A/N: In case you are wondering… Yes Goten and Trunks have formed their own special bond. It occurred on Goten's 14th birthday. That was what signaled Vil'Tani that Goten may become receptive to her and bond with her at any time.
A/N: Alright, this will be the final chapter (before epilogue) and boy will it be a BIG one. I think we all deserve a huge grand slam of a chapter to finish things off eh?
A/N: One thing about Vohdan… She's a he and he's a she. Both she and he apply to that being, so don't get confused when I use both. Gotenks is a he because both Goten and Trunks are male; Vohdan is a he and a she because Gohan and Videl are male and female. Vohdan is both male and female at the same time. One thing, a fusion between male and female gains more then just a power increase. A guy thinks 1 way, a female thinks another. Men excel in brute strength and endurance (on average) while females excel in speed, agility and dexterity (on average). Well a fusion (by dbz definition) takes the best of both worlds, and so does mine. Vohdan, because it consists of both a male and a female, gains the best of both worlds. Also being able to look at any and every situation in 2 different lights at the same time gives them an advantage, a very big advantage.
A/N: Oh god… I just did something… *Marks this chapter as pure angst* Man I'm going to have people all over my ass for this chapter!
A/N: Thanks SSJ-ChibiGoten for editing this chapter, we got over our difficulties… once I managed to swallow my pride enough to realize that it doesn't really matter.
Chapter 22: Love Knows No Boundaries
Goten stared at the planet in horror as it started to crack and break apart as energy rippled out from the interior. Suddenly everyone around him began to scream drawing his attention away from the viewing screen. To Goten's horror all the Cerians in the control center rose to their tip toes and screamed before suddenly they shuddered and fell to the floor dead. Suddenly Goten felt something change and he quickly turned to look at Vil'Tani.
To his horror he saw the love of his life crumpled into a heap on the floor by his feet. Goten quickly knelt and gently propped her up against him.
Goten brushed her hair out of her face and called to her, "Vil… Vil… wake up please, you have to be alive." Goten said, panic started to well up in his throat. There was no response, not even a twitch of a finger. "God no… this can't be happening… why…" Goten said in a broken voice. "I can't lose you… not so soon after joining with you…" He whispered as bowed his head and wept.
A bright flash flooded the command center with light for a moment which was soon followed by the thumps of planetary debris hitting the outpost.
Goten slowly lifted his head and glared at the viewing screen with feral rage. The object of his undulating rage was transforming in the center of the screen, Arthain. Goten gently laid Vil'Tani down and slowly stood with his head bowed. When he raised his head tears of blood were streaming down his face as his face twisted into rage. Goten flashed forward and blasted threw the viewing screen, several doors and hallways and then the outer star base wall. Emergency doors closed to stop the leak of oxygen that Goten's hasty exit had created.
Goten glared at the light in the distance as rage began to pour off him in the form of energy. Goten's head slowly bent down reluctantly as if a great pressure was being exerted upon him and he began to scream. It was soundless due to the lack of particles in space but the waves of force that were rippling out from his body were more then enough to determine what was happening. Goten arched back suddenly and screamed even harder as tears of blood dripped down either side of his face. With a massive outburst of energy Goten exploded into evolution. Massive shockwaves rippled out from Goten; only to be enveloped but even greater ones that rippled out from Arthain.
Goten stared at Arthain in rage and was about to blast towards him when suddenly he stopped. The rage drained from him and was soon replaced with fear as Arthain completed his evolution. The very fabric of reality tore around Arthain as he roared in rage and agony. Tendrils of red energy lashed out across space striking anything within distance. After what seemed like an eternity to Goten, Arthain stopped roaring.
A slight movement was all the warning Goten received before Arthain appeared before him. A sphere surrounded the two, a sphere filled with oxygen and nitrogen. Goten backed away, fear rolling off him in droves. If Arthain had been terrifyingly powerful before, words couldn't describe what he had become. Aerie had been a being of pure cyan energy; Arthain was a being of pure blood red energy. Arthain had transformed into a thirty foot replicate of himself, created out of blood red energy. Hundreds of tendrils of energy snaked out from his back, many of which wrapped themselves around his body to serve as his clothing. The others whipped and lashed out around him seemingly out of control but Arthain knew what he was doing. Swirls of cyan energy filled the holes where his eyes should have been and little tendrils of cyan energy could be seen from time to time throughout his body. Arthain still possessed his long flowing hair that had signified his evolutionary stage, but now it was consisted of the same energy that made up the rest of his body.
Arthain grinned, he enjoyed the fear that Goten was exhibiting but he wasn't here to hurt him, on the contrary, he was here to help him.
Goten was startled when he heard a voice in his head, GOTEN. YOU WILL NOT DIE HERE. I AM HERE TO… HELP YOU.
'What… here to help me?' Goten thought, No way… I…
Arthain laughed, DO NOT FEAR ME GOTEN. I AM NOT WHAT YOU THINK, NOR HAVE I DONE THE THINGS I HAVE FOR THE REASONS YOU MAY BELIEVE. YOU HAD BETTER LISTEN BECAUSE I WON'T SAY ANY OF THIS AGAIN. IT IS UP TO YOU AND YOUR RACE TO STOP ME AND AERIE.
Needless to say Goten was shocked. Arthain wants us to defeat him and Aerie? Suddenly everything became muddled to Goten. He no longer knew what was going on. Wasn't Aerie the enemy and Arthain on our side? But no wait Arthain killed so many people and became the enemy and yet he wants us to kill him? What's going on…?
Arthain smiled, flew closer to Goten and lowered himself to look Goten in the eyes. VIL'TANI WILL NEED YOU NOW MORE THEN EVER GOTEN. GO TO HER AND BRING HER BACK. SHE NEEDS A GUIDE AND YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN PROVIDE IT. ONCE THEY ARE ONE A PORTAL WILL OPEN TO TAKE YOU TO PLANET VEGETA. DO NOT DELAY IT WILL NOT REMAIN OPEN FOR LONG. FAREWELL YOUNG SAIYAN… AND TAKE THIS WITH YOU ON YOUR WAY BACK… SOMEONE OR SOMETHING MUST REPLACE WHAT I HAVE TAKEN! Arthain said telepathically to Goten and proceeded to float back a little ways. He winked once before he took off. Reality warped and twisted around him as he flew towards the spot where everything ended and began.
Goten stood there shocked for a moment before he remembered something Arthain had said. Suddenly Goten was blasting away once more, but this time towards the star base. He slammed through the walls once more heedless of the destruction he caused. He only wanted to get to Vil'Tani as fast as possible. Once inside the command center Goten rushed to Vil'Tani's side and picked her up again. It was then that Goten noticed something. He could still feel Vil'Tani, through the bond. She was just far away.
Vil… VIL…! Please… come back to me… VIL! Goten wrapped the bond up with his life force and strengthened it as he pumped his own energy through it, to light the way home. Abruptly Goten felt a tug on his life force, as if it connected with something. Goten concentrated and -although couldn't for the life of him understand what he did afterwards- pulled Vil'Tani back. He grappled his life force around Vil'Tani's spirit and retracted it. He pulled his life force back into his own body, dragging Vil'Tani with it. Goten felt his love return to the star base at a rapid rate but he couldn't celebrate just yet, he still had to get her back into her body and he had no clue how. What happened next occurred on pure impulse. Like his previous move he had no idea how he did it or why he did, he just went through with it. Goten redirected the returning life force through Vil'Tani's body and then into his own.
It was almost an hour later when he felt Vil'Tani's spirit re-enter her body along with the bulk of the life force he had sent out along the bond he stopped pulling it in. He wasn't sure what was supposed to happen next. He had found his love; brought her back to her body but he had no idea what to do next. The unknown thoughts and techniques that had suddenly appeared in his mind before weren't appearing anymore.
Come on Vil… please… do something… come back… Goten pleaded silently to his love. Goten was beginning to feel the pangs of despair. The thought of losing her after coming so close to being with her once again was almost too much for Goten to bear.
Suddenly Vil'Tani's spirit kicked and buckled making Goten's eyes widen in fear for a second before he felt their bond return in full force. A smile creased his face as relief flooded every pour of his being. Vil'Tani's eyes flickered and slowly opened making Goten's face fully bloom. Goten embraced his love as if he never wanted to let go. Vil'Tani looked around in confusion before she turned to look at Goten.
"Go-Goten…" She said, her voice cracking like she was dying of thirst, "Wh-What happened… I should be… dead… I felt myself die…" Vil'Tani whispered.
Goten smiled down at her, "I don't know… Arthain told me you needed me and that I was the only one who could save you. I didn't know how to save you but… these ideas and thoughts kept appearing inside my head and I grasped onto them, hoping against hope that it would work… and it did. You're back… Oh Vil…" Goten said happily and kissed her soundly.
Vil'Tani was surprised at Goten's words but she soon let them drop as she kissed him back in full. When they broke apart Vil'Tani smiled up at him.
"I don't know how I am alive… I'm just glad I am…" Suddenly Vil'Tani's eyes widened in fear for a second before it fled.
"What was that…." Goten started to ask.
Vil'Tani just shook her head, "Oh nothing… I was just worried about our children but they are safe. I can still feel them inside me." Vil'Tani answered.
Goten looked down at her stomach then back up at her eyes and smiled in relief, "That's good to hear… Although making them again would be fun… I'd rather keep these ones." Goten said.
Vil'Tani smiled and nodded, "Same here." She whispered, "I think we should get out of here… but how?"
Goten frowned, "Arthain said when this was all done a portal would open to take us to planet Vegeta but… I don't see any portal or…" Goten's eyes widened, "Perhaps something else must happen first…" He wondered aloud.
Vil'Tani struggled to stand, still weak from her out of body experience. Goten stood with her letting her lean upon his shoulder for support. When the two were erect Vil'Tani looked around and sadness filled her eyes.
"I can't believe it… everyone… everyone else is dead." She said, trying to choke back a sob, "Mother… father… everyone…" Vil'Tani trailed off…
Goten wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly as she buried her head into his chest and wept for her family, friends and race. Goten rubbed hand up and down her back as he ran the other through her hair.
"I know no words will ever ease the pain Vil… but if it's any consolation… I'll be here for you forever." Goten whispered.
Vil'Tani wrapped her arms around Goten and gripped him tightly. The two held onto each other like their lives depended upon it, and in a way it did. Time seemed to slow as Vil'Tani wept the pain she felt out of her system.
After several minutes of crying Vil'Tani looked up from Goten's tear stained shirt. A small smile lit her face as she looked Goten in the eyes, "I'm so glad to have met you Goten. If you hadn't entered my life… I… you are perfect, everything I could have ever hoped for in the person I am to spend the rest of my life with." She finished.
Goten laughed a little at that, "Come on Vil… I'm not that perfect you know." Goten said modestly.
Vil'Tani giggled a little, "I know… but the flaws are what make you real. If you were truly perfect, you would not exist. You're as perfect as they come, at least to me you are." Vil'Tani said as she tightened her grip on Goten.
Goten smiled and kissed her, "I could say the same for you. I could wish your temper was a little less violent but I guess I'm stuck with the good and the bad." Goten said helplessly.
Vil'Tani frowned, "Hey! Take that back!" She said as she lightly punched Goten in the side.
Goten laughed and was soon joined by Vil'Tani. The laughter helped to ease the pain and heal the scars. The wounds they had both suffered that day would never heal but with time, they will ease and get better. They will fade more and more until they are just a memory, an awful memory, but only a memory.
Vil'Tani was the first to stop laughing. She looked up at Goten with tears in her eyes, but this time they were tears of joy. She opened her mouth to speak when suddenly she went rigid, her mouth still open wide.
Goten instantly feared the worst, "Vil… Vil what's wrong?" Goten asked worriedly.
Vil'Tani only said four words, "They… followed me… back…" Vil'Tani whispered and the she began to scream, but not in pain.
A shockwave rippled out from Vil'Tani that decimated the command center. A second shockwave rippled out from Vil'Tani, and then a third. More and more began to ripple outwards until there were hundreds and thousands of shockwaves emanating out from her every second. The Cerian life forces that had been locked with the crystal had been scattered to the nine winds when Arthain had absorbed the crystal. Now they had a new host to latch onto, Vil'Tani. Goten had brought her back, and they had followed her. The entirety of the Cerian race was joining their power with Vil'Tani's.
Soon there were so many shockwaves rippling out of Vil'Tani that it was all Goten could do to hold onto her. The star base had long since been vaporized and Goten had been forced to create a bubble of air around them. Suddenly a massive shockwave, dwarfing any that had preceded it erupted from Vil'Tani momentarily blinding Goten. Goten started to get worried as he felt his love shifting and changing inside his arms. The force of the blast had nearly ripped him from her but nothing short of death could have removed his arms from around her at that moment.
When Goten could see again Vil'Tani had gone under a startling change. Like Saiyans Cerians also have different evolutionary levels, only it required a great deal more energy to evolve. Vil'Tani had received that energy. Vil'Tani clung to Goten as she gasped for breath. The transformation had taken a lot out of her. She smiled up at Goten and kissed him.
"Don't worry… I'm alright…. They just wanted a place to stay. They didn't want to wander across the universe by themselves forever. Now they won't have to. They'll live on… inside me.
Goten frowned worriedly, "They?" He asked.
She beamed up at him, "My people… they're all inside me… or rather their life force is inside me. Don't worry." Vil'Tani was quick to assure Goten when she saw his frown deepened, "I'm still the one you love. I'm not going to change. They just have a small place in the back of my head where they can exist now. I can call upon their memories and powers whenever I need to but… I'm not about to change."
Goten sighed with relief. His biggest worry had been Vil'Tani becoming her race, instead of just being a container. "I'm going to have to get used to your new look." He said with an exaggerated sigh.
Vil'Tani frowned and pouted, "What's wrong with how I look!" She demanded.
Goten scratched his head, "Well… despite having a slightly more mature and full body." Goten said as he referred to her slight increase in height and breast size, "The fact your skin is now the same color as mine instead of green, your hair is now a lustrous silver color and the muscles on your body have nearly doubled in size might have something to do with it…" Goten said and made a face, "You're even more irresistible now then you were. It's going to make it hard to keep my hands off you." He said helplessly.
Vil'Tani was about to berate him when he said the last two sentences. She closed her mouth and kissed him soundly, "My, that does sound like a problem. One I can perhaps… use to my advantage?" She said wirily with an arched eyebrow.
Goten grumbled, "Knew I shouldn't have said anything." He mumbled to himself causing Vil'Tani to laugh and kiss him again.
"Don't worry, I can't deny you anything." She said as she kissed him a third and fourth time.
"That makes two of us." He said with a smile and started to kiss her back.
A light appeared abruptly just to their right while they were in the midst of the kissing. Two heads turned as one to regard the portal that had opened up. They turned back to face each other with speculation written all over their faces.
"I think that's our ticket home." Goten said softly.
She tilted her head and smiled at Goten as the two entered the portal hand in hand.
The one thing that Goten hadn't mention was that she was now far stronger then he was when he was at his maximum in his ultra form. It hadn't any need to be said. She knew it as well, but she wasn't going to mention it. It didn't both either of them that she was now the stronger of the two. They were virtually one and the same. They would both rather die then let the other be harmed and they kept no secrets from one another.
When Goten and Vil'Tani stepped from the portal they found themselves just outside the capital city, Vegeta. The portal closed almost on their heels and Vil'Tani could have sworn she saw a tinge of red in the portal frame. The planet felt empty. Very few people were left upon Vegeta and all of them had congregated inside the capital city.
Goten frowned, "What's going on? There should be more people here." Goten perplexed.
They didn't have to wait for the answer long because soon a golden glow, followed by a being with runes whirling around it, was seen speeding out of the city and towards them. Trunks touched down in front of Goten and laughed out loud. Alihvan descended soon after and stood beside him.
"GOTEN!" Trunks exclaimed, "You're alive! I can't believe it. When I felt your presence here I dropped what I was doing and came as quickly as possible." Trunks said excitedly and then stopped as he looked at Vil'Tani, "Wha… Who are…? Vil'Tani?" Trunks asked in confusion. Vil'Tani smiled and wrapped her arms around Goten causing him to smile at her, "My god… what happened to you? You changed and… your power… What the heck is going on?! What happened to you two?" Trunks asked.
Vil'Tani's smile fell for a moment before she recovered, "A lot has happened… Arthain… Arthain destroyed Cerian Prime and took the world crystal." Vil'Tani said sadly.
Trunks sighed, "Damnit! My father was right… I held hope that perhaps he wouldn't actually go through with it but… damnit." Trunks swore.
"It's odd though… Arthain isn't evil… he's not a villain… not in the sense we were brought up to think of them as anyways." Goten said thoughtfully causing the other three to look at him questioningly. Goten blinked when he saw he had their undivided attention and smiled sheepishly, "Well… I know it's not much to go on but he spared my life. When Arthain transformed into the same creature that Aerie is he… he approached me. He was huge, towering over me and was comprised completely of blood red energy. His power was… is… It's astronomical. He could have crushed me by merely blinking his eye at me. I'll be the first to admit it was a scary situation. The thought of facing two of them makes me shudder but… I still find it odd. He didn't kill me; in fact he helped me…" Goten trailed off thoughtfully.
Alihvan blinked in surprise, "Helped you? I don't get it. He's killed everyone up until now, why would he spare you let alone help you?" She asked.
Goten looked at her, "Ah… I don't think we've met." Goten said carefully.
Trunks smiled, "Don't worry Goten. This is Alihvan, she's just a goddess." Trunks said in an off-hand manner.
"J-Just a goddess?" Goten and Vil'Tani asked in unison as their jaws dropped.
Alihvan shrugged and smiled at Trunks before she turned to respond, "I'm still young and weak but I'm getting stronger. I came here after Arthain killed my friends and adopted family. Revenge was the sole reason for my being here but… I think I've found another reason as well. I'll just have to see how things turn out." She said cryptically.
Goten shook his head and tried to come to grips with the revelation, "Alright I'll just accept it and not bother to try and worry about the specifics." He said, "Anyways, in response to your question he has. He's killed everyone he has encountered… Or at least that is what I thought at first. I was wondering why the planets were disappearing in a completely random pattern. Sometimes a dozen solar systems between the old saiyan home world and Cerian Prime would be untouched only for the next four to be totally destroyed. I believe he's trying to get a message across… A message no one received." Goten said quietly and suddenly his eyes lit up like he just had a revelation, "Now that I think about it I was wondering how I knew what to do and when to do it to save Vil'Tani… Now I think I know. Arthain said that she was still alive after I had thought she had died… He also provided to portal to get her and I here. That is how we arrived out of the blue. This gives me reason to suspect that he planted inside my mind the required knowledge and techniques to save my love. I also suspect that he knew what would happen if she was brought back. She's evolved… When she was brought back to life by me the other dead Cerians followed her. Most spirits, when they die, go to heaven but… they didn't because they never truly died. They were just misplaced. Now they have a place, inside her. She contains the entirety of the Cerian race inside her, their memories and their power and what's more, she no longer draws upon the world crystal, so she can live out her life without fear of dieing due to that. There's more as well. Arthain seemed to… regret killing the universe. When he took the crystal the universe died but he said that it didn't have to be so. He said that someone, or something, could replace it, has to replace it or everything will die. That's not all… he wants us to kill him. He told me so himself. He wants to die after he has met up with Aerie, and he wants us to kill her as well… Well stop was the words he said but I don't see how we can do anything but try and kill them." Goten looked up at Alihvan and Trunks and grinned sheepishly as he finished his story. Vil'Tani knew all of this already; the two of them shared each others memories and thoughts to one another without thinking. Their minds were linked more closely then should have been possible, the two could virtually be considered to possess one mind. The two didn't know how this came about; they just accepted it, neither cared much anyways because it just saved them the trouble of telling the other anything. They both suspected it came about due to the resurrection, and the fact that Goten hadn't released his energy when Vil'Tani's spirit regained control of her body. Now it was too late to take it back.
Trunks and Alihvan shared surprised glances, "I… I don't know what to say. My father should hear this." Trunks said and Alihvan nodded in agreement.
"That reminds me Trunks… Where is everyone? Wait… your father? He's back? What about Gohan!?" Goten asked excitedly.
Trunks smiled, "I see you're still as hyper as ever. And to answer your questions: Every able body has headed towards the rift, my father is back but he's probably on the bridge of the main flag ship and Gohan is more then likely with him." Trunks said in response to Goten's questions.
Goten smiled happily, "YES! Finally he's back…. Why are you still here if every able body is at the rift?" Goten asked curiously.
Trunks shrugged, "I don't know… I had weird thought an hour ago. I just felt a bizarre compulsion to come home and wait for you. I had no idea where it came from but it felt very wrong to ignore it. Alihvan followed me, saying something about being bored waiting alone." Trunks replied.
Goten frowned, "Hmm… interesting…" He said.
Trunks sighed, "Let me guess, you think it was Arthain that induced that compulsion?" Trunks asked.
Goten nodded, "Yes, I do think that. It was just over an hour ago when he talked to me. The time frame seems to fit perfectly and after everything else I've witnessed… I really wouldn't be surprised if it was him that planted that idea in your mind." Goten said.
Alihvan sighed, "Trunks… Goten is right. Someone did tamper with your mind an hour ago. It's the main reason I followed you. I didn't want you to step into a trap alone. I didn't know who did it at the time but…" Alihvan trailed off and just shrugged.
Trunks grumbled, "Fine I'll concede. Anyways let's get going. I bet you're longing to meet your brother after so long. The Ziorans constructed several warp gates around the rift for easy travel to and from so it won't take us long to get there." Trunks said. He was about to turn and leave when he remembered something "Oh! Goten, I have something I need to teach you. I watched Videl and Gohan do it and I'm sure I know how to perform the trick as well. We'll be able to triple our combined power with it!" Trunks said excitedly.
Goten smiled, "Awesome. Won't our parents be surprised when we suddenly become stronger then them!" Goten said, becoming just as excited as Trunks.
Trunks nodded excitedly, "Ya, anyways let's get started." Trunks said.
Vil'Tani and Alihvan watched as Trunks told Goten what he had to do. The young saiyan caught on quickly and came to the conclusion that many others had before him. When Trunks stopped his spiel he got into position and beckoned Goten to do the same. Soon the two had their palms together and fingers aligned as they began to power up. When Trunks reached his maximum Goten matched his perfectly.
"Now for the hard part." Trunks said.
Goten nodded and the two concentrated. They didn't form the body in their minds, rather they thought about what they wanted to become. It took awhile but eventually they began to get a feel for what the other wanted to become and adjusted their image accordingly. The girls grew tired of watching the two stare at each other and began to focus their attention on other matters, namely getting to know each other better. It took nearly an hour after they had started to come up with an image they both agreed upon and by that time Vil'Tani and Alihvan had became much closer. An explosion erupted outwards and where Goten and Trunks had once stood as they flowed into the image they had created. The new saiyan had spikey Vegeta like black hair with a strip of lavender running across it. He wore black trousers and a black shirt with a blue over shirt. The figure rubbed his nose and grinned. "Oh ya!" The new saiyan said with dual voices, "THIS is the kind of power I've wanted to feel! I bet I can beat Gohan now!" The saiyan turned to smile at Alihvan and Vil'Tani, "Hello girls… The name's Gotenks!"
Vil'Tani sighed in mock annoyance, "Great, just what we need, Trunks and Goten as one. They're bad enough alone but together as the same person? I'm not so sure the universe is ready for that!" Vil'Tani said in helpless tone.
The two girls laughed causing Gotenks to frown and suddenly a plume of smoke rose up revealing Trunks and Goten as separate people again. "Come on Vil we aren't that bad!" Goten said in a small voice and began to pout.
Vil'Tani laughed again and kissed his lower lip, "It's so fun to tease you." She laughed.
Alihvan fidgeted for a moment before she finally made up her mind, "Trunks… I wasn't sure but… I think you should have this." She said causing him to turn and regard her curiously.
Alihvan stretched her hands out and suddenly a glowing broadsword appearing in her hands. Trunks' eyes widened in surprise, "Holy shit what is that?" He asked in surprise.
Alihvan smiled at him, "It's the Sword of the Avenger. It can cut through just about anything. It was capable of harming Arthain many millennia ago in the god war. I know you like to use broadswords, considering there is one strapped to your back at all times, so I want you to have this." She said.
Trunks approached her and gently took the sword from her hands. The sword burst into light causing Trunks to use two hands for a moment. When the light died down it literally hummed with power. Trunks looked from the sword to Alihvan and back again.
"I… I don't know what to say. It's awesome. It has a life force of its own." He said in wonder.
Alihvan nodded, "The sword just bonded with you Trunks. Only you are able to wield it. To anyone else it's just a lump of steel not capable of anything special. Like I said it was used during the god war. It has several other special abilities. It has a rather… bad habit of commenting on what you do…"
"What do you mean bad habit?! I'll have you know that all of you could benefit from what I have to say!" The sword burst out in protest, "It's not my fault my creator gave me a cynical sense of humor! I just make due with what I have! Stupid little go…" The sword trailed off.
Alihvan looked at Trunks helpless, "See what I mean? Anyways it'll prevent anything from tampering with your mind as well it'll protect you when it can. It… ahh…" Alihvan trailed off before she quickly said the next part, "It-was-given-to-a-female-mortal-by-her-immortal-lover-as-an-engagement-present." She said with a slight blush.
Trunks' eyes widened a little, "You know… I'm used to Goten speaking fast so I caught everything you said… Does this have more meaning then just a friendly present?" Trunks asked curiously and with a little hope.
Alihvan blushed and turned away, "Who knows, we'll have to see. I haven't decided yet." She said quickly and took off towards the warp gate.
Trunks gazed after her for a moment before he flew off after her as well. Goten and Vil'Tani exchanged knowing glances and burst out laughing and followed the other two. It seemed Trunks wouldn't be alone for much longer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A short time later…
Everyone, aside from Gohan, Videl, and Vegeta, were getting ready for the final battle and were both physically and mentally preparing themselves. Gohan was seated to Vegeta's right with Videl standing beside him as the King of the Saiyans surveyed the sight in front of him. He knew it would happen but he, like his son, had hoped it wouldn't. Arthain had arrived upon the scene, and to everyone's surprise he had become the very thing they were suppose to fight, only a different color and in complete control of his faculties. Vegeta had been bombarded by messages when Arthain burst through the fleet of ships surrounding the rift, from the outside.
Vegeta had responded the best way he could, he told the truth. He composed a single message and sent it to everyone that required it. He would let the leaders deal with their own people the best way they could. Vegeta had outlined the majority of what had happened on his journey, although he did leave out a few details and embellished upon a few. There was no way he was going to let the others know that Gahlanthas had had him running across the planet at his beck and call for a short while.
When news of the destruction of Cerian Prime became common knowledge the people's resolve became rock solid. They were going to avenge their allies, everyone that had fallen to the two Implementors, and nothing was going to deter them. The sight still was not a good one. He had held hope that when Arthain arrived that perhaps he had absorbed the crystal to help them but the scene that was currently being displayed betrayed that thought. With Arthain on one side and Aerie on the other the rift was opening extremely fast. It would only be a matter of a few hours before it was large enough to allow Aerie to pass through.
Red tendrils were tearing the rift wider from the back while cyan ones lashed out at it from the front. Even more disturbing then the rift opening were the cyan colors that flashed across Arthain's body, and likewise, red colors that flashed throughout Aerie's. The two both possessed a world crystal, and they were sharing their power with each other. Vegeta sighed and brushed a hand through his hair. It was going to be either a very long day, or a very short one. Either way he wasn't looking forward to it. So far they still had no idea how to kill Aerie, let alone Arthain. His only hope was that they would turn upon one another and become weakened enough so that he could finish them off.
Gohan was quietly talking to his mate about the final battle. All the saiyans that had regained their former level of evolution would be participating in the final battle directly. The other saiyans were instructed to help from afar. The devolved saiyans would provide extra power to the shields of the ships they were placed in but more importantly, because the Ourians were taking care of the major part of that, the saiyans were going to fire energy blasts and waves from afar. They weren't meant to damage the opponents, merely distract or annoy them, to divert their attention from the saiyans that were going to do the majority of the dirty work. There were so many star ships, fighters, weapon platforms and star bases surrounding the rift that it looks as if the entire part had been encased in a wall of steel and flesh. Not all of the ships that were participating in the final fight were constructed of steel. There were a few bio-mechanical ships in the mix as well. There was no worry of them being taken control because they lacked minds of their own and were controlled by the mental direction of the pilots seated within them.
There were going to be a few people spear heading the final assault: Vegeta, Kakkarot, Brolly, Videl and Gohan, Landyn, Bardock, Alihvan, Pan and the two hyper active kids, if Goten survived the destruction of Cerian Prime. No one really wanted the last three going but it would have been impossible to try and stop them.
The door to the bridge of the flag ship opened and Pan walked in with a huge smile on her face. Vegeta saw this and glared at her, "Alright, what's made you so happy? Nothing about what has happened in the past little while has created any cause for that joy!" Vegeta grumbled.
Pan bowed her head slightly, "Oh… I'm happy because my uncle is still alive, and in fact…" She stopped as the door opened again to admit Goten, Trunks, Alihvan and Vil'Tani.
There were mixed reactions and emotions felt all around. Vegeta stared at Vil'Tani in surprise as Goten and Gohan laughed and hugged one another. Trunks grinned up at his father and shrugged when he turned his questioning gaze to him. Alihvan smiled at the reunion scene and Vil'Tani shrunk a little under the scrutinizing gazes of Videl and Vegeta.
Goten backed away from his bother and smiled at everyone, "Everyone, I'd like you to meet the new and improve Vil." Goten said as he walked over and embraced his mate. Vegeta, Gohan and Videl did a double take as they tried to connect this new look with her old.
Goten grinned sheepishly, "It's a rather… long story." Goten said and began to retell the tale. As Goten retold the story their expressions went through various transformations from sadness at the destruction of her race to surprise and astonishment when they learned of her evolving to speculation when Goten revealed his thoughts about Arthain and his opinions on what he said. After he finished everyone was left in a speculative mood as they tried to digest everything that Goten had revealed.
Videl was the first to speak up after Goten had finished, "I have my own thoughts but I doubt Vegeta will care very much about them so I won't say anything. What I will say is that I'm glad there is another strong female out there other then me and my daughter, even if she is stronger then me. It'll show these males that women can be just as strong if not stronger then them." Videl said with a smile.
Vil'Tani smiled back, "Thanks Videl. I'm sure we can get Chichi to join our elite group." She said with a smile.
The faces of every male on the bridge dropped. The thought of an evolved Chichi running around with thousands, if not tens of thousands, of ki pans under her mental domination sent more then just slivers of fear running up and down their spines.
Vegeta cleared his throat, "Ah, I think that's enough of that. We need to focus on the matter at hand, namely the…" Vegeta couldn't finish as the topic he was about to bring up came to life on the viewing screen. A massive shockwave ripped through the gathered star ships and bases as the rift unexpectedly tore open raggedly. Vegeta looked over at the screen and cursed, "Ok fuck what I was going to say! Everyone get to your fucking posts NOW!" Vegeta roared as he jumped out of his seat. "Send a message to everyone! On my signal I want everyone throwing everything they got, even the kitchen sink, at those two super beings! We only got one shot at this. Arthain said that Aerie draws power as she needs it. If we can hit her hard enough before she has drawn enough power we may be able to cripple her!" Vegeta yelled, "Now get your fucking asses in gear and you had better not die on me!" With that Vegeta bolted from the bridge of the flag ship. The others swiftly followed, not wanting to be left behind.
Anticipation rippled through the fleets combining with the fear and trepidation that had been building. When thousands of golden lights blasted out from the central flag ship hope blossomed in everyone. The sight of that many evolved saiyans flying through space was a sight that instilled a sense of awe in everyone. Everyone could now see what was happening clearly. Aerie was pushing her way through the rift in the fabric of reality and Arthain was waiting for her.
As Aerie eased her way entirely into normal space the rift snapped shut behind her. Aerie stretched and roared soundlessly as she celebrated her freedom from her prison. Cyan energy lashed out in all directions snapping at both real and imaginary objects in the space around her.
HELLO AERIE… Arthain boomed, his voice reaching the minds of everyone in attendance. I'VE… MISSED YOU.
Arthain's voice pierced through the cloud of insanity that had been draped over Aerie's mind for many a millennia. She blinked as if she had just woken from a dream; or more likely a nightmare. She stared at the person in front of her and recognition dawned in her eyes. Aerie stretched forth her hand pleadingly.
ARTHAIN… HELP… ME… She pleaded in the same booming voice as Arthain. Her eyes were filled with pain and sadness greater and deeper then the greatest of black holes.
By this time the saiyans had arrived and were only several hundred meters from the two Implementors and were watching the exchange with interest. All of them were wary, they had no idea if this was some part of a plan they had created or if it was actually genuine.
Arthain reached out and caught her hand in his, AERIE… I WANT TO BE WITH YOU… I… I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT YOU ANY LONGER…
Aerie's eyes crinkled as both sadness and love shined through them. She gripped his hand hard before the cloud enveloped her once more. Aerie arched back and screamed for a second before she brought her eyes leveled with Arthain's once more. This time there was no love, no pain, no sadness within them, just pure undulating insanity. DIE! DIE! DIE! Aerie screamed as she slammed a planet shattering wall of force into Arthain.
Arthain rocked backwards and snarled in rage. He had been denied his love so he would have his revenge. Arthain lashed out and slammed his foot into Aerie's face faster then anyone could see. Vegeta snarled and fired a multi-wave blast in all directions as he created the pre-determined signal. Videl and Gohan quickly put their hands together and a moment later a huge shockwave enveloped the gathered saiyans as Vohdan was born. Goten and Trunks nodded to one another and mimicked Videl and Gohan. To everyone's surprise they fused like Videl and Gohan to become Gotenks. Vegeta would have questioned them right then and there if he hadn't been pre-occupied.
There was a roar of engines, or there would have been had there been an atmosphere, as the ships started forward. Millions of star fighters and tens of thousands of flag ships moved forward to engage the super beings. Thus began the final Great War. No war previous or any war in the future will ever reach the magnitude of the current.
When the ships got within firing range they let loose everything they had. Countless missiles, energy beams, lasers and particle beams lashed forward from the various ships at Aerie. They could worry about Arthain after they had removed her. The saiyans that had gathered to face the two head on began to unleash their own waves of energy with the greatest of them originating from the center where Vegeta, Gotenks, Vohdan and the others had gathered.
Aerie screamed in pain as the attacks slammed into her. Alone, even Vohdan's, they were nothing to her, but the sheer volume forced her to buckle and caused her real pain. Arthain whirled around and snarled in anger. Suddenly the saiyans found themselves dodging for their lives as Arthain's tendrils began to lash out at them with blinding speed. Vohdan snarled and grabbed one of the tendrils as it tried to knock her away. Arthain turned to regard her curiously only to get his face filled with an energy wave.
Arthain roared, spun, and slammed a foot into Vohdan before she could blink. The fused saiyan found himself taking an unexpected trip through the stars until Kakkarot caught him. Vohdan thanked him and blasted back towards the front lines. Gotenks and Vegeta were managing to hold their own against the tendrils with the help of Alihvan and Vil'Tani but when Arthain turned his full attention upon them they soon became overwhelmed and were forced to flee.
ENOUGH OF THIS! Arthain roared and sent a massive wall of force at the saiyans. They all saw space rippling as the force lashed out at them but before it connected with the nearest saiyan it stopped and reversed direction.
Pan floated there with her hands outstretched and droplets of perspiration running down her face. It was obvious to everyone just exactly what had happened. Pan snarled in anger and roared as she went to the next level. Her hair flashed up and turned pure white as psychic energy began to crackle up and down her body. The veins on her body popped out and white light could be seen traveling through special veins in her body as her eyes lost their pupils and became swirling pools of white light.
In the mean time Aerie had begun to draw upon more power. The increase in power made the onslaught of the ships affect her less and less until suddenly they didn't both her at all. Aerie giggled hysterically and disappeared, only to reappear right behind Arthain and slam her head into the base of his back. Arthain roared in agony as he rocked forward from the force of the blow. Arthain spun to snarl at the perpetrator but only saw Aerie rushing off to assault the fleet of ships.
OH NO YOU DON'T! Arthain roared and disappeared. A shockwave followed by a scream of pain occurred a split second later as Arthain appeared in front of Aerie and slammed his fist into her jaw. Aerie growled and wrapped her tendrils around Arthain and pulled him in. Thousands of shockwaves sounded every second as Aerie slammed fist after fist into Arthain's body. Arthain snarled in anger before he wrapped his tendrils together and wrapped them around Aerie's arms. With them out of the way Arthain roared into her face and slammed a massive energy blast into her body. The force of the explosion that erupted upon contact ripped her from Arthain's grasp and sent her tumbling back the way she came, only to come into contact with a boot from Vohdan.
Normally it would have done nothing but Vohdan was no longer evolved, she had gone beyond to the next level. Aerie's momentum was halted and slightly reversed due to the contact with the long haired saiyan. Vohdan stretched his hands out and unleashed a torrent of energy into Aerie's face creating a titanic explosion and rocking the behemoth backwards. Aerie growled and grabbed the two nearest saiyans with her tendrils. She slammed them together and began to roll them up with her mind. Bones crushed and flesh split as the two saiyans were reduced to a sphere the size of a head. Aerie brought her hands forward and the corpses exploded into a ball of liquid life force. She quickly grabbed the life force and threw it at the saiyans. Suddenly the onslaught from the ships slammed into Aerie once more. The saiyans managed to dodge the ball of liquid fire but the star base in the distance didn't. A huge flash of light blinded everyone momentarily as the star base exploded, decimating the forces around it. Suddenly the air around Aerie was suddenly filled with fighters as they finally joined the fray.
Flashes of light from exploding fighters were the only warnings Vohdan got before Arthain slammed into him. It was all Vohdan could do to live as blow after blow rained down upon her. They were slamming into her so fast she had a hard time following them, not that it would matter because the force behind them were beyond anything she could have blocked anyways. Suddenly Vohdan disappeared leaving Arthain extremely frustrated. Vegeta had teleported in, grabbed the fused saiyan warrior, and teleported out before Arthain had had a chance to register that he was there.
Arthain was about to charge the saiyan ranks when suddenly Aerie's tentacles wrapped around his and began to swing him around in a circle. After several circuits see released Arthain and fired an energy wave at him. Two pairs of boots slammed into Aerie's as Gotenks and Vohdan took advantage of her diverted attention. Aerie whipped around only to get a face full of energy blasts from the normal saiyans. Gotenks, with lightning rippling up and down his body, quickly backed away before he started to slash at Aerie with his own attacks.
Meanwhile Arthain had just slammed into one of the moon sized star bases that used to surround the rift. The star base started to implode but abruptly switched directions and exploded outwards. The resulting explosion rivaled the death of a planet. Needless to say the people within the nearby weapon platforms and star ships found themselves in an undesirable place as they were annihilated from the detonation.
A snarl broke out on Arthain's face as he blasted towards Aerie. There was no way he was going to let someone else have his revenge. There was no warning. One moment Aerie was chasing around the saiyans and destroying star fighters by the thousands and the next she is fending off a huge wave of energy from Arthain. The energy wave continued on beyond Aerie, but it didn't carry her with it. She stood right where she had been, struggling to advance against the current so she could slam her fist into her mate's face. Scores of saiyans died in the attack that was never meant for them, and thousands of others died as the wave continued on and through the fleet. The energy would continue to travel through space until it collided with planet Namek a few days later reducing it, and the dragon balls, to ash.
Arthain's attack was violently halted as multiple high powered attacks slammed into his side. Vegeta and Vohdan floated with their arms and legs outstretched side by side as they cork-screwed their attack around the others. Multiple circles of runes had appeared in front of the attack causing it to accelerate exponentially so it hammered into Arthain just as Vil'Tani's and Gotenks' energy blasts had made contact with him.
Arthain roared for the first time in true agony as several of his tendrils were sheared off. The tendrils themselves then exploded increasing the damage that was inflicted. LEAVE HIM ALONE! Aerie thundered in their skulls as she attempted to attack Arthain's attackers. Attempted as in she was blocked as Kakkarot, Bardock, Brolly and Landyn lead the saiyans head first into battle against the creature.
Shockwaves and explosion lit space as bones crunched and saiyans died as Aerie lashed this way and that with her tendrils in her attempt to get through. By the time she managed to get through the saiyan army had been severely reduced in numbers but it had bought the others time to prepare. Only this time they had both Aerie and Arthain heading for them.
Vegeta shook his head in disbelief, THIS IS INSANE! What the hell is going on here! This is the most fucking confusing battle I've ever participated in! You help one and the other turns on you! Vegeta thought as he stared at the oncoming super beings. Bardock, Kakkarot, Brolly and Landyn unexpectedly appeared with the others and prepared to defend their friends and family. The saiyan allies were desperately trying to aid but their weapons weren't doing much.
Suddenly something unprecedented happened, and it halted Arthain and Aerie in their tracks. To Vegeta, Bardock and Gohan it reminded them of a repeat of what happened in the alternate reality. This time millions of rifts suddenly appeared in space and shapes began to emerge from them.
I figured you would need help so here I am and here's the help! The Dai Kaioshin telepathically communicated as he spear-headed the new assault. It wasn't just the Gods and Elder Gods that had joined the battle, but the entirety of the west and east quadrants. The announcement Trunks had made all those years back on planet Vegeta was literally heard by everyone. It didn't take the other quadrants long to realize that if the north fell they would soon follow.
Vegeta stared around in surprise as the other quadrants unleashed their attacks with his own. This time Aerie and Arthain felt something. A grin creased Vegeta's face as hope renewed itself within him, and everyone else. With a silent roar he charged up another attack. He wasn't about to let the gods steal all the glory. The other saiyans felt much the same way and soon powers were spiking through the roof.
The heroes were forced to fly backwards as they unleashed their energy. The epicenter of the attack had erupted into a huge ball of fire that kept expanding. The internal temperatures of the explosion began to exceed the heat given off from a super nova as the energy just kept building and building. It had no where to go due to a constant stream of energy from every side.
Twin cries exploded inside the minds of everyone and people started to smile, but the smiles came too soon. The cries weren't cries of just pain, but contained rage mixed in with it. The rage soon manifested itself as the globe of fire erupted in every direction. Screams of pain and agony were heard, but this time not from the insane immortals. Gods and mortals died alike that day as the globe of fire rippled outwards. The Ourian race poured all their energy into their shields in an attempt to protect as many ships as possible. The saiyans did likewise and due to their efforts, and the distance from the center, the losses to the ships were kept due to a minimum. The saiyans at the front line were not so lucky. There was less the a hundred now left alive. The rest had been reduced to ash in a single, agonizing moment.
The gods suffered the least but some had still fallen, their bodies floating where they had died. Vohdan looked around in panic and stared in horror. Her friends and family had been those closest to the attack and had paid for it. A decimated Kakkarot was being held by an exhausted Bardock. Kakkarot had thrown himself in front of Landyn and Bardock at the last moment and had received the brunt of the attack that had rained down upon those three. Landyn wasn't in very good condition either. He was holding his left shoulder with his right hand, his only hand, as he bent forward crying. He had felt his mate die when the wave of fire rippled over the saiyans. Alihvan and Vil'Tani had formed a wall with Gotenks and had aided each other. Sweat dripped down their faces as they panted in exhaustion. They had made it out without a scratch but their life force had been severely depleted. Vegeta had survived completely unscathed, aside from his pride. He glared down at the two insane beings with a look that would have killed a lesser creature. When Vohdan spotted Brolly she noticed he was carrying something, or rather someone. Something was wrong, there had been more then enough heat in the wave that rippled over them to hurt even him. To anyone else it would have, should have, killed them. Fearing the worst Vohdan flew towards Brolly, completely ignoring the Aerie and Arthain who were still roaring in rage.
It was as Vohdan feared, Brolly was carrying Pan. Brolly quickly passed Pan over to her parents and flew off to see if he could help Kakkarot. Vohdan looked down at Pan in horror. Her hair had had become a grayish white color and white light no longer pulsed through her body. On top of that her clothes were in tatters and burns and lacerations could be seen across her body.
I'm sorry mother… father… I guess I over did it… She said telepathically, I just wanted to help… I didn't want to see anyone die so I… Pan stopped as she went through a hacking fit. Blood started to trickle out of her mouth before she was able continue, I absorbed the majority of the heat… I thought I could take it… I guess I was wrong… Vohdan shook her head, she couldn't believe what she was hearing, she didn't want to believe it, I'm sorry mommy… daddy… I just wished… wished I had found someone to… to love… to experience… what… you have… before I… Tears trickled from Pan's eyes and down her cheeks as a fountain of blood gushed from her mouth. She closed her eyes in pain and shuddered violently before she slowly went limp.
Slowly Pan began to fade as she rose to heaven, taking her body with her. Vohdan desperately tried to cling to it but it availed to nothing. Pan was dead, gone, her life taken away long before it was due. Vohdan curled up as the enormity of what happened finally slammed home. Tears streamed from his eyes unchecked as sorrow and agony began to overwhelm him. Suddenly everything stopped for an instant before it sped up again, carrying a ripple in reality with it.
Vohdan was no longer curled up; she was standing straight as she glared at Arthain and Aerie. Tears still streamed down her face but as fast as the sorrow and agony was hitting her it was transforming, into rage. A second pause and a second ripple in reality signaled the beginning. A flash of light greater then anything that has ever preceded it blinded everyone as shockwaves of force slammed into them. When they could see again they couldn't help but stare in surprise and trepidation as Vohdan roared silently in her globe of air. The aura that was rippling around her was so intense it no longer needed air to stay ablaze, it was feeding itself.
Vohdan arched back and grew. Her body could no longer sustain the amount of energy that her rage was providing for her so it did the only thing it could do to handle it, expansion. Vohdan's height increased by nearly two feet as her muscles nearly doubled in size and density. The saiyan battle armour expanded and refitted itself to her new form. Her hair receded to become half its original length and changed to a solid gold colour as her eyes began to change. Her eye split vertically as the cornea shifted and changed, carrying the iris along for the ride. Golden energy began to leak from their depths. A loud rip was heard as a second golden tail tore free from Vohdan's rear to lash at the air beside the first. Vohdan slowly leveled her malevolent gaze at Aerie and Arthain as the transformation ended.
The two had stopped their roaring after the first pause in time to eye the disturbance in curiosity. By the second one tinges of trepidation began to seep into their hearts, and by the end of transformation, a transformation unlike anything even they have ever seen, real fear had found a niche. Before Arthain could form a coherent thought a shockwave slammed into him from the side. He quickly turned around and found Aerie double over as Vohdan slammed her fist into her. Energy began to leak from the hole in Aerie's chest causing little explosions to detonate around the opening of the wound.
With a deft twist Vohdan ripped her arm out and palmed Aerie's face; her goal, the crystal where the rift in which Aerie drew her power was located. Aerie's eyes widened in horror and cloud of insanity cleared from her mind. She opened her mind to say something only to experience agony for the second it took Vohdan to dismember her. The wave of energy that rippled out from Vohdan's hand was only just large enough to encompass Aerie's head, but it contained more power then the miniature super nova that had taken her daughters life. Aerie's world crystal shattered causing the rift to destabilize and collapse. With Aerie's source of power destroyed, she soon followed. Her body destabilized like the rift but unlike it, her body and head exploded as the energy she had already gathered was let loose.
Vohdan stretched his hand forward and created a shield around the epicenter of the detonation to protect everyone against it. When the fires had subsided Vohdan turned her gaze upon Arthain. She was about to eradicate him as well when something made her stop. Arthain wasn't staring at her, but where Aerie had once been.
Slowly Arthain bowed his head as tears started to stream down his face. Arthain slowly raised his trembling hands to his face, WHAT'S THE POINT! WHY! GOD DAMNIT…! ALL I WANTED WAS TO BE WITH HER! IN ANY WAY… ANY FORM… FUCK! GOD DAMN THIS STUPID FUCKING CRYSTAL! Arthain roared inside the minds of everyone. With a swift movement he plunged his hand into his chest. With a shudder of pain he tore the crystal from his torso and threw it away.
A second explosion rippled outwards as the extra energy Arthain had gathered exploded outwards. A very surprised Vohdan erected a second barrier to prevent this energy from hurting anyone else. When the fire cleared a badly wounded Arthain floated in space. He wasn't dead but he was bleeding from many wounds and would die without treatment. Vohdan's eyes narrowed and she raised her hands to finish the job.
Suddenly a hand clamped down upon her arm. She was about to scold whoever it was, until she realized it was the Dai Kaioshin. He had survived the fire wave but not unscathed, very few managed that feat. She looked at him with furious eyes and was about to demand an explanation when she got one, one that everyone received. There has been enough killing this day, and there is nothing that you, or I, could do to place him in any greater agony. His body is ruined almost beyond repair but it pales in comparison to the mental pain he is feeling, and even that pales in comparison to the emotional pain. Letting him live is the worst thing you can possibly do to him. The Dai Kaioshin explained.
Vohdan opened his mouth to protest but the Dai Kaioshin shook his head vigorously, Knowing when to stop is sometimes more important than knowing when to start. This war is ended, but one last thing remains unfinished. The Dai Kaioshin turned to regard Alihvan, I have a favour to ask of you.
Alihvan approached nervously, Ahh… What may that be? She said as she joined the Dai Kaioshin's mental conversation with everyone.
The elder supreme god sighed as he lifted the crystal in his hands. Twice now a world crystal has been taken, and twice it has corrupted. The Implementor of your reality was originally from this one… he was my son. I think I have come to realize something. No one from this reality can safely handle the world crystal for this reality so on that note… I ask if you are willing to take it up, to prevent it from corrupting anyone else. The Dai Kaioshin answered startling everyone.
Gotenks suddenly split apart and Trunks rushed towards Alihvan. Alihvan turned to regard Trunks sadly, I'm sorry Trunks… I had wanted it to mean so much more but… sometimes one must sacrifice their happiness for the happiness of all. Good-bye Trunks. Alihvan said as she turned and nodded to the Dai Kaioshin, I accept and am ready.
The Dai Kaioshin nodded and placed the crystal between Alihvan's breasts. She gasped as it pierced her skin and took up residence inside of her. This time the crystal dissolved instead of remaining solid. Arthain had only been half right when he said he knew where Aerie had gone wrong. He knew where to place it, but he didn't know how to absorb it properly, because he was of this reality.
Trunks reached out with his hand and screamed silently as Alihvan underwent her transformation. Unlike the previous two times a world crystal had been absorbed the transformation didn't kill anyone, in fact it did the opposite. She grew and transformed into a thirty foot being of glowing blue runes as her goddess powers joined with the energy from the crystal. A wave of bluish white energy rippled out from her but it didn't harm anyone, it healed them. All those that had been hurt found their wounds instantly healed but the energy didn't stop there. It washed across the entire universe healing every planet, every creature, and even the universe itself as Alihvan became the missing piece it needed to be revived.
Vohdan sighed powered down to the first evolutionary stage before the two split into Gohan and Videl. Videl buried her face into Gohan's chest as she cried out her loss. Gohan gently rubbed her back as tears streamed down his face as well. He had lost a father and a daughter this day. He thought he was prepared for the cost that would be incurred, but it wasn't enough. It never is.
Alihvan turned to regard Trunks, a wisp of energy gently brushed his face. I'M SORRY TRUNKS… BUT I HAVE TO GO, THE UNIVERSE IS STILL IN PAIN, AND I MUST HEAL IT. PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN, SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE. GOODBYE. Alihvan turned, not able to bare the stricken look that had appeared on Trunks' face. A portal opened and Alihvan stepped through it to another part of space, another aspect of that reality, to heal the wounds that had been inflicted.
Vegeta sighed, it was over, after so much work and preparation, it was over. One glance at his son made him shake his head in despondency. For the first time since he had been born, Vegeta wished that the battle had never occurred. The losses that had they had sustained were too great in his opinion. Vegeta turned to watch as the flag ship, Arganon, slowed and stopped near him. The few normal saiyans that had survived left the battlefield and re-boarded the ship. They were all tied, exhausted and just plain weary of battle. They had fought something which they could barely comprehend let alone fight and survived. They would never again come up against anything as powerful as Aerie and Arthain. Saiyans lived for the ultimate battle, and that battle was what they had received. They could die old men, never fighting another battle, and still be content. After all, what were little spars and skirmishes to them when they had fought, won, and survived against not one, but two beings of infinite power.
The heroes took it as their cue to return as well. Bardock and Landyn slowly returned to the ship without Kakkarot's body. It had disappeared like Pan's, meaning he had been allowed to keep it after death. Brolly soon followed, not having anywhere else to go, or anyone to comfort. Goten and Vil'Tani were beside Trunks talking to him quietly as the attempted to comfort him. Gohan and Videl were slowly making their way to the ship; Videl was still clinging to Gohan as she continued to cry. Gohan looked as if he wanted to join but he had to be the supportive one. He could do his crying later.
That only left one other, Arthain. Vegeta snapped his gaze towards Arthain's known location and found him there sitting dejectedly. He was lost now, no one to be with, no home to return to, no emotions to feel. His love and rage had been burnt out leaving the shell of a saiyan in its place. Vegeta turned and left him were he was. He wasn't about to trust Arthain and invite him on board the ship, even if they had the power to easily beat him now.
Vegeta finally brought his gaze to bear upon the elder gods. With a slight movement of his head he indicated the ship. The Dai Kaioshin nodded his agreement and they all went inside. It was much easier to talk when they all shared the same parcel of air. A few minutes later Goten and Vil'Tani had convinced Trunks to return to the ship.
Arthain watched them all leave and laughed bitterly to himself. In the end he was alone, just like in the beginning. He stood up and sighed. He really hated being a saiyan, but it made it easier to get around, and made it easier to find love. 'God damn it… I hate this… I just want to go home… at least I found some happiness with Aerie… at least for a brief time. Damn it… the harder I try to hold onto something the faster it slips from my grasp…' Arthain had lied about a few things. He hated lying. He usually relied on word manipulation to get a person to believe what he wanted them to without having to rely on lies but sometimes that was impossible. There had only been 5 saiyans born evolved: Aerie, Arganon, Warpath, Vegeta and Raven. He had born human in a different time, a different dimension. When he was young the human race had made first contact with a highly peaceful and sophisticated alien race, but one that seemed to enjoy genetically manipulating 'volunteers'. Arthain sighed as he looked down at his hands; he had lost all rights to his birth name when he had lost his humanity. He had been taken at a young age and forced to undergo experiments… all of which had gone wrong. The aliens hadn't understood what was happening, until he started to evolve. The human race as a whole had reached the edge of the next tier in evolution, and the aliens had interrupted that evolution in him. The result was Arthain. He had been changed so much from his fellow humans that he no longer fit in. Loneliness became the word that best described his life. Shape shifter would be a word most would apply to him but that wasn't quite right. His mind and body adapted and warped into the shape of the species that was best suited to the environment he was in. He had little or no say over the changes. When his special abilities became known he had rose to the top of the list of those that would be sent to new, unexplored and possibly dangerous locations. To everyone's surprise he survived each endeavor which only increased the want for his special abilities. Then came the day he would live to regret for the rest of his life. The inter-galatic council had developed a machine capable of matching two points in reality together and drill a hole connecting the two realities together. Since this was the ultimate exploratory expedition he was immediately called upon. He and several other hand picked specialists and individuals were called upon for the expedition. Their ship had gotten through just fine but their passing had done something irrevocable. Their anti-matter engines released particles in the space between realities that was not supposed to be there. The result was the immediate collapse and explosion of the rift behind them. The last thing they saw through the rift before it closed was the machine exploding and their reality unwinding as it began to collapse. They only had a glimpse because the explosion on their side of the rift took out their engines and navigational devices causing them to crash onto a nearby super planet: The ancient saiyan home world. They could see everything on their monitors and they feared the worst as the weapons on the orbiting platforms pointed themselves at them. Fortunately the saiyans realized that they were in no position to do anything about their predicament. It was at that point that his body had started to change. This reality had the ultimate species, one that evolved and adapted to situations, just like him, Saiyans. Arthain sighed as he remembered back to that fateful day when everything changed. The ship they had was sturdy and could have survived the impact, had he not exploded. His body and mind had shifted and adapted to the situation, meaning he found himself as an evolved saiyan with more power then he had any clue what to do with. He still remembered the sensation of the merge with the crystal. Its power rushed into and joined with his awakening energy, it was more then he had been able to handle. He had blacked out but when he came to he had been staring into the face of the most beautiful women he had ever seen, Aerie. He faked amnesia quite easily because he literally knew nothing about that reality. Thus had started his new life, one in which he had found happiness and love. But like everything in his life it didn't last. After several hundred years, a blink of an eye to him, Aerie had absorbed the crystal. He had lied when he said he didn't know the reason why she did that. He knew she had wanted to impress him; to show him that she was just as capable as he was.
Arthain sighed and shoved his hands into the pockets of his new pants. He no longer needed the saiyan battle armour. He now wore black khaki's with a pair of black shorts and boxers underneath. Covering his torso was a white T-shirt with a silver dragon clawing at a black and white ying-yang. There was a silver ring gracing the index finger of his right hand with an intricate repeating pattern engraved into it and a chain hanging from his neck with a circular locket on the end with the picture of his parents in it. Arthain rubbed his right hand through his yellow hair as he thought on what to do next. His survival instincts were too great to allow him to die, and although his bond with Aerie had been broken with her death it wouldn't kill him. He was nothing after all.
"One place is as good as another." Arthain said quietly aloud. He wasn't looking forward to the next few centuries. He was old, far older then anyone suspected. They only knew his age based upon his arrival into this reality. He wondered what the would think if they realize that, despite how long he has lived here, it accounted for little more then a fraction of his entire age. The genetic manipulations had done more then just rip away his humanity.
A jolt startled Arthain as he felt something enter him. He shook his head in amusement. Apparently Alihvan was giving the saiyans a second chance, not unexpected considering who she loved. Arthain shook his head and flashed across the sky, being careful not to hurt anyone else. His hands were already covered in more blood then he would ever be able to wash off.
Alihvan watched Arthain go with a sad shake of her head. She hadn't known that he had been through so much. It explained many, not all but those can be explained by his case of insanity, of his actions, both in the present and in the past. Arthain's entire history had flashed open for Alihvan to read and she had read it with great interest and curiosity. Anger and hate had been replaced with pity. Alihvan sighed as she went on with her work. There was much to do and so little time to do it in.
The End… Or is it?
Oh my god… SO evil me… LOL! AHAHAH TAKE THAT ARTHAIN!! YOU ARE ALONE IN MY STORY JUST LIKE I AM IN REAL LIFE! EAT IT UP! …. Ahh…. Sorry.
Arthain is all alone… there's no dragon balls… Pan is dead… Kakkarot is dead… Trunks is alone after coming so close… AHAH! I'm evil :)
The only reason Vohdan was able to kill Aerie so easily was because he/she was much stronger and overpowered her before she was able to gain the energy required to face her on equal footing. If Vohdan had given Aerie the time, Aerie could have smacked him/her around like there was no tomorrow.
Vohdan's and Goten's power levels… well you can calculate them yourself. I gave the multiplications of each level of super saiyan in the last chapter. The only person you'd really want to know would be Vil'Tani.
Vil'Tani 'The' Cerian – 175,453,000
Well, I liked this chapter he he, all that's left is the epilogue.