| Duck and Run Pg-13 (mild swearing) By: Reber *To this world I'm unimportant, Just because I have nothing to give...* I spat out my blood as I stared at my feeble opponent. His name was Satan, and he was the supposed champion of the tournament. These earthlings were weak, and it took all of my strength and will power not to just let loose with a Special Beam Cannon. Goku had asked that I at least give the opponent a chance before I won my division. After about fifteen more minutes , I wanted to end this round in the tournament by beating this ignorant fool senseless. "Come on Piccolo," he taunted. "To think, I'm beating the heck outta the eight-foot tall, ugly, monster-hero." I shook my head and powered up, ready to pummel him entirely. I ran towards him, and in one little Dynamite Kick, he was on the ground, cowering. "Leave my dad alone!" I heard a shrill voice cry. I turned around just in time to see a figure flying at top speed my way. I blinked and calmly put up a hand, stopping the figure in its tracks. "You stupid monster, leave him alone!" She cried, rushing over to her father. I shook my head at the stupidity and ignorance of this female and got ready to pound this guy's lights out. "Piccolo, STOP!" I heard a familiar voice cry. "Don't do it!" I turned to see Gohan standing there, ready to fight. I rolled my eyes at this silly joke he was playing. "Gohan, this is not your fight," I said pointedly. "So stay out of it." "You're beating on my wife's dad, I have to do something besides sit by and watch you crush him." Gohan said. "Silly humans with their dang females." I muttered. I was distracted for two seconds, and that was just enough time for Satan to come up behind me and kick me in the head... When I came to, I saw the smiling face of Bulma, who was leaning over me. "What the heck happened?" I muttered, sitting up. I recognized that I was in a bedroom of the Capsule Corporation building. "You're too weak," Bulma said. "Lay back down." Realization finally struck me upside the head. I quickly got out of bed and went searching for the 'friend' that had cost me the tournament. I found him in the kitchen, along with everyone else. Vegeta smirked and slid me a glass of water, which I ignored. "Gohan," I kept my voice calm. "Just what in Dende's name did you think you were doing out there?" "Videl saw you were going to hurt Mr. Satan," Gohan mumbled, avoiding my eyes. "So we tried to stop you." I heard Vegeta snickering and turned around. "What in the heck is so funny?" I demanded. "He can't keep his mate in line, that's all." Vegeta said, I think he was actually a little bit afraid of me that time. "And I suppose you can?" Bulma demanded. "He was just concerned about his wife and her father; some people can never keep 'mates' in line." "He'd better, or both of them will pay the consequences." I threatened. No one makes me lose to that pompous idiot. "Calm down, Piccolo." Goku said in a calm voice. "I know you should've won that tournament, but you've been awfully cranky lately." I turned and walked out of the house, readying myself to fly over to Dende's lookout, where I know he wouldn't bug me. *So you call this your free country, Tell me why it costs so much to live?* "You've been hiding something," Trunks said, coming up behind me. "I've been noticing it these past weeks. Do you mind telling me what the heck's going on?" "Yes," I growled. "It has nothing to do with you, and so therefore you should mind your own business." "No," Trunks said, shaking his head. "Now, what in the Dragon's name is going on? Is it all the changes that are taking place?" "No." I said, walking up a hill to my one of my favorite spots. I gave up the idea going over to Dende's, because right now I was too distraught. He would pester me about as much as Trunks is right now. "Okay, so if it isn't change," Trunks thought for a moment. "What's going to happen?" "Nothing," I growled, getting ready to pummel Vegeta's brat right then and there. "Is it homesickness? Lovesickness? I bet I could find a pretty little she-Namek so you could have some fun." Trunks said. My eyes widened at the horrific thought of that. That little brat is definitely going to get his butt kicked. "For your information," I glared. "There are only male Nameks. We reproduce asexually, so shut up about what you don't know." Trunks blinked and blushed deeply. I turned my attention back to the crystal lake that was glistening in the noonday sun. "What is it then?" Trunks asked seriously, walking up beside me. "I told you it was nothing!" I roared, slapping the kid across the face. He took it in stride as he looked at me and shook his head sadly. He then turned and walked back to the Capsule Corporation building. I flew off, wondering if I was ever going to get some peace and quiet. I landed on 'my' island, the one on which I fought the Androids. It was near Master Roshi's, but he wouldn't dare come near me. I sat down and tried to meditate, but to no prevail. I was too distracted by the peacefulness of this island, of this planet. Everything was in harmony right now, and everyone was enjoying it. Fear... My influence made some people deathly afraid of me, which I try to ignore. Being eight feet tall and green was probably more than the average human could handle. These were silly things, humans. They ate 'food', worshipped various idols, had females, and were a whole different race from the simple Nameks. Right now, an evil force was threatening to destroy the peace that we had worked so hard to create. It was stronger than any of us, and it was only after one thing. After it had the thing, it would be satisfied. "Thinking about your pathetic future again, Piccolo?" A voice spoke up from behind me. I clenched my teeth, ready to let loose a Beam Cannon at the next person who dares disturb my meditation. I slowly turned around, realizing who was speaking. "What do you want?" I demanded. "To beat the rats-tail out of you in the consolation round of the tournament." A young man said brightly. He was about Goku's height with shoulder-length blue hair tied back into a ponytail. *Tell me why this world can turn me down, But I won't turn away, no I won't turn around...* "Don't worry, you can do that... When I'm ten thousand years old." I smirked. "Remember to whom you're talking to," the man reminded me. "I'm choosing this idea so your friends can witness how heroic you are." "My friends don't need me to embarrass them." I pointed out. "Why don't you just choose to have this fight right here and now?" "Because then your sacrifice for this puny planet would be wasted." He leered. "Do you think that I would let this great of a sacrifice go unnoticed? I'm not that evil." "You promise to stay dead after I do this?" I demanded. "Shy, do I have your word?" "I kid you not." Shy smiled. "After this has been completed, I will be destroyed, too." "I'll see you at the tournament." Shy said, turning around to leave. I knew that that was it. Shigo, or Shy as he was called, was more powerful than anything we've ever faced, and all he ever wanted was to kill the Guardian of Earth. *All my work and endless measures, Never seem to get me very far...* If he did succeed in killing a Guardian, he would also be destroyed. We've talked on quite a few occasions, and he explained that it was a craving. A craving that began around 3,000 years ago, when the Guardian of Earth cursed an evil young prince so that he would go around, stopping at nothing to get at his enemy. The enemy turned out to be the Guardian of Earth, and so far he hasn't been able to slaughter one... Yet. Once he had fulfilled this desire, he would be destroyed, also. He was directly linked to the Guardians of Earth, and if the Guardian dies, then so does he. Shy didn't care, because he had his mission set on only one thing: Obeying this curse. I remember my own curse, that desire for the death of your enemies. Except Shy was different, because unlike him, I had a conscience. That thirst for blood was so great I wasn't able to control it completely. But, I was able to conquer the evilness and become a very aloof and powerful Namek. Hey, it was a step up from being the schizophrenic maniac that I once was. When we met in the city during the Cell showdown, Shy was very eager to kill me right then and there. I then explained to him that I needed to go and protect earth, so he could kill me later. After many reschedules later, things had finally calmed down enough for him to do it tomorrow. I wouldn't have agreed on this if he didn't have one of two things: Power so immense that Goten's and Gohan's power pales in comparison with his; and a threat that he would go and kill Dende, the real guardian of earth. Prince Shy is a nice boy, but this curse makes him and me on opposite sides of the battlefield. If any guardian is destroyed, the dragon they created will be considerably weaker, if not destroyed, also. Seeing as Kami's dragon was already gone, I stepped in to be slaughtered for the sake of the earth. We would put both of our souls to rest. I thought for another hour or so and flew back over to the Capsule Corporation headquarters. If I'm going to die in a day, I needed to set a few things right with some people. I touched down to see the stormy face of Bulma glaring at me. *Walk a mile just to move an inch, Even though I'm trying so damn hard...* "Did you slap my son?" She demanded angrily. "Got a problem with it?" I asked coolly. "As a matter of fact, I do." Vegeta said, coming out of the house. "Listen, you green monster!" Bulma shouted. "I don't care what uncivilized race you're from; you do NOT slap children!" I shook my head and glared. Vegeta's quote about controlling your mate came to mind as I listened to Bulma screech and preach about how that was child abuse and I should be arrested. "I hope you NEVER have children!" She finished up. "That way, they wouldn't have to endure your crankiness." If this was the thanks I'm going to get when I save earth, I'd be happy to just fight Shy now and get it over with. All earthlings hated everything different, so I was probably the most despised of any being on this planet. I walked past Bulma, shooting Vegeta one of my worst glares ever. That jerk will have to get his butt kicked by someone else now, because I won't be around to do it. Hopefully, Goku will do me a favor and punish him. I walked inside and turned into the kitchen, where Trunks and Goten sat eating. I sat down carefully on a chair, it creaking under my weight. I must've terrified the hell out of them, because they were avoiding my eyes and each other's. "Hey, you're finally back." Goku said, sitting down. "You gonna tell us what's going on, or do you need to beat on Trunks some more?" I glared and didn't say anything. Soon, I just sitting and staring out into space, wondering just how different this was going to be in one day. I decided not to tell them what was going to happen until it became absolutely necessary, because they would try to protect me, killing themselves as well as me. "Piccolo, are you ok?" Pan asked curiously, jolting me back into reality. "I'm fine, now leave me alone." I said. "Don't..." Goku ordered. "Don't talk to the kids that way." "I'll talk to them the way they should be talked to," I snapped. "You need to show them who's the boss, and I'll be darned to die if I ever have kids." "Piccolo, what has gotten into you?!" Goku shouted. "I liked it better when you said nothing." "FINE!" I retorted. "I won't say a dang thing!" I stormed out, taking off to go and meditate at Dende's. *I'm trying so hard, this world can turn me down, But I won't turn away... And I won't duck and run, Cause I'm not built that way...* When I touched down, I noticed neither Dende nor Mr. Popo were about. "Good," I thought to myself. "Now I can finally have some peace and quiet." I settled myself into a meditation trance and tried to clear my mind. Right now, I was having doubts about sacrificing myself for these... Humans. I finally decided to do it for the planet instead of the race that was destroying it. I was guardian to earth, and I should love everyone and everything on it. I would do it even if I hated earth, planet and people. To give a race a chance to survive, to live on... I had to do this. I thought back to the time I almost lost my entire race. It seemed like five thousand years ago when Namek blew; yet I knew it was only about 15. Of course, it's not in the norm when you see planets blow up nearly every day. Once, a very long time ago, I thought that the DragonBalls made life and death useless. It didn't matter what had just happened, it could all be cancelled with the DragonBalls. "Hey Piccolo." Dende said shyly behind me. I nodded my head, still trying to concentrate on doing the one thing I had been trying to do these past weeks. I felt Dende's mind trying to search mine. It was almost subtle enough that I couldn't feel it, and I let a small smile flit across my face, proud that he was the new guardian of earth. He soon gave up and walked back into his palace. Suddenly, I felt as if I was going to vomit. I quickly rushed back down to earth, my convulsions getting quicker and more painful as each minute passed. I was choking up blood and vomit when I landed on my island, and soon I was down on all fours, heaving up everything that I could possibly imagine. When I came to, I was lying on my stomach, thinking about what had just happened. Shakily, I got up and went to the ocean, where I cleansed myself of the vomit, sweat, and blood that was plastering my body. Afterwards, I sat upon the cliff to my island, my mind finally at peace with the world around me. *When everything is gone, there is nothing there to fear, This world cannot bring me down, because I'm already here...* Death... I welcomed it with open arms, and I was even somewhat of a friend to it. We would kill each other, and then life would go on. Fifty thousand people would be at this tournament, and fifty thousand people would watch two beings foolishly trying to destroy each other. When I realized this would happen, I searched the future for a point in which there would be eternal peace. Nothing to threaten it anymore, nothing to harm it. I had found it, and soon the time would come. Even the DragonBalls could not wish me back, nor could I ever be reached. I would be gone. I thought back to my fusions with Nail and Kami. We did that to save earth, and I never regretted it. Come to think of it, when Trunks asked us one day what the most honorable title in the universe was, everyone replied 'King' and 'Emperor'. When it came my turn, my answer was 'Earth's Savior'. A few decades ago, I wanted to punish earth and blow it to pieces, and now... Now, I was to die for it. "I will never regret this decision." I thought as I got up. I sensed Shy was coming, so I readied myself in case he wanted to give in to his craving and kill me now. I hid something, made sure Shy couldn't sense it, and then I walked back onto my cliff. "In one day..." Shy whispered as he touched down. "Tomorrow this hunger shall be satisfied." "And we can both rest in peace, because I would never duck and run." I concluded. "No more playing games of cat and mouse with each other, no more trying to kill and protect." Shy nodded and smirked. "I just wanted to make sure you were still here." "You know I'd never run away from death." I replied. "I'll be here to check on you tomorrow before the tournament begins." Shy said, flying off. "See you then." I muttered, watching him leave. I prepared myself to fly over to Master Roshi's, where everyone was gathered, I assumed, to talk about me. I took off my cloak and wrapped my precious cargo that I hid from Shy in it. I blasted off, tucking my cloak under my arms and I soon landed on the island to hear Vegeta's voice. "He's been awfully surly lately, even for Piccolo." He spat. "I've never seen him like this." "Who's to say that they've known me all my life and could think of a time when I was happy?" I asked, walking into the circle of lawn chairs. I saw the familiar faces of the whole team with their families, and Mr. Popo, Dende, and Master Roshi. Everyone blushed, ashamed that I heard what they were saying about me. I didn't care, because I had been acting more than a little irritable lately. "Look," I started out. "First, I need to explain something to you. But promise me that you will not go out and do anything extreme afterwards, got that?" After I had got promises from everyone, I proceeded to tell them about Shy. How we met, the dangerous games of cat and mouse, how I was saving earth... I left nothing out. Afterwards, Goku sat, and after him staring at me for about five minutes, he was the first one to speak up. "Well, why don't we try and destroy him?" Goku asked, getting up. I shook my head at his ignorance. "Because all he wants is to kill a guardian. I've made peace with myself, and I don't want to risk anyone's life." "Is that ALL he wants?" Dende demanded sarcastically. "Piccolo, you're just going to give up and die? Why don't you spend tonight and tomorrow in the Room of Spirit and Time to train?" "Because Prince Shigo can kill even Goten and Gohan," I said. "He and I have agreed that we shall do it at noon tomorrow, no matter what." "But... But you're just accepting the fact that you're going to DIE?!" Trunks shouted. "You're just going to give up without a fight?" "Listen kid," I growled, getting ready to slap him again. "What would you do when you're squaring off against one of the toughest opponents ever? I'm sure he could kill any of us with a snap of his finger. I will fight, but I will die." "Why in the Dragon's name would you go through with something like this?" Gohan demanded. *I'm already here down on my knees, I'm already here; I'm already here... I must have told you a thousand times I'm not running away...* I was starting to get angry. "Because I love earth, and I don't want to see it or you get blown to bits. You will not interfere, because he can and will kill all of you." "I don't see how he can be stronger than all of us, because together we've destroyed everything that has come our way." Tien pointed out. "Yeah." Krillin agreed. "I bet we can take this guy out in one or two shots." "I only came here to get promises from you that you will not try and help me. This is my business." I said. I shifted my cloak in my arms. "I also want to give this to you." I said quietly. "Please take good care of him." Goku took the bundle and unwrapped it. He stared at the green egg about the size of a football with his mouth agape. "Why?" He asked. "Because this is my progeny," I stated. "Please raise him as if he were your own." Goku nodded silently and gave my egg to ChiChi, who wrapped the cloak carefully back around it. "You must understand that you cannot do anything tomorrow except watch." I ordered. "Don't try anything heroic and stupid." Everyone nodded and I turned and left, leaving them so I could go back to Dende's. I knew both Dende and Mr. Popo wouldn't follow me, so I was safe from anyone who dared try and talk me out of this. I couldn't believe I endured three hours of hell just to hand my kid over to humans; but these were some of the best parents in the universe, and I trusted them completely. About five hours later, I was watching the sun set upon the earth for the very last time. I sighed when I heard the soft thump of boots landing. "I couldn't believe you didn't tell me," Goku whispered softly. "Is there anything I can do to help?" "Nothing except raise the kid so he'll grow up to be a good person." I said. "I'll do my best." Goku promised. "I'll tell him his father was one of the best fighters the earth had." A long silence passed between us, and I knew Goku was readying himself to try to get me to duck and run. "Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked finally. *I won't duck and run, I won't duck and run, I won't duck and run... No I will pass away...* "I am sure." I said. "Why?" Goku demanded. "The earth hasn't exactly welcomed you with open arms." "If all he was after were you, would you want your friends risking their lives for a lost cause?" I asked. "I guess not." Goku said, finally beginning to understand. "Good, you're not as insane as I thought." I smirked. "You'll always be the insane one of us fighters. I mean, risking your life by slapping Vegeta's brat was the stupidest thing ever done by a person. Bulma was going to kill you when she found out." Goku grinned. "Of course, Trunks didn't tell her, but she figured it out." We talked for another hour and then Goku went home, hopefully at peace with me. I then realized I never did something, because I still owed someone an apology. I put on another cloak and went grumbling and flying down to earth, where everyone was asleep. When I landed at the headquarters, I knew Vegeta and Bulma would be asleep, but I knew exactly where to find him. I rounded the corner to see him sitting on the bench, studying the pond that was glistening in the moonlight. The Hyperbolic Time Chamber was looming in the background, dormant. "I thought you'd be training." I said quietly, taking a seat next to him. "I couldn't concentrate." Trunks confessed. I nodded knowingly and studied the pond with him. "Look, I never really did apologize for slapping you." I said quietly. "I'm sorry." "It's ok; I was pestering you into telling me what was wrong. I guess I was being an annoying brat, so I'm sorry about bothering you." Trunks said. I smiled at him. He had grown up quite a bit and was now almost eight years old. He had his father's language use, looks, stubbornness, and sometimes his temper. But, he had proven to be a great fighter, with a determination that could be matched with mine. *This world can turn me down, But I won't turn away... I won't duck and run, Cause I'm not built that way...* "I'm gonna miss you." Trunks said, looking up at the stars. "Couldn't I contact you through King Kai?" "Sorry." I shook my head, watching his face fall. I could see he was trying unsuccessfully to not cry. "But, if Goku raises him right, my son will be there for you." Trunks nodded silently and slid over to my side. He laid his head down in my lap and we reminisced for a while about the good times we had together. I must've drifted off, because when I awoke, I saw Vegeta standing over me. It was about two in the morning, I guessed. He sat down on the other side and for a while, neither of us said anything. "I guess you apologized to the brat." Vegeta said, looking at Trunks with my cloak over him. I nodded, looking over at him. "I guess I should apologize to you, too." I said, feeling guilty that I slapped his kid. "I'm sorry." Vegeta started to laugh. "You're sorry? I should be apologizing for being such a hypocrite. Control your mate, I said, and then mine went and chewed your butt." I knew things must be good between us if Vegeta apologized, too. We stayed up and talked the rest of the night about Nappa, Kami, and everything else that our minds turned to. I drifted off again, and I awoke to my very last and most beautiful sunrise I had ever seen. Vegeta was dozing on the other side of the bench, and Trunks was snuggled up against me, wrapped in my cloak. *When everything is gone, there is nothing left there to fear, This world cannot bring me down, cause I'm already here...* I got up, making sure not to disturb them both. After flexing everything to make sure it would work without fail, I realized I needed to apologize to another person. "Dang Piccolo, you're making the rounds." I muttered to myself as I touched down on a perfectly manicured lawn. I walked up the steps and opened the door, where I found Gohan, Videl, and Pan all eating breakfast. "Hey Piccolo," Gohan said, getting up. "What are you doing here?" "I came to apologize." I said. "I'm not really mad at you, and either way, I would've been dead today anyways." Gohan smiled and motioned for me to sit down. I didn't do it, because many chairs at the Son residence have been shattered because of my size. "So you're really going to go through with this?" He asked, sipping on his orange juice. I nodded, because that was really the only answer that was left. "Dad stopped by last night and explained everything to us." Gohan said. "I'm sorry for not understanding you and your decision." "You have a family to worry about, not me." I said. "I realized that when you were trying to protect Videl and Satan." "I guess so, but you'll always be like a second father to me." Gohan sighed. "I'm really going to miss you, Mr. Piccolo." I grinned, realizing he hadn't used that nickname since he was five. "So how did you do it?" Gohan asked curiously. "Did you just... Spit it up?" "Well, it took a while to create it, and then after about three hours of throwing up everything, I just spat him out." I shrugged. Gohan nodded, taking the facts into account. "Interesting." "Now you know what we females have to go through." Videl grinned. "Except, you didn't have the nine months of sheer heck to go through." I smiled and started to walk outside, glad that some more people weren't mad at me. In fact, I think I had made peace with everyone I needed to. "You know I'll miss you." Gohan said from behind me. "I'll miss you, too." I said, turning around. "Could I do something I had always wanted to do when I was a kid?" He asked. "I've always thought you needed this, but I was too scared to do it." "Go for it." I replied. Then, Gohan threw his arms around me into a hug. I'd never been hugged before, and I didn't know what to think of it. Afterwards, we said our goodbyes once more and I took off towards the island for a much-needed sparring match. "Are you ready, weakling?" I taunted when I touched down. Shy turned around and smirked. We both felt good and confident as we exchanged words and got ready, with stretching and little power blips. "I can't believe you're actually doing this," Shy said. "You're going to fulfill my cravings to kill." "Well, would you choose yourself or the earth if you had the choice?" I asked. "I was the Prince of the Earth, and I loved it with all my heart." Shy confessed. "But it was the Guardian that I hated, and even today I still hate you. If I have to use earth to get to you, then so be it." "I guess some things can't be helped." I shrugged. "It's only fair that I hate you, too." He flew off, leaving me alone to my thoughts. When the sun was about to hit the 11th hour, I knew it was time to go and face my destiny. I took off, heading for the stadium and when I got there, the whole team was gathered at the gates. "We came to say goodbye." Krillin explained. I smiled, shook everyone's hand, and bowed, noting the absence of two kids. I was about to walk into the dressing rooms when I heard someone behind me. "You didn't think you were going to leave without saying goodbye, did you?" Trunks asked. I turned around to see both Goten and Trunks in a mini-wardrobe of mine. They had on the navy-blue outfit with the white cloak. "Thank you Piccolo." Goten said, walking up and bowing. Trunks walked up and bowed, too. "We're going to miss you." They both went and hugged me at the same time. I smiled and ruffled their hair. "Don't worry about me," I ordered. "Just continue your training and you'll do fine." I looked at Gohan, who waited to be the last. Flashbacks of when we first met and when I trained him blazed through my mind. "Goodbye, Mr. Piccolo." He said quietly, shaking my hand and blinking back tears. As if an avalanche hit me, I suddenly realized that I didn't to the one thing that I've been meaning to do after I had joined the team. I stepped back and looked at the whole Z team and their families. "I never did the one thing I had promised myself I'd do before I left." I announced. "I had never told anyone on this team how proud I am of you. Well, I am, and I thank all of you for letting me get to know you." I then turned and walked into the dressing room, where I prepared myself, hoping this would be quick. "You were going to leave without saying goodbye?" Someone whispered from behind me. I turned around to see Dende standing there with tears in his eyes. I shook my head and motioned for him to sit down. I leaned up against the wall, sipping on a glass of water. "I wanted to make this as painless as possible." I sighed. "I didn't want to hurt you." "But you are like a father to me," Dende pointed out. "It hurt me more to not have you say goodbye." I nodded and went over to him. We exchanged bows and then he threw his arms around me, sobbing. "Piccolo, I thank you." He whispered. "I know you're doing this for me, too. But, I don't know what I'm going to do for guidance." "My son will be there, don't worry." I said. Dende nodded and walked out, leaving me alone to contemplate what Shy was going to do during this tournament. After about a half an hour of going over predictions, I was announced onto the stadium's field. As I stepped out onto the field, I grinned over at the team, where Trunks sat, holding my egg. In two weeks, it would hatch and bear my only son. *This world can turn me down, But I won't turn away... I won't duck and run, Cause I'm not built that way...* When Shy was announced, we walked into the middle of the field, where we shook hands. I felt Ki's rise as the team found out who my killer would be. "Pretty nice group of friends you got there," Shy sneered. "Too bad they have enough sense to stay put and not fight me." "Let's get this over with." I ordered vehemently. "All right, have it your way." Shy shrugged, starting to power up. I felt his Ki energy going through the roof as he reached his starting point, surpassing Goku's energy level. I went over this in my head, and in two seconds I was firing rapid-fire Ki blasts everywhere. I got him a few times, but he soon drove his knee into the small of my back. I quickly recovered, rapidly searching the sky for his form. I soon found it and released a Special Beam Cannon, stunning him. It gave me just enough time to work him over a few times with punches and kicks before we got down to the real fight. Fifty thousand pairs of eyes were on me as I flew upwards, hoping he would follow. He disappeared from sight and the next thing I knew I was being kicked back to the ground. "You sick pup, here I am!" I shouted, powering up until I felt I could do no more. "Come and kill me NOW!" I roared with rage as a Ki blast ripped through my chest. Just a few more shots like this, and we would be no more. Shy disappeared from my front and sent another Ki straight into my back, crushing every single internal bone and organ I had. "I am the Earth's Savior," I thought. "I won't turn away." With a powerful blast of a Bakurikimaha, Shy was actually down and out for a second. I wasted no time in shooting a rapid-fire Ki blast towards him, exploding the ground around him. I looked over at the team and smirked, I knew this was going to slow me down a bit, but this was one of my best attacks. I wasn't going to go down without using this one. As I concentrated heavily on the opponent before me and felt myself being ripped apart. I opened my eyes and found myself staring at three other me's. Gathering speed, I launched myself and the three others towards the dust that was still being kicked up from my last attack. We quickly found him, kicked and punched him repeatedly until he was down on his knees. I gathered myself and merged quickly back into just one. I looked down into his eyes and I saw the fire that was starting to burn... That lust for the kill. He leered and got up, hardly a scratch on him. As he raised his index finger and pointed it at me, I felt a hot sensation in my chest; I realized what he was trying to do. I quickly set up a barrier, trying to protect my own body from exploding. I spun around, trying blindly to find something, anything to kill. He was torturing me; there was no other way to put it. He then used a new attack that felt like ten thousand needles stabbing through me. I cleared my head, thinking wildly about what to do next. The audience was calm and quiet, and I even spotted Goku, who was trying valiantly to maintain his composure while this was going on. If I hadn't made every single one of them promise that they wouldn't help me, I knew that they would be out here in a heartbeat. I released a Special Beam Cannon, stunning him for a second before he really started to power up. I was weakening, but I had put up a good fight, holding my own for a whole two hours. Dimly, I realized he was ready to finish me off. As he prepared his final blow, we both readied ourselves to be put to rest, because I wouldn't duck and run... *When everything is gone, there is nothing left there to fear, This world cannot bring me down, cause I'm already here...* |