|DB/Z/GT| Altered History - Saga VI

[ultra_blade]

Wow, I never expected you to do this!!! I have never heard of a DBZ fan-fic with Zombies!!! Great story, Can't wait for the next chapter please don't make us wait long! =]

[DeathByKnife]

This fic is absolutley awesome! I haven't seen a fic of this quality in ... hmmm, never actually lol, keep on posting updates.

P.S. I've got a way to stop zombies, chop there arms and legs off lol, it'll stop them from attacking you!

[Xyex]

Chapter Twenty-nine - Return of the Dead

The kids pulled to a stop about a hundred yards away from the arena. They didn't want to get too close until they knew exactly what was going on. Of course, even then, they weren't sure how to stop ghosts. The only idea they had so far was for Akemi to try and fight them while out of her body, but they had no idea if that would work or not.

"Do you see them?" Sakura asked softly. Her sister had left her body again and was trying to locate the 'people' they had followed.

There was a long moment of silence before Akemi opened her eyes again and spoke. "No. I can't find them!" she said, worried. "If we don't stop them then... then..."

"Don't worry Akemi." Cheri said, resting a hand on the girl's shoulder. "We wont let anything happen to your sister. Promise."

Akemi was about to say something but was interupted by a sudden pulse of white light and energy coming from the arena. "What was that?" Trunks asked, eyes gazing along the arena hoping to see some cause for what had happened. Something he could fight and stop. Another pulse came a second later, this one blue.

The young Tanarian quickly closed her eyes again and focused. As the world came into view through her mind a third pulse, this one of gold, flashed. And she was able to see the source of the energy burst. "It's inside!" she cried, opening her eyes. "The light is coming from inside somewhere."

"Then I guess we're going in. We don't have much choice." Trunks said. "All the adults are busy talking, guess it's up to us to save the world. Come on." The other four kids nodded and then they all took off in bursts of light, leaving a multi-colored rainbow of Ki behind them. They charged passed a group of confused and startled arena security as they went in through the east entrance.

"Ideas for a direction?" Trunks asked. But before anyone could reply another pulse of light, white once again, came. And now that they were inside they saw the originating direction and took off for it. A minute and five pulses later they reached a hall with a small gathering of arena security standing about and poking around in a room. The sign on the door marked it as the generator room.

"Oh, hey, do you think...." Sakura began as she saw the sign.

Trunks nodded. "The power issues dad mentioned." He turned to Akemi. "Think you could take a look around?"

"Sure." she said with a nod.

The kids stood in silence and waited as another pulse of light came from the room. It didn't take long for Akemi to return and tell them what she'd seen. "It's them!" she cried, opening her eyes. The sound of her yell caught the attention of the arena staff but the kids ignored them.

"What are they doing?" asked Sakura.

Akemi shook her head. "I'm not sure." she said. "They're standing in a circle around this glowing and pulsing light thingy and holding their arms out toward it, light flowing into it. I could see... I could see another world on the other side of the light at times...." She turned and looked up at her sister. "There were people there and they all had halos."

"Umm, excuse me, but you can't be down here." one of the guards said, walking over to them. "Not even you, Prince Trunks."

Trunks ignored the guard. "Think you can stop them?" he asked.

"I don't know... but I'll try." Akemi replied, closing her eyes.

"Umm, like I sai..."

"I heard you." Trunks snapped, turning to the guard. "But right now we're the only ones that can stop... whatever it is that's happening."

Akemi only faintly heard Trunks as the world around her shifted into her mind view again. She moved passed the gathered guards and back into the room where the three ghosts and the light were. She could see more of the world on the otherside of the light now. "You'd better stop!" Akemi called to them.

Dore and Neizu blinked and looked back. The fact that they'd been adressed at all had shocked them. The fact that they found themselves face to face with a kid who looked like them, only more solid, was even more shocking. "What the hell?" Dore asked. "Who's the kid? How'd she get here? Is she with us?"

"I doubt she's with us." Neizu said. "She wouldn't be telling us to stop if she were."

"Oh, yeah, right. Well you better beat it kid. We don't have time to be dealing with no runt. We have to finish stablizing this tear, aint got much time left."

Akemi scowled. Obviously they weren't going to be nice and just stop. But what could she do to stop them? She couldn't tell how strong they were, she couldn't sense ki when like this. And she wasn't sure she could even fight like this either. Well, one way to find out. "If you wont stop then I'll make you stop!"

Salsa looked around from where he was on the other side of the tear. "Go away kid!"

"Fine!" Akemi cried launching in.

She slammed a fist square into Dore's back but the large alien just laughed. "That tickles!"

/They're stong! Guess I'll have to try and transform./ she thought, floating backward and then closing her eyes.

"Huh?" Dore wondered, turning to look behind him again. He'd noticed an odd orange light and when he looked back his eyes widened in surprise. The kid was turning orange! "Hey Salsa, there's something odd 'bout this kid. She's changing colors."

"What?"

"Yeah, she's turning orange. I don't like it."

"Just focus on the task at hand Dore." Salsa said. "We can worry about her later. Heh, come to think of it, we wont have to worry about her later either. We'll be alive again, so just focus on this."

"Right." Dore had started to turn back to the tear but stopped as he noticed the girl was now fully orange. She opened her eyes again and charged in at him once more. He didn't expect her to do any better now than before so he turned back to the tear again. But this time when her fist hit his back it knocked him forward, toward the tear. He barely managed to stop himself before he hit it. "We've got a problem!" he called, turning to face the kid. "She's stronger than she looks!"

Neizu lowered his arms and turned to face her as well. "We'll have to deal with her before she causes too much trouble." he said. "This tear is central to the plans, all the strongest fighters are here. It's the best place to attack from. Otherwise it could take years to conquer this plane!"

"Alright kid." Salsa said, walking around from behind the tear. "If you want to fight the great Armored Squadron that badly we can indulge you a little."

Akemi moved her eyes back and forth from one person to the next. "So you are the Armored Squadron like Cheri thought." she said. "But she said you guys are dead...."

Neizu smiled. "Not for much longer. Once we've got this tear stablized, and those on the other worlds have theirs stablized as well, we'll be one step closer to being alive again."
Dore gave a quick nod. "Yeah, then it's just up to those on the other side to complete the final step. Once they do, bang! This area will be wasted and there will be brand new living bodies for us! And a nice little path from there to here for everyone else to come through and attack!" Dore laughed. "This little mud ball will be over run in minutes and then it'll be time for some revenge."

Akemi's eyes had slowly widened as the two aliens spoke. As they finished she turned her focus to the tear in the room. That second of distraction didn't go unnoticed by Salsa who charged in quickly and slammed an elbow into her face knocking her back out into the hall. "Alright, back to work." he said turning around again.

Meanwhile Trunks had gotten into an arguement with the guards. "Look, I don't care if you think we're playing games or making up stories." he said, crossing his arms. "But in case you haven't noticed there haven't been any more flashes of light since we got here. Right now Akemi's in there trying to stop the Armored Squadron from doing whatever it is they're...."

"The Armored Squadron's dead." one of the guards said. "Have been for going on ten years."

"Duh." said Cheri, rolling her eyes. "Didn't we already go over that?"

"Yeah!" Goten piped in. "They're ghosts so of course they're dead!"

Suddenly Akemi gasped and dropped to her knees, blood flying from her mouth and splattering on the floor. "Akemi!" Sakura cried, kneeling down beside her. "Akemi, are you ok? What happened?"

"I'm sorry...." she said, shaking her head. "They surprised me, I couldn't stop them. But... I know what they're doing."

"What?" Trunks asked.

"There's a... tear in there." she explained, remembering what she'd heard. "They're... tabaling... sabilising...." She scowled as she tried to remember the word.

"Stablizing?" Cheri offered.

"Yeah, that. They're doing that to it. They said that once they're done, and the others are done, then someone will do something and they'll be alive again. And then people will come through and attack!" She closed her hands into fists and punched the floor sending snaking cracks out through the concrete for a couple dozen feet. "It's all hapening, it's going to be just like my vision! I... I...."

"It's ok Akemi." Sakura said, putting a hand on her sister's back. "We'll think of something..."

"We'll just stay here and blast anyone that shows up!" Trunks said, uncrossing his arms.

Suddenly Akemi's eyes widened and she climbed to her feet. "No, we can't! We have to go!" she said. "They said that when they get their bodies back that this area will be 'wasted'! It's not safe here...."

"Alright then, we fall back, get out of the building." Sakura said. She looked toward the guards as a pulse of light came again, this one golden. She hesitated for a second as she realized the light must mean the Armored Squadron was getting closer to its objective. "You have to go as well." she said. "Clear out of here for now."

The guards didn't say anything, didn't move to leave, didn't do anything. It was obvious they were torn between believing the kids' story and going with their previous stance. Sakura rolled her eyes and turned to Trunks. "We need to tell our parents." she said.

Trunks nodded as his eyes locked onto the scouter of the nearest guard. He vanished from where he stood and appeared an instant later floating beside them, their scouter already on his face. He scowled as he got a busy signal at the palace. Quickly making a few adjustments to the frequency and priority code, as he watched another light pulse flare up, he tried again. This time a voice came over the line. "Rowan, Palace Operations."

"Put me through to my dad, now." Trunks said.

Another light flash came. "They're getting closer, we should go, now." Cheri said worriedly, eyes locked on the generator room. The others nodded and took off through the halls quickly, rushing for the exit.

"Prince Trunks?" Rowan asked. "I'm sorry but...."

"Bah! Fine, stupid adults!" Trunks nearly shouted. "Just call him and tell him it's happening, now, what he and Akemi saw. He'll know." and with that he cut the line and tossed the scouter away as another light pulse filled the hall.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Planet Vegeta, Sai-jin Palace, Conference Room 14

"What is... going on...." Hotaru said, barely above a whisper, as she watched dead bodies walking down the street under their own power. It seemd that in the last hour everything she knew about the universe had been turned on its head. Akemi's visions, the chance she was a future Kai, walking dead bodies.... Nothing made sense anymore.

"Alright, we'll be out to help where and how we can." Vegeta said. "Rowan, get word out to the rest of the military, here and elsewhere. This may not be an isolated occurance...."

"Right." she said as the screen went blank.

"Piccolo, any ideas....?" Gohan asked, looking toward the Namek.

Piccolo shook his head. "No, not really." he said. "Dende did mention that the explosion in North City wasn't the reactor but something else. A light and a presence he didn't know. It could be related...." He shook his head again. "But this shouldn't be possible."

"You're telling me." Videl said, rubbing her temples. "I always thought Zombies were just fantasy. How is it possible that...."

"Like I said, it shouldn't be." the Namek responded. "When a person dies their spirit passes into Otherworld. It's an instant trip, and it's one way without some sort of intervention. And bodies can't move without a spirit in them."

"We can discuss the whys and hows later." Vegeta said, standing up. "Right now we need to go do... something about it."

The others all nodded and were starting to stand when Vegeta's comunicator beeped again. The Sai-jin quickly picked it up and brought the screen back on once again showing Rowan's face. "Sorry to bother you but your son contacted me." she said. "He seemed pretty upset."

"What'd he want?" Bulma asked.

"He said to call his father and tell him that what he and Akemi saw was happening now." she said, obviously confused herself. "And you'd know what he meant. Then the connection went out."

"Where was he?" Vegeta asked, stiffening up.

Rowan glanced down at her screen. "Well, the call came from the scouter of one of the arena security staff so probably there."

"Damn." Vegeta said, turning and hurrying from the room, the others right behind him. They were all thinking the same thing. A problem at the arena and Trunks message could only mean one thing, the battle that Vegeta and Akemi had seen in their visions was starting.

They reached a door to one of the upper level outdoor walkways a few moments later and then were outside and flying toward the arena as fast as they could go. Still, it'd be about ten minutes before they got there....

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Galactic Games Arena

The kids landed about fifty yards away from the arena building and turned to look back. Apparently the guards had finally decided to listen to reason as the arena's staff was pouring out of every exit as fast as they could manage. And the light pulses were coming more rapidly now. "Sixteen... seventeen... eig...." Sakura stopped her count as a flash of gold came.

"Not even eighteen seconds this time." Cheri said, worriedly. The pulse before that had taken twenty-four seconds.

"Look, until the others get here we're the strongest." Trunks said, stretching. "Which means it's up to us to stop who ever comes to attack, or at least slow them down. We have to hold them here until our families arrive."

"Trunks is right." Sakura said as another pulse came. "We're the first line of defense, and the only protection all of them have." She finished with a nod toward the running staff.

Suddenly a loud shrill whistling sound started from inside the arena. It built in volume quickly as the pulses of light came faster and faster. And there was a bright flash of red and black, a thunderous crack and crash, and the ground trembled beneath their feet. When the light faded the kids saw the side of the arena had collapse and there was now a pulsing light inside the building. And standing around it were three people in battle armor.

"Ha ha!" Salsa cried, lifting into the air. "The Armored Squadron is back!"

"Not for long!" Trunks cried, shooting in toward them. Goten, Cheri, Akemi, and Sakura right behind him.

"Oh, look, some kids want to play." Doore laughed.

"Akemi, transform!" Sakura called as she began to glow orange herself.

"Right!" Akemi called.

A second later the two had tranformed and then both Akemi and Cheri's voices called out "Nibai Kinryoku!" and their auras shifted silver. The five kids reached the three members of the Amored Squadron an instant later. The five of them could sense the powers of their opponents and quickly split off into the best attack groups.

Goten and Trunks each slammed a fist into Dore's chest while Cheri and Akemi kicked Neizu in the face and Sakura headbutted Salsa. The three warriors were knocked flying back over the arena and the kids all smiled. "Make it fast guys!" Sakura called out. "We don't know how many others might be coming!"

"Right!" they said in unison.

"Final Flash!" called Trunks.

"Dodon Ray!" Cheri yelled.

"Kameryokuha!" cried Sakura.

The Armored Squadron had just righted itself and recovered from their shock when the voices called out. Dore saw the golden energy charging toward him a second before it hit, not enough time to block but he managed to deflect some of the energy away from him. But Goten's kick to the back of his head a second later sent him into unconciousness.

Neizu wasn't so lucky. He spied Cheri's Dodon Ray a second sooner than Dore saw the Final Flash but his reaction time was slower and the attack punched right through his chest. Meanwhile Salsa thrust his arms out to block Sakura's attack. However he realized his error as soon as it hit him, it was far too strong for him to block or take and an instant later he was gone.

"Man, that was easy." Trunks said, crossing his arms. "I thought the Armored Squadron was supposed to be tough."

"Uh... Trunks...." Goten said slowly.

"What?" he asked looking at his friend

"Ummm, we've got a problem."

Trunks looked from Goten down to where he was looking and saw that a small army was now surging out of the light below them. "This... could be bad."

[kiomori]

Wow the battle is starting! This is really exciting and I can't wait for the next chapter. Keep up the good work!

[Gosan]

Zombies in a DBZ fiction? Awesome! That's like the best thing since you made Videl a Human/Saiyan hybrid, lol. Anyway, awesome chapters as always. Love the plot and the twists, and how it still retains the parts of DBZ that we all enjoy. Now that the real battle is starting, I can't wait for the next action packed chapter!

[ultra_blade]

Awesome chapter I really, really enjoyed reading it! I Seriously can't wait for the next chapter, =]. Keep up the good work!

[Xyex]

Alright, no telling when the next chapter will be posted. I'm currently working on chapter 40 (this is going to be a loooooooong fic, I can tell you that right now, even at chapter 40 I'm still not finished with the 'invasion' arc) and I don't want to be less than 10 chapters ahead of what I've got posted here. Thus new chapters will only be posted as I finish one. And that can take a while at times, though I'll try to keep it to no more than two weeks, but no promises.

Chapter Thirty - The War Begins

Goku stood, with a number of others, outside the Grand Kai's mansion and staring at the sky. The reason? There was a pulsing light forming there and slowly growing larger. "What do you think it is?" Goku asked.

"I don't know." Pikkon replied. "But I don't like it. Has anyone contacted the Grand Kai yet!?" he called, looking around.

"Someone has." the Grand Kai said as he walked up behind them with the other Kais not far behind. "This is most troublesome indeed." he said as he gazed at the light.

"Do you know what it is?" Sora asked.

"It is a tear." said Mikomi, softly. "Between here and the Mortal Plane. A breakdown of the barriers that exist between the planes." She shook her head. "First the doors seal and now this."

"This isn't natural, I fear." said the Grand Kai.

"Hmm, no, I doubt it is." Mikomi replied. "Someone is on the other side strengthening the tear, making it more stable and manageable."

"Why would someone do that?" asked Bardock.

The Kais remained silent for a long time as the tear suddenly calmed as well. It wasn't until it started pulsing and growing again that any of them spoke. "Recent events have lead me to believe..." Mikomi began. "That Makai is planning an invasion. One that is soon to begin."

"Makai?" asked Olibu.

"Our opposite." replied King Kai. "There are two Realms. Shinkai and Makai. Shinkai is ruled by the Kais while Makai is ruled by the Mazoku. They are two sides of reality, two sides of life, two sides of the balance. Good and evil. Neither can exist without the other. But every few dozen million years a Mazoku King will decide to launch an invasion of Shinkai in the hopes of trapping us and taking control of the Realm."

Mikomi nodded. "And it would seem they have elected to make another bid for control of this Realm. Unfortunately we are ill prepared to face them and the Realm is in poor condition due to the current imbalance that exists. These tears are a result of the imbalance and I believe the Mazoku and the Demons mean to use them as an easy access path through the entire Realm. I fear that, this time, we will not be able to drive them off."

Bardock half frowned and half smirked at what he heard. Things seemed rather desperate but at the same time the situation appealed to him, to his Sai-jin nature. For the last few years he'd had only Goku to spar with and not much else for way of fighting. Sparring was good but doing so against the same person constantly got boring. And sometimes something more than just a spar was what one needed to really get the blood flowing.

"So um, who are you, anyway?" Goku asked.

"GOKU!" King Kai cried.

Mikomi laughed and waved a hand in the short Kai's direction. "It's quite alright." she said. "My name is Mikomi and I am a Supreme Kai. The last Supreme Kai at the moment."

"Last?" asked Bardock.

She nodded. "That is the cause of the imbalance I mentioned. There should be four of us but... my three fellow Supreme Kais died some time ago. Kibito here shall replace one of them in a few hundred years but unfortunately much damage has occurred to the Realm since the passing of the others. Thus we find ourselves in our current situation."

As she finished the tear above them flashed a bright white, brighter than any of the previous times. Those gathered on the planet watched on in a mix of confusion and apprehension as they waited for something to happen.

"Hmmm? What's this?" The Grand Kai said softly as he turned to face the other way. The others all turned a moment later as a flash of white came from behind them. "Another tear has been stabilized.... do you think they mean to secure them all?"

Mikomi closed her eyes for a moment. And then she floated into the air and gazed down at the gathered warriors, another flash of light occurring in the distance. "Noble warriors." she began, her voice raised just enough that all could hear her. "We are on the verge of a disaster unlike anything this Realm has ever seen. The doors to the Mortal Plane are closed and sealed by unknown forces. The dead cannot crossover.

"And now paths have been opened between Otherworld and the Mortal Plane. Paths that the Demons who will soon attack may freely cross. All worlds and all Planes are in danger. This will be a war unlike any you have before witnessed. I ask all of you to lend us your strength in the coming battles. We must do what we can to keep the Demons from crossing into the Mortal Plane. We MUST hold the line here!"

As she finished a loud rumbling began to sound and then the planet to quake. Everyone began looking about for the cause and then someone let out a cry and pointed toward the golden clouds in the distance. The clouds that separated Otherworld from the H.F.I.L. were turning black. Black and red energy was beginning to punch holes through them. And then, suddenly, there was a flash of red and a thundering crack.

The clouds were destroyed. The barrier between the two Planes was gone. And the pulsing tears all through Otherworld had turned blood red. And then came the war cries as an army of Demons and dead warriors surged up from the lower Plane and charged the Grand Kai's world.

"Oh man!" Goku cried, wide eyed. "She wasn't kidding when she said a war!"

Bardock smirked. "I'll take the right side, you can have left."

"Hey, leave some for me." Appla said stepping up beside them.

"Hold them off!" Pikkon called, lifting into the air. "Keep them away from the tear!"

A rallying cheer rose up through the warriors but, even as it did, Bardock doubted they could keep them all away. There were too many and they were coming from too many directions. The best they could hope for was to take out as many as possible and let those still alive deal with the ones that slipped through.

An instant later the sounds of battle raged through Otherworld. Goku, Bardock, Pikkon, Olibu, Appla, Sora, Zenryou, Mikomi, and Kibito were cutting through the majority of the attackers with ease. Felling dozens of enemies with single blasts of energy. The four lower Kais were having a bit more trouble, especially the North and West Kais who were the two weakest.

Several of the dead warriors were also struggling to keep up with the majority of attackers but most were at least able to hold their own in one on one battles. The problem was, one on one didn't happen very often. Usually there were ten of them coming down on you at once. "King Kai!" Goku called, thrusting out an arm and firing a stream of blue energy.

The short Kai looked up as he heard a grunt and saw the energy beam punch through a rather nasty looking Demon with a very large mouth that had apparently thought the Kai looked like a good snack. "Thanks Goku!" he called back with a wave. As he looked passed his pupil toward the tear he caught something he didn't like the sight of. "They've broken through!" he yelled.

Goku, Bardock, and Appla all turned to look and, sure enough, a stream of Demons and dead people, notable from the Demons by their halos, were surging toward the tear. Goku was about to charge them when a glimpse of an individual among them froze him in his tracks. "No way!" he cried.

"Goku? What is it?" Appla asked.

Goku didn't answer, he shot off at full speed toward those now pouring through the tear. But he hadn't even gotten half way there when an energy blast slammed into his back and knocked him into the ground. As he rolled over onto his back the sounds of fighting began to die down around him. The attacking Demons and dead were pulling back.

And then he saw who had attacked him. It was a female Demon. Pitch black skin darker than any black he'd ever seen before. Sharp fangs. Glowing red eyes. No hair but two massive blood red horns on top of her head so large at the base they took up her entire scalp. They hooked up and back and tapered off to a point about a foot behind her head. She had on robes of blood red.

Behind her and to her left was another Demon that stood out. Porcelain white skin. Ice blue eyes. Shoulder length black hair. A pair of brown horns that grew out of the side of her head that reminded Goku of the horns of a bull. And the same blood red clothing. "Who...?" Goku wondered.

"I am Tenma." the white one said.

"And I am Demona." said the dark one.

And then, together. "In the name of the One True King of Makai, we claim this Realm."

"One true..." Mikomi said, softly. And then her eyes widened. "No! You can't mean...."

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Mortal Plane, Earth, South City, EDF Detention Center

"Man, it's gone completely nuts out there!" a guard said as he shut and locked the door behind him. "There's freaking Zombies everywhere! What the hell is going on?"

"Beats me." replied another. The two were both Humans and fairly new recruits to the EDF. As such their powers weren't exceptionally high and so they'd landed jobs as guards at the EDF's South City Detention Center. Jobs they had been complaining about being boring just a few hours ago but were now thanking the Kais they had as the rest of the EDF was being called out to fight the growing Zombie problem.

"It's the end of the world, that's what." said their only prisoner as he leaned against the wall by the barrier field that covered the exit of his cell. "End of the galaxy, even." He nodded toward the little TV in a small recess in the wall of the cell. It was currently tuned to the Galactic News Network and GNN was covering the emergence of Zombies on multiple planets now. It hadn't been more than twenty minutes since they'd first appeared and GNN already had reporters on location on Earth, Planet Vegeta, and Tanaria.

Suddenly he and the guards jumped as a series of loud bangs sounded against the door into the holding area of the center, where they were. The guards glanced at each other and then checked the monitor at their desk as more bangs came. "Oh, hell, it's just Ward." one them said as he moved over to the door and opened it.

"Gard, close the door, quick!" Ward said as he entered the room. "The blasted Zombies have broken into the building."

"Hey, guys, come on!" the man in the cell called. "You have to let me out of here!"

"No way in hell." the guard named Gard said. "You're just as dangerous as those Zombies!"

"Hey, I'm just trying to make sure I stay alive." the man said. "I can't protect myself from in here. I wont attack you."

"And why, exactly, should we believe you?" asked Ward.

Before the man could answer there was another bang at the door. The three guards glanced at each other then moved over to the desk and looked at the screen. There was a Zombie leaning against the door trying to push it open. And there were more shambling up behind him.

"Because," the man finally said. "You've got two options. Let me out so I can blast those Zombies or wait for them to come in and rip you apart."

The three glanced at each other again. "What do you think guys?" Gard asked.

"I'm not sure..." said Ward. "It certainly beats letting them attack us but... I don't trust him. How about you Jairel?"

Jairel sighed. "What choice do we have, really?" he asked.

Ward nodded and then turned from the other two and walked over to the cell. "Alright, we'll let you out. But you better not double cross us or I'll make sure to come back as one of them things just to eat you, got it Autoro?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever. Just get me out of here."

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Otherworld, Grand Kai's World

Demona smirked, a gesture only discernable on her face by the gleam of her white teeth. "So, you remember him. Yes. Quietus rules Makai once more. And soon he shall rule your pathetic Realm as well."

Mikomi froze in place at the sound of the name. Quietus. The Demon that had grown powerful beyond his post and laid claim to the position of Mazoku King around two thousand years ago. His power had surpassed that of even Dabura and it had taken the combined effort of the Mazoku King, herself, and her last fellow Supreme Kai to stop him then. And to do so had cost Shin his life.

They had been unable to match him in power. Even with the three of them working together it was impossible. And so they had been forced to use a plan of desperation. A powerful spell that would seal the Demon away. Trapped in a prison he would be unable to escape. Sealed within a Blood Crystal. But a Blood Crystal required blood in order to be made. Blood of opposing force to that which was to be contained. In this case, that had meant Kai blood.

Mikomi had offered, had insisted, but Shin refused. He said that it should be him, she was the stronger of the two of them left and so she was better equipped to protect Shinkai than he. And she watched over the most important of the Planes of Shinkai, their plane, and so long as it remained intact the Realm could be healed in time. She had little choice but to concede his point and agree.

And so the three of them had worked together. Kai and Mazoku. They cast the spell, forged the Blood Crystal, and trapped Quietus within it. Though death was not the end it had still been a painful experience and Shin had offered to remain to keep her company but she had refused and so he, like their fallen comrades before, had moved on to Heaven.

For Quietus to be back, now. For him to be in power again. It just wasn't possible. And... if he was in power again, was in control of Makai... then what of Dabura? Had the Mazoku King been slain? Mikomi knew that the four Supreme Mazoku of Makai would side with Quietus as they had before. If Dabura was dead then... there was no one who could help them.

Mikomi's legs nearly gave out on her as she realized just how bad the situation was. If Dabura were dead then she was the strongest opposition to Quietus left. And he was nearly twice her power. What hope, then, was there? She closed her eyes. /Hope... we can never give up on hope./ she thought. /So long as we still have hope there is always a chance to prevail./

Her eyes opened again, a second later, as she was pulled from her thoughts by a voice. "Kaio Ken times TEN!" Olibu cried, shooting into the air toward Demona. He never reached her. Tenma appeared between them and smashed he knee into his face knocking him back toward the surface of the planet.

"If you resist we will be left with no choice but to destroy you." Tenma said.

"Do not through away your existences." said Demona. "Pledge loyalty to Quietus, King of All Things, and you will be spared."

"How?" Mikomi asked, finally getting her voice back. "How is he free? How are...."

Now Tenma smiled revealing that her teeth where just as sharp and just as black as Demona's were white. "Some of your own helped it happen. Souls sent into the lower realms working together with those of Makai still loyal to Quietus. It took us a thousand years to get to this day but it was a thousand years well spent."

"As for our power." began Demona. "It was granted to us by our Master. He has given us power enough to crush this realm." She'd raised an arm and clenched her hand into a fist as she finished, to emphasize the point.

"I don't know about that." Bardock said, smiling, eyes turning to Tenma. "You're strong, I'll give you that. I felt that power spike when you attacked Olibu. But you can't beat us."
Demona laughed. "We are now stronger than even Malchio, the Grand Mazoku! Foolish mortal, you could never hope to match our power!"

Bardock's smile turned into a smirk and he glanced toward Goku and found his son looking at him with the same expression. It was almost like looking into a mirror. The two turned to face the pair of Demons again and slipped into fighting stances as they flashed bright golden. An instant later the two were surging up at the pair of, now very startled, Demons. The sudden power increases of the two Sai-jins had thrown them off-guard enough that they didn't recover before the two reached them.

Bardock slammed a knee into Tenma doubling her over while Goku flipped over Demona and came down between her horns slamming his knee into the back of her head. Goku spun quickly and kicked her in the side of the head knocking her one direction while Bardock backhanded Tenma and sent her in the other direction. They both had the same idea. In a one on one fight they could win, no questions asked. But if the Demons helped each other it could be a problem.

Tenma pulled to a stop and just barely dodged around a punch from Bardock and then blocked a kick. "Who... what are you?" she asked, the disbelief evident in her voice.

Bardock smirked. "Me? I'm a Super Sai-jin."

[raditz_saiyan_hero]

Another great chapter. Please don't make us wait for another chapter. I respect your wish to not be below ten chapters ahead, but I REALLY don't want to wait for new chapters!

[ultra_blade]

That was one of the greatest chapters I've read so far, I love them. Oh and please I don't mind waiting for next chapter, but please try and not to keep us waiting more than a week. Keep up the fantastic work!

[Xyex]

Chapter Thirty-one - Youngest Defenders

"Trunks, we have to do something!" Goten cried as people continued to pour out of the light.

"I'm open to suggestions." Trunks said.

"We plow through them." answered Sakura. "Take out as many of them as quickly as you can." She gazed down over the crowd of opponents that were gathering below them. Apparently they'd gone unnoticed so far. The invaders seemed to be assembling into formations. If they could break them up before they were able to get organized... "We'll split up into groups. Goten, Trunks, you two take the left side. Cheri, Akemi, you take the right. I'll take the middle."

"But... Sakura...." Akemi said softly.

"I know." she replied. "But we have to hold them here until the others get here. It's dangerous for all of us, not just me." She looked up from the invaders and at her sister. "Don't worry, I'll be careful. You just make sure you don't get hurt either."

Akemi bit her lip for a moment as she thought and then nodded. "Ok."

"Alright, move out!" Trunks cried, blasting off.

"Hey, Trunks, wait for me!" Goten cried, shooting after him.

Cheri and Akemi giggled as they took off as well. And then Sakura surged down at those directly below her. She thrust her arms out and let go with a series of energy blasts which rained down on the unsuspecting creatures and exploded taking out small chunks of them before they even realized they were under attack.

However, the explosions soon got the attention of those on the ground and they quickly located her. A few of the uglier ones, as far as Sakura was concerned, surged up at her. One that looked like an over musscled hairless wolf-man creature with bat wings, one that looked like a slab of meat with a half dozen arms, no legs, and snot covering its body, and others she didn't want to look at close enough to tell what they were.

She avoided contact with the snot covered one and quickly blasted it in what she thought was the head and then turned to dodge a punch from the wolf-man-bat-thing. As she kicked it in the back she sent a blast of orange energy down behind her punching through another that had tried to attack her from behind.

"Stand back." said a voice that sounded rather familiar to Sakura.

She turned toward it and saw a large and muscular man with bright red hair floating up toward her. Unlike the others, he looked normal. And he was wearing battle armor. /Why does he look..../ "RECOOME!" she cried, as his face clicked with the pictures and videos she'd seen. /I should have realized... Akemi said the Armored Squadron mentioned him. But then... how many of the others our families have taken out are in this army...?/ She swallowed and shook her head, not liking those thoughts.

Below her Recoome laughed as he floated up higher. "Must be my lucky day." he said, grinning. "I was looking forward to revenge against that Tanarian for what she did to me. Killing you will be a nice start."

"My mom could wipe the floor with you." Sakura said, slipping into a combat stance. "She's a lot stronger than she was then. And I'm stronger than she was, too!"

"I've gotten stronger too, girly." Recoome said. "Come on, let's see what you can do!"

Sakura's eyes widened as Recoome charged in at her. "Sanjuu Kinryoku!" she cried, her orange aura vanishing in a burst of silver as she just barely dodged around a punch from the large warrior. /Damn, he's stronger than me. Still, it's not too bad, I just need to hold him off or a few minutes./

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Meanwhile Goten and Trunks had fired off attacks of their own wiping out a good portion of the attacking army and drawing attention to themselves. But even the strongest of the creatures that charged them fell easily as the boys kept up their assault. "This is like shooting fish in a barrel." Trunks said. "There's a lot of them but they're not much challenge."

"Yeah."

"Oh, so you want a challenge?" asked a voice from behind them.

The two boys froze and turned slowly to look behind them to see who had spoken. "You... you're Frieza!" Trunks cried, shocked.

Frieza laughed. "Nice to know you monkeys haven't forgotten to be afraid of me." he said. "Hmm, you look...." he trailed off as he looked toward Goten. And then his eyes widened and darted back to Trunks. "You! You look just like... like them!"

"Them?" Goten asked, confused, glancing toward Trunks.

"I think he means your dad and the future me." Trunks said. "Remember, your dad beat him on Namek and my future self killed his father."

"Oh yeah!"

Frieza shook his head and then smiled. "Well now, isn't this nice? I was looking forward to my revenge and here I get to start it right away."

Goten and Trunks glanced at each other. "You ready Goten?"

Goten nodded. "Uh-huh! Time to go Super!"

"Right!" Trunks agreed. The two turned back to Frieza and then grinned as they flashed golden and transformed.

The former Tyrant's eyes widened and he drifted back a little in surprise. "Super... Super Sai-jins!?" he cried. And then he clenched his hands into fists. "Super Sai-jin brats! Well, Super Sai-jin or not, you're still just monkeys! I will have my revenge!"

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Cheri swerved around an energy blast and then fired her own taking out a half dozen of the creatures that made up most of the force coming through the light. As she fought them off she had to wonder just how what Akemi had seen was supposed to happen, how Sakura was supposed to be killed by one of these weaklings.

The Tanarian Princess' full power was about three times her own non-Oozaru power and she wasn't having the slightest trouble, even without going to full power. Neither was Akemi, though the younger girl was at her full power in her current form. It just didn't make any sense. The only explanation was that there were....

Her train of thought was cut off as a huge ball of purple energy nearly slammed into her. She'd just barely dodged around it in time. Turning to look at who had thrown the powerful attack her eyes widened. She easily recognized the purple alien from her history books. "Ginyu!?" she cried in shock.

"Yes!" Ginyu called, charging up toward her. "The great Captain Ginyu has returned!"

Cheri's eyes widened further at the other's speed. "Kaio Ken!" she cried, her silver aura vanishing in a burst of red as she just barely dodged around Ginyu's punch.

"What!?" Ginyu cried, turning to face her. "You... know that move too?"

"Huh?"

"That Kayo Ken thing."

"It's Kaio Ken, and duh, I'm using it, aren't I?"

Ginyu snorted. "No matter, you're still just a kid. Even with that move you couldn't hope to match my power! Ha!" In a burst of purple he surged in at her again and she realized, just from his speed, that he was right. He was still a lot faster than her.

"Cheri!" Akemi's voice called out. The call made Ginyu slow and turn slightly leaving him open to a punch from the half Sai-jin as the younger girl joined her. "He's strong!"

"Yeah." Cheri said, shaking her hand to make it stop stinging. "You need to transform again...."

"Ok." Akemi said, closing her eyes.

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"Do you guys feel that!?" Yamcha cried as they flew toward the arena. They'd only just taken off and were still more than nine minutes away.

Piccolo scowled. There were hundreds of powers ahead of them. Most of them were fairly weak compared to them, and even to the kids, but there were a few higher powers appearing on occasion as well. "Wait a second... I know that energy...." he said, his scowl deepening.

"What is it Piccolo?" Krillin asked.

"Hmm?" Vegeta began, focusing on the distant powers at the arena. "That's the boys... they've transformed.... WHAT!? FRIEZA!"

"What? Are you certain?" Nova asked.

"I don't know..." Vegeta said, slowly. "It definitely feels like him. But he should be dead...."

Raditz snorted. "So should all of the corpses flooding into the city."

"Only one way to find out for sure." Piccolo said, his aura flaring up brighter as he increased his speed.

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Sakura brought her arm up and blocked a punch aimed for her head with a resounding crack. The impact made her arm sting and sent tingles of numbness all the way down to her fingers and up to her shoulder. The difference in power between her and the large man she was fighting wasn't exceptional but it was clearly in his favor.

Blocking his attacks or deflecting his energy blasts left her sore and stinging. Dodging around his large arms or legs was tiring. His size slowed him down some but he was still a little faster than her. And the width of his limbs meant she had a good span of distance she had to avoid in order to avoid being hit.

Dodging around another swing she brought her fingers up to her temples and focused. She had a lot of trouble with any moves that relied on mental abilities but she knew this was one she could use because it didn't require vast amounts of power and relied more on ki than mental energy. "Kuro Omoi Seichuu!" she cried as Recoome charged her.

The large man froze in his tracks and Sakura lowered her arm with a sigh. But she knew she didn't have much time, he was already starting to inch foward again. Quickly she cupped her hands at her sides and began gathering energy. "Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee." she cried, blue energy flaring up between her hands and then shifting silver as she continued. "Ryoooooooo. Kuuuuuuuuuuuu."

Down below her Recoome had opened his mouth and she saw red energy building inside his throat. Obviously he wasn't going to just let her blast him, unable to move or not. She scowled as she called out "Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" and thrust her arms down at him, the silver stream of energy surging out quickly.

Recoome's counter shot off a couple seconds later and the beams met about three quarters of the way to him. As soon as they met she felt his attack pushing back against hers. /Damn it!/ she cried mentally. She'd not had time to channel enough power into her attack, even using the Kameryokuha. Even as she added more power to the attack she felt it being pushed back faster and faster.

Recoome was able to channel more power faster than her. There'd be no way she'd be able to increase her attack fast enough to even stop his counter, let alone overcome it. With a grunt of frustration she ended her attack and shot up into the air so that Recoome's mouth beam passed harmlessly beneath her.

As she looked back up from watching it pass her eyes widdened, Recoome was only a few inches away. She'd barely even had time to register his approach before his right fist slammed into her face and knocked her flying backward. Recoome quickly shot after her and caught up with her slamming an elbow down into her stomach and knocking her down into the ground.

Grinning and laughing he landed a few feet away. He clenched his hands and hunched over as his aura flared up. "Time to end this, time for you to die. Recoome! Ultimate! Bomber!" he cried.

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Goten and Trunks grinned as they flew, back to back, and each slammed an outstretched leg into the back of Frieza's head. The former ruller was smashed face first into the ground with a loud crash but he quickly rebounded with a grunt and growl. A second later he landed on his feet facing the kids again.

"You BRATS!" he cried, clenching his hands into fists. His purple aura flared up around him as the ground beneath his feet cracked and his musscles swelled. "Time to stop playing around. I will crush you with just 75% of my power!" He finished powering up and punctuated his declaration with a burst of energy.

"Whoa, Trunks, he's stronger than us." Goten said, wide eyed.

"Well duh." Trunks said. "He's stronger than Grandpa so of course he's stronger than us. But that just makes it more fun."

Goten grinned and nodded.

"Fun, eh?" Frieza asked, smirking. "I can assure you it wont be fun for long. I will show you a nightmare!" and with that he launched in again.

Goten and Trunks quickly dodged in opposite directions and Frieza shot an energy blast after each of them. Though he quickly ignored Trunks and surged toward Goten. As the young Sai-jin deflected the energy blast his eyes widened in shock. Before he had a chance to react, Frieza's fist smashed into his face and sent him flying backward.

The former tyrant shot after him and quickly caught up to him. As he did he grabbed his head and slammed it down into his knee as he thrust his leg up. The young Super Sai-jin's head snapped back and then Frieza's foot smashed into his stomach knocking him down into the ground. He was about to fire an energy blast down at him but a leg suddenly appeared before him and then a foot slammed into his face and knocked him back.

Frieza flipped over in the air and was about to charge in again but all three of them came to a stop as a loud and bright explosion sounded not more than four hundred yards away. "What was that!?" Goten cried, as he watched the towering burst of red energy surging into the sky like an erruption.

Trunks blinked a couple of times, a knot forming in the pit of his stomach. "G-Goten. Can you... can you sense Sakura?" he asked.

"Huh? Why wouldn't I be..." he started, but then trailed off as he realized he couldn't. "Trunks... you don't think she was...?"

"Oh man... Goten, you stay here and deal with him!" Trunks said, his aura flaring up around him. "I'm going to go and find Sakura!"

"Right!"

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"I think not!" Ginyu cried, firing off a ball of purple energy at the five year old. Akemi's eyes opened widen as she felt it nearing and she quickly slipped to the side. Cheri launched in at the horned alien and began trying to attack him but Ginyu was able to dodge around all of her swings.

"Damn it, this is getting us no where. Akemi!"

"I'm trying!" the girl called back. She'd drifted away from the two of them and closed her eyes again but she couldn't focus. "I can't... I can't get it to work!" she cried after a minute. "I can't transform!"

Cheri cursed under her breath as she dodged around a kick. She could tell Ginyu wasn't even really trying which meant he definitely wasn't at his full power yet and she couldn't even hit him. She could always transform but... she didn't know if that would be such a good idea. Transforming would leave her tail exposed and that could put them in an even worse situation. If Ginyu grabbed it, or worse, removed it....

"I'm sorry." Akemi said as she came up beside her friend and joined in on the battle.

"It's ok Akemi." Cheri said. "Not your fau-oof!" her sentence was cut short as a knee slammed into her stomach and then Ginyu smashed an elbow down in into her back driving her into the ground.

"Hahaha! This is child's play!" Ginyu laughed.

While he was gloating Akemi smashed a fist into his face but the attack had no effect. "Uh-oh." she said softly, floating back. /What do I... my powers!/ she thought with a smile. She closed her eyes and focused again. She felt Ginyu charge at her but she pushed that from her mind and continued to concentrate. She just needed a second more....

Ginyu was almost on her when she opened her eyes and thrust her arms out. An instant later he smashed head first into an invisible barrier about three feet away from her. Akemi grinned. "Hehe, it worked!"

"Nice one Akemi!" Cheri called up as she climbed to her feet, untying her belt. There really wasn't any choice left. The adults were still a while off which meant it was up to her to keep Akemi safe. "Keep him busy for a bit!" Dropping her belt to the ground she hunched over and let out a yell as she gathered her power.

Ginyu had just recovered from his impact with the non-existant wall and was about to try and attack Akemi again when he heard the yells from below. Looking down his eyes widened as he saw the other girl growing in size. "What is... she's transforming into an Oozaru!? No, I wont allow it!"

"No you don't!" Akemi cried, reaching out and closing her hand as though trying to grab him.

"W-what is this!?" Ginyu cried as he suddenly felt pressure around his body and began to slow down. Akemi was unable to stop him completely but she'd seriously impeeded his movement. Grinning the girl thrust her arm to the side and flung the alien away from her friend. Then she thrust her other arm out and down and fired off a blast of energy at him.

Ginyu recovered in time to defelect the attack but then noticed that Cheri was now fully transformed. /Damn, I'll have to deal with the Oozaru first, then that little brat./ he thought. He'd been just about to charge when the explosion flared up a little more than five hundred yards away. He glanced toward it, recognized the attack as Recoome's, and then turned back to find both opponents distracted. /Haha! Perfect!/ he thought, launching in.

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"What was that!?" Krillin cried as an explosion flared up in the distance.

"Recoome." Yamcha said softly, recognizing the energy.

"That's where Sakura was..." said Videl. "I can't...."

Piccolo growled. "We have to hurry."

[kiomori]

Wow, this chapter was really good. I wasn't really expecting those guys to come back so strong. I am wondering if Sakura is gone already too. I'm excited for the next chapter!