Chapter 4: Upgrade to Super Saiyan

Age 780

Future Timeline


It has been 6 long and hard months since Vegeta started training Trunks to prepare him against the Androids. Throughout the whole time, he was pushing his son to the limits of his physical capabilities, and perhaps even beyond, just like how he trains. It was very hard for any child, and especially for one who has never had any real training his whole life. However, there was quite a lot of progress made, and under Vegeta, Trunks's power grew almost exponentially.

Unfortunately, the Android attacks also grew during that time, and even the four main cities of the planet were getting attacked, thus they both found themselves fleeing and running much more often than usual. This frustrated Vegeta, whose mentality did not accept of such cowardiness, but there was nothing else to do. Even if he could challenge them, he did not want to endanger his son, who would definitely go there and fight in this mess, most likely get himself killed.

Thus, they both kept a low profile, while at the same time heavily training. However, Vegeta knew this won't be enough. Trunks's power has grown a lot, and fast enough to surprise even him, but without being a Super Saiyan, he still doesn't stand even a slight chance against the enemies that they will eventually have to face. It's impossible to hide and run forever - they both will have to fight the Androids someday. And when that day arrives, Vegeta wanted his son to be powerful enough to survive. That's where the legendary transformation is needed. But doubt was still in his mind. He and Kakarot both achieved Super Saiyan when they were adults, and even though Trunks is powerful and has tons of potential, he is still a teenager...

But that doesn't matter - they have to try. Vegeta and Trunks were both flying back home from the wastelands south to West City. This time, they both practiced various energy attacks, some important fighting techniques and quite a lot of sparring. He even had to use over 50% of his power when his son went all-out against him. He truly has greatly improved. But is that new power enough to achieve the legendary transformation? Well, there's only one way to find out.

After passing through the bulk of the city in the skies, the two fighters finally reached the Capsule Corp building. Vegeta told Bulma's father to fix the gravity training chamber while he and Trunks were gone. And it looked like he did - a large white spherical building with the trademark logo was standing next to the main headquarters. Not even bothering to say hello to his wife, the Saiyan and his son landed right in front of the thing they were looking for.

It was the same gravity chamber that helped him achieve his own Super Saiyan transformation, and can produce over 350 G. It bringed Vegeta back so many memories. Back when Kakarot was still around. He was still the arrogant Saiyan prince with an evil heart and a dickish behavior. After witnessing on Namek how great his rival had improved in 100x Earth's gravity, he knew he'll use the same method, just upped to eleven, to become as strong. And he did, to an extent, after forcing his girlfriend's father to build him this gravity chamber. In this chamber, he first achieved the Super Saiyan transformation, after witnessing Kakarot blowing up Frieza and his father into smitherens, and later realizing that no matter how much effort he puts in, he just can't beat his rival. Unfortunately, he later got into an accident and destroyed the chamber, and after many years almost forgot about it. But he didn't, and now the new chamber is in front of him, ready for use.

"...Nostalgia." Vegeta spoke out after thinking through it all. Trunks looked at him in a confused way, but Bulma noticed them both and ran outside before he could ask.

"Vegeta! Trunks! You're already here?" she shouted while running towards her son and hugging him. "You were late for over two hours! I was worried the Androids got you!"

"Don't worry, Bulma. We're still alive, and we're planning to stay that way for a long time." Vegeta replied, then pointed to the Gravity Chamber. "Is it already functional? I was planning to use it today."

Bulma raised her eyes. "Oh, yes, you can use it. We had a few problems with retrieving some design information, after all, it's been over 10 years, but we've fixed it."

Vegeta nodded, then turned around and pushed a button on the Chamber's outer wall. The door slowly opened. "Father, we're going to train here? But it's far too small and restricting for my liking, I feel like we are going to destroy it in one blow." Trunks asked. He seemingly wasn't aware that this building was the Gravity Chamber, but Vegeta did not mind. He'll find out soon.

"Oh, don't worry about that, Trunks. There's more than enough space for both of us." Vegeta slowly walked into the chamber, his son followed. They were both greeted by the white colored walls, a blue floor and a single pillar in the center. There was a small fenced out area right in front of the entrance with the gravity controls. Vegeta watched as Trunks around, only to see nothing of interest.

"Is this where we're going to train from now on, father?" Trunks asked. Vegeta nodded, then clenched his fists, went Super Saiyan and replied:

"Yes, just with a little twist." As soon as he said that, he pushed the main red button on the gravity controls, turning the gravity up to 300 G. Trunks suddenly succumbed on the ground, getting pulled down by the intense force. Now he knew what was the deal, and it was hard to fight back. Meanwhile, Vegeta did not seem to have much problems at all. He walked up right next to his son, then started punching the air.

"Dad, did you even notice? I'm about to die!" Trunks shouted out in heavy pain. "I feel like my blood is about to crystallize!"

Vegeta did not even look down, where his son was. "If you were a human, yes it would. However, Saiyan blood is adapted to high-gravity environments. It doesn't crystallize in such conditions."

Trunks was getting more and more frustrated. He tried using his hands to push his body up, but it was getting dragged down so heavily it's like it was glued to the ground. It felt like something was trying to pull his chest out. Not the nicest feeling. "Yeah, that's a nice thing to hear, but if you haven't noticed, I AM DYING OVER HERE! Can't you at least lend me a hand?"

Vegeta, a little annoyed by his son's constant cries for help and struggles with gravity, walked up to him, lifted his body up by the right hand and placed him back on his feet. "Use your ki to hold yourself in place if you have to, but if you can't beat the ground, how do you think you can beat the Androids?"

Trunks, after standing up, could stand a little better than before, and using his energy, he managed to hold his body in place. However, it consumed a lot of his energy. "No fair, Dad! You are a Super Saiyan, and I am not!" he shouted out.

"Fine. Then just turn into a Super Saiyan." Vegeta exclaimed in a normal voice, as if he wasn't even aware how those words sounded like to Trunks. "You need to focus your emotions towards that single goal - remember, it comes from a need, not a desire. You need to feel a need to become a Super Saiyan, not just a desire to be one. That was one mistake I made many years ago, on Planet Namek. I wanted to be a Super Saiyan, but I did not have a need to become one. I did not feel like I had to turn into a Super Saiyan, or else everything I live for will perish."

"But, Dad, I don't think I can..."

"Statements along those lines will only push you back from that power, Trunks." Vegeta interrupted his sentence. It seemed like Trunks himself can't get enough motivation to ascend. He needed to help. "Listen, do you think the Androids are as weak as you? They'll crush you if you can't ascend! Oh, and that is just the beginning... They will murder me, your mother, everyone you love! Everything you hold sacred is worth less than a Zenni to them! And if you don't want you swim in my own blood, then you have to become a Super Saiyan! If you don't - everyone dies."

Trunks's eyes, while he himself was barely capable to stand, started to water, and the tears dropped to the ground like a rock due to the intense gravity. "I have to ascend... and me and everyone will die to them if I don't..." he kept chanting to himself. The boy's aura was getting thick and blue in color, and his long purple hair were waving, as if being blown by wind, even though there wasn't any.

"Do NOT hold the anger, Trunks!" Vegeta shouted, while at the same time putting his left hand in front of his face. His son's aura was starting to gain a kinetic force, pushing away everything around it. Vegeta could still stand still, though, holding his stance. After a few seconds, Trunks's hair started spontaneously changing colors, from purple to golden, then back to purple. His father knew what is happening here, and was highly anticipating for the results.

His son was still powering up, and still crying. Thinking about what Vegeta told him. Suddenly, his body emitted a blinding flash of golden light, which enlightened the entire chamber. After it was over, Trunks's hair, which sticked up as well, and his eyebrows were pure golden. He was still powering up, as if he was unaware of the change. Vegeta's mind was in a conflict. He was incredibly proud of his son, at first. Trunks is a Super Saiyan, and at such a young age! Sure, his power is still leaps below of his, but it's a beginning. On the other hand, he was confused and a bit infuriated. It took him many years of training and pushing his limits to reach the legendary transformation of the Saiyans, and his own son becomes one with only a few months of training, though quite hard, and while being still a child! To the old Vegeta, the one with the proud Saiyan prince mentality, this would have been an insult. But to the new him, it's more of an honor.

Trunks could not hold the Super Saiyan for very long, he had just achieved it and he had already lost a lot of energy trying to stand still, so he quickly de-transformed, only after a few seconds of golden shining epicness, and fell down on the ground. This time, Vegeta had no reason to force him to stay up. He has already gained the power that he wanted him to achieve.

"I'm... sorry, Dad. I couldn't hold it..." Trunks spoke out while being almost glued to the ground due to the intense gravity.

"There is nothing to be sorry about." Vegeta answered and lifted him up. "I can even say I am proud of you, son."

However, this moment was quickly turned down. As in, the gravity chamber suddenly shut down. Nobody pressed the buttons. It was Bulma, who then opened the door and entered the room.

"I'm sorry for stopping your training session, but we have a big problem." she spoke, and suddenly an explosion, targeted in a nearby building, shook the area, as if to illustrate her words. Thankfully, nothing was damaged, but the sound was definitely heard. It as quite a while since the last time the Androids attacked West City - the center of Earth's resistance. Vegeta put down his son and said:

"Those bastards... Bulma, take Trunks to the emergency bunker. I'm going after them." He walked out of the Gravity Chamber and was about to fly off, when his wife stopped him.

"No, Vegeta! You're going to the bunker with us! Who knows what can happen to you this time - you might not get so lucky!"

Vegeta brushed Bulma's hand off. His heart was filled with confidence that was quite unusual even for him. "I have improved greatly since last time. Just watch, I will bring their scalps home. We'll hang them on the front door." As he was about to leave, he turned to Trunks and said:

"And Trunks, don't try to follow me. I'm weak when you are with me."

His son was speechless. As an another building was taken down by the Androids, signaling their location, Vegeta flew off. He knew his words won't turn him down from following him, but he can try.

Right now, it's time for revenge.