A.N.: Here's another of Under Hardship. Since I got 3 reviews in one day, here's another chapter! Remember, No reviews = No updates.
Also, I put up another poll on which story you'd like to see next: Book 3 or the Alternate Universe where Arata gets saved earlier. ANSWER THE POLL, PLEASE, also, if you can't access the poll, write in a review!. I'd like to know so I can get that started once I finish writing all the chapters for this story! That way, the chapters come faster! Let me know what you want to see in either stories, I'll take note and add them. Promise!
Enjoy the Chapter.
silverhawk88: Natsuki has a bit to go to control her Super Saiyan transformation, but it will happen. When it comes to Natsuki, she's seen a lot more than Trunks, so therefore she's more mature in these situations.
Hero ben: Thanks and I'm glad that I answered your question.
Different Upbringing (Book 2): Under Hardship
Summary: In the timeline where the androids terrorize the Earth, Son Arata falls to Frig but not before Natsuki, her daughter, is able to escape. Natsuki arrives on Earth and found by Gohan. Follow Natsuki through the tough challenges of going into the past and the possibility of getting her mother rescued in the past timeline.
Chapter Nine
-New Plan of Action-
-Past Timeline-
"Are you happy now?" Natsuki asked while walking up to a stunned Krillin. "I could have answered those questions. You can't get between them and a game. You will get killed if you do."
Krillin sighed. "It was worth a shot at least." He said.
Natsuki nodded her head. "I guess so." She said. "Where are those senzu beans? I need to yell at Trunks."
Krillin looked at her. "For what reason?" he asked.
Natsuki smiled innocently, although the mischief showed through her eyes. "Because he was an idiot." She said.
Krillin and Natsuki flew down to where the others were unconscious. Krillin pulled out a small brown bag. "We have six. That's enough for everyone." He said.
"Hand me two." Natsuki instructed. "I'll give them to Trunks and Vegeta."
Krillin nodded. "Alright." He said. "Thanks." Krillin placed two of the senzu bean into her palm.
Natsuki went over to Trunks and placed on in his mouth. "Trunks, it's me, Natsuki. Bite down." She said. Trunks was doing as she was telling him. Natsuki then got up and went over to Vegeta. "Hey your highness, bite down. It's a senzu bean."
Once the Trunks and Vegeta were taken care of, Natsuki went over to stand near Krillin and a now standing Piccolo and Tien. She heard Trunks and Vegeta get up, but didn't look towards them. Piccolo looked over at her. "Did you already eat yours or something?" he asked.
"I didn't fight." Natsuki said. "So, therefore, I didn't need one."
Trunks came up. "Why didn't you fight?" he asked.
Natsuki whirled around. "Are you really that much of an idiot to ask me that one?" she asked. "Maybe I should let my anger control me and I can toss you around a bit. How about that?"
Trunks, Krillin, and Tien hopped away from here in fright. "Right." Trunks muttered. "I forgot."
Natsuki growled. "I'll show you forgetting. Just you wait until I get you alone. You'll be begging that I take it easy on you." She said. Vegeta looked at his frightened son in amusement.
Tien leaned towards Krillin. "Sometimes she reminds me of ChiChi when she's mad." He said.
"Now that you mention it, you're right." Krillin said. "Hey Natsuki."
Natsuki turned towards Krillin. "What is it? I'm in the middle of lecturing this idiot here." She growled.
"You never told us who you are. You know, your heritage." Krillin said.
Tien nodded. "You said you'd tell us later." He said.
Natsuki growled in frustration. Vegeta smirked. "I'd like to know as well." He said. "You obviously didn't get your smart mouth from me. Although, I'd be proud to call you my own."
"Listen, my past is a long and complicated story." Natsuki said quickly. "But, I will tell you that I'm Goku's granddaughter."
Krillin and Tien's eyes widened in shock, having the two nearly falling over. Vegeta raised an eyebrow. "G-Granddaughter?" Krillin said. "S-So you're Gohan's daughter?"
Natsuki shook her head. "No, that's Pan." She said as if it meant nothing. "You say anything about that fact and you'll be writhing in pain."
"So that's who she is." Piccolo said. "I was beginning to wonder."
"Wait, if you're not Gohan's daughter, then how are you related to Goku?" Tien asked.
Vegeta rolled his eyes. I should have known. The only person to talk back to me like she does was Arata. He thought. "Kakarot has more than one child, you idiots, or have you forgotten."
Krillin's eyes widened. "Wait a minute, you mean Gohan's twin sister?" he said.
Natsuki nodded. "Yeah. I'm Arata's daughter." She said. "Now back to the situation at hand."
Piccolo nodded. "I agree." He said.
"It's strange." Krillin said.
"I know, how I'm Arata's daughter is really confusing. I'll explain later. Just for now, don't tell Gohan. He doesn't need any added stress." Natsuki muttered.
Krillin nodded at what she said, agreeing on the last part. "That isn't what I was talking about. I mean it's strange how the androids knew about the senzu beans."
Piccolo's eyes widened. "What do you mean they know about the senzu beans?" he shouted.
"That's like saying that we aren't worth the chance." Tien said angrily. "I don't believe it."
"Well, we just saw the proof. They've just been toying with us." Piccolo said, growling. "They humiliated us just for the sport of it."
"That's what Trunks and I have been trying to tell you from the start." Natsuki growled. "These two are monstrous. They take pride in playing a game to the up most possibility." Natsuki cut herself off at feeling Vegeta's power level increase. They all looked his way as he took off into the air.
Natsuki then saw Trunks starting to chase after him. Her eyes widened. "Trunks don't!" she called.
"She's right. It's no use." Piccolo said. "Let him go. Vegeta's point to turn Super Saiyan was to gain back his confidence. And now it's been ruined by a woman no less, android or not." Natsuki crossed her arms and cleared her throat with raised eyebrows. "No offense." Natsuki nodded. "Vegeta took a hit to his pride."
"We all got beat." Tien said looking down.
Don't be afraid. Gohan's words before Natsuki came to this timeline rang in her head. "I should have helped." She said. "Maybe then there would have been a difference."
Trunks sighed and put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't beat yourself up, Natsuki. That's who you are. You always analyze a situation before you jump; most jump." He said.
"Besides," Piccolo said. "We don't know how unstable you are in the Super Saiyan state. Even if you had been miraculously able to defeat the androids, who knows how much further you would have gone."
Natsuki sighed. "Yeah." She murmured.
"Until Goku awakens, I suggest not turning Super Saiyan and control your anger. Goku may be able to figure out why you're unstable. Then he'd be able to help." Piccolo said.
"That's what the Bulma in our time suggested for me to do." Natsuki said. "It seems so silly though, I feel useless."
"Don't beat yourself up over this." Piccolo said.
"We need Goku." Krillin said.
"Just because he killed Frieza, doesn't mean anything." Tien said. "He was on the verge of losing before Vegeta swooped in."
"Once again, these androids aren't exactly like the ones in my time either." Trunks said.
Natsuki nodded. "I noticed as well." She said. "Usually you can last longer than just one hit from 17. At least, that's what you told me."
"What are you talking about?" Piccolo asked.
"These androids are stronger. In our time, as Natsuki said, we were more evenly matched. I could last longer than I did." Trunks explained.
"Great. It's even worse than we thought." Tien said. "What do we do now?"
"First thing's first, we need to keep Goku safe. So, you four head over to Goku's place and warn ChiChi and Yamcha. Take him somewhere the androids won't find them."
"Sounds like a start." Krillin said. "Wait, the four of us. What about you? What do you plan to do?"
"Good question." Piccolo wondered.
"Hey, last time I checked, we're in this together." Krillin said. "So let us in."
"Oh is that so? And when did I agree to that?" Piccolo shouted. "Don't make the mistake of thinking we were ever friends." Piccolo sent a blast to the ground, bringing up dust. "We have a temporary truce only to help me complete my goal of world domination." Piccolo was now in the air. "Don't forget that."
"Perfect. We should have seen that happen. Once an enemy always an enemy. He's only been using us as pawns." Tien said. Natsuki looked at him confused.
"I'm not so sure about that." Krillin said. "He's only trying to fool us. He's got his pride as well. He's going to do whatever it takes to stand a chance against the androids. He's just too proud to dish out his final option. At least I think so."
"His final option?" Tien asked.
"Look at the direction he was flying in." Krillin said.
"I'm not following you." Tien said.
"He's heading towards Kami." Krillin said, surprising Tien. "Back on Namek, the grand elder told me that if Piccolo was the same person, he'd be able to defend himself against the Saiyans. If he can convince Kami to combine with him, Piccolo will return to what he originally started out as: an elite Namekian warrior. Kami and Piccolo together would make a Super Namekian."
"What about the dragon balls?"
"Even if they didn't combine, we'd lose them anyway once the androids found them." Krillin said. "If he's considering this option, that should tell you how bad this situation really is. He can't stand Kami. It's the biggest sacrifice he'll have to make."
"Where do you think my dad-I mean Vegeta went?" Trunks asked.
Natsuki chuckled while Krillin faced Trunks. "You can stop the act. We're not that clueless." He said.
Natsuki nudged Trunks' shoulder. "Piccolo broke the news not long after you followed Vegeta the first time." She informed.
Trunks looked shocked. "The only person that probably doesn't know your identity is Vegeta." He said. "You can just let it go, alright."
"Oh, in that case, I apologize."
"There's no need to apologize." Tien said. "As for Vegeta, you can't let the fact that he was bested by 18 affect his view. He's not done with the androids just yet. He's gone to train." Natsuki nodded in agreement.
The now group of 4 flew into the air. "So this medicine of yours, how long will it keep Goku down?" Krillin asked.
"Because it's Goku, at the most 10 days or so in the outside." Trunks answered.
"We should be able to keep him hidden that long." Krillin said. "But the problem is, once he is up, he may not be needed. For now, let's just count our lucky stars that the androids don't literally have a radar."
"Right." Trunks said as they powered up further hurry to Goku's house.
Natsuki held in her emotions as she flew. She was angry at Trunks while she also wanted to hug him in relief that he was alright. She didn't understand her feelings. Shaking her head to clear it, a habit she had picked up, and pushed her confusion to the back of her mind. That was the least of her concerns. Tien left to train and told us before leaving. She heard Trunks voicing his frustration over the huge changes in this time compared to their own, but decided to let him voice it.
When Goku's house came into view, Natsuki felt the brief relief of a familiar landscape. She had spent most of her time since she arrived on earth ten plus years ago on area of Mt. Paozu. Krillin stopped before they entered. "Hey, can I ask you two something?" he asked.
"Sure." Natsuki said.
"Those androids. They probably don't have any redeeming qualities about them." Krillin said.
"They're monsters of mass destruction. At least that's true in our time. Why do you ask?" Trunks asked facing Krillin.
"N-No reason." Krillin said quickly.
Natsuki started giggling at what Krillin was referring to. Trunks and Krillin looked at her; Trunks with a confused look while Krillin was glaring at her. Natsuki decided to keep his secret, for now. Natsuki calmed herself and turned serious. "Krillin does have a point, Trunks." She stated. "17 was flirting with me, as disgusting as it was."
Trunks sighed. "I don't even want to think of all the changes our arrival has caused." He groaned.
Krillin walked up to the door and knocked. The door wiped open to reveal ChiChi. "Gohan!" she said hopefully. The door had hit Krillin in the head, causing him to hold his head in pain. Trunks looked worried for him, while Natsuki was trying, and failing, to laugh. "Oh Krillin, it's just you."
"Gee, thanks." Krillin muttered.
Natsuki leaned towards Trunks. "She looks so much younger." She whispered. "From what Gohan told me, her temper can be worse than mine."
Natsuki and Trunks greeted ChiChi by bowing. "Hello." She said.
Natsuki returned to her straightened stature only to have ChiChi staring at her. Uh oh. She's probably looking at how familiar I am. She thought while gulping once.
"Krillin, it's you." Yamcha came to stand by ChiChi. "You're alright! I was worried."
"How's Goku doing?" Krillin asked.
"Better now that the medicine has kicked in." Yamcha said. "Ah, Future Trunks and Future Natsuki; I bet you came here and kick their buts into dust. Right?"
"Actually no." Natsuki said.
"It's no time for explanations. We need to move Goku now. There are 3 new androids that make the first two look like push overs and they'll be here any moment." Krillin said quickly.
"Then I-I'll say bad." Yamcha said.
ChiChi, worried, quickly pulled out a capsule from one of her cabinets and opened the capsule outside in the front yard. It was a large ship that would be big enough to hold Goku with his bed as well as people and some stuff. Krillin, Yamcha, and Trunks stood to the side, watching ChiChi rushing around.
Natsuki rolled her eyes and went over to ChiChi. "Would you like some help?" she asked.
ChiChi looked up and smiled. "That would be wonderful. Thanks." She said. "Could you take these two bags and put them in the ship?"
"It'd be no problem." Natsuki said with a smile. She effortlessly picked up the two bags and headed towards the ship.
"What are you three idiots just standing there for?" ChiChi yelled at the men. "Go get Goku loaded into the ship!"
Trunks, Krillin, and Yamcha jumped in fright before doing as ChiChi instructed. ChiChi went inside to packing another bag. Natsuki put the two bags she was carrying in the ship and stepped to the side as Trunks came in, carrying the bed, and Krillin and Yamcha holding Goku's unconscious body.
"Be careful guys. "He's not laundry!" ChiChi scolded.
"The androids are that strong?" Yamcha asked while he was being brought up to date. "No kidding."
"They're power is off the charts." Krillin confirmed.
Yamcha looked over to Natsuki. "And it's good to know your heritage. It was really making us wrack our brains you know." He said. Yamcha leaned closer so ChiChi wouldn't hear. "Personally, I'm glad that you're not Vegeta's daughter." Yamcha looked at Trunks. "No offense."
"Non-taken." Trunks said together.
"Now we wait for Gohan." Krillin said.
Goku was situated in the ship. He was in the middle of the ship on the small bed with a blanket over him. ChiChi was still holding a blue bag in her arms. Natsuki went over and politely grabbed the bag from and went to put it with the others.
"Thank-you." ChiChi said. "It's nice to have someone who's considerate." She said while glaring at the guys.
"No problem." Natsuki called.
While Natsuki was putting the bag down, Krillin leaned towards Natsuki. "You're making us look bad." He said.
Natsuki smiled innocently. "I'm just helping." She said.
Trunks chuckled nervously. "Trust me, ChiChi is nothing when you seriously piss Natsuki off." He said.
"He would know." Natsuki said in a sing-song voice.
"What does she mean?" Yamcha asked Trunks.
Natsuki smiled as she put the bag down near the others. "Let's just say he tried playing a prank on me a long time ago and it didn't end to well for him." She said.
Trunks shivered at the memory. "Again, never piss her off." He said.
There was suddenly a 'zooming' sound above. ChiChi instantly looked up with hopeful and happy look on her face. "It's my Gohan!" she shouted. "Down here!"
Gohan looked confused at what was going on. "Why is every-" Gohan started to asked but was enveloped by a hug from ChiChi. Pan quickly landed behind Gohan and ran towards Natsuki and Trunks.
"Trunks, Natsuki." Pan greeted happily.
Yamcha leaned towards Natsuki. "And this is Goku's other granddaughter?" he asked in a whisper.
Natsuki nodded. "Yep. This is her." She said. "The stow away."
Pan giggled nervously. "Hi." She said.
Gohan finally pulled himself far enough away from his relieved mother to look at the group gathered. "So what's going on?" he asked.
"There's not time to answer that." Krillin stated. "I'll explain while we're airborne."
All of them filed into the ship. Natsuki smiled at Gohan. "Thanks for taking care of her." Natsuki said. "Did she cause any trouble?"
Gohan shook his head. "No. She actually helped me. Apparently Yajirobe was there as well, so she carried Bulma while I carried Yajirobe." He said.
"Good." Natsuki said.
ChiChi looked at Natsuki. "Is she your daughter?" she asked.
Natsuki frequently shook her head. "No. No." she said quickly. "She's my cousin. She stowed away on our time machine, but we didn't know it until we arrived here."
ChiChi nodded. "Oh." She said while looking at Pan. "I bet your mother is worried sick."
Trunks and Natsuki groaned. "Don't we know it." They said together
A.N.: Let me know what you think of this chapter.
Now that Natsuki's away from Vegeta, how do you think of her personality? And the character's interaction with one another?
Next Chapter: Another time machine is found and Natsuki comes to a conclusion on that subject.
Stay tuned!