1 Chapter 10

Vegeta sized up his son from the future, Trunks. The other sayian didn't transform into super sayian yet. He was holding back something, but what? Vegeta didn't want this to happen, well, maybe somewhere down deep inside him he did. When they were in the room of Spirit and Time together they trained separately. His pride wouldn't allow anyone lesser to train with him, yet he watched from afar, intensely proud of his son's accomplishments. He was also jealous of his son's power at the time as well. Again his pride got in the way. When Cell was at his second stage of development he had the chance to kill him, but he wanted Cell to be at his most powerful. A mistake nearly cost him his life. Again when he fought Gokuu when Buu awakened because of them, his pride was the determining factor in the loss of many innocent lives. His pride was tempered somewhat by his wife Bulma. She was the constant calming presence in his life, along with his young son. He spoke half of the truth to Gokuu when he said that he had grown quite fond of them. Really, he loved them dearly, but his pride wouldn't allow him to show any real affection towards them. He felt so at peace when he hugged the younger Trunks before he killed himself in his attempt to destroy Buu. Since that time and the eventual destruction of Buu, he had settled down somewhat. He couldn't stop training, he needed that. But it wasn't the all-consuming force that drove him like in the past. He had Bulma and Trunks to comfort. Trunks went to school and mingled with the human children. He even had to put up with several abortive attempts from Trunks trying to invite his girlfriends over to the house. Vegeta took it all in stride. He was proud of his son, fighting by his side against Buu, he was proud of his son in ways that didn't involve the arts of a warrior. He was quite intelligent! His grades in school were a mark of pride for him, especially when he found out how Goten was doing. Just like Kakarot, that one! No aptitude for schooling. Next was Bulma, his wife. She was a hard woman. From what she would tell him of her and Gokuu's earlier adventures it was a wonder that Kakarot didn't kill her given half a chance. Her relationship with himself was somewhat explosive over the years that he's been living on this planet. Still his feelings for her only grew over time. After Buu's defeat, their relationship changed for the better. He was no longer the closed off, arrogant, Prince. Well, maybe a little, but no where near to the levels of arrogance that he used to be at. Still, his pride did rear its head from time to time. He couldn't help it; he's a sayian after all. Still she understood. Perhaps she was the only woman on this planet who ever came close to understanding him. He loved her, and he made sure she knew it on his terms. It seemed to be enough for her, but now he held a lot of regrets. He could've simply told her that he loved her. That would've gone a long way, but his pride still held him in its grip. Such is the price you pay when you are the Prince of all sayians. Finally, there's Trunks from an alternate future. He never had the chance to raise him, in that timeline powerful androids killed him along with the other z warriors except for Gohan, who became his teacher and father figure. Gokuu died earlier of a virus that attacked the heart, so it was up to Gohan and Trunks to end their reign of terror, but they were too strong. Trunks eventually beat the androids and Cell in his timeline, and eventually the fat form of Buu and the wizard Babidi. Vegeta felt just as proud of this Trunks as he did for younger Trunks. He held more regret though. He never raised him. He was dead shortly after his birth. Bulma raised him as best she could, but she was no warrior. Gohan trained him the best he could, given the circumstances. Admittedly, he did a good job too. He never knew a real father though. That's one of the many things he regrets about Future Trunks. His pride got in the way when they met and fought Cell. He never told him how proud he was of him, how strong and regal he was! Now, Future Trunks stared at him across the short space between them. An Enemy. That's what his son was now. Barely fifteen feet away from him. A small space, a generation and world away. Bulma could be returned from the grave. All that was needed was the death of that off-worlder, Lina Inverse. Perhaps this was the first time that love won over his pride. He needed her! Pride be damned! Anything it takes! He didn't like the decision one bit, but there was no other way. Trunks, the Enemy, the Protector, his SON. How dare he stand against his father! How noble and proud his motives! He was so much like him. Except for one thing: he lost everything and he still has his pride. The look in his eyes were unmistakable, he was able to keep his pride against all odds, unlike himself where love won out. If Trunks only knew his dilemma, if only. . .

Blood still trickled down the side of Trunks mouth where Vegeta hit him. He bit hard where his gone tooth used to be to increase the pain. He always assumed the role of the Protector. He never had the choice not to. His birthright demanded excellence, he knew that much about his father at the time. Now he was needed again. His assumed role of Protector for Miss Lina Inverse, whom he only just met this very day, put him at odds against the one man he worshipped, his father. It didn't matter that his mother was lost to him forever. It didn't matter that a mad godling is on the warpath. It mattered that an innocent life was at stake. He focused on Vegeta. He was so proud, and to have such feelings for another! Bulma told him stories about Vegeta back when they were together, and apparently those stories were true! He did have a heart. He did have feelings other than rage and jealousy. It gave him some comfort in the fact that Vegeta was able to settle down and enjoy life for what it was, unlike himself. It wasn't likely that he'd ever experience true happiness anymore. But that didn't matter. His Enemy, his FATHER, was right across from him ready for battle. No quarter asked, and none would be given. He was a sayian after all. Vegeta was stronger than Buu ever was in his timeline; this would be one hell of a fight! If he failed, Lina would likely die before the others could intervene. He couldn't accept that. He wouldn't allow it. It was a battle of different times and different attitudes, and that time was now!

"No quarter, son," Vegeta said keeping his voice measured and even.

"None asked," was the reply.

The two combatants squared off. Vegeta glowed with the power of his super sayian form. An outline of pure gold light pulsed with the sayian prince's heartbeat. Trunks still didn't transform. His fists and teeth were clenched, as he assumed his defensive stance. Vegeta smiled, "A warm- up?"

"Let's get this over with, father."

"Very well!" Vegeta launched himself at his son with the full force and fury that was himself. Massive punches were blocked by Trunks, but the sheer force of the bows forced him to slide across the broken landscape. Still, his feet never left the ground. He was purely on the defensive and he was hard pressed to defend against every blow and detect every feint. Finally Vegeta struck Trunks with a kick across his face! He rolled with the blow, and his feet still hadn't left the ground.

"Stop playing," growled Vegeta.

Blood flowed freely now from trunks open wound. He wiped the blood from his mouth and smiled. "All right. So much for secrets."

"What?" asked Vegeta. His eyes widened as he felt his son's energy level rise to astronomical levels. The other z warriors felt it also; the only one who wasn't wide-eyed was Gokuu. He smiled a little.

Trunks screamed, as his hair grew impossibly long. The golden sheen of his power reacted in proximity to Vegeta's. He screamed more as, unlike Vegeta, his outline was pure silver, which pulsed in tandem to his father's.

"So you're able to attain the true super sayian form as well?" Vegeta asked, frowning.

"Yes, father," he replied, his voice was deeper and sounded more. . . noble?

"Don't think that it's enough to save you!" Trunks was ready when his father came at him again.

"Are you going to do anything to stop this?" Lina asked angrily.

"You're kidding, right?" replied Piccolo. "Let them deal with this. We've got other problems. Have you found him yet?"

"No, he's gone," Gokuu replied sourly. "How's Zelgadis?"

Lina looked over at the KO'ed shaman. "He'll be out for a while. He's going to have a headache for a while too, and a stomachache. Otherwise he should be okay."

"Good," was all Gokuu said. He was watching the battle between father and son intensely.

"Gokuu," Lina asked," what if Vegeta wins?"

His face brightened a little, "Then it's my turn!"

Lina looked over at Piccolo with a quizzical expression. All she got in return was him rolling his eyes and sweatdropped. She sweatdropped too. She turned to Gohan who was staring just like his father, "You too?"

"What? Oh yeah! After dad I get the next fight!"

She fell to the ground with a thud, her legs standing straight up in the air. "What's wrong with you people? The fate of the world's at stake, and you guys are treating this like a game or something!"

"Don't let it get to you, "replied Piccolo, "All sayians are like that. Fighting and combat are in the blood."

"Psychos, "she whispered, it didn't matter, Piccolo heard.

The battle continued. Trunks was very strong and fast, but he didn't have the intensive training that Vegeta had over the years. It was a double-edged sword though. His son grew up in a world with powerful foes. His attack patterns were unpredictable and he improvised, a necessary trait in order to survive against the androids. Plus he did train with his father and knew most of his attack moves. Still Vegeta's rage and fury were directed solely at his son. For every blow his son landed, he struck one of his own. Soon the two fighters were bleeding and breathing hard. "You can't keep this up forever son," Vegeta stated. Trunks knew it. He expended an enormous amount of energy to reach this stage, and Vegeta was matching him blow for blow.

"I'll keep up as long as it takes," he replied.

Vegeta said nothing as he attacked, but his son had different plans. He blurred right before impact and reappeared below his father. Vegeta felt his son's energy and dodged a kick that was aimed at a very sensitive area. He never expected that! Then Trunks came again. He barreled into Vegeta, using his forearms as battering rams. Vegeta met him head-on, striking blow for blow. Experience was definitely a factor in this battle, which gave Vegeta the edge. Two swift kicks and a chop to the neck sent his son reeling. His father didn't let up, Trunks was assaulted from all angles by punches and high-speed kicks. He drew his energy into him and released it in a scream of rage and pain. The raw power and energy forced Vegeta back as it nearly blinded him. Now he was on the defensive as his son struck him, testing his defenses and making his hits count when he had the opportunity. Vegeta was stunned by the vicious assault. Wasting no time, Trunks brought his hands forth in the triangle pattern and screamed, sending his energy ball at his father at point-blank range! The explosion sent both fighters reeling. Vegeta landed hard, as did his son.

"You've got to stop them! They'll kill each other!" Lina pleaded to Gokuu.

Gokuu looked concerned at father and son, "We can't. This fight we have to wait out."

Lina entertained the thought of intervening, but thought better of it. Her magic was slowly returning, but she needed more time and a good night's rest. Reluctantly, she watched the fight.

Trunks was the first to stand. "Give up father. We don't need to continue this."

"Never!" Vegeta flew at his son, enraged. He tackled him and they went flying, exploding into the rubble that was the city. Loud thunderclaps were heard, as blows were struck that sent shockwave after shockwave throughout the area. The ground shook from a might blow, and trunks exploded into the air, his father, hot on his heels. Vegeta blurred and appeared above him, kicking him savagely. Trunks grunted as he fell back to the ground. The sound of his impact shattered whatever windows remained in the area. Vegeta brought his hands forth and yelled. "Final Flash!" The beam streamed toward the unmoving warrior who reacted at the last possible second. He blurred and appeared next to his father. The explosion of the blast however caused Lina to be flown off her feet; Gohan who didn't even seem to be paying any attention to her almost instantly caught her.

Trunks and Vegeta stared at each other for the briefest of seconds, then as one they attacked. Kicks and punches blurred as they did, moving, feinting, and trying to get the best advantage from one another. They struck each other simultaneously. Vegeta kneed his son in the stomach. Trunks punched his father square in the face. It was now a test of wills to see who would fall first. Gone was all pretense of defense. This was raw power and might. Endurance would be the deciding factor here. Punches and kicks landed as the spectators of the battle winced and grimaced at the savagery of the battle. Vegeta came in low and punched Trunks in his stomach, causing him to lose the air in his lungs. Vegeta capitalized and backhanded him down to the ground. Trunks landed with a sickening crunch! Vegeta lowered himself down to see his son struggle to stand. "You've lost, my son. Stand down and we can end this."

"Never," he coughed as he spat out blood. He stood now. "I won't quit. No matter. . . what!" He brought his hands together and struck his father using his clasped hands as a baseball bat. The blow struck him cleanly on the side of the head. Vegeta found himself eating stone and gravel about five feet underground.

Trunks backed away a few steps. "Get up father! Get up . . . Vegeta! We're not. . . cough. . . done yet!"

Vegeta got up slowly, gods did he hurt! His son was stronger than he imagined. That blow could've killed him! He smiled. Yes, his son still had his sayian pride! He wouldn't give up. He was too proud for that. Even when he faced death by his own father he met it as a true sayian. Trunks could barely stand, neither could Vegeta. They came at each other as one. Both punched each other in the face at the same time, their energy levels were dropping rapidly. The both reeled with the punch and came at each other with kicks. Vegeta hit high, while Trunks hit low. This time both combatants fell. Their energy spent, they involuntarily de-powered and passed out.

"That one way to end it," Lina remarked. They floated to the unconscious father and son. "Look," Lina exclaimed.

"What is it?" Gokuu asked.

"They're smiling," she remarked.

Sure enough, unconscious father and son both breathed slowly, but their faces both bore smiles.

"What's that about, Gokuu?" she asked.

"Sayian Pride, Lina. Sayian Pride."



Next: Valgav and Xelloss? What's going on now? The Unholy Alliance cometh next chapter!

This chapter's my favorite! I like getting into the head of the characters. This was an absolute joy! Next chapter should be up in a few days, barring unforeseen circumstances. Later! –Mezzic.