Chapter One: Denial
A white haired, silver eyed Goku watched Jiren fall from the Tournament of Power fighting stage (or what was left of it), hearing Beerus call out, "We won!" A zip sound could be heard as Jiren's beaten form materialised on the spectator's bench. Goku was almost afraid to believe it, that their universe was saved. Slowly, he let a tentative grin slip on to his face, then a full blown grin.
"WE DID IT!" He shouted in glee, jumping up from his stance and fist-pumping the air.
"Jiren of Universe 11 has dropped off the fighting stage." The Grand Priest's chime-like voice drifted across the stage. "All of Universe 11's fighters have been eliminated. Universe 7, I am pleased to announce that your fighters Son Goku and Frieza are the last standing. Congratulations."
"Congrats!" His sentiment was echoed by the twin Lord Zenoes. With their shout, they raised opposite fists. Their fists started to glow with white energy, as did Universe 11's members. With a soft hum, Universe 11 phased out of existence, though not without their god of Destruction, Belmod, letting out an indignant, cut off screech.
"I don't believe it," Krillin breathed, "It's really over."
The Grand Priest spoke again. "With the closing of the tournament, Son Goku, the lone victor, will be the one to receive the wish from the Super Dragon Balls." He raised a hand. "I shall now transmit us to the place they are being stored." He waved his hand, and Goku felt a tingling similar to when he did Instant Transmission. The air around him shimmered black for a second, before he rematerialized in the middle of a grassy field. The sky was a soft lilac color, and floating high up in the distance were the Super Dragon Balls.
"Oh, hey, its like the Supreme Kai's world." Goku noticed. All around him were Angels, his team, Beerus, and Zeno's throne and guards. One of Zeno, the one he was originally friends with, floated over. Goku knelt down to meet his eyes.
"Congrats on winning, friend!" Zeno said. "Like the Grand Priest said, you get to wish on the Dragon Balls of the gods. Think it over carefully, cause you only get one!"
Goku grinned at him. "Actually, Zen-chan, if you don't mind, I'd like to give my wish to Vegeta."
Vegeta looked up in shock. "Kakarot, are you serious? You'd really do that for me?"
"Yeah, Vegeta. I don't really have a wish I want granted, and I know you want to see planet Sadala."
Zeno smiled. "If that's what you'd like." Flying up to the Dragon Balls, Zeno spoke in the language of the gods.
"Come forth, Dragon of the Gods, and grant my wish, pretty peas!"
With a rumbling boom and flash of light, a great writhing mass of golden light erupted from the Super Dragon Balls, snaking through the sky and taking up Goku's entire range of vision before solidifying into an absolutely colossal golden dragon. Of course, because he was planet-side, Super Shenron was actually rather small compared to his actual size.
While this was happening, Krillin walked over to Goku, tapping him on the shoulder.
"Hey, Goku, have a Sensu bean," he said, holding out the small, green bean. "You look like you need it." It was true, Goku was covered in a cloak of black bruises, scrapes, and even a few broken fingers. His nose was broken and he was pretty sure he was missing a tooth.
"Heh, thanks, Krillin." Goku took the bean, placing it in his mouth and chewing it up. He almost instantly felt reinvigorated, his skin returning to it's (now slightly scarred) peach tone. He even felt his missing tooth regrow. He sighed, relaxing a bit.
"Oh, look, Vegeta's making his wish." Krillin looked up at Vegeta and Lord Zeno. "That was really nice of you, to give up your wish like that."
In the language incomprehensible to mortals, Zeno restated Vegeta's wish. The giant dragon paused for a moment, his eyes glowing a deep red.
"Your wish has been granted. Farewell."
And with that, the dragon glowed white, transforming back into light and entering the Dragon Balls. The enormous, planet sized balls spun in a slow circle before launching off in every conceivable direction.
Off by the large group of people, Universe 6's team phased back into existence, only to be greeted by everyone with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Beerus was happy to see Champa again after losing his brother. Cabba walked over to Vegeta, who was standing apart from everyone.
"Master… On behalf of my Universe, I would like to extend my gratitude and invitation to Planet Sadala of Universe 6." Cabba said, looking up warmly at his mentor. Vegeta met his eyes and gave him a small, but sincere, smile before following him to the rest of Cabba's team.
Goku grinned at this. "Looks like Vegeta's heading off right now." As he said this, Vados took her staff, tapping the ground and transporting their team (and Vegeta) back to Universe 6. One by one, the rest of the angels all teleported back to Zeno's temple, until only the Grand Priest, Zeno, Whis, Beerus, Universe 7's Kais, and their team remained. The Grand Priest called for attention.
"I will now return with Lord Zeno to the temple. I offer a final congratulations to your Universe. Farewell." He waved his hand in an arc, and the three beings were gone.
Whis materialised his staff, peering into the orb atop of it. "Oh, it appears that a few of your friends have gathered to welcome you home. Come, everyone grab hold."
Goku walked over, placing his hand lightly on Whis' shoulder. Then he felt Tien and Master Roshi hold onto him. Whis tapped his staff once, and they were launched into the white dimension that Angels used to travel.
It took about 25 minutes total to get back to Earth.
"Looks like it's our stop!" Gohan called out, pointing down, where Capsule Corp. was just barely visible through the light of Whis' teleportation technique. Whis brought them in for an admittedly rough landing, destroying half of the lawn in the process. The team climbed out of the crater.
"MY LAWN!" Bulma's screech echoed clearly across the clearing.
"Oh no." Android 18 maneuvered herself behind Krillin, acting nonchalant.
Everyone greeted each other, smiling and laughing, making conversation. Goku and Krillin were about to walk over and join them, when he heard Whis.
"Goku, may I speak with you?" Whis asked him, a serious look on his face. Goku and Krillin turned to follow him to a secluded area by one of Bulma's topiaries.
"What's up, Whis?" Goku asked.
"Goku, have you not noticed yet?" Whis questioned.
"Noticed what?"
Krillin sighed. "Goku, you're still in Ultra Instinct."
Goku just stared at him. "I can't be. I let go of my ki right after I knocked off Jiren."
"Well, your unnerving silver eyes and white hair tell us otherwise." Krillin said.
"Why didn't anyone mention it to me? I feel completely normal!" Goku said defensively.
Whis looked at his quizzically. "You should be able to easily drop out of the transformation. Can you gather your ki?"
Goku raised his hand, easily gathering a glowing ball of silvery blue ki right above his palm. "I don't feel any difference from normal."
"Maybe it affects mortals differently?" Krillin offered.
"That seems like a reasonable explanation. Goku, perhaps your body is accepting this as a biological change, instead of a change in power. Your body's nerve reactions might've been permanently altered to react on their own, while leaving your ki intact, though with a boost." Whis explained. "There is one way to test it. Krillin, can you attack him?"
"Uhh… I guess." Krillin cringed. "Hey, Goku, buddy. If you really are using Ultra Instinct, try not to hit me too hard if your body attacks me." He settled into the turtle school stance, sizing up his 'opponent', before rocketing forward and launching into a rapid-fire barrage of punches and kicks.
Goku saw the punches coming, and felt his body twist between each individual punch, every one hitting empty air. He sensed a high kick coming in hard, and his arm raised to block it. His body retaliated, decking Krillin square in the chest with thirty-eight invisible punches. They were so fast, Krillin didn't realize he had been hit until the shockwave passed through his body. Krillin felt his ribs shatter… He went flying, spitting blood when he collided with (read: decimated) one of the garages.
"Oh, damn." He heard Tien say through the fog in his head. He saw Goku's mortified face through a bloody haze before he passed out.