Chapter 16: The Eternal Dragon

“Really? Daddy, I thought you would save us, not turn us into monsters,” Pan said, fake innocence threaded through her tone.

            “You aren’t my daughter…my daughter doesn’t kill her own mother and act like a tramp,” Gohan shot.

            “That’s right! I’m a tramp…right Trunks?” Pan said.

            Trunks smirked evilly and bit Pan’s neck. Pan pushed herself against Trunks, wrapping her legs about his waist.

            “See, Daddy? I am a tramp…Trunks knows this…don’t you think?” Pan said, shooting a look at Gohan that crushed him.

            “Yes…you are a tramp. A dead one if you don’t stop that. Be a good little girl now,” Gohan snapped.

            “What are you going to do? Ground me or something?” Pan laughed.

            “In a way,” Gohan threatened.

            Pan jumped down from Trunks and walked up to Gohan.

            “Why don’t we have a little match, Daddy? Won’t that be fun?” she giggled, gathering ki in her hand.

            Gohan growled and tried to control himself. He was holding himself back from trying to talk to her like she was his daughter…but she wasn’t anymore. He knew this, but something was holding him back from killing her. She had been Pan…she stilled looked like her and it was hard…but he had to do this…there was no choice and he saw this now.

            Gohan threw himself at his ‘daughter.’ She was completely taken off guard, and was hurled back into Trunks and Bra. The three jumped up from their sprawled position on the ground and attacked Gohan, all at the same time. Gohan dodged as many of their attacks as he could, but they were too strong. If it had been only one of them, maybe even two, he might have been able to do it…he couldn’t face all three alone.

            Just as he was about to give up and die, a familiar voice rang out from behind him.

            “Gohan!” Krillin screamed.

            “Krillin, do you have the dragonballs?” Gohan cried, guiding the newest androids away from the door.

            “Yeah!” Krillin yelled. “What—“

            “CALL UP THE DRAGON! WISH THAT PAN, TRUNKS, AND BRA ARE BACK TO NORMAL! NOW!” Gohan screamed at the top of his lungs (which was pretty damn loud).

            “What about the second wish?” Krillin asked.

            “EVERYONE KILLED TODAY IS BACK TO LIFE!” Gohan yelled, louder than before.

            Krillin ran out to where the dragonballs lay and called up the Eternal Dragon. Out of the seven orange balls rose an amazing streak of green, which formed into a huge dragon that clouded the sky with its size.

            WHAT IS YOUR FIRST WISH? Shenron boomed, glaring down at Krillin, now appearing even smaller under the mass of the Eternal Dragon.

            “MY FIRST WISH IS THAT YOU BRING PAN, TRUNKS, AND BRA BACK TO NORMAL!” Krillin shouted.

            Shenron’s eyes flashed red and then, for a moment, things were silent.

            WHAT IS YOUR SECOND WISH? The Eternal Dragon roared.

            “BRING ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WERE KILLED TODAY BACK TO LIFE!” Krillin called, sighing with relief that he got the wish out.

            Shenron’s eyes flashed again, and his voice rang out.

            WHAT IS YOUR THIRD WISH? Shenron said.

            “Third wish? What the?” Krillin asked himself.

            YOU TRY MY PATIENCE! TELL ME YOUR WISH! Shenron said.

            Krillin shrugged and made his wish…a wish that ended it all.

            Cell woke up from the effects of the smoke. He couldn’t move…he had been paralyzed by that stupid liquid in that stupid vial. Gohan…he would die for that.

            He lay there, waiting for his power to return to him and his movement as well…but just as they came back to his body…

            Cell started to disintegrate. Every part of his body turned to dust. When it was done, even the dust was completely gone. Nothing was left…not one little cell…

            Gohan fought off Trunks, Pan, and Bra for as long as he could. In the end, just as he heard Shenron speak for the first time, he collapsed, exhausted from the battle.

            “So, Daddy has finally given up…how sad,” Pan laughed evilly.

            Gohan looked up, ready for his death…but something happened that prevented that.

            Pan, Trunks, and Bra all collapsed to the ground. In total shock, Gohan sat up as best as he could and looked at them. They weren’t hurt…just…back to normal. His eyes traveled to where Videl, Bulma, and all the others were laying lifeless and saw the life return to their bodies. He smiled. It was over…finally over…

            Videl ran to her fallen husband, tears falling down her face.

            “Is everything—“

            “Yes,” Gohan interrupted, his voice hoarse and filled with the gurgle of blood rising into his lungs.

            “Gohan…” Videl whispered.

            “Don’t bring me back with the dragonballs,” Gohan whispered, his hand tracing Videl’s teary face. “Tell Trunks, Bra, and Pan that I forgive them…I love you…”

            And with that, Son Gohan left Chikyuu, never to return. Videl closed his deep, raven eyes one last time, and then began to cry.