~*****~

When the fight began again, my eyes could barely keep up with them. And with Majin Buu gaining the majority of the power, I wondered why he hadn't gone Super Saiyan yet. "Gohan! Look up!" Dende shouted when Buu sent a nasty energy blast towards him that would level even him. The wind picked up, nearly knocking us off of our feet.

Gohan got back up, and began his assault, although he wasn't landing a single hit. No matter what he dished out, Majin Buu came back harder, using the techniques from Piccolo and Maten equally.

"Oh, no--" Dende stammered as the dust began to settle. Gohan fell to a knee, drawing in ragged breaths.

"Now that felt like a Piccolo technique." Majin Buu commented. "I really didn't think the Special Beam Cannon packed that much of a punch. But maybe it's just that much stronger now that it's coming through me." Majin Buu knelt down in front of Gohan. "What do you think of that?" Gohan didn't reply. "Are you even awake?" Gohan still didn't respond. "You're letting them down again.

Gohan tried to surprise him, but the pink monster simply bent out of the way, and the fighting began again.

I gave a disgusted squeal when Majin Buu spit out a strange, white creature. "Did you see that?!" Mr. Satan yelped. "Majin Buu just burped up some kinda mini Buu!"

"It's disgusting!" I exclaim.

"What is that?!" Mr. Satan asked Dende.

"How do you expect me to know?" Dende grumbled.

Gohan avoided the disgusting creature as much as he could before he could manage a good attack on it. It exploded on impact, sending Gohan downwards. "You can thank Maten for that technique." Majin Buu commented smugly. "I know my little Super Ghost could've spun a dozen different moves at you, but you just keep making it so easy, Gohan. It's kind of sad. I almost feel guilty." I hear Gohan groan in pain. "There must be something you're still anxious to prove, Gohan. How amusing."

"Oh, please, don't let me be dead," I hear Mr. Satan whimpering from besides me. "There's so many things I never did!" Dende and I share an irritated expression as he stops crying. "Am I alive? I'm alive! We've been saved!" He glanced down and looked around wildly. "Where'd the puppy go?!"

"The whole world is depending on you, you're the savior, and you're three breaths away from the end." My gaze flies back to Majin Buu, who's now holding Gohan by the throat.

"Where is he?! Bee!" Mr. Satan cries.

"Over there!" Dende shouts.

The puppy is running full speed towards Majin Buu and Gohan. "No, no-- Bee, come back!" I shout at him, hobbling over to tug my shoe off. I bolt after the puppy, ignoring the others shouting at me. Majin Buu has his hand held out to destroy the poor creature. I throw my shoe as hard as I can, and it knocks into the side of his hand as Mr. Satan kicks at Majin Buu's head. I grasp Bee and haul backwards, bracing against the rock behind me with Bee. Gohan manages to save us before Majin Buu deliver the killing blow. "Take the dog, take the dog--" I whimper as I hold it out with shaky palms to Mr. Satan.

"Oh, thank you, Mara-- Thank you!" Mr. Satan whimpered as he took him from me. We glance up just in time to see Majin Buu deliver a Kamehameha wave at Gohan.

"No, Gohan!" I yelp.

Gohan bellows out his frustration before breaking the rings binding his body from moving, and falling from the path of the devastating blast. Majin Buu and Gohan continue this one sided fight, raining debris on us.

"That's bad, that sounds like somethin' really bad!" Mr. Satan mentions when the sounds of someone getting beat echoes from the pit Gohan had been slammed into.

"You should grab the puppy," Dende suggests. "And get as far away from here as you can, right now. You, too, Mara."

"Don't you worry about me," Mr. Satan mentions. "I'm a master of Martial Arts, and I'm also packin' some serious heat!" Mr. Satan pulls out a literal gun from his shirt.

"What the fuck--" I stammer as I slip back onto my butt.

"As soon as Majin Buu pops his head outta' that hole, he's gonna be eatin' a lead salad!" Mr. Satan continues, aiming the gun at the hole.

"What the fuck?" I echo.

~*****~

The destruction within the pit continues. "Gohan can't continue like this." I murmur as I chew on my nail. The three of us are peering with in, trying to see what's happening, but all I can see is smoke and dust coming from the attacks.

A scream echoes out behind us. We whirl around to see Gohan on the ground, groaning in pain. "No, I'm coming Gohan, hang on!" Dende exclaims. "You're all right, I'll heal you!"

"Just hang on--" I murmur as I hold onto Gohan's hand, feeding what little energy I have into him. My brows furrow when my body begins to sag from the strain.

Gohan's grip lessens when the wounds disappear. "That's better." Dende sighs.

"Thanks, you two! Now hurry and hide!" Gohan orders to us.

"Come on, let's go--" I urge Dende and grasp his hand. I stumble for a moment before hauling him after me.

Majin Buu points his gaze at us, and fires an energy blast at us. Dende and I cower against each other as Mr. Satan fires his gun at Majin Buu, as if that would stop him. Just when I think we're going to die, someone deflects the blast meant to kill us.

"Ha, ha! What do you think of that!" Mr. Satan laughed. "That's some pretty sharp shootin', don't ya think?"

My gaze flies over and I feel a rush of relief. "T-Tien!" I exclaim.

"Is that really you?!" Gohan exclaims.

"Hardly recognize you, Gohan," Tien mentions. "You've changed a lot. Inside and out. Good for you. But I see Majin Buu did some changing, too."

Majin Buu just snorts. "Where's the hole these pests are crawling out from? Oh well, it's just more fun for me!" Majin Buu fires an energy blasts at him, but Tien leaps out of the way just in time. Clasping his hands together, Tien fires his signature move, the Tri-Beam blast. I duck down, covering my head from the raining debris. But it doesn't do anything to Majin Buu. "You're even weaker than the others."

"It can't be! He didn't even flinch!" Tien stammered. "This is worse than I thought!"

"Why don't I show you how it's done." Majin Buu sneered. Majin Buu extends his arms upwards, an a large, ball of energy appears overhead. "This one blast is capable of destroying you all. Can I get a volunteer to stop me?!"

"That's it, Buu! Our friendship is officially over!" Mr. Satan shouts.

"So, not one among you can stop me? Then the end of the Earth is on your heads!" Majin Buu laughs. He rears his arms back as he prepares to launch the blast. My eyes clench shut, as if that would stop the pain of being completely, and utterly destroyed would stop it. Majin Buu's laughter stops abruptly, and I blink through the tears I didn't realize had began oozing down my face.

"What on earth-- Dad! What're you doing here!?" Gohan bellowed.

My knees wobbled and knocked against one another as I gazed up at Goku. "Buu's body has been split in two!" Mr. Satan exclaims. I glance back at him for a moment before returning my gaze onto Goku. "I didn't mean to do that! No! What a shot! Oh curse my deadly aim! I'm too powerful! You forgive me, don'tcha boy?"

I roll my eyes and wipe at my face. "You're Goku-- where did you come from?" Majin Buu asked irritably. "You're smarter than the others to try a sneak attack! Too bad, that won't save you. Not from me, I've absorbed your friends, and taken their powers, and soon I will do the same thing to you."

"You're wrong, Buu!" Goku exclaimed through a devious chuckle that I didn't realize he could make. "For your information, I've got something that'll make you finally answer for every crime you've committed!"

"What?" Majin Buu snorted. He began to giggle. "Do I have to prove myself once again?"

Tien lets out a bellow of pain as he flies across the battle field, Buu's pair of legs at the end of his attack. "He was off guard!" Goku exclaimed. The legs fly up and reattach to Buu's torso.

"See what just one kick did to your friend?" Buu asked. "Now imagine what I'll do to you. I'm sorry, I interrupted you. You were giving a speech, something about making me answer for my crimes? Honestly, I was finding it a little cliché."

Goku just chuckles. "But you sure were quick to pull yourself back together, weren't you? I think you're starting to get a little nervous."

Buu giggles. "You wish! Let me see what you can do. I'm ready."

"Sure," Goku grins. After a moment, he lobs something at Gohan. "Here, catch!" Goku chirped, but his son is not one for catching, anything, at all. The small, shiny trinket slips into the rocks, away from Gohan's grasp. "Hurry, Gohan! Get that earring!"

"Okay?" Gohan hummed and began digging for it.

"Go and pick it up and put it in your right ear!" Goku shouted. "Then we'll join bodies, and beat Majin Buu!"

"Why do you feel the need to explain your plans, Goku?" I shout up at him. "Wouldn't it have been better if you hadn't disclosed what it was for?!"

Buu just laughs. "As if it honestly matters," He snorts. "Don't make me laugh. You obviously don't understand the power I have recently acquired! I could crush both of you."

Goku stammered. "Uh, wait! Time out! Can you give us just a minute, please?" Goku asks.

"Time's up!" Buu shouts.

Goku transforms to Super Saiyan Three instantly, and it sends me to my knees. He's not as strong as Buu, and that form will not last long. "Gohan, put that earring on!" Goku shouts at his son.

"I'm trying, Dad!" Gohan shouts.

The two are fighting, even with the efforts Majin Buu puts out to stop Gohan from getting that earring. After a moment or two, the fusion of Maten dissolves. "No, not now!" Buu shouts, and his clothes revert to Piccolo's cloak.

"Oh, Maten!" Goku exclaims. "The boys' fusion must have worn off inside Majin Buu's body! Now he's mostly Piccolo. You were playing against time, Buu. And you lost, you don't plan to beat me like that, do you?"

"I'm ready, Dad!" Gohan yelps, holding up the glimmering little earring. "Still not sure what this does, but I'm putting it on! Right ear, right?"

"No!" Goku retorts.

"Left?" Gohan asks.

"Forget about it, Gohan. There will be no need to join bodies anymore." Goku explains. "Majin Buu has lost over a third of his power."

Buu growls angrily for a moment before scoffing. "For your sake, I hope you brought some insurance to back up your claims! But knowing you, Goku, you probably don't even know what insurance means."

That slimy feeling from earlier came back. I glanced around, looking for the cause, until my eyes lock onto the deformed antenna on Buu's head. "Goku!" I shout. "He's going to absorb someone else!"

Gohan lets out a shout and is restrained by the pink sludge. "Gohan!" Goku shouted, trying to save his son, but he's absorbed into Buu's body.

Buu makes another transformation, until he's sporting Goku's traditional turtle hermit training gear. Buu laughs. "Awesome! I have way more power than I did before! Now, the only problem is you. right, Dad?"

"You idiot!" I shout at Goku. "Why do you always do this?! Is this some stupid Saiyan thing?! You're always underestimating everyone you fight!"

Goku whined. "I know, I know-- I'm sorry, stop yelling at me!" He shouted back. He glances over at us, a thoughtful look on his face.

Buu just laughs hysterically. "What are you doing to do now? Think, Goku! Both of your sons are a part of me now. Maybe we should seek family counseling?" Buu laughs again. "You know they all resent you for leaving, Goku! They're telling me!"

"That won't work on me!" Goku exclaimed. "You're the monster who devoured everyone we care about!"

Buu continues to laugh. "Yes, I suppose I did, but you were supposed to stop me." Goku just growls. "Oh, don't take it personally, Goku. Everybody fails. Your failure just means the end of the world!"

"Don't worry, if I get a chance, I'll get rid of that creep for good!" Mr. Satan whispers to us.

Even with Bee nestled at my side, and the familiar panic willing to send me into a screaming fit, I vaguely wonder if this dog even wants to put up with him. Dende just grumbles irritably.

"Well, only one problem, I don't have any bullets left." Mr. Satan says. "Pretty lucky for, Buu, huh?"

"Yes, lucky him..." Dende grumbles.

"Tell you what I'm gong to do. I'll give you a chance to join bodies with someone. You have until the count of five to find a suitable partner, so get moving!" Buu explains.

My skin flinches as something familiar appears on Earth. Goku is gazing at Mr. Satan as if he's the worst thing in the world, he rears his arm back as if he's made up his mind. "Goku, can you feel it?" I ask. "There's someone else for you to fuse with!"

Goku glanced back at me, his eyes wide. It's as if his own skin pricks and he notices it to. "You're right!" Goku agrees. "Thanks, Mara!" Goku chimes before disappearing before Buu could hit him.

"Coward! Where are you hiding?!" Buu shouts angrily. "Did he really think he could escape me? I'll hunt him down, no matter how far he goes!" Buu exclaims through his laughter. "After all, I don't have anything else to do!" Buu rockets off, leaving before he remembers we're here, too.

"That's it. He's gone," Dende heaves a sigh of relief.

"Hey buddy, did you see what that guy was trying to throw to me?" Mr. Satan asks. "What a time to try to get an autograph. That was the strangest thing."

"Oh, will you--" I growl, my hands clawing to strangle him. "We don't have time for this!"

"Wait, don't leave me here alone! I saved your lives, remember? You owe me!" Mr. Satan exclaimed as his arm winds around my waist.

My hand cracks against his face. "DON'T YOU TOUCH ME, YOU IRRITATING FOOL!"