Chapter 23

Tarden, pushed Xiox's wheelchair through the ruins of the temple, the decision of building a brand new temple to continue the training of new students and warriors, the ruins becoming the official training ground of the Elder Council. It was here that Tarden pushed around Xiox on his chair as they saw the elders training. It has been two months sense the attack from lord slug and the world has gone back to its normal routines. Nodding and waving to the other elders who bowed in respect towards Xiox, Tarden watched as Xiox's cybernetic enhanced arm moved to wave back at his peers. Tarden found out that Xiox used an incredibly powerful form that if it wasn't for his mad claw enhanced body Xiox could have died. That it was a miracle alone that Xiox lived, but the form still had a permeant price. Xiox could no longer use Ki, while his body can still hold and contain Ki the ability to manifest is gone along with his mobility. Both his arms and legs where paralyzed, unable to move, luckily the doctors where able to give him cybernetic enhancements so that he could still move on his own. Why effective, the enhancements where still experimental and so movement was limited to a few hours in a day, and Xiox was in need of a weekly follow up for tuning and maintenance.

"It pleases me to see everyone in high spirits, the attack from Slug could have been extremely high in casualties but we all managed to band together and pull through. And we even got plenty of new recruits and we are building a new temple, the government realizes that we are the only real defense when it comes to alien invasion." Xiox said as Tarden pushed his chair, the pair made a sight to see for most of the Elders, remembering how so many times in the past the two always butted heads. It was bitter sweet to see them getting along especially now that one is forever crippled.

"We were able to prevent deaths thanks to your sacrifice and reforms. My family and I wouldn't have been able to save everyone or survive completely without you." Tarden said guilt in his voice as he pushed the wheelchair made heavy with regret more than the actual weight of its owner.

"A small price to pay don't you think?" Xiox laughed, and now more than ever Tarden could see a brief resemblance of Xiox's predecessor Wax. "Everything happens for a reason child, I made the sacrifice without knowing if I would survive or succeed, yet I have been blessed to survive and know my sacrifice was not in vain. Not many warriors can say that kid."

"But what will we do now, fighting is our life, that what we do, we fight and train, and every now then hold tournaments to entertain and recruit. You won't be able to do that with your…disabilities." Tarden asked

"I can tell you feel responsible for my condition, I ask you ease your mid Tarden, I did this to myself. And while I may be unable to channel Ki, I can still train others, and besides who's to say I can't find a new way to fight." Xiox said trying to ease the boy.

"What could you mean, you can't use Ki anymore?" Tarden asked confused on how Xiox plans to still fight

"Well I was supposed to be completely paralyzed, maybe technology can restore my ability to fight, I refuse to just give up when I have so many years of my life to go through." Xiox said with a grin.

"What if technology doesn't work?" Tarden said knowing how impossible it sounds.

"Then I will fight again by sheer will power, which ever heals me first. My pride won't let me give up, but It's the strength of my Spirit that will make me overcome." Xiox said not giving up on the idea.

"Strength of Spirit huh." Tarden thought to himself as he pondered what that meant.

"Anyways hurry around this corridor it's time for me to explain why we are here." Xiox said as they finally reached their destination where the remains of the Grand elder's room used to be.

Sure enough the debris practically destroyed the room and Tarden was confused at first until He watched Xiox stand up from his chair and slowly approach a giant piece of debris. "If you could." Xiox mention his hand leading to the rock. Understanding what he wanted Tarden easily tossed the rock away and was surprised to see a stairwell he never knew existed. "What I'm about to show you is the entrance to the knowledge of every grand elder to ever be. It's a room so sacred only the current Grand elder and those he believes could succeed him may go…Tarden, every one respects you and believes in you know, you make a strong candidate for the next Grand Elder."

Shock was evident on Tarden's face, "But I'm not even old yet, hell I haven't even hit my growth spurt yet!" Xiox simply laughed.

"Then I guess we will have to alter the title a bit, regardless, the temple will need a new leader, these next few months I will personally see your training and teach you every secret and wisdom of those who lead before us, and when you ae ready, I will tell you about the prophecy in detail."

"You mean the one the rest of the elders speak of but don't know the full details." Tarden eyes widened. "The one everyone believes refers to me?"

"Yes…But first a history lesson, and several other lectures as tradition follows." Xiox said as he saw Tarden grown. The boy didn't like lectures much as he was always on the move and learned better by seeing than reading."

Hours later

Tarden was finally free from the boring history lessons and after leaving Xiox in the care of Karax, the young saiyan took off at full speed stretching out his built up energy. But Tarden's temporary freedom didn't last long when suddenly he dodged an attack barely from Turles.

"Your late brat, we were supposed to train together 10 minutes ago, and since we both got much more powerful since the last time we fought don't expect me to hold back!" Turles watched as the slightly annoyed look on Tarden's face turned to one of excitement. It was at that moment Turles realized he had to actually give it his all. The intensive no holds barred sparring session went on for a solid 2 hours and both Saiyans did their best not to destroy their surroundings, the end result was both Saiyans floating back to the ground beneath them completely drenched in sweat and both having a crazed smile on their out of breath faces.

'At this rate the kid will surpass me in a matter of weeks, he could even surpass Yami in a probably a year. It's unbelievable.' Turles thought to himself. Then both Saiyan's stomach growled coming to a mutual agreement they both flew back home to get some food. When they both arrived they saw Yami and Gull finishing their cooking with a dead tired Gear and Ginny sitting almost lifelessly at the table.

"What happened to them?" Tarden asked as Yami approached.

"I started training the two of them together, Gear makes a nice enough punching bag while Ginny was fun target practice!" Yami said with a big smile, the brief flashbacks of Gear struggling to keep up with her in a sparring session and Ginny trying to support and avoid Yami's Ki blast made the two near dead Llabs flinch and sit straight. "I personally wanted to train with you but Xiox had you busy and by the time you were free I had to train these whelps. So I sent Turles after you." Tarden Watched his sibling and felt pity for them, his mother wasn't great at holding back but that's what made her an excellent teacher and sparring partner.

"Ok enough about Training and such the two of you, showers now!" Gull said covering her nose as she lectured Tarden and Turles both Saiyan's flinching and taking off to go bathe in the river nearby "It was bad enough that Tarden forgets to bathe before coming here but now Turles too, not to mention I now have another Saiyan mouth to feed." Gull said complain about how much food she had to cook on the regular.

"Oh if it becomes that difficult for you I could always take hold of the kitchen, feeding a saiyan is best done by another saiyan." Yami said challenging Gull's pride as a chef and immediately both women where forehead to forehead Gull's own fury painting an image of a Giant Lioness starring down an Oozaru.

"Oh please You may be the best fighter here but when it comes to cooking I will never lose to you!" The two women continued arguing as Gear and Ginny watched both smiling awkwardly before looking at each other.

"Well at least things are more active around here." Gear said as Ginny nodded in agreement.

After a few more minutes everyone was at the table eating enough food to feed a small village, this was the new daily routine now, Tarden would train the warriors at the temple with Xiox and then study with the Grand elder while Yami Trained Gear and Ginny throughout the morning, and Turles would spend time working and helping rebuild the damage around with the civilians, Yami and gull not letting him live for free. The moment he is free Turles makes his way to Yami for a brief warm up then she goes to rain gear and Ginny…. Again while Turles trains with Tarden. Then everyone eats together, normally food prepared by Gull and Yami as they tend to compete, the upside being there cooking has gotten better.

Once the family has finished their meal everyone got back to their duties, Tarden Gear and Ginny would return to the temple to instruct and train the students they were assigned and Yami and Turles would spar just nearby enough so that if gull needed something all she had to do was call. And while most people would say Gull being left alone was a lonely thing, Gull had always been homebody and spent plenty of time at home alone. What most people didn't know was that she was an expert video gamer, and in her alone time plays with her online competing as the number one ranked player in just about any game. Yami and Turles both tried to play against Gull and never stood a chance. The whole family would Challenge Gull, facing her all at once and would fail to even make Gull flinch be it fighting, fps, battle royals, racing, or even MOBAs. She was virtually untouchable.

The day would go on until the classes that Tarden and his step siblings would go to the city, Gear would always separate to hang out with a few civilian friends including the local beauty June, who was slowly becoming Gear's muse. Meanwhile Tarden and Ginny would just wander around, the younger of the two dragging her step brother around to check out clothes and other things. But there was usually something else dominating Tarden's mind and it was the people. Every day now people wave at him and recognize him as a hero, several people thanking him. Even times when girls would ask to take a picture with him and for some reason drive Ginny mad. Some of the older people would also ask for a photo with the planets hero but it didn't bother Ginny then. For some reason only when it involved the other girls, 'Women are strange.' Tarden would often think, but most importantly Tarden enjoyed walking among the people, especially since he remembered how not so long ago people feared him, some would even attack him by throwing stones just about a year ago. And even before people chose to ignore his presence and he was always able to hear the words they would mumble under their breath. Words like freak, monster, and abomination used to escape their lips and now the very same tongues fired different words such as, Savior Prince, and Hero. Needless to say Tarden enjoyed the way it was now.

And when night time came everyone ate dinner together and would soon turn themselves in after discussing the plans for the next day or some other type of small talk. Yami would then sleep in Gull's room, the two women sharing the room like they had been since Gwynn died. Gull unable to sleep due to the loneliness that happened, Yami would often embrace the smaller woman like an older sister. While Turles would claim the room that used to belong to Yami. And when everyone went back to their rooms to sleep Tarden would then Sneak out to his favorite spot the tree tops not too far away, and spend an hour stargazing. Tarden would contemplate the day he will meet his father and imagine his reaction.

"I hope he will be proud, Although I know he won't show it if he was. Mom said he was never good at showing emotion, or would he be ashamed because his son befriended non Saiyans." Tarden spoke out loud. Recalling every word Vegeta recorded for his son.

"Saiyans are a proud warrior race, those who are not strong enough deserve to parish under our boots. You are Royalty the 1st born son of Prince Vegeta, don't let anyone get familiar with you and make sure they all fear you as much as they respect you." One of Vegeta's lessons played in his head. "And if you ever encounter someone stronger, don't back down. Saiyans get stronger as we fight, keep fighting until one day you can defeat all of those who get in your way, one day you will be a king, Fight for that right. For the right to defeat me for that title."

"Strong enough to defeat my father…How strong are you now dad?"

Meanwhile on Earth

Vegeta was training in the Gravity room that his wife Bulma made, the adult saiyan was currently training with his half breed son Trunks, both going super saiyan, as Vegeta pushed his son to his limits, enjoying the new target practice. Meanwhile the child roughly of 8 years was currently on his back sweating profusely and completely exhausted.

"Get up boy, you will continue this training for if you lose to Kakarot's spawn you will receive punishment worse than this." Vegeta said, as Trunks slowly sat up and did as was told, the look of determination on his face, making Vegeta smirk in approval. Before the gravity chamber was shut off and the two Saiyans felt infinitely lighter. Trunks let out a sigh of relief ignoring his father's enraged confusion. Bulma appeared on the screen with an angry expression.

"I told you, that training should end at Six!" Bulma shouted.

"It's only been about an Hour Woman!" Vegeta argued back.

"Yeah an hour sense Six, I had to cut the power to the gravity chamber just to get your attention!"

Huh I could have sworn…" Vegeta mumbled under his breath.

"Now the Food needs to be reheated and trunks needs to finish his Home work! I Won't let our baby boy be some delinquent like his father!" Bulma shouted angrily.

"Delinquent, Woman I am a warrior Prince!" Vegeta responded as Trunks snuck his way out of the room to go eat letting his parents argue, the boy was as hungry as he was tired.

"Yeah yeah, prince of all 4 Saiyans if you count Trunks and Goku's kids! Now hurry up or I'll throw out your portion." Bulma said as Vegeta's stomached growled.

"You wouldn't Dare!" Vegeta watched as she turned off the monitor, Vegeta made his way to exit when he saw his own reflection on mirror down the hallway, suddenly remembering the face of his 1st son, who shared his hair line at birth. 'There should be more than four Saiyans left…Is Tarden… Gah This planet is making me Soft. If the boy survived Cooler would have heard and after the death of Frieza would have no doubt hunt down the remaining Saiyans. Considering how Cooler hasn't found earth yet, means he is still hunting down the others or is dead.

North Kai's planet

King Kai watched as Goku prepared himself for the tournament on earth, being in charge of the Saiyans training it's what he submitted himself to do. Or so he would tell himself, in reality King kai was searching through the northern Galaxies trying to watch something interesting while knowing Goku could entertain himself plenty once given the training equipment. It was Bubbles and Gregory who was assisting Goku train as the north Kai distracted himself that was until he heard a phone ring from inside his house. Curiosity caused Goku to stop his training as he too heard the phone ring.

"whoa I didn't know you had a phone King Kai!" Goku said surprised, "I thought you just reached out and talked to everyone by that telepath thing you do?"

"Of course I have a phone, I'm civilized. And Just because I can communicate to anyone from any distance doesn't mean they can contact me. Not everyone is as great as I." King kai said annoyed before composing himself as he lifted up the phone. "Hello, this is King Kai speaking."

Goku watched as he tried to listen in only hearing mumbling "SO what if Lord Slug was finally defeated, South Kai. My warriors have defeated people far stronger than some old super Namekian." King kai said as Goku wondered what a super Namekian would Look like. Recalling Piccolo calling himself a super Namekian after powering up, but Goku knew that didn't count. Suddenly Goku thought of Piccolo suddenly with golden spiky hair, or even Turning Yellow instead of Green. The Earth raised Saiyan was brought out of his thoughts when he heard King Kai's Shocked expression.

"Wait Lord Slug Actually Regained his Youth and Power, before he was beaten, and you mean to tell me he was beaten by a child no less!"

'Whoever this Lord Slug is he must be strong to surprise King Kai, and if he got beaten by a Kid maybe there is someone out there that can be as strong as Gohan' Goku hoped as he imagined getting to meet the young warrior or seeing a battle between Gohan and someone close to Gohan's age. 'A rival around his own age should be exactly what Gohan should need in order to keep up his strength.'

"I won't deny that defeating Lord Slug is incredible, he was at least as strong as Frieza's final form, although not when Freiza's full power." King Kai said as Goku smiled now knowing the Kid is at least as strong enough to go up against people like Frieza. "But none of this matters, even if the kid grows up to be the strongest warrior in the south Galaxy, when he passes he won't be a match for a Saiyan like Goku. What do you mean I'm wrong you forget Goku doesn't stop training, or have you forgotten how it was Goku who won the tournament last time… ok He tied for first place? But my point is you have to give the Kid Over a century before he dies naturally, forbidding a premature death." The last part Made Goku deadpan a little as excited as he was to meet the warrior waiting over a hundred years would suck and God's forbid the kid dies before reaching his prime.

"Anyways why are you telling me this on the phone, all Kais have the ability to telepathically communicate… What do you mean you don't want the others to know, even so why tell me…Ok then what is it?" Goku was so curious now that he was physically pressing up on King kai's back as he leaned in to hear, the Kai not bothering to shoo him away because he was shocked at what he heard. Meanwhile Goku was unable to hear what was said still but it wasn't as important as King kai repeated what he heard in shock.

"The Kid who defeated Slug was a Saiyan with the help of two more!" At this Point even Goku was surprised as The South Kai on the other end of the phone laughed in triumph, since King Kai was no longer pressed against the phone, goku could barely hear the other Kai.

"You only have two Pure Saiyans on your side while I have Three!"

"That's awesome, have they found out how to go super saiyan!" Goku asked loud enough and he was met with a pregnant Silence as The South Kai responded with a weak no. "Oh then I guess then I guess we can't go all out against them." King Kai started to Laugh filing to cover his amusement up as The South Kai stayed silent before hanging up leaving Goku confused. "What was it something I said?"