This was not right. It should not be like this...
Those thoughts ran rampant through the mind of a teen as he walked through the streets of what was supposed to be a destroyed city, where people cowered in fear in hidden bunkers.
Instead, the city was standing tall, people were roaming the streets without a care, and his eyes stared wearily around, trying to pinpoint a face, any face, that he could tell apart from the rest.
None stood out, and he was antsy. He was supposed to return home, do his duty, and destroy the androids that had been making the life of his and humanity a living hell.
Yet none were in sight.
Bursting in to a powered run, he dashed through the streets, his feet ghosting against the ground as he flickered in to existence and disappeared again with such speed that barely an after image was left in his wake for the naked eye.
Skidding to a halt in front of the place he had called home for so long, he saw it in perfect condition, his breath hitched in his throat as he stretched out with his senses.
Everybody was around back, in the private living area of Capsule Corporation. Keeping his own power low, he carefully moved around the building, heading towards everyone he knew, and shouldn't know.
"Goku! Vegeta! Get out here! NOW!" That voice, it was his mothers, he'd be able to place it anywhere, and the shrill tone of the following voice was one he partly hoped to never hear again.
"GOKU! GET OUT HERE RIGHT NOW!" There was a rumbling in the ground that made him wince slightly, he knew when that voice got mad no one wanted to be nearby.
"Awww, but Chi-Chi!" Another voice, another one that did not belong, yet he knew so well. Voices laughed at it, so many voices he needed to see for himself.
As he turned the corner, he saw them, all of them. His mother, his father, their friends, and others that should not exist. Not now.
A miniature copy of Goku was standing with another teen his own age, with lavender hair that should not be possible to duplicate and in such a style that it was like looking in a mirror. Nearby, his old sensei was holding a woman in his arms, smiling at his father's silly antics, and watching them all.
Near to the pair, stood a young girl, a bandana wrapped around her mop of black hair, and a small smile on her lips herself, her looks almost a split between his sensei's and the woman next to him.
Near to the trio stood a group of four. One face he would always remember, yet have difficulty with. One of the reasons he had done the trip he had, the machine that was meant to be terrorizing the planet. Beside her stood a man that was smaller then her, but stood out with his shock of black hair, and barely noticeable dots just below his hair line.
Next to them stood two girls, one with shocking blue hair, much like his mothers, and the other...
God, part of him wondered if he really wanted to go back to his correct place if this woman wouldn't exist.
Blonde hair fell to her to shoulders, a small plait at the back kept it from interfering with her light blue eyes. Her body, while not overly muscular, was kept trim and slender. A body built not for fighting, but if anything, dancing.
It was then that he was noticed.
"What the hell?" The merriment of the moment was destroyed, everybody that was a fighter slipped in front of their loved ones, shielding them from any imminent danger, and they all locked on to his.
"T-Trunks?" The startled voice of his mother made everyone really look at him, the lavender hair, the dark blue eyes, and the body built from a years of training and fighting since he was a child. He hadn't even changed from when they had last seen him, dark blue combat pants, black vest, royal blue jacket with the CC logo on the arm, all set off by his orangey yellow boots.
The comment of his name was copied by many as his practical clone stepped forward, looking at him and the people gathered gasped. The resemblance was shocking, even to those that knew they were not meant to be in the same place and the same time.
They were the same height, same age, even their hair was split in the middle the same.
"This... This isn't good..." The clone spoke, looking towards his mother for some type of explanation.
"Tr—" She stopped, unknowing what to really call him, it would get far to confusing with both her present and... present?.. child in the same space.
"M... MT," he finally spoke, turning from the clone, to the bluenette that was meant to be his mother, but wasn't.
"What happened?" She spoke calmly, and people began to move from their jovial resting places to converge inside, to a place where the talk could happen better, and those with lesser brains would be able to have an easy retreat.
He followed them inside with barely a thought, but he did home in on the fridge, most importantly, the contents of the top shelf. Pulling out a cold bottle of beer, he popped the cap off, and moved aside, kicking the door closed with a gentle tap.
"I don't know." His voice was heavy, as if he carried even more of a weight on his shoulders as he stared in to the bottle, every eye was locked on to his, many of the younger generation having been told of the warrior from the future, and how he was, how with his help they'd saved the day once again.
Taking a large mouthful of the booze, he looked up to them all, and spoke in a sombre voice. "I left you all, entered in to the time machine, and disappeared in the time stream, it was a smooth ride, a small bump from somewhere, and then I landed exactly where I set off, out in the mountain range." He took another breath as everyone listened, he could already see his mother's brain processing it all, and Goku's vacant eyes as he struggled to grasp the concept of a stream of time having a bump.
"I assumed the bump was just where I was diverging from the timeline I'd help make for you all, but... I guess I got stuck in it. Now I'm here." Bulma slowly nodded her head as she sat back, next to his father, who wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
Gohan, his old sensei snapped his fingers a moment later, making some of the gathered people jump.
"If that's the case, then that'd mean you're stuck here. As if you moved backwards and forwards in the time stream now, you'll be following this path we're set on now." He frowned slowly as that all clicked in to place, and he sighed softly. "I'm really sorry Tr—MT." He smiled sheepishly as the woman beside him rubbed his arm softly.
"OH!" He the older hybrid jumped slightly as he again grinned sheepishly. "You haven't been introduced." He pointed to the raven haired woman beside him, "this is my wife, Videl." The woman offered a small wave to him, next he pointed to the girl in a bandana, "thats my daughter, Pan." Said girl waved while holding a guarded look on her face.
"I'm Goten." The young man who looked like a younger, more urbanely grown, Goku stepped forward, and offered a wave.
"I guess I'm technically your half-sister, or however it works," the bluenette that had stood beside the captivating blonde was now batched near her mother and father, "the name's Bra." She smiled widely at that.
"You already know 18," the smaller man spoke, smiling his wide smile. "In case ya can't recognize me, it's me, Krillin." He offered a wave as the blonde-haired woman beside him nodded slowly, her cold blue eyes watching the hybrid before them as he logged faces and drained his alcohol. "Finally, is our daughter," here, Krillin pointed to the woman that had captivated the hybrid's attention the first time, and still seemed able to. "Marron." She smiled softly, showing pearly white teeth, and she seemed even better to him in that moment than any other woman on the planet.
He nodded to them all slowly as he finished his alcohol, and heaved a slow, steady breath. "As most of you all know, but for the younger and newer additions, I'm Trunks, I travelled from the future, but for simplicities sake, refer to me as MT. While I doubt I'll be unable to make some type of impact whilst I'm here, I'll try not to interfere –"
"None of that, now!" Snapped his mother, breaking him off mid sentence. "You're a part of our family one way or another, and I will not let you wander the streets homeless, or drift away doing nothing!" Her voice was growing, and Vegeta slowly edged away from her, knowing about her tangents, having received far too many of them himself. "You will stay in this house, Kami knows we have enough rooms, and we'll get you sorted out for a job or school, whatever it is you want." She stood up, and strode over to him, poking him in the chest with each of her following words. "Do I make myself clear, young man?"
Her cold chips of blue eyes made him gulp and nod rapidly, and many suppressed snickers at how such powerful warriors were beaten down not by power, but by a woman's tongue.
"Good, now, its a perfectly good day outside, and I say we finish that barbeque we started!" Clapping her hands once, she spun on her heel, followed almost instantly by Chi-Chi as the two wives left to resume cooking and gossiping, followed moments later by 18 and Videl. The men dispersed, mostly to act all macho and drink beer, and the young adults stood in the room staring at the newcomer carefully.
"So..." Goten tried break the ice, and winced as his niece and best friend just stared at him. "What?" The glares continued, and he began to sweat heavily, eyes darting between the pair of them. "Oh... Is this about me telling Bra that you made out in the back seat of her convertible?" The teen's eyes widen as they turned to look at the young bluenette, who was staring at them with venom in her eyes.
"You. Did. WHAT?" She screamed, and then launched after the trio of now fleeing people.
The blonde that was left standing with the lavender haired warrior couldn't help it, and began to laugh at the scene that played out before her. The group of 'fearless' warriors that had faced up against the likes of Buu, and flown across space, were dashing madly around the people in the yard.
The time hopping hybrid couldn't help it, and a small smile spread across his lips at the sound coming from her lips.
Turning to look at him fully, her laughter died down slowly and offered him her slim hand. "Heya!" He smiled back up at her and gentle took her hand, some semblance of his life before, when his mother had told him about manners, and his sensei had instructed him on how to deal with women he had an interest in activated.
Raising her hand and lowering his head, he ghosted his lips softly over her knuckles and looked in to her pretty blue eyes, ignore the flush that crept across his cheeks, or the blush that illuminated her gentle skin.
"Hi..." His voice was low, his eyes transfixed on hers and the world, for a few moments, froze.
"GUYS! Burgers are done!" The booming voice Trunks' mother echoed in to the room, snapping them out of their daze. Blushes deepening, the duo split, heading towards the doors.
As they joined the misfit family that was the Sons and Briefs, MT watched, allowing himself, slowly, to relax. Although his mind wandered, wondering about his mother he had now left alone, the people he had been unable to save...
He was brought out of his reverie by his father, the man who normally acted as if he despised him, pressed a cold beer in his hand.
"I can't claim to know how you feel, but..." He struggled with the words; even after all he had been through, the Saiya-jin warrior still felt uncomfortable with these moments.
"Thanks, father." MT nodded his head slowly, accepting the bottle as he looked up at him. "It's just going to be very hard getting adjusted..."
Moreover, he was right, hours passed in to days, and days in to weeks.
The only shining star had been Marron.
He mingled with his fellow peers, finding out that, despite being of the same age, and in some ways a harsher upbringing, the Trunks of that present had little in common with him. Their taste in music, food, and past times. Even their taste in women was a stark contrast.
It was when time was etching on to his second month there, that things began to progress in a smooth fashion for him. His new friends had helped him to learn and do things he never had the chance to; Going to clubs, cinemas, the beach, and even the daunting prospect of school.
But he knew school wouldn't do him well. He was a born and bred warrior, the stagnation of sitting in a class room would drive him insane, as would doing an office job. So a compromise had been established.
Work three days a week learning the ropes of something he wanted, or he suffered a week long training session with both Goku and Vegeta in their gravity chamber.
Suffice to say, he opted for the first choice.
The hybrid began work along side his mother to start, and when that failed, he took to schooling for a few months, then on to being an errand boy. None of them made him stick, and each one he had resulted in nearly demolishing something or someone. He had never REALLY been known for his patience.
His new friends were worried for him, it was like he was in the throws of depression, but showed none of the typical signs, so they tried to help him as much as they could.
Finally, his would-be father took matters in to his own hands, having seen this happen far to often from back in his hay-day.
"MT." His single word brought the conversation of the weekend to a grinding halt for the group of friends, and everyone turned to stare at the Prince. "Come with me." It was a soft order, but an order none the less.
"Sorry guys, guess my times up." The young man stood, smiling to them all, and turned to follow his father. The others watched as the pair disappeared around a corner, feeling sorry for their friend.
As the two warriors progressed around the complex that was Capsule Corp., the hybrid noticed they were going lower and lower in to the ground. They'd passed the last window to show daylight twenty minutes ago, and still they kept descending.
Finally, they reached a solid steel door, without even a window in it, leaving it to look like a jail door. A centred handle rested in the middle, like those seen in decompression chambers, and the youth had a sinking feeling in his gut at what was to come.
Entering in to the chamber, he saw Goku standing to one side, his face grim and remorseful, nodding slowly to the young hybrid as Vegeta sealed the door shut.
The Prince of Saiya-jin's placed his hand on his future-present son, almost in a reassuring gesture.
"Despite what your friends upstairs think, and even the woman," here, MT had to smirk softly, as did Goku, some names stuck. "You are currently in depression, but it is not the typical thing they'd think of from here." He guided the lavender haired man in to the centre of the room, as the other Saiya-jin in the room pressed some buttons on the wall. "It is called Battle Withdrawal, akin to what the human's endure when coming off drugs, but it is the need, itch, for battle." He squeezed the youths shoulder once more before moving away, standing side by side the other full blood in the room. "And there is only one real cure for our kind."
The two took strange stances, staring at him carefully. His father's face had a tinge of embarrassment, Goku's with forgiveness. They moved as one, mirroring each other's movements in a flawless dance.
"Fusion," was spoken by the pair in perfect harmony, their powers resonating in perfect harmony, culminating in a blinding flash of light as their index fingers touched.
He'd heard about it, of course he had. When you're friends with two people who have their very own form, how couldn't he have? But seeing it was another thing.
The man who stood before him had spike black hair, with bangs hanging in front of his eyes, his facial features a perfect blend of both his father and Goku. The outfit, though, was strange, regardless. Orange puffy rings around his shoulders and neck, and orange detail running around the edge of the small, black, waist coat. The pants were sheer white, held up by a blue cloth, and tucked into black boots.
It was then the power hit him, so much power, it was insane! His body trembled, sweat rolling slowly down the back of his neck as he suddenly felt his entire body become solid with a mix of fear and awe.
"The cure," the new being spoke in a dual voice, a blend of both Vegeta's and Goku's, both running in perfect sync to one another, in no different tones. "Is to suffer the power brink." Seeing the suddenly confused look that flitted across MT's eyes, he sighed slowly, elaborating. "When a Saiya-jin is pushed beyond his limits, and is utterly beaten, to the point where his life hangs in the balance, that is the power brink."
MT's eyes widened, and knowing what was to come, he pushed himself, his power, that burned through his veins, and itched for release, flowed with a renewed cause, burning away his senses and roaring around him in a golden hue, his power enveloping and climbing as his muscles bulged, his power peaked, and his hair spiked.
But the being before was already moving. With hardly a chance to block, the hybrid found himself smashed to the ground, the power he'd been gathering bit back, trying to once more assenced, and once more he was beaten aside.
It became a game of cat and mouse in a box. Until, finally, with a snap of a kick, shattering the hybrids arm, he managed it, breaking through the restraint and ascending in to his full powered form, he lashed back, disregarding his broken limb as dead weight.
The fight that ensued was quick, violent, and ended with only a single victor.
MT fell to the ground, his body covered in bruises, his golden power that had finally peeked out collapsed in to him. His energy level's were destroyed, his life force hanging on by barely a thread.
The combined warrior stared down at him as he split back in to the two warriors, looking at the youth with care filled eyes. Moving over to a panel in the wall, the Prince opened it, showing a stock pile of small green beans, taking one and moving back to the youth, he forced it inside of his mouth, making him eat it slowly.
Goku sighed as he sensed MT's power returning, stronger than before, but finally calm. Looking to Vegeta, he nodded at him, before the two carried the youth out of the room, and back up to the world upstairs.
When the youth finally opened his dark blue eyes, he stared at the ceiling, the fight that he had just been in what felt like moments before forcing him to cringe. He had been trounced soundly, but he was fine with it. He could feel his body relax fully, something that hadn't happened in a long while, and slowly, a smile crept across his lips.
"Morning." The soft, gentle voice made him turn, looking up at his blonde beauty. The smile reaching his eyes after what felt like a life time as he took her in.
"Morning." He replied in barely a whisper, taking her in. Her black t-shirt promoting a band they both liked, Bon Jovi, and the short denim skirt atop of black legging's, her hair hung loose in a single pony tail.
Slowly shifting in to a sitting position, the hybrid let out a slow breath, as he looked to the window, the city bustling in the background beyond the reach of the back yard of the building.
"Are you feeling better now?" Her voice was gentle, almost worried in a way. He couldn't but let a soft sigh escape his lips.
"Much. I guess dad really knew what to do." He turned to look at her, a small spark in his eyes. "Ermm.." He suddenly felt all his teenage years, his hormones, everything that he'd suppressed because of having to fight, flood his senses as he took in the woman before him. Her head tilted to one side, as if beckoning him to talk more, her gentle blue eyes staring in to his darker ones.
The lump in his throat made it hard for him to swallow, but he managed, somehow. "Would..." He took a deep breath, his voice sounded pathetic, but he pushed on. He'd faced the Androids, he'd faced Cell, he could talk to a woman, damnit! "Would you like to go out this Saturday?" He closed his eyes, his voice sounded strained even to his ears, and he missed the bright smile that flitted across her lips, and the slight blush that came to her cheeks.
He was finally asking her out, not as part of the group, but together, alone.
"Sure." It was just above a whisper, and he smiled, opening his eyes as a faint blush sneaked along his cheeks as he looked at her. Strands of golden hair fell across her eyes as she looked down, her hands playing with themselves.
Reaching out with a hand, he slowly lifted her head, and brushed her hair aside, smiling warmly at her. "Its a date then." He'd sealed the deal, and the blush that filled both their cheeks was making them glad they were alone.
The weekend was slow to arrive, and MT found his mind now focused on two things. Making his life better here, and the date with Marron. He managed to settle down, and focus on making a life for himself in this time after nearly a year had passed, he worked for his mother, while also beginning to learn the full ins and outs of the R&D department, taking after his mother truly.
Finally, after what felt like months, but had only been a week, Saturday finally strolled around.
Checking himself over one last time in the mirror inside of his bedroom, the youth took himself in, his copy chuckling at him from the door way as their sister fussed over his outfit of choice.
It was simple attire, a deep blue short-sleeved shirt that, apparently, brought out his eyes, and complimented his hair, or so his sister had said. A pair of black jeans fastened with a belt, the buckle that of an eagle, finished his pants off. Clean black shoes finished his outfit, yet his sister erm-ed and ahh-ed over something that was apparently 'missing' from the outfit.
"AH-HA! She leapt back, and then headed for her other brother's room, ignoring the protests that were shot her way as she pulled open a drawer, making an appalled face at the contents before grabbing a box. Closing the drawer gingerly, she moved away from it, as if afraid she might catch something.
"Kami, Trunks, couldn't he be like a normal guy and keep your porn under your mattress or something?" The comment was said with disgust as her real brother blushed beet red, and caused MT to laugh, breaking off some of his nerves at last.
Moving over to her part brother, she opened the box, and pulled out a chain with a pendant on the end, it was of a sword as dark as night wrapped in a rose. She smiled as she fastened it around his neck and stood back, nodding her head.
"Trunks never wore it, despite it being a birthday present from me, so you can have it." She smiled, and sent a side long glare at the aforementioned brother who gulped just a little too loudly.
Smiling at the brother and sister, he looked in to the mirror and felt ready. "Thanks guys." Turning to them, he grinned, ruffling Bra's straight blue hair, before dashing out of the room, Trunks following after him because of the verbal abuse being hurled from the young woman's mouth.
With a grin to his near clone, MT darted one way, while he went the other, MT heading for the front where the car he had arranged to borrow from his mother was waiting.
As he slowed his pace to a walk, he felt his nerves wrapping around his gut, and he longed for a sparring session, even a fight, just to avoid the nerves. But, he knew it wouldn't happen.
Taking a deep breath as he went outside, he saw the car of his choice waiting at the curb, his father leaning against the hood as he looked at him.
"You look good." Those three words were about as good as he was going to get any time soon from him, and the lavender haired youth smiled as the Prince threw the keys to him. "Don't scratch it." The words were a threat veiled in pleasantries, which translated to: "So much as a knick, and I'll make what happened before look like a walk in the park."
Gulping and nodding his head to his father, the hybrid watched as he pushed off, walking away to his own woman. MT let a shaky breath escape his lips once more as he slid in to the car, his stomach doing its own fight inside of him at the prospect of still not having gotten to the girl yet.
Starting up the car and shifting in to drive, he moved off, heading across town to the place her family stayed during school time.
Passing by street signs, he finalised the plans he had made over the course of the week, running through them in his head to keep himself calm. Pick up Marron, compliment her outfit, greet her parents, escort to the car, head to the restraint with a table booked for two at the docks, enjoy a pleasant meal, and try to dance. Make sure not to step on her feet, and impress her like mom taught me. Ask if she wants to see a movie, or just take a stroll along the pier, if latter time it right for sunset, then escort her home.
Nodding his head, he parked the car in front of the complex, he took another deep breath as he climbed out of the car and headed for her family's door.
Pressing the bell, he fidgeted while he waited for the door, tugging at his shirt, and itching to undo the top few buttons some more because he felt like he was suffocating. His mind suddenly started screaming at him to run for all he was worth as he felt a presence moving towards the door, his body standing stock still, and his heart pounding in his ears. He needed to go. This was a mistake. This was—
His thoughts fled him, and his heart stilled for but a moment as the door opened, and his breath froze in his lungs.
Why did he want to run? Was it because of this beauty standing before him?
Her smile was ever preset, a blush seeped across her cheeks, highlighting the faint amount of makeup that brought out her icy blue eyes, and heightened her cheek bones. Her white top with flowers decorated from shoulder to waist announced her curves as it hugged to her frame. A flowing dress whispered against her elegant legs, tanned, yet he rarely saw them bare like this. Her neck was home to a beautiful slender chain, christened with a clear diamond in a simple brace. Her hair, normally held in a pony tail, or plaits, was loose, flowing down to her shoulders in gracefully waves.
"Beautiful..." The word escaped his lips, yet he only heard it in his head, her blush heightened as her smile became more shy, the only notice he had spoken aloud. Clearing his suddenly dry throat, he smiled softly to her, the ever present ice blue eyes of her watchful mother standing along the hall way watching sternly.
"Thank you, MT." Her voice, like always, was gentle, like a warm summers breeze. He smiled at her as he bowed slightly, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles. Standing, he nodded towards her mother.
"Eighteen, a pleasure to meet you again." He offered a slight bow in her direction, and a slight smirk slipped on to her lips, nodding her head.
"Take care of her tonight, Trunks." She spoke with a commanding voice laced in deadly beauty, he knew it's many different threats, and nodded his head, blushing slightly. It also told the young adults that tonight, he was Trunks, not MT.
Taking his now girlfriends hand in his, he guided her out of the apartment, the door closing behind them from the android as he led her to the car outside. There was little to talk about, but the air was comfortable, with only a slight tension of friends becoming something more.
As the hybrid helped her in to the car, she offered another one of her reserved smiles that made him smile back. He honestly thought there was nothing better than seeing that smile.
He drove with care, the time filled with gentle words, and the looks that both sent each other, helping to build the small amount of tension in to the building of romance, where words weren't needed.
As he parked up at the restaurant, the pair climbed out, smiling over the roof of the car at one another as the fresh sea air assaulted their senses. Moving around to the front of the vehicle, the hybrid found his hand no longer cold, it was wrapped softly in the delicate hand of the blonde beside him.
Smiling down at her, he was amazed at just how petite she was, a graceful mix of both her father and mother. The pair headed in to the restaurant and were guided to their table.
The meal was splendid, and their talk was light, most of it spent just smiling at one another with thoughts of how the other looked. It was a pleasant evening over dinner.
During the lull in their talk between the main course and their possible dessert, the band played a fetching piece of music, one he wasn't afraid to dance to, and Trunks smiled at the blonde before him, standing and offering her hand, he spoke in his most charming voice, with a hint of jest to his words as he spoke the most clichéd words he knew.
"May I have this dance, fair maiden?" His efforts were reward with a tinkling laugh that made his insides melt, and his eyes dance with joy.
"You may, kind sir." She spoke with her most stuck up poise possible, and the pair smiled widely as he escorted her to the dance floor.
The dance was simple, slow and melodic. His hands resting softly at her waist, much like his mother had preached to him about having to do when she taught him, and hers wrapped around his neck, resting against his shoulders softly.
They swayed slowly to the music, and smiled at one another, the world falling in to darkness around them as they moved as if nothing else mattered except each other.
"You look beautiful, tonight." He spoke, and earned a smile in reward, her lips brushing against his cheek in a soft kiss.
"You look very dashing, yourself, Trunks." Her voice was gentle, reserved just for the two of them, and he smiled in return, leaning his head down and kissing her cheek in return.
They danced like that for a further two songs before slowly breaking apart, smiling and moving back to their seat, many hushed whispers echoed around the room as people observed the young couple.
As he helped her in to her seat, the hybrid marvelled at how his life had turned around. From fighting an impossible future, to dancing the night away with a woman he was infatuated with.
Their time in the restaurant drew to a close and they moved from their table, stomachs full, and hand in hand. As they exited from the doors, he turned to her.
"The next part is your choice, a walk, or a movie?" She looked up at him, and then looked around the beautiful scenery around them.
"A walk would be nice." Grinning, she then pulled on his arm, drawing them towards the beach that was near by.