This is a story I wrote a while back that I deleted for one reason or another but it was requested to be returned so here it is again. I tried to make it be more philosophical and shit, but I probably failed. Still, enjoy or whatever.

There is nothing Videl Satan hates more than lies. To her, people who hide behind masks must have something to hide and thus should not be trusted.

Take her, for example. She was Videl Satan, daughter of the World Savior; all her life had been showboated in front of the cameras, on display for the whole world to see. While the fame and paparazzi often got annoying, she comforted herself with the knowledge that the world should know its heroes before it could trust them.

Not like that "Great Saiyaman" who showed up in Satan City a short while back. That loser in a trashcan used cheap tricks and light shows to show crime (a job, mind you, previously belonging to Videl). Sure, the weirdo had done some good, and the streets had never been safer; bow how could the people ever truly trust someone hiding behind a mask?

Then there was the matter of Son Gohan, the nerd who showed up the same day as the "Gold Fighter", another trickster vigilante, wearing the same exact clothes. While most people had all but forgotten about that blonde crime fighter, Videl could not get over the fact that the Great Saiyaman showed up later that day, nor how Gohan acted all nervous when his similarities to the Gold Fighter were pointed out.

Nevertheless, most of the school had merely brushed him off as just another nerd, and though he was definitively a geek, Videl just could not shake off the feeling that there was more to him. She did not forget how he broke the laws of physics to catch a baseball fifty feet in the air his first day of class, nor how he supposedly traveled hundreds of miles to and from school every single day. To top it all off, the kid always seemed jumpy, especially around her; Videl knew enough about interrogations to know when someone had something to hide, and Son Gohan was definitely hiding something.

Was Gohan Saiyaman? They both had similar mannerisms, such as placing their hands behind their heads when they were nervous. Not only that, but only a nerd like Gohan would think the "Great Saiyaman" was cool. What's more, Gohan would always rush out of class on extended bathroom breaks whenever Saiyaman was doing her job. Plus, Gohan seemed like he might be smart enough to know how to pull off all of those tricks, feats that she had to admit were impressive even if fake.

One thing was for sure, however: She would figure out the truth, no matter what.

"X equals five."

The teacher blinked in surprise while Gohan rolled his eyes, turning his attention away from the "complex" calculus problem and back towards the window. He knew that showing the teacher up like he just did would mean he would not be bothered for the rest of class.

''I'm starting to wonder why I wanted to go to school and be around kids my own age. I mean, they're just... KIDS!' Gohan thought bitterly, losing his patience for his peers.'They don't know anything about the real world or think for themselves. They just follow whatever their Lord and Master, Hercule Satan, says. I know I let him take the credit for saving Cell, but I swear, it's like he's a freaking god to these people!'

The frustrated Saiyan turned his attention to the perfect example of a devotee of the Church of Satan: Sharpener Johnson, ace student at Satan's Dojo. As if that meant anything; the school of Satan was designed from the ground up for it's creator, a seven foot tall musclehead. They're called Martial Arts for a reason; you can't just mass produce a fighting style for the masses. To be truly strong, one must dedicate themselves to the art, crafting their own unique techniques tailor made to their own advantages.

Listen to Sharpener or any of the other brainwashed disciples of Satan, however, and you'd think that a few hours at the gym after class learning the Satan school of fighting would make them stronger than methods of training centuries old. All it would take would be a few days of training in the Turtle style and you would easily be able to beat any Satan fighter; however, no fighter would dare try anything different. The mere notion that Satan was not the strongest fighter in the world would ostracize oneself from the world.

Gohan wouldn't have minded everyone's blind faith in the Prince of Lies if they didn't always try to rub it in everyone's faces. Sharpener would always proudly display his "beefcakes", chastising Gohan and other "scrawny" nerds for not having any visible muscles. That's not even taking into account his constant flirting and lame pick-up attempts directed at his friend, Videl. It was obvious that Sharpener was only interested in her because she was Hercule's daughter, and Videl clearly was not interested in him, but she always put up with it. Perhaps she liked the attention? After all, fame and recognition was all anybody cared about in this post-Satan world.

The bored student then turned his attention to Videl's other friend, the ever bubbly Erasa. While she was always nice and happy, she always seemed to live off her friend's fame, proudly bragging that she was the best friend of the daughter of Mr. Satan. It seemed like she was always surrounded by hangers on desperate to get into Videl's inner group of friends, gladly chatting and going on dates with people only interested in her because of her friend. None of them ever got too close, though; she'd always gently let them off and move on to another one. Oddly enough, the only person she ever let into their group of friends was Gohan, the one person who was not even trying to do so.

Then there was Videl herself... Gohan would be lying if he said he was not attracted to her. She was fairly attractive, even when angry (which seemed like it was all of the time). His Saiyan blood was attracted by her strength, the highest of any non ki using human. She clearly also had a knack for justice, constantly putting her own life in danger to help others. It was a shame, then, that she would always live in the shadow of her father. No matter how many robberies she stopped or lives she saved, she would never be remembered as more than Mr. Satan's daughter, just an extension of his cult of personality.

Not that she even seemed to mind it. She talked about her father more than anyone else. No, she was Mr. Satan's daughter and proud of it. To Gohan, this was a shame, as Videl was a legitimate hero but would not let herself break free of her father's lie.

Her constant interrogations of Gohan and his alternate identity have proven devastating to hi nerves, and her disregard for his privacy has resulted in panic attacks that only served to fuel her suspicions. Regardless, Gohan knew he could not tell her the truth, not about himself, nor Cell, nor her father.

After all, the truth hurts.

Sighing, Gohan slouched back in his chair. His gentle peace was disturbed by a sudden intrusion into his mind, causing him to fall back to the laughter of his peers.

'Gohan, get to the Lookout. NOW.'

Disregarding the laughter directed at him, Gohan's face paled at the possible reasons Piccolo would demand hi presence at the lookout, all of which had terrifying consequences. Gathering his wits, he shouted, "Bathroom!" at his teacher as he rushed out, leaving the poor old man shaking his head. These bathroom trips occurred way too often to be healthy.

Videl, meanwhile, raised an eyebrow at the class nerd's departure. 'That;s strange... he usually only seems to leave when I'm gone. Maybe he's just trying to throw me off? Well, nice try, 'Saiyaman'. I'm still on to you...'

The frightened warrior blasted of toward the Lookout as fast as possible, terrified at the potential reasons Piccolo would order him to the Lookout. 'Could it be another threat to the Earth?That has to be it. Why else would Piccolo be so urgent? Then again, I hope I'm wrong...'

He was now closing in on the Lookout, and could feel the Kis of the other Z-fighters- Vegeta, Krillin, Yamcha and Tien- fast approaching. 'This can't be good,' Gohan gulped.

One by one, Earth's protectors landed on the floating platform, where the two Namekians and their faithful servant, Mr. Popo, awaited them.

As soon as he landed, Vegeta snapped, "Alright, Green Beans. Speak."

The young Guardian of the Earth, Dende, almost whispered, "We just got some bad news from Otherworld".

"Damn, Nerd Boy needs to see a doctor or something," Sharpener grinned, leaning back in his chair as the class waited for their next teacher to arrive.

"Oh, come on, Sharpie, lay off Gohan, will you?" Erasa rolled her eyes.

"Oh, come on! Guy's a living joke. Why do you guys even hang out with that losely Satan hater? I mean, you got guys like me around," he added, not so subtly placing his arm around Videl's shoulder.

Absentmindedly shrugging him off, Videl couldn't help but see his point. Gohan seemed to be the only person in the world who didn't worship the ground she or her father walked on. While this was... refreshing, it only served to add to her suspicions about the boy.

There was just something up with him. He never seemed to care about his image or status, obliviously ignoring the taunts and teasing from her father's students in the hallways. What kind of guy would just ignore what everyone thought of him like that?

A gasp echoed throughout the room. In the mind's eye of everyone in the classroom, and indeed everyone in the world, was the unmistakeable visage of the most despicable monster of all time.

"Greetings, citizens of Earth. I am Cell, the perfect being, as well as the bringer of your destruction."

"Cell managed to escape Hell?" Gohan's eyes were widened in terror. He knew that Cell's ultimate form after his "death" was more powerful than he was during their climatic battle; indeed, it was only Vegeta's sneak attack which allowed the combined power of Gohan and his father to overcome the creature's immense strength. Gohan was no fool, he had been keeping up with his training over the past seven years; still, who knew just how much more powerful Cell had gotten in Hell?

Dende dimly nodded. "Yes, your father tried but failed to stop his escape attempt, and as soon as he escaped to the outer Otherworld he was able to use Instant Transmission to escape back to Earth. We have been trying to locate him, but he is as skilled at hidng his ki as ever."

Yamcha, looking as pale as a ghost, managed to stutter out, "B-but, Gohan and Vegeta should be able to beat him... Right?"

Taking a deep breath, Vegeta mentally prepared himself for what he was about to say. This would take all of his strength.

"No," he grunted, to the surprise of everyone in the group. "We all know Kakabrat is the only one amongst us who stands a chance against that abomination."

"W-what?" Gohan was, needless to say, shocked, :"Are you saying you're not strong enough?"

Shaking out of anger, both at the boy and himself, Vegeta snapped,"Oh, shut up! I'm not blind to the truth! You're stronger than me, you're the only one who can defeat that thing!" Without a second glance, the Prince of all Saiyans huffed off to the edge of the Lookout, leaving the rest of the Earth's Protectors gawking.

'I can't believe it's come to this,' Vegeta lamented, staring at the azure skies of the world he now called home. 'Me, the Prince of all Saiyans, standing down to let some third class halfbreed fight. But I suppose there is no denying it. Gohan is stronger than me. And somethings,' he sighed, thinking of two in particular, 'are more important than honor or glory.'

Gohan could hardly believe his ears. Vegeta, Prince Prideful, admitting he was not strong enough? Sure, Gohan knew it was the truth, that he was stronger than Vegeta. But to hear Vegeta say it? That was not something he nor anyone else who knew the man, would ever think they'd hear.

"Well then, Gohan," Dende broke the silence, reminding everyone of the crises. "Now we just need to find-"

The young guardian was cut off by the image of their foe invading their minds, his cruel smile taunting them.

"Greetings, citizens of Earth. I am Cell, the perfect being, as well as the bringer of your destruction. Seven years ago, one amongst you managed to defeat me. However, not even the gates of Hell could contain me, and I," he cracked a cruel grin as he raised his fist to the sky, "have returned!"

Throughout the world, life came to a halt as terror-struck citizens were fearful of their imminent demise. It was all they could do to hope and pray that their hero would once again came and save them.

"It's over, it's all over... The money, the fame, the women..." Hercule rocked himself in a fetal position, safely locked away in a basement where none of his servants would be able to find him. "The parties, the fans, the food..." He listed off everything he was about to lose, not even registering that the Earth itself was in danger.

"Oh god, it's all over... God help me..."

"I shall grant you one last chance," Cell's face curved into a taunting smirk, enjoying the fear he felt emitting from the farthest corners of the globe. "Send the warrior who bested me seven years ago here, at the site of our last duel. Here," he raised his fist in the air, "we shall determine who is truly the most Perfect being in the universe! Oh," he lowered his hand, his face contorting into its previous twisted smirk, "By the way, you have one hour. If you are not here- alone- within the hour... I'll turn this miserable rock to dust." With that, he threw his head back in laughter, every person on Earth forced to watch in terror.

His laughter soon subsided, and soon the image of Cell smirking was sketched into the minds of every person on Earth as he awaited his opponent.

"Don't worry," Sharpener stuttered, trying desperately to hide his fear. "Mr. Satan will come and save us... right, Videl?"

Videl turned to her friend, trying in a futile attempt to shake Cell's lingering smile from her mind. "Right," she managed to say, despite her doubt. "He'll save the day, just you watch..."

"Wow, is Gohan really going to beat that bad man, mommy?" Goten jumped up and down, excited at the prospect of seeing his big brother save the world.

Chichi, meanwhile, was more worried, shivering in fear in her chair. Still, her youngest son's unwavering faith in his big brother helped calm her nerves.

"Y-yes!" she forced a grin, gathering up all of her courage. "Gohan will beat that monster! Don't worry, he'll save the day, just you watch..."

"Are you ready for this, kid?" Piccolo asked.

"Not like I have a choice," Gohan retorted, forced a chuckle.

"Green Bean and I will be standing ready with Sensus," Vegeta spoke up, stepping up to his fellow Saiyan. "Gohan," he began, summoning up all his courage. "I want you to know that despite all that I have told you," he took a deep breath, trying to force himself to overcome his pride, "... You are a true warrior. The pride and strength of a Saiyan," he nodded, finally putting into words what he had realized all those years ago. "... but the heart of a human. And that is why I have never been able to beat you." He placed his hand on the speechless Demi-Saiyan's shoulder, shocking the boy even more at the endearing gesture.

"Now go. Go and save the goddamn world."

Giving an honest smile, Gohan nodded. "Right. Thanks, Vegeta." Accepting the grunt as a "You're Welcome," the young warrior took a deep breath. "Ok... Let's do this!"

'Where is he?' Videl wondered, trying to focus her attention on the clock and not on Cell's never wavering smirk. 'It's been forty five minutes already. Dad knows he needs to be there in fifteen minutes, right?'

As if on cue, the cool smile of Cell finally changed, as the monster's face jerked up in recognition.

"I was beginning to wonder if you'd even bother showing up," Cell quipped before turning around, revealing an unexpected sight. "It's been a long time... Gohan."

"Go...han?" Videl gasped, her mind racing.

Oh, how the truth hurts.