TITLE: Price of Redemption
AUTHOR: Echo the Nymph
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the show.
Chapter 17
Months had passed since the horrific battle they fought. A miracle had occurred that night and now, Chichi held the result in her arms. She's so innocent. Happily, she continued to gaze into her baby girl's face.
Goku lifted the child from her mother's arms. "You know we have to go now."
She rose to her feet, knowing why her mate was being so insistent. It wasn't often that the Z senshi could come together because of the response other powers might give. "Gohan, Goten, come on!" She called, lifting a bag from next to her chair.
They came downstairs in a flurry of color. Together they left the house and took to the clear blue sky. During the flight, Goku gently held his daughter, Maki, in his arms sheltering her from the wind of flight.
~
Ardin sighed. He was alone now, as he had been in the beginning. They have their hopes among mortals; made their homes among them, a place I cannot go. He turned his attention back to the last operable scrying bowl. Deirdre had left it running for him so he could see those he thought of as children in the mortal world. And the sight that met his gaze reminded him of when he first realized he wasn't alone. The Z senshi are so happy. It is enough to make me wish that peace would last for all eternity. His tail hung limply, showing how exhausted he was. An exhaustion that he had never felt before was seeping into the very core of his being.
The only light in the citadel came now from the bowl, and was beginning to grow dim.
The children... Little Terra, daughter of Bardock, played with Maki. Even when so young, they were mischievous. Together they toppled the young prince over. Finally, Ardin could stand no more. He turned away from the scene, causing it to vanish from the bowl. The light grew dimmer than it had been before as he rose to his feet and wearily walked the halls.
Ardin could feel the pull of the afterlife, one that promised bliss and rest. A place where all his worries would be ended. The god wandered into a room that he had shared with his goddess wife. She had been among the first victims when the Ice-jins had come to power. And still, there was so much of her in this room, it brought back memories that had been painful when he was younger. Ardin lay on the bed, pulling the blankets over himself. The last of an old life force that was supposedly immortal left him. His body slowly faded away, leaving the citadel empty, a testament to the saiya-jins that hadn't a chance.
~
Cora flinched and placed a hand over her swollen abdomen. "This is so unusual." She glanced over to her sister-in-law. "Aria, did you feel odd your first time?"
Chichi smiled, understanding her fellow goddess's confusion. "Don't worry about it. It only felt unusual when I was tense. Relax, Cora, you'll be fine."
Cora smiled as well, following the advise of her fellow goddess. I'm not used to this, but she is right. Relaxing helps.
"Maki, don't!" Chichi cried, picking her daughter up quickly. "Don't you go crawling off, you little imp." Maki cooed, causing her mother to smile once again. Goku approached them and wrapped his arms around his mate.
"A little too energetic, ne?" He chuckled, reaching up with one hand to tickle his daughter. Soft laughter floated through the air, laughter of a happy baby.
Raditz came up behind Cora, wrapping his arms around her. She leaned back into his embrace happily. Our child will be fine. This is the best world for the rebirth of our people. No longer did she feel cold or alone. All six remaining goddesses had found their mates and were playing their part in the survival of the race.
Krillin glanced up, sensing the powers of recently arrived saiya-jins. "Goku, this is very unusual. They keep appearing out of nowhere."
Goku held in a chuckle. "We'll get used to having more powerful people around. As long as their ki is not feeling angered or dark, don't worry."
His friend nodded, attempting to relax. None of the saiya-jins were going to harm the planet. If anything, they would give their lives to defend it. All were aware of the consequences of actions they could take.
But only with slightly over five hundred of them, they knew their future could be bleak. Yet, there was no need to worry. Those who had vanished during the days of innocence would come and their race would survive.
Chichi rocked Maki gently, keeping her from crying. A peaceful scene to anyone who would be observing. A peace that was hard-won and would be defended to be preserved. And that duty was now on them.
AUTHOR: Echo the Nymph
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the show.
Chapter 17
Months had passed since the horrific battle they fought. A miracle had occurred that night and now, Chichi held the result in her arms. She's so innocent. Happily, she continued to gaze into her baby girl's face.
Goku lifted the child from her mother's arms. "You know we have to go now."
She rose to her feet, knowing why her mate was being so insistent. It wasn't often that the Z senshi could come together because of the response other powers might give. "Gohan, Goten, come on!" She called, lifting a bag from next to her chair.
They came downstairs in a flurry of color. Together they left the house and took to the clear blue sky. During the flight, Goku gently held his daughter, Maki, in his arms sheltering her from the wind of flight.
~
Ardin sighed. He was alone now, as he had been in the beginning. They have their hopes among mortals; made their homes among them, a place I cannot go. He turned his attention back to the last operable scrying bowl. Deirdre had left it running for him so he could see those he thought of as children in the mortal world. And the sight that met his gaze reminded him of when he first realized he wasn't alone. The Z senshi are so happy. It is enough to make me wish that peace would last for all eternity. His tail hung limply, showing how exhausted he was. An exhaustion that he had never felt before was seeping into the very core of his being.
The only light in the citadel came now from the bowl, and was beginning to grow dim.
The children... Little Terra, daughter of Bardock, played with Maki. Even when so young, they were mischievous. Together they toppled the young prince over. Finally, Ardin could stand no more. He turned away from the scene, causing it to vanish from the bowl. The light grew dimmer than it had been before as he rose to his feet and wearily walked the halls.
Ardin could feel the pull of the afterlife, one that promised bliss and rest. A place where all his worries would be ended. The god wandered into a room that he had shared with his goddess wife. She had been among the first victims when the Ice-jins had come to power. And still, there was so much of her in this room, it brought back memories that had been painful when he was younger. Ardin lay on the bed, pulling the blankets over himself. The last of an old life force that was supposedly immortal left him. His body slowly faded away, leaving the citadel empty, a testament to the saiya-jins that hadn't a chance.
~
Cora flinched and placed a hand over her swollen abdomen. "This is so unusual." She glanced over to her sister-in-law. "Aria, did you feel odd your first time?"
Chichi smiled, understanding her fellow goddess's confusion. "Don't worry about it. It only felt unusual when I was tense. Relax, Cora, you'll be fine."
Cora smiled as well, following the advise of her fellow goddess. I'm not used to this, but she is right. Relaxing helps.
"Maki, don't!" Chichi cried, picking her daughter up quickly. "Don't you go crawling off, you little imp." Maki cooed, causing her mother to smile once again. Goku approached them and wrapped his arms around his mate.
"A little too energetic, ne?" He chuckled, reaching up with one hand to tickle his daughter. Soft laughter floated through the air, laughter of a happy baby.
Raditz came up behind Cora, wrapping his arms around her. She leaned back into his embrace happily. Our child will be fine. This is the best world for the rebirth of our people. No longer did she feel cold or alone. All six remaining goddesses had found their mates and were playing their part in the survival of the race.
Krillin glanced up, sensing the powers of recently arrived saiya-jins. "Goku, this is very unusual. They keep appearing out of nowhere."
Goku held in a chuckle. "We'll get used to having more powerful people around. As long as their ki is not feeling angered or dark, don't worry."
His friend nodded, attempting to relax. None of the saiya-jins were going to harm the planet. If anything, they would give their lives to defend it. All were aware of the consequences of actions they could take.
But only with slightly over five hundred of them, they knew their future could be bleak. Yet, there was no need to worry. Those who had vanished during the days of innocence would come and their race would survive.
Chichi rocked Maki gently, keeping her from crying. A peaceful scene to anyone who would be observing. A peace that was hard-won and would be defended to be preserved. And that duty was now on them.