Chapter 10: Clarification
It had been five days since most of the Z fighters had been afflicted with sub-temporal cellular cascade failure. Tam walked through an eerily quiet Capsule Corp to the lab where Chi-chi-2 was trying to find a cure for the deadly condition.
She walked into the kitchen and found Android 17, sitting at the table. He looked up at her and sighed. "We both know that Chi-chi is wasting her time," he said softly. "The only way to heal the others is to get them back to their times."
"But how can we send everyone back? I mean, think about the worlds some of them came from," Tam said. "Death, slavery, evil everywhere. Can we really ask them to go back to a place like that?"
"Is the alternative any better? Staying here and dying? Either way there's death, Tam, but at least if they go back they have a chance to survive. You can fight Saiyans, Nameks, you can even fight androids who think they're the strongest creation in the world. What you can't fight is time."
"Think about the kids. Especially Trunks-4. You'd send him back to a world where his family is dead?" Tam asked. 17 replied, "he has family, Tam. Chi-chi-4, Gohan-4, Krillin-4… they're his family there. And they're all that stood between Earth and total destruction. You'd leave that world without protectors, just because it didn't feel quite right?"
Tam sighed and said softly, "I know you're right, it just seems so wrong. And we don't even know how to send us all back!"
"Well, think about what happened before we were brought here. In my world, Piccolo had just attacked. He was just floating there in the sky. From what Gohan-4 told us, King Piccolo and evil-17 had just found them."
"Kakarott, Vegeta and I were fighting," Tam said. 17 frowned. "There's only one link I can see; evil counterparts showed up. But according to Chi-chi-5, she and Gohan were alone at their house when they were dragged here. What's the connection?"
"Well, just before we were dragged here, three of our blasts connected," Tam said slowly. "As soon as they intersected, we all saw a bright silver flash and stars. The others said they could see memories that had never happened, but I didn't see that."
Her eyes widened suddenly. "It must be because I don't have a counterpart in any other world. If what Vegeta… the Vegeta in my world… says is true, I'm the Saiyan princess. There is no Saiyan princess in any of the other worlds."
"You think that means something? It could just be a coincidence," 17 said. "After all, there are only two of me here."
Tam shook her head. "But versions of you existed in the alternate worlds. Those that were up to this time, anyway. Some were several years behind, like Chi-chi-5's world, and Alternate Reality-6 was a few years ahead. But in all the worlds, there was a version of Goku, a version of Vegeta, everyone there is in this world. I'm the only anomaly."
"But what does that have to do with anything?" 17 asked. Tam replied, "this all began because of a fight between me, Vegeta and Kakarott. Three of the most powerful fighters in my universe. It must have been the intersection of our ki blasts that caused this. And that means…"
"Only a recreation of that event can send us all back to where we belong," 17 finished. Tam nodded weakly. "Yes. It's the only way we'll get back. But I can't exactly ask Kakarott and Vegeta to have a mock battle with me."
"What about Gohan-4, this world's Goku and you? That should create a blast close enough to send us all back," 17 suggested. Tam nodded slowly. "Yes. I guess we have to do this. We can't just let them all die."
œ
Tam, Gohan-4 and Goku-1 hovered in mid-air, powering up.
"You're sure about this?" Goku-1 asked. Tam nodded. "It's the only thing we have to go on right now," she said. "We have to try it."
"All right. I'm ready when you are."
They each sent a blast spiraling toward the earth. As those who were still able watched, holding their breath, the three blasts intersected.
There was a bright silver flash. And this time, Tam saw what everyone else saw.
A seven-way split, each section showing a different alternate reality. Some different to others, but all had one thing in common: the Z fighters who were there were smiling.
Epilogue
Timeline: AR-1, 'Paix' world.
Tam opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was Kame House. The second was Vegeta and Kakarott, out cold on the beach, sprawled among the others. She did a quick head count. They were all there, unconscious but alive.
She walked over to Vegeta and Kakarott, considering. These guys are okay in most of the alternate worlds, she mused. She powered up and fired small amounts of ki into their brains, eliminating the memory centers.
I hate to do this, but it's for the best. At least now I won't have to kill guys who could turn out okay.
As the two Saiyans woke up, identical expressions of confusion passed over their faces. Kakarott spoke first.
"Where are we?"
"You're on the planet Earth. Your names are Vegeta and Ka… Goku. Don't worry, I'll explain everything."
Timeline: AR-2, 'Mi-Chemin World'- 1 year after return
Goku smiled as Gohan played in the waves with Sea Turtle. Vegeta spoke from beside him.
"He's going to grow up into a strong warrior. Just like his father."
Goku turned and looked at the other Saiyan. Vegeta had never lost that sadness he'd gained at Bulma's death, but he seemed… more at peace. Vegeta smiled and answered Goku's unasked question.
"Seeing her again hurt, but seeing her happy, with another version of me… it helps to know that somewhere there's a world where we're still together. Still happy."
Goku nodded. "I know you miss her. And I know you can never admit that to anyone else. Just remember… if you ever need to talk, or take it out on me, I'm here."
"I know, Goku. I know."
Timeline: AR-3, 'Mauvais World'- 3 months after returning.
Gohan pulled the last Dragonball out of his pocket and placed it with the others. Then he stood back and said, "Great Dragon, I summon you by name: Shenlong!"
The huge green dragon appeared and rumbled, "you have one wish."
"I wish that everyone killed by Android 17 and King Piccolo, whether directly or indirectly, was alive again," Gohan said. The dragon nodded.
"It is done."
Then the dragon vanished, but Gohan barely noticed. He was too busy staring at the man who had appeared, along with several others. The tall, spiky-haired man with a look of pride on his face.
"You did well, son. I'm proud of you."
A few meters away, Bulma and Vegeta embraced their young son. Tien, Yamcha, Chiaotzu, Goten, Chi-chi… they were all back.
Gohan hugged his father, a smile breaking across his face.
"Everything's the way it should be."
Timeline: AR-4, the world where Nameks are evil
Chi-chi tucked baby Gohan into bed and turned to her husband. He smiled at her and hugged her.
"Chi-chi, I was so worried when you two disappeared. I thought I'd lost you."
"You'll never lose me, you big goon. I've seen what happened in other worlds. We still have to have another son."
"Another son huh? Well, we may as well start working on that right away."
Timeline: AR-5, the world where Gohan grew up in the forest with Piccolo
The Namek and the Saiyan flew toward the city. Gohan glanced at Piccolo. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"You can't stay in the forest your whole life. We should catch up with the others. It's been too long."
Gohan nodded and they continued flying.
When they reached the city, the first person they saw was a dark-haired man with scars on his face. Gohan yelled, "Yamcha!"
Yamcha looked up and broke into a smile. "Gohan! Where've you been all these years?"
"It's a long story, my friend. Where are the others? I'd prefer to tell you all at once."
"Not a problem. They'll be glad to see you two again."
Timeline: AR-6, the world where Saiyans took over.
Trunks, Vegeta, Bulma and Chi-chi looked down at the Dragonballs, collected by the resistance against the Saiyans. The four looked at the faces that were at once familiar and strangers.
Yamcha. Chiaotzu. Piccolo. Krillin. Even Kami was there.
"So how do we do this?" Yamcha asked. "We can't wish that the Saiyans never came or Trunks wouldn't exist."
"Wish that this timeline mirrored the world we just came from," Trunks said suddenly. Vegeta nodded. "Yes. It makes sense."
Piccolo summoned the dragon and told mighty Shenlong their wish. He nodded and vanished.
And everything changed. Standing around the now-dull Dragonballs was the whole group of Z fighters. And none of them could remember what they'd wished for.
"Why are we looking at the Dragonballs if they aren't active?" Goku wondered. Gohan shrugged. "We must have made a wish. I guess it doesn't really matter."
The end!!!!
Well, that does it for 'A Matter Of Time'. I may branch off this fic, but only when I'm done other stuff.
As of now, I still need to finish 'Child Of Prophecy', the sequel to 'Alphas' (an original fic I wrote), 'Hidden Emotion' and gods knows what else. I'm taking 'Daughter Of The Stars' off for now, since I haven't got as much time to work on it as I want to and it isn't turning out the way I'd expected.
Anyway. Reviews are nice. They let me know if my endings are total crap.