Ok, Kass. It's not all bad. He's just a bit stronger than you....
The Saiyan woman stood with one arm tucked into her side in a tight fist, her other hand in front with her fingers bent into the signature fighting style of Goku. Her eyes twitched slightly, meeting the confident and narrow eyes of Vegetto, who stood nearly fifty feet opposite of her with his arms crossed in front of his chest. Kassava swallowed hard, the blistering heat of the open desert canyon the two stood in starting to annoy her senses.
A lot stronger than you. But he has to have a weakness like everyone else. Something to exploit...some way to beat him. Just...read his first strikes and go from-
Her eyes shot open at the sudden burst of wind blasting past her entire body, her already outstretched hand opening up completely as Vegetto's white gloved fist slammed into her open palm. Kassava yelped instinctively, recoiling her arm and soothing it as she slumped down to the floor in pain.
"The pain is from letting your guard down. No matter how strong the opponent is, directly catching the attack should never cause you pain. Only when you let your thoughts distract you, and you don't see what's coming until it's already too late."
Kassava quickly rose back up to her feet, letting out a thunderous roar in a quick swipe at the fusion's head. Kassava's eyes remained wide, staring at the confident smirk across Vegetto's face as he dodged the sudden lunge by merely cricking his neck to the opposite side. Kassava stumbled past him awkwardly from the blow missing its mark, but managed to quickly whirl around. She trembled slightly, taking an instinctive step back at the sight of the fusion having already turned to face towards her, his arms neatly folded across his chest once again.
"You need to stop letting your pride get the better of you. I can see its effect all too well: your expectations being wrong, the helplessness at seeing an opponent move faster than you can even detect. Hitting you harder than you expected, and most importantly, being stronger than you think you can overcome."
His smirk rose, watching Kassava slowly pull her arms back up into her fighting stance.
"A part of me knows that feeling all too well, seeing your pride waver in the face of an enemy beyond your own capabilities. Doesn't it just tear you apart?"
Kassava only grunted back in response, launching forward in a flurry of punches towards the fusion. Vegetto chuckled in response, floating casually backwards and swaying lightly from side to side to dodge her strikes.
"Anger won't give you the power you need to match me, Kassava. You continue to strike without a plan."
Vegetto suddenly stopped, his feet connecting with the ground. Kassava blinked, her attention diverting to her right fist tightly locked into Vegetto's gloved hand.
"Each strike is part of a chain, each link a method to scale your opponent's defenses. Each link being inseparable. Starting with me, catching your strike."
Kassava hacked suddenly, keeling forward slightly at the impact of the gloved fist buried into her stomach.
"One becomes two."
Kassava's head whipped upwards, Vegetto's fist having shot upwards rapidly.
"Two becomes three."
The woman bolted backwards across the ground, kicking up rubble from the wake of Vegetto's kick sending her flying backwards. The fusion slowly lowered his leg, standing still for a moment before slowly walking along the kicked up dirt towards the crater made from Kassava's impact. The fusion stood at the edge, his narrowed eyes glaring down at the woman struggling to her feet.
"Three becomes four. That is how you win a fight, Kassava. Using your ingenuity to read your opponent, and counter their strikes with expert precision. Something I thought you could do after seeing your fight with Raditz."
Kassava huffed heavily, her entire body trembling while she struggled to stand upright.
"Kaio..."
The woman slumped back down to one knee, her labored breaths nearly wheezes.
"...ken..."
Vegetto's smirk rose slightly.
"You're doing it again, Kassava. You know you're too weak to use the Kaioken now, surely you can think of a better plan than that?"
Kassava continued to huff in response, slumped over her knee before meekly speaking.
"I give up."
Vegetto blinked, watching Kassava slowly rise up to her feet with her head bowed.
"I can't do it...you're too strong. You were right about me, about my pride being the reason for all of this. I'm sorry...I shouldn't have tried to fight you."
The fusion stood silently for a moment, watching Kassava begin to slowly rise into the air and move towards the edge of the crater. Before reaching the edge, however, she suddenly blasted back down to the center of the crater with a thunderous sonic boom. Kassava cried out in agony, her upper body having dented into the ground from the impact. Her blurry vision turned up to see Vegetto slowly floating down in front of her with his arms at his sides, his strong glare barely visible from her point of view.
"You're not getting out of this that easily. You've spent your whole life quitting when things got too tough, always able to slip out of whatever responsibility you put yourself into."
Kassava meekly lifted her head, barely noticing Vegetto yanking her up by her short hair and forcing her to stand upright.
"You're going to have to finish what you started."
Kassava frowned, her legs trembling in her attempt to remain upright.
"I'm not...strong...enough."
"You can be. You have one option left."
Kassava glanced down for a moment, her own eyes widening slightly as the realization hit her.
"Super...Saiyan?"
Vegetto's smirk returned, nodding his head once.
"The power comes in response to a need. You will not ascend unless you draw upon a need for it, Kassava."
Kassava perked her head up at the sudden explosion of energy in front of her, the wind nearly knocking her completely off balance. Her eyes remained wide, staring back into Vegetto's now turquoise pupils while golden energy surged around his body. His narrowed eyes locked with hers, sparks of blue electricity swirling around the golden energy and occasionally striking outwards at the ground near his feet. Kassava gasped at the lightning striking near her own feet, the distraction causing her to lose balance and drop to the floor immediately.
"You've spent the last few years learning how to reject that pain, that desperation to get stronger, because you've used your brilliance to find a way out. Always coming up with a plan to win, with an escape route ready to take if things don't work out the way you want. But you find yourself lacking in the heat of battle, your strategic thoughts giving way to the pain you suffer or the fear that clouds your mind."
The fusion suddenly launched his right arm down towards Kassava, latching tightly onto her throat and rapidly hoisting her up into the air. Kassava dug her fingers into Vegetto's forearm, the skin covering his tense muscles refusing to break under her grip.
"Not this time. You will find the power to ascend, and you will overcome those fears that haunt you."
The fusion's narrowed eyes sharpened even further into a dark glare, his arm twitching slightly as he continued to forcefully constrict Kassava's throat.
"Or you will die."
==================================
The image of Vegetto choking Kassava continued to play out in the middle of the screen on the scroll, the four huddled around as they watched the scene unfold. The Supreme Kai of Time frowned heavily, her eyes wide in dismay at the sight. She turned her head towards Genn, her frown deepening.
The male Saiyan looked on with narrowed eyes, his expression stern at the sight. He kept himself propped up on the table with both hands, standing in the middle of the group and hovering over the Scroll.
C'mon Kass...
===================================
Vegetto grunted, his narrowed eyes watching on while Kassava continued to struggle in his grip. The fusion's eyes went wide in his frustration, watching Kassava's arms slump back to her sides before hurling her towards the ground with one arm. Barreling through the rubble, Kassava soon slid to a halt and lie still in the dirt covering her slightly, coughing heavily while Vegetto quickly landed down at her side.
"Is that what you wanted?! You were going to just roll over and die?!"
Vegetto snarled, his right foot viciously shooting forward and driving into her stomach. Hooking her with the end of his boot, Vegetto kicked her upright and launched his right arm forward, catching her left bra strap to hold her upright while her legs dragged across the ground. Kassava's own expression showed her dazed appearance, her body littered with the scratches and bruises of damage as she struggled to stay conscious, Vegetto's own enraged face centimeters from hers.
"All that pride and you were just going to throw your life away because you didn't care?! Are you really that pathetic?!"
Kassava continued to slump in Vegetto's grasp, the fusion suddenly launched his free hand forward into a fist and slamming it into her cheek.
"Wake up! You don't get to run this time!"
Kassava let out a small scream in pain, the blood heavily trickling down her nostril and dripping onto the dirt below. The fusion released his grip on Kassava's bra, letting her crumple to the ground. She trembled heavily, curling up into a ball along the floor with her face hidden. Vegetto's glare remained strong, the whirl of his energy and Kassava's sobs being the only sound in the canyon.
"Cry as much as you want, but it won't do you any good. You may not care about your own life, but he does. And you were just going to roll over and leave your poor, defenseless brother alone in a universe that will kill him."
Vegetto paused for a moment, his confident smirk returning as he slowly made his way up towards the curled up Kassava. He slowly knelt down, reaching out and grasping onto Kassava's hair. The Saiyan woman twitched heavily in fear at the grip on her head, her tear streaked and battered face inches from Vegetto's as he spoke with an ominous, dark tone.
"Maybe I'll kill him myself. After I'm finished wiping you out."
Kassava tried to lower her head, sniffling heavily still. Vegetto's smirk instantly vanished, his narrowed eyes strongly trained on her.
"Not even that, huh?"
The breeze of air billowing through the canyon shifted Vegetto's golden aura to the side slightly, the silence coming as a response. Vegetto snarled in frustration, releasing his grip on Kassava's hair. She quickly crumpled back up into a ball, bawling into arms.
Having stepped a few feet away, Vegetto sighed heavily and reached up with his right hand, pinching the bridge of his nose. His earpiece loudly buzzed shortly afterward, the fusion lightly tapping onto the button in the center of the small device.
"I know I was being extreme, alright? But she needs the push, just tell Genn to stay calm if he's-"
::Vegetto, it's me.::
The fusion's eyes went wide at the sound of Genn's voice, falling silent as the voice continued.
::It's alright, I know what you're trying to do. I've seen the history....I think you were really close. But the transformations...they only happened because people actually died. They had the push because of their deaths.....making the threat isn't enough.::
Vegetto turned slightly on his heel, staring down at Kassava with a frown.
"What are you suggesting then?"
A small sigh came back in response, the defeat somewhat clear in Genn's voice.
::I'm saying....I have a plan to give her that push she needs. But she also needs a little more than just you beating me up....she needs something more traumatizing to push her close to the edge. Then I can come in to stop it, and she'll snap when you start attacking me.::
Vegetto raised an eyebrow, his attention still locked on Kassava.
"Something more traumatizing? I nearly killed her a few minutes ago Genn and beaten her to a pulp. I don't think there's anything else I can threaten her with."
::....um....there is one thing...::
The fusion blinked hard in response, his questioning tone having fallen completely flat.
"What?"
::Seriously? You don't know?::
Vegetto turned to fully face towards Kassava, his gloved hand running through his golden hair.
"What is it Genn? I've tried everything to make her snap, there's nothing else I can do!"
::Vegetto, listen. What is the one thing you can do to a woman that is worse than death?::
Vegetto's eyes widened rapidly in response, the aura rapidly disappearing away despite the fusion maintaining the Super Saiyan transformation.
"Oh...that."
His eyes quickly narrowed into a strong glare.
"No."
:
lease! I know it's not something that's comfortable to talk about, but I've seen your fight with Majin Buu. How you cleverly faked your arrogant attitude to stop him from figuring out your plan to get absorbed...how not even the Kais could see your true plan. I need you to do it again...to make her believe that it's what you...want.::
Vegetto kept his eyes narrowed, glancing down at Kassava and nearly raising his voice into a shout.
"Are you really suggesting that...that....Genn, she's your sister!"
The voice in Vegetto's ear came out as awkward as the fusion's own, Vegetto's cheeks turning a slight red as Genn spoke.
::Trust me, I don't like this any more than you do! But we're out of options...she won't ascend any other way!::
Vegetto quickly peeled his eyes away from Kassava, grunting once again.
"Then she won't ascend, I'd rather her die than stoop to that...tactic."
::It's not like you actually are going to! You just need to fake a little hint at it and then that will be enough to-::
Vegetto reached up, quickly tapping onto the button once more.
"Supreme Kai, pull us out. Our training is done....she isn't going to transform anytime soon at this rate."
==============================
The orb sitting on a small pedestal continued to glow, the same image depicting the two warriors sparring filled the ball. The image of Vegetto standing with his back turned to the beaten Kassava soon led into an empty canyon as both disappeared into a blinding flash of white light, the atmosphere of their sparring ground a lighter version of the dark rocky terrain the orb sat in.
Zamasu's eyes had remained in sharp slits through the entire demonstration, never once peeling from the orb while Towa sat on her floating staff in a casual lean. Her expression indicated her immense boredom with the scene playing out, but her head perked up at the soft spoken words of the Kaioshin.
"Who is the Saiyan male?"
Towa lightly slipped off of her staff, landing gracefully onto her heels before walking up towards Zamasu.
"He is Vegetto, the Time Patrol's strongest warrior. You've fought him before..."
She kept a small smirk, waving her hand lightly over the orb. The empty canyon shifted into the scene of a ruined metropolis, buildings and rubble collapsing at the center of a massive dome of energy surging in the dark storm raging above. At the center of the dome, two beings were shown colliding a single fist into the other's. A hideously deformed Zamasu roared on the right hand side, his right arm having turned massive and into a purple gooish substance. While on the left, Vegetto matched Zamasu's roar as his own blue ki swirled around his body in his Super Saiyan Blue transformation.
"This was the body you used to face such a powerful enemy, being the first to actually phase him as a warrior. In truth, only the Gods of Destruction from other universes are currently able to overcome him in a straight fight. He is too powerful for you to face as you are now."
Zamasu's eyes never left the orb in Towa's explanation, narrowing slightly.
"He wears the earrings of the Kaioshins. Is he the Kai of Time in this universe?"
Towa shook her head once.
"No, he is merely the Kai's enforcer. He is a fusion of the warriors Son Goku and Vegeta. I believed you even met one of them."
Zamasu blinked at the mention of Goku's name, turning towards her without looking up past her neckline.
"Son Goku? But he is just a mortal: a fusion involving two mortals is not permanent."
Towa nodded once.
"He is now. The fusion may have ended when he was initially created, but the entity that is Vegetto became a reality when the earrings were used to create him. Once the two defused into their own separate bodies, Vegetto was technically killed as a result. Giving Shenron power over his being to bring him back to life when Trunks used the Namekian Dragon Balls to summon a powerful warrior to aid the Time Patrol."
Zamasu instinctively frowned at the explanation, turning back to the orb depicting their fierce battle.
"A fusion of mortals made possible by the incompetence of the gods who rule them...."
His right arm tensed heavily, balling his hand into a fist.
"Disgraceful."
Towa smirked at the reaction, nodding once.
"I hoped you would see things that way. He is your ultimate enemy, but for now, we need to focus on other matters to make sure you are ready to face him."
She slowly waved her hand over the orb once more, the scene shifting from the dark and explosive battle to a serene image of the same canyon where Vegetto and Kassava had fought earlier. However, instead of the two Saiyans, the scene depicted a young Trunks sitting on top of a large towering rock formation with a mature Gohan lying on the rock next to him.
"One of the weaknesses of the Time Patrol is in their nostalgic need to maintain another timeline aside from the main one they watch over, the history involving the Trunks in their Patrol. Here, we will use our forces to distract them from our main goal of reuniting you with your alter ego, Black."
Zamasu turned his eyes up from the orb, meeting Towa's for the first time.
"And after I regain my former strength, you do realize I will eventually destroy you as well?"
Towa bowed her head slightly.
"I have accepted my fate. However, your plan for justice will need the support of an army strong enough to shape the universe into your image. We are well aware that you will eventually remove us: I only wish to play my part in making sure your dream comes true."
Zamasu's narrowed eyes remained locked on Towa's for a few moments, his lips slowly rising into a small half smile as he turned his attention back towards the orb.
"Very well, let's begin."
