Chapter 9 - Showdown
Trunks wakes up drenched in cold sweat. He sees a pool of dried blood and notices he's facing the ground. He rises slowly to his feet.
Trunks: That dream…everything from it…is true.
He puts his hand in the pocket of his jacket and takes out the half of the medallion given to him by Zyxoiar.
Trunks: That's how I got this. But…how did I forget? (pauses for a moment) And how did I wake up? (scenes from the previous battle flash before him) She was right, these wings do heal.
He looks around now; the entire room resembles a huge amphitheatre with a roof. As he glances around, he notices someone laying a few hundred feet away.
Trunks: …Gohan?
He walks up to the unconscious figure, putting half of the charm in his left pants pocket this time.
Trunks: It is Gohan! And he's in bad shape.
He kneels down next to Gohan to examine the state of his body. His symptoms include: shallow breathes, blood coming out from where he has been severely burned, uncontrollable muscle spasms, and coming in and out of consciousness.
Trunks: But…I was shocked with the same device. How could he be in this much worse shape?! (looks at his wings) That's right! They can heal! Not only have they healed me, but they've also revived Krillen and even Gohan! But…how can I have them heal now? (he lifts up his hand and looks at his palm) I wonder if I can transfer the energy through my hand. I hope so…for Gohan's sake.
He widens his palm and, keeping a few inches of space between him and Gohan, places it near Gohan's left arm. His wings begin to spread out, and then illuminate. His palm starts to glow. Trunks stares at his new found talent. By some instinct, Trunks stops transferring energy to Gohan. His hand and wings begin to dim. He draws his hand back.
Trunks: How was I able to do that?! How did I know what to do?!
Gohan begins to stir.
Trunks (smiling): Good! It worked!
Gohan can now hear Trunks. He barely opens one eye. Everything is still blurred and slightly rocky. He opens his other. The mess of shades and colors begin to separate, showing distinguishable objects. He can barely make out Trunks.
Gohan (in a half-ached tone): T-Trunks?
Gohan opens both eyes a little wider, enabling the scenery to come into view; Trunks and a blur of white behind him. The blur condenses toward Trunks. Gohan sits straight up, wide-eyed, shocked and alert, turns on his hands and knees, and tries to get away from Trunks. He slips and falls on his face.
Trunks: Gohan. It's okay.
Gohan (turns himself around; breathing hard out of fear): You…are you…really…Trunks?
Trunks nods.
Gohan: Then…are those…real?
Trunks nods again.
Gohan: But… how?!
Clapping is heard from the shadows – underneath a balcony.
VOICE: That was a nice little show of talent you displayed – reviving your little friend like that. I want to know how you got them, too. (the person comes out of the shadows) But you two have a world to save.
Trunks looks over to the person perplexed, but Gohan manages to get himself together.
Gohan: Fujitsu!
Fujitsu: Yes. And Trunks, I am the one you've heard so much about. Too bad you didn't get to hear my little speech. I would repeat it for you, but with this Destroy-the-Universe thing in my head, I don't have the time.
Gohan: We don't have time messing around with a guy who thinks he can destroy the earth, either.
Fujitsu: Thinks?! You'd like that, huh? Can't wait 'til I kick your asses? I'll fight the both of you. But first, I have a friend I'd like you to meet.
A warp tile starts to glow. The being - much larger than anyone else in the stadium - looks like a seaman with huge finlike arms, and a long tail.
Fujitsu: When Awwal said he was the strongest fighter, he was wrong. Meet F-9463697, simply known as Windows, the most powerful warrior the Eastern Galaxy has to offer.
Gohan abruptly transforms, ready for combat. Trunks attempts to as he usually does routinely, but finds himself in his normal state.
Gohan: Why aren't you transforming, Trunks?
Trunks: I don't know. I can't right now. It's like something's holding me back.
Fujitsu: HAHAHAHA! What a pity. My heart's breaking. Okay, Windows, go kill them!
The young warriors jump into the air. Trunks still is trying to figure out why he can't transform. Windows jolts after the two, grabs a distracted Trunks by the leg and slams him into Gohan. Both fall toward the ground. Trunks grabs Gohan and flies to the other side of the arena before landing.
Windows shoots a beam at Gohan. The wave expands and wraps itself around Gohan's body, forming an ice block. Gohan crashes to the ground like a ton of bricks, in suspended animation. Trunks swoops down next to his friend.
Fujitsu: ICE?! (slaps Windows upside the back of his head) Boy, is that the best you can do?!
Windows: Master, this attack assures death. His body temperature will lower and his heartbeat, as well as his brainwaves, will drop. There's no way to stop this process, unless you kill his attacker.
Fujitsu: That is one of the crappiest plans I've heard of! (jumps back and puts his hands out in front) It takes too much time. Why did I even bother letting you fight?
The royal releases a forceful wave that goes through Window's heart and instantly disintegrates him. Window's spell reverses itself. The icy cube evaporates; Gohan drops to the ground violently shivering, holding himself, trying to keep warm.
Annoyed, Fujitsu grabs his cape and practically rips it off, revealing an interesting outfit, one that wouldn't normally be worn whilst fighting.
Gohan: Is that what you're going to wear?
Fujitsu: Don't let this stunning outfit fool you; I'm a very competent fighter. Now, bring it on, bitch.
Gohan charges at Fujitsu, attempting to land a well planned combination. Right before he starts, Fujitsu unexpectedly charges at the young warrior and delivers his own blend of attacks. Gohan escapes his path.
Trunks enters Fujitsu's path, landing a solitary spin kick before Fujitsu comes at him with a punch. The attempt failed. This triggers a chain reaction. The two fighters both go after the taller Fujitsu, trying to knock him down. After a few senseless minutes of not making any contact, the two regroup.
Gohan: He's not even attacking.
Trunks: Gohan, he's only being defensive. And he's attacking only one of us at a time.
Gohan: So we need to do something at the same time?
Trunks: Right.
They both continue their usual formation, only this time, try to confuse their opponent. Trunks and Gohan stop, each only two meters away from Fujitsu.
Gohan: Masenko!!
Trunks: Big Bang Attack!!
Fujitsu: Oh hell…
Gohan and Trunks fire their beams at the same time. The energy waves hit Fujitsu simultaneously, creating a small explosion in mid air. When the smoke clears, both find Fujitsu still in a defensive position, radiating a bright yellowish color. He lowers his arms and reveals his enraged face.
Fujitsu: Oh, now y'all just pissed me off! I'm gonna kill you both off right here, right now!!
Fujitsu swoops in for a landing. He starts to concentrate all of his energy into one space. Light starts to flood the arena. A huge stream of energy emerges from him, traveling fast and furiously to the two. Both barely manage to escape the wave's wrath and let it sail out through the roof.
---
Just above the
Erebus…
Chaozu: I finally made it.
He feels something of immense power coming for him and stops. "Where's that coming from?" he wonders and sees a beam blast a hole through the battle dome's roof coming straight for him.
---
Gohan: That beam's
going to hit Chaozu!
Trunks: What?!
Trunks looks up and sees the death ray heading straight for Chaozu and makes his way to save him. His thinking of how to save someone in this past timeline was all he needed to be able to transform. His hair and eyes change color just as he flies to help a comrade. The beam, ten times larger than Chaozu, draws fast and furiously. Trunks races the beam to Chaozu, making every fraction of a second count. It just about makes contact with Chaozu when Trunks grabs him and flies into the clear.
Chaozu tries to see his rescuer but instead is confronted with some lightly colored manifestation. Puzzled at this, he looks up and sees a transformed Trunks
Trunks: Hey, you're okay now.
Chaozu: I really messed things up. I came so I could help, not get killed.
Trunks: But you did help. I couldn't transform earlier, but when you were in trouble, I could.
Upon reentry to the Erebus, Trunks puts his ally down. Just before he rejoins the battle, Chaozu stops him.
Chaozu: I'm not seeing things, right? You really have wings, right?
Trunks: Yes I really do.
Chaozu: Oh, okay.
Now a Super Saiyan, Trunks effortlessly overpowers Fujitsu. With his increased power, he is able to kick and punch Fujitsu further across the arena. With his heightened speed, all of his movements appear as flashing lights to his opponent, as well as Gohan and Chaozu.
Trunks grabs Fujitsu, pulling one arm behind the dictator's back and securing his neck with another.
Trunks: You seem mortal enough. With one quick jerk, you'll be dead.
Fujitsu: Foolish sub-Saiyan! I don't give a rat's ass!
Trunks: This is for you, Zya.
Footsteps of someone walking on the balcony now thunder in the Erebus. Trunks immediately stops what he is doing and unwillingly returns to an untransformed state.
Gohan: What's wrong, Trunks?
Trunks: I-I think I know that person…
The figure steps out onto the balcony with shadows still concealing the person's identity.
VOICE: Fujitsu, you fool. Why did you think you could take on two of the strongest warriors by yourself?
Fujitsu releases himself from Trunks' loosened grip and thrusts his elbow into Trunks' abdomen, stunning him long enough to buy some time. He kneels down on one knee with one arm across his chest and head bowed.
Fujitsu: Forgive me, My Liege. I was merely proving myself worthy to you.
VOICE: That wasn't necessary. You could have notified the others of this little strife you've put together, or at least me.
Fujitsu: The others have been notified, My Liege. They are in different sectors fighting as we speak.
The walls of the Erebus begin to descend downward. The capsule covering the arena opens up from the center and divides itself into spear-like triangles. Sections to the now disassembled top point upward before sink in the same manner as the sides. A segment of the Solstice parallel to the balcony also starts to sink into the ground, providing an entrance to what used to be the Erebus.
VOICE: Then I'll just have to show them all what I can do. Make yourself useful – finish everyone else off.
Fujitsu (standing up at attention): But My Liege, my fighters have almost done away with the others.
VOICE: Need I repeat myself?
Fujitsu (hangs his head down): It will be done, My Liege. (walks toward the exit under the balcony)
Light from the synthetic moon starts to pour into the opening revealing some of the figure. A hooded cloak covers most of the person's body.
Trunks (startled): Is it…? (raising his voice in effort to carry it far enough for the person to hear him): Is your name Zyxoiar?
The unidentified person looks to see who spoke and points to Trunks
PERSON: You, in the jacket! You look familiar. Have we met?
Trunks flies up to the veranda whilst staying along the outside of the railing.
Trunks: Zyxoiar. It's me, Trunks. Don't you remember?
PERSON: You must have me mistaken for someone else. I don't recall ever meeting anyone with that name…wait a minute…
The mysterious person takes her right hand and, with her fingers, starts to glide her fingers tenderly down his startled face - from his forehead, along his cheekbone, and down his strong jaw to his chin.
PERSON: You do look a little familiar… and kinda handsome…
The form draws her hand back a little, opens it up to make all her fingers visible, and smacks Trunks clear across the face. Then she jumps on top of the balcony's railing
PERSON: --but I'm already taken. Still, I want you and your little friends down there to wait for me.
The figure vaults past Trunks and into the air. Two large, dark entities make themselves visible just before they vanish, taking the person with them. A trail of fiercely blowing and howling winds follow the figure. Trunks, confused, floats down to Chaozu and Gohan.
Chaozu: Trunks?
Gohan: Who is she?
Trunks: I don't know anymore…