Disclaimer: Toei Animation, Bird Studios/Shueisha, Akira Toriyama, and FUNimation own all three Dragon Ball Series, including all the characters and attacks that appear in them. I do however own a great deal of the non-DBZ canon characters that will be used in the story... in fact all of them. Except Tairo, who belongs to LT.
The Price Of Power: The Grand Finale
"The price of too much power is being forgotten for who you were… To be remembered forever as greedy, arrogant, and corrupt... Sometimes the greatest power is being able to relinquish power." - The Dark Kaioushin
Jikoku watched the oncoming Saiyajins of the fifth level unflinchingly, his form now glistening with a silver aura. His lips slowly spread in a demonic smile, his many rows of pearly white fangs dripping with a greenish black venom.
"Stop," Roared the demon, his voice booming powerfully in the endless expanse of nothingness.
Senzai stared blankly, his flight halted instantly. "What is this!" He cried, his voice nearly as resounding as the monster's. "Why can't I move!"
Tairo fared no better, a silver glow clinging to his body, immobilizing him. "I can't move either!"
"Fools," said Jikoku laughingly, "Have you forgotten who I am? I am the Guardian of Time!" He grinned. "And here in this realm, I control the river itself!"
The two Saiyajins of the fifth level growled angrily, unable to do anything in their frozen states.
Jikoku grinned. "How does it feel to have so much power…Only to be incapable of using it?" He turned, casting his gaze to the snow-haired Kaio. "Was this it? Was this your plan to defeat me?" He threw his head back, reveling in his victory with a mad, thundering laughter.
"Fool," muttered the Kaio. "The Kaioushin are beings of balance, nothing of strength may be without weakness."
Jikoku righted his head, an ugly scowl defining his face. "What are you babbling about now?"
The Kaio smiled. "The three tools of the First Kaioushin… The Yin-Yang Stone, the Itonami Waters, and the River Of Time. All three were created in order—"
"In order to create and preserve balance," finished Jikoku, "I know them well, Kaioushin. What is your point?" He smirked. "Or is all this just idle talk, trying to ignore your obvious failure?"
"Listen, fool," snapped the Kaio. "The three tools were used in a specific order. The River of Time first, to begin the flow of time, then the Itonami Waters, to begin the existence of life itself, and the Yin-Yang Stone, to keep a balance between good and evil."
"What is your damn point!" Roared Jikoku, growing impatient. "I don't need a lecture on this, I know it all too well!"
"Yeah Kaio," shouted Senzai, "I've been waiting to kill this freak for five minutes!"
The Kaio sighed deeply. "Impatience will be the death of you, Saiyajin."
"Is that a threat?"
"No, Senzaimono… The dark shades of your future were long ago drawn with the once brilliant hues of your youth."
"What?"
"You will see…"
"Silence, both of you!" Boomed Jikoku, his body glistening with a silver aura. "Kaioushin, either you leave, or I will kill you along with these abominations!"
The Kaio looked to Jikoku, his lips spread in a broad smile. "Whenever one of the Three Tools is used simultaneously with another, they cancel each other out." He pulled the Yin-Yang stone from the folds of his robe. "The only thing is it takes about ten minutes for the cancellation to take effect."
Jikoku furrowed his brow. "Wait…" He waved his scaly, ink colored hand over the white expanse, and the grand mirror once again took shape.
Although now it floated with an extreme distortion in its glass, due to several cracks running through it.
Jikoku's eyes widened in shock, then he looked to the Kaio again. "How long has it been?"
"About nine minutes now," said the Kaio, his smile only broadening. "But aren't you master of the river?"
Jikoku growled throatily and lunged at the Kaio, screaming out, "I'll kill you!"
With about three spans between the two, Jikoku began to swing his scaly fist, his booming roar filling the air.
"I think not," whispered the Kaio.
The very second those words passed his lips, Jikoku's fist slammed into his nose. The sound of breaking bones coincided with a monstrously loud crack, followed by the sound of rushing water.
The Kaio flew backwards, the powerful hook sending him across the expanse, blood flowing from his nostrils.
In almost the same fashion, the mirror shattered, and multicolored water gushed forth over the plain, wearing a groove in the ground. The water rushed forward in the groove much as a river does, and began to glow brilliantly, swallowing the entire plain up in a blinding radiance…
---------------Scene Change ---------------
A river flowed rapidly betwixt two dense woods and a small grassy landmass on either side. The river's waters resembled every hue and every shade of every color imaginable, with a glowing strain of gold, black, and white swirling about at the river's middle.
Beside the river stood a fairly tall being, his bronzy form clothed in golden robes with white fur outlining the edges. His piercing, golden pupils fell upon three figures, the three of them lying upon the soft grasses of the meadow. However, two lie on the side of the river where the robed figure stood, the other on the opposite side.
One of them sat up, rubbing his head gingerly. "Where am I?"
The robed figure smiled. "You are in the true realm of time, where the river flows as it should, not cooped up in a small mirror."
"Ahh!" Screamed the first to speak, leaping up to full height. "I don't have fur!" He patted himself vigorously, checking for any trace of this fur. He looked to the robed one. "What the hell is going on here?"
"Like I said, when used at the same time, the tools cancel each other out," explained the robed one.
"So… We can't be Super Saiyajin Fives anymore?" Questioned the other, his green orbs looking to the Kaio in disappointment.
"Well Tairo," began the Kaio, "Who's to say? Your future is certainly far brighter than Senzai's… But what the future actually holds for you is a bit murky."
"No!" Cried out a voice, coming from across the river.
The two Saiyajins and the Kaio all turned and looked across the flowing colors, their sights falling upon a frail creature.
He stood no taller than Tairo, his scaly skin jet-black. His body lacked any true muscle definition, his form lean and lanky. His white pupils stared across the river, shaking slightly in fear.
"What have you done!" Roared the scaly creature, his voice no longer booming. "What has happened to me!"
"The river flows freely now Jikoku," responded the Kaio. "And without its power, you are nothing." He gestured to the Saiyajins. "But they on the other hand… Well, they are far more powerful than you."
"We were always more powerful," Senzai said grinning, cupping his right fist in his left palm and cracking his knuckles. "But now without your cheap time tricks," he continued, now cracking the knuckles on his left fist, "You're dead!"
"Senzai! Wait!" Cried the Kaio, "Don't cross the river!"
Senzai looked back, his body hovering over the river. "Why not?" Suddenly a brilliant flash of light shot up from the waters, grazing Senzai's calf.
"Ahhh," Screamed the Prince as he fell back onto the grass, clutching his lower leg. "What was that!"
"Only an immortal can withstand being that close to the First Kaioushin's tools." He sighed. "Anything else will be killed instantly."
"But we used the stone," Tairo said interjecting, "And we aren't dead." He looked around. "Well… at least I don't think we are."
"What you used was only a replica of the stone," explained the Kaio, "The true stone is…" He shook his head. "Well, all that matters is destroying Jikoku."
Senzai hissed in pain, slowly drawing his hands away from his leg, revealing an aged, withered limb. "The hell is this!"
"Rapid age acceleration… Your leg will be ashes in a few seconds or so."
"Ahh!!" Yelled Senzai in shock, as truth be told, his left calf deteriorated, slowly falling off of his body, hitting the ground as blackened dust.
"Yeesh," muttered Tairo, disgusted. "How do we get Jikoku then?"
"Only an immortal can cross the river," restated the Kaio, reaching into his robe once more, pulling out a gray orb housed in a half white aura and a half black aura.
"Again with that replica? Its already done its damage, why use it again?" He sat upright. "And you could've warned me a little earlier about that damned river," he snapped, a hint of bitterness in his voice.
The Kaio grinned broadly, chucking the stone at Senzai. "Catch."
Senzai scowled, catching the orb easily. "Now wha—" The orb engulfed him in a dark aura, swallowing him whole. The dark shade faded as quickly as it had come, his body again covered in jet black fur, the grass beneath him burnt to a crisp.
"Now you, Tairo," directed the Kaio, still bearing that smirk.
"Okay," responded the green-eyed Saiyajin, "Pass me that, Senzai?"
Senzai tossed it to him. "Catch, loser."
"What'd you call me? Why I oughta," began Tairo, catching the stone. His body became enveloped in a milky aura, transforming him into the fifth peak once more. The aura faded, revealing a huge growth in the grasses around Tairo's feet.
"And now… The true power of the Yin-Yang stone!" Shouted the Kaio, and a grayish light consumed both Tairo and Senzai, the aura's appearance followed by a thunderous boom, the enormity of the sound shaking the entire realm.
Jikoku stared wide eyed as the gray aura dulled to nothingness. "That wasn't a replica…" Muttered the demon softly, quivering every so slightly.
The aura faded, revealing a figure covered wholly in gray fur, save his fists, head, and abdomen, the exposed skin lightly tanned. His cobalt blue pupils sat between two polar opposites, the right half of both eyes jet-black, the left half of both eyes milky white.
"Kaio, restore his powers," commanded the new being, a gray tale swishing behind him.
"Why on Kaioushin-Kai would I do that!" Snapped the Kaio. "Just destroy him already!"
"No," said the Saiyajin calmly, his gaze locked on Jikoku. "Do you know nothing of Saiyajins? Give him his power, so that I may crush him."
"Arrogant fool," snapped the Kaioushin. "I've forgotten how stupid you Saiyajins are with your pride…" He looked to Jikoku, who had grown strangely quiet. "Jump in, take your powers back."
Jikoku's face brightened. "Fool! This is the end for you!" He leapt into the river, that same beam of light shooting out and swallowing him whole.
The Saiyajin stared patiently, waiting for the demon to appear.
The Kaioushin laughed. "Moronic demon, he must've forgotten that without the stone, he isn't immortal."
"You mean, it killed him?" Asked the Saiyajin, turning around. "And you robbed me of my only challenge!"
The Kaioushin grinned, his robes melting away, replaced by a red tunic, with a jet-black vest with red edges over it. Red boots adorned his feet, a red sash sat wrapped around his waist and two black earrings hanging from his ears.
"A Saiyajin of the fifth peak is an abomination," said the darkened Kaioushin. "And it must be destroyed."
The Saiyajin's eyes widened. "What!"
"Did you truly think Jikoku was that competent? He was as much a pawn in this as you were." He smirked. "I am the true puppet master, Saiyajin."
"So you were behind all this?" Asked the Saiyajin. "I can't believe this… I trusted you!"
"Only a fool trusts the unknown," answered the Kaioushin, pulling a small vial from his vest. "And you will now die for your trust." He opened the vial, water gushed forth as a blast of liquid.
The Saiyajin watched unflinchingly as the water struck his chest, lightly soaking his fur, but doing nothing more.
"Was that it?"
"No, fool, those were the Itonami Waters," He explained, capping the vial and putting it back inside his vest. "And in about ten minutes, it will cancel out the powers of the Yin-Yang stone, and vice versa."
"Your point?"
"The Itonami Waters are the waters of life, and the Yin-Yang stone will cancel it out." The Kaioushin smirked. "And you, my dimwitted friend, will die instantly."
The Saiyajin remained stoic even in the face of death. "Then I will make sure that the universe will forever remember the name Senziro."
"How do you propose to—"
A tanned fist lodged itself in the Kaioushin's face, shattering his nose bone, his skull and jaw cracking from the intense pressure.
Senziro slowly pulled his fist loose. "By destroying you, Kaioushin."
The Kaioushin's face glowed restoring it to its natural form, the facial bones healed. "Ten minutes Saiyajin… Can you do it in time?"
With that, a fist buried itself in the Kaioushin's abdomen, forcing the Other World being to double over, hawking up blood. Another punch followed, balled up knuckles bashing the Kaioushin's temple.
The dark one flew across the meadow, crashing into a gnarled oak, his body thudding loudly. Senziro leapt up, lunging at the demonic Kaio, the grass beneath him rupturing as his power forced it asunder.
He swung his fist, only to have it caught in a grayed palm.
"This will not be that easy, Saiyajin," spit the Kaio, a thin trail of blood leaking from his temple. He quickly cocked his leg back and thrust it heel first into Senziro's gut, knocking him backward.
Senziro stopped his flight instantly, only to see the Kaio vanish. He quickly spun around to catch two forearms, and quickly interlocked arms with the Kaio.
He grinned and tilted his head back, then slammed his forehead into the Kaio's face, again shattering his nose bone. He repeated the action again and again, the Kaio's facial bones cracking and breaking from the force of the blows. With each butt, Senziro moved a step forward, inching closer to the river's edge.
The Kaio tilted his own head back and growled, his skin slowly lightening from a dull, grayed tan to brilliant blue. Senziro howled in agony as his flesh began to sizzle against the superheated Kaio.
"Release me fool, or you'll melt against me!"
Senziro gritted his teeth, forcing a pained smile. "Never!"
The Kaio head butted Senziro, his superheated form igniting the Saiyajin's fur, melting the skin off of his forehead. Senziro cried in agony as the Kaioushin only burned brighter, Senziro's body set ablaze.
The Saiyajin slowly lowered his head, sinking his teeth into Kaio's vest. Tears rolled down his cheek and evaporated in the superheat as his face began to melt, the very enamel of his teeth beginning to melt.
He tore the vest open with his melting teeth, a small vial falling to the ground. Screaming in pain, Senziro released the Kaioshin, leaping backward.
"You must enjoy suffering, fool," remarked the Kaioushin laughed as his skin returned to its normal color and temperature. "Five minutes to go, Saiyajin."
Senziro fell back onto his bottom, his body scarred and burned badly from the superheating. He looked up at the Kaioushin and smiled, half of his face hidden beneath burns and charred skin.
"What is there to grin about?" He returned the smile. "Or have you finally given into your fate?"
"Never," responded the Saiyajin, lifting a small vial up. "But its over for you."
The Kaioushin's eyes widened as Senziro opened the vial and a small burst of water struck the Kaio, soaking his vest thoroughly.
He smirked. "That was pretty clever, Saiyajin. But I'm not using any other Tool, so your plan failed."
Senziro grinned. "When I was head butting you… Didn't you feel us moving backward?"
The Kaioushin nodded. "What's your point fool?"
Senziro's grin broadened. "Sometimes, the puppet can manipulate the puppet master."
"What?"
"Take this!" He swung his leg at the Kaioushin's, sweeping the Kaio off his feet, making him fall backwards.
"No!" The Kaioushin screamed out as he fell into the River, the Itonami Waters that had soaked his vest coming into contact with the river's waters. He sunk below the surface, the multicolor water swallowing him up.
Gruff breathing followed by the patter of water crashing against the soft grass told the world of the Kaioushin climbing out of the river.
Senziro clenched his fist. "So Kaioushin… Who's more powerful now?"
"You damned fool," spat the Kaio in a harsh voice, "The price of power is high, something more costly than death."
Senziro lifted his gaze from his forearm and looked to the Kaio, who's expression had grown soft. The Kaio returned the look, staring into the Saiyajin's eyes intensely.
"An unshakable determination… I once had that look in my eyes Saiyajin," muttered the Kaio softly. "The price of too much power is being forgotten for who you were… To be remembered forever as greedy, arrogant, and corrupt." He smiled weakly. "And even in death I will see no freedom."
Senziro stared at him perplexed. "I'm confused, what the hell are you going on about now?"
"I only wanted you dead because you would be more powerful than me… And that would be abominable. But I'm going to die soon, so what does it matter?"
The Kaio stood up, and pulled his earrings out, crushing them both in his fists. He turned around and walked towards the river.
"What are you doing now fool?" Asked Senziro.
"Sometimes the greatest power is being able to relinquish power…" The Kaio said, keeping his back to Senziro. "And without my earrings I am no longer immortal."
The Kaio sighed deeply. "How pathetic that I should die like this, outwitted by a goddamn monkey…" With that, he leapt out over the river, a vast beam of light enveloping him, destroying him instantly.
"What the hell?" Asked Senziro. His confusion faded as he beheld the Yin-Yang Stone and the vial containing the Itonami Waters sitting at the edge of the river.
"The hell am I supposed to do now?" He furrowed his brow, pondering the situation, until the dark Kaio's words pervaded his thoughts. He nodded solemnly and reached over and grabbed the stone, clutching it tightly.
'Sometimes the greatest power is being able to relinquish power…'
He took a deep breath and began to squeeze the stone tightly, applying the full strength of his super powered form.
After a few moments, the stone cracked, and a great wind burst forth, pushing Senziro back. He gritted his teeth and continued to squeeze, the orb shaking violently as it cracked further, light pouring out.
Senziro's muscles bulged as he held on tight, his body convulsing as the stone shook in his hand. He threw his head back and let loose a powerful roar, his aura exploding about him.
With a loud crack the orb broke in half, and a massive light spilled out, swallowing the world up…
---------------Scene Change ---------------
A soft hue of green colored a small, grassy meadow, the green contrasting the dark, gnarled, brown bark of the trees surrounding it. The trees held their many branches up to the azure heavens, their pale, yellow leaves swaying in a gentle breeze. Two figures laid unconscious upon the soft grasses of the meadow.
"Uhnnn...," groaned one of the figures, rolling over onto his back. He slowly opened his eyes, his jade green pupils looking onto an expanse of soft blue, cotton clouds creeping along far above him.
"Tairo!" Cried a shrill voice.
He sat up slowly, looking around. "Huh?" Before he could react, he found himself locked in a tight embrace.
"I'm so glad you're okay!"
"Pan?" Tairo shook his head and pushed her back, freeing himself of the hug. "Where's Senzai and the puppet master?"
"Who and what?"
He looked at her, eyebrows knitted in confusion. "What do you mean, 'Who and what'? He was just here! We were fused and everything!"
She cast him an odd look, then nodded smilingly. "Oh, I see. That bump on your head left you a bit confused."
"Bump?" He ran his palm across his scalp. He hissed in pain as his hand touched a throbbing bulge on his head.
Tairo pulled his hand down and stared in shock. "What happened?"
She frowned a little. "You bumped your head while we were playing under water… You were out cold for the longest time…" She smiled brightly. "But you're okay now!" She hugged him again.
"I was… out?" His face took on a dumbfounded expression. "You mean unconscious? Nothing crazy happened? No kidnappings… Teleporting?"
She cocked an eyebrow. "Umm… I think that bump did a little more than confuse you… You sound crazy."
He laughed and hugged her tightly. "Must've been a dream or something."
"Yeah," she agreed, returning the hug. "One crazy dream it sounds like." She released him and stood up. "Well, I think you're done for today," she added with a giggle.
"Let's go home."
"Yeah, I guess we should." Said Tairo, and the two took to walking. He paused for but a second and looked to the sky.
'I know that wasn't a dream…' He saw a white cloud go overhead, a thin black lining running across its middle. He smirked. 'Maybe one day we'll finish that fight Senzai…'
"You coming Tairo?"
"Huh? Yeah, yeah," he said laughing.
"Then you better catch me!" She said, taking off.
Tairo smiled at the sky one last time then took off after her in hot pursuit. "Wait up Pan!"
---------------Scene Change ---------------
A great, golden orb sat at the edge of the sky, resting peacefully on the horizon. Its dulling lights shone on a small terrace, not too far from the peak of a mountain. A sole figure stood alone on the terrace, watching the sun set ever so slowly as he waited for night to fall.
He stood garbed in black armor, its edges encrusted in gold. A silken red cape hung from his shoulders, a medallion hanging from his neck signifying his importance.
One solitary thought ran through his mind.
'Sometimes the greatest power is being able to relinquish power…'
"I'm sorry Serori," he whispered softly, gripping his medallion. "But I'm just not cut out for this king role…" He pulled the medallion from his neck and held it in his palm tightly.
'I will always walk with you, Senzaimono,' whispered the sky in a rich, baritone voice. Senzai paused. 'You will never be alone…'
Senzai's eyes went wide, and he clutched the medallion tighter.
'The price of power is great and costly…But the price of giving in to doubt is a thousand times greater.' A soft breeze blew. 'Have faith my prince… You will never be alone… For I will always be with you.'
He closed his eyes slowly and sighed deeply, holding the medallion to his chest. He nodded slightly and hung the medallion back around his neck.
The breeze blew again, carrying a lighter voice this time.
"Maybe one day we'll finish that fight Senzai…"
"Tairo…" Said Senzai grinning. "Yeah, one day." With that he turned around and retreated into the mountain, a gentle breeze blowing at his back.
"The price of power is too high, even for the most powerful of men," whispered the breeze to none, the world finally growing dark as night fell all across the globe.
And with that, I put 'The Price Of Power' on my "completed fic" shelf.
What an accomplishment! lol Well, thanks for reading, and I appreciate all reviews, but prefer constructive criticism... Anyway, The King is outtie...