In Reality the Truth Hurts
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball Z
Thank you Charismatic Beauty and The Light of Fire for your reviews.
Eighteen months later
Trunks was sweating as his hand grasped the hand of the man in front of him.
The two were arm wrestling; and Trunks was losing. Marv grinned at him from across the table as he slammed down his hand on it, defeating him.
"Oh! Why can't I ever win?!" Trunks cried out in exasperation. The twenty two year old sorcerer laughed. "You hardly ever train. Vegeta has to literally carry you to his gravity chamber for training you," Marv pointed out. "How do-? Of course. You would know!"
Marv was glad to be back. Back on the earth, his home. Yes, he did not completely get what he wanted. He did not get his human life back. His end had been caused with his own magic; and the magic could not be broken even by dragon balls. Not completely anyway. But there was a way to come back. Shenron brought him back to the earth in his spirit form. Thank God he could come back without a hallow! And this life was almost as good as a real life, with a beating heart and breathing body. Almost. But of course, a dead life was certainly not as good as a living life. Marv missed his days. What he was really concerned about was that he would be the same age forever whereas Sarah…she will grow old and die sometime. At least he got the chance to be with her. As per the condition he could stay on earth only till midnight. He could return at the dawn of the next day. This thing really reminded him that he was dead indeed, and always put off his mood.
Marv had got something else though. He had got Trunks, his little brother. The sorcerer was too attached to the boy. He always looked at him adoringly and doted on him. Vegeta was even worried that Marv might spoil him. But Trunks knew that it would not happen. For him, the sorcerer was even a better friend than Goten had been. Because Marv was also his teacher.
Vegeta watched the two as they stood up. Trunks sighed. He had been defeated in arm wrestling. Again.
"Trunks, I want to show you something. I want to teach you something," Marv said. The young half saiyan's face lit up. "Which enchantment are you teaching me today?" he asked in an excited voice. Marv ruffled his hair and said, "The enchantment that started it all. How to make someone lose their memory temporarily."
Vegeta's eyes shot open. His eyes narrowed at the sorcerer. Marv winked at him.
"I'm out," Vegeta announced and started for the door.
"Oh come on daddy!" Trunks said, "Hanging around won't harm you!"
Vegeta leaned against the wall and started observing the proceedings. His eyes met Marv's and he could help feeling that his eyes were mischievous. Sarah came in at that time.
"Who won?" she asked.
Marv raised his hand. Sarah sighed. "You must have cheated!" she said.
"Hey! Don't accuse me!" Marv protested.
"Why are you getting so angry? That means you have cheated!" Sarah said,
"I don't cheat madam. You are the one who cheats in duels."
"How dare you, Marv Adrian! I'll break each of your bones!"
"I will not let you touch me. Remember? I am a ghost."
"If you don't watch your mouth then you will become a ghost in the afterlife as well!"
"Are you threatening me?"
"Yes."
"Threaten then. As if making hollow threats will make you any stronger."
"I don't need to prove my strength. And I am NOT making hollow threats!"
"Listen Sarah-"
"ENOUGH!"
Vegeta's loud angry voice quietened the two.
"Keep your fights to yourselves and get over with your 'lessons'. I don't much time to waste," Vegeta said.
"Yeah. You are right," Marv said and turned to Trunks.
"Where's your ring?"
Trunks showed him the platinum ring with a strange stone that shone in different colours from different angles. Marv and Sarah had made this together for him so that he too could practice sorcery, as he had shown a keen interest in the art of magic.
As Vegeta watched, Marv taught Trunks how to use the ring for the memory charm, giving him the correct positions and right enchantments. Vegeta thought about the past six months of Marv's return. Even though he did not say it, he deeply respected the sorcerer, and was affectionate to him, even though he never showed it. In evenings, after his training, the two would silently sit in the open fields, or lie down to look at the sky. The sorcerer never said anything but they would know what the other was thinking. And though Vegeta would NEVER admit it…he thought of Marv as a close friend. And of course, he was the only of his rivals to actually complete his battle with him. It had been a tie, and Vegeta planned to settle the score. He knew deep inside that Marv had purposefully made it a draw, but it did not anger him.
"Work harder, Vegeta," he had said.
Vegeta had showed his usual attitude of anger and pride but deep down he had smiled. Now there was a good rival!
Vegeta was brought back to reality when Trunks exclaimed, "Hey dad!"
He looked at his son and all the three adults cried out at once.
"NOOO!"
A red beam of light hit Vegeta in the chest. Upon contact the light deviated, having a blinding effect. Everyone shielded their eyes, except Marv, who directed his watch at Vegeta and the light subsided. He slowly moved towards the limp body of the Prince and knelt down. He cast a spell on him and Vegeta gained consciousness again.
Trunks and Sarah neared him too and all the three were scared by the look in his eyes.
Vegeta looked lost like a small child, and also as curious. His eyes lingered in confusion on Trunks and what he said next was too much for the three to handle.
"Who am I?"
"Oh no!" they cried. Marv let his face fall in his hands and Sarah glared at Trunks, who seemed to want to disappear in the earth. He giggled nervously. Marv turned to look at him furiously. Trunks quietened down and averted his eyes from the husband and wife.
"Well done," Marv said.
"Sorry!" Trunks said.
"Tell me, who am I?" Vegeta asked.
"We will," Sarah said, "Once we find out."
"How long will the spell last?" Trunks asked.
"One month," Marv replied.
Trunks' eyes widened at that.
"WHAT?!" he exclaimed. His eyes moved three sixty degrees and he fell down.
Sarah and Marv exchanged a look and both of them said the same thing.
"GREAT!"
Wow…at last this story comes to an end. I will like to express my deepest gratitude to all of you who read this story and stuck with it till the end. I will also like to thank Charismatic Beauty for giving me the suggestion for such a beautiful concept. Thank you so much. I hope you liked it and I also hope that I have not strayed off the main plot and disappointed you. I didn't know how this story would turn out to be but as the plot progressed I realised that I really enjoyed writing it.
Thank you my wonderful reviewers Charismatic Beauty, applefanfic, WWingWisher, Guest, NinjaWhisper and The Light of Fire. Again, thank you Charismatic Beauty for reviewing all the chapters. All of you supported and helped me write this story in your own way.
I am feeling quite sad that In Reality the Truth Hurts has come to an end. But I am also happy that it is finally complete…it's all very strange.
Again, I apologize if the characters are Out of Character. It was never intentional and I have tried my best to avoid that.
I should end this long author's note before all of you fall asleep. Thanks for reading!
