Is There Life?
Chapter 11: A Friend Returns
The Z Fighters were enjoying each other's company when suddenly Goku started laughing. They all turned to him. "Hey, Bulma! Did you ever think all this was going to happen when you set off on your first dragon ball quest?" he said.
"Man, Goku," Bulma said as she lay back in the grass, "That was so many years ago. I set off for an adventure and I found you. You were so innocent and naive back then."
"Goku was just a nutty little kid then, but then again, in some ways, he still is," Yamcha said. They all laughed as they remembered the days when they all had met. "I'd say you found your adventure, Bulma."
"That's for sure," Bulma said as she sat back up and leaned against Vegeta and he put his arm around her.
"Well, Prince Vegeta, I think we kept our promise," Vichell said.
"What promise?" Bulma asked as she looked at her husband. Vegeta looked at her and then to Vichell as he tried to remember what promise she was talking about.
"You've forgotten. The promise we made to Riya," Vichell said. She couldn't believe he had forgotten.
"I remember when you made it, but I'm not surprised you forgot. You made it four days before Frieza took you from us, the day Kakarot was born," Victoria said to her son. She remembered his promise but in the midst of his friends, she wanted to give him a chance to remember his promise.
"Oh! I remember now! I'm afraid I didn't do very well at keeping either one I made that day. I promised Goku would live and I've tried killing him I don't know how many times," Vegeta said as the nearly forgotten days of his childhood began to come back to him.
"You promised Goku would live! Man, Vegeta..." Krillin said and all the other Z Fighters agreed in his surprise. They had seen Vegeta try to kill Goku several times since he had come to Earth.
"I was barely older than Trunks at the time and, as mother said, was soon given to Frieza. Being a captive to him changed me..." Vegeta said solemnly. He did not like to remember or share about his time under Frieza.
"You are being modest, Prince Vegeta. Kakarot wouldn't have survived his birth if it weren't for you," Vichell said. She knew this man was the saiyan prince from her childhood, but it didn't seem like him. Being captive under Frieza really had changed him.
"Vegeta, what is she talking about? Why wouldn't Goku have survived?" Bulma asked curiously; then she realized what Vichell meant, "Vegeta. The child. The first child you delivered. The one right before you were taken by Frieza. It was Goku, wasn't it? You delivered Goku."
"Yes," Vegeta said softly.
"Wow! You delivered dad? That's neat. Maybe it doesn't seem like it to you, but I think you have kept your promise. On more than one occasion I know we've all been saved by you, including dad and I," Gohan said to Vegeta.
"Thanks, Gohan, maybe I have kept that promise in a way, but the other I didn't. I promised I would destroy Frieza," Vegeta replied.
"You mean you didn't destroy Frieza! If you didn't kill him, then who did?" King Vegeta asked, shocked. After seeing his son at super saiyan three, King Vegeta was sure Vegeta had been the one to defeat Frieza. Vegeta did not answer his father but glanced at Goku. "Kakarot?"
"Not I. I even failed at that. We thought I had destroyed him, but even after being cut into pieces by his own attack and going through Planet Namek's destruction, somehow, Frieza survived and came to Earth. It was here he met his end and, in a way, Vegeta, you kept your promise to destroy Frieza as well. See, it was when Trunks came back from the future to warn us about the androids he killed Frieza. So, Frieza, along with King Cold, met their ends at the hands of Vegeta's son," Goku replied.
"I remember that day well. It was the first time I ever got to see my father," a familiar looking young man said as he stepped out from the shadows. The Z Fighters all turned and looked. They soon all became excited and Bulma began to feel tears roll down her cheeks. "Hey, everyone!"
"Gohan, who is that? Do you know him?" Videl asked curiously; somehow the young man seemed familiar.
"He looks like the other fighter who was with them at the Cell Games," Hercule said as he studied the young man carefully. Yes, he was sure this was the one who had stayed by Vegeta's side during the Cell Games.
"Some welcome you get; they're all speechless," another young man said as he stepped out of the shadows and the Z Fighter' excitement grew. This man looked just like Goku, which meant he was only one person.
Vegeta stood and walked over to the two young men. "Hey," the first one said as he extended his hand to Vegeta.
"Now, is that anyway to greet your father?" Vegeta asked and then embraced the lavender haired youth, "It is good to see you again, Trunks, and in good health." Vegeta released Mirai Trunks, who was shocked by his father's actions. Vegeta then looked at the black haired youth at Mirai Trunks' side. "And he looks just like Goku, which means he has to be Goten."
"Yes, but how..." Mirai Trunks was stumped for words. While he knew Vegeta cared about his family, Mirai Trunks didn't remember him being this way.
"Vegeta's changed a lot since seven years ago, Trunks, but it's mostly been in the last week. We're still trying to get used to it, well, except for Bulma, Yamcha, and Gohan, they have all seen this side of him for a while," Piccolo said. Goku, ChiChi, and Gohan studied Mirai Goten; he did look just like Goku.
"Um...Trunks," Mirai Goten said as he placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, "You said I would get meet my family."
"Huh? Oh, yea, sorry. It's just..." Mirai Trunks laughed as he scratched his head, a habit he had picked up from Mirai Gohan; he wasn't quite sure what to think.
Vegeta chuckled to see what he considered the Son family trademark being done by his own son. "Why don't you two come sit down? We were just celebrating, well, quite a number of things. You are more than welcomed to join us," Vegeta said as he placed his hand on Mirai Trunks' back.
"Hey! Wait a minute! I'm Trunks, why are you calling him Trunks?" Trunks said as he realized what they were all calling the lavender haired youth.
"Yea, and I'm Goten," Goten said in his own defense.
Gohan laughed. "And so are they," he said, "Trunks, this is the future you who came back and warned us about the androids and then helped us fight the androids and Cell."
"And he's as stubborn and headstrong as his parents if I remember right," 18 said as she looked at the saiyan she had fought just seven years ago.
When Mirai Trunks saw 17 and 18, he became defensive. Why were they here among the Z Fighters? They were monsters, killers. "Don't son. In this time line they are part of us. 17 just recently joined us but it's because Gohan just found him. 18 has been with us pretty much since the Cell Games. She's even fought along side us in battle. She's married to Krillin and they have a daughter, Marion. I know it's hard for you to accept, but it's true," Vegeta said as he put his hands on top of Mirai Trunks' fists. Mirai Trunks relaxed, but was still cautious. He walked over and sat down on the ground next to Bulma. Mirai Goten followed suite and sat next to Mirai Trunks while Vegeta sat on the other side of Bulma. "So, what brings you back? Not more androids I hope."
"No, it's nothing like that. Actually, mom made us come back. See, after I left here, I returned to my time and beat the androids and the incomplete Cell with ease. Soon after, ChiChi arrived at Capsule Corp. really sick. Mom thought she had the heart virus which killed Goku, but what was really making ChiChi sick was a broken heart. I came to find out eight months after Goku died, ChiChi had given birth, to twins, Goten and Anna. Anna was sick from the time she was born. She was born without her tail and mom couldn't figure out what was wrong. Anna's still alive, but she's really weak. ChiChi hid Goten and Anna, hoping to keep them safe from the androids. I don't know if Gohan ever knew about his brother and sister; he never talked about them. When ChiChi showed up at Capsule Corp., she begged me to find Goten and Anna. By the time I returned with them, ChiChi was in a coma. That was about a year ago. Mom managed to save ChiChi and I began training Goten, but it just wasn't enough. I began to fall into depression, as I had when Gohan died. So a few days ago, mom decided it would be good for me to come back and visit. Goten never knew any of his family but ChiChi, so he asked if he could come with me so he could at least meet Gohan. We didn't think he'd get to meet Goku, but...you're here. And there are so many new faces. We thought coming back at this time, when we were kids, would be nice, but I never imagined this," Mirai Trunks replied.
"A lot happened a week ago, Trunks, which changed things..." Goku began. The Z Fighters told Mirai Trunks and Goten about the World Martial Arts Tournament, Supreme Kai and Kabito, Babidi and Majin Buu, Anna, Videl and Hercule, the wishes Gohan had made, and Aliya, Victoria, and Turan. The only events of the last week they left out were Gohan and Videl's engagement and Bulma and Vegeta's baby.
"Wow, all of that in a week! No wonder you came back, Goku; things have become interesting around here," Mirai Trunks said as he looked at his parents. He was glad to see them this way: so in love and Vegeta no afraid to show it.
"Things have changed, Trunks, but it is nice to see you here again," Bulma said as she softly placed a hand on Mirai Trunks' arm. He looked at her strangely. "What is it?"
"Oh...um...nothing..." Mirai Trunks said, shaking his head.
Vegeta smiled and wrapped his arm around Bulma. "He senses it. He knows something about you is different, but he can't place what it is," Vegeta said, knowing Mirai Trunks sensed the child Bulma was carrying.
"Huh?...How...how did you know?" Mirai Trunks turned to his father; had Vegeta become telepathic?
"For one, I'm your father; I know you. And two, I sense it too. I sense ki signals just as easily as you do. You're sensing a small ki signal and you can't place where from. All you know is the signal is stronger when you're near Bulma," Vegeta replied.
"Well...yes, that's right. I've sensed it since Goten and I arrived. I though maybe it was someone I didn't know, but I've placed all their signals. And somehow, it seems so familiar, yet so different. I just can't figure it out," Mirai Trunks said, once again shaking his head.
"I'm not surprised you can't place it. You've never been around someone when this has happened. You coming back to warn us about the androids changed the future more than just us all surviving. Your mother and I are having another child," Vegeta said, smiling.
Mirai Trunks looked at his parents who were smiling at him. He couldn't believe it, he really had changed the future. "Wow! That's great!" Mirai Trunks said when he finally found his voice then he began to laugh as he stood up excited, "I can't believe it! This is wonderful! When I came back the first time, I hoped to give you guys a chance against the androids, but I never expected all this to happen!"
"You did really good, Trunks. You gave all of us a chance and now, thanks to you, I have a chance to get married." Gohan smiled as he wrapped his arm around Videl.
Mirai Trunks turned to Gohan. "Wow! You're...you're getting married!" he said excitedly.
"Yes, to Videl. If you and Goten aren't in a hurry to return home, I would love if you could stay for the wedding. It's in two weeks," Gohan replied.
"You bet! Man, I wouldn't miss it for the world, Gohan. I hope that's okay with you, Goten," Mirai Trunks said as he turned to his companion.
"Sure, Trunks, I don't mind. After all, didn't I come back with you for the same reason, to spend time with my family and the Z Fighters? Besides, you said we'd probably get a chance to train with them. I hope I can learn from them, like you did," Mirai Goten said. He was anxious to learn some of his father's fighting techniques.
"Oh, yea, I almost forgot about that," Mirai Trunks said as he sat back down next to Bulma, "Part of the reason mom and ChiChi wanted Goten to come with me was to see if Goku would train him. See, Goten only started training a year ago when I found him. He hopes to eventually become a super and then an ascended saiyan, but right now, he's so weak I have a hard time sparing with him in my normal state. And I'm interested in trying to learn the super saiyan three transformation, if you guys are willing to train us."
"Of course we'll train you two. I'll even let you train with me this time, if you don't mind training with yourself and your grandfather," Vegeta said, smiling. He was going to have fun training both Trunks and Mirai Trunks as well as with his father.
"Wow! You really mean it! I can train with you!" Mirai Trunks said. He couldn't believe his father was going to him train with him. Vegeta nodded. "Man, alright! Thanks, dad!"
Bulma laughed at her future son, but she understood. The last time he had come back, Vegeta refused to have anything to do with Mirai Trunks. "Well, I hope you'll spend some time with me as well. I'm working on a few new inventions and I would love your help on them," Bulma said as she brushed a stray hair out of Mirai Trunks' face. She smiled; he had let his hair grow back down to his shoulders and it looked really nice.
"You bet; of course I planned on spending time with you. I plan on spending time with everyone," Mirai Trunks said as he smiled and hugged Bulma. His mother had been right, he had needed this trip.
"And we'll train you, too, Goten. We'll get your strength up and soon you'll have no problem sparing with Trunks," Goku said as he placed a hand on Mirai Goten's arm.
"Thanks, dad," Mirai Goten said and then laughed; it felt weird calling someone dad, "And, um, if you wouldn't mind teaching me, I would like to learn some of your fighting techniques. Trunks has told me about some of them. I really like the sound of how the Kamehameha Wave works, I was hoping I could learn it."
"That's mine and dad's attack of choice," Gohan said, "Master Roshi invented it and dad learned it when he was little and he taught it to me when I began training. Then I taught it to Goten when I began training him and I'll teach Anna how to do it once she learns to control her energy. We'll teach it to you, I'm sure you'll love it. It's a simple technique but it's very powerful."
"Wow! Thanks, Gohan. I think I'm really going to enjoy training with you. I hope I can keep up," Mirai Goten replied. He was excited at the chance to train with his father and brother, he only hoped he was strong enough to do it.
"If you're like any other saiyan we know, and I'm pretty sure you are, you'll have no problem training with Goku and Gohan. You'll be a super saiyan three in no time," Krillin said. He had grown up with Goku and had seen what awesome feats the saiyans could perform.
"Thanks, Krillin, I hope you're right," Mirai Goten said. The Z Fighters continued to celebrate, welcoming back an old friend and a new companion. Mirai Trunks smiled and enjoyed the party at his parents' side. He had missed his friends and hoped they could help him find some way to bring the Z Fighters back in his time and to save Mirai Anna.
Author's Note: Oh, wow. I really do have a good amount of people reading my story past the first chapter; at least I think I am by the number of hits I am getting. I would love to know what you think. Yes, that's right, this is another request for reviews. I don't require signed reviews, so anyone can leave me a note. Please do. I'd love to hear what people are thinking! Author out.