A Song of Gods and Goddesses

by Charta Alae

Prologue – Supernova

(n) a star that suddenly increases greatly in brightness because of a catastrophic explosion that ejects most of its mass.

The sky wept.

Everything lacked colour in her eyes, the normally vibrant hues in her world having been drained away ever since the day she lost him. Her husband—her light of hope. Not just her light of hope, either; he was a shining beacon to all those he knew and befriended, even to entire races light-years away from his little home planet. He was a hero. He was her hero, her love and life, the one that—despite his tendencies to vanish for months or even years at a time, leaving her with their son—she could never have lived completely without. Even when he was gone for such extended periods of time, Chi-Chi knew he was safe, knew he could come back to her. But now…

Now, Son Goku was dead.

His smile was like the sun: warm and gentle, lighting up her life without any real effort on his part. But now her sun was gone, leaving behind an eternally night sky. Now, everything was overcast, thick clouds hanging over her head, rain pouring down her cheeks and hiding those tears that just wouldn't dry. Gohan worried, she knew he did—he fretted and checked on her, he studied like he knew she'd always wanted him to, but it was forced. Her only son knew that she'd wanted the best for him, and she knew some part of him hoped that if he achieved what she deemed "the best" that she'd come out of this depression. That she would come home.

A trembling hand pressed against her still-flat stomach and Chi-Chi sighed, onyx eyes stinging with fresh tears. Soon, Gohan wouldn't be her only child. Her father, as well off as he was, couldn't possibly support another child along with her and Gohan. What was she supposed to do? How could she tell Gohan that not only did he need to worry about getting in to school, he also had a sibling on the way? Without a father?

Taking a deep breath, Chi-Chi stood on trembling legs and made her way to the front door with a murmured excuse toward Gohan, who stared after her with sad eyes. Those eyes that were so like his father's. Please. Don't look at me like that, she wanted to beg him. Mommy can't bear it—Daddy is gone and Mommy just doesn't know what to do. What do I do!?

It was raining, but Chi-Chi couldn't bring herself to mind the sensation of water against her skin. As she stumbled forward, her hands across her stomach, she let the sobs tear their way up her throat. She'd been hiding them for nearly a week now, pushing off a surely violent breakdown, a week since she found out she was pregnant—a mother needed to be strong for her boy. He didn't need to worry that his mother was a sniveling mess, weeping out in the rain, begging her husband to please come back.

"I can't do this alone," she wailed, one hand over her mouth and the other pressed against her stomach. She could feel her heartbeat there, and somehow it felt broken, jagged. It felt like a piece was missing. Chi-Chi couldn't even pay any mind to the chill of the rain permeating her clothes, clinging to her skin and hair. She was too weak, too lost in her despair. "I can't raise another baby and take care of Gohan—Goku, I can't do it. I—I—"

Darkness swallowed her whole, and she welcomed it.

Chi-Chi felt like she was floating in a river, or perhaps a lake by the lack of a current around her—although, she didn't feel the consistency of water when she moved. It was almost like she was floating alone in her own little world, weightless and warm. Dry. Safe. Here, she could cry out and no one would see, no one would hear. No one would worry. She could just stay here… forever…

"Don't give up."

Tired, coal-black eyes blinked open, scanning the blank darkness around her. Who has spoken just now? She was alone here, in this infinite dark. It stretched forever, all-encompassing, pressing against her heart. A thrill of panic swept through her body as Chi-Chi glanced around wildly—was she dead? What about the baby? Goku. Gohan. Gohan needed her—this baby needed her—

Suddenly a light exploded before her, billions of smaller lights zipping past her at speeds she'd only ever seen her husband achieve. Smears of blue, purple, white and red blossomed around her, cocooning her in warmth and light, and Chi-Chi's muscles relaxed. It was like she was wrapped in a loving embrace, one that she someone knew but couldn't place. Her eyes slid closed and purple light pulsed behind her eyelids, easing her back into unconsciousness as the warmth of this vivid supernova engulfed her enitrety.

"Don't give up."

Chi-Chi opened her eyes, a jolt of cold washing over her body as she realised her clothing was soaked through to the bone. She was lying in the grass, on her back, her hands wrapped around her stomach. The rain had stopped, she noted distractedly, and slowly the sounds of the night were creeping into her conscious mind. Crickets sang their mournful tune around her as she gingerly sat up, eyes drinking in the beauty that was the night outside of her home.

Underneath the light of the bright, white full moon above her, everything was bathed in a soft cerulean light. The foliage around her emitted an almost ethereal glow, and there Chi-Chi sat, entranced by the glorious sensations assaulting all of her senses. The sounds of wildlife in the forest, the smell of freshly fallen rain, the soothing spectrum of colours dancing through the night.

"Oh!" She squeaked, caught off guard as a little light blipped into existence before her very eyes. It died out only to come back once more, hovering before her, followed by several more. Suddenly it was like her dream—was it a dream?—all over again, with lights dancing around her as she stared. These lights were strangely soothing, calling out to her very soul, easing all of her fears and her worries. A little supernova of fireflies, all for her.

"I can do this." Feeling a new strength from somewhere deep in her heart, Chi-Chi pressed a loving hand to her stomach once more before she shakily made it to her feet. Steadily, the raven-haired woman strode to her home, opening the door wide with a genuine smile on her lips. For the first time since the loss of her beloved Goku, Chi-Chi felt like laughing at her son's alarmed expression. No doubt she was quite a sight, having been outside for an unknown amount of time and coming back soaked, wearing a very rare smile.

"Gohan, we need to talk."

On January 6th, age 768, Gohan swore he would die of a stress-related heart attack.

After Trunks had been born, Bulma had hired an on-site doctor to work at Capsule Corp. at all times. He was becoming as well versed as he could be in Human-Saiyan hybrids thanks to not only looking after Trunks' medical needs, but Gohan's as well. Now, he was getting even more experience—since early the morning before, Son Chi-Chi had been brought in, obviously in labour, by her panicking son.

Gohan had not only refused to the leave room—despite how he went green in the face at the sight of childbirth—but he had thrown an absolute fit every time his mother cried out in pain. The young hybrid boy asked a million questions per minute: was she okay, was his little brother or sister okay, was he even doing his job? It took everything Dr. Takahata had in him to not throw the child out of his delivery room and call it a day.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly as a baby boy was removed, wailing with his little brown tail wrapping around the not-quite-as-disurbed Doctor's wrist. After all, he had delivered Trunks. He knew what to expect.

Sort of.

The real surprise came from the scream his patient had emitted after he'd believed everything was said and done. She convulsed, her hands gripping the sheets as an abnormal amount of blood began staining the bed. Worried, Dr. Takahata easily handed off the infant to Bulma Briefs, who was caught between trying to help and fretting over her friend. That woman sure has some lungs in her, the man grumbled internally, wincing as Chi-Chi hit a particularly high octave with her shriek. Expert hands, shaking only slightly, went through the practiced movements of checking for any irregularities. What the…

"I need you to push for me again, Mrs. Son," Dr. Takahata called over her cries, cradling the small head that was already crowning.

"Push?!" Chi-Chi sreeched, lifting her head up despite her son's protests. "I thought—w-we were done with that part!?"

"Twins," he told her gruffly, his own eyes wide and mirroring her astonishment. Twins. During his study lessons with Vegeta, who had wanted to make sure the "imbecile" knew what he was doing with Saiyan physiology before treating his "heir," Takahata had learned that Saiyan twins were a rarity. Something like only one pair every several millennia. Usually they were held in high regard and treated as royalty, since their power levels normally dwarfed the other Saiyans easily.

"Twins?" Chi-Chi breathed as the pain died down, listening intently for the sound of her second child's scream. None came. "Is—is something wrong? Are they okay?"

"She," he corrected idly. A female Saiyan was also a rarity in itself, Vegeta had said. Typically women in Saiyan culture had several partners for the sake of breeding, as they were not often born. The doctor lifted the bloodied child for her mother to see. She was moving and breathing, yet she still did not cry. Frowing, Takahata easily wiped her free of filth and bundled her in a little pink blanket.

As both children were settled in Chi-Chi's arms, Gohan felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. His arms felt like lead and his legs dragged as he shuffled forward. Twins. He had not only a baby brother, but a baby sister. A baby sister to protect and shower in love while he roughed up his baby brother. Timidly, he stepped closer and pressed a hand against his sister's tiny head, fingertips ruffling the tuft of soft, black hair. Beside her, his brother stopped his wailing.

"So, what are you going to name them?" Bulma asked gently, stepping up opposite of Gohan. She rested a comforting hand against his mother's arm and smiled softly, no doubt thinking back on her own delivery of Trunks months ago. Her turquoise locks were up in a messy bun, several strands spilling out over her forehead and down her neck. She stressed just as much as he had, much to Vegeta's annoyance, and had not left his mother's side since she'd gone into labour.

"Goten, for the boy," Chi-Chi admitted softly. Her onyx eyes softened just slightly as she stared at her two newest additions to her family—her beautiful boy and girl, both as lovely as she could have ever wanted. "I thought Goku would—would like it."

"He would," Gohan affirmed, nodding his head and smiling softly at his mother as he blinked away the tears suddenly misting in his eyes. His sister's little fist coiled around his mother's hospital gown, drawing Chi-Chi's gaze to focus on her. "But what about her? Did you think about a girl's name?"

Chi-Chi paused for a moment, still gazing down on the sleeping face of her child, as she pondered on a name for a little girl. Her mind drifted back to that hazy night in the rain, how the lights in her dream had danced around her, and how when she'd awakened there were fireflies floating in the night. That strange dream with the star exploding in to life around her. She remembered the warmth of their light and the peace they had brought to her, and with a soft smile she turned her gaze up to her now eldest son.

"Hotaru," Chi-Chi told him firmly. "Our little Firefly."

So, this is my first project since the (honestly, lackluster) ending of Gift and the infant-stages of Obligation. This annoying idea wouldn't get out of my mind, and so I wound up typing up a prologue for the story. It will be at least two, perhaps three "books" long—each will be posted as their own individual stories, and their lengths will vary. I'm super happy to finally get this out on paper.

Now, to clear up a bit on confusion that may stem: Obviously this is pre-Buu saga. It'll get pretty AU from here on out, but I plan on sticking to all of the source material given to me not only by Akira Toriyama, but also by Naoko Takeuchi. The Sailor Moon side of this story will be 100% AU, yet at some points you'll notice bits of Sailor Moon canon mentioned. There's a reason for this, it will be explained.

And for those of you wondering about Obligation, it will be eventually finished. However, I'm currently doing a rewrite of, well, the entire Gift!verse, so that may take a while longer. My apologies.

I hope you enjoy!