The Next Following Day

Beat's House
Living Room

Beat and Note were both in the living concerned over the case that they've been following, they were worried sick about Froze because of his abusive treatment at the hands of Painite. As a matter of fact, they don't know if it's even appropriate to talk to Painite about Froze's condition or if her relation the case was needed. Although, it's left Beat in quite a riled up way of wanting his good old ally back to the playing field with him and Note. It was as if his one and only ally gave up and lost all despair now that his parents are gone, only time can tell when he'll get better.

"Is he gonna be okay?" Note solemnly looked at Beat, feeling dismayed. Beat was sitting on the couch, shaking his head.

"Can't say, but I'm afraid." Beat replied, his hand was on chin scratching. "It's like he really doesn't want us, huh?"

"I've been trying to get word of him." Note looked at her phone. "He doesn't seem to coming back, still."

"You ask me, I wished he'd never ditched us." Beat grunted, he slouched back on his couch. "Froze had many opportunities of potential, I wished he'd never wasted it on being alone all by himself. To think we gave him many things to help him, he doesn't think we're his enemies. Yet, he still wants to fit his version of the status quo."

Note shrugged her arms. "Don't be hopeless, Froze knows what he's doing Beat." She explained clearly. "He's a normal boy, with a normal life. Fighting by us all the time distances himself from all of that. Just imagine you being with Goku all the time and you forget yourself the very day you were born!"

"Yeah, you're right." Beat exclaimed, he stepped off the couch and placed his hands into his pockets. "I guess when I look at it, the whole Dragon Ball Heroes thing has been nothing more than to get many kids excited for all kinds of adventures we put in." Beat continues, he turns to Note with a sour look. "Sometimes, I wonder what our purposes have been. Have it been not been done sporadically by a couple of jerks messing with the timelines and that."

Note sighed, she took a slow but deep breath. "Beat, is it time to call off the Dragon Ball Heroes?" Beat looked shocked.

"Call it off?" Beat was surprised. "Note, don't be ridiculous! We made a promise that the Dragon Ball Heroes are there no matter what!"

"But you blame yourself for Froze's departure!" Note hollered, startling Beat back. "Right now, he's in the WORST state ever! He has no family! He hasn't gotten a better life! He's suffering! And all the effort he put into himself, WE wasted it by letting him join us a potential ally! He was supposed to be alone for all this! Did you just decide to get rid of that for him because you think his power acquired from Freeza worth potential! No! It didn't! We ruined him, Beat! It was all our fault!"

Beat's eyes were still, but he gripped his hands, judging by the look of things he stares down in sulk. "This was our mistake, you're right. To think we done it all for the sake of time and space, the cosmos is better off with the Time Patrol and maybe Goku for exchange."

"What about us then?" Note asked Beat, wondering. "Should we give up our cards or should we still fight together?"

"Note, you need to understand." Beat gulped, he was ready to explain. "I've became a Saiyan Hero to fight alongside Goku, my number one fan across the realms of time and space to protect it. Then one day, rumors of my mother coming back were starting to slowly pour in. It was a like a whole new day for me. Goku was train ticket for that truth to come to me. But then, I realized that by recruiting more people, I didn't seem to realize that was preventing themselves to find their inner dimensions. I criticized myself deeply, thinking that they should be better off looking to discover what they are. How they're about. And well, not get forced to fight besides us all the time. It was crazy, but sad. But this didn't make me give up because being a hero means you gotta fight to protect what's right. I didn't want to build this chaos based on this one philosophy alone, Note."

"You're right..." Note placed her card back in her pocked, judging that she was going to throw it away. "I wish we didn't make ourselves come to this, Goku should know the grim news soon."

"He will, Note." Beat sighed. "It's gonna be even more grim to our friends, as well."

Suddenly, loud bangs on the door startled the two teens. They turned to look at it confused, but stopped when they heard a very familiar voice.

"BEAT! NOTE! Open the damn door!" The voice chimed loudly. "There's something that I need to tell you!"

"FROZE!?" Beat and Note were shocked. Beat runs to the door and opens it, from there, Froze was on the ground breathing very badly.

"Oh my god..." Note was scared. Beat grabbed Froze's left shoulder.

"BRING HIM TO THE COUCH!" Beat yelled, Note nodded and they both put Froze onto the couch that Beat sat on. Froze was breathing terribly, like he suffered from some kind asthma attack or maybe a heart attack.

"Froze, can you hear me?" Beat held both of his shoulders, bracing to respond. Note was scared.

"I think he's waking up!" Note widened her eyes. Froze started to open his eyes.

"Beat... Note..." Froze awakened, his smile of warmth bring good tears of joy to them.

"Oh my goodness, Froze we were SO worried." Beat panted, same with Note.

"Agreed, why did you come to our place?" Note asked. Froze stood up from the couch and began to explain.

"I wanted to tell you..." Froze gulped, he wiped the drizzling sweating on top of his forehead. "...That you both made a big mistake for coming to me."

"Huh!?" Beat was confused more. "What are you talking about!? You're the one that invited us!"

"I know, but truth be told, I made a huge mistake." Froze placed his hands on his laps and explained. "Beat, Note, look I know that you're into this mystery that's been happening about me and my sister. However, what you don't get was about the hacked cards and false eras that they create when a user distorts one of the timelines. They've been out seeking for a rebellion against the Grandmaster of the Cyclic Universe that mediates them one by one, it's like a dictatorship."

"A dictatorship?" Note was astonished. "You mean, the Grandmaster doesn't let any of their minions choose to live how they please?"

"Afraid so, and that's the main goal of the Nothing People." Froze crossed his arms, he looked serious. "Based on hearing I've read, they plan to unite all of their brothers in distorted time frames to unite against the Grandmaster so to speak. She's been manipulating me and parents for far too long!"

"Wait... Manipulating you and your parents?" Beat suddenly was met with shock. "Gasp! Painite is the Grandmaster of the Cyclic Universe then!"

Froze looked silent, but there was no denying it, it all had to have been her. "Indeed. She doesn't have long until the next stages of her plan go before she realizes that the Nothing People are all turning against her one by one."

"Is there anything we can do to stop, Painite!?" Note gripped on hand.

"I'm afraid that Painite is a lot harder than you think..." Froze continued further. "The twelve universes don't know that she's born among them. It would make sense for Painite to meet with Zeno in exchange for his soul and power. That way she can be as stronger as she can be."

"You're crazy." Beat was under denial. "The power of Zeno is huge! If you're thinking that she has the capability to absorb him, you're outta of your mind."

"Maybe, but there's more to it than what needs to be done." Froze placed his hand on Beat's shoulder. "Listen Beat, when you get there for the trial, make sure you and Note are prepared for the upbringing."

"Upbringing? For who?" Note asked.

"It's strange, but it's all about bringing Painite to justice." Froze replied, with a slightly hopeful smile. "Beat, I won't be in there for the Trial... But should you choose to bring something up from the past, don't expect me to help you unless you need it. My memories are too foggy for me to even be decisive evidence."

"It's okay, but..." Beat scratched his hair, thinking really hardly. "If me and Note think we need you in this case to stop Painite, you got us. Don't worry. You're secrets are safe with us."

"That's good, excellent. Thank you, now I must go now. Forte is waiting for me." Suddenly Froze made his way out the front door. "...You both know my sister's death shall be not relevant in this case, you got it?"

Beat and Note gulped at each other, Beat replied. "You got it. Friends make promises, capiche?"

"Hmph, good. Understood." Froze began to leave the house. "Don't forget, that I only pick sides to choose in battle. Not YOU, Beat."

"R-Right, exactly." Beat said. "Good luck, Froze!"

"G..." Froze took a massive sigh to say this. "Good luck to you, Beat."

Froze left, and with that, leaves a huge breath of relief from Beat and Note.

"Do you think it's a sign that he's changing his mind, Note?" Beat asked. Note wasn't sure.

"Don't know, Beat." She replied. "But from now, it's best if we focus on this case and see how it connects with Froze somehow?"

"Come on, Note." Beat grunted. "Froze knows we made a promise, if go back to look for the IJ-4 case file, we're done!"

"Not as long as the truth remains, Froze hides things too much denial." Note said with an idea popping into mind. "If we piece together this whole puzzle, we can actually go to court to defeat Painite!"

"Hate to admit, but you got a good point there girl." Beat smiled. "Come on, let's get ourselves to bed and tomorrow will be our turn to rise and shine!"

Palace of Zeno
Audience Chamber

"Feeling good!?" Zeno asked to his future counterpart.

"Mm-hmm." Future Zeno replied.

Suddenly, the door opens revealing a white hugely long-sleeved gowned female with white skin with yellow lining, light violet slippers, a bald head, and straight yellow markings on her face.

"Greetings, King of Everything." She introduces herself with a loud voice. "I am the Grandmaster of the Cyclic Universe, Painite. I overseer the entire complexities of my realm and take for granted with the Nothing People that you created."

"Really?" Zeno said. "Are you anything but nothing?"

"Yes?" Future Zeno said. "You seem pale to rule over anything."

"Doesn't matter, actually." Painite said, her smile turned malevolent. "I have something of interest I want, something that you Zeno, not your Future other desire."

"Really?" Zeno was interested. "Can you elaborate?"

"Please go in me and find out." Painite requested. "It has everything you need to know."

"Very well, I will go inside you." Zeno replied.

Future Zeno felt scared at this. "Are you sure? Shall we reconsider?"

"Her knowledge is important, I must know of her true being." Zeno went inside Painite slowly but calmly.

But suddenly, as he felt absorbed the light sucking him inside, his entire body vanished and seemingly took the life of Zeno at an instant.

Painite's breaths were finished, it shocked the Future one not to hard.

"Where is Zeno?" Future Zeno said.

"He's somewhere." Painite grinned. "Somewhere where may be put at peace and to be safe at the confounds of my knowledge."

"Will he come back?" Zeno asked.

"Maybe, if not..." Painite smiled further. "You might as well join him."

Future Zeno wasn't sure, Painite continued. "For the judge, make the announcer to take that role, you shall be neutral for all affairs that I take for the twelve universes."

"Very well, your wish is at my command." Zeno smiled.

"Excellent!" She grinned sporadically. "The future of this despicable multiverse will be all mine!"

To Be Continued...