Part III—Battle!
Trunks felt the vibrations of the crash down to his bones. His muscles and teeth were clenched against the vibrations as time machine crashed against the hard earth. His eyes slowly opened as the time machine came to a complete stop. He opened the hatched and jumped from the ship, the steam pouring out.
Trunks looked about him, the world they were in nothing but a mess of ruins and crumbling stones. There was nothing left but the destruction caused by Hildegarn. Trunks saw Minoshiya in the distance, coming out of the time machine in a rush. It was just then that Trunks heard the cry of Hildegarn—the lower half of the body, stomping across the sky destroying everything that was left in sight.
His heart stopped as he stared at it, through his mind the flashing memories of when that lower half had come ripping through his home. He swallowed as he remembered Tapion's screams when the Hildegarn half inside of him had escaped to join the other half. Trunks hoped to whatever god existed that the upper half had not yet escaped to join with it.
Minoshiya motioned quickly to Trunks and he snapped out of the trance of memories that had possessed him. His mind was becoming complete finally. The memories were merged and he could finally call on any memory without becoming confused in the haze of his own mind. He flew after Minoshiya, grabbing as Trunks blasted into the air. Trunks jetted forward.
"Where is Tapion now?"
Minoshiya motioned to the crumbling mountains up ahead and Trunks speeded up his flight, hurrying as fast as he could away from the Hildegarn half destroying the world. "Where is your flute and sword, Minoshiya? And why is the bottom half destroying the planet and not the half that came from you? Why is Tapion's half of the Hildegarn attacking?"
Minoshiya stared down at the floor as he began to answer. "I don't know how my older brother's half came to be here. I lost my flute as Hoi and the Hildegarn began to attack me after freeing me from the music box. But when Hildegarn almost crushed me, my sword went flying into the planet. It was at that moment that Tapion appeared out of nowhere and saved me." Minoshiya went silent as he bit his lip. "He was injured badly in the saving of me."
Trunks' eyes widened as the image of a wounded Tapion burst into his mind. He made a sound in the back of his throat as he pressed himself harder blasting into the night toward the mountains were Tapion lay.
Minoshiya just stared emptily ahead, slightly murmuring, "But since then I haven't found my sword. It think it fell between the cracks of the earth as the ground shattered."
Trunks nodded and made his way all the more forcefully toward the mountains. When Minoshiya motioned to the cavern in which Tapion lay hidden from Hildegarn, Trunks flew down to it and they entered it. Minoshiya ran toward the depths of the cave, Trunks following slowly behind him. It was then that Trunks saw his old friend.
Tapion was laying on the hard ground of the cave, blood seeping from his lip and the cuts on his cheek and forehead. His clothes were torn and his breathing harsh and labored. Trunks stood frozen in place, hearing the sound of his friend's strained breathing and seeing the terrible condition he was in. Tapion looked up and toward Trunks when Minoshiya told him of Trunks presence. Tapion's face showed surprise as he took in Trunks' appearance. Trunks slowly approached his old friend and knelt down beside Tapion. Tapion smiled.
"I had no idea I sent Minoshiya so far into the future. Trunks…you've grown so much since I last saw you."
Trunks smiled. "Ni-san."
Tapion laughed a little. "I think now we are equal in age, Trunks."
They clasped hands and Minoshiya grinned watching his older brother with this friend from another world. A Saiya-jin. Who would of thought?
But the special moment did not last. Suddenly there was a crash and the cavern began to shake intensely, rattling the brains and bodies of everyone within it. The cave came crumbling down on them, as Hildegarn's mighty roar resounded through the walls. Trunks blasted with power, transforming into Super Saiya-jin times two as he grabbed Minoshiya and Tapion and flew out of the shattering cavern.
Trunks' fury held no bounds as he placed Tapion and his brother down and turned his rage on the monster and the evil wizard cackling above it. But when the monster had once been only the lower half, it was now the whole being. How? But Trunks ignored the shock and the fact. Who cared how the monster had become whole again? It had dared to attack Tapion and Minoshiya again. Probably the only living things left on the planet. He would not let them be hurt! Trunks' eyes flashed and he took out his sword, charging at the monster with a cry of rage. He attacked the monster with the blade, trying to chop it to bits with the holy power within the sword. But Hildegarn continued to fade out and in around Trunks, not allowing him to get a hit in.
Trunks fury raged as he tried to attack the monster, but to no avail.
"Damn you! Why don't you fight! Or do you have to hide because you know you are no match for me!" Trunks cried out into the darkness, the lightning crashing in the sky as the earth continued to crumble away.
Hildegarn appeared before Trunks, sending him hurtling through the walls and mountains of stone. Trunks blasted through them back at Hildegarn and Hoi, the cuts on his face and body nothing as he fought with all the fury inside of him trying to get at the evil Hildegarn and Hoi. Trunks charged only to have Hildegarn disappear and then reappear behind him, punching downward into the ground. The ground shattered around Trunks and he attacked again. Hildegarn faded away and reappeared, knocking the sword from Trunks' hands and embedding it into a wall of rock nearby. Trunks turned to the sword and Hildegarn slammed down on him, sending him hurtling into the ground again. Rock and dirt flying up into the air in a cloud of dust about him.
Trunk quickly got up and shook his head clear of the scrambled thoughts inside. His eyes searched out his sword and he made his way toward it once he caught it in his eye. He blasted toward it, but Hildegarn appeared before him and punched him toward the right, sending him flying into the mountain.
Trunks' head pounded as he opened his eyes just to see Hildegarn vanish and then appear before him only to slam him deeper into the jagged stones he was crushed against. Trunks cried out, the Super Saiya-jin knocked out of him. Damn.
Suddenly Hildegarn vanished again and Trunks' eyes, blurred with pain, could barely see where he reappeared. But when his eyes cleared and he saw the place where Hildegarn and the people beneath him, Trunks exploded from his embedded state against the mountain.
Hildegarn had reappeared. Right before Tapion and Minoshiya.
Trunks' eyes widened as his rage ignited and he blasted forward and down—the Super Saiya-jin igniting once more with the full force of his fury—as quickly as he could to protect them. But one thought resounded in this head as he saw Hildegarn make his move. Too late. I'll be too late. Trunks' fury grew as the thought burned through his mind. NO! He would not be too late! But as Hildegarn made its attack, Tapion and Minoshiya unmoving, Trunks knew it would be so. He was too late.
At that instant flashes of memories passed through his head. He saw Tapion's smile as he asked Trunks to stay with him for dinner. Tapion's curious face as Trunks showed him all of his toys, laughing up at his 'big brother'. Tapion's smile as Trunks conceded in killing him to destroy Hildegarn. Tapion's gentle green eyes as he looked down at Trunks. Flash. The image of Minoshiya's tears as he told Trunks what happened to his big brother. His big brother…
Too late.
"TAPION!" Trunks screamed as his rage exploded, the memories overwhelming him as he remembered the only older 'sibling' he had ever had. The blast of power blasted from Trunks, increasing his speed by double, making him pulse with more power than he had ever thought possible. And his rage and hatred for Hildegarn and Hoi only feeding the endless wave of power.
Tapion looked up at Trunks' scream only to see a brilliant light flash from the young man and then to hear Trunks' endless scream as he came hurtling down upon them. The saw the flash of light grab Hildegarn by the tail and saw him being whipped about furiously by the raging young man. Tapion couldn't believe the burst of power that had come from Trunks. The young man had no qualms as he hurtled the monster into the air and punched so fiercely it flew across the land. Trunks, after seeing Hildegarn crash in the distance, flew quickly down to Tapion and Minoshiya who were staring up at him in astonishment.
Trunks hair was not only blazing with the gold of a Super Saiya-jin, but it hung down his back in spikes that looked more deadly than the teeth of Hildegarn. Minoshiya quickly stood and helped Tapion up. Trunks smiled, but just as suddenly frowned, his eyes narrowing. He turned and Hildegarn was already getting up for another round. Trunks made a sound in the back of his throat and blasted into the air.
"Tapion! Minoshiya! Get to safety!"
The two stared up at the blazing Saiya-jin and began moving toward the mountains, away from the battlefield. They didn't see the other being reaching for Trunks sword just before it fell it slid into a crevice that would only lead it to the burning depths of the planet.
Trunks fought Hildegarn furiously, but the creature was just as powerful as it was the first time he had fought it over ten years ago. Trunks just couldn't seem to get the upperhand. Damn it to hell! He needed his sword! Trunks moved to kick the advanced form of Hildegarn in the jaw, hoping to send the worm flying so he could have enough time to locate his sword. But Hildegarn surprised him and landed a furiously powerful fist into the young man, sending him through several mountains, shattering them all into dust. Trunks shook his pounding head, trying to regain his senses when he heard a scream of rage sounding throughout the empty land. His head snapped up as he looked in the direction it came.
A young man was blazing with rage, the power within him overflowing as he transformed from Super Saiya-jin to Super Saiya-jin times two. But the screams of righteous rage continued as the masses of hair formed behind the young man. The pounding power caught the attention of Hildegarn as well as Minoshiya and Tapion's attention. Trunks blinked as the scream faded away, but the echo continued.
The young man lowered his head, his eyes blazing at Hildegarn, Trunks' blade shining in his hand. Trunks' eyes widened in disbelief.
"Goten!"
Goten didn't hear his friend. The rage inside him was too new. That monster had dared to hurt his best friend! He and Trunks had spent their lives together. That was practically his twin brother! Goten blazed with rage. With a cry of fury he charged at Hildegarn, tossing the blade in Trunks direction. Trunks caught the blade and blasted from the stone that held him captive. He charged at Hildegarn as Goten began his attack. The two attacked from both sides, giving the monster no leave.
Trunks flew by Goten as he blasted Hildegarn. "What are you doing here, Goten?!"
Goten blazed his ki bombs at Hildegarn and tossed Trunks a crooked smile. "I followed you, Trunks! Things were just too weird to pass this up!"
Trunks laughed as they resumed their attack on the monster. The both gathered their energy and shot forth a huge beam of power, meant to blow the thing to smithereens.
"KAMEHAMEHA!"
But the blast never made contact. Hildegarn vanished from sight.
"Dammit to hell! He's started his little magic act again!" Goten cried in frustration.
Trunks grinned. "Goten! Let's fuse and with my sword, we'll show this thing who the hell is the most powerful!"
Goten grinned and nodded. But before they could begin the fusion dance, Hildegarn attacked sending them flying apart. Trunks and Goten growled and blasted toward the huge creature blasting it with all their strength.
"Finishing Buster!"
"Ma-sen-ko!"
Both sides blasted Hildegarn and before it could recover Goten appeared before it and screamed, "Solar Flare!"
Hildegarn cried out in pain as it covered his eyes and Trunks and Goten flew off to fuse.
Trunks imbedded his sword into the nearby wall. He turned to Goten and nodded and the began to get into the positions…"Goten that's the wrong way! Don't you remember? It's like this." Trunks moved his arms, showing the position.
Goten growled at Trunks. "Are you sure? I mean you're the one who had trouble remembering Arista!"
"Oy, don't get so pissed! It's not my fault my mind is whacked. I'm sorry if I didn't remember your woman."
"She's not my woman! And because your mind is whacked that's why you can't be trusted to know the right way!"
Trunks rolled his eyes. Goten growled at Trunks. "Don't waste any more time arguing about it Trunks! Let's just do it! We don't have much time left." Trunks burst out laughing. He was arguing?!
Goten scowled at him, but they began the Fusion. They got a bit confused in the middle part and had to start all over again, but they finally got the correct way to do it after not doing it in so long. "Fu—" the moved toward each other, their toes tiptoeing in the air. "Sion—" their arms switched sides and their legs moved into a pose, one leg up and bent the other still straight. Everything was done in perfect synchronization. "Ha!" They straightened one leg as their arms flipped over their head and they bent to the side so their index fingers touched at the same moment.
The blast of light that erupted from the two lit the dark sky. Their screams as two Saiya-jin warriors at the level of time three merged into one cry across the planet, shattering everything near them. When the light faded away, their eyes blazed with the furious power within them. They reached for the holy sword that lay glistening with power. When they grabbed it, it blasted with the power radiating within them.
"We are no longer Goten or Trunks." The voices of the two came out together from the same mouth. The blue-green eyes blazed rage. "We are Gotenks. Are you are nothing more than a squashed nightmare."
They attacked the blade flashing with the power within them. Their battle cry resounded across the dying planet as they sliced through Hildegarn.
"FINISHING MASENKO BUSTER!"
The blast exploded from the inside of Hildegarn. The creature's scream tore what was left of the mountains of the world down. Pieces of gore flew down everywhere, chunks of mutilated flesh pouring down over the countryside. Gotenks did not see the little evil man Hoi disappear into the night.
They landed on the ground as Minoshiya and Tapion approached them. Gotenks smiled as they separated. Trunks and Goten became themselves once more. Trunks was still holding onto the sword as he grinned at Tapion and Minoshiya.
Tapion smiled back. "You did it."
Trunks, Goten, Tapion and Minoshiya burst into relieved laughter.
* * *
Trunks and Goten climbed out of their respective time machines. They grinned at each other because of their appearances. They were both bloody and bruised, scratched all over. Their clothes were in shambles. They couldn't help laughing.
But their laughter was abruptly cut off as they heard a gasp. They turned and saw a horrified Bra, Marron and Pan. Their eyes widened in astonishment at the appearance of the two young men.
"Uncle Goten!" Pan cried.
"Trunks!" Bra cried.
Marron shook her head. "And we came here to get you both for the dinner at Gokou's. Wait till Bulma and Chichi see you both!"
A sweat drop glistened on the young men's foreheads. Just what they needed…
Everyone was staring at the tattered young men waiting for the explanation. Well, everyone was curious…but only the mothers were demanding a good explanation. Gokou, Vegita and the rest of the group were just wondering how come the boys' power felt so much stronger than it did since the last time they had seen them.
Goten shrugged. "Do you want to start, Trunks? I mean…it really sort of started with you." Trunks growled at his best friend.
"Well, you're the one who followed me."
"And if I hadn't you would be in pieces!"
"Give me a break! I was doing just fine without you!"
"ENOUGH!" Chichi and Bulma cried. Their eyes narrowed. Chichi began. "Yosh. Now tell me what the hell happened, Goten!"
Goten sighed. Bulma eyed her smiling son. "Don't give me your father's superior look, Trunks. You're next." Trunks sighed with Goten.
"Yare, yare…" they said simultaneously and began the story.
Before they had even returned from their little adventure, Bulma had explained the Trunks situation to everyone who didn't know earlier, so Bra was staring at her brother warily throughout the entire telling of the recent happenings. By the end, Bra was furious. Her brother always got to have all the fun! He was so damn powerful too! That's it!
"Ugh! That's it! I'm training my ass off from now on! It's not fair that Trunks gets to have all the fun!" Bra stormed out of the room everyone looking at her curiously. Vegita only smirked at his daughter. Bra almost ran into Arista as she strode out. Arista barely moved out of the way in time.
She blinked as she looked into the room. "Did I miss anything?"
Everyone burst out laughing, except for Vegita (he was too busy trying to catch his wife who was laughing so hard she almost hit the floor). Trunks and Goten groaned good-naturedly. They turned to each other and grinned. Their family was definitely the best they could ever get.