Someone Who Will Succeed the Strongest... His Name is Gohan

The Z Senshi watch Son Goku, still shocked by his announcement. Trunks, "Give...up...?" Yamucha, "I can't believe it." Cell stares down at Son. "You're giving up? Son Goku, are you trying to end this battle?" Goku, "Yes, I lost." The reporter looks over at his cameraman. "Huh? What did that young man say?" The cameraman adjusts something on his headset. "He says he's given up." Mr. Satan stands among his disciples with his arms crossed. "Well, he did a good job. He tried his best." Pizza, "Oh yes, Mr. Satan. You're the only one..."

"Son Goku, do you know the full meaning of those words?" Goku nods. "Yeah." Cell, "If there's no one left to fight in the Cell Game, then everyone must be killed." Goku, "Cell, don't misunderstand me. It doesn't mean that there isn't anyone left to fight you." Cell, "The implication is still there." He looks over at the Z Senshi, watching the events from their cliffside (it's now a cliffside because of the crater from Cell's barrier). "I don't care how strong Vegeta, Piccolo, or Trunks is, they are still weaker than you. As such, they are not opponents." Vegeta...makes an angered sound that I can't really describe, Piccolo groans, and Trunks watches silently.

The reporter jumps up. "Well, it's your turn, Mr. Satan! You've had plenty of time to rest." Satan, "Huh?" His eyes move to the reporter. "Just go and defeat Cell, please." Pizza, "Satan-sama, I'd like to see another of your splendid fights." Piroshiki, "That's right, Master." Satan straightens up and puts his hands on his hips. "Yeah, well, let's scare him a little." Pizza laughs, and the three of them (Pizza and the disciples) applaud Satan. The cameraman moves around Mr. Satan for a better angle. Suddenly, Satan hunches over, cluching at his stomach, screaming. Reporter, "Mi...mi...mi...Mr. Satan?" Pizza, "Satan-sama, what's wrong?" Satan screams. "It hurts!! I want to fight, but I have a stomach ache!" He begins to bounce around in place. Pizza, "Don't worry, Satan-sama! This is a special remedy for indigestion!" She reaches into her clothes and pulls out the medicine. "Just one tablet and you'll be fine in a second!" Satan looks up at her, then at the medicine bottle. "You idiot, I don't want that." He screams again. "It hurts! Oh man, all the regrets! If I didn't have this stomach ache, I could have defeated Cell!" He rolls around, I guess trying to deal with the "pain." As everyone watches, he moans and begins rocking around. Reporter, "Oh no..."

Son, "Well then, can I nominate who fights next?" Cell, "You really plan to surrender?" Vegeta, "What's he doing? There isn't anybody left to fight Cell!" Goku, "The Cell Game will end with the next fighter. If he loses, then there isn't anyone left to defeat you. The 'camera' moves across the Z Senshi cliff, then across Satan's bunch. "But I just have this feeling... He's certainly going to destroy you!" Cell, "What?" Goku, "I'm giving up because I place all of my trust in him." Cell, "You're implying that this person is stronger than you or me?" Goku nods, "Yeah." Cell laughs. "Impossible. There is no such person stronger than me." He laughs again. Goku, "Well, there is." Cell, "Then who is it? Let me hear this warrior's name." Goku smiles and looks away from Cell. Vegeta, Piccolo, Kuririn, Gohan, Tenshinhan, Yamucha, Trunks, Number 16, and the entire world audience await Son Goku's announcement. The cameraman takes a few steps forward. "Now he's announcing the name." Reporter, "Good." Satan, "He's gonna say 'Mr. Satan'." He swallows and turns to Pizza, tapping her on the leg. "Hey you." Pizza, "Yes?" Satan, "Go tell him that I have a stomach ache, so I can't fight." She rubs her head. "Okay."

Son Goku looks over at the Z Senshi, then turns his whole body to face them completely. He smiles up at them. He holds up a fist. "It's your turn, Gohan."

Gohan, "Uh?" Kuririn, "Eh?!" Trunks gasps. Vegeta, "What?!" Number 16 is silent. Piccolo, "Fool! Are you trying to kill your own son?!" Gohan stares straight out, as if pondering. His eyebrows lower a bit, expressing that he has come to a conclusion. They lower bit by bit, more and more into a determined glare. Son Goku smiles.

Chichi, "Goku-san, what the hell are you doing?!" Gyuu Mao, "Son-in-law!" Chichi, "He's... Goku-san is... He's trying to... Gohan-chan, what are you going to do?!" She picks up the TV and begins waving it around. "Gohan, Gohan!" Gyuu Mao grabs her. "Chichi, calm down!" She continues screaming and throwing the TV around, and Gyuu Mao is thrown around, but maintains a grasp on her shoulders.

Cameraman, "He said that it's Gohan's turn." Reporter, "Huh? Oh, I get it. They're trying to break for lunch.* They're so optimistic at a time like this." Goku jumps into the air and lands behind the Z Senshi. They turn to him. He smiles. "You can do it, Gohan." Gohan looks up at him, still uncertain. "Me...against Cell..." Cell, "You must be kidding. I had a few names you were likely to nominate, but Son Gohan?" Piccolo, "Don't suggest the impossible, Son! There's no way Gohan can defeat Cell. You're correct that he's stronger than before, but...!" Goku, "Piccolo, Gohan is stronger than anyone imagines. He has unbelievable power. Think about it. He was fighting on our level when he was a lot younger." He pauses. "When I was his age, I wasn't anywhere near as strong." Kuririn steps forward. "He's a Super Saiya-jin now, but still..." He looks from Goku to Gohan, then back to Goku, back to Gohan, and back to Goku again. "His hidden powers started to work in the Room of Spirit and Time." Gohan looks away, facing the ground. A shadow appears over him. He looks up as his father kneels down in front of him.

[*"Gohan," just as all the others in the series are, is a pun name. It refers to rice, or it can mean "meal," and variations of the word (asagohan, hirugohan, bangohan) refer to breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So "It's your turn, Gohan" may be interpreted as a very oddly worded way of saying "It's time to eat" or something by those who don't know Gohan's name.]

"Well, Gohan, when you saw Cell and me fighting, did you think that it was beyond your abilities?" Gohan, "No, but you and Cell weren't serious, were you?" Goku smiles. "I don't know about Cell, but I was pretty serious." Pause. "That means we didn't seem serious to you at all, right?" He rests his hands on Gohan's shoulders. Piccolo gasps. "Are you sure, Gohan?" Kuririn, Gohan, and Goku look up at him. Gohan, "Yes." Vegeta gapes in disbelief. "What?! That battle? No way...that kid?"

Cell scoffs. "Stupid." Goku smiles at Gohan. "Go, Gohan. Go fight to protect our peaceful way of living. You wanted to be a scholar, didn't you?" Gohan stares blankly at him. Goku continues smiling at Gohan. Finally, Gohan smiles. "Okay, I'll try." Goku removes his hands from Gohan's shoulders and stands up. Piccolo watches quietly. Kuririn rubs the back of his head. "Gohan..." Vegeta watches in silent anger. Chichi still waves the television around. "Gohan-chan!" Gohan drops his cape. Son Gohan leaps into the air and flies down into the crater. Cell stares down at him. "Hmm..." Gohan looks up at him. Cell grins down at him. "Hm. Fools."

Reporter, "What's going on? They said they were breaking for lunch, but an unknown young boy has just emerged." Mr. Satan leaps to his feet. "I've got it! He's the delivery boy!" Everyone suddenly looks at him. He looks back and forth from them. "Hm, hm?" He suddenly remembers and grabs his stomach again. "It hurts...!" Reporter, "Oh, since it's lunchtime, the delivery boy arrived, eh?" He leans forward. Enthusiastically, he makes his announcement to the world. "The delivery boy!! The delivery boy has emerged!" Old man (from the couple that recognized Goku as Chichi's husband), "Oh, now it's Chichi's son. He's working as a delivery boy." Old woman, "Chichi was excited about raising him as a scholar. He dyed his hair just like his father. I knew it! The boy's gone bad!" Man, "I feel sorry for Chichi-san. Both the husband and the son are bad apples." Woman, "Oh, yes..."

Muten Roshi, "It's Gohan! Gohan's too weak to fight against Cell!" Goku smiles and turns to Kuririn. "Kuririn, do you still have the senzu? Can I have one?" Kuririn, "Huh? Oh, okay..." He reaches into the bag and grabs a senzu, then drops it into Goku's waiting hand. "Thank you." He looks back up to the fight. "Cell!" Cell looks at him. "Hm?" He throws the senzu to Cell; Kuririn yells out in surprise. Trunks, then Yamucha and Ten in unision, gasp. Piccolo's eyes widen slightly. "That's a senzu. Eat it." Kuririn, "Goku, you idiot! What are you trying to do?!" Goku, "Don't worry. He's lost a lot of power. It wouldn't be fair if Gohan wins while Cell is in this condition." Yamucha, "What are you talking about?! You can't judge what's fair or unfair in a time like this!" Cell chuckles. "Fool. Your sympathy touches me, but sweetness can kill. Don't you understand? Nevertheless, I shall eat it. Son Goku, you shall soon regret your stupidity." Goku simply smiles. Cell chews the senzu. He swallows it, and immediately, his wings and limbs spring back to life, once again filled with energy. He begins to raise his ki. Yamucha, "Damn it...!" Cell smiles. "So, this is a senzu. This is excellent!" Kuririn stares at Cell fearfully. "I don't care about anything anymore!" Piccolo, "Son, you just did something very, very reckless."

Son Gohan stares up at Cell; he raises his arms, crossed, over his face, then throws them down to either side, screaming. He begins to raise his own ki. A small shockwave travels out, throwing up some dust around him. The raising of his ki generates a strong wind. The wind swirls around him, pushing into the rock of the crater's sides. Tenshinhan and Yamucha hold up their hands to shield themselves from the wind. Kuririn yells. Trunks' hair is blown about, but otherwise, he's just fine staring straight into the wind. Another shockwave travels out from Gohan, further damaging the sides of the crater. Goku watches happily. The reporter screams, hanging onto the side of a cliff, trying to keep from being blown away. The cameraman lies on the ground beside him, catching the power up on camera. Piroshiki and Calorie struggle to keep from being blown away themselves. Piroshiki, "I don't think he's the delivery boy."

Kaiousama follows the battle from his planetoid. He suddenly notices the change. "This is...Gohan's ki! Hmm. He's probably stronger than Goku." The wind moves around Gohan. His power up continues. Cell stares down. Piccolo watches Gohan through the high wind. "Gohan..." Vegeta watches in shock. Goku watches with a smile. The power up finishes. Son Gohan stares up at Cell through a healthy golden aura; Cell stares right back at him. The human Z Senshi stare at Gohan in amazement. Even Trunks is stunned by Gohan's strength, and to call Piccolo "stunned" would be a massive understatement. He gapes, wide-eyed, at his former student. Number 16 is astounded by the young warrior. The same goes for Vegeta. Pretty much the only one there who's not surprised, aside from Gohan himself, is Son Goku. Gohan stares up at Cell, his fists held out in front of him. Piccolo, "That's Gohan? That's quiet Gohan?" Vegeta, "That kid...? How did he get that incredible battle prowess?" Cell smiles. "I guess Son Goku wasn't jesting." He looks up, facing away from Gohan, but still watching him (as if watching Gohan, but with an arrogant/snobbish attitude). "Well, he said too much in stating that you could defeat me." Cell flies past Gohan, landing behind him. They face away from each other, each one showing his back to the other. Cell turns halfway around, and Gohan looks back at him. Gohan turns himself halfway, as well. Both of their bodies now face the same direction, and their heads are turned to watch each other. Gohan gets into a fighting pose. Cell, "Maybe you're lucky. You shall die after you see the real horror." He smiles at the silent Son Gohan.

Suddenly, Cell throws a kick. Gohan easily, almost effortlessly, blocks it. He throws another, which Gohan blocks again. Cell begins a punch/kick frenzy, which Gohan has no problem blocking or dodging. Cell flies into the air, then slides in to kick straight into Gohan with the weight of his entire body. Gohan jumps into the air and Cell flies right under him. Cell stops himself and looks up, then follows Gohan into the sky. Cell gains on Gohan, then passes him. He looks down at Gohan and screams. He vanishes and then reappears and throws a kick. Gohan disappears. Gohan lands on the ground, almost on one knee, but stands so that he's stretching one leg back behind him and leaning fully on the other. Goku cups his hands around his mouth and shouts encouragement to Gohan. "Go, Gohan!" Vegeta and Piccolo watch with surprise. Ten and Yamucha stare down at Gohan. Kuririn, "Go...Gohan..." Trunks, "Gohan-san!" Reporter, "The delivery boy has started to fight! He's doing well, but remember, he's fighting Cell. Can he keep it up for more than a minute?"

Cell smashes into the ground, throwing up dust. Son Gohan races into the sky. Cell appears above him and throws a flurry of punches that Gohan dodges. The Z Senshi stare up into the sky, watching the duel. Cell finally stops, and the two jump away from each other. Cell smiles. "You certainly are quick. I guess I shall use my full speed." He suddenly appears right in front of Gohan and hits him hard in the face. Gohan grunts as the impact occurs. Cell catches him by the shirt and holds him up. Gohan has his eyes shut tightly, whimpering a bit. Cell begins punching him over and over, holding him up by the shirt so that he doesn't fall away. Piccolo, "This is incredibly stupid." Kuririn finally turns away from the scene. "Go...Goku!" Goku stands with his arms crossed, watching the battle, still completely okay with what he's seeing. Cell continues pummeling Gohan's face.

Chichi waves the television around. "Gohan, Gohan-chan! Stop it! Stop it!" Gyuu Mao, "Chichi, Chichi!" Finally, Cell lets Gohan fall away. As Gohan falls to the ground, Cell hits him one final time with a strong kick that sends him sailing into the ground. Cell smiles. Trunks looks to Goku. "Goku-san!" Goku is still unphased by the scene he's witnessing. Kuririn, "Hey, Goku! Hey!" Goku's silent smile remains.

The dust settles around Gohan's impact site. He slowly climbs to his feet, staring out at Cell. A thin line of blood runs from his mouth down his chin. He wipes it away and smiles. Cell smiles back at him, then looks over at Son Goku on the cliff. He sees Goku's calm, confident smile, and looks back down to Gohan. Son Gohan prepares to continue the battle, returning to a fighting stance. Goku watches calmly. Piccolo and Vegeta look on with disbelief. Trunks, Tenshinhan, Yamucha, and Kuririn watch, transfixed and amazed. Cell grins down at Gohan, Goku continues to watch the fight with a smile.