Author's Note: Thank you so much for all of the reviews! I really appreciate it. I hope everyone is enjoying my story. I thought I would take a moment to answer a question posed by Kara in one of her reviews (by the way, I like the little "insight" you gave to Vegeta's mind about his exhausting day, Kara :) ). She asked if the Rite of Saiyan Maturity was common knowledge or if it was just this story. Kara, the Rite is something I made up and am using for this story and it's companion stories; it's not part of the DBZ world or any of my other works, just the "Is There Life?" stories. Hope this helps to clarify things. Author out.
Is There Life?
Chapter 10: A Time for Celebration
After the saiyans gathered, King Vegeta shared how Aliya had come to live on Earth, "After we had to give Vegeta to Frieza, Victoria and I were devastated. We never imagined he would survive or we would have another child. As it became closer to the time Aliya would be born, Frieza demanded we give her to him as soon as she was born. Victoria and I could not bear giving up our second child to Frieza, so we secretly built a space ship. The minute Aliya was born, I took her to the ship and we sent her to Earth. We knew Vichell was here and would recognize a saiyan space ship. I put a letter and a photograph in the ship with Aliya explaining what was happening. We hoped Aliya would find safety here on Earth. The day after Aliya was born; we stormed Frieza's ship in hope of retrieving Vegeta, Raditz, and Nappa. We failed and Frieza destroyed us. I'm glad to know both my children survived Frieza." King Vegeta smiled at his son and daughter who were sitting side-by-side across from him.
The saiyans enjoyed each other's company, but soon turned in for the night. Vegeta, Bulma, and Trunks were worn out from that afternoon, but Trunks had not been the only one to go through the Final Rite. Shortly after Goku and his family arrived home, Goten also fell into his Final Rite and had also ascended. It had taken Goku most of his strength to help Goten and it was partly for that reason Goku could not defend himself against Gohan's attack. All of the saiyans needed a good night's sleep.
The next morning, the saiyans awoke and ate the breakfast ChiChi, Bulma, Vichell, Videl, and Aliya had made for them. Then they began to prepare for the celebration to take place that afternoon with the rest of the Z Fighters.
"Hey! No fair! Trunks! Goten! You know I can't fly!" Anna pouted as her brother and friend took to the sky. The three had been playing hide-and-seek while they waited on everyone to arrive at Capsule Corp., but it quickly turned into a game of chase between Trunks and Goten. The two boys were high in the sky by the time Anna finished yelling at them and they stayed up there, leaving Anna on the ground. "That's not fair...I can't fly...I hate being weak," Anna began to cry.
Vegeta and Gohan were outside setting up the grill for the bar-b-que and had seen what Trunks and Goten had done. Vegeta took after the boys while Gohan consoled his sister. "It's okay, Anna," Gohan said as he pulled his sister to him, "What Trunks and Goten did was mean, yes, and Vegeta will take care of them, but you know what? I think one of these days you're going to be stronger than both of them. And I'm not just saying it because I'm your big brother, I mean it. You know how I have sleeping powers? Well, so do you; I can feel them, right here inside of you. One day you'll learn how to tap into them. You're already stronger than Vegeta thought you would be two days after growing your tail. I'll start training you soon, I promise, and, after learning how to control your ki energy, the first thing you'll learn is how to fly."
Soon Vegeta returned with Trunks and Goten. The two boys had not been punished yet and carefully watched Vegeta to see what he would do to them. Vegeta said nothing but walked over and gently picked Anna up in his arms. The other saiyans walked outside just as Vegeta landed with the boys. "Vegeta, what's going on?" ChiChi asked and the Gohan explained what happened. ChiChi began to go after the boys to protect them from Vegeta, "Vegeta, please, don't hurt the boys! They didn't mean any harm!"
"ChiChi, let Vegeta handle this. He won't do anything to the boys they can't handle," Bulma said as she put her hand on ChiChi's shoulder. ChiChi nervously agreed. They watched as Vegeta carried Anna over to the grill. He whispered in her ear and she nodded her head. Then he let her down and she ran off giggling. Soon she came back with the few other things they would need to start the grill.
"Dad, we're sorry. We didn't mean to. We forgot Anna couldn't fly. We thought she was right behind," Trunks said, trying not to cry. Vegeta had only begun to soften over the past week and Trunks wanted to do everything with his father. Now, Vegeta was letting Anna help him but would not say anything to the two boys.
"It is not me who you should apologize to. If you want to help, apologize to Anna," Vegeta said as he took some of the stuff Anna was carrying.
"We're sorry, Anna. We forgot you couldn't fly," Goten said to his sister.
"That's okay. But tag, you're it," Anna said as she tagged Goten and her and Trunks ran off. The others laughed and returned to what they were doing. Aliya walked out of the house carrying meat back and forth to Vegeta while everyone else set up tables and chairs.
"Hey, guys!" Krillin said as he, 18, and 17 landed at Capsule Corp. Krillin sat Marion down and she ran off to play with Trunks, Goten, and Anna. "Master Roshi will be here in a little while. He's coming in his airplane, said he didn't trust any of us to fly him here."
"Wonder why that is?" Tien kidded as he, Chiatzu, Yamcha, Puar, and Piccolo all landed. Soon Ox and Master Roshi, with Oolong and Turtle, arrived and the Z Fighters settled in for an afternoon of celebration.
"It's good to see you again, your majesty," Vichell said to King Vegeta. They sat off from the rest of the group since they really didn't quite fit in with the other fighters yet. "But I must say, I'm sorry the saiyan race has dwindled down to just this small handful."
"Maybe so, Vichell, but maybe this is the way it was meant to be. Somehow, living on Earth has taught Vegeta, Kakarot, and their children something they never would have learned on our home planet – compassion – it is the key to their powers. That is why they have mastered the legendary transformation to super saiyan. Even Videl and Aliya have learned the same thing. Look at them, Vichell. Even amongst those weaker than them, they have loved ones. They have found their place and they care for those around them. As saiyans, we always held true love as a weakness, that is why your parents, Kakarot's parents, and Victoria and I were frowned upon when we married. We had married for love and not for strength. But now, through humans, it has been proven that love is the strongest power of all. Vegeta is a perfect example. His wife is the weakest among the group. She's not even a fighter, but rather, a doctor and scientist. With as brilliant of thinker as you are, you would probably get along with her well. But, regardless of how weak she is, Vegeta loves her and their son. That love is what gives him his incredible power," King Vegeta said as he and Vichell watched the Z Fighters.
"Who would ever think we would end up being friends with these guys. I'm still not sure what to think, though. The last time I saw most of these guys, we were trying to kill them," 17 said as he sat with his sister.
"I know what you mean, 17, but I guess you get used to it. Did you know almost every Z Fighter started as we did, as enemies of Goku? Slowly, they've all became his friends and allies. And they aren't that bad, it's just different. Dr. Gero was the one who made us androids and programmed us to kill. We don't have to obey that, especially now we are human again," 18 replied as Krillin joined them.
"You don't have to worry about any of us going after you, 17," Krillin said as he sat down, "We wouldn't, for several reasons. One, because of 18. She's your sister; we wouldn't want to take you from her again. Two, Gohan. If he has enough faith in you to at least tolerate us Z Fighters, then we do, too. And another thing, it's something we've learned from Goku, everyone deserves a second chance. If he didn't believe that, the Z Fighters wouldn't be here today." 18 nodded in agreement as a young woman walked out of the building and over to Vegeta who was at the grill.
"Here's the last of the meat, Vegeta. Wow, there are...um...a lot of people here," Aliya said as she handed Vegeta the tray she was carrying and looked around. She had been inside when all the Z Fighters arrived, so she didn't know just how many were going to be there. Videl was inside helping Bulma and ChiChi with the rest of the meal and Gohan had begun to spar with Goku, so Aliya stayed at Vegeta's side. She really didn't mind, though. She was thrilled she had an older brother and she wanted to spend as much time as she could with him.
"Don't worry, they're all friends and you've already met most of them." Vegeta smiled at his sister as he wrapped his arm around her. He enjoyed having a little sister as much as Aliya enjoyed having an older brother.
The other Z Fighters watched Vegeta and Aliya with caution. While they still didn't completely trust Vegeta, Bulma was a friend to all of them and Vegeta was acting too nice to this unknown girl for their liking. They would not stand from him hurting Bulma. "Hey, Yamcha," Tien said softly as he, Chiatzu, and Piccolo walked up to Yamcha and Puar, "Do you know who that girl is? You know Vegeta better than just about any of the rest of us."
"No," Yamcha said, shaking his head, "I've never seen her before. But I know one thing; I do not like the way she and Vegeta are acting together. If Bulma saw them like this she would loose it. She's already been so upset the last week there were several times Vegeta thought she would loose the baby. Now he's doing this. She's going to be furious."
"Who's going to be furious?" Bulma asked Yamcha as she, ChiChi, and Videl sat down food on the table.
"Bulma, I think it would be best if you went back inside," Piccolo said as he nervously glanced at Vegeta and Aliya. He didn't want Bulma to see Vegeta acting like this with another woman.
"Why? I feel fine, Piccolo. What are you guys so worried about?" Bulma couldn't figure out what was wrong as Krillin, 18, and 17 walked over to them with worried expressions.
"Is there something wrong?" Vegeta asked as he sat a tray of cooked meat down on the table. Vegeta looked at the other Z Fighters as the other saiyans joined them around the table.
"These guys seem to think I need to go back inside," Bulma said with raised eyebrow as Aliya walked over carrying the last of the meat.
"Ow...that's hot!" Aliya said as she nearly dropped the tray on the table.
Vegeta laughed. "That's why it's called cooked meat," he said as he tasseled Aliya's hair.
Yamcha couldn't stand it any longer. "What do you think you are doing, Vegeta!" he yelled, gaining everyone's attention, "Bulma is standing right there and yet you're acting like...like this with this girl who looks no older than Gohan and Videl! For goodness sake, Vegeta, you're Bulma's husband! You have a son with her and you're going to have another child in a few months! How could you do this to her!"
Vegeta, Bulma, and the rest of the saiyans looked shocked; why was Yamcha having a problem with Vegeta teasing his little sister? "Oh, no. Vegeta, they don't know. They don't know who Aliya is, we never introduced her to them. That's why they are upset. They don't realize who Aliya is to you," Gohan said and then turned to Yamcha and the other Z Fighters, "Aliya is saiyan. She's sixteen-years-old and was born the day before Planet Vegeta was destroyed. She was sent here; her parents knew Vichell would recognize a saiyan space ship and would care for her. For the past sixteen years she's grown up as Videl's sister, but they're not related. When Videl introduced me to Aliya yesterday, I was pretty shocked too. I realized by her ki signal Aliya was related to a saiyan we knew, but I got the wrong relation. I thought she was his daughter, but..."
"She's my sister, Yamcha. That's why I've been teasing her. I would never do anything to hurt Bulma, you know that," Vegeta said. The Z Fighters were relieved as Vegeta smiled and hugged Aliya. Suddenly, Supreme Kai appeared with a woman who looked like an older version of Aliya and a teenage boy who looked like Goku. They both had tails wrapped around their waists, clearly they were saiyans. "Supreme Kai? What's...what's going on?" Vegeta asked, clearly in shock.
"It is not my place to say, Vegeta," Supreme Kai said and then turned to Gohan, "Gohan, I found the other person you were looking for. We couldn't find her in Other World because she wasn't dead. For the past six years she's been living on Namek. I told her why she was wanted here and she agreed to come, but...well, I'll let her explain about the boy."
"Thank you, Supreme Kai. I'll explain to everyone else," Gohan said and then Supreme Kai returned to Other World, "When I wished back King Vegeta and Vichell, I didn't get to wish back everyone I wanted to. There was one other, this woman. Supreme Kai and I couldn't find her in Other World. Her name is Victoria and she is queen of the saiyans, Vegeta's mother."
"Mother? Our mother?' Aliya asked Vegeta as she held on to him.
"Yes, Aliya, she's our mother," Vegeta said as he began to cry. He had missed his mother dearly and could barely believe she was standing before him.
"Aliya?" Victoria asked weakly. Was this really her daughter standing before her with her son?
"Yes, Victoria, she made it. Vichell took care of her and through Gohan, she met Vegeta," King Vegeta said as he walked over and put his hand on his wife's shoulder.
Vegeta walked over and embraced his mother. Then he turned and held out his hand to Aliya. She walked over to her brother and met her mother for the first time. Vegeta then introduced his family to his mother. "How did you survive the blast from Frieza? I saw the entire thing, no one could have survived it," Vegeta asked his mother.
"I wasn't there. Aliya wasn't the only one sent away after her birth, I was, too. I hoped to find refuge on Prelaya and eventually make my way to Earth to find Aliya, Vichell, and Kakarot. But Frieza saw my ship and tracked it. I had to keep moving from planet to planet to stay ahead of Frieza. Six years ago I came to what was supposed to be a deserted planet but I found the Namekians had moved there. That is when I learned Frieza had been destroyed. The Namekians offered for me to stay with them for as long as I wanted. My ship had been destroyed by a meteor shower and I had barely made it to the planet myself, so I had no choice. When they heard I was trying to get to Earth, they said they would try to find a way; they were familiar with the planet. But they never found a way. On Namek I found Turan," Victoria said as she pointed to the boy, "I had not seen Turan since the day he and Aliya were born. He also was sent away in hopes of saving him from Frieza. We would have sent him to Earth as well but we feared two ships heading in the same direction would be too obvious. So, we sent Turan to Namek. We knew the Namekians were a peaceful race and would care for him. He is the youngest of the three sons of Bardock and Riya. You would know where Raditz is, Vegeta, he was given to Frieza with you and Nappa. I hope to find Kakarot here, if he is still alive. Turan wishes to know his own family if possible." The Z Fighters were as shocked about Turan as they were Aliya; Goku had a little brother.
"Did you say Bardock is his father?" Goku asked. He was so shocked to hear his own father's name that he didn't hear the rest of what Victoria said.
"Yes, Goku, she said Bardock is Turan's father. No surprise, he looks just like Bardock, like you do. Mother, Turan, this is Goku, a full saiyan who is also known as Kakarot," Vegeta said with a smile on his face.
"Kakarot?" Victoria said as she walked to Goku, "Yes, I can't believe I didn't see it at first. He does look just like Bardock, as Turan does. Raditz is the only one of his boys that doesn't look like him. Where is he, Vegeta? Where are Raditz and Nappa?"
"Gone. They've both been killed. Raditz was killed by Goku and the Namek when he came to destroy Earth. I killed Nappa. We came to Earth in search for the dragon balls after Raditz had been killed. At that point in time, my heart was so hardened by the treatment I received from Frieza that I cared for no one but myself. I killed Nappa when he couldn't destroy Goku. Since the, I've come to live here and help protect the Earth with this group of fighters known as the Z Fighters," Vegeta explained as Turan walked over to Goku.
"So, you're one of my brothers?" Turan asked Goku.
"It would seem that way," Goku said as he laughed and scratched his head, "I never thought I had a younger brother, much less that Gohan would be older than him."
"Who's Gohan?" Turan asked, confused.
"I am," Gohan said, "Goku is my father and these are my younger brother and sister, Goten and Anna. I'm eighteen-years-old, two years older than you. But it's okay, Vegeta is ten years older than dad and his sister, Aliya, is exactly the same age as you." The Z Fighters laughed as it was funny Goku and Vegeta had younger siblings who were younger than Gohan.
"Turan," Piccolo said as he walked to stand in front of Turan, "I know you realize I'm Namekian but you don't recognize me. My name is Piccolo and I'm fused with Nail."
"Nail? I thought Frieza had killed you," Turan said.
"Almost. We fused together to fight Frieza. He still managed to nearly kill me. I would have died if Dende had not healed me. He's here, too. He's at the Lookout, guardian of the Earth," Piccolo said and then explained to the others, "Nail and Dende, as you know, were brothers. Dende, like Gohan, is just slightly older than Turan. When Turan's space ship was found, Nail and Dende took him in as their brother."
"The space ships. The three space ships," Vegeta said.
"What is it, Vegeta? Is something wrong?" Bulma said as she laid a hand on Vegeta's arm.
Vegeta looked at Bulma and then Victoria, Aliya and Turan. "The three space ships," he said, "I remember the day before our home planet was destroyed, Frieza called me to his control room. He made all of his men leave so it was just us. He made me look at Planet Vegeta while he made fun of the saiyans. That's when we both saw three space ships blast off from the royal city. He was going to destroy them. I was so angry. I lost myself and attacked. I didn't think he was going to let the saiyans live much longer, so that even three saiyans could survive would mean so much. It would make Frieza paranoid to know a super saiyan could still arise and beat him. I didn't know who it was in the ships, but it must have been you three."
"You saved us? How did you survive the fight? Frieza was so powerful; he could have killed you," Victoria asked her son. She was still trying to figure out who killed Frieza and how; she was shocked Vegeta had survived a fight with Frieza.
"I was surprised myself I had survived the fight, but, it was different. I wasn't even scratched but Frieza was injured to the point he was unconscious. I'm still not quite sure how I won that battle," Vegeta said, slightly bewildered.
"You knocked Frieza unconscious? He must have gained immense strength in the few years between then and when we faced him on Namek," Goku asked Vegeta.
"I don't know. It's possible. Look what we've been able to do, even with just a few months of training," Vegeta replied.
"Maybe you transformed, Vegeta," Bulma said and Vegeta looked at her with a questioning look, "It's possible, Vegeta. The first time you transformed, you didn't remember it; I had to tell you. It's possible even then wasn't the first time you transformed. Look at Gohan. How many times when he got angry did he transform before he actually physically showed the transformation and was able to control it? I've seen Goku and you do the same thing. It would make sense. Frieza may have been strong, but he wasn't stronger than a super saiyan. If you first transformed sixteen years ago under his captivity, you could have injured him that badly."
"Super saiyan! You made it to super saiyan!" Victoria exclaimed. She knew Vegeta had the possibility to be a super saiyan, but she never imagined he would actually make it.
"Yes, he did, Victoria," King Vegeta explained, "He, Kakarot, their sons, and Vichell's daughter, Videl, all have become super saiyans. But they've done more than that. Trunks and Goten are one level beyond super saiyan, at ascended saiyan. Vegeta, Kakarot, Gohan, and Videl are one level beyond that, at super saiyan three."
Victoria looked at the other saiyans, amazed that the legend of super saiyan was true. "Also, mother, Gohan and Videl are the paired saiyans. They are incredibly strong. I think the reason why we have been able to reach super saiyan and beyond is two things, the lives we live and our heritage. Saiyans held love as a weakness, but you and father, Mikal and Recknee, and Riya and Bardock dared to defy that. Goku and his brothers, Vichell, and Aliya and I were born out of love; we weren't bred for strength. Subsequently, Goku, Vichell, and I also married those we loved; our children were also born in love. Something I learned when Bulma and I bonded was love was the true source of a saiyan's power. That is how Goku was able to turn super saiyan against Frieza; he was defending those he loved. That is also how Gohan and Videl found their powers. As a saiyan's love grows, so does his powers. Yes, training is needed, but if you let your feelings rule your actions on the battlefield, you are stronger; I learned that from Goku," Vegeta said. He glanced at Goku. They had once been enemies, but now Vegeta respected and revered Goku, they were truly friends.
"Hey! I think all of this is cause for celebration, and isn't that what we're here for? Come on! Dig in! I just hope there's enough food," Bulma said. They all laughed as they dove for the food. They spent the afternoon laughing and getting to know each other and the Z Fighters welcomed in the newest saiyan members.