Goku arrived where Vegeta was, they haven't seen each other in a handful of months.
He was just standing there thinking about his wife at times Vegeta wished that he asked for immortality for him and herself, so that death will have no authority, If only he would see her again.
Two feet landed on a rocky ground, the wind blew and it was reminiscence of when they fought for the first time.
Vegeta's hair has become completely dark grey but Goku still kept his Jet black colour.
That prick' Vegeta mused.
"Hey Vegeta" Goku greeted nonchalant.
Vegeta just shrugged his shoulders in acknowledgement.
"Long time no see, how long has it been? Goku said nonchalant.
"Well Its been a handful of weeks" Goku shrugged.
Vegeta knew he wasn't there just to chat,
"Why are you here?" Vegeta asked. It wasn't hostile like he always used to do.. Vegeta has mellowed out over the years, they never really put their differences aside until now, wisdom is indeed the gift of age.
"Vegeta, my time won't be very long on Earth. I've sensed it since this morning" Goku smiled but his eyes were saddened.
"Lets settle our rivalry while we still can" Goku said and this time the saddened look faded into excitement. Nothing excites him more than a good fight and was eager to see of what power Vegeta possesses, Old age hasn't slowed Vegeta down either and despite keeping his power at a low pitch Goku could sense that he's already stronger than the SSJB transformation.
"As you wish old friend" Vegeta smiled lightly.
He also knows that he doesn't have very long, maybe a handful of years. Vegeta wasn't saddened at all that he'll go back to the empty void and be send to hell. Their supposed final battle is worth living for.
Goku taps into his latest form ultra instinct, the aura dominated the whole ground Goku opened his eyes and a silver colour shined through.
It was amazing but it wasn't enough to overwhelm Vegeta since he also found a level beyond.
Goku looked 20 years younger, It was amazing how the transformation regrows a Saiyans telomere for just this moment. After all Saiyans regain their youth for battle, it's hard wired in all of them.
The ground shook where Vegeta was standing, pebbles floated close near his feet, a dark purple aura came around him, his muscles increased and like a ssj3 his eye brows disappeared, his dark grey hair became dark purple and claimed a new form. Goku was in awe and stared at him in shock and goosebumps rippled all over his skin.
This fight will be the best final moments of their lives.
Both Aura's dominated the atmosphere and they looked at each other smiling,
Vegeta's new metamorfose was simply but yet amazing, he truly looks like a God.
Vegeta clenched his fists and charged forward.
-
Gohan was by himself, the birds chirped their songs, a hovercraft was parked and Trunks stepped out with his walking stick.
"Hey man" Trunks said, "Sorry Im late"
Gohan smiled, "Its okay, Im glad you're here"
"let me help you" Gohan offered.
and Trunks noticed that he's in his Super Saiyan spirit form, he got up with ease and went over to Trunks.
Gohan held onto his arm and Trunks moved his walking stick forward so that he could walk a short distance.
"Old age sure is a pain in the ass" Trunks said.
"Why not just Transform Trunks-kun?" Gohan asked.
"I don't want to draw too much attention to myself" Trunks said.
"Well there are no humans here" just do it" Gohan said.
Trunks clenched onto his stick, he concentrated and when he opened his eyes an ice blue spark came from his iris, and it happened.
When an inferno of a blue fire consumed his frame his back straightened, Trunks let go of his stick that fell on the ground and no longer needed assistance to walk.
Trunks looked at his hands and it felt so amazing having so much power surging through his blood vessels.
Trunks smiled and it was like he became 20 years younger, " I really need to find a way to stay like this forever"
"I don't feel my acing joints or any physical problem I have" Trunks mentioned.
"But it taps so much energy, near the end of the day"
Gohan was glad that Trunks seems like his usual self, It's painful to see him decay slowly.
"Maybe Dad can help us with that" I'm trying to find a way to stay like this too" According to the Gods it could even lengthen our lifespan" Gohan said.
"Great" Trunks chirped, "So where is Goku?"
"Will Goten be coming too?" Trunks asked.
"Dad is having a spar with Vegeta and Goten needs to sleep in a bit longer" Gohan mentioned.
"Ha sleeping in? That's for grandpa's" Trunks said.
"We are old men Trunks-kun" Gohan said amused at his childlike nature that never changed.
" I refuse to grow old, as far as I know I'm still 20" Trunks mentioned, reminiscing that moment where he had tons of health problems less.
"But Dad and I decided to move from Mount Paozu" Gohan said.
"You have?" Why is that?" Trunks wondered.
"Its getting too crowded, a part of me doesn't like living close to humans.
"So where will you be going?" Trunks wondered and noticed food and wanted to grab some,
"Hey say something for me" Gohan said snatching his own stuff out of the basket.
"Well I will be moving to the east district, it has very cold winters, with layers of snow but it only snows for 4 months, it's remote and I feel like I can make myself at home there" Gohan mentioned.
"Ah I see, well as long as you stay in Asia then I'm happy" Trunks said,
"I was wondering if you wanted to join us too" Gohan said.
"Well, I never been to the east district, I want to check out the place first and if I like it then I'll put a capsule house there" Trunks mentioned.
"That won't be a problem" Gohan said.
"Lets eat first and we'll go there" Gohan mentioned.
-
As Goku pushed the final flash back he saw an image of his wife flashing before his eyes at a green grass field, she looked over her shoulder smiling at him, Goku smiled back knowing that she is waiting for him on the other side.
The final flash hit Goku and fell on the ground Vegeta's eyes grew bigger in shock.
Frightful that he severely injured Goku he rushed to his his side.
Why didn't he pushed it back,? Vegeta wondered as he grabbed onto him.
"Kakarot?.. Why,?" Vegeta shook him in mere shock.
"Im sorry, old friend.. " Goku breathed.
"I saw my wife" Goku said, "I guess I was a little distracted"
"No, Kakarot" "You're going to be all right" Vegeta said alarmed and dug in his pocket holding on to a senzu bean and let Goku eat it.
"Why aren't you getting up?" Vegeta wondered,
"What's wrong?"
"My time has come" Goku said gladly accepting his defeat,
"You've won, you're the strongest Saiyan alive" Goku mentioned but Vegeta couldn't celebrate and just kept holding onto Goku with disbelief.
He can't go now, who is going to push him beyond his limits? As much as Vegeta hates to admit a part of him can't live without his rival.
"I will be able to keep my body in the afterlife, so you better train hard because we will continue this fight" Goku said sending that Vegeta is distraught.
He couldn't imagine a life without competing against eachother, he used to hate Kakarot and his hatred always pushed him to be the best.
"We'll meet again" Goku said.
"No.. It's goodbye for good my friend" Vegeta claimed,
"I'm bound for hell," Vegeta mentioned.
"You have no idea, how much blood there is on my hands, I've caused so many species unforgivable harm" Vegeta said regretful.
"Hehe.. Don't be so sure" Goku mentioned.
Goku breathes peacefully his chest movements of every in and exhale slows down down.
" Whenever you use my power" Goku said smiling at his rival and long term ally.
"I'll always be near" Vegeta said finished his sentence.
Then his body surrounded in a bright blue light and the transformation started to fade like particles in the wind.
"Kakarot" Vegeta said watching on as Goku faded,
But Goku kept smiling as he relaxed in Vegeta's hold.
His eyes closed and his ki dropped to Zero.
"Damn it!" Vegeta mourned lowering his gaze to the ground and squeezed his eyes shut.
-
Gohan gasped dropping his plate, it broke in pieces on the ground and sorrow overtakes him.
"No," Gohan mourned.
"Gohan what's wrong?" Trunks spoke frightened and then he felt it too.
Trunks gasped, not too far away from them he sensed a ki dying, it belonged to Goku.
Trunks grabbed Gohans wrist placing his fingers on his forehead and teleported where he sensed his fathers ki.
When they arrived at the scene they saw Goku on the ground and Vegeta was with him.
"Father!" Gohan fell on his knees next to his frame,
Trunks bit his lip touching Goku's face, his temperature already started to cool off.
"No.. he's really gone" Trunks voice started to break.
"What have you done??" Gohan shouted at Vegeta,
His eyes sparked with rage and loathe ,
"If you are behind this I swear this will be your last mistake" Gohan said rising his power almost entering the blind rage.
"Gohan, I did not kill your father" Vegeta said.
"Cant you see he died from a natural death? He knew his time was up!" Vegeta snapped back.
"That's why he faced me, to settle our rivalry" Vegeta said and his voice broke a little.
"He's right Gohan" Trunks immediately said,
" It's a natural death.." please just calm down" Trunks pleaded as tears flushed down.
Gohan eyes him and his face softened when Vegeta's eyes shimmered in a saddened matter..
Gohan let the aura fade a little, tears formed his eyes again and had to leave, he couldn't stand it anymore.
Gohan sped away, his father knew his time was up but never told anymore, was his father sick?
No, he was fine a moment ago.. why did he die? Gohan thought as the tears blinded his vision.
Then he went to seek solitude to mourn without being tracked down.
Meanwhile Goten arrived at the meeting spot but nobody was there, he felt a little bad that he overslept hopefully if the food is all gone they can have a reunion at his place for dinner.
He tried to sense Gohan's Ki but it was hard to find it, Gohan always lowers his ki when he's troubled or angry, could it be that he had a fallout?
Whatever it is he hopes Gohan is all right.
Goten went to the east district and Gohan was there, in his super saiyan spirit form.
Goten left his hovercraft and walked up to his brother carefully.
"Gohan.. hey um.. sorry I'm late" Goten squeaked.
Gohan wasn't responsive, his shoulders trembled lightly but turned around when Goten placed a hand on his shoulder,
"Are you mad?" Goten asked childishly to cheer him up a little but Gotens smile faded when Gohans eyes were reddish like he cried.
"Goten.." Gohan said and glomps him in sorrow.
"Hey what's wrong?" Goten asked patting his back.
"Whatever it is it's going to be all right" Goten said optimistic.
"No, it won't" It will never be all right" Gohan said regaining his composure.
"What do you mean Onii-san?" I'm worried now" Goten said feeling an uneasiness build up in his gut.
"Dad passed away.." Gohan cried.
Goten backed away staring at Gohan is disbelief.
Silence claimed him and couldn't say a word.
-
Careful Vegeta picked Goku's body up, "He always wanted to be buried next to his wife" Vegeta told Trunks.
Trunks said nothing his chest heaved up while holding in a sob,
Together they teleported to Mount Paozu, they placed Goku in a freeze pod right away to perverse his body from decaying.
Gohan could decide later if he wants to change him in a different Gi or just bury him like this.
Cold steam came from the machine cooling his body as Trunks watched on in the glass.
It was like he's asleep like he could wake up anytime, Trunks hasn't said a word since they arrived at mount Paozu and didn't even respond to Vegeta as tears fell down.
Trunks leaned over in sorrow placing his cheek on the lid of the pod mourning like he's holding onto a coffin not wanting to let go.
Vegeta walked over and wanted to make Trunks back away from the pod.
"Trunks.. stop crying we all have to go one day" Vegeta said.
"No get off!" Trunks snapped. "Just leave me alone all right?"
Trunks breathed, his eyes were reddish and didn't want anyone to speak to him.
Especially Vegeta.
"What the hell do you know about sorrow?" Trunks said.
"All you ever cared about is killing him. A man who has always treated me better than you ever did!" Trunks said becoming furious.
"I know, "
I'm sorry I was never the best father.. but I tried Trunks" Vegeta mentioned.
"I tried to be there for you during training, It was the only way to show that I care"
"You needed more than that but I couldn't give what you needed the most, " Vegeta admitted.
"But I've always loved you as my son, I'll always will" Vegeta mentioned.
Trunks slumped his shoulders, training wasn't enough for Vegeta's redemption, but knows that Goku wouldn't want them to harbour hatred on his last day.
Because Trunks mostly saw his father for training he learned to be the father he always wanted to have for his own children and be a caring sensei and grandfather for his descendants.
"I forgive you father.." Trunks said and new tears surfaced from his eyes.
"I need you by my side, not just for training or when the Earth is danger but also for other things" Trunks said.
"Like help me cope with Goku's death" Trunks wiped his face.
Vegeta felt this was his last chance to be involved in Trunkses life, he knows that he might have a few years left to live himself.
And agreed to Trunkses plea,
Trunks looked beside him and two individuals came their direction and they sensed their ki, Trunks couldn't find the words to tell Goten how Goku died, he couldn't even believe it himself.
Protecting the Earth without Goku seems so alien, and felt maybe it was for the best to retire from being a Z fighter until the heartache has stopped.
Goten landed first and walked passed Trunks saying nothing and tears flushed down Trunkses face again looking at the ground.
Goten opened the pod, Goku's Gi already had frost on it and Goten cupped an ice cold hand holding it close to his face, drops of tears fell ontop of it and Gohan could see his shoulders shake in sorrow.
Gohan grabbed his shoulder and Goten flinched in response and wept more.
Trunks kneels down too and both and Gohan comforted him as he mourned and called out to Goku.
"Dad" Goten sobbed, he'll never get over it that he wasn't with his father during his final moments.
Trunks held him back from the freeze pod while Gohan closed the lid again Goten turned around and glomps Trunks.
Trunks had his arms tight around Goten letting him cry into his shoulder.
Gohan then joined them and held both Trunks and Goten, seeking comfort.
Gohan Still couldn't believe his Father died, He spoke to his father often but still felt guilty, wishing he spend every minute of the day with him.
They had plans moving in with each other and now he's gone for good,
-
A/N: It took a while to write this because our Goku passed away in this chapter, and even if it's fiction I've wept so much. I even have tears falling down while writing this note.
But I'm a sucker for bitter sweet endings so stay tuned.