"Eat Lead": Final Bout

~ She's back! ~ Gohan yelled triumphantly in his head.

Broly stared in disbelief and dropped Gohan. He marched over to her and towered above her.

“How did you survive?” He growled.

“A super soldier would be useless without an advanced immune system.” She said smugly.

“What?”

“It means I have speeded healing genius.” She remarked. Broly glared down at her as she smirked in defiance. He lunged for her but she swiftly ducked and moved away. “Come on!” She grabbed Gohan and they ran into the darkness of the forest.

“You never told me you had special abilities!” Gohan barked

“You never asked.” She replied. They reached the edge of the forest and found themselves at Gohan's grandfather's house. They ran for the house when a sudden flash of light and a massive explosion destroyed the small building. They tumbled backwards and Gohan winced form his broken arm. Broly descended from the sky glowing brighter than the sun and angrier then all hell. “Ohhh…he doesn't look happy.” Brook said while the planet quaked under Broly's raw power. The world shook as Broly powered up and the ground swelled and undulated like ocean waves. The rocky earth gave way and the two heroes fell into an underground cavern. Gohan hit the rough walls and met the acquaintance of the hard stone floor.

Brook sat up carefully and rubbed the back of her neck and looked up at the fifty- foot drop. It was quiet as she stood, her Exhuman eyes quickly adjusting to the darkness and allowed her to see through the black. Water dripped from the ceiling and she saw an unfinished basement of sorts. There were wooden beams laying around and holding up the leaky cave. Rusted rebar was stacked neatly in a pile on the far side of the cave and a wooden platform held seven small spheres. She picked one up; it was smooth and an iridescent orange color with a single yellow star in the middle. Suddenly a stone topples from behind her and she quickly whirls around while drawing her gun. There stood Broly holding Gohan by his throat with his arms twisted and tied behind him.

“That little toy can't hurt me.” He said with an ominous voice.

“Yeah, well I need something to shoot at you. Let Gohan go!” She demanded. He just smirked at her ignoring her request.

“Kill him!” Gohan yelled to her.

“Easier said than done, Gohan!” She snapped. Brook slowly made her way around Broly her gun pointed for his head studying him cautiously. Broly stared her down and slowly his hands formed energy attacks illuminating the cave with an eerie green glow. “Another light show huh?” Brook remarked. He fired the blasts and Brook ran and dodged behind rocks and wooden beams. Splinters of wood exploded and rocks crumbled as she evaded. A stray sliver of pine launched itself through the air and lodged into her side scraping against her ribs. She tumbled into the stony wall and grimaced horribly in pain. She looked down and saw the large piece of wood sticking out of her side. She began to pull it out when Broly rushed her while tossing Gohan into the wall. Using the wall as leverage she pushed herself up and latched on to a crack and flipped behind him as he barreled into the stone causing the cave to shake and rumble. Rocks and debris covered him buying them a few minutes. Brook's steps faltered and she landed on her side further driving the stake into her body. She cried out in agony as the stake broke off into her.

~ Oh no…~ Gohan thought as he slid to the ground hurting but he managed to slip out of his binds and free himself. He ran over to Brook holding his arm. Shakily she stood and hobbled over to a wooden beam with Gohan helping her. She leaned against it and looked down at the wound. Blood poured from it. The piece of pine that was left was lodged deeply inside of her and couldn't be seen. She couldn't pull it out with out forcing it deeper and piercing her lung. Gohan had to do it for her.

“I thought you could heal.” He said in a panic.

“I can but the wound needs to be clear of debris to heal correctly. That piece of wood is in the way. You need to take it out Gohan I can't reach it myself.” She said as the pile of rocks Broly was buried under started to stir.

“But-but…”

“If you want me to help you I need to be able to move. I can't move right with this damn thing stuck inside of me.” She said.

“O-ok,” He slowly dug his fingers into the gash and she clenched her eyes shut tightly and bit down on her lip. Blood spilled out of the cut and slid down his arm as his fingertips felt the splintered wood sliver. He was barley able to get a hold of it by his nails and started to pull it out. She made a painful whimper as the serrated splinter tore up the inside of her rib cage, “I'm sorry, I'm sorry!” He said frantically after pulling out the five inch long sliver. She took deep breaths and looked down seeing the gash close up slowly by itself.

“Thanks, Gohan.” She said in an appreciative tone.

“Sure.” He nodded with a small smile. Just then the pile of rocks erupted with a bright flash of gold light and blinded the two. Heat overwhelmed their bodies as a large energy blast slammed them into the wall smashing through into another cave. Brook rolled to a stop and her body readjusted broken bones and mended a ruptured artery. She stood slowly as her eyesight regained. Broly's psychotic laugh echoed throughout the dark cave as he held Gohan's unconscious body high above his head. One hand clutched his ankle tightly and the other his neck. He gave Brook another insane smile as he twisted his hands in opposite directions.

“Gohan!” Brook ran for him and shot at Broly's chest. It was no use the bullets bounced right off. A loud crackling snap like the sound of a breaking pencil rang through out the cave making Brook stop in her tracks. Broly had broken Gohan's back; he killed him. He dropped Gohan's rag doll like body to the ground and stepped over him. Brook stared down in disbelief and she was still.

“There's nothing left now girl.” He whispered to her fiercely as his shadow cast a dark form over her.

“…Now you've gone and pissed me off.” She said angrily through clenched teeth.

“And what are you going to do about it?”

“I'm going to do the best I fucking can!” She yelled and she pushed the barrel of her handgun to his head and pulled the trigger. The force of the bullet caused his head to jerk back and Brook hopped on her hover board and flew into the other cave. She lifted a large piece of timber and sped over to him slamming it over his head. Twisting around Broly latched onto her arm and flung her into the cave wall. She crashed through it and hopped back to her feet while her body corrected a shattered arm. She raced for him and jumped, boosted herself up on his chest and slammed her foot into his neck. He stepped back a bit then swatted her away like a fly. The walls of the cave rumbled as she was hammered into the wall yet again. She shook herself loose and fell to the ground panting heavily.

“God, it's no use. I can't hurt him,” She muttered under her breath, “But I have to try again for Gohan.” She hopped back onto her hover board while grabbing a piece of rebar and sailed through the air for him. She aimed it like a joust. Broly held up his hand and the metal bar crumbled like paper on his palm as she slammed full force into him and fell helplessly to the ground. To her side her hover board had been ruined and her head pounded with a migraine. He knelt down to her height and grabbed a hold of her hair.

“You're like a fly to me girl. Give up.” He said and tossed her into the ground creating a small crater. He took her now useless hover board and crushed it into a spike. He bent down and straddled her and pressed his hand against her windpipe. “ I heard that you can't heal if there's debris in the way.” He whispered and drove the metal through her side skewering her. She cried aloud in horrible pain as Broly bent the two ends together over her stomach. “Heal from that.” Pain swelled through her as she gripped at the metal trying to pull it out to no avail.

A sudden orange glow filled the cave ruins and the place started to shake. Broly looked up and a pleasing smile graced his face as the dragon balls were activated at the stroke of midnight. He laughed and laughed as he walked circles around Brook as she scrambled to pull out the metal.

“This is it! Watch, girl as I become the most powerful being to ever live. Watch as I become God himself!” Broly hollered and Brook crawled over to her gun leaving a blood trail. “Shenron!” he yelled and a large stream of light twisted and curled itself through the cave and busted through the top of the stone prison and brought down the ceiling in a rain of boulders. Brook managed to shelter her self in a nook inside the cave. The dragon's form appeared scales first they gleamed and reflected with divine luminance, tufts of hair on his cheeks swayed in the air, and his deep red eyes commanded utmost respect.

“Shenron…” Broly awed at his splendor.

“State your wishes.” The deep voice demanded and shook the ground. Brook inched her way out of her hiding spot half- alive still clutching onto her handgun. She reloaded it shakily and gazed on with exhausted eyes. She looked over at Gohan's lifeless body and trembled.

“I-I have to…I have to do something,” She suddenly remembered what Gohan had said to her.

`He might as well be made of stone on the outside.' His voice echoed.

“He can be hurt from the inside. He can be hurt.” She said and she forced her self up in spite of her body's objections. She slowly started to run for him clutching onto her gun. “I can't kill you, Broly. I know that but I can stop you.”

“Shenron, I wish to be—“ Brook suddenly leapt onto his back and muffled his mouth to stop his wish. Her grabbed her and flipped her over onto her back causing the metal to further injure her. He grabbed her by the neck and lifted her high in the air. “I'm sick of you! I'm going to rip you apart!!” He screamed as his aura raged around him and the floor cracked from his power. He gripped on to the metal tied through her body and started to yank aggresively. She clenched her teeth together tying to push the pain away. Her fingers gripped on to her gun as she lifted it and shoved it harshly into his mouth shattering his teeth.

“Eat lead you evil bastard!” She pulled the trigger blowing his jaw right off its joints. Blood sprayed onto the floor as he dropped her and his jaw dangled. He couldn't talk making wishing useless. She smirked as she took painful breaths.

“State your wish!” Shenron roared angrily and the world shook. Broly looked at the dragon helplessly.

“I-I wish,” She took a shaky breath, “I wish Gohan and his friends and family back to life.” She said as her body started to fail. Broly rushed over to her and closed his hands over her mouth and squeezed anger flaring and his veins bulging. She reached up weakly and yanked the remnants of his jaw off the hinges. He stumbled back in horrible pain as a gentle sparkling light filled the cave.

“Wish granted.” Shenron replied. And there before her stood Gohan and his large group of friends and family, that had been killed by Broly. “Second wish!” the dragon boomed.

“I wish that,” She coughed blood and trembled, “I wish that the sayians had their powers back.” Broly ran to her grabbed her and tossed her into the wall and fired a massive blast at her. He turned to face the group and saw Gohan leading the pack. The young teenager stood there silent and a sudden smirk crossed his lips. The air around him snapped with electricity and the pebbles around him started to levitate. Gohan's eyes shut slowly and when he opened them back up the dark color of his eyes had bled into a bright green color. Cracks formed under his feet as his aura flared a radiant yellow. A bright flash blinded Broly and when he looked back Gohan's Black hair glowed a brilliant gold color.

“Third wish!” Shenron roared impatiently.

“Shenron,” Gohan's voice was smooth, calm, and collected, “I wish Broly was human,” Broly shook his head frantically and started to charge for Gohan, “Effective immediately!” he finished.

“Granted…farewell.” Shenron disappeared and the dragon balls sped into the sky, twirled around each other and split to the ends of the Earth.

Broly suddenly stopped in his tracks and clutched his head in pain. His muscles convulsed and started to shrink, his hair faded back to its pitch-black color, and his aura disappeared. Broly was now a human and completely defenseless. Gohan flew towards him leaving dust in his wake and grabbed Broly by his shaggy hair and flew up in to the sky. The human clutched onto Gohan's arm as he came to abrupt stop and the teenager's hands shifted to Broly's neck.

“You've caused so much pain, Broly,” Gohan growled through clenched teeth, “You've destroyed my family, my friends; you've taken my identity from me! I can't stand the sight of you.” Gohan squeezed on Broly's neck and he gurgled through his mangled mouth while clawing at Gohan's arms, “How does it feel?” Gohan said with a dark voice, “ How does it feel to be helpless? To be scared?” Gohan's hold tightened and Broly's windpipe started to crumble under the pressure. His legs kicked frantically as Vegeta, Goten, Videl, and Trunks joined Gohan in the air and formed a circle around the two. “I'm not going to let you go that easily though, you're going to suffer just like we did. You're going to hurt Broly and I'm going to make sure of that.” Gohan extended his arm and held Broly out by his neck and faced his friends. “…have fun.” He said.

The four warriors brutally beat Broly and tore him limb from limb quite literally. And when they where done. Gohan took it upon himself to deliver the finishing blow.

“ Pay back's a bitch ain't it, Broly?” he whispered to him just before he ripped the defenseless human's head from his shoulders just as Broly did to Videl all those months ago. Gohan tossed the remains into the air and incinerated them making sure not a single cell was left of Broly. They all floated down into the cave and hugged each other in victory. “Brook! You were so …Brook?” Gohan searched and found her nowhere in sight. Then there in the corner he saw her with a metal bar skewered through her and clamped down over her stomach. She wasn't moving. Gohan ran over and saw a pool of blood.

~ Oh no…no.~ Gohan sat down by her and hung his head.

Suddenly, Clay hopped down in to the cave with a worried look on his face. The warriors braced themselves cautious of the new comer. He spotted her and Gohan in the corner and rushed over.

“How'd you find us?” Gohan asked immediately.

“The microchip implanted in her has a homing device,” Clay barked out angrily, “Get the hell outta the way!” Clay shoved Gohan aside and knelt beside Brook. He saw her condition and his throat got tight. “Oh god… what did you do to her! What did you do!!” He screamed and grabbed Gohan by the collar of his shirt.

“I didn't do anything! It was Broly!” Gohan said trying to calm him down. Clay pulled his fist back ready to start beating Gohan when he was seized by Vegeta and pulled away. “ Get off me!! GET OFF!” Clay raged and thrashed and the prince held tighter. “ I swear if you guys are the ones who did this I'll make you all PAY!!” Clay screamed at them making his voice hoarse. Gohan signaled to Vegeta to let him go and so he did. Clay ran back to Brook and started to tremble.

“We didn't do it. I asked her to help me defeat an enemy and in the process she didn't make it.” Gohan said gently. Clay unbent the bar and pulled it out delicately as if he was afraid of hurting her. He tossed the offending object aside and waited and waited and waited.

“Come on heal…heal please,” he whispered desperately and ran his fingers through her hair, “No...no, no this isn't happening. Come on Brooklyn talk to me we're alone, we're alone we can talk. Wake up please, Brook baby please…” He pressed his forehead to hers and tears welled in his eyes. He held her limp body close to him and cried into her shoulder.

~ I never wanted this…~ Gohan's heart wrenched he knew the pain of heartbreak when Videl was killed. Brook helped him save the planet he owed her. She helped open his eyes when all hope was lost he had to do something.

“What's happening?” Clay said with a shaky voice and Gohan looked up. Brook's body was disappearing. “What's going on?” Clay shouted and turned to Gohan.

“She's going to Other World.” Clay grabbed for her but his hands grabbed air.

“Bring her back!” Clay growled and took a hold of Gohan's shirt.

“I can't.” Suddenly Goten tugged on Gohan's hand.

“The dragon balls, Gohan.” He whispered bashfully.

“Oh that's right! We can wish her back!…but you'll have to wait a year.”

“A year! I can hardly last a day without her what makes you think I can last a year?”

“It's the best I can do.” Gohan replied. Clay stared at the floor and thought hard. After a while he looked up at Gohan with exasperated eyes.

~One year later~

“Alright! Everyone ready?” Gohan said to his large group of friends with anticipation as they all stood in front of the newly constructed Capsule Corp. Along with them was Brook's brothers, son, and Clay. “Shenron!” Gohan hollered up at the sky and the dragon snaked its way up into the clouds and back down to earth.

“State your wishes.” His deep voice boomed

“I wish to bring Brooklyn Bronx back to life!” He said with a huge Son grin on his face.

“Granted.” Shenron replied. At the base of the dragon balls a soft sparkling light glowed and Brook stepped forward looking a little more than confused. A sudden burst of cheers caused her to jump slightly.

“Mom!” Gavin yelled happily and ran to her. Brook's face lit up at the sight of her son. He ran into her arms and hugged her.

“Oh Gavin I missed you so much,” Her voice was muffled as she nestled her head in the crook of his neck, “You've gotten so much taller.”

“You missed me? I was stuck with Uncle Matt and Ethan for a whole year. Talk about a handful.” Gavin laughed and Brook ruffled his hair while smiling a motherly smile.

“Brook!” Two voices yelled happily and simultaneously. She was suddenly sandwiched between her brothers as they hugged her tightly.

“H-hey guys. It's good to see you too.” She strained. They released her and Brook saw Gohan and his whole family. “Wow…didn't realize there was so many of you.” “And now we're all safe and sound because you decided that I wasn't a total nutcase.” Gohan laughed. He shook hands with her and pulled her in to a hug. A quiet voice suddenly cleared his throat and stepped up to them.

“Mind if I cut in?” Brook turned quickly recognizing the voice.

“C-clay…you're here?” She glanced at her brothers and worried.

“Don't worry, Gohan helped us patch things between your brothers and I. He's helped us through the year. Couldn't have done it without him” Clay patted him on the back and Gohan blushed lightly. Clay walked over to her and she looked up at him and smiled sheepishly. “It's been a while hasn't it?”

“Sure has.” They stood in an awkward silence for a while as everyone watched them.

“Kiss her already!” Bulma squeaked giddy with excitement. Goten and Trunks snuck up behind them and pushed the two into each other. They fell into a kiss and everyone clapped for them. Clay picked her up and twirled her around and kissed her again.

~ This is how things should be. Everything is back to normal now. ~ Gohan thought and let out a relieved sigh.

“We still have two more wishes guys.” Videl pointed out.

“Brook, Should we wish your dad back to life?” Gohan asked her.

“I saw him when I was in Other World. I spent everyday with him, and I loved it. He told me that you guys would wish me back and have wishes to spare. He told me not to wish him back. He said his time was over and that I was doing fine without him. So I guess I have to respect his wishes.”

“Well what about your mom?”

“I just got over her death. It took me twenty years to get over it. I don't think I can go another twenty years if I lost her again. So I'd have to say no to that one too, Gohan. Go ahead and use the wishes for you and your family. I still need to fix things back home I can't take any short cuts.” Gohan admired her reasoning and nodded. Goten and Trunks were free to ask for all the toys they wanted and afterwards the dragon balls spread themselves across the earth.

Brook and her family were getting ready to leave and Gohan walked up to her and shook her hand once more.

“Thank you so much for everything. I don't know where the world would be today if not for you. I still owe that money I promised though.”

“Don't worry about it. Call it a favor between friends.” Brook replied and Gohan smiled in appreciation. They all took out small silver cubes and unfolded them. Brook tossed hers to Gohan instead. “Here, to remember me bye. By the way I met your Dad too in Other World. He taught me a neat trick.”

“And what's that?” Gohan asked and Brook just smirked.

“This.” She flew off into the sky and weaved in and out of the clouds as her family followed behind her. “Good-bye everyone!” She hollered and waved back while disappearing into the sky.

~ Yeah, this is how things should be. Everything's perfect. ~ Gohan smiled warmly.