THE TIME TRAVELLING ADVENTURES OF THE NEXT GEN DB GANG, AND #17
Since I haven't updated this fic since forever, here's a short summary of the story so far:
This story began 3 years after the end of DBZ. Son Gohan, a scholar, was working on an experimental time travel device when it accidentally transported Trunks, Goten, Marron, Pan, Bra and #17 to Mirai Trunks' world. Fortunately for them, Mirai Bulma was able to construct a similar machine to take them home, but they ended up in a different timeline instead: one where #17 and #18 were superstars, Bulma never married Vegeta, and Tenshinhan married Lunch and worked as #18's bodyguard, among other things. Back in their own timeline, their parents tried to wish them back using the Dragonballs. Unfortunately, an encounter with Pilaf prevented them from making their wish. And in Mirai Trunks' timeline, something strange happened after Trunks and co. left, which had something to do with the time portal Mirai Bulma had constructed for them. Mirai Bulma was on her own to find the solution to Trunks' disappearence, until a new assistant arrived - who was still pondering whether she should take the job. Back again to the original timeline, Pilaf's wich was granted instead, and he became the King of Earth. What will he do now?
Chapter 27: Emperor Pilaf's Reign of Terror
Back in the original world, life went on as usual. There was a revolution going on, but it was quiet and bloodless, and the people of Earth never even noticed. The only person to whom all this nightmare seemed very real indeed was the former King of Earth. A second before he was still the King, and Earth was peaceful and prosperous, and the next thing he knew, he wasn't the King anymore.
A little blue imp had marched into the Royal Palace, accompanied by a dog-man and a black-haired woman. The blue imp who declared himself as Pilaf, the new emperor of Earth, commanded the royal palace guards to throw the old king out. And as though it was the most natural thing in the world, they snatched him away from the throne and threw him into the streets. How could they do this, the royal guards who had sworn to give their lives to protect their king? "You're not the King. Emperor Pilaf is," one of the guards said to him, and it all becomes clear. He wasn't the king. Pilaf was. But how did it happen? Wasn't he king just a minute ago? But it was true, and he knew it, could feel it in his heart. He wasn't the king anymore. Pilaf was. He was a nobody now, without a kingdom, or even a home.
The early morning chill blew in his direction, bringing with it the smells of the dark streets, and he shivered. Suddenly the world felt very harsh, where previously everything was all nice and cosy. But there was nothing else for him to do except to live like all the commoners. This was his life now.
***
Meanwhile in Capsule Corporation, Western Capitol, a certain prince was not in a very good mood. He's already blown off all the robots (including the domestic ones) and busted the gravity room, but he still didn't feel any better. Right after their encounter with Pilaf, Bulma immediately locked herself in her lab and refused to see anybody but Gohan. Vegeta understood that his wife was trying to find a way to get the children and android back, and he knew that she didn't like to be disturbed when she worked. But what bothered him was that their children were lost in some unknown universe and he couldn't do anything to help her. Normally at times like this, he'd vent his frustrations on Trunks, but of course Trunks wasn't around. He was lost in some unknown universe, along with Bra and the others. Vegeta fervently hoped that Bulma was right when she said that all six of them would most likely be together instead of being separated in different universes. He wouldn't admit it, but he was worried about them, especially Bra.
Vegeta paced around the Capsule Corporation compound. He hated this feeling of helplessness. The quietness of the night further infuriated him. He glanced at the wall clock. It was a little after three in the morning. Bulma had been in her lab for over fifteen hours straight now. To hell with what Bulma says, Vegeta thought. 'I'll make sure she doesn't work herself to death in there.' He kicked in the lab door.
True to his guessing, Bulma was annoyed (to say the least) at the interference.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" she yelled at him. "Look at the door! Now I'll have to have repair it, on top of all this work--"
"And if you don't stop now, I'll blast that too." Vegeta aimed his ki-glowing hand at Bulma's cluttered working table.
"What?!!" Bulma's couldn't believe what she just heard. "How dare you.. I'm trying to get your children back here, or don't you care?!" she started to rant.
"Of course I do," Vegeta snatched her hand and pulled her close to him. "I care about you too." It was rare that the proud prince would admit such a thing. But right now, in the privacy of his own home and no one around but his wife, he freely admitted it. And the best way to make her listen is to surprise her with something unexpected, like expressing his affection for her *in words*. True enough, she shut up, and he lectured her instead. "Look at you. If you don't start looking after yourself, you really will look like an old woman." His gaze shifted for a while, disapprovingly, to the coffee mug and ashtray full of cigarette butts belonging to his wife.
Bulma bristled at the old woman remark. She knew he was right, but in moments of stress, she would inadvertently start smoking and drinking copious amounts of coffee. "Now get some sleep, or do I have to make you?" Vegeta threatened.
"But the children...," Bulma's voice trailed. "I can't rest anyway until they're here safe and sound."
"They'll be fine. Trunks can take care of them all until you find a way to get them home. You did say that they're most likely together wherever they are, and I believe you," Vegeta's hand started to massage Bulma's shoulder, and moving down o carress her back. Bulma, who had by now slumped her head over his shoulder, closed her eyes and relaxed. Right now, having his hands on her skin felt so good, as was having his confidence on her scientific talents. She smiled contentedly. She hadn't realised until then how tired she was. Maybe she should take some rest now, and resume her work in the morning. In response to his touches, her hands had started to roam too. "I'll go to bed," she whispered, "provided you come with me." Vegeta smirked. "I'll make sure you get a very restful sleep," he assured her.
But it was not to be. The couple suddenly found their house surrounded by the army, with heavy machinery and weaponry. A voice called out from a loudspeaker from a helicopter hovering above the Capsule Corp. building. "Attention Mr.Vegeta, so-called Prince of Vegitasei! You are hereby charged with high treason and I arrest you in the name of Emperor Pilaf, King of Earth."
***
Elsewhere on Earth, Emperor Pilaf's tyranny began to unleash. New laws were enacted without the people's consent, and if one dared to defy it, the punishment was harsh. By nine o'clock at night everybody must be in bed. Failure to comply would be punishable by a 1 year jail term. If you weren't properly dressed in your jammies for bedtime, it's another year in jail. Failure to brush your teeth before bed, and it's another year, plus flogging.
Everywhere on Earth, the people panicked, and they suffered under these ridiculous laws. Only those who were in the remotest parts of Earth were spared. Somewhere, in a remote alpine cabin, Kuririn and #18 lay in each other's arms, blissfully oblivious to everything that's been happening for the past few days. In another remote corner of Earth, Son Goku cheerfully trains Uub, confident in the abilities of Bulma and Gohan in bringing the lost children and android back, and also unaware of the new government. Elsewhere, somebody was not so lucky. Yamucha had been arrested for staying up way past the national bedtime in a (previously legal, but not anymore) nightclub and was sentenced to three years of jail, plus flogging. (He wasn't in bed by nine, and he wasn't in his jammies, and he hadn't brushed his teeth. That was Pilaf's logic.) Yamucha cursed at the new law, but that only got him another extra year in jail.
Poor people of Earth. Who will save them now?
Next: ...Well, I haven't gotten that far yet. The next update will certainly not be so soon. I'm not exactly very satisfied with this chapter either, so please do send your comments. On another note, I'm thinking of changing the title of the whole story into something simpler than "The Time-travelling Adventure of the Next Gen DB Gang, and #17". Suggestions, anyone?
Thanks to all who still read my fics and are patiently waiting for updates.
Since I haven't updated this fic since forever, here's a short summary of the story so far:
This story began 3 years after the end of DBZ. Son Gohan, a scholar, was working on an experimental time travel device when it accidentally transported Trunks, Goten, Marron, Pan, Bra and #17 to Mirai Trunks' world. Fortunately for them, Mirai Bulma was able to construct a similar machine to take them home, but they ended up in a different timeline instead: one where #17 and #18 were superstars, Bulma never married Vegeta, and Tenshinhan married Lunch and worked as #18's bodyguard, among other things. Back in their own timeline, their parents tried to wish them back using the Dragonballs. Unfortunately, an encounter with Pilaf prevented them from making their wish. And in Mirai Trunks' timeline, something strange happened after Trunks and co. left, which had something to do with the time portal Mirai Bulma had constructed for them. Mirai Bulma was on her own to find the solution to Trunks' disappearence, until a new assistant arrived - who was still pondering whether she should take the job. Back again to the original timeline, Pilaf's wich was granted instead, and he became the King of Earth. What will he do now?
Chapter 27: Emperor Pilaf's Reign of Terror
Back in the original world, life went on as usual. There was a revolution going on, but it was quiet and bloodless, and the people of Earth never even noticed. The only person to whom all this nightmare seemed very real indeed was the former King of Earth. A second before he was still the King, and Earth was peaceful and prosperous, and the next thing he knew, he wasn't the King anymore.
A little blue imp had marched into the Royal Palace, accompanied by a dog-man and a black-haired woman. The blue imp who declared himself as Pilaf, the new emperor of Earth, commanded the royal palace guards to throw the old king out. And as though it was the most natural thing in the world, they snatched him away from the throne and threw him into the streets. How could they do this, the royal guards who had sworn to give their lives to protect their king? "You're not the King. Emperor Pilaf is," one of the guards said to him, and it all becomes clear. He wasn't the king. Pilaf was. But how did it happen? Wasn't he king just a minute ago? But it was true, and he knew it, could feel it in his heart. He wasn't the king anymore. Pilaf was. He was a nobody now, without a kingdom, or even a home.
The early morning chill blew in his direction, bringing with it the smells of the dark streets, and he shivered. Suddenly the world felt very harsh, where previously everything was all nice and cosy. But there was nothing else for him to do except to live like all the commoners. This was his life now.
***
Meanwhile in Capsule Corporation, Western Capitol, a certain prince was not in a very good mood. He's already blown off all the robots (including the domestic ones) and busted the gravity room, but he still didn't feel any better. Right after their encounter with Pilaf, Bulma immediately locked herself in her lab and refused to see anybody but Gohan. Vegeta understood that his wife was trying to find a way to get the children and android back, and he knew that she didn't like to be disturbed when she worked. But what bothered him was that their children were lost in some unknown universe and he couldn't do anything to help her. Normally at times like this, he'd vent his frustrations on Trunks, but of course Trunks wasn't around. He was lost in some unknown universe, along with Bra and the others. Vegeta fervently hoped that Bulma was right when she said that all six of them would most likely be together instead of being separated in different universes. He wouldn't admit it, but he was worried about them, especially Bra.
Vegeta paced around the Capsule Corporation compound. He hated this feeling of helplessness. The quietness of the night further infuriated him. He glanced at the wall clock. It was a little after three in the morning. Bulma had been in her lab for over fifteen hours straight now. To hell with what Bulma says, Vegeta thought. 'I'll make sure she doesn't work herself to death in there.' He kicked in the lab door.
True to his guessing, Bulma was annoyed (to say the least) at the interference.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" she yelled at him. "Look at the door! Now I'll have to have repair it, on top of all this work--"
"And if you don't stop now, I'll blast that too." Vegeta aimed his ki-glowing hand at Bulma's cluttered working table.
"What?!!" Bulma's couldn't believe what she just heard. "How dare you.. I'm trying to get your children back here, or don't you care?!" she started to rant.
"Of course I do," Vegeta snatched her hand and pulled her close to him. "I care about you too." It was rare that the proud prince would admit such a thing. But right now, in the privacy of his own home and no one around but his wife, he freely admitted it. And the best way to make her listen is to surprise her with something unexpected, like expressing his affection for her *in words*. True enough, she shut up, and he lectured her instead. "Look at you. If you don't start looking after yourself, you really will look like an old woman." His gaze shifted for a while, disapprovingly, to the coffee mug and ashtray full of cigarette butts belonging to his wife.
Bulma bristled at the old woman remark. She knew he was right, but in moments of stress, she would inadvertently start smoking and drinking copious amounts of coffee. "Now get some sleep, or do I have to make you?" Vegeta threatened.
"But the children...," Bulma's voice trailed. "I can't rest anyway until they're here safe and sound."
"They'll be fine. Trunks can take care of them all until you find a way to get them home. You did say that they're most likely together wherever they are, and I believe you," Vegeta's hand started to massage Bulma's shoulder, and moving down o carress her back. Bulma, who had by now slumped her head over his shoulder, closed her eyes and relaxed. Right now, having his hands on her skin felt so good, as was having his confidence on her scientific talents. She smiled contentedly. She hadn't realised until then how tired she was. Maybe she should take some rest now, and resume her work in the morning. In response to his touches, her hands had started to roam too. "I'll go to bed," she whispered, "provided you come with me." Vegeta smirked. "I'll make sure you get a very restful sleep," he assured her.
But it was not to be. The couple suddenly found their house surrounded by the army, with heavy machinery and weaponry. A voice called out from a loudspeaker from a helicopter hovering above the Capsule Corp. building. "Attention Mr.Vegeta, so-called Prince of Vegitasei! You are hereby charged with high treason and I arrest you in the name of Emperor Pilaf, King of Earth."
***
Elsewhere on Earth, Emperor Pilaf's tyranny began to unleash. New laws were enacted without the people's consent, and if one dared to defy it, the punishment was harsh. By nine o'clock at night everybody must be in bed. Failure to comply would be punishable by a 1 year jail term. If you weren't properly dressed in your jammies for bedtime, it's another year in jail. Failure to brush your teeth before bed, and it's another year, plus flogging.
Everywhere on Earth, the people panicked, and they suffered under these ridiculous laws. Only those who were in the remotest parts of Earth were spared. Somewhere, in a remote alpine cabin, Kuririn and #18 lay in each other's arms, blissfully oblivious to everything that's been happening for the past few days. In another remote corner of Earth, Son Goku cheerfully trains Uub, confident in the abilities of Bulma and Gohan in bringing the lost children and android back, and also unaware of the new government. Elsewhere, somebody was not so lucky. Yamucha had been arrested for staying up way past the national bedtime in a (previously legal, but not anymore) nightclub and was sentenced to three years of jail, plus flogging. (He wasn't in bed by nine, and he wasn't in his jammies, and he hadn't brushed his teeth. That was Pilaf's logic.) Yamucha cursed at the new law, but that only got him another extra year in jail.
Poor people of Earth. Who will save them now?
Next: ...Well, I haven't gotten that far yet. The next update will certainly not be so soon. I'm not exactly very satisfied with this chapter either, so please do send your comments. On another note, I'm thinking of changing the title of the whole story into something simpler than "The Time-travelling Adventure of the Next Gen DB Gang, and #17". Suggestions, anyone?
Thanks to all who still read my fics and are patiently waiting for updates.