. Babidi danced his fingers over the water and spoke, ?Paparapa pah!?
***
Raditzu picked Koola up and they both stared in silent wonder at the Namek. He was standing across the courtyard from them, alive and well. Before either of them could ask a single question he started to bark orders.
?I tired of these monkey games! Destroy them all! Destroy them all now!!? and both of the others jumped to it rather quickly out of fear from the tone in the Namek?s voice. Raditzu jumped over to Goku, a fist full of energy and ready to blast when he was surprised even more and stopped. The whole group appeared out of nowhere.
***
Chapter Twelve: Escape
***
?Ah? Trunks.. what?re you doing here?? Son Goku asked over a bleeding lip while the young warrior wrapped both of his arms around the defeated Saiyan to stand him to his feet. Trunks turned halfway around to eye the Namek, who had stopped in mid strike at the sudden appearance of the halfling and those with him. In answer to the question that had been asked, Babidi spoke up.
?You were supposed to be waiting until everything was ready, Goku-san. I was trying to call as many warriors here as fast as I could, but you tried to?? the little magician?s voice trailed off. ?Save Goten? would have been the next part of the phrase, but he didn?t have the heart to say it. Now wasn?t the time to keep worrying about that anyway. Trunks took the cue right on time and extended an arm. Babidi and Paragus took hold of it and they all disappeared, leaving the rest of those who were alive in bewilderment.
That is until they saw the group on the opposite side of the courtyard. Paragus picked up his still-unconscious son and hustled back over as quickly as he could. When Babidi went for Vegeta Ou Trunks snapped at him, ?What do you think you?re doing?? He?s one of them!?
?Well, be that as it may, he helped us, which is why he?s in the condition he?s in now,? the charmer said after pausing for a moment. In the moment that followed that Raditzu, Koola, and the Namek all dropped down around them in a three-point position.
?Aw, leaving so soon, Kakarotto? You spoil sport,? Raditzu scoffed, letting his pale hair radiate an eerie luminescence almost in defiance as to his finally achieved victory over his brother.
?Kill them all now! Don?t let them get away!? the Namek commanded as he pointed a glowing palm at the entire group. Babidi?s went wide open as he felt the overwhelming power flood the heavens. Trunks saw this. ?Hurry up!?
As the magician darted to grab Vegeta Ou, Koola and Raditzu also started to focus their energy into a single destructive point. As he picked up the kingly Saiyan the attacks were unleashed. Time slowed down. Every step that Babidi ran took a short eternity, and the ki beams seemed to run faster. He knew that he wasn?t going to make it in time, and in a best case scenario Trunks would have to teleport away without the two of them. Then Goku raised his arm up and extended it. All three attacks exploded. The flash caused all three evildoers to turn their heads until it subsided. Once the light and dust had faded, one of them spoke up.
?Did we get them?? Koola asked, rubbing the ache from the wrist he had just strained with the flux of power. He and Raditzu looked at the Namek. The green titan of ki sighed as he reverted back to his normal state, dragging the time farther along than either of the others thought was necessary for such a response.
?No,? he simply said, but a sly and toothy grin spread across his face, ?But we didn?t need to. They?re nothing compared to what I have become.?