Epilogue
Three Months Later
The room was messy. Yesterday's clothes were strewn across the floor, as were clippings and pieces of paper, with scribbles of various kinds on them. Cards of all sorts were there as well, most of them containing signs that they were congratulatory in nature. Hanging on the cupboard, adjacent to the window, was a black tuxedo, with the bow-tie ready-made. The bed, opposite the cupboard, was a mass of sheets, under which was a bulge. Next to the bed, on the left-hand side, was a radio alarm clock that read 7:59 AM in red letters.
8:00 AM.
Immediately a happy jingle came out of the radio that lasted for a few seconds. As the jingle faded out a voice spoke:
"Good morning everyone and welcome to Z-Net News at 8:00, I'm Miles Brandrough with the top headlines from yesterday and this morning. There are, at present, continuing problems with the reconstruction of West City after the horrific events of three months ago. Similarly problems continue with the growth of slums around the city, that authorities are finding difficult to control, and overcrowding around Satan City and the refugee camps there. Anger at the government and his Majesty continues, as people are unable to return to their homes or the promised new homes that were to be built. The Shad -"
A hand slapped down on the radio, silencing it. The hand slithered back under the covers for a brief moment before the purple haired man gave up on the notion of sleeping any longer and drew himself out from under his covers with a loud yawn.
It was only when his sleepy eyes drifted onto the tuxedo that Trunks remembered what day it was.
"Crap!" he said as he leapt out of his bed and dashed to the bathroom.
"Pan!"
The call, from her mother, was soft. The girl, lying on her back, staring at the ceiling, heard it but did not respond.
"Pan! Are you ready? We need to be going soon."
She was dressed in her dress, a soft blue colour, with her hair pulled back and a rosette holding it together. Still she did not respond, her mind elsewhere.
"Panary Chi-Chi Satan! I will not call you again!"
That'll be right…
Sighing she rolled off of her bed and stood on the floor. She slipped her feet into her heels and walked to the door, opening it and then heading down the stairs. Videl was there, dressed in a black dress with her hair done up in a fancy style. Her mother smiled at her daughter as she dropped to the bottom of the stairs.
"You look beautiful darling," she said.
"Thanks Mom," Pan replied, forcing a smile.
Gohan appeared from the kitchen, still chewing on something. He was wearing a tuxedo, the black matching well with his wife's dress. The sleeve of his right arm hung loose though. Pan winced as she saw it.
"You look good Dad," she said.
"Thanks," Gohan said, after swallowing his food. He smiled at her. "You do to."
Pan nodded.
"Are we all ready then?" Videl asked.
"Ah, yes," Gohan said. He glanced down at his watch. "Dad, Mom and Goten should be here soon to pick us up. At least I hope they will, if Dad hasn't overslept…" Gohan stepped away to the front door. As he went Pan's eyes followed the loose sleeve. Videl touched her on the shoulder.
"Are you okay?" she asked, concerned.
"Ah… yes, I'm fine. I'm just… still not used to it." She lowered her eyes.
Videl nodded. "I'm not either. Not really anyway. But there was nothing that could be done to restore it. And he didn't want to use the dragon balls and… well that was another discussion." She looked seriously at her daughter. "It wasn't your fault though. You know that don't you?"
"Yes… I…" Images flashed through her head - her fist cannoning into her grandfather's face - the energy attacks - the crushed and defeated body - "…I do know…" She nodded and looked away. Videl squeezed her shoulder.
Gohan opened the door and looked outside. He glanced up at the sky and then looked at his watch. He sighed.
Gohan… can you hear me?
The familiar voice cut through his consciousness. He looked up and smiled.
Hey there Kibitokai!
Ah, so you can hear me. That's good.
What are you contacting me about?
Oh two reasons primarily. Firstly I was wondering if you could pass on my good wishes to Trunks?
Of course! I'd be delighted!
Secondly you asked me to update you about the situation in Otherworld, once things had settled down a little bit. Things are improving. Dabura, with the help of some Saiyans including your grandfather and uncle, have succeeded in tracking down most of the invalids who attempted a breakaway. Bojack's gang took the longest time and the longest struggle but they got them.
That's great! Uh…
You seem a touch pensive?
Sorry. My uncle doesn't bring up pleasant memories.
I apologise. I should have been more aware.
That's all right. Anything else to add?
Nothing much… Cooler is still at large, we haven't managed to track him down yet. He doesn't seem to have done anything though, at least not after he murdered his father.
You've confirmed that?
No, but adequate guesswork coupled with what Frieza eventually divulged allowed me to piece things together.
That's good. Well, not good, but you know.
Yes. Thank you again, all of you, for all your help.
No problem. Just doing our duty.
It seems to be a habit.
Gohan laughed.
Enjoy your day, Kibitokai said.
Thank you. We will.
The connection closed. Gohan smiled up at the sky. He heard a whistling sound behind him and sensed that his father had arrived.
Kibitokai slumped back in his seat. It had felt good to contact Gohan, to be able to bring him good news. There hadn't been much of that recently. Still he hadn't told Gohan everything, though he had wanted to. He rested his head on the back of the chair. He felt uncomfortable in the room, but it had to be done. He was occupying the main room of the Grand Kai's palace. This was a necessary arrangement as he began to take a more active role in running the Otherworld. And not just because he had arrived at Kaioshinkai to find utterly destroyed (he learned why from Goku later) or because many of the villains had proved to be less than good to their word, as he had expected.
But he was disturbed. The reasons for his more active involvement were complex and involved something that he had wanted to talk to Gohan about but had found himself unable to say.
His thoughts drifted back…
Kibitokai hurried down the walkway over the clouds, flanked by Dabura and the Grand Kai. At the check-in station all of the ogres, including King Enma, were huddled outside. Kibitokai stepped up to them.
"What's happened?" he asked.
"Nothing," Enma said. "They're just in there. Hanging around. And creating a large queue behind them."
"Have they said anything? Have you said anything?"
"Of course not! I'm not going anywhere near them!"
The Supreme Kai sighed. "Step aside. I'll go talk with them."
"Do you want me as back-up?" Dabura asked.
"No. Just keep your eyes and senses on things."
Kibitokai took a deep breath and then pushed open the doors to the check-in station.
"My, my… the Lord of Worlds himself has graced us with his presence."
Kibitokai stifled his anger and looked up. Sat on the backend of Enma's chair was Majin Maladie. He was back to his original state, the B.U.U. gone from his body. A halo was above his head. The other Majin, Excidium, Instanti, Parvus and Parvulus stood around the table as well, looking at Kibitokai.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"What do we want?" Maladie asked, furrowing his brows. "We want nothing. We're here to be sentenced. Isn't that what happens here?"
"You… ah… what?"
"Don't you know how your own made-up system works?"
"I know how it works perfectly well!" Kibitokai shouted, blushing. "What I want to know is -"
"Your people fled before we could do anything. We haven't done anything but turn up, expecting to be sentenced to hell." He looked back over his shoulder. "Nothing has happened for a while and then you showed up. That is quite a long line of souls back there. I suggest you need to sort out your bureaucracy."
Kibitokai blinked. "I… uh… so you mean you… aren't here to resist anything?"
Maladie turned his eyes back to him. "We're here because we have to be. That's how the Kai's of old made things, I can't resist such rules. I presume our sentence is to hell and that's what we're waiting for."
"You want to be sentenced?"
"I wouldn't want to be, but those are the rules."
"And you're willing to go along with them?"
The Majin shrugged. "We lost. Fate, or the universe, or perhaps nothing but luck has sided with your cause. I accept that and we accept the punishment for our failure. Your system will continue to stand."
Kibitokai blinked again. And then again. He shook his head. "I don't… Sorry I'm still…"
Malaide sighed and hopped off the back of the chair. "It's all right, we'll take care of it ourselves. I presume hell is below the clouds?" Together the Majin began to walk back towards the sloping pathway leading to the check-in station.
"Wait!" Kibitokai held up his hand. They turned back to him. "Maladie… I know we've had profound differences and I know that my ancestors did you a great wrong, for which I am sorry. I don't agree with what they did."
"I don't need your pity if you're angling to give us a place in heaven to salve your guilt."
"No. I mean… what I'm saying is that if you want I can search for your people. They must be either here or in hell. I can reunite you if you so wish."
Maladie shook his head. "Impossible. They died before this place existed. Their souls are lost, they can't be found."
"What do you?"
"Read your history again, boy. Then you'll understand. These planets, that you call the Otherworld, were once part of what you call the Lower Realm. The Great Dai Kaioshin moved them apart in the time-stream, thereby creating the separate realities and promoted his race as gods. You are not and this place is not heaven. It's an artificial realm. Before it existed souls simply faded away and joined with the rest of the universe."
"And was that better?" Kibitokai said before he could stop himself.
Maladie shrugged. "Who can say?"
"I thought you were an authority on all things."
"Don't tempt me boy."
"Sorry." Kibitokai blushed. "But how can I be sure you won't try your magic again?"
"You have my word. And the word of a Majin means something, unlike that of a Kai."
The Supreme Kai bit back on his reply. He nodded. "Fine. I accept what you say."
Maladie nodded at him. "You know, I think I was wrong about you," he said after a moment. "I killed the Elder Kai and left you alive, thinking that without him you would be hopeless and unable to manage affairs. I wanted one Kai alive to see the ruin of the galaxy and to have him feel what I felt when it was all torn away. But it appears I was wrong. You placed your faith in great friends and even rallied the defence of Otherworld that stopped my plan. Much as it pains me to say it, you are worthy of your title and you have my respect Lord of Worlds."
"Thank you," Kibitokai replied, stunned at the praise.
"One last thing. You're not a god, nor are your people. But these people," he gestured to the line of souls assembling behind him, "believe you to be. With that comes a great responsibility, one that your ancestors never really understood. Be good to them, they have earned it, and you must work hard to ensure their happiness. That is the curse left to you."
Kibitokai nodded, his expression thoughtful.
Majin Maladie looked at him for a moment. Then he and his friends turned and stepped off the edge of the walkway and fell below the clouds.
Even now Kibitokai was still troubled by that exchange. He had had people watch Maladie, for a time, but they were content merely to wander about the place. They were keeping their word not to stir up trouble, and even occasionally dealt with those taking a step-out of line. He had eventually cancelled the surveillance.
Now though he had a sense of the burden on him. Of his duty not only to the living and the dead. It made him feel almost embarrassed when he thought on how he had used to be, content to sit on Kaioshinkai and delegate all tasks without keeping an eye on things, sometimes only glancing at reports every few ten-thousand years. He was determined to work harder now, to do better. That, after all, was his responsibility as God.
Sighing he stood up from his desk to walk towards the door. He would tell Gohan about that exchange. Sometime. He promised himself.
Planet Frieza-Cooler 1
King Kuriza strode down the corridor that led to his grandmother's chamber. He stopped outside the door and looked at the guard on duty.
"How is she?" he asked.
"Not good," the guard admitted. "We've put her in bed for the last few weeks. She's in something of a state of delirium most of the time now. And she's old, very old. Maybe not so old in Arcosian years, physically, but mentally yes."
"Is she…?"
The guard shook his head. "No. The doctors are certain on that count. She has a good few years ahead of her yet."
Kuriza sighed. "That's a relief. I'm not sure I could handle more family deaths at the moment."
He stepped forward and the door slid open.
As the guard said his grandmother was in her bed. She was sat upright and was reading a book. The room was a sparse white colour, as were her bed sheets. With her own white skin colour she seemed to blend completely into her surroundings, were it not for the light blue colour of the gelatinous orbs on her shoulders and head. Her skin, if Kuriza looked closely, was beginning to grey a bit around the thicker parts of the skin. That was natural for her age. Her attention was fully focussed on her book.
"Hello," Kuriza said, softly, as he stepped into the room, the door shutting behind him.
She looked up from her book. Her eyes were unfocussed and confused for a moment and then a spark of realization went off in them and she smiled. "Ah, darling," she said, happily. "How are you?"
"I've been better," he said, moving to her side. He smiled at her. "But I'm mending."
She smiled back at him. "That's the important thing." She turned her attention back to her book.
Kuriza stared at her for a moment. He took a breath, looked away and then turned his attention back. He licked his lips. "I… I met my father…"
She stiffened.
"He wasn't like I'd thought he'd be," he continued hurriedly. "I guess I don't really know what I thought he'd be. He seemed… sad, almost… I thought I'd hate him, but…"
"Your father?"
He looked up at her. She had a look of fear plastered onto her expression.
"What does your father want Frieza?"
Kuriza stared at her. He blinked a few times and then smiled. "Oh, nothing," he said. "It doesn't matter."
"Oh…" she said, still nervous. "Okay."
"Mom… I've been thinking about the things that you've said to me."
"What things were those?"
"About a better way of helping the galaxy, of helping all the peoples who inhabit it."
"Oh? Really?"
"I've decided that I'm going to change the Planet Trade Organization. That's too limited for what I want to do. From now on it will be the Inter-Planetary Federation. Everyone with an equal say, working together for everyone."
"That's wonderful," she beamed at him. An almost confused look crossed her face, momentarily, as if she suddenly realised what was really happening. But it disappeared as soon as it came. "I'm so proud of you."
"I know." Kuriza looked up at her with a wobbling smile. Tears began to form in his eyes as he struggled with the next words. "I love you Mom."
"I love you too darling."
Earth - Capsule Corp.
Trunks barrelled down the stairs, throwing his jacket on over his shirt, the cuffs and collar of which were in complete disarray. His hands were shaking, so much so that he couldn't do up any of the buttons.
"Mom! Hey Mom!" he shouted.
"What are you hollering about?"
The voice stopped him abruptly and he looked over to see his father, dressed in a black suit but with no tie of any description, seated on the couch. His spiky grey hair looked marginally neater than it usually did. Evidently Bulma's threat of curling it if he didn't comb it had the desired effect.
"Oh, hey Dad," Trunks said. "I'm having a problem doing my buttons up." He gave a weak smile. "My hands are shaking too much so I need Mom."
"I'll do it," Vegeta muttered, pulling himself to his feet with his cane. Bulma had, so far, not had time, so she claimed, to repair the mechanical spine despite Vegeta's varied pleads, threats and growling.
"Uh, it's okay, I…"
Vegeta cut off his son's protests with a look. He stepped forward and, using one hand, slotted the buttons in place around the cuffs and then around the collar. Finished he patted Trunks on the shoulder.
"Thanks Dad," Trunks said.
"You're welcome," Vegeta replied. He smiled at his son. "You look great."
Trunks blinked. "Did you just compliment me?"
"Yes. It won't happen again."
"Right, just so I know." Trunks smiled at Vegeta. "Thanks."
"For what?"
"I don't know… Everything I guess."
Vegeta waved his hand as he limped back towards the couch. "I haven't done much. Go see you mother, she's in her room. She'll want to sort out your hair."
Trunks laughed, nodded and made his way back up the stairs.
Vegeta slumped back onto the couch and rested his hand on the armrest, thinking. The TV was on in front of him, the news, but he wasn't paying it any attention.
"Aw, that was so cute."
He looked up to see his daughter, dressed in a blue dress with a white rosette, emerge from a side door. She was grinning at him and holding her phone.
"What was?" Vegeta growled.
"You, fixing up Trunks' shirt," she said, jumping onto the couch opposite him. "Honestly it's so rare of you to help anyone Daddy, least of all Trunks, that I just had to get a picture of it." She waved her phone at him.
Vegeta's eyebrow twitched. "That photo had better not be seen by anyone."
"Already on Facebook."
"You're grounded for life."
"I'd like to see you try and enforce that," she giggled.
Vegeta scowled and turned his head to the window. The sun was rising high over the city. Many of the buildings had scaffolding around them and were still half-ruined. But the skyline was making its way back to normal.
"…Although sketchy footage is beginning to emerge we still have no idea who these people were," the news reporter was saying. "But we appeal to them to come forward, or for anyone who recognises them to make that information known. We owe them our thanks." A shuffling of papers. "Today sees the wedding of the heir of Capsule Corp. to Miss Estella -"
The feed cut off. Bra dropped the remote and turned her eyes back to her phone. "God, I can't believe how much publicity this is getting," she muttered. "It's like people don't have anything better to do."
Krillin held the photo frame in his hand. He was dressed in loose fitting pyjamas, sat on top of his bed. In front of him was the window opening out onto the sea view. It had taken a while but the Kame House had been restored, on the island where it had once been. Master Roshi had been insistent on having a duplicate capsule house, even though the one like he had was a rarity these days. Eventually Bulma had managed to find him one and they had moved back.
He heard noises from below and vaguely felt the ki. Master Roshi and Marron, readying themselves. When Krillin had first returned to the house with Yamcha it had taken all of his inner resolve to put a brave face on things as he told Marron the bad news. She hadn't taken it well, but it was what she suspected. Over time she had managed to slowly get better, to come to terms with what had happened. She still wasn't better yet; it would take much longer, perhaps forever, to come to terms with it. But she was getting there. Krillin, on the other hand, had seemed to deteriorate, as Marron got better, until now he hardly had the motivation to lift himself out of bed.
He had promised that he would go to the wedding though.
He looked down at the photo again. It was him and his wife, in their wedding clothes. Her, the traditional white, flowing dress. Him a black and sharp suit. He was smiling, nervously, as if he couldn't quite believe what had happened. She, on the other hand, had that small frown that he had come to know so well. He reached out and brushed his fingers over her face.
"Don't you have to get changed?"
The voice caught him. His mouth dropped open and he looked up from the photo. Carefully, almost shaking, he put the photo on the bed and turned around. Behind him, standing at the frame of the door, was Eighteen.
She looked as he always remembered her looking. Young and ageless, shoulder-length blond hair with half of it brushed behind her ear, the other half framing the side of her face. She wore her ordinary clothes, a pair of jeans and a striped black and white T-shirt. He got an unusual feeling from her, something he'd never felt before.
"H… How…?" Krillin asked.
Eighteen smiled a little and pointed at the top of her head. Krilllin's eyes drifted up and saw the halo. He blinked at it for a moment and then he realised.
"Ah… That's right, you get one day."
"Two actually," she replied.
"Two? I thought Goku…"
"Goku can't negotiate the way I can." She smiled craftily and sat herself on the bed. "I used my record of good service in recent events to get an extra day."
"Why?" he asked.
"Because I saw how you were." Her smile dropped a little. "I don't like seeing you this way."
"I'm sorry…" He turned away and lowered his head. "I don't know how to be any other way."
"Yes you do." She reached out and stroked his cheek. "My Krillin was always full of joy and energy, and stupid optimism about everything to rival Goku himself."
A weak smile flickered across Krillin's lips.
"You have friends who are concerned about you. And a wonderful daughter who needs you. And moping around here isn't going to get you better and its not going to help them." She paused. He turned his eyes to her. "I'm sorry that I can't be with you, but I haven't been for a while. I couldn't stand it if you got killed and I certainly couldn't stand to see you wasting away your life looking after me. I made my choice to save you." She smiled again. "But now, I'll be waiting. You enjoy your life, enjoy watching Marron grow up. Enjoy things again. That will make me happy. And then, when you're finished, when you've exhausted yourself at last, I'll be waiting for you."
Krillin looked at his wife, in all her beauty. Then he closed his eyes and smiled to himself. "I've been a real idiot haven't I?" he said.
"Yes. But such a cute one."
He opened his eyes and looked into hers. She leaned forward and their lips touched. For him it was the most wonderful and revitalising sensation. The broke off their embrace. Suddenly, possessed with energy, he stood up and grinned.
"I'll bring you down to where Roshi and Marron are," he said. "I think they'll both be really surprised and pleased to see you, though there might be some initial shock. Maybe I should break this to them in a slower way? You know Trunks is getting married today right?"
Eighteen nodded at him.
"Great! You can come along, no one will mind of course. This also makes things easier, we're running a bit behind, but with you here we can fly. You can take Marron and I'll grab Roshi, that way you two can talk as well. We'll get there way faster than we would if we took a Capsule vehicle."
"There's a slight problem with that…"
"What do you mean?" He looked at her confused. "It's a simple as…" He paused. He squinted at her really hard. And then he finally twigged as to what the unusual feeling he was getting from her was. It was her ki signature. For the first time in his life Krillin was able to sense her energy. And that meant…
"You're not an android anymore?" he asked.
"No," she said, rolling her eyes. "Cybernetics don't translate well to the afterlife."
"But that's…" He looked around the room and down at himself. He glanced at the watch. "I need to get changed! Quick!" He darted for the wardrobe as Eighteen laughed. It was a beautiful sound: one he hadn't heard in years.
The eye studied the arm.
Slowly the finger moved forward, to the heel of the palm. The nail dug in and pressed hard. The eye winced as the nail cut through the skin and drew blood. The small drops of blood trickled down the wrist. The eye closed and then opened, focusing harshly on the wound.
Nothing happened.
Uub flumped back onto his bed and let out a frustrated sigh. No matter what he did he could not get himself to heal. It was gone. The power, what had made him special. Now he was just ordinary.
There was a knock at the door.
Uub leapt up and pulled his sleeve over his wrist and grabbed his suit's jacket from the bed, throwing it on. He tapped his metronome and the small tock - tock - tock - tock noise started.
"Yes?" he asked.
The door opened a bit and Yamcha, dressed in a suit and tie, poked his head around the door.
"Ah, good, you are ready," he said. He stepped in, leaning on his right leg a little. There was something of a dull thud when he put that leg down. He was still getting used to the cybernetic prosthetic that had been attached.
"Yes," Uub said. "I'll be along in a sec."
"Okay." Yamcha looked at him for a moment. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
Yamcha sighed. "Look, Uub, I know you're not. Goku's been trying to see you but you've not been responding. You're going through a lot. What happened to you was horrible and I can only imagine what its like to have your world and sense of self stripped away."
Uub looked to the side.
"It'll never come back will it?" he asked after a while. "Who I am."
"You are who you are," Yamcha said. "All that talent that you had, all of that skill, that was all you."
Uub looked at him.
"I know it's hard to take and I know it's hard to imagine," Yamcha continued. "You were at such a high plane and to get knocked back like that is real tough. But you can get back there again. I know it and I think you know it too."
"Yeah and suffer with everyone's looks of pity."
"Nobody will give you pity. Sympathy, sure, but not pity." Yamcha stepped over and put his hand on Uub's shoulder. The young man looked up at him and the former bandit smiled. "Your talent is yours. Nothing that is you was taken away. And sure, you don't have the advantages you once had. You don't have those advantages of a Saiyan either. But that's just motivation to work harder. And it'll make that achievement of that greatness all the sweeter."
Uub stared at him for a moment. And then he smiled.
"Thanks Yamcha," he said. "That made me feel a bit better."
"That's good, because I have no idea what I was saying." The scar-faced bandit laughed and so did Uub. "You're a good person Uub," he said. "Remember that always." He clapped him on the back and then stepped away. "I'll be downstairs with the car. Don't be too long."
"Okay."
Yamcha smiled at him and stepped out of the door.
When he was gone Uub's smile fell a little. He took a deep breath and shoved his hands in his pockets. He took a sweeping look around the room -
And his eyes fell on the dragon ball.
Sat on top of his chest of drawers, in the cradle of a fashioned iron dragon. The golden ball, with its four stars, glimmered in the sunlight coming through the window. Slowly Uub stepped over to it. He reached out and plucked it off of its perch. He stared at it, and at his reflection in shimmering stone.
Tock - tock - tock - tock - tock - tock - tock…
The congregation of people sat inside the church. Divided in half, the bride's family and friends on the left and the groom's on the right. At the front of each row were the respective parents and brothers and sisters. Bulma and Vegeta were sat at the inside of the row and Bulma was merrily exchanging words with her soon to be in-laws. Vegeta, meanwhile, was simmering over the fact that Kakarot had, once again, used him as his instant transmission butler. The Prince swore that as soon as his spine was fixed and he could train again he would drop in on him at an inopportune moment using his own perfected transmission.
Behind them sat the son family, with the exception of Goten. He was stood at the front of the church with Trunks. He was looking uncomfortable in his suit and with his hair straightened, combed back and pulled up in a ponytail - hours of his mother's dedicated work. They were talking amongst each other, with Goku swivelling around to talk to the group behind him (Krillin, Eighteen, Marron, Tien, Chiaotzu, Piccolo, Yamcha and Uub). Uub was sat at the end of the row and was maintaining his distance, though Goku had talked with him for a little when he had arrived. Everyone had been shocked when Eighteen turned up and it had taken some explaining. Fortunately nobody on the brides' side of the family had yet noticed the halo above her head (they had been far too occupied with staring at the Namekian). Piccolo himself was looking greatly uncomfortable, dressed as he was in a suit made to order (at the insistence of Bulma).
Behind that group was Mr Satan, Mr Buu, Dende, Mr Popo & Master Roshi - who had all drawn looks of various sorts for various different reasons.
At the front Trunks was nervously checking his watch and running his hands through his hair, combed neatly to one side. He kept exchanging glances with Goten, the strangeness of the situation making it hard for his best friend to stop himself from laughing. Bra kept giving Trunks glares and mouthing 'leave it alone!' everytime he reached for his hair.
Suddenly the organ began playing. Everyone ceased what they were doing and stood up as the Bride entered, followed by her maids of honour. Trunks mouth dropped as he stared at Estella. She looked majestic, her white dress flowing around her body, the veil drawn lightly over her face, beneath it her twinkling eyes and gorgeous smile, clutching a beautiful bouquet of flowers in her hands. He recovered himself and smiled back, Goten smirking to his side, as she made her way to stand beside him at the altar. As she watched Bulma's eyes began to water and she dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. Vegeta gave her a glance of annoyance and then sighed and shook his head, whilst suspiciously rubbing his thumb and index finger at the inner corners of his eyes.
The organ's last note resounded around the chamber and the priest stepped forward and cleared his throat.
"Dearly beloved," he began, "we are gathered here today…"
Trunks and Estella, arm in arm, descended the steps of the church. Both were grinning ear to ear, as confetti was chucked in the air over them. The photographer's camera flashed, capturing the scene, with the friends and family milling about behind them.
Estella raised the bouquet up and threw it into the air. A mass of hands reached up to grasp it. Pan followed the trajectory of the flowers and sent a small kiai wave at them, knocking them off course and into the delighted arms of a small girl stood to next to the massive group. Gohan smiled at his daughter and rubbed her head.
The reception hall was small, befitting the low-key nature of the wedding, but with wonderful stone architecture, columns and arches. At the front table the mother and father of both bride and groom were sat, on the respective sides of their child, with Goten occupying the seat on Trunks' left. The others were sat at tables scattered around the room. Goku, Krillin, Eighteen and Chi-Chi were sat together; Piccolo, Dende and Mr Popo at a table next to them; Tien, Yamcha, Chiaotzu; Pan, Marron and Uub; Gohan, Videl, Mr Satan and Mr Buu. The other tables were occupied similarly by Estella's family and friends.
The last course was in the process of being finished when Goten cleared his throat and stood up, flicking the side of his wine glass with his finger. The glass shattered and showered an irate Prince of Saiyans with its fragments. Goten gulped and slowly set the glass the down. At any rate he had achieved his goal: all eyes were on him.
"Um… well, ladies and gentlemen, friends and family all," Goten began. "It's time for that part of the evening that my mother has been dreading most: the best man's speech." A smattering of laughs. Goten chuckled and then became conscious of his mother's eyes fixed on him. He swallowed. "I'd like to start by thanking everyone for coming. It's made a very special day even more special. And thank you to the caterers, who have been both fantastic and generous with the food. And wine, no doubt to the delight of many." Laughs.
"We're here to celebrate the marriage of Trunks and Estella, two people we both hold dear. Now, it is my duty as best man to embarrass and mock Trunks so much that it will make Estella reconsider her decision." More laughter. Trunks rolled his eyes with a smile. "I've known Trunks all of my life and for most of his. We actually continue something of a family tradition; his Mom and my Dad were and are best friends and his Mom was my Dad's first friend in fact. We didn't quite get the genders right in the second generation but hey, you can't have everything." The audience chuckled.
"Trunks and I have spent so much time together and done so many things together that many of you would even say that, at times, we were the same person." Approximately one half of the audience cracked up at this statement. The other half looked a little confused. Goten turned to Trunks and Estella with a smile. "So, knowing Trunks' mind so well, allow me to give you this caution Estella: he has got some weird stuff planned for you."
The bride and groom both laughed along, though Trunks looked a little embarrassed.
Goten turned back to the crowd. "Now as for embarrassing anecdotes about Trunks, I am, unfortunately, sworn to secrecy on most of them." This drew playful boos from the crowd. Goten, playing along, raised his arms for silence. "But, I do have one that I can say that will sum up the kind of person that Trunks is." Playful cheers. "Years and years and years ago, Trunks and I took part in the Junior World Martial Arts Championship, where we both made it to the final. There we were, best friends, about to engage in a no-hold barred fight to the finish in order to win the title of champion and the money prize that went with it. Trunks, the rich kid who had wanted for nothing, beat me, the poor kid who's only toys tended to be reptilian and run away after he caught them… by cheating."
"Oh come on," Trunks said, blushing as the audience laughed, with Estella giving Trunks a look of mock astonishment.
"Yes, yes, it's true. And afterwards, in order to keep me happy, he promised to give me whichever three toys of his I liked, which he did. So even at the age of eight he was already displaying the qualities that would make him invaluable to Capsule Corp: ruthlessness and a willingness to bribe others to keep them happy." Gales of laughter.
"Later that day we then disguised ourselves, at his suggestion, and entered the adult section of the tournament, which went about as well as you could expect." Chuckles. "And that sort of sums us up: Trunks was always the leader and I always merrily followed him into trouble. Whenever we had a contest of any sort, he was always the winner. Once I was dating a beautiful girl and was completely in love with her. A few months later she dumped me because she found some rich pretty boy to go out with instead and…" The laughter cut him off. "Yes I don't need to finish the joke do I? This was before you Estella, I should say." More laughter. "But Trunks, when he found out, his immediate reaction was one of horror. He offered to break-up with her immediately. Though I discouraged him from that, it meant something to me. And that was the great thing, the wonderful thing about Trunks. Throughout his life from a very early age he has been possessed with a confidence and arrogance, evidently from his mother and father's side, but also gentleness and a sense of rightness, from somewhere we haven't quite determined yet, and a loyalty to his friends. If ever anyone gave me trouble, there would be Trunks to sort them out. If ever I had a problem, he would be there, trying his best to help me. If ever I got myself into a mess, there would be Trunks' hand to lift me out. In many ways he wasn't just my best friend, he was an older brother as well."
Goten swept his eyes over the crowd. His mother and father smiled encouragingly at him. "If you could all please raise your glasses," he said. The congregation did so. "Thank you. I would raise mine but it broke; the glass is fragile." Chuckles. "I'd like to propose a toast, to Trunks." He turned to his best friend and smiled at him. Trunks and Estella smiled back. "Trunks, you are my best friend. And I know that I've been luckier than anyone in this room to have you as my best friend. And now Estella is the luckiest girl in the world to have you for a husband. I know, and can tell her now, that you will always try your hardest to make her happy; you will always be there for her; and you will always love her. I don't think anyone can ask for more.
"If I have been half the friend to you that you were to me than I will be happy. New adventures await for you now, adventures with your beautiful wife. So go out and enjoy them, live them all. You've earned it and you deserve it. And I wish you all the happiness in the world. To you both: have a most wonderful life together." He turned to the crowd and raised his hand. "Thank you."
Applause and whistles cascaded from the crowd as Goten sat down. Estella leaned over and planted a kiss on his cheek as Trunks slapped his friend on the back, whilst casually wiping his eyes with his sleeve. Goten sighed in relief that his part was over and that it had gone well. He caught his mother and father's eye as he looked over. He noticed the look of pride on their faces, as well as the tears in his mother's eyes. He smiled to himself.
"You do realise," Vegeta said, leaning in to Goten, "that his ego is going to be larger than a roomful of Cell's now?"
Goten chocked back his laughter.
The party was in motion. Trunks and Estella were in the middle of the dance floor, with the others moving around them. Goten had joined up with the bridesmaid, being the first pair on the floor following the bride and groom. Pan, Bra, Uub and Marron were amongst the merry makers, as were Yamcha, Chiaotzu, Krillin, Eighteen and Mr Buu (doing a very unusual dance indeed). Gohan and Videl left the dance floor and sat down with Hercule, Chi-Chi, Tien, Piccolo and Vegeta. Bulma was busy talking to her in-laws at the other end of the room, whilst Dende and Mr Popo had taken up entertaining some of the children who had not wanted to dance, whilst chatting with some of Estella's more curious friends.
"So you decided not to fix your arm Gohan?" Tien asked.
"Yes, for the most part," Gohan said, with a side-glance at Videl who nodded. "It was part of a wider decision."
"A wider decision?"
"That's right. You may have noticed but the world hasn't gone back to how it was before the attack."
"I had noticed that."
"Why is that?" Hercule asked. "I thought you would just use the dragon balls to restore everything."
"We talked about it," Piccolo explained. "Dende and I. In the end we came down on the side of not doing anything. We can't just continually use the dragon balls to solve everything - the ability to find them won't always exist. That wasn't their purpose, not when Kami made them. And it breeds a sense of irresponsibility."
"My not having my arm restored is part of that decision," Gohan said. "Not using the dragon balls to fix everything and, well, learning to live with consequences."
"That's a very brave decision," Tien said, raising his glass at Gohan.
Gohan laughed. "Not too much, the brave part was in convincing Mom and Videl to allow it. That took a lot."
"I still don't agree with it," Chi-Chi put in. "But you are a grown-up now."
"What? Only now?"
"I think I can answer yes to that," Videl said, causing everyone, bar Vegeta, to laugh.
"In some ways it's kind of cool," Gohan continued. "I was told that the future me only had one arm, so there's a nice kind of recurrence there."
"Let's just hope the rest of how the future you turned out doesn't happen," Videl said.
"On top of that decision of not restoring everything," Piccolo continued, "We didn't want to wipe anyone's memory of what happened. Dende, Gohan and I have thought about it and decided that the world is ready to learn about alien species and engage with the wider galaxy. Kuriza has already voiced his intent to return to Earth and attempt to integrate them into the Planet Trade Organization, or its new form."
"When was this?" Vegeta asked.
"About a month ago. He's waiting for some time to pass so it can be reasonably peaceful."
"Why wasn't I told?"
"Why should you be told? Dende and I work as Guardians of Earth that falls as our responsibility."
"And a fat lot of good you do in that job…"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Remind me who it was who killed Maladie and guarded the Earth?"
"As I recall a fusion of you and Goku. Now you remind me: who was it that gave you the opportunity to fuse? And who was it who healed both of you so you could stand and actually perform that ridiculous dance?"
"Ridiculous -!"
"Um…" Videl spoke, putting her hands up. Vegeta and Piccolo, who were nearly locking heads, turned to her. "Do you guys think you could give it a break? This is Trunks' wedding, I don't think he wants it spoiled by someone being put through a wall."
"You mean the Namekian being put through a wall - as if he could even budge me."
"Do you want to bet, you pensioned cripple?"
Videl sighed as the argument started again. Chi-Chi patted her on the arm.
"Videl, honey, let me try," she said with a smile. Chi-Chi loudly cleared her throat, catching the Saiyan and Namekian's attention. She smiled at them both and then her eyes narrowed viciously and a harsh frown settled across her face. It was a death stare that Gohan knew very well, from the numerous times it had been directed at his father, and he shrank away from it. "Both of you," she said, with venom. "Sit."
Both Vegeta and Piccolo were sufficiently perturbed by the look and tone of voice to do as she commanded. Tien and Hercule cracked up.
"That's how you handle them," Chi-Chi said, with triumph.
"You have got to teach me how to do that," Videl said.
"Oh no…" Gohan groaned.
Goku stood away from the party, resting his back against the wall. His grey hair was combed somewhat, so it looked straighter and less unruly than it usually did, but it still had the same distinct shape. He had his hands in his pockets and a small smile on his face as he watched the proceedings.
"Hey…"
He looked over and saw Bulma walk up to him.
"Hi Bulma," the Saiyan replied with a smile.
"Whatcha' doing here on your own?" she asked.
"Oh nothing much. Just watching and thinking."
"Thinking?" Bulma raised an eyebrow. "Hold on a sec and I'll ring the press."
Goku laughed. "Oh come on, its not that rare."
"Sometimes it feels like it."
They both laughed.
"So what were you thinking about," Bulma asked after a moment.
"Just… on how it was that we all came together. That without the dragon balls none of this would have happened. I mean you think of all the chance that went into that, my Grandpa having one, you being able to build the dragon radar and without that none of this would be happening."
Bulma smiled. "Do you want me to calculate the odds for you?"
"Nah, I doubt I'd understand it if you did."
Bulma giggled.
"It's also kind of funny: none of us ever asked a wish we wanted of the dragon, and yet we all got them answered."
"How do you mean?"
"Yamcha was looking to cure his shyness around girls and look at him now, he's not afraid of any of them in any number."
"Yeah, that one maybe worked too well."
"Krillin was wanting to get the girl of his dreams, that was why he went into martial arts to get girls, and that worked."
"True."
"And you were looking for a perfect boyfriend. And… well…"
Bulma smiled and looked over at Vegeta, sat oblivious at the tables. "I'd hardly call him perfect but… well he is a prince. And marrying a prince was my dream when I was a little girl so… it worked."
Goku laughed.
"See what I mean? All of our wishes got answered, without us actually wishing for anything from the dragon."
"When you put it like that I guess you're right." Bulma smiled at him. "That was quite profound Goku. You should try thinking more often."
Goku grinned and rubbed his hand behind his head. "I can't promise anything!" They both laughed and then Goku nodded at her and began to make his way to the tables.
Bulma looked down for a moment and then looked up at her best friend. "Hey, Goku," she called.
He turned around. "Yo!"
"You said everybody's wish got answered. But you never said what yours was."
Goku smiled. "To not be alone anymore."
He glanced over at the crowd of people and then, still smiling broadly, turned back towards the tables. Bulma shook her head and smiled to herself. Even after all these years, he could still be surprising.
The music died down and a man with a camera on a tri-pod called out to the assembly. "Excuse me? Everyone? May I have your attention please?" People slowly stopped what they were doing. "Are you all enjoying yourselves?" A cry of yes went up from the crowd. The man smiled. "That's wonderful! Now, I have one last piece of business to conclude before you can all get back to your merry making. If the lights could go up… thank you. I wish to get a group photo of the bride and groom with their family and friends. So if they could step forward to the centre and everyone else step back… yes thank you. And now the groom's family first please, if you could assemble yourselves."
And so they did. Trunks and Estella stood in the middle, Trunks on the right and Estella on the left, arm-in-arm. Beside Trunks, slightly behind him, stood Goten, his hand on his best friend's shoulder. In front of him Pan sat on her knees with her hand held up in a wave, smiling. Next to Goten stood Gohan and Videl, and in front of them Uub sat on the ground, his legs crossed, smiling. Just behind Gohan was Hercule and next to him was Buu, pulling a face for the camera. Behind Goten was Goku and Chi-Chi, hand in hand, and next to them, behind Trunks and Estella, were Yamcha, Tien and Chiaotzu. Behind them was Piccolo, his head and shoulders visible, doing his best to smile. Next to Estella stood Bulma and Vegeta, Bulma with her arm wrapped around Vegeta's and the Saiyan Prince was leaning on his cane and trying to resist scowling. In front of them Bra sat as Pan did, with a smile and a wave. Next to her was Marron, similarly seated, but with her hand raised, holding that of Eighteen, who stood behind her, with Krillin next to her his arm around her waist. Next to Krillin was Master Roshi, his staff held in his hand and his sunglasses on. Beside him and slightly to the front were Dende and Mr Popo, both beaming at the camera.
The shutter snapped -
And the image was immortalised.
And there it is - the end. I hope you all enjoyed this final chapter - and have enjoyed the whole run of the story.
First, some answers to your questions (the last one!):
Q: Bravo! Bravissimo! Looks like Gohan got, disarmed. Sorry, that was bad, really bad, I just couldn't help it. Chilling, yes unintentional pun, not that I mind. Yies, Maladie is strong, I mean, being able to take on Super Saiyan 2 Gogeta, that is insanely strong, he is the most powerful character there is! I mean, apart from vegetto since his fusion is permanent, not 30 minutes, but he never went past SS1 so, Gogeta is stronger here, I'm guessing that the headaches are since Gogeta's power is so high that even those who can't sense it can sense it and it is overwhelming their senses. To Dabura: Who cares if he's dancing? He's Kibito-effin-Kai! He's the supreme authority in heaven and this was a massive victory, he can cut loose. So this Milleniary Super Saiyan form is pretty strong if frehsly transformed Frieza saga Goku in that form is stronger then Perfect Cell, no easy feat considering the galaxy wide gap between their respective full powers. You know, for someone with such grand plans, Majin Maladie isn't all that smart since everyone knows that the only thing worse then an angry Goku is an angry Gogeta... And poor King Yemma, his job makes him seem like a cosmic Butt Monkey, I mean he may not be that high in the hierarchy of heaven, he is higher then the Guardian of a planet like Kami or now Dende for Earth but other then that, he is the lowest placed guy apartfrom his ogres, but an extremely important one as without him, all the dead wouldn't go anywhere and there would be chaos.
A: Thank you! You are correct, the headaches are a result of the huge power levels - and yes Kibitokai's dancing was likely undignified of him, but its doubtful that he would care all that much. King Yemma was being used there as some comic relief. I felt that after that battle, and the long run of fights preceding it, something light was needed to indicate that things were returning to normal :)
Q: ...Huh. That was fast, although understandable that you would rather avoid having any battle drag on as long as the actual series' finals did (29 episodes/chapters for Freiza and 10 for Cell). Still a good finish, even if Majin Maladie seemed less canny than his genre-awareness might have indicated. Perhaps he's just Saiyan-aware. Regardless of how the final chapter pans out, I am consistently impressed with your ventures into the finer details of the various powers and abilities in the series and how they can work/don't work. Given the recurring theme of how the entire cast were aversely affected by age, Vegeta most of all, I might have expected something a bit more conclusive but of course it's your decision. I would love to read a sequel to this involving the descendants of these heroes some time after their passing. I would also like to share with you an idea for a new plotline involving harmful side effects from all the time travelling Trunks did in the Android arc (another area in the series where we are mostly left to draw our own conclusions), but A) I'm already committed to finishing two other stories ATM and B) I think you'd do it better. Let me know if you are interested.
A: Well I didn't want to drag the fight on too long. Unusual though it may be for a Dragon Ball Z fan to say it but long battles make me weary, especially writing them. Short but with impact was my aim! With regard to Maladies' failure of genre awareness at the finish the implication, which I don't think came out right, was that the power was beginning to go to his head and was impeding his ability to think properly (starting to think he was invincible etc.) Hence how he gets caught out and starts to turn somewhat deranged. I'm flattered by your interest in sharing the idea. Whilst I don't think I'd be able to write it myself, I am happy to listen to the idea, or be editor for you, if you want to bounce ideas off of someone. And I'm pleased to hear that you've enjoyed the run of the run of the story!
Q: This is probably my favourite chapter. Everything was well executed, from the fight, comedy (especially that part where everyone's laughing about Vegeta's broken back) reactions, and the emotion from Goku when he returned Uub home. And Uub's father?! I can't wait for next chapter about it. That was an excellent final battle. But it feels like it's not over, like Maladie is going to pull a Cell and come back. Also, where will Maladie go? He can't travel to the Otherworld right; he'd just break that Magical Barrier and escape. Finally, a quick off topic question, but say by some chance Maladie (with B.U.U absorbed) found himself in the Dragon Ball Multiverse tournament, how do you reckon he and Zen Buu would react to each other?
A: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter and thought everything worked well. Whilst writing it I was a bit unsure, and kept thinking I'd got the pacing wrong or the fight wasn't epic enough. You've reassured me on that score!
I hope the resolution with Maladie was satisfactory (and perhaps surprising). As for Uub the point there was that he doesn't have a father (he was a virgin birth, so to speak, as a result of his unusual reincarnation); his mother was just rambling with whatever she could come up with on the fly (he'd never asked that question before). Uub, naturally, doesn't believe her though.
That's an interesting question... I'm not really sure actually xD I doubt they'd get along - though Zen Buu wouldn't know who he was he'd certainly know the B.U.U. part of him and would probably just assume that he was a Buu who had absorbed something else entirely. He'd probably be intrigued to find out he was his creator, assuming that plot-point was taken as being canon to it, and would probably view him as a candidate for absorption (for his magical prowess if nothing else). Maladie would probably just hold Zen Buu in contempt (as well as being disturbed by him): he wouldn't think of him as anything other than a construction that had a pretend consciousness due to it having absorbed so many people. He wouldn't believe Zen Buu to be his own person at any rate (rightly or wrongly).
Q: Wow. Our suffering is nearly at an end? I think you got that mixed up, our suffering is going to begin again! I waited twenty six days for this! (and then forgot to check for a few days!) That was suffering and now you're telling me there's more and I have to wait again! IT's not fair! You're Q&A is fucking sweet by the way and not just because I seem to get my questions answered, even silly ones I ask because I forgot Gohan was missing an arm and couldn't dance. Millinium Super Saiyan is pretty sweet, fits in fairly well with Cannon (I presume when you mention Namek (which Vegeta could not have gone back to because it was blowed up and never restored, the Nameks got a new planet) Vegeta's description of the Super Saiyan was someone who was a golden Ozzaru and he supposedly lost control of his own power, in cannon no SSJ yet has lost control. Become an insufferable prick? Yeah, but half of them were there already, none of them were the type to accidently blow up the planet they were standing on. Though minor detail humanoid refers to the rough shape of a human and applies to Arcosians, Namekians, Humans, and Saiyans (who aren't infact human despite looking similar) Not sure what the right word is there but that kinda threw me for a loop. Great Chapter, great writing, love the wrap up. I don't know what else to say other than I'll try to nitpick harder next time so you don't get a big head.
A: ...Rats! I could have sworn that they wished for Namek to be restored with the dragon balls and sent the Nameks back there. Ah well, I'll just say that the planet is so similar that he found a close to identical location that triggered Vegeta's memory. I'm glad you liked the MSSJ form - I was worried about introducing it, but hey it seems to have worked (and nobody nit-picked about it being a deus ex machina so yay!)
By humanoid I merely meant that it retained the same shape and proportions of a human (rather than the smaller legs and larger body and arms of the Oozaru). Sorry for causing confusion ^^;
Thanks very much! But please don't nitpick too hard - it is my last chapter!
Q: Great chapter! I liked the idea of the Oozaru-SSJ. Golden Oozaru was one of the few GT ideas that I didn't hate. The evolution of Saiyans comes full circle with an ultimate transformation that combines both those power-ups. I think transformations beyond SSJ3 should require the help of outside forces so that they would be more difficult to achieve and make them more unique than the usual transformation where they just have to train a lot or get angry.
I'm sad to hear the final chapter is coming up. I really enjoyed not only the story but also the style. It has a more dark vibe than the usual cheerful nature of Dragonball. It reminds me of Sin City or Watchmen. I think I may have said that in a previous review but I have bad memory sometimes. I hope you can use that style for more dark backstories similar to Kuriza and #17's story. Maybe a look at the economic hardships of the Saiyans and other races under the rule of the tyrant Frieza.
A: Using the Oozaru as a last step seemed like a natural thing. I was always somewhat surprised that any reference to Oozaru's just disappeared after the SSJ appeared (or really after the Vegeta battle on Earth). Seemed like there was room for a good idea (that GT mucked up somewhat, but that's normal). I could never really see a transformation beyond SSJ3 myself, I've always thought that 3 was too many anyway. With the MSSJ form its about having the perfect interaction of everything - devilishly tricky to achieve (and hence its rarity, with the 1,000 year legend).
Thanks very much - that's quite and illustrious crowd you're comparing me to! I haven't thought much about the future but I think for now I'm going to be taking a break :)
Q: Geez, Elbadj, you should have put a Mature warning on this chapter for Namekian nudity! ;P Also, violence. Which was excellently written again this chapter. I love how Maladie lampshades the whole powering-up-by-screaming thing. It is truly unique & interesting that you depict huge power levels as headache-inducing in weaker beings. The one typo I see a lot in DBZ fics is confusing the word lightening for lightning, because spellcheckers won't catch a misuse of the first word. Be careful with that one. Gogeta getting frustrated & losing control, & Maladie subsequently calling him out on wrecking the planet, is a gem of an interaction, that really underlines how odd a villain Maladie is; he really thinks he's just & in the right. That said, I love Gogeta's Hope of the Universe speech. It's like a reprisal of Goku's original speech on Namek to Frieza. Good call on your interpretation of SSJ4. It makes sense now, & isn't nearly as silly. Gogeta's victory over Maladie was surreal, & awesome, & a host of other superlatives. I kinda liked the victory cooldown scenes in Otherworld, with everyone related to the heroes just kind of stepping back to consider how lucky they were this time. I'm worried about both Pan & Uub, though. Could they still be hiding lingering effects of the Majin curse? I laughed at Vegeta acting like a living battery at Bulma's request. That was humorous, but still really touching. Speaking of touching...I know Kuriza asked Miuu not to disturb him on the way back to Arcos, but I can't help but think he needs a shoulder to cry on. Or something. TTTT
A: I merely wrote that he was naked - the rest I leave to my reader's fertile imaginations :P
Thank you for pointing out the lightening/lightning distinction (I knew something looked weird with my spelling of it!)
The headache inducing and the light becoming bright like the sun felt like a good way to convey the enormity of the power that was being outputted. Scouters blowing up stopped showing that a long while ago (though I couldn't resist putting the gag in) and I always got bored of constantly hearing people say 'their power is huge!' Those physical effects were also to show the sheer danger, even indirectly, that such forces of nature would posses.
Maladie was sort of designed to be an unusual villain for the heroes to face. As you say most (or perhaps all) the villains in DBZ are happy being evil and think of themselves as such. Maladie thinking he's in the right, and being able to argue his position, creates an unusual moral wall for them to go against, other than the purely physical one (as well as showing the Kais to be less than squeaky clean). Unfortunately I don't think I managed to do as much with this as I wanted to.
Pan and Uub, as seen, both have lingering effects of a different sort. In Uub's case it's, obviously, kind of hard to learn that you are the reincarnation of pure evil. It always kind of bothered me that people had Uub being told so easily and him dealing with it so easily - it'd be like someone proving to you that you were the reincarnation of Stalin. No matter how much you were told you were not that person anymore, it would still affect you. In Pan's case she's having more of a reassessment of herself - not everything she said was the curse speaking - and what she wants (though she's keeping quiet about the fact that she remembers what happen.
Q: this was really nice but how come the people's head hurt when powering up ? like in any of the series have i heard that peoples head hurt when somebody powerful powers up
A: Thanks! The head hurting was my own addition to basically help convey just how powerful they were (as well as illustrating the sheer danger that they have, unintentionally, to the surrounding environment).
That's the last Q&A... If you still have questions, please feel free to ask them and I'll respond by private message (if I can).
Now, the boring bit - yes acknowledgments and reflections.
Big and heartfelt thanks to:
Skar (Skar-the-Saibaiman-Slayer). He was the one who encouraged me to write this project and without him this would have likely stayed an idea in my own head. I was nervous about writing it, but I have enjoyed the process much more than I thought I would and, without doing so, I would not have received the wonderful feedback that I have. And, if you hated the story, he's the one to blame :P
Ledgic (SpiderLedgic), SuperVegetarott, FullPower and ArcaneSuperSaiyan (the four amigos) - good friends, always with an encouraging word, and especially to Ledgic for his seeming never-ending enthusiasm for the story from the beginning. And apologies to Arcane for *cough* stealing part of A-Z for Goten's best man speech.
Roketto (Ryu-no-Ohi) for allowing me to badger her with questions about Arcosians and the Frieza family, and for discussing them with me, and for her many honest and detailed reviews that were a joy to read
Lastly to ShadowLDrago, BaconforEveryone and Sean Renaud - I think you all have the distinction of having reviewed every chapter in this story and were there more or less at the beginning. It was always a pleasure reading your reviews and they cheered me up on many days when I was feeling down.
And, of course, my thanks, from the bottom of my heart, to everyone else who read or reviewed this story. It was a pleasure to read your reviews and comments, be they positive or negative.
Looking back on the story I think I managed to achieve what I set out to do. I wasn't always happy with the end product of the chapters (and certainly I think most of the fights - with the exception of Gotenks and Vegeta vs Kuriza - could have been better), but overall I think I'm happy with the final result. For everything that I didn't think I got right, there was something that I think I did perfect. And that's quite an unusual feeling for me!
What I am most pleased about, looking back, is the atmosphere of the story, the special chapters and the small moments that seemed to reveal more about the characters than I had given thought to myself. Vegeta and Trunks moment, Seventeen's backstory, Kuriza's, all of these I felt damn proud of (Seventeen I was particularly pleased with); much as I am aware that it's maybe not a good sign that someone else's characters are taking on a life of my own in my head! I was also impressed with how well the Majin seemed to work. All those characters and that whole backstory, all grew from a simple confusion over why Babidi and Bibidi would make their symbol that of their creation!
So, at the end of it, I can say that I'm pleased with the final product and content that I did my best. I enjoyed writing this story and I hope you all enjoyed reading it. And with that, it's time to say goodbye.
My very best wishes to you all!
Elbadj
