A long hard-fought battle, a massively destroyed land, and tired and beaten warriors taking the much-needed rest in the calm following the intense fight. Yurin allowed her hands to finally rest. She turned to Mr. Satan and the news crew with their working camera focused on her. She smiled lightly as she placed her hand to her hip. "Well that could have gone worse."
The newsman confused looked to Mr. Satan and then back to the woman. "Could you explain to us what just happened? H-How did that man become a giant ape? What caused those explosions? What happened to Cell." He asked with the mic being lifted to her in hopes to an explanation.
"I am not sure why your asking me that, when it was Mr. Satan that defeated cell." Yurin said with a little smile. "That is the lie we are going to go with, isn't that right?" She said as she spoke sweetly.
"Madam, this is a live feed. We cannot falsify live recording." The newsman as he looked at the camera. "Not that we would allow our integrity ever be tarnished by doing so."
"Don't worry, no one can see or hear you." Yurin said as she tapped the shield. "This shield is meant to keep things everything I wish from passing through. Meaning you could not leave as you would have died, but that boy could pass because he could defend himself. I also didn't want your camera to record to the outside world… so everyone has been in the dark about what happened." Yurin admired her own handy work. "So, you're going to say what Mr. Satan?"
The champion of the world could feel her eyes burning through him. What did just happen? Who would believe him if he told the truth? Would they believe him if he said he was the cause of this? Her eyes grew more intense. "I, the world champion, allowed for the other fighters to take their turns… and they fought valiantly. But in the end, I stepped forward and demanded an end to this. And finished Cell with my final attack, causing him to be destroyed." Mr. Satan said without much gusto to confirm that is what she wanted.
Yurin nodded as she relaxed her stare down. "Oh Mr. Satan, you're our hero!" She said in a purposefully exaggerated mean. "Now let us dirty you up to make it look like a hard fight."
"Excuse me, do you truly think I will just allow this lie to go to the world?" The newsman said in his own fury. "The world should know of the true heroes! Everything that was done here! You have no right to keep this from the world."
Yurin lifted her hand as strange energy danced between her fingers. "Knowledge of defeated Cell is not more important then the privacy of my friends and family."
"Then we leave their names out of conversations, but the world deserves to know the true heroes." The cameraman chimed in. "Otherwise, Mr. Satan is given praise for nothing."
Yurin looked at the two off them, nodding a bit before she thrusted her hand forward. The ethereal energy passed through them and made the two go unconscious. Mr. Satan's eyes widened as he thought they were dead and yelp and pleaded for him not to be killed. "Calm down, I just knocked them out. They will have no memory of what happened, this makes it just your lie. Make it sound like we didn't do anything, make us sound like heroes that fought and lost. It does not matte, they will believe whatever story you make. My job is to protect the planet, not get praised for it. I feel you taking the credit keeps the world safer, as it allows us to work in secret."
Mr. Satan looked up and nodded. "R-right…" before yelping again as the camera suddenly burst. Yurin them dropped the bubble, lifted to the air and flew toward her husband and to see if anyone else needed attention. The world champ helped the two wake up, and a glazed look in their eyes. Mr. Satan then began to describe the events, and the 'tricks' the fighters used. He also explained how he finished Cell, but used so much power that it caused such devastation. He attempted to use this as a way to keep others from challenging him in the future. The two fellow humans astounded and regretting that their equipment broke and kept the people from knowing just how great their world saver is!
Yurin landed down once more before Gohan, seeing the impressive new form he obtained. Then down to her passed out husband, so peaceful now that he was unconscious. The others breathed heavily as they reclaimed their lost stamina. Wish no Sensu Beans with them at the moment, it took some time for everyone to have the strength to finally stand. With the only death being Goku, the issue now became how to find new namek. The group decided to head to Chichi's home and reclaim lost strength from any extra sensu beans they may have.
Tarble, once awakened from the sensu bean, remarks that he was hoping that Goku would survive, because then they could just collect everyone once more. Yurin states it will take time for her to locate their Ki, and be able to make a teleportation that could go that far. Raditz just says they could use the Dragon Balls that his brother collected instead. Leading to a discussion of what they should wish for? Other than to bring all the people Goku transported to Namek back to earth, what should the second wish be? To wish Goku back to life? Piccolo brings up the fact that many people died due to Cell, and they should wish for all the lives taken because of Dr. Gero's creations to be resurrected. That way anyone the androids killed as well as Cell. Goku can wait a year before being resurrected, but then the question of if the Namekian dragon should instead be used to take the others home and that they use the second wish instead on Goku.
This is when Goku's voice chimed into their heads. The saiyan remarked that he would prefer to stay dead for a short time. Everyone argued against this, but Goku remarks that this villain was made because he was alive… and that it is possible that in the future the same may happen. Danger seemed to be wrapped around his life, and he is found to be the cause often. Tarble has always been the one to fix the mistakes he brought to the world. Goku remarks that he does not think he will stay dead forever, but King Kai wanted to take him somewhere he could only go if he was dead to train. He asked for at least five years, to let people think he is dead for good and any future enemies to possible give up on trying to kill him. He remarks when he gets back, he wants to try taking on everyone again anyway.
The group soon gathers the already collected dragon balls, and make their wishes. Bulma, Chichi, Dende, and the kids all appearing beside them. Tarble apologizing to them all for not informing them of his plans, and for being the cause of Goku's death this time. Gohan defending him by saying that he did not have control, and should not blame himself anymore. Tarble remarked he will find a way to control that form, but it still seems out of reach for him to gain complete control.
The next wish was to bring everyone killed by Dr. Gero's creations, which brought everyone back from the past two weeks killed. This also brought back android 17, 18, and Krillin having been absorbed by Cell. Krillin returned in the rubble that was West City, 18 returned in some rural area close to Central City, and 17 appeared near Kame house. 17 remembered being attacked and consumed by some creature. He continued to Kame house, and is met by Master Roshi alone. The older man comments that many things had changed since he disappeared, and asked that he wait a little while for an explanation as he himself was confused on what happened.
18's resurrection was also one of a confusion. She remembered Vegeta and Ashe helping some beast trying to sacrifice her to someone called Cell. But she was back, she knew she lost and now was back. She looked back to West City, ~Could there be a chance… ~ She thought to herself before she took off back to the city, having a momentary lap of her original plan to find out what they hell happened to 16.
Krillin could feel life return to him, and the rubble of the city beneath him. The human looked to his hands and chuckles. "I must have been brought back; they must have defeated that Cell creature." He said to himself, before seeing the sky was dark and slowly returning to day. Confirmed that the dragon had brought him back but confused that he was when he already died once before. It was then he began hearing others calling for help. The warrior taking his time to assist the people who were also brought back to life and now trapped under rubble.
This gave time for 18 to find Krillin, still working hard to save others and allowing her to see the kind hearted small man do what came naturally to him. She thought to leave now, after all she just wanted to confirm he was brought back. A silent thank you was all she wanted to do, but Krillin's luck kicked in. He turned and looked her straight in the eyes, a smile on his face as he rubbed the back of his head. He called her down to help, and then they can try continuing their outing like he promised. 18 taken back by the innocent statement, Krillin unaware his attempt of heroism did not save her for long. 18 instead mocked that she wasn't going to go all good Samaritan just because he helped her, but he does still owe her an uninterrupted hang out. She then took to the air and said she had to find her brother first, and would be back later before she zipped off in the same direction that 17 had gone.
-The following day-
With Earth partially returned to normal, we shall be seeing off Ashe to the future. She waves good bye to her new friends, and promises to train his son as well as the second son of Goku. She sat in the Time Machine and set a return trip for her to get back home. Before going though, Nappa placed a small bag of Sensu Beans in her hand and informed her that if his greenhouse is still intact, they should be able to grow and replace their own Sensu beans. Ashe asking how he knew they did not have their own Sensu tree, Nappa just smiling as said if they did then the three of them would not have had to come into the past. They would be able to just train and heal with the five he had. He then explained he took notes on how to grow them when Korin taught him, and told her to look under his bed for a small secret space for her to find the notes. If his future self was anything like him, he would have kept them there.
The strange feeling of going through time wrapped around her once more and her grip on her sword sheath to comfort her as it passed. Her eyes opened to see the world she knew to well, the wrecked earth due to this timeline. "They will take care of their androids… it is time I get the boys up to speed." She said as she opened the machine.
Bulma informed that the boys had attempted a rescue mission from an attack of the androids once more, and had come back slightly injured. Ashe was glad they at least came back alive, Bulma agreeing with her. Ashe entered into the medical room they were in, and looked at the oddly familiar face. Her twin brother looks an awful a lot like Vegeta, to the point it was uncanny. Geta (the nickname often used for Vegeta the fifth) sat up and looked to his sister. His face bandaged and arm wrapped tightly, showing that a small fight between him and the androids took place. The two murder bots seemed to take a shine to leaving them alive when they didn't directly fight back. The trio could only guess that it was only because it made it fun.
Her gaze then turned to a lavender headed boy who stood from his bed. His kind eyes looked to her with hope. "Did it work? Did you help them defeat their Androids?" Trunks asked, his throat must have been struck as he found it difficult to talk and his voice raspy. A limp from each step as he moved closer to her, hoping for good news.
"I don't know if they defeated the androids, but something worse showed up and we beat that. I know I am strong enough to beat them. But a promise is a promise, I am going to let you guys train a bit and catch up before the three of us take them on." She said grinning as she placed down her sword. She then pulled out the bag, and saw only four beans were in the bag itself. She took out one and split it in half. "Here, you guys look like you don't need a full bean." She said tossing them both a half, the young men grabbing the beans and eating them happily as their bodies mainly recorded.
"So how is it we are going to get stronger? We can't wait forever to catch up." Geta grumbled as he took off his bandage and moved his hand a bit to feel his strength return. "I mean, it is not like we have a lot of time tell their next attack."
"Geta is right. If we had time we could do so, but not with innocent people on the line. I mean, if your strong enough now, we should instead have it where we handle one and you kill the other." Trunks offered, wishing to be rid of the threat once and for all.
"Don't worry, all we need is a day. I am going to take you somewhere that will allow you to train so well, you will at least be half my strength in a day." Ashe said with a grin on her face. "And after that, all three of us will go and destroy them together. Now come on, you have strength to complain… then you have strength to move."
"Who made you boss? Don't forget I was born first." Geta said growling as he picked up an orange staff. It was obtained by Ashe when she had gone off to find help, and climbed some tower. It was a useful tool with its ability to change length for him "Go back and train with day, and suddenly she thinks she is the boss."
"You don't have much room to speak, Geta. The rule was who ever became super saiyan first got to be team leader, and you know who that was." Trunk said grinning, Geta raising a fist as if ready to fight once more as he roared to take him on any time. Trunks laughed as he settled his longsword onto his back.
"Boys boys. You have plenty of time for that later." Ashe sighed.
Once they reclaimed their composure, she then took them out toward the Lookout. When they arrived, the lookout was found in a state of disrepair. At first, Ashe worried that the androids somehow found it. But at closer look, it simply looked like nothing was cared for. Planets grew wildly while others died out. Building and ground was covered in dust, as if no one had been on it for years. "Mr. Popo?" Ashe called out, but no answer. She wondered if something did happen to them. The boys equally confused about the place, instead offer to look around and see if they find clues.
In searching, a note is found at the living area. It was old and yellowed in time, but the writing was still clear as day…
"If someone is reading this, it means I have failed. I am Yurin, The God of Earth and it's Guardian. I had gone down to earth to face the evil threat of the Androids, but my husband had taught me many things over the years of being with him. One of those things was to always have a backup plan." This note gave hope to Ashe, that the room of spirit and time would be still active."You three who have been deemed worthy of coming to heaven, and by passing my magic protection to keep away all evil beings." Ashe became confused on how Yurin knew it would be three that made it to the Lookout. "You will find the key to earth's salvation in a room on this Lookout. My son, Garic. He has been placed in a room where he would be guided and trained until you release him. In this room, a single day out here… it a full year in there. I don't know when you would have shown, but he had promised to train as much as he could. He is great potential, as his cousins, and a family friend's child also do. I cannot promise they will be alive, and I do not know if it is you who are reading this." Ashe almost felt like it was a blind person speaking to wind as she read the note. "Once the door is open, you may also use this time to train. A warning must be given though. The room has gravity greater then earth's, and a quarter of earth's atmosphere. But freely use the room, as I removed one flaw from it. There is no time limit on the chamber, use it as long and as much as you want."
"What is this room? You can use it and get a year's worth of training in a day? That sounds impossible." Trunk said as he crossed his arms, concerned about this Garic that was written about. "So, someone put their child in the room, and hoped they would get out before they died."
"Was our aunt…" Geta began as he looked to Ashe, who nodded. "Aunt Yurin, we always wondered what happened to her. And Garic most likely has…"
"No, before the androids showed up… she had altered the room in their time. It is possible she made the same change in our time." Ashe said as the two looked at her. "I used the room back in time with dad, and obtained new power. Goku had mastered the super saiyan form though, and Gohan obtained power way beyond me. But the change she did, was it did not cause someone to age while in the chamber. Someone could enter in the chamber and be there for a thousand years and look the same age."
"That is impossible, it can't work that way." Trunks said as his own scientific mind kicked in. "Even if the room is real, you cannot stop the aging process. Physics and the universe do not work like that."
"Aunt Yurin was a witch, maybe it was magic?" Geta commented, Ashe snapping her finger and pointing to her brother. "Looks like science isn't the answer to the problem, Trunks." Geta smiled with pride for being correct.
"Well then, lets get your cousin out." Trunks said, ignoring the fellow hybrids beams of pride.
"Wait, before you two go in to train. Let me show you what I have learned, so you can work to obtain it." Ashe said, remembering the rule of only enough supplies for two people at once. While it would be fun to train with them, it would take more time with the two-person limitation and risky adding a third. Instead she took them back out to the main area, and showed them Grade 2 and Grade 3. The two boys amazed, and Ashe quickly explaining the benefits and faults of both forms and how she figured out how to obtain them. She then also informed that Goku and Gohan had come out having learned the super saiyan state in a permanency, known as Grade 4 or full power super saiyan. She tasked them to learn that method after reaching the other two states.
The three warriors then went to the door, Ashe remembering it well. She noticed a tag on the door, a symbol of Yurin's magic. As they pulled the door open, it tore and burned away. A white void stretched for eternity. They saw nothing, but they heard a loud snoring. Geta was the first to enter the room. Wondering what would happen next. "I see someone has finally come to free us." Suddenly came a voice, Geta startled suddenly as he pointed his staff at a round black figure. Mr. Popo, who seemed to have been unaffected by time. The sudden noise stopped snoring, and instead a boy in his early teens stepped out from the bed area. His hair was long and pulled back in a pony tail, but stood on itself and was a golden color. His intense teal eyes looked at the three of them.
"Who… are you?" He said coldly, as he did not recognize any of them. Garic had been stuck in the room for so long.
"Garic? It is us, your cousins and Trunks. How long have to been in here?" Ashe questioned, wanting some confirmation that they would not age.
"I don't know." He said coldly again, his eyes shifting between them all. "Is it time to come out?" He asked only knowing two things before he was put in. That his mother wanted him to train and train and train every day, and when someone opened the door that he was supposed to go out and protect the world. A world he long forgotten; a home long lost.
"one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one years." Mr. Popo Chimed in, and allowed for the others to exclaim as they wished. "Or about five years earth time." The Genie said as he motioned for them to move to the side. "Please, allow me to return to by daily chores. I am sure the Lookout is a mess by now." The calm genie spoke, and the group allowing him passed. Garic followed behind, laying his eyes on the real world. It felt almost to… Soft was the word the came to mind. The world didn't shift hot and cold, it didn't weight him down, its air was thin but far less of a challenge then the room that was his home for years many times greater than his own life should have been.
"So, she did change it so that you don't age, that is good. That means we can use it again and not worry about aging." Ashe said excited as it meant they could try catching up to their cousin if he proved himself beyond them by leaps and bounds.
"I am sorry but that is nor correct." Mr. Popo responded. "Garic had a spell placed on him, by Mistress Yurin. She warned me that the moment the door opened, Garic would being ageing again even in the time chamber." He continued as he pointed to the remnant of the tag that burnt away. "That would be proof of her temporary magic, the door opened and now the room will cause you to age again."
Ashe almost felt her heart drop, as it meant that they now did have a limitation of their own age. Trunks and Geta did not mind, instead enjoying the idea that they will be technically physically older then her. The two Hybrids closing the door behind them, saying it was her responsibility to keep Garic entertained while they trained.
Garic seemed slow, taking each step as carefully as possible. He had not idea what would happen if he moved quickly. Could he break this place? Everything felt brittle and like he could crush it by a simple touch. Ashe touched his shoulder, Garic's eye flashing as by instinct he grabbed her arm and threw her. Ashe almost felt her arm rip out as she was tossed away from the look out before she could catch herself. She instead flew back, very concerned as her cousin's eyes watched her suspiciously. Garic stepped between pillars in the lookout, looking at her from behind them. She was the first outside contact in many lifetimes, many lifetimes spent only with Mr. Popo and training. The two of them uncomfortably had to try to get to know each other, Garic's main answers being simple one worded. Finally came the question, "why don't you leave the super saiyan state?" Garic look at his cousin with a turn of his head, seeming confused by the question. "I don't know how… I have been this way a long time." Ashe grew more concerned if he could not revert back on his own.
A day outside the chamber passing, the two Hybrids do exit the chamber with longer hair and slightly taller it seemed. The two of them grinning that they were able to catch up, and powering up to test themselves in registering their Ki with Ashe. The woman smiled as she powered up and still slightly greater than them, but remarks that it was because she trained with Vegeta and had a very strong opponent in her second run. Geta and Trunks argue that it is only because she had two day instead of one. Garic wondering why they wasted Ki, but the boys simply said it is a warrior thing. Garic nodded as he began to power up, oddly his power was a little then the boys. Even though he had so many years, he was training with only himself and Mr. Popo. Trunk and Geta remarking that they will gladly help him train to be a stronger, but Garic said that he was only using half his power. His Ki growing higher and higher tell he exceeded Ashe's power as a super saiyan but only by a little bit. The three amazed by his power, Garic embarrassed on the sudden attention and praise as he lowered his power back down.
With the four of them, now all powered up beyond what the androids should be able to handle, felt it was time to attack back. There was only one thing that needed to be done to get everything complete. Garic needed a code name, it was at this point just a formality but they set up a team with these nicknames.
"Yeah, I am Rebel… The team leader." Trunks said as he tried to explain why he needed a 'nickname' for their team. "With my signature attack, Burning Rebel Striker. I blast away enemies with an intense ki blast."
"Right, and I am Riot. The team's second in command!" Geta said, Ashe motioning to Garic that he was no the second in command. "And I have a signature attack, Riot Rumble. I infuse ki into my hands and feet, and smash my adversary with a combination of punches and kicks."
"And I am Rave. The team's nanny, as I am always pulling these two out of trouble. I have a signature attack as well. The Rave Cascade. I toss small energy orbs that stick to the target, and explode all at once. The more on the target the bigger the explosion. Me and my brother also have a combo move."
"Oh yeah, Rave Riot Revenger!" Geta said excitedly. "Let's do that against one of the androids!"
"But… why?" Garic asked still confused by why they were so excited to pick a new name. "I am Garic, I don't need a name."
"It is just something to do, to make us sound cooler and part of a team." Ashe explained. "It is not really required, but it would be nice for you to join us in it. After all, two third of the group is your family."
"A-alright." Garic said as he looked to the ground, Ashe noticed he was not doing well with all the commotion. Geta had not given Garic much space, wanting to see how well Garic fought being he was alone most of the time. "What should my name be?"
"Well we all picked our own names; we went with R names because the androids have a Red Ribbon logo on their cloths. We did it as a way to make fun of them." Trunks added with a small laugh. "Let's see, what would work good for our little match up."
The three of them began to converse about their fourth member and possible names for him. Garic walked away and looked down from the lookout, he remembered a long time ago and from times he asked Mr. Popo to remind him of home. That it was called the Lookout and it resided in heaven. It was where god could watch over it's flock and care for them. Even now he could see down and watch people trying to survive and worried what horror would befall them. He saw the evil that was done in his absents and the evil that had taken his mother away. He knew he needed to train for this, but it felt so far away now. He felt he could have been let out sooner, and was unaware that he was only let out because of Ashe going back in time and learning of the room. His eyes narrowed as he saw them, the two androids headed toward a town and already causing trouble. They needed to be stopped, they needed to face judgement for what they did, then it came to him. "Retribution…" Garic spoke as he turned to the other, the three turned to him. "I will be Retribution and make them pay." The others watched as Garic then leaped down from the look out, the three quick to begin following.
The androids enjoyed playing their little games, seeing how many head shots they could get and having to deduct points for missing completely. Sadistically they just took aim, and fired on people that came into view. No person stood a chance as blasts rushed through their targets, bodies falling to the ground with only a smoking hole in front of the body hinting on where the androids sat to take their pot shots.
Garic soon lowered just before them, the android remarking that another golden-haired boy has shown up. But this one seemed stupid enough to face them directly instead of playing hero and saving lives. Garic's eyes just stared down at them, no words to speak. This slightly annoyed the androids with the silent treatment. Garic then lifted a hand and pointed at 18. "Heaven's Retribution." He said, but the attack had no flair. Instead a smoking hole appeared in 18's chest, blood burst from the small opening as she hacked up blood from her mouth as well. 17 turned and watched as his sister was suddenly wounded. A hole appeared in his neck, stopping his voice from calling out as blood rushed out of his wound as well. Garic's finger turned to the male android in the moment he had tried to speak. His eyes cold, unfeeling, these were the evil he needed to destroy… this was the darkness he needed to bring to the light. He then fired small blasts repeatedly, switching targets each time and so fast that the two could not react or dodge. This hybrid was merciless, he did not care for their pain, he did not care for their humanity, he did not care if they could be reformed, and he did not care if his 'team' wanted a piece of them. He kept firing again and again until they were near death and laid on top of a roof unable to move. He then landed between the two of them, his eyes looked down without emotion.
"I bet your asking who I am… your wondering where I came from." Garic said as he watched the tears well up in their eyes, the androids feeling defenseless to this being. "I am your new god; Now go to hell." He said firing a final blast between their eyes finally. His eyes then lifted to see the three others, the three of them looking down in the horror of his torture he induced to the two androids. They expected to finish them off quickly… but Garic felt they needed to pay in pain.
So, this was a special little what happens after the Cell saga and what happened in the future. It was a bit of a long chapter, but I thought it was a nice one to have for chapter 70. Hope you all enjoyed my take on the return to the future timeline.