Disclaimer: i don't own Dragon Ball Z

A.N. thank you for those who read and fav/alert/review.

Warning: OOC characters, grammar/ spelling mistakes.

Chapter 5: End of the World

Hercule Satan…

As if struck by lightning, Mr. Satan suddenly found himself waking up from his deep slumber. Looking around the room as if something's amiss, he found himself wondering what this feeling of uneasiness he is feeling at the moment.

It is as the saying goes, at the tip of his tongue. He knows that there is something important he must do that he forgot to do. Or maybe it is the aura of the mansion. It's too quiet. Where are the maids? The cooks and the gardeners?

–Wait- maybe they're just sleeping and he is simply feeling a bit paranoid especially every time the anniversary of the Cell games comes. Well you couldn't blame him. Every time he was given the floor to talk about his accomplishment in defeating Cell, he couldn't help but feel nervous and afraid. He knows that one day his secret would come out, knowing full well that no secret no matter how deeply buried can forever be hidden.

It's just that there are so many lose ends like those mysterious golden fighters and their unexplainable show of power. That is why he told the public that those are simply light shows and they are cheaters, a disgrace to martial artists; in order for them to never be given any credit when they decided to tell the truth. It's not as if he liked lying to everyone including his precious daughter but what can he do? He is a widowed father and he needed the money for his daughter to have a good life ahead of her. And what's more, he is her hero.

More than a few hundred times, he almost told the whole world that he lied to them and the real hero is the delivery boy but something stopped him. He cannot disappoint Videl. In her eyes, he is a hero and by admitting that he took credit from a grieving boy. He just couldn't do it. The trust that Videl has with him would vanish in an instant and that strengthened his resolve to continue lying.

Maybe, he'll be able to admit it in the future but not now.

The problem is that this has been plaguing his mind for the past seven years. He really tried to never show it to anyone how terrified he is. That is why he tried telling different versions of how he defeated Cell just to affirm himself. But it was never enough. Then he met his new best friend: alcohol. Drinking made him feel numb enough to forget and have fun. Parties have all kinds of alcohol that's why he became some kind of a party man.

He didn't mean for his life to turn out this way but what choice does he have?

Then as his mind fully awakened and his inner monologue ceased, he remembered that it is the seventh year anniversary of the Cell games! He vaguely remembered his manager telling him something about an interview after a special coverage video or something.

Wondering what happened to the interview, he decided to worry about that later. His manager would take care of it, he thought

What he needs to do is to relax his nerves. Worrying won't lead to anything. Maybe he should try watching the TV at the moment; after all it always calms him down whenever he watched those comedy shows.

But when he opened the TV, he couldn't help but freeze in shock. The whole world knows of his deepest, darkest secret and that is how Videl found him, half an hour later.

Videl Satan…

'No, no, no, no. He lied to me?! His very own daughter?! How could he do this? I, I always prided in being the daughter of the hero who saved Earth but I don't think I can be called that anymore… I hate liars. I always do but it seems that I am one too. How could you lie to everyone, daddy?' Videl thought depressingly while tears continue to fall from her unblemished skin.

It was after the special coverage video and the atmosphere inside Erasa's room is palpably tense that a knife could even cut it. Shock, replaced by outrage then resignation filled the air.

"Videl are you alright?" Erasa, the ever sweet friend of Videl asked.

"No Erasa, I am not okay. How could he lie to me? To everyone? He was my hero! He was my goal! And all along, he was just a fraud! HOW COULD HE DO THIS TO HIS OWN DAUGHTER? HOW? YOU DON'T KNOW HOW BETRAYED I FEEL RIGHT NOW!" Videl but shouted at her best friend.

"So you really don't know about this. I'm so sorry for ever doubting you. I thought you are just like your own father who strung everyone along. I'm so glad." Sharpner quietly said.

"Wha-," Videl replied but was cut off by Erasa who tried to defuse the tense atmosphere by hugging Videl.

"Don't worry Videl. You have me supporting you."

"Yes, me too." Sharpner added while joining the two girls in hugging.

They stayed like that until Videl's tears subsided.

"Are you feeling much calmer, Videl? Do you want to eat ice cream? Chocolate? Cake?"

"Thanks Erasa but I think, I need to go home right now and confront my father about this. But thank you for the offer. Thank you too Sharpner. I'll hold you for that the next time we see each other." Videl replied with a fake smile which no one believed.

And with that she walked out of the room.

"Videl! Wait!" Erasa suddenly shouted while following Videl outside her room.

"Okay, what was that?" Sharpner said to himself while following the two girls who just vacated the room.

"Yes?" Videl asked curiously at the foot of the staircase

"You can't go out there looking like that!"

"No Erasa. I am not going to play dress up with you!"

"That's not what I mean. What I meant is that you cannot go outside looking like- well- Videl Satan."

"Why not?!"

"Because people will hound you on the streets. They will either accuse or sneer at you knowing that you are the daughter of the man who lied to everyone. I am your friend Videl but I also thought you know all about your father's lie. What do you think would anyone think about you?" Sharpner replied quite seriously.

"I-I-," Videl stuttered while trying to come up a reply as the situation finally sinks in. it would not only be her father who would take the brunt of the people's ire. She would also be blamed by everyone! Her life would also change because of this!

"Come. Let me transform you into someone they would never think as Videl Satan." Erasa finally said as she took Videl's wrist into her hands and guided her back towards her room, "Oh and Sharpner please be a gentleman and get the tub of ice cream in the fridge. Don't forget to bring spoons!"

An hour later…

It is not as if an hour is needed to make an undercover outfit for Videl but Erasa wanted to make Videl somehow forget about her current problem. It is her own way of trying to help a friend in need.

"How about this Vi? Do you think red suits you more?"

"Hmm? It's fine."

A few comfortable silent moments, Videl's gaze turned to the picture on Erasa's bedside table. It was the four of them: an overzealous Erasa who was tugging an overly reluctant Videl, A very smug Sharpner standing at the back of the two girls and a bashful Gohan beside Videl.

"Do you think Gohan hates me?"

"Nerd boy? What makes you think that?" Sharpner asked curiously.

"Gohan? Why would you ask that Vi?" Erasa asked while searching for a red tank top.

"Well… it's just that I kept on hounding him with questions more than necessary and now that this came out, well I just don't know."

"Vi, you're only questioning him because you're interested in him and besides, he doesn't mind you asking questions just as long as you remember that there is a line between being curious and being rude. And this is Gohan we are talking about. He is too sweet and kind to ever hold any grudges."

"Erasa's right. Nerd boy could never hate anyone. If he doesn't hate those who bullied him, what makes you think he'll hate you?"

"Wait, someone is bullying Gohan? Why have I never heard of it? Who are they? Let me give them a beating"
"That is so sweet Vi! Gohan's so lucky to have you crushing on him!" Erasa squealed.

"I don't have a crush on Gohan!" Videl responded with a huge blush.

"You're just in denial Vi." Erasa responded in a sing-song voice.

"Sharpner! Help me. Tell Erasa that I don't have a crush on Gohan! He is just a friend."

"A special friend Vi?" Erasa butted in.

"Just a friend. Go on Sharpner tell Erasa."

"Umm…Videl, I am your friend right? No matter how much I flirted with you, I only see you as a friend. And as your friend for more than ten years, I can only say that this is the first time I've seen you being interested with a guy."

"What are you trying to tell me Sharpner?" Videl growled.

"I'm just saying that you are interested in Gohan. Maybe you like him but you just don't know it yet."

"Think about it Vi," Erasa said while doing her finishing touches on Videl's hair, "There, done."

"What?" Videl blurted out quite confused, head still thinking about Gohan and their earlier conversation.

"You're undercover outfit silly."

"Oh yeah. Thanks Erasa! You're the best!"

"So I'm going to accompany Sharpner to his house. Bye Videl. Good luck!" Erasa said while dragging an unwilling Sharpner towards the hallway outside of Erasa's room.

A few grumblings was heard until the door shut close.

"Okay, what was that?" Videl asked herself quite confusedly until she saw herself in the mirror.

"ERASA! WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY HAIR?!"

Her hair has now pink and red highlights!

A few calming breaths later, Videl finally find herself admiring Erasa's work. She doesn't look like what Videl Satan look. Instead, she looked like a normal punk rock teenager. It's still her but also not her. Good. No one would be able to connect that she is Videl Satan.

"Time to go and confront daddy dearest."

The Bullies of Gohan…

Bully #1

"Are my ears deceiving me? The delivery boy's name is Gohan Son? That doesn't mean that we are talking about the same Gohan who I bullied? Right? Oh my Kami-sama, if he is then I am so dead!" Bully #1 lamented.

Bully #2

"IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED! I'M GOING TO DIE! Nerd boy's the delivery boy! He's going to kill me when he me again!"

Bully #3

"Why oh why did I ever bully him? I know! I'll tell him that I was coerced into bullying him. He'll believe me right? But what if he doesn't? Oh no, I'm going to die!"

Videl Satan…

After going out of Erasa's house and acting like she is not hiding anything, Videl arrived in front of her home. She expected to see people protesting about his father but what she didn't expect was the hatred emanating from everyone.

Thank Kami for Erasa looking out for her or else she would find herself at the end of those hatred feelings.

Of course the problem now is how to enter the house without anyone noticing? Hmm… maybe she could use the secret entrance she found when she was exploring the mansion years ago. Acting all inconspicuous, she managed to pull herself out of the raging crowd and towards the secret entrance.

Once inside, she ran towards her father's room and that's how she found her father staring at TV in shock.

"Dad, hey dad. Wake up! Move, damn it! Tell me why? How could you lie to everyone? How could you lie to me? DAD!"

But only silence answered her. Hercule Satan was still in shock and it seems that it would stay that way for a long time.

A voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts, looking at her father, she thought he finally snapped out of it but when it looks like he didn't, she couldn't help but look around the room. There she found the TV still open and that's where the voice that disturbed her thoughts came from.

"It seems my dear folks that we finally found our man, the delivery boy and the true hero of the Cell games, Gohan Son! Based from the phone call earlier, it was confirmed that the Gohan Son we are looking for is a student of Orange Star High and our very own Saiyaman! We also found out that he is the grandson of the Ox King. Unfortunately my dear folks, we were not able to get any photographs of Mr. Son. Even the school doesn't have his picture! So it seems that we will have to wait until Monday to see him in our special interview. We'll be right back after the commercial break. Please stay tuned for more!"

'Gohan? Gohan is the delivery boy? Gohan? The same Gohan that she's friends with? The same Gohan who couldn't even hold a grudge nor hurt a fly? Wait is that the reason why he seems so sad whenever I asked about his father? OH NO. Does he hate me? My father has been sprouting all those lies! My father even dance on his father's grave. No. No. No. I- I don't like Gohan to hate me! He's one of the few that I consider my friend. But what if he did? No. That's not possible! From day 1, he knows that I am my father's daughter so he knows. Why? Why does he still act like he doesn't care that I am his daughter? Maybe he'll use me? No. that's not possible. Gohan is far too kind to think of using someone. Will he hate me? No I don't think he would. If he knows from the start of the truth and he not once shown any hatred, he would not hate me now! But what about me hounding him as if I have the right to know everything about him? Oh no! He hates me. He is just to kind to tell me to stop.' Videl thought as tears started falling from her beautiful melancholic eyes.

She left her father and went directly to her room to cry her heart out.

Unknown to her, her father snapped out of his shock when her tears touched his skin. Looking at her retreating back, Hercule couldn't help but whisper, "I'm very sorry Videl."

Then he also broke down in his bleak dark room.

Gohan Son…

"Thank Dende. I managed to fix the TV." Gohan murmured to himself quite happily while eating dinner not knowing that the whole world is starting to know of his secret.

A few minutes of slurping and burping from Gohan, Chi Chi decided to try the newly "fixed" TV to drown out the sound of Gohan eating.

Once pressing the power button, the TV opened and worked!

A few minutes later, a small BOOM rang out of the Son's house. The newly revived TV decided to go on a permanent vacation!

"SON, GOHAN!"

"Oh no, I'm so dead." Gohan thought with dread forming on the pit of his stomach.

A.N.2 Thank you for reading! I really appreciated it! Sorry if it's too sad but this needs to be done. Next chapter would be titled: Preparations. Tell me what you think or any comments or suggestions. Thanks again!