See part I for disclaimers, etc.

THE TWO PRINCES

By Katreve

Part II

With murder in his eyes, Heero turned toward Relena while reaching for his gun.  Where the hell was his GUN?!!! (Where did he always pull that gun from anyway, it certainly wasn't hidden on his person anywhere.  How could you possibly hide a gun when all you wore were a green tank top and spandex shorts which would have revealed any …uh…unseemly bulges.  Still Heero had always produced his gun out of nowhere before, but this time…..)

"Where the hell is my GUN?!!!!" he verbalized his thoughts.

Then being the perfect soldier, ready to adjust to any given situation, he decided to throttle Relena instead, and approached her with his hands raised, fingers  curled menacingly.

"Eep…"  Relena's wail trailed off into a squeak at the sight of Heero approaching her with murderous intentions.  Even she felt a little fearful this time and  prudence dictated that she probably should….RUN!

Seeing Duo nearby with a smirk on his face she ran toward him, after all he had saved her once before from Heero, although it had been a few years ago.

Unfortunately, Duo took off as soon as he realized Relena's intentions.

Relena swerved toward Wufei or Trowa but they we scattering also….

She dodged Heero's grab and headed for Quatre who was standing talking with that new guy….the one with the weird lavender hair, but he really was rather handsome when you took a good look.

She ducked behind Quatre and threw a hammerlock on him from behind, keeping him between herself and Heero who still steadily advanced.

Bulma, who had been joining in the discussion between her son, Trunks, and Quatre, suddenly became aware of all the new commotion from the others (once Relena's wail had been cut off and they could think again, she and Trunks and Quatre had ignored the others).  Bulma noticed that Quatre's face was starting to turn a little blue and Trunks was frowning.  The cats puffed up and hissed and K'tree took a flying leap up….and then Quatre simply slipped out of Relena's grip and caught the cat before she scratched Relena's eyes out.   Relena opened her mouth again and Bulma, fearful of the next sound that might issue from those jaws, grabbed the girl's arm and pulled her away from Heero's grasp. 

Heero stopped but his eyes still glittered dangerously, "Can't you keep your mouth shut for one minute, woman?" he ground out, "I am so getting tired of …."

"Why young man," smiled Bulma brightly, "You do so remind me of my late husband."

Quatre cleared his throat and interjected, "I've been remiss.  I really need to introduce everyone…."  Ktree crawled up to his shoulder but copper eyes smoldered as she stared at Relena.  Quatre turned and called, "Come here Duo, Wufei, Trowa…."

Duo answered from some distance away, "Is Heero calmed down and is Relena gagged or something?"

Quatre recalling that someone had told him that he had the ability to bring the Gundam pilots together, tried again, "Just get yourselves over here…NOW."

The three thusly addressed edged reluctantly over to the group.   As they drew near, Heero decided to ignore Relena and crossed his arms as he addressed Quatre.  "You have a lot more to do than introduce us…"

"Yes, yes…." Quatre acknowledged, "I'll try to explain as much as I can, but it's a lot to take in."

"I'll help as much as I can too, Quatre," said Bulma still smiling.  "Look, I'm Bulma and this is my son, Trunks.  And I know Quatre so you are…." And she looked toward the other four boys.

The other four Gundam pilots suddenly felt somewhat sheepish as the blue-haired lady beamed at them in a motherly fashion.  They found themselves mumbling and muttering and looking down at their feet as they spoke their names. 

Quatre rolled his eyes, "Oh come on, you four have faced the most dangerous characters in our universe and your scared of Bulma?"

Trunks decided to take pity on the four curiously shy pilots, though he spoke with an amused voice,  "They are Heero, Duo, Wufei and Trowa, mother," as he pointed out each one to Bulma.  "and this of course is Relena." And he turned to the girl who had for some reason remained speechless for more than five minutes (Heero must have really scared her this time).  Relena thought she was still jealous of this guy because he was a prince, but he did have a very nice smile.  

Heero's eyes narrowed as he looked at Trunks, "How do you know who we are?  How much do you know of our missions and…"

"Oh, Heero, give it up," sighed Quatre.  "We're not in our reality now, that's part of the explaining I have to do.  But we do have some battles to fight and a very important mission.  That's why we are here."

Bulma spoke again, "Let's all go to our home and have something to eat.  And you dear," she looked at Relena, "we can get you some clean clothes because you are a little raggedy aren't you?"

Relena drew up indignantly, but it wasn't a look from Heero that stopped her this time but a growl and hiss from the cat on Quatre's shoulder and from the one who now occupied Trunks' shoulder.  For some reason, she decided to go along quietly.

As they started to walk off, following Bulma and Trunks, Heero whispered an aside to Quatre, "Can we get cats like these on our side of the reality or whatever it's called, they seem to have Relena buffaloed and that's worth a lot in my book."

Quatre just smiled but the other three Gundam pilots found themselves not only agreeing wholeheartedly but starting to laugh….

CAPSULE CORPORATION – DBZ TIMEFRAME – PRESENT DAY

Bulma ran her hand through her hair and sighed with relief.  The day was almost over.  Her son Trunks' eighth birthday party had been a major project in itself, in many ways more complicated than working on some of her inventions and machines.  Most of the children and their parents had left now, though Trunks and Goten were still playing with some of his gifts out on the lawn.  Chi Chi and Gohan along with his friend, Videl, were helping to clean up some of the mess caused by over 20 children and their assorted parents and/or guardians.  Krillen, his wife, (Bulma wished they would call her anything else other than 18, but she seemed happy with the "designation" as she referred to it), and their little Marron were sitting on the lawn a little away from the two laughing boys playing with the birthday gifts.  Marron had fallen asleep in her mother's arms.  Yamcha with Puar on his shoulder was sitting or rather laying in a lawn chair, he was asleep too and snoring.  Piccolo had left as soon as he could politely do so.  Bulma smiled knowing that he wasn't all that comfortable with some of these earth "rituals" as he called them.  Dende had also attended and left with Piccolo.  Trunks' grandparents had been tired out by the children's antics and retired to their rooms for rest.  And she had no idea where Vegeta had disappeared to.  But he had hmphed and scowled most of the day anyway.  He felt that this day was a waste of time and he had had go forego his daily training with Trunks.  //Well too bad,// thought Bulma, //my son needs time to be a little boy too.// 

Bulma felt the vibration of the message disc in her pocket and frowned.  //Not now…you weren't supposed to contact me until next week.//  Puar, still on Yamcha's shoulder and dozing a bit herself, raised her head and looked at Bulma.  Then she rose into the air and came to light on Bulma's shoulder.

Bulma sighed again and called to Chi Chi, "I have to take a call right now.  Sorry to leave you all with this mess, but I will be back as soon as I can."

"That's OK," Chi Chi replied and then turned to Gohan, "Go get Yamcha off his ass and Krillen too.  They can help."  No one argued with Chi Chi if they could help it.  Gohan just grinned and went to do as he was told as he thought to himself that his mother would have just as easily told 18 to get off her ass too except Marron was asleep in her lap and Chi Chi was nothing if not an understanding mother.

Bulma entered her laboratory and then turned and locked the door behind her.  She went over to the corner and pulled the drape off  what appeared to be simply a computer with a larger than ordinary screen.  Also the keyboard was quite a bit different.  With Puar still on her shoulder, Bulma sat down and punched some keys and waited.  After about 20 seconds, the screen before her cleared from its swirling mists and Bulma was looking at her future self.

"Is everything alright, why are you contacting me so early.  I thought you wouldn't be in touch until next week," Bulma asked her future self. 

"Well, the K'tareen say things are moving more quickly that we had anticipated.  I have the five pilots here from the alternate future reality and another guest as well.  I had to bring them over early."

"And was one them the other Prince?" 

"Oh yes, and now that both Princes are together, the K'tareen say we must move forward as soon as possible.  You'll need to get your people together and give them a heads up and as much info as you can for now.  Things are going to be a bit confusing for us all and you and I, along with the two Princes, have to pull all these people together."

"I understand how crucial everything is, it's just that I don't know how we are going to manage getting them to work and fight together."  Bulma looked uncertainly at her future self.

"Actually we can only assist with our knowledge, the two Princes have the lion's share, if the K'tareen will forgive me, of the work to be done in getting this all accomplished.  But if we don't ….. nothing will exist as we know it."

Puar meeped/meowed a little.

Future Bulma smiled, "Yes, I understand Puar.  All you feline types seem to know how important this is.  Bulma," she addressed her younger self, "Call them together and prepare them as much as you can.  You'll be receiving some help from Dende and Korin."

At this instant, there came a loud knocking on Bulma's lab door and the voice of her eight-year old, "Mom, mom, what are you doing in there.  Goten and I want to take my new mini-scooter out and Chi Chi says we can't.  Mom, Mom….."

Future Bulma lifted one eyebrow, "You know Bulma, my Trunks is so much more …."

Bulma raised her hand, "I know, I've met our sweet future son you know.  But you have to remember, Vegeta is helping me to raise this boy and some of Vegeta's less desirable traits are showing up in chibi Trunks.  Where is our," the younger Bulma emphasized that word, "son anyway?"

"Right here, mother," and her grown-up son's face smiled at her from the screen which was now split between him and future Bulma. 

"Trunks you need a haircut, but that's the least of our worries I understand.  Good to see you, sweetheart."

As the ruckus outside her lab door increased, Bulma raised her voice, "Maybe when you get here Trunks you can have a soothing influence on your chibi self."

Her grown son blushed a little, how did he do that, so innocent still.

"Mom, I am going to break down this door and you know I can do it…" yelled her son from outside the lab. 

"OK, OK…I'll be right there and if you even try to break down the door, you'll have your father to answer to,"  Called back his mother.

"I don't care.  You're not being fair…"

Future Bulma smiled sympathetically and her grown son raised his hand in farewell as the screen went blank.

AN HOUR LATER

In one of the conference rooms at Capsule Corporation several people and two children were seating themselves.  Piccolo had suddenly appeared a little while ago and had taken Goten and Trunks in hand until Bulma had finally located Vegeta and talked him (though he called it hounding) into coming to this "infernal meeting."  When Vegeta arrived he growled at everyone but sat down next to his son.  Now Bulma peeked through the door to make sure everyone was there.  They were and their expressions ranged from puzzled (Chi Chi, Gohan, Videl, Krillin and Yamcha) to annoyed (Vegeta) to calm (Piccolo and 18).  Thankfully the children were subdued with Piccolo and Vegeta next to them, but no telling how long that might last knowing Trunks' penchant for getting easily bored and if he could, he would come up with something to entertain himself.

She took a deep breath and looked at Dende and Korin who waited with her, "Here goes…." She said and opened the door and stepped through.

Everyone but Piccolo and 18 looked surprised when she walked into the room with Dende on one side and Korin on the other and Puar still on her shoulder.

"You're probably wondering why I've called you all here today…" started Bulma lamely, //no that isn't right.// 

She cleared her throat and started again, "Well, I am sure you are trying to figure out what is going on and ….."

"Oh woman, would you spill it already.  We don't have all day."  Vegeta grumphed.

"Actually we won't have any days at all if the threat that is approaching is not neutralized," interjected Dende.

"What ….?!!!"

Bulma held her hands up and decided to just jump in with both feet, "It's important that everyone just listen for now," and she glared at Vegeta, "because this is a lot to make clear.  First there is a very real threat as Dende mentioned.  It's nothing like any of you have ever encountered before.  And you are going to need help…"

Vegeta laughed, "Not me…"

"Can it for once Vegeta." Gohan snapped. 

Vegeta started to strike back when there was suddenly a strange light and a figure appeared before them.  Only a few seemed unsurprised at his appearance.

"Dad," Gohan rose so suddenly he chair fell back.  Chi Chi started to cry and little Goten just looked with huge eyes at the figure he recognized as his father from photos but had never actually met. 

Trunks sat up straighter from his bored slump, now things were really starting to get interesting.

"Kakarot," sneered Vegeta, "Is this the help we need?"

Chi Chi and Gohan were surrounding a somewhat stunned looking Goku, hugging him and trying to talk at once.

Dende interrupted firmly, "Goku glad you could come sooner than than originally planned.  But it is urgent that we proceed."

Goku suddenly laughed and said, "Sure, now Chi Chi, Gohan, settle down for a bit.  By the way is there any food around, I'm starved."

"You're dead, Kakarot," growled Vegeta, "How can you be hungry?"

"Oh I never let a little thing like that stop me." Laughed Goku again. 

"You can have some of my birthday cake," offered a grinning Trunks.

Goku looked over at the boy and surprise now registered on his face.  "Trunks, little Trunks…how you've grown."  And then remembering his first priority, "and I would love to have some of your birthday cake.  Thanks!!"

Chi Chi was pulling over a shy Goten to introduce him to his father. 

Bulma tried to regain control, why had they sent Goku now, before she had a chance to prepare the others and at least offer some more explanation.  Why did she have to be the one who tried to oversee the explanation of the details anyway?  Now Krillin and Yamcha were up surrounding Goku greeting him with laughter and questions.  Piccolo called for everyone to be quiet but even he seemed unable to quell the commotion at Goku's arrival.

Abruptly little Trunks jumped up on the table and started to glow.  In an instant his hair had become filled with light and tossed and waved into the air, his eyes glowed with that inner light.  Everyone recognized what was happening but they all were shocked…..

"Be quiet everyone of you."  Trunks' voice rang throughout the conference room.  "Settle down.  It is important that you listen to mother and to Dende.  We are glad you are here Goku, for the K'tareen say you are one of the chosen, but your arrival was a little sudden and mother has not had a chance to prepare the others."

Bulma's mouth dropped open, "Trunks?"

"Yes," her eight-year-old son answered with her grown son's voice while looking at her calmly.

Vegeta also recognized his adult son's voice. 

"Just what the hell is going on here?" he yelled as he jumped up from his chair.

"Father, be quiet and sit down." Little Trunks looked intently into Vegeta's eyes and Vegeta suddenly sank back into his chair.

"Now please everyone sit down and remain quiet and let mother continue.  Mother, I know you are wondering why you have to be the one to emcee this show so to speak, but you know more than anyone else except Dende and Korin."

"Where is my son?"  Vegeta had to force himself to speak, it was if something was holding him down and sapping his strength.

Trunks looked over at him again and smiled a little, then chibi Trunks' voice spoke, "I'm here Dad.  This is so cool.  I let Trunks in when he asked me, and now I am so strong.  I can kick some major butt here…."

"Trunks" warned Bulma, "behave…"

"Hey Goten, look at this…."  And Trunks started to throw a bolt of energy out the window, "I can hit that tree that's clear across town in the park, the one we can see the top branches of from this room…."

Just as suddenly, Trunks arm dropped and Trunks' adult voice spoke,  "Sorry, I had to let you see he's fine, but he does tend to get a little out of hand.  I am not going to stay…just listen to mother and I will see you shortly."

And suddenly little Trunks was plopped down hard on the table, his SSJ energy vanished.

"He will see us shortly?,"  asked Gohan, still stunned by recent events.

Bulma sighed, "Yes, he will see us very soon.  In fact we are having a few visitors from the future and from two other dimensions as well.  They are coming to help with the threat we are speaking of….something unlike anything else from before….it…they are called Deamonwrai and I cannot exactly tell you what Deamonwrai are but Dende may be able to offer something further on that."

Dende nodded slowly, "Deamonwrai are or is, for we cannot tell whether it is a single entity or a group of entities working as one, but it seems to be made up of the most evil of forces from a number of universes.  They (or it) are not corporeal and yet not totally wraiths or spirits either.  They seem to be neither and both.  I realize this is very confusing, but  it is enough to state that there has never been the like of this threat before.  And it does not just threaten us, our existence and reality here, but a number of other dimensions and even future realities."

Bulma continued, "There is a prophecy, my future self found a portion of it on a block of ancient stone,  and it reads:

Eyes from bright blue seas

Strands sunlit and of dawn

Royal blood touched by these

Such fates joined by this song.

These realities will collide

Two princes then must meet

Those worlds will slide

Whose warriors must fight

Evil wraiths of that night

Until……"

And the stone tablet was broken at that point so we don't know the rest of the prophecy."  Bulma stopped.  No one spoke for a moment…..then Vegeta said, "I'm a prince…I must be one of those mentioned."

"Actually," Dende interjected "you are not.  You don't have blue eyes nor fair hair as the prophecy states."

"Then it is just so much bullshit.  How do you even know it has anything to do with this threat and what evidence…."

Bulma snapped, "It does and you're not one of the princes.  Trunks is, at least Marai Trunks is."

Vegeta started to say something else but Bulma continued with a glare at him, "Shut up, like your future son told you.  Were you a little weak there when he was here in chibi Trunks' body.   Just wait."

Dende's calm voice intervened, "Vegeta you very well may be one of the chosen to fight, but you are not one of the princes."

"There are two?"  asked Gohan, "And do we know who the other is?"

"We do not know him, but he has been chosen."  Korin spoke for the first time.  "In fact the Two Princes are to lead the chosen warriors in the battle to come."

 Another bright light suffused the room and when it faded, Gohan and the others made out the newcomers that the light had transported there.

An older version of Bulma stood with a smile on her face and Marai Trunks stood next to her with a white cat sitting on one shoulder.  Trunks, except for the fact his hair was longer, looked as young as the youth who had originally battled and defeated Freiza and his father.  Next to him stood another slighter figure with pale blonde hair and blue/green eyes.  He too had a small white cat seated on his shoulder.  Ranged next to him were four other boys and a girl that looked petulant but remained quiet (thankfully). 

Bulma stepped forward and said, "These are our visitors that I told you about.  You know…huh…me and Trunks."

Trunks smiled at everyone who were looking at him mouths agape, and stepped forward himself.  "And this is the second Prince, Quatre Raberba Winner," and he motioned to the pale blonde next to him.

Vegeta exploded, "That bony scrap of a boy is the other prince?  This is insufferable.  And who are those other skinny boys?  They are supposed to be warriors of some sort.  Give me a break….this has to be the biggest farce since…."

Marai Trunks sighed and said, "Father, please be quiet….."

Vegeta was forced to subside, that strange weakness once more pervading him. 

"I do not like this anymore than you do," spoke up one of the boys, the one with black hair and eyes, "but I know how to fight and seek justice. I am sure I would have no trouble defeating you."

"And your hair is funny.  Sticking up all over the place like that, don't you ever comb it?"  asked the boy with violet eyes and a long braid.  "Man, I was just getting used to Trunks' hair which isn't half bad but you and that other guy have weird hair.  Oh and look there's a little dude with purple hair too and one with more spiky hair.  What is it about the hair in this universe?"

"Wufei, Duo…." Spoke the blonde prince quietly.

And just that quickly, they subsided also.

Watching the newcomers still, the others noticed that the white cats on the chosen Princes' shoulders actually seemed to grin and their copper eyes glowed mysteriously.

//Yep// thought chibi Trunks who was still sitting in the middle of the table, //this is really getting interesting.//

end of Part II