Making Peace with the Past

"Oh Kakarot! Look at you!" exclaimed Gine happily. Her youngest son was currently messing around with his quirk and had managed to create a small and weak ki blast in his right palm. He looked up at her with closed eyes and a massive smile. He appeared rather chuffed with himself.

"I did it mum! I feel strong enough to fight bad guys!" he cried in happiness before the ki blast dissipated from his sudden lack of concentration. He looked at his hand and sighed before being lifted up into the air in a hug. He yelped in surprise and turned his head to see Gine with a smile on her face. Then she started shaking him up and down, the young boy bursting into laughter.

"You still did it! Don't worry about not being as strong as you'd like to think. You're going to get older and much stronger just like your father!" she encouraged. Kakarot continued to laugh before breaking free from Gine's hug, landing on the floor and turning around to face her. Then he tackled her, playfully, to the ground. Gine yelped in surprise much like her son had moments earlier but eventually burst into laughter. The two of them rolled around on the carpet, laughing the entire time.

"I love you mum" whispered Kakarot as he buried his face into Gine's chest.

"I love you too Kakarot," she replied, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him in tight, "I'll love you even when I'm gone." Kakarot snapped up at that comment and looked at her with panic in his eyes. Gine noticed immediately and sighed.

"There's no need to get upset again. That's not going to be for a long time. I'm still here now." Kakarot's eyes were brimming with tears, but he managed a small smile. The two placed their foreheads against each other, to show affection for each. Gine then moved back and stood up, helping Kakarot to his feet as well.

"Right then. I do believe it's time for bed young man." Right on cue, Kakarot yawned and rubbed his eyes before taking his mother's hand and being led up the stair. After getting changed into his pyjamas, he got into bed and laid down. Gine tucked him in and planted a kiss on his forehead.

"Sleep tight my darling Kakarot. I love you" she whispered before standing up straight and leaving the room, turning the light off as she left. She gave one final look at her son and smiled. Kakarot smiled as well before getting himself comfortable and slowly letting sleep take over.

Kakarot was a deep sleeper. So deep that he slept through thunderstorms, battles and other events that would wake most people up. However, right now this trait of his was proving to be happening in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"Kakarot! Wake up! I need you to wake up!" cried Gine in fear and urgency as explosions erupted around them. Kakarot's eyes slowly opened and what he saw could only be described as pure, terrifying chaos. He blinked just to double check he wasn't dreaming and when he saw it again, panic set in.

"Mum! What's going on?" he cried in fear as pure terror swept over his face. Gine held him close and hushed in his ear to calm him down. Initially it worked but her efforts were for nothing as Bardock came crashing into the room from below their feet. He grunted in pain as he slammed against the ceiling and then fell to the ground. He pushed himself up but another figure, much taller leapt up through the same hole and landed jest next to Bardock. Kakarot's father attempted to get up faster but found himself being pushed to the ground by this other figure who grinned evilly at the sight.

"What did I say would happen if you betrayed me? Now your family pays the price" said the figure before snapping his head up and making direct eye contact with Kakarot. The boy froze with fear and a booming noise could be heard as the figure slowly approached. Gine shielded Goku with her body but the strike never came. Gine turned slightly and Kakarot saw something he had never seen before.

"Stay the hell away from my family" growled Bardock as he gripped tightly on the figure's cape. The attacker tugged to get loose but found himself being pulled backwards. Bardock growled in anger as he swung the attacked over his head and slammed him into the ground behind him. He then let go of the cape and picked up a flaming piece of wood, grasping it in both hands. The figure ripped the remains of his cloak off and charged towards Bardock, who drew the piece of wood back like a baseball bat and swung it. It connected with the attacker's face who failed to block. The piece of wood split on impact and the attacker crashed into the ground next to Bardock, mere footsteps from Gine and Kakarot.

"Die" he grunted as he raised his right hand, palm open and a build-up of purple energy appeared. He never got the chance to fire as Bardock jumped into the air and slammed the jagged piece of wood into the would-be killer's back. He cried out in pain and shock before coughing up blood.

"Never again. No one else will suffer by your hands" announced Bardock. The figure glanced up at him before going limp. His face fell against the ground and he lay there in a pool of his own blood, dead. Gine and Kakarot stared at the exhausted Bardock who stepped back, the adrenaline and strength demonstrated seconds earlier disappearing.

"Bardock he's…" started Gine but Bardock simply nodded to confirm. Gine couldn't believe that he had taken a life while Kakarot had frozen completely. Bardock noticed and moved to speak to his son while Gine moved away to grasp what had happened. Bardock placed his hands firmly on Kakarot's shoulders and looked him dead in the eyes.

"Listen son. What happened tonight is something I never want you to experience. So remember this, no matter what happens never take a life. There may be times where you are left with no other option but never stoop as low as them. Promise me you won't" Bardock said sternly and Kakarot nodded slowly, making sure to take in every word.

"Father?" came another voice. Bardock turned to see a boy about three years older than Kakarot, staring at the body of his now deceased father. Bardock tensed in fear as the boy was overcome by rage and his power shot out.

"You miserable insect!" he screamed before blasting towards Bardock who pushed Kakarot out of the way. As Kakarot fell time seemed to slow. He heard his father yell for Gine to grab him and run before turning and giving Kakarot one final smile.

"Stay alive, son."

Then like that Gine scooped him up and ran. Bardock was instantly vaporised by the child who fired a massive energy ball as he charged the older man. Kakarot cried out in horror, fear and sadness as he saw his father vanish, never to be seen again. Gine held him close and continued to run. The house was beginning to crumble around them, and they just barely managed to escape as it collapsed. Gine found a small wicket basket with a lid that they had once used for carrying fruit and veg in and hid Kakarot inside.

"Stay hidden. I will always love you," she whimpered as tears streamed down both their faces. An explosion erupted from behind her and she turned to see the child from before lift the rubble that was on top of him with ease. Knowing she had little time, Gine picked up the basket and hid it behind a pile of debris. Kakarot had burst into tears by this point and Gine was doing her best to calm him down. She took his right hand and placed hit against hers. This single action had the desired effect. Kakarot stopped crying and looked at her with wide, yet sad eyes. She gave a sad smile.

"Don't forget us Kakarot."

Gine closed the lid and ran out to gain the attention of her husband's killer. The child's glowing red eyes pierced her own, but she stood brave. Kakarot watched on in terror as the child raised their right index finger and shot a single, concentrated beam of pure power through her heart. Gine coughed blood before collapsing to the ground lifeless. It took everything Kakarot had to not scream out in despair. Instead he began to cry silently. Footsteps approached and his panic multiplied. The lid on his basket began to open but rather than see the child who had just murdered his parents in cold blood, he instead saw a man with white hair and a suit. A man that would change his life even more.

"I broke my promise to you dad. Can't believe I forgot about it. I was just so enraged at Frieza and Cell that I failed to give them a chance, not that they would have given me one. I hope you can understand that. As for you mum, I still and always will love you. I hope that one day I'll have the same amount of courage you showed all those years ago. I'll never forget either of you. That's a promise I will forever keep."

Goku was standing in front of Bardock and Gine's graves. He wore his orange and black jacket, with a white undershirt, light green trousers and brown shoes. In his right hand was a bouquet of flowers which he was gripping tightly. Tears were beginning to well in his eyes, but he simply wiped them away with the back of his left hand. He sniffed before walking forward and placing the flowers down in between the two graves. It was here that he could no longer keep up his act and Goku broke down. He clenched his eyes shut and cried.

"I'm still here. I'm still Kakarot and I'm never going to forget that you gave me a reason to be a hero," he sobbed before opening his eyes and staring at the graves, "I miss you."

His phone went off and he pulled it out of his pocket to see that the school festival, specifically Class 1-A's dance concert, was due to start in forty minutes. Goku gave a small chuckle before turning his phone off and placing it back in his pocket.

"We're doing a weird concert thing for our act at the school festival. My best friend, her name's Kyoka, is lead band member and is singing. She's phenomenal. She claimed that the song she wrote is partly inspired by me but I think she's just saying that to cheer me up. The song's about everyone in my class and at that school. Everyone who aspires to make a difference. I'm just one of many."

He paused for a moment.

"I think I like her. Like I like her. I'm no entirely sure what to make of it but when I'm around her all the pain and grief just disappears. She really brightens up my dad. So I think I like her. However, I also like Bulma the same way. It's weird and I don't really understand my feelings. I don't think I can act yet but I'll think it over."

"Before I forget, a particular someone made contact with me. Raditz to be precise. After all these years he makes contact to torment me. I'm not sure what he has in store but I'll be ready to face it no matter what comes." The mood changed and Goku became far more determined. His face looked a lot like Bardock's when he became determined to defeat and kill Cold on that fateful day.

"Anyway. I'm glad I could come and see you today despite my school festival. I need to get going if I want to make it," Goku unclenched his fists after realising that he had done so in his short burst of anger. After stretching his hands he smiled at the graves, "See you around, mum and dad."

With that Goku turned around and took his leave, making sure not to desecrate the graves of his parents or any other lost ones. Had he stayed a little longer he would have seen Raditz teleport to the graves of Gine and Bardock, place another bouquet of flowers next to Goku's and stand there silently for a few moments before teleporting out again.

The walk back wasn't meant to take too long and it wasn't. Goku had decided that once he left the graveyard he would run to UA and initially he had but here he was, walking instead as he watched the townsfolk go about their usual routine. It was rather nice to see after the recent events regarding the USJ Incident, the Summer Camp Attack, All for One and the Shie Hassaikai raid. People felt safe despite All Might being retired. Well not completely safe, but still somewhat safe. He'd already been stopped multiple times to have photos with his 'fans'. So imagine his surprise when the next call for him was the last thing he expected.

"Son Goku!"

Goku turned around and came across three girls, around his age maybe older.

One was a slender young woman with shoulder length hair. She wore an orange hairband with two pink gems with a white case outlying them on both ends. She also wore a pink dress with a white collar. She wore a white belt, black leggings and pink high heel shoes.

The girl to her left was a young woman with long brown hair, brown irises and round light green earring. She wore a dark blue dress with short sleeves, light green frills and a light green neckerchief. She also wore dark blue sleeve gloves, dark blue leggings, and high heel blue shoes.

The girl on the first's right was a young woman with purple hair and a pair of glasses. She wore a white hat with a yellow overcoat, an orange skirt, and a white undershirt with long baggy sleeves. The shirt reached to the top of her thighs and also wears red shoes. Her irises were green with black pupils.

The middle girl then spoke again.

"Enemy of love! Wielder of rage! We challenge you to a duel to decide your fate in the world! Should you lose you shall be sent to Tartarus for the rest of your days!"

Goku stared at them, darting his eyes between all three of them before looking completely confused.

"Who are you?"

Author's Note

So here we are. The next chapter will wrap up Season 4. A battle and resolution. Then one final chapter. The climactic finale. Heroes Rising.

I'll see you next time and then I'll see you in Heroes Rising. The longest chapter in this story to date.

Till next time,

Ethan