maryomafyotu406: I have a scene where the villain Goten and Goku talk but that's for the next chapter, already written. It's something simple, but don't worry. Those two will have more talks as the story progresses. As for Piccolo and others, he will have his moment to shine later.
asimrockstar: Wait for the next two chapters, please. Be patient and you might like it.
Son Goten's day began ok, then turned strange. After the fight against the strange man that looked like dad but felt like himself, everyone was serious. He was told to come with them to Miss Bulma's house. However, there was one hic-hup.
"But dad, when mom sees I'm not doing my homework, she's gonna be mad." Young Goten pleaded. Son Goku cringed. He looked worriedly to the other Z Fighters whom were waiting for them impatiently.
"Uh, Vegeta" Goku put his hand together in a pleading form. "Could you please be the one to explain to Chi-Chi why Goten's with us?"
Vegeta was lost on why Kakarot asked him that, but nonchalantly agreed, as long as they could hurry up back to Capsule Corp. Goku mentally sighed in relief. Of everyone present, Vegeta was the least familiar of the horrors that Son Chi-Chi's fury could inflict upon a man. And if things turned for the worse, he would find out.
The group of Goku, Vegeta, Future Trunks, Goten, Piccolo and Krillin flew back to where everyone else awaited them and reported on what they had witnessed.
"So, Goku fought that Young creep and when he powered up his ki felt very similar to Goten's. And Young claimed to be Goten, too." Bulma frowned at the conclusion.
"That's pretty much it. Then a giant white hand came out of the sky, from the same tear in space that Young appeared, and took him away." Future Trunks concluded.
A pause. "Are you saying that Young Goku guy is actually Goten from the future? But Goten shouldn't exist in Trunk's timeline." Bulma gave a sideways look to the young boy in question. Said boy was standing awkwardly under the inspecting eye of Beerus. The God of Destruction and the angel had watched the match via the latter's staff so they were aware of the similarities in ki of the two. Therefore, Beerus had demanded on Goten being brought to his presence.
Goku gave his traditional 'not-to-worry' chuckle, yet there was a pinch of wariness. "There's no way. Their energies were close enough but 'Young's was much darker. No way that guy and Goten are one and the same."
"As naïve as ever, Goku." Beerus growled irritated, terminating his inspection of Goten. "I sense this boy has not a single speck of desire for destruction while the other one reeked of it."
"You can tell if someone wants to destroy stuff?" Goku interrupted.
"Indeed, now shut up. Like I said, your son is clean. For now. A person's energy can easily darken if they harbor enough dark thoughts and feelings. After all, you mortals change rapidly."
There was a great tension in the air following the statement, which felt more like an accusation. Vegeta and Piccolo remained in the silent sidelines, since this was a matter more on Goku and Goten. Little Trunks remained close to his best friend, quietly watching with uncertainty. Future Trunks began examining Goten with a scowl.
"Lord Beerus," Future Trunks used the Destroyer's proper title. He had offended him once and wisely avoided doing so again. "are you saying that 'Young Goku' is truly this Son Goten as an adult?" he pointed to the boy who cringed back. Goten felt he was being scolded for doing something wrong.
It was Whis who gave the answer to Future Trunks. "That is possible, however there is another possibility. If Young Goku truly is a version of Son Goten, he could actually have originated in your own timeline."
The time-traveler was taken aback. "My timeline? But he was never born there."
"True, but when it comes to disturbing time like you have done, rules tend to blur. Sometimes, constants on one reality that shouldn't exist in other can unnaturally manifest themselves." He brought up his staff and showed an image of a two-sided yogurt, left half was red and the right side yellow. "Imagine a two flavored cup of yogurt. One half is delicious strawberry jelly and the other is a sweet vanilla flavor. The two halves are two different timelines. Naturally and undisturbed, they never mix. However if you disturb the frontier, the two flavors mix a bit." The image showed a spoon moving from one side to the other, bringing a bit of the strawberry into the vanilla half.
"As I recall you travelled to the past two times before, first to give Goku the medicine which created this current timeline and then to help in the fight against the Androids. The second travel was like the spoon mixing the flavors a little. In other words, a tiny bit of this timeline that didn't exist in Trunks' could have manifested itself there and/or vice-versa. That tiny bit could be that individual 'Young Goku'. A Son Goten that shouldn't exist. An anomaly. And there was his rant."
The staff produced a recording of the fight and Young Goku's angry short speech: 'Do you know how it feels to wake up on a world where you don't exist because someone decided you were never meant to be?!'
"He said he 'woke up on a world where he doesn't exist'. This supports that Young Goku is a version of Son Goten that spawned erratically in your timeline due to this one mixing in yours because of your time-travelling."
Future Trunks was shocked and horrified to his core. Could it be that he himself created the menace that had all but eradicated his world?
Krillin chose the moment to bring down the mood. "Shouldn't we think of a better name for the guy, seeing as he's actually a Goten and not a Goku? How about 'Future Goten' or something?"
Beerus hmphed. He eyed both Future Trunks and Goten with a deceptively calm anger. "This is what happens when mortals interfere with powers they don't understand. Whether this 'Future Goten' or whatever you call him is a time anomaly caused by this blue-haired interloper, or this mini-Goku grown up and gone rogue, I have got enough reason to destroy them both for good measure.
"Then again," Beerus paused for effect, turning to Future Trunks. "there is the chance that foe is an anomaly spawned by this time interloper. If that is the case and he has been annihilating your world, I'd say that is a deserved punishment for your crimes."
Future Trunks clenched his teeth and looked downwards. The guilt of his past failures against Young multiplied. Now that monster's existence was potentially his fault, as well.
"Hold the phone!" Bulma demanded, bringing all attention to her. While she was glad Beerus had no thoughts of hurting her son, she was concerned about defusing this accusation on Goten. "Whis, could you rewind to what that so-called Goten said about his world?"
He nodded and the staff played the recording again: 'My world is the only real world! Not that god damned future! Not this B-grade copy!'
"There it is!" Bulma snapped her fingers declaring victory. "He called this timeline a phony one, too! Plus, he tried to attack little Goten. That proves he isn't our Goten."
Whis shook his head. "Remember, Bulma that everything we have conjectured so far is based on very vague there are facts to support the theory that Future Goten is a time anomaly, there's nothing to rebuke the theory that he is an adult version of young Goten who travelled to the future to wreak havoc for reasons not wholly clear. Possibly, Future Goten would be aware that altering his past self would not affect his present."
Ignored by everyone but little Trunks was one of the subjects of the argument. Goten looked downcast that someone would accuse him of doing bad things. He had been told the guy that looked like dad but felt like himself was a bad guy from the future. At first that sounded super awesome, a bully to fight from the future! Then a sickening feelings fell on his stomach when he was told that bully could potentially be him. Now Beerus looked at him like he had misbehaved. The Future Trunks (there's a 'you' from the future, too, Trunks?!) eyed him with suspicion.
Bulma argued back. "All the more reason nobody should jump to conclusions. I'll get the time machine up and ready, we'll go to the Future, confront that impersonator and demand some answers."
"Good luck with that. He was never forthcoming on answering my questions." Future Trunks thought ruefully.
Beerus protested against more time travelling until Whis pulled him aside and whispered something quick that only the divine feline heard. The God cleared his throat and declared:
"Do whatever you wish, as far as I'm concern this mess is your problem. Deal with it. Let's go, Whis." And the two disappeared.
"Ah! I forgot to ask Whis to train me." Goku lamented.
Then the Earth began to shake. The skies darkened. A great sense of dread drowned the group.
"What now?" Vegeta asked equal parts anxious and exasperated.
"Is that monster again?" Future Trunks unsheathed his sword.
"I'm sensing an enormous destructive power. It's unreal!" Goku gasped. "Oh, no!" he then did the unthinkable. He hid behind Vegeta and whimpered:
"Remember you agreed to this, Vegeta."
Something ran through the concrete walls of the Capsule Corp compound. It had red, demonic eyes and a feeling that spelled a painful death to anything in its way:
"I only have one question." Said Son Chi-Chi in all her motherly wrath, frying pan in hand. "WHERE IS MY LITTLE GOTEN?! AND WHY ISN'T HE DOING HIS HOMEWORK?!"
"Vegeta knows!" Goku cried out and promptly hid behind the Saiyan prince. Vegeta gulped when Chi-Chi aimed her rage at him and mentally cursed Kakarot for tricking him into this. He became secretly but eternally thankful to Bulma for stepping in and explaining everything to that demon that Kakarot was mated to.
"Is it safe to come out, now?" Krillin peeked from behind Goku, followed by Future Trunks, and little Trunks, and Goten.
"That situation could have been easily cleared had I destroyed the mini-Goku and the time-traveler."
"I must say, my Lord, destroying Bulma's child from the Future based on a not very sound theory would certainly earn her resentment. I doubt she would ever treat us again with delicious meals."
"Yes, yes, thank you for reminding me of what stopped me at the last moment." The trigger-happy God of Destruction groaned. "In any case, based on the mini-Goku's energy, there is no indication he may grow up into that guy. Yet."
"Still on square zero on that particular theory; nothing that proves it, nothing that tosses it into the figurative trash bin." Whis resumed.
The two arrived soon at their destination, the Sacred World of the Kais of Universe 7. Under a tree were the three highest Kais in this realm. The Elder Kai, the Supreme Kai Shin and his attendant Kibito. The Gods of Creation bowed to their counterpart of Destruction in one part respect, three parts fear.
"I need to see your time rings, now." Beerus unceremoniously demanded. None of the Kais was fazed. With their divine sight, they saw everything that transpired on Earth. The Elder Kai led the group into the temple. While young Shin was the de jure Supreme Kai, for all intents and purposes, he was still a raw apprentice to the throne. Elder Kai was currently the highest Kai, de facto.
"Here they are, Lord Beerus." The Elder Kai opened a box with five rings; one silver, four green. "And I suspect I know what you wish to ask. By order, the four green rings are the four current timelines. All regrettably created by the Earthlings time-travelling." The old God sighed in lament and continued. "One for our own timeline; the second for Future Trunks'; the third for where the version of the Future where the creature Cell came from after killing that Trunks; and a fourth one for a Present world where Cell never appeared because Future Trunks slew him in the Future."
Beerus hissed. "Four timelines created by the mortals of just one planet."
"I suggest you shorten your naps, my Lord. Maybe then you would be awakened to prevent these infractions." Whis said under his breath, knowing full well his master could hear him perfectly.
To sooth Beerus' annoyance, the Elder Kai offered him some relaxing divine tea. It did its thing and Beerus finally declared in a more controlled tone.
"For now, we watch and see how the Earthlings handle this from afar."
"And…if one of the hypothesis is proven?" the Supreme Kai asked.
"I'll destroy the culprit that fits it. One way or another, either Goku or Vegeta will be out of one son." Beerus callously sipped a bit more of his tea.
The rest of the day flew by Future Trunks.
He met and spoke with the Present Mai. She asked him how she was in the future. That brought him another dark memory of the Mai from his world lying dead. Or seemingly dead, if Future Goten was to be believed. That motivated him more to return to the future ASAP, so he volunteered to go assist his mother in refueling the machine, though she assured him it wouldn't speed things anymore. Tomorrow morning, the fuel would be ready.
Later Piccolo mentioned that Gohan had given up fighting and become a scholar. Future Trunks had been tempted to visit him, but he felt more cautious to stick around and keep an eye on you-know-who.
Said someone was doing his homework in the company of his Present counterpart. Chi-Chi, after expressing her disbelief that her precious second-born could grow up into an evil man attacking the Future, was adamant the boy kept up with his studies. Everyone else advised her that Goten would be better around the Z Fighters for security reasons. In case Beerus or Future Goten made a comeback. So Chi-Chi had Goku teleport home and bring Goten's notebooks.
"Uh, Goten you're doing that one wrong. In an equation, you multiply before you sum." Present Trunks pointed out.
"Oh, right." Goten nodded not very enthusiastically. The two boys were at the table on the veranda of the compound with Future Trunks leaning against the railing keeping his distance. Present Trunks casted him a glare and turned back to his friend.
"Usually you're the one that says when I'm doing my math wrong. What's eating you?"
Goten pushed his notebook away and sighed. "It's that creepy guy. He felt like me and now everyone says he's an evil me from the future. Am I gonna grow up to be a bad guy?"
"That's crap." Present Trunks snapped, only to have a quick look around to make sure his mom was nowhere in earing range. "I mean, if you're some villain in the making, you couldn't have helped make your dad a Super Saiyan God, right? Only pure-hearted Saiyans can."
"Yeah, but that then. And the evil me is from the future when I'm an adult. What happens until then?"
Trunks felt disappointed in himself and tried again. "Hey, remember that episode of Super Sentai…or was it the Injustice game? Look, whatever, having an evil you invading from the future sounds actually kinda cool and badass." Goten gave him a weirded look and Trunks knew he just made things worse.
"I don't get how I could become him. His energy felt just like mine. But so dark…and sad." He said that last part as a whisper. Goten gave a sideways look at the Future Trunks. The time-traveler had been watching him for almost a hour with that cold glare.
Present Trunks didn't notice that and opted for a last resort; he smacked Goten upside his head. The dark-haired boy groaned in protest and Trunks challenged him to a sparring match, which Goten snappily agreed. The boys were soon in their gi, trading blows in midair. All while Future Trunks observed.
"Find anything interesting in watching those two?" Vegeta announced his arrival on the scene.
"Just keeping a close watch on Goten."
Vegeta raised an eyebrow. "Why? You fear he will suddenly choose to turn against his family and friends and go on a genocidal rampage?" it was impossible to tell if the Prince of all Saiyans meant that as a joke or not, given the serious tone he delivered it. Future Trunks opted not to reply.
Therefore the father gave his own challenge. "Show me what you learnt." They went to the small forest inside the compound where they could let loose without causing (much) property damage.
Future Trunks went Super Saiyan 2 right off the bat. Vegeta surprised him with a transformation of blue hue. Future Trunks couldn't get any ki from him, but the power his father exhibited was mind-boggling.
"This is Super Saiyan Blue, a form that ascends beyond that of Super Saiyan God Kakarot showed off."
"In this form, Future Goten wouldn't be able to read your ki, then." Trunks surmised and Vegeta snapped.
"Even if he could read my thoughts, he could never best me. So let's see how many seconds you last."
Fourteen seconds and only because he evaded Vegeta most of that time. The Prince was unbelievably fast and strong. Future Trunks was on his back and dropped out of Super Saiyan. Vegeta demanded they went at it again and so they did. Future Trunks lasted even less the second time. They went for a third round, now on Future Trunks insistence. And a fourth. And a fifth… A hour later, the son was on his back, bruised and panting. Vegeta stood tall and unmarred.
"One…more…time."
Vegeta almost smirked. "You're nothing if not tenacious. That's something to be appreciated. But it didn't help you against that wannabee. You couldn't even figure out how his cheap trick worked."
Future Trunks looked to the other side, sulking. "Yeah, I get it. I'm stupid for not putting it together."
Vegeta growled. "Of course you're stupid. So next time, try to think outside the box. Myself and Kakarot have seen and fought things beyond imagination since you were gone. Expect anything."
Future Trunks let that sink in while distracting himself with watching Goten and Trunks. The boys had paused their spar and were doing something odd. A coordination of movements as they approached one another. Was it some kind of dance? The moment their fingers touched, the pair was enveloped in light and Future Trunks felt their kis being mixed into a single one. Another, different boy stood in their place with a combination of their hair colors and styles. The new boy's power flared up and he shot high into the sky.
"What the?! They combined?"
"That trigger-happy, undisciplined powerhouse was Gotenks. A fusion trick Kakarot taught them. Those two do it all the time, rather than develop their individual strength. Not a Saiyan's way of fighting." Vegeta said with a bit of spite. "Like I told you, think outside the box. And always train yourself harder than before. Today you may beat your enemy, but tomorrow a stronger one may appear."
"He's right. Since Dabura and Babidi that I haven't trained this hard. If I had maybe I would have beaten Future Goten through strength alone or develop a technique that countered his." Future Trunks said in the privacy of his thoughts.
"Thanks for the pep talk, Father." Trunks smiled, then his face turned grim.
"I am going to be brutally honest with you. If tomorrow we discover that the bastard that ravaged my world is truly Goten, I'll do whatever it takes to stop him. Whatever it takes. If I can't stop him in my timeline, then I'll stop him in this one." He looked him in the eye as he uttered that oath. Vegeta's expression became severe.
"Be careful with your promises. And that Kakarot doesn't hear you say that one. He's not the softhearted fool he appears to be when his loved ones are in danger."
The next morning, the Time Machine was ready to go.
DELETED SCENE:
This scene was a piece I thought of Beerus being far more aggravated with the whole thing. It gave an interesting perspective, but I figured it was too much on a 180 for him, given he didn't have a care in the previous chapter. Discovering that Young Goku is a Future Goten did have an impact, but in hindsight, shouldn't be that much, so this scene was cut:
Beerus hmphed. He eyed both Future Trunks and Goten with a strange mixture of anger and lack of emotion. "This is what happens when mortals interfere with powers they don't understand. Whether this 'Future Goten' or whatever you call him is a time anomaly caused by this blue-haired interloper, or this mini-Goku grown up and gone rogue, I have got enough reason to destroy them both for good measure."
The second those words left the cat's mouth, there was a rush of wind as Goku and Vegeta put themselves between the God and their respective offspring. A stare down followed. The air itself seemed to be still all around and inside everyone's lungs.
Beerus, without dropping that odd emotionlessly furious aura, quirked an eyebrow. "Do you two truly believe you stand a chance against me?" ominous purple god ki emanated from the God of Destruction, multiplying the tension tenfold.
"THAT'S ENOUGH! THINK BEFORE YOU START SWINGING FISTS AND DESTRUCTION AROUND, YOU NUMBSKULLS!" the wail of Bulma Briefs was so loud that the wind from it blew away Beerus' aura. Every face turned to her and for a fleeting moment, the scientist felt self-conscious before composing herself.
"Uh, I meant, Whis," She turned to the angel while thinking quickly of a way to defuse this or at least stall for time. As angry as she was for Beerus threatening to erase Future Trunks (and Goten), she knew the only way to dissuade him was with a good argument. A meal bribe was her second option. "could you rewind to what that so-called Goten said about his world?"
He nodded and the staff played the recording again: 'My world is the only real world! Not that god damned future! Not this B-grade copy!'
"There it is!" Bulma snapped her fingers declaring victory. "He called this timeline a phony one, too! That means he can't be our Goten, if this isn't his world." She hoped she had saved the younger Saiyan hybrid, then went for her son. "Plus, Future Trunks here couldn't have known that he could have potentially created his enemy. If you're mad that he travelled through time, don't you think dealing with that maniac is punishment enough?"
Before Beerus could retaliate, it was Whis who did so. "There is always the chance this self-acclaimed Future Goten is lying. Remember, Bulma that everything we have conjectured so far is based on very vague information details.While there are facts to support the theory that Future Goten is a time anomaly, there's nothing to rebuke the theory that he is an adult version of their Son Goten who travelled to the future to wreak havoc."
Ignored by everyone but little Trunks was one of the subjects of the argument. Goten looked downcast that someone would accuse him of doing bad things. He had been told the guy that looked like dad but felt like himself was a bad guy from the future. At first that sounded super awesome, a bully to fight from the future. Then a sickening feelings fell on his stomach when he was told that bully could potentially be him. Now Beerus looked at him like he did something wrong. The Future Trunks (there's a 'you' from the future, too, Trunks?!) eyed him with suspicion.
"All the more reason nobody should jump to conclusions. I'll get the time machine up and ready, we'll go to the Future, confront that impersonator and demand some answers."
"Good luck with that. He was never forthcoming on answering my questions." Future Trunks thought ruefully.
Beerus protested against more time travelling until Whis pulled him aside and whispered something quick that only the divine feline heard. The God cleared his throat and declared:
"Do whatever you wish, as far as I'm concern this mess is your problem. Deal with it. Let's go, Whis." And the two disappeared.
Beerus is taking a back seat because Young Goku/Future Goten seems to be a problem generated by mortals. He had no time ring, nothing that connects him to Gods, so he doesn't feel any responsibility to intervene.