Bringer of Death

Tournament Saga - Part 15: The Homecoming

Tournament Saga - Part 15: The Homecoming

Goku's exuberant smile washed over the Z Fighters like a cool breeze, melting away their worry and distress. Whenever he grinned like that, it seemed to inspire unshakeable confidence, assurance that everything was going to be all right. Just his presence with them, despite the scene of destruction and carnage from the ruined tournament all around, brought a gentle calm.

"Well?" the hero asked, curious. Everyone was still staring at him in shock.

"Goku!" shouted Krillin, the first to approach the Saiyan. "You did it, then? You beat Cell?"

"Well, actually he beat himself. I just moved him to a place where he couldn't hurt anyone else."

The tall Namekian, finally back on Earth, stood just beside Goku. Even he couldn't refrain from smiling. "That was quick thinking, Goku. How did you know what to do?"

"And—" Trunks interrupted, quite confused. "What exactly did you do?"

"Oh, right," the Saiyan said, scratching his chin. "You wouldn't know that about Namek, would you, Trunks?"

"Know what about Namek?"

"Well, during our battles back there, things got pretty crazy. Vegeta wasn't exactly on our side...I'm sure you remember how he was."

"Don't remind me," replied Trunks wryly.

"Right. Well, after he defeated Frieza, he and I had a bit of a, uh, misunderstanding."

Trunks nodded. "I take it he wasn't exactly the most calm and composed person during this conflict?"

"Hah! Yes, that's a good way of putting it. Our battle was so intense that it was getting dangerous for everyone on the planet. Namek had already gotten torn up pretty bad by Frieza, and the battle between Vegeta and I was even more destructive than that!"

"Long story short," Piccolo interrupted, "I knew we were all going to die unless I did something quickly. So, using our last wish to Porunga, I asked the dragon to form a protective seal around Namek to prevent it from being destroyed. Today, Namek is essentially indestructible...at least, as far as we know. It can't be frozen or burned or moved or blown up."

"Oh, I think I get it now," Trunks smiled. "So that's where you took Cell?"

"Yep! I'll admit, I nearly forgot all about that particular wish. But when Cell kept talking about blowing up the Earth, I suddenly remembered. So I checked for Piccolo's energy signature really fast—it's lucky I took him there just a few days ago—and then I took Cell to there. He was alone, too, so I don't think any Nameks were hurt by the blast."

Piccolo, his face still mostly serious, nodded. "From what I've observed, explosions that detonate on Namek's surface are reflected out into space by the barrier. I'm sure the only one who got hit by that attack was Cell himself."

"Amazing!" Tien smiled. "Leave it to Goku to surprise us all at the last second like that. I never would have thought it, but that was a pretty smart move."

"Yeah..." Trunks agreed. "Genius."

"Well, that's what happened, guys," Goku said. "And now, it's finally over."

"Whew!" Krillin sighed, wiping the sweat off his forehead. "You don't know what a relief it is to hear you say those words!"

"That's great, Dad!" Gohan smiled, running up to him, tears drying, and bear-hugging him around the waist. At hearing that it was finally over, he finally dropped out of his ascended Super Saiyan state. His dark hair fell sloppily around his face. "I really thought I'd lost you this time! I thought it was all my fault..." he sobbed, unable to finish his sentence.