I have seen debates about whether kid Trunks in adulthood would be just as humble as future Trunks. The latter version of the character is my favorite, of course. However, what I like about both is their reverence for their father. What "Super" has done correctly is bringing the story full circle between the two Trunks. The best part is watching Vegeta do right by the older version of the son he had once rejected. (He owed that kid big time!) In this story, I see Trunks representing the best qualities of both young and old.


Bulma and Vegeta had not visited Nightingale since they married, and neither had Trunks. The place seemed like it had been frozen in time with its striking beauty and serenity. The garden clearing where the couple took their vows was set atop a hill, overlooking a bay, within plain view of an active volcano. Monks living in the villages below cared for the greenery, keeping it manicured and populated with plants and trees that blended into a scenic, stately landscape. As they did before, they left offerings of food and money for the groundskeepers to show appreciation.

Vegeta stressed to his daughter-in-law that he wanted a simple arrangement for their tent and a dinner that wasn't lavish, but instead was designed to satisfy appetites and please the senses. Flickering gas lamps increased the mystique of the location.

Once they arrived, Bulma chose to walk on the uneven paved pathway toward the tent, which wasn't that far away but far enough. Vegeta said nothing, leaving her alone with Sonali, nor did he look back as he and Trunks entered the tent.

"Thank you for helping arrange our gathering so quickly, dear," Bulma said. "I told Vegeta to stop working you to death, now that you're at the end of your vacation with us."

"I can't say I worked too hard, Dr. Brief," Sonali replied. "Your husband is quite efficient with getting what he wants. I used contacts from the wedding to help. So I take it Vegeta asked you about letting me run Capsule too?"

Bulma nodded. "Will you help me over to that tree, dear? I want to smell the cherry blossoms. And yes, and I fully support you taking my place. There are many lessons I can share with you."

"You're not bothered that Vegeta didn't suggest Trunks?"

"Oh, these flowers smell wonderful." Bulma handed Sonali her crutch to lean against the tree. "Come closer so you can smell them. To answer your question, Trunks would've told us long ago had he wanted the job. He's happy being a biologist. He's helped so many, even mortals who live differently from us. His father and I respect that, and we are very proud of him."

"Well then, I accept." Sonali kissed her. "Thank you so much. Now tell me, why do you think dad wanted to come here?"

The women faced the tent. Bulma thought about her earlier conversation with Vegeta.

"Sonali, my husband is… struggling with his mortality, and mine, in a different way now. I am his first and only love. He generally remembers being cared for as a boy, but after that his approach to life became a house of cards. Frankly, he fell in love with me first, not the other way around, and it was hell dealing later with his uncertainty about our relationship. It's an understatement to say he had a lot of baggage."

"Let's continue walking," Sonali said, helping her move from tree back onto the trail. Bulma's crutch pattered rhythmically on the pathway.

"Vegeta has rebuilt a kingdom of sorts within our family, and even among Goku's, after years of rejecting the good in life in favor of the bad," Bulma continued. "It won't break him if I die first, but he may want to follow me in death sooner rather than later. I don't want that. I want his knowledge shared widely for as long as possible, particularly with our grandchildren. That should be his mission, regardless of whether he continues fighting - or if I pass on."

Sonali smiled. "For future knowledge, are you going to drop dead soon, Bulma?"

Bulma's eyes danced with her laughter. "I'll let you know as soon as I do, you ungrateful brat. Now give me another hug. I'm so glad you are in the family. I'm so glad you're here."

Vegeta seated himself at the head of the table while his son poured wine. He glanced at the opening of the tent.

"They're almost here," Trunks said.

"Oh, I know, son. They are all enjoying themselves. It is hard not to. The place is beautiful."

The twins quietly scurried behind Bulla and Todd, and Vegeta's brother Tarble and his wife Gure, to take their places. No one, not even Vegeta, had to warn them about acting up at the table. The children sensed the importance of the occasion - much different from their aunt's wedding - and were curious to know more.

Everyone stood when Bulma and Sonali entered. Both Vegeta and Trunks stepped forward to escort their wives. The simplicity of the table setting complemented the surroundings and the food. The family enjoyed them immensely.

Vegeta was silent throughout most of the meal while the rest of the family traded jokes and gossiped. They were a fine, handsome bunch altogether, he thought - even his mealy-mouthed son-in-law. Tasmin was the only one who seemed disturbed by his stillness. She walked over and whispered in his ear. The family looked at them briefly before continuing their conversations. They thought the two looked cute together.

"What is it?" Vegeta said.

"Will you come with me, elder?"

"Tasmin, it is inappropriate to leave the table now. Are you not enjoying yourself?"

"I am," she said, "but it doesn't seem like you are."

Vegeta peered into her eyes. This child was worried about him. Worried about him? He was supposed to protect her, and her brother, making them feel safe. He wrapped his finger around Tasmin's thumb beneath the table and squeezed it. She giggled.

"I am fine, my darling, and that is the truth," he whispered back. "Now go and finish dessert before I eat it myself."

Tasmin, beaming that her grandfather had called her "darling," returned to her seat next to Tery, who was half-asleep. Trunks filled the adults' wine glasses once more before they all raised them for a toast. He proceeded to walk around the table.

"My first toast is for all of us," he said with a smile, "because we got through the week without killing each other." Everyone clapped and cheered except for Vegeta, who responded with his usual smirk.

"My second toast is for the wives and husbands." Trunks' eyes turned toward Sonali. "Our love is strong and deep. May we all continue listening and guiding each other as partners and as friends."

"My third toast is for the children, including future ones," he said, touching Tery and Tasmin's heads. "We are imperfect beings, but we will do our best to guard and guide you in the right direction. May the gods be gracious and shine light on you as they have with us."

"My final toast is for Vegeta and Bulma." Sonali grasped Trunks' hand as he held back tears and raised his glass. "This is for our parents. Take comfort knowing that we will carry your legacy with pride and wisdom until the end of our days. Thank you. Cheers."

"Cheers!"

The prince stood and shook his son's hand while everyone else wiped away tears. Even the two helpers in the room were crying. Vegeta removed his hip-length grey jacket, exposing the shirt underneath and his Saiyan crest.

"Leave us now," he told the helpers. "The meal and settings were well-received, and our family is appreciative."

"He means thank you," Bulma said.

"You do not have to translate for me," Vegeta said with a touch of crabbiness in his voice. He moved to stand next to her while everyone switched seats to bring the children closer.

"We are here tonight to honor the fulfillment of prophecy, but not exclusively for our own aims," he said. "Our family has been bestowed with powerful gifts. Never in my life would I have thought this inheritance would be mine, and I am proud of and humbled by you."

"Vegeta chose this place for us to marry because of its beauty," Bulma said, taking his hand to support him. "He doesn't always show emotion as openly, as we all know, but he feels them in some ways more deeply than others. Our relationship didn't begin with what you see now, children. It took a lot of work. You are young, but you'll understand later as your parents grow in their marriage while caring for you."

"I was not a good man for a long time," Vegeta continued. "When I came to Earth, I had lost everything - my home, my sense of meaning, and what I thought was the path to power to control others - and I was incredibly angry. In all truth, even though I remained powerful physically, I had nothing but the clothes on my back when Bulma and I came to know each other."

"Why would you want to control people, elder?" Tasmin said.

"I was raised to think that way, Tasmin, and all my life I dealt with others who wanted to control me, and some almost succeeded. Their poisonous goals, along with my own misdeeds, made me very sick on the inside."

Vegeta stopped and sighed. Trunks locked eyes with him, speaking through their minds so no one else could hear.

"You can do this, father. You can do this. Go on."

Vegeta walked to the front of the room. "I was younger than you are now when I became an orphan. My planet, named after my father and me, had been destroyed. I was well-educated already, even as a young boy, and the remaining Saiyans who tended to me, former members of the royal court, shared lessons and old customs keep our heritage alive within me. Much of these teachings were true, I believe; other parts, perhaps not.

"Our people were born to be warriors, but many of them foolishly allowed their strengths to be used for evil by the person who drafted me into his army against my will - after he destroyed my planet. It was an ugly time, and I was part of that ugliness for years.

"As I aged, I obsessed over achieving what had been considered my birthright, to become Super Saiyan. No one in our culture had done it in 1000 years, not even my father. Before he died, he believed that my strength and intellect would assure it. I was determined to make the ones who hurt me pay for their crimes. I held on to these beliefs because there was nothing else meaningful to define my life, until I met Bulma and became a father.

"Marriages were not discouraged in our society, but in higher classes relatives arranged them, and they were usually focused on power. In other words, love often came last. Also, everyone except the ruling elite was expected to give up one of their children at birth for service. The closet example on Earth would be monks, although they are not forced into service, and their lives are largely noble. Sometimes parents on my planet never saw their children again. There was little questioning of it."

"Tell us about your arm brands," Tery said. "Why did you do it?"

"What we want you to understand is everything that happened to your grandfather almost guaranteed that he would never know love," Bulma said, "but yet it happened against all odds. The Saiyan crest is a reminder from the past of how far he's come, and I share that bond with him willingly. Our spirits became of one when we took our vows."

Vegeta returned to Bulma's side to help her from the table. He held her close while she draped a white shawl she had been wearing around his neck. He returned the gesture by wrapping a red scarf he had been wearing around hers. No one knew what they were doing besides Trunks.

"There were other rituals," Trunks said, looking at his children. "Branding your grandmother was just one part of their wedding. I wanted to help."

By this time Vegeta and Bulma were standing at the front. Trunks walked over to hold his mother up from the back, taking her crutch. Vegeta reached for her right hand and bowed. Neither smiled, but they kept their eyes on each other. Vegeta began to circle around her slowly as they began to recite their vows.

"Behold, you are set apart as my husband."

"Behold, you are set apart as my wife."

"There will be no other."

"There will be no other."

"Weakness is a state of mind."

"Together, we should always be prepared to fight."

"For within this circle, there is no enemy we cannot face."

"Because we are now joined as one."