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Chapter 6: The Rescue Begins
"Dende, what happened?" Bulma asked the Namek who was standing quietly on her right. She gazed at him, waiting for an answer.
Dende hesitated, then responded, "Don't worry too much about them. Since their living energies were transfered into Vegeta's mind, their bodies have been put into a kind of sleep. They will remain like this until their living energies are returned."
Bulma gazed around the room at the fighters who were sprawled across the floor.
Piccolo was on his back, and Gohan was on top of him. Goten and Trunks had fallen side by side next to each other, their hands still connected. Goku had fallen forward onto his stomach, and one arm was beneath him. Krillin was on his side, his head on Goku's back. All of their eyes were closed tight, and they looked peaceful, their breathing slowed.
"How long can they stay that way? It won't hurt them, will it?" Bulma asked as she nervously rubbed her arms.
"I'm not sure," Dende replied solemnly. "I think that how long they are in there won't hurt them. I believe that the only way for them to be hurt is if their living energies are destroyed, or if their physical bodies are injured while in Vegeta's mind." Dende paused, then turned to face the fighters slumped on the floor. "They are on their own now. Neither myself or King Kai can help them except to bring them back when they have completed their task. All we can do is wait...and hope."
Bulma turned and sat next to Vegeta on the couch. His skin had become pale, and his face was twiching slightly. She reached out and took his hands in her own. She was surprised to find that they were cold. She pulled the blanket further over him, then sat hushed, thinking to herself.
"Hurry, Goku..." she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Goku opened his eyes slowly, letting them adjust to the darkness that surrounded him. Looking around, he could see his friends now waking up. They all looked a bit puzzled, not sure of where they were.
Then the memory came rushing back. "Are we in Vegeta's mind?" he asked the others who were just as unsure as he was.
There was silence for a moment as everyone began recalling what had happened just a short while before. Everyone was standing still, ready to defend against anything that could suddenly leap from the shadows at them.
"This isn't the happiest place, is it?" Krillin stated, breaking the silence that had fallen. "I feel as if I am being watched." He could not suppress a shudder. He felt weird, different than he usually felt. It's probably from the transference, he thought.
"We can't help Vegeta by just standing here," Gohan piped up. He walked over to the wall and grabbed the lit torch. "Let's go this way," he went on, pointing towards some stairs that led upwards.
The others hesitated, but then followed him, treading slowly and carefully.
A little while later, they finally reached the top, all feeling a bit fatigued. Goten and Trunks were lagging behind, breathing hard.
"Piccolo?" Goku turned to face the green-skinned Namek. "Do you feel any different or odd?"
"Actually, now that you mentioned it, yes I do. I feel much more tired than I should. That walk up the stairs shouldn't of even made me breathe hard." Piccolo replied.
He closed his eyes as if trying to sense something, but opened them, puzzlement evident on his face. He blinked, then narrowed his eyes. He put two fingers on his forehead as he tried to focus and gather his energy.
"Come on...come on..." he whispered softly. The others watched him, waiting. To their surprise, nothing happened.
"I...don't understand it," he murmured, now utterly confused. "I tried to summon my power, but nothing happened! I never felt anything!"
"How could that happen?" Goten asked after catching his breath, his eyes wide open.
"I think," Krillin responded slowly, as if thinking hard, "that this may be a part of Vegeta's dream that we are in. Perhaps his mind created a dream where our strength and powers were taken away."
"Maybe not," Gohan declared. The others turned and faced him, and stared at him, waiting for an explanation. "Maybe Vegeta did not create this, but whoever entered his mind did. Whoever it was may also have control over different aspects of Vegeta dream, such as our strength or ability to fight." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "If the person who entered Vegeta's mind could do this to us, most likely the same thing could happen to Vegeta."
"Do you think that whoever did this could also make himself stronger?" Goku asked becoming restless, wanting to keep going.
"Maybe," Gohan replied. He shook his head to clear his thoughts. "First, let's find Vegeta and make sure that he is okay."
He turned to see Trunks already in front of them, eager to continue. "Come on! We have to find him!"
Vegeta was on his stomach, sprawled out on the cold, damp floor. He was pinned down by Arawn who had both of the prince's hands held in a tight grip. Vegeta bit back a gasp as Arawn's hold became even tighter.
"There is no hope for you now," Arawn sneered, enjoying himself. He had an evil grin on his face, and his eyes sparkled violently. "I won't let you escape again."
He bent closer to Vegeta. "How should I get rid of you?" He leaned even closer, near Vegeta's ear and murmured, "You don't have any requests or...suggestions, do you?" Arawn sat up and put one knee on Vegeta's back. "No? Then I'll decide." He leaned forward hard, his knee digging into the prince's back.
Vegeta gritted his teeth, determined not to let Arawn have the satisfaction of hearing him cry out.
If only I had my strength back, he thought, furious. I would show no mercy!
His thoughts were interrupted when he noticed that Arawn had become distracted by something from behind them. His grip on Vegeta's hands loosened, but were still tight enough to where Vegeta couldn't escape.
Vegeta closed his eyes, preparing for anything. A moment later he heard a voice shouting, and footsteps running.
Without warning, Arawn suddenly let him go. He seemed to have been jumped on and knocked from the prince's back. Vegeta could now see Arawn in front of him, wrestling with someone else. He could hear scuffling and grunting coming from the dim light.
He jumped when he felt a pair of arms wrap around his neck. He was about to reach up when he heard a voice that was different than the one before.
"Papa!" Trunks called out happily as he gave his father a tight hug. Vegeta was surprised, and opened his mouth to speak. Before he could, though, another tall figure rushed past and joined in the struggle in front of him.
Vegeta pushed himself up, his back bruised and aching. Trunks was still hanging onto him, unwilling to let go.
He managed to sit up and turn around. He saw Gohan standing, holding a torch, looking relieved. Krillin and Goten were standing beside him, both grinning at him. Turning back around, he could now make out Goku and Piccolo still clashing with Arawn. They seemed to be holding out, but didn't seem to be fighting as well as they usually did.
"How did you get here?" Vegeta asked, confused. He was still trying to pry off Trunks who was not going to let go easily.
The others looked at each other for several seconds, still unsure of how to explain.
Finally, Gohan spoke up. "You...we..." he stuttered, trying to find the right words. He took a deep breath. "We are all inside your mind. This is just a dream. That guy that attacked you entered your mind, intent on destroying you. With the help of Dende and King Kai, we were able to enter as well by using our living energies."
"That guy may also have control over what happens in this dream, too," Krillin piped up. "That might be why all of our strengths and powers are gone."
"What, yours, too?" Vegeta blurted out, unbelieving. The others nodded at the same time. "We must get out of here." He stood up and looked behind him. "But the only way out is past Arawn."
"Who?" Krillin asked.
"That...guy who you said entered my mind," Vegeta responded, becoming irritated. "Piccolo and Kakarott will not be able to hold out much longer."
Vegeta was right. Goku and Piccolo were slowing down, tiring faster than normal. A few seconds later, they were both knocked to the ground. Before they could get up, Arawn had turned and was heading directly for Vegeta.
"No more interruptions!" Arawn snarled, enraged. He charged at Vegeta. His crazed screaming echoed in the dim hallway.
Vegeta evaded his attack and, along with the others, darted past Arawn and towards the exit. His entire body ached, but he tried not to think about it as he led the others down the passageway.
"NO!" He heard Arawn's faint wail. "You can run, but you can't hide!"
Vegeta could now see a light up ahead. He and the others headed straight for it, never slowing. As they came nearer, the light became brighter. They were now heading upwards sharply, then the floor abruptly leveled out.
A few moments later, they exited the passageway through a wooden door that had been broken off its hinges. Vegeta looked around, expecting to see the palace where he had grown up.
What he actually saw made him stop dead in his tracks.
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