Desert Planet
Vegeta stared at Gohan's Super Saiyan Two form for a long moment, saying nothing.
"Think you can reach this level?" Gohan teased.
"Heh. From what I know of the Saiyan prince, you're not the type to lose your nerve."
In Gohan's head, Vegeta should've been snarling something like: I, Vegeta, Prince of all Saiyans, will catch up and surpass you just you wait!
Vegeta blinked, then gave a thin, bitter smile. "The 'legend of the Super Saiyan' has been revived and that 'prince' business… maybe it's just the last scrap of pride."
"Don't sell yourself short," Gohan said, wondering if he'd pushed too hard and crushed the man under the weight of it.
"The prince isn't that fragile. Don't look down on me," Vegeta snapped, a spark returning to his eyes.
"Hah! That's the Vegeta I know."
"You didn't come only to spar, did you?" Vegeta asked.
"There's something else. I want your take before I move."
Vegeta waited.
"Beerus. You know the name."
"Beerus…?" Vegeta's whole body tensed; an old memory lanced through him. "He's the one behind Planet Vegeta's destruction. And I " his face twisted " I couldn't even muster the will to fight back."
"He's a God of Destruction. Feeling powerless in front of him makes sense." Gohan met his gaze. "But tell me, Vegeta have you ever wanted to kill him? To avenge our people?"
"What's that got to do with why you're here?"
"Everything."
"…I see." Vegeta exhaled. "When I first saw Beerus grinding my father's head under his heel, hatred burned in me. But time dulled it. Frieza's death… that helped. He was the one with blood on his hands. And even if I wanted revenge what chance would I have against a Destroyer?"
"The Namek incident Beerus came." Gohan quickly laid out what happened after Beerus arrived and the deal he'd struck with him.
"You're saying… you want me to be Beerus's pupil?" Vegeta asked after a long silence.
"That's right."
"Why me and not Kakarot?"
"You really see my dad doing the job of a God of Destruction?" Gohan snorted. "You're decisive, ruthless when you have to be, and absurdly talented. You fit the role if Beerus deigns to train you."
"So I'm your pawn to keep your life from being tied to the Supreme Kai's," Vegeta said dryly.
Gohan hadn't hid that part.
"I'm curious," Vegeta went on. "If I'd said I do want revenge, what would you have done?"
"Picked someone else," Gohan said evenly. "As for you I wouldn't interfere. Avenging your father is your right."
"You've got that much faith in me?"
"Saiyan potential doesn't end. If you can imagine it, you can reach it." Gohan's certainty was a palpable thing; it actually stunned Vegeta.
"Heh. The so-called prince has less of a warrior's heart than a kid." Vegeta clicked his tongue. "Fine. I'll take your place and accept Beerus's mantle."
"Don't talk like you're being cheated." Gohan grinned. "Aside from having your life bound to the Supreme Kai, being a Destroyer is top of the food chain. If you pass, others would kill for it."
"When do we go?"
"It's not time yet. And as you are now, Beerus won't even look at you. You'll need at least Super Saiyan 3 maybe 4 or to touch Super Saiyan God."
"Three? Four? Super Saiyan God?" Vegeta's jaw actually dropped.
"Mm. Give it a few years and those are all on the table." Confidence radiated off Gohan like heat.
"I don't share that confidence," Vegeta muttered.
"Relax I'll help. So, back to Earth with me, or keep wandering?"
"You said you'd help. If I don't go to Earth, how?"
"Fair point. Come on forget the ship."
Gohan caught Vegeta by the arm, and the two vanished.
Bulma had already folded capsule tech into his ship anyway.
The Lookout (Earth's temple)
"Dende "
"Gohan! You're here!" Dende ran over, beaming.
"Been a while." Gohan ruffled his hair.
"And he is…?" Dende looked curiously at Vegeta.
"This is Vegeta. I'm putting him in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber the Room of Spirit and Time to train."
"In that case I'll prep supplies. Two days in there is two years Senzu alone won't cut it." Dende trotted off.
"Thanks. I'm also bringing my dad to train with him. Vegeta, give me a minute."
"Hn."
Gohan blinked out to Mount Paozu, found Raditz and Nappa mid-spar, and remembered the chamber in this world didn't seem to have a headcount limit.
On impulse, he brought them too.
(He recalled how, in the original timeline, Gotenks and Piccolo fought Buu in there; if not for Gotenks's antics, Piccolo wouldn't have blown the door.)
"Dende uh sorry, can you make that more supplies? We've added two." Gohan scratched his cheek.
"Prince Vegeta!" Nappa stepped forward, respectful.
"Hn. Looks like you've improved." Vegeta's tone stayed icy.
"…" Nappa wilted.
"Enough," Gohan cut in. "There aren't many Saiyans left. Save the grudges."
"Tch."
"Gohan, you're not coming?" Goku asked.
"I'm sitting this one out. I already used a day. I'll leave you to it."
An hour later, Dende had everything packed. The group filed into the chamber.
Gohan watched the door close and exhaled. "Right. Time to visit that lecherous old man."
He focused, feeling for the Sacred World of the Kais.
He was going to unseal the Elder Kai. He'd stabilized at Super Saiyan Two; as for Super Saiyan 3, he'd tried it the form felt… wrong. Too much strain on a living body. Of course it did; Goku had perfected it while dead, where the rules of wear and tear didn't bite the same way they did among the living.
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