Dragonball: Rewritten

Chapter 44: Cell Saga

It was a mistake Gohan couldn't afford, but it was worth it. When Cell powered up to attack Piccolo and his father, he didn't think twice. He flew after the two of them, taking the blast meant for them. Protecting what was left of his loved ones mattered more than his own life. Even though his right arm was a complete mess and couldn't function anymore. Even though Piccolo scolded him worse than Goku, ChiChi and Vegeta ever did, calling him an idiot. It did make him smile when Krillin scolded him too, equating what he did as 'stupid Vegeta-like bonehead move.' Because Krillin was right. That was a very Vegeta-like move, and he couldn't feel prouder of the fact.

He wasn't going to fail now. Not after the sacrifice Vegeta made for him and the planet. Not after what Cell did to Trunks. He had a planet to save, a family to protect, a promise to keep.

Cell wasn't winning. Not today.

With one arm, he charged up a final Kamehameha wave, his focus solely on Cell and Cell alone.

***

As Gohan prepared one final stand against Cell, Raditz started to come to. He groaned, rolling onto his side, mumbling random Sadalan words. Not far from him, Nappa started to rouse as well, coming out of his unconscious state. At almost the same time, they sat up, checking their surroundings—and then stopped to gawk at the scene before them of Gohan against Cell.

Raditz mumbled, "The fuck did I miss?"

Nappa's response was drowned out in Gohan's yell and subsequent blast.

***

Back on Mount Paozu, everyone gathered around Fortune Teller Baba's crystal ball. Tien and Yamcha held each other. Chiaotzu cuddled Puar and Oolong. Master Roshi watched on, his lips a thin line, his wrinkled hands holding his staff tight.

Bulma and ChiChi stood side by side with wet cheeks and solemn faces. They leaned against each other, clasping interwoven hands. After what happened to Vegeta, and then Trunks, neither wanted to hold themselves back from watching what was going on live. They wanted to see Cell die first hand.

ChiChi broke the tense silence, hissing under her breath, "You can do it, Gohan. Defeat him. Avenge them. Do it. "

Bulma echoed her sentiments with a nod, her throat still too tight and her chest still too hurt to talk.

***

As Gohan fought Cell with one arm, Raditz, Nappa, Piccolo and Krillin flew back, creating a good amount of distance between them and the dual blasts. Krillin kept holding Eighteen's unconscious body close to him, as did Piccolo with Goku. Nappa made himself in charge of Trunks, Raditz being too in shock to handle holding his dead body.

It took every ounce of control in Raditz to stay calm. The whirlwind of new information from before he passed out to when he woke up nearly sent him back into unconsciousness. Not only was ChiChi able to communicate to him via a telepathic bond somehow, but his nephew was now at a new, more powerful level of Super Saiyan, Trunks was dead, and so was...

He glanced at Piccolo nearby crouching on the ground with Goku in his arms. Still blissfully unconscious. Still harboring inside a visible piece of Vegeta's ki.

His fists clenched by his sides, his tail whipping behind him.

What the fuck were you thinking, Vegeta? He shook his head. Why would you do this to him, twice?

***

Death, this time around, wasn't like floating into a comfortable darkness. Vegeta didn't have Goku there holding him as he passed. He didn't see or hear his mother or father when he crossed over. The moment Cell exploded, his world flickered off like a light. Within moments, he wasn't on that planet anymore. He wasn't holding King Kai, Gregory or Bubbles anymore.