Well, it's been a while! Apologies for that, but I needed a little break. But I'm back now! And finally, the last chapter before the tournament begins is here!

Chapter 13: The Tournament Approaches! We're Short a Fighter!?

"How was the Time Chamber bro?" Goten asked as Gohan and Videl exited back out to the Lookout. There was one day left until the tournament, and so the those participating in the tournament were taking turns in the chamber. Piccolo and Trunks went in together the day prior to Gohan, 18 and Krillin went in the day before, and Tien and Chiaotzu were about to go in for the last day.

"It was fine, where's Pan?" Gohan replied passively as he frantically searched for his baby girl. He and Videl hadn't seen her in a year, after all.

"Piccolo was watching her over at Capsule Corp. I was just about to head over there to see Trunks." Goten motioned as he, Gohan, and Videl flew off.

"You must have gotten a lot stronger too, eh Videl?" Goten asked, his curiosity overtaking him.

"Oh yeah. You could say that." Videl winked, clearly holding something back.

"She kicked my ass about a thousand times." Gohan laughed, rubbing his behind tenderly. "She kept me on my toes real good."

"Pan!" Videl squealed once Piccolo and Pan came into view. He was cradling her as she slept in the gardens of Capsule Corp.

"Hey Piccolo! Thank you so much for watching her while we were in the chamber!" Gohan thanked as he fought with Videl to be the first one to hold Pan.

"We have a problem Gohan." Piccolo said, ignoring the thanks. "Come with me."

And so Gohan, Goten, and Piccolo headed inside Capsule Corp. while Videl spent some time with her daughter. Once inside they could hear a faint sound of someone vomiting.

"What's that sound?" Gohan asked, trying to hold down his own lunch. As powerful as he was, the sound and sight of vomit made him weak in the knees.

"That sound is exactly our problem." Piccolo grumbled as he swung a bathroom door open to reveal Trunks puking his guts out.

"Ew! Why didn't you warn me!" Goten gagged, running back a few feet, out of sight of Trunks.

"Oh no! Trunks what's wrong?" Gohan asked, not wanting to get too close to the sickly saiyan.

"He has the flu." Bulma answered as she walked up and over to Trunks with a glass of water. "The doctor said he won't be healthy for tomorrow Gohan. He can't enter the tournament."

"What!? But he has too Bulma! He's so strong! We need him on the team! The Earth is at stake! Let's gather the Dragon Balls and wish him back to health!" Gohan monologued.

"They're still inactive Gohan." Goten piped up. "We wished for that water park remember?"

"Dammit, that's right…" Gohan cursed, trying to think of a new solution. "What about the Dende? He can heal him right?"

"Dende can only heal battle wounds Gohan. As powerful as Namekian healing is, it cannot heal disease." Piccolo informed.

"Damn. Okay, then what about the senzu beans!" Gohan suggested. "Can those heal disease?"

"I don't know about that. I sent Yamcha a little while ago to get some from Korin and Yajirobe. He should be back soon and we can test it out." Piccolo explained, looking at the time. "He should have been back a while ago actually…"

"That's what you get for trusting it to Yamcha." Bulma sighed. "Hold on a minute, I think I might have a senzu or two lying around in my storage." Bulma jogged off.

"You really feeling that bad, eh Trunks?" Gohan sympathized, patting the kid on the back.

"Mmhmm.." Trunks moaned as he continued to hurl.

"Here!" Bulma shouted as she returned, whipping a senzu bean out and giving it to Trunks.

"Thanks Mom." Trunks gulped as he ate the bean. "Oh god I BLAAAAAAH!" Trunks immediately went back to puking, as if nothing had happened.

"Well I guess senzu can't heal disease then." Piccolo sighed, taking his turban and cape off.

"Oh yeah, remember when my dad had the heart disease? The senzu didn't work then either." Gohan recollected, flopping down on a nearby couch. "Welp, we're down a fighter now."

"Damn. It seems we have no choice." Piccolo stood upright as he tried to force the next few words out. "We need to go get 17."

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I doubt he'll be too thrilled considering what happened the last time we talked." Gohan got back up to walk with Piccolo out of the building.

"That's rude, they didn't even consider asking you Goten!" Bulma complained to the boy, who had stayed behind with her and Trunks.

"Oh, it's fine. I really would rather not fight anyways. I can't do much unless Trunks and I fuse into Gotenks. I'd be scared on my own." Goten reasoned, rubbing his hand on the back of his head.

"Bullshit." Trunks rasped in between dry heaves. "Take my spot Goten. Do it."

"But…" Goten whimpered, sweat beginning to pour down his chest, staining his gi.

"Excuse me?" 17 laughed as Gohan and Piccolo explained how they needed him. "After this asshole humiliated me and left me unconscious, you think you can just waltz back over and act like we're pals or something?"

"We're not pals." Piccolo growled. "You and I are enemies. I hate you and everything you stand for Android. But this tournament supersedes my petty grudge. You must fight with us."

"No." 17 snickered. "You'll have to just kill me. The thought of teaming up with you disgusts me to my very core."

"Please 17." Gohan butted in, trying to be as nice as possible. "We need you on this team."

"I'm sorry Gohan. I like you, you saved me from that disgusting Cell. But I have to watch this island. It is the most important thing to me. I cannot leave it unguarded." 17 replied respectfully and flew back down to the island.

"Damn him.." Piccolo grimaced, trying his best not to rip the mechanical brat limb from limb.

"Piccolo, it's fine. I won't force him away from this island." Gohan said, looking down at 17. "He has a responsibility to this island. It's his burden to bear. I understand how he feels more than anyone else could. We still can go ask Krillin. Tien proved his worth to us, perhaps Krillin could do the same."

"Very well. But I must admit I am growing very worried that our team lineup will not be sufficient." Piccolo admitted, flying off with Gohan to Krillin and 18's house. "Krillin did train in the Time Chamber with 18 though, perhaps he could be helpful."

"Wait!" Gohan and Piccolo looked behind them to see Goten. He was trying his best to look strong, but it was obviously a facade. Inside he was terrified at what he was about to do. "I want to be the last team member."

"Goten?" Gohan blinked a few times in surprise. This was incredibly odd for his brother. He was normally so shy and timid.

"When I fell to Freeza, Trunks stepped up for me." Goten clenched his fist as he threw it to the air. "Now I will return the favor."

"Goten, do you understand the stakes?" Gohan pressed, making sure his kid brother was serious. "This is for the fate of the Earth. If we lose, we all die. Can you tell me with absolute certainty you can perform at your highest potential while knowing this fate?"

"I…" Goten gulped nervously as he psyched himself up. "Yes. Yes I understand and I promise to you I will fight with everything I have Gohan."

"Good." Gohan smiled kindly at his brother. "But those are just words Goten. Prove to me you mean it. Fight me right here and now."

"What? You? But you're so much stronger than me Gohan!" Goten protested, cowering back.

"So? There may be beings in this tournament even stronger than me! You can't be afraid of it Goten! Now come! If you wish to represent the Earth in a fight for survival, strike me now!" Gohan roared as a striking red aura crackled around him.

"HYA!" Goten flailed at his brother.

"Hmm.. It appears everyone seems to be training for the tournament. Great!" Whis smiled as he and Beerus returned to the Earth.

"I want to see this team Son Gohan has drafted immediately." Beerus rumbled, completely ignoring Whis's positivity.

"I'm sure it will be sufficient, my Lord. We'll be there soon." Whis sighed, dropping the one sided conversation.

The Saiyans battle went on for some time. With no surprise, it became incredibly lopsided. Gohan didn't let up on his brother, attacking without remorse. Goten lay bloody and bruised on the charred battlefield, his consciousness turning fuzzy.

"Gohan, that's enough, you're gonna kill him!" Piccolo snapped, fed up watching the young boy mercilessly beaten.

"Give up, Goten!" Gohan shouted from the sky. "Give up and this can all be over!"

"No."

Gohan grinned as Goten picked himself up. "No. I will not give in Gohan! I must fight in this tournament! I MUST!" Goten launched himself, barreling directly into Gohan. "KAMEHAMEHA!" The sheer magnitude of his attack knocked him unconscious and spiraling to the ground.

Gohan, unphased by his brother's blast, shot down to catch him. "Good job Goten." He beamed. "You're on the team."

Gohan, Piccolo, and the unconscious Goten all returned to Capsule Corp. to find Yamcha had just returned. Gohan got a senzu from him to feed Goten.

"What the hell took you so long Yamcha!?" Bulma hissed.

"Sorry Bulma, I got distracted."

"MY BABY NEEDED THOSE BEANS!" Bulma whacked the poor baseball star upside the head.

"They're here." Gohan cut in, looking up to the sky. "I guess Beerus is impatient because they're early."

"I'll go gather the rest of the team up, I have a feeling Beerus wants to see our roster." Piccolo said as he walked off.

"Ready bro?" Gohan asked, playfully hitting a stern faced Goten.

"Yes." Goten nodded, glancing over to see Trunks on the couch, sleeping soundly.

Is Goten truly ready for the tournament!? What will Beerus say about Gohan's team? Find out next time!

P.S: Anyone who may be upset I did the ole' switcheroo with Trunks and Goten, I apologise. However, my reasoning is sound. I have big plans for Trunks in future arcs, and I wanted to make sure Goten get's some time to shine, so he isn't sidelined like he is in the show. I really want Goten to come into his own.