Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Appearance: Part 1 ❯ Training ( Chapter 28 )

CHAPTER 28: TRAINING

"Now you will all be in here for eight months, that is as long as it goes," Dende told them as they entered.

The group of Saiyans looked very serious, even Goku had a solemn expression on his face. Marley had recovered from her earlier episode with Vegeta and was feeling much better. All this information, it is overwhelming, but amazing. It is weird, but I want more. Every time I explore this new power, I feel myself going deeper than the last time. It is amazing. At this rate, I'll have control of it in a few days.

Marley looked around her as she entered the Chamber. There looked like there was a living place with food and beds and showers, and then when that ended, a vast area of nothing. Literally nothing, it was like outer space, but white. She didn't look into it long for it hurt her eyes.

"Just don't look into it," Goku said reading her mind. She realized her jaw was hanging and quickly shut it, stealing up her face. I will not show emotion, not now. This is a place for training, not foolish thoughts.

"Whatever Kakkarot," she replied harshly.

"Lets start then!" Vegeta exclaimed impatiently.

"Okay. Do we go two on one or all at the same time?" Goku asked.

"Two on one," Marley said. "Then rotate between fighters. It'll be harder that way. I'll start, you and Vegeta against me. And I'd power up if I were you `cause I'm going Super Saiyan, and you've never seen my ki attacks."

"Harrumph," is all Vegeta said, but he powered up anyway.

Goku powered up and said, "Cool, will you do that Dragon thingy again?"

Her tail twitched, and then she wrapped it around her waist. "Only for you Kakkarot. I'll show you, then we'll spar. Did you want to see my Dragon Fist Technique or my Black Dragon Technique?"

"Ummm…Black Dragon Technique."

"I can only do this at a Super Saiyan level." She powered up and when the golden flames resided she brought her hands above her head and a black and gold ki ball formed with lightning radiating all around it.

"Black Dragon!" Marley yelled as she shot her attack out into the white abyss. The beam was gold surrounded by black lightning.

"Wow! That was cool, can you do it again?" Goku yelled.

Vegeta and Marley face vaulted.

"Kakkarot! Stop being stupid! We have to train, focus," Marley yelled at him.

"I guess you're right, come on Vegeta, we can take her!"

Vegeta smirked. Vegeta, Goku said telepathically. We can co-ordinate our attacks psychically.

Right, Vegeta responded. We have to try to over power her, she is weaker than us.

I'll attack from behind, you come in headfirst.

Goku phased out as Vegeta charged. "You're in over your head now woman!"

"Don't you wish."

Immediately Vegeta started his attack, as did Goku, but their punches and kicks never seemed to hit the target. Marley dodged an attack from Goku that accidentally hit Vegeta. He growled and tried to find Marley.

Do you see her Kakkarot?

Look up.

Marley was above them panting, "Now you'll get to see my true strength."

She started powering up until she was at SSJ3. Until now, Vegeta and Goku didn't know there was anything beyond SSJ1. She unleashed a series of ki blasts that looked suspiciously like Vegeta's Gullet Gun.

She flew down to her opponents, attacking in full force now. At first they met her blow for blow, but eventually it was apparent who was winning. Marley landed a brutal round house on Vegeta's head that sent him flying. "Dragon Fist!" she yelled as she hurled a flashing lightning disk of green, gold, and blue at the Saiyan prince, putting him out of commission.

She turned her attention to Goku, fighting off his attacks she landed a few key punches that sent him flying. She appeared in front of him and kicked him back in the direction he came. Then suddenly she felt her arms pinned down at her sides.

Vegeta was holding her back and Goku was coming to finish her off. She struggled to free herself, but even in her level of Super Saiyan, she was too weak. Now Goku was in front of her blood trailing down the side of his mouth.

"Looks like you loose," Vegeta said from behind her as he let go of her arms.

Her tail swished in annoyance as she sneered at him. "Lets see how you fair then."

"Fine."

"Oh, come on you guys, we've been sparring for fourteen hours straight! Can't we eat and then continue tomorrow."

"I'm not hungry," Vegeta said as his stomach growled.

"Liar!" Marley fake-coughed.

"Fine, tomorrow then," he finally conceded.

"Hey you did really well today Marley!" Goku said as food flew out of his mouth.

"Oh gross Kakkarot! Chew, swallow, chew, swallow! Didn't any one ever teach you how to eat?" she said completely disgusted.

Vegeta laughed but Marley snapped at him too. "You aren't much better, Prince! Both of you could use training."

"Oh what, like Gohan! I noticed you've got Gohan whipped." Vegeta sneered.

"Shut up! I had to work long and hard for him to chew with his mouth closed. I'm sure all my training will go down the drain while I'm gone."

Goku watched them with slight amusement. They certainly argued like siblings. Now that is a sick thought. He grabbed another bowl of rice and stuffed it down his throat.

"Hey, Marley?" he said when he had eaten his fill.

Marley, who was still arguing with Vegeta, turned to him, "What?"

"Well, I was wondering, what sort of opponent should we be expecting from the Dark Man?"

Marley got silent. She didn't want to reveal what she knew about the Future, most of it was still cloudy. "Well, I haven't been totally honest with either of you. In fact, I know a lot more than what I've told any of you."

"I knew it!" Vegeta exclaimed.

"Tell us what you know, now is the only time you have."

"I know everything. Since you seem to like the whole story, here it goes: The Dark Man as you know, created the Box and Key so he could see the Past, Present, and Future. But eventually his madness consumed him and he lost control. The Box and Key separated themselves from their master and found places on the opposite sides of the universe.

"I found the Key when I was a young girl and learned to control it. I also found the Box and learned of the Future. When I came here I was looking for a place to hide from my father to recover. But he found me. When I tore the Key from my soul it alerted the Dark Man. He immediately found a host to carry him here, because he can't exist without a host. Now he is heading here and should arrive in three days."

"You haven't said everything you know yet, I can tell." Goku said, now very serious.

Marley flinched and continued under Goku's harsh gaze. "No. About a year ago, the Future split into three paths. One where the planet was destroyed along with the Dark Man. One where the Dark Man beat me and everyone died because I refused your help. And the last one being a wild card. Currently we are heading down that path."

"You haven't said everything yet."

"Damn you Kakkarot, it is hard to explain! It is hard to take. Are you sure you want to know?"

"You tell us or you'll regret it woman," Vegeta said surprisingly calm.

"I think it will be the other way around, but whatever. Neither of you will be permitted to fight."

"What! Then why are we training us in the first place?" Vegeta yelled, now very upset.

"I told you you'd be upset. Let me explain. I am the only one who can successfully beat this thing. The reason you two are here is to train me. Since I have the Key and Box in my possession, I am the only effective weapon against the Dark Man. But even I'm not a sure bet, the Dark Man could still succeed. It is only…" she looked away, "It is just complicated. I don't want to say anymore."

"To bad. If there is something we need to know, you should tell us." Goku said.

She looked down. She didn't want to do this. "Do you remember when I told you that the Dark Man needed a host to survive?"

They nodded.

"Well, he is going to inhabit the body of Gohan and there is nothing anyone can do to stop him."

Silence.

Then Goku said in a low and angry voice, "How long have you known?"

"The whole time."

"And why didn't you tell anyone! That is my son you are using as a pawn out there!"

"I would never do that! I love him! It was the only way! Don't you see, if I had followed the first path, all of you would have died, but I wouldn't. If I followed the second, everyone would die and the Dark Man would gain control of Gohan's body and his creations. By following this Future, I at least gave us a fighting chance! It was the only choice Kakkarot!"

By now Marley was in tears. She noticed them and furiously wiped them from her face and flew into the white nothing.

Vegeta was looking at Goku angrily. He harrumphed and walked off to his bed.

A few days later Marley still hadn't returned. After she had stormed out Goku had felt really bad and wanted to follow her, but Vegeta warned him that she might kill him if she saw him. That is at least what he would do if Goku had said those things to him. But now even Vegeta was getting worried.

"Kakkarot," Vegeta said one day after sparring, "why did you say those things to her. She was doing the best she could."

Goku's jaw dropped, amazed that Vegeta even cared, "What would you have done if it had been your son she was using."

"That isn't what she was doing!" Vegeta yelled, trying to get through to him, "Gohan is her mate! She would do anything in her power to protect him. She would kill any one who got in her way too. Wouldn't you do the same for your mate?"

Goku thought about this for a moment. He realized that he would. His face grew stern and he said, "Lets go find her."

Vegeta harrumphed an affirmative.

They set out in opposite directions in search of the missing Saiyan. It was easy to get lost in the whiteness, this both Vegeta and Goku knew this. Finally Goku sensed a weak ki and flew off towards it. As he neared he found Marley meditating, much in the fashion Piccolo did.

He landed and walked over facing her.

"What do you want Kakkarot?" She asked, her eyes still closed.

"I wanted to ask you to come back."

She stood on the ground and opened her eyes. Her brows knitted as she said, "Why?"

"Well you must at least be hungry."

Silence.

"And I owe you an apology."

She nodded.

"I'm sorry Marley, I didn't realize. It isn't your fault, that is just the way things work out."

She nodded again. "Apology accepted. Lets go."