Chapter 2: Journey of Depression
Bulma stood outside the room Trunks had been using for the past few days. She was worried about him. His power level had increased so high that it alerted Goku AND Vegeta, and they had to restrain him and drag him to the Capsule Corp. He had been in that room for over two hours. Everyone else was in the kitchen scheming on how to get Starlight back. Bulma sighed and opened the door.
"Trunks? Trunks honey...Come on out. They're working on a plan to get her back right now." Bulma said. She looked at Trunks. He had the shades drawn and the lights out. It was pitch black. He was sitting on top of his bed, holding a picture of him and Starlight. Bulma turned on a lamp next to the door. She was just about to go console him when Vegeta came behind her and turned off the lamp.
"Let the boy mourn in peace. He will get over it on his own time." Vegeta said gently pushing her out. He closed the door behind him. Once again, Trunks was all alone. He turned his bedside lamp on and stared at the picture in his hands. It had been taken on the day before the Cell Games. They were both wearing their bathing suits and they were sitting on the edge of a river. She had her arms wrapped around his neck and her head on his shoulder. They were both smiling and having a good time. Trunks's eyes filled with tears that clouded his vision. He blinked them away and lied his head down on his pillow. He sighed heavily and listened to the others in the other room.
"DAMMIT!" Goku yelled from the kitchen. He pounded his fists on the table so hard the walls shook. Trunks sat up. He had to go see if he could help. He didn't like feeling so helpless. Still holding the picture in his hands, he got off his bed and walked to the kitchen. Everyone looked up as he entered. He looked at everyone. Chichi was sitting at the table with a red-tearstained face.
"We need to get her back. Who knows what that man is doing to her right now." Chichi said in a cracked voice.
"I could go to King Kai's and ask him where Floraz is but....I doubt that we could make it there in time." Goku said. He bared his teeth in frustration. Bulma jumped as an idea hit her.
"I've got an idea! Goku you go to King Kai's and get him to draw out a map for Floraz. Then I can program a spaceship, like the one that Goku used to get to Namek, to get to Floraz and we'll get Starlight back in no time!" Bulma said. Everyone let out a relieved sigh. Goku didn't waste any time. He went straight to King Kai's. Gohan's anger began rising.
"I can't believe it. She's gone. After everything we've been through. I wasn't there to help her." He said. Trunks walked over to Gohan and placed a hand on his shoulder. Gohan's anger dropped as he looked up at Trunks.
"We WILL get her back." He said solemnly. Some how those five words consoled Gohan. He sat down at the table and sighed. Just then Goku re- appeared in the kitchen. His face didn't hold it's usual look of silly, out-witted determination; instead his face looked old, like he was wearing thin. He took a piece of paper out of his pocket and unfolded it. Everybody crowded around him as he placed it on the table.
"It's not far." He said. "But it is in another galaxy, next to a planet called Shabaru-"
"Shabaru?" Vegeta asked loudly. Goku nodded. "That was the neighboring planet to my home planet Vegeta! I often invaded it when I was a child. Boy," He said pointing a gloved hand at Trunks, "What was this Saiyan's name?"
"Lettuxe." He said looking at the floor, wishing he had told them that sooner.
"LETTUXE?" Vegeta shouted.
"Are you familiar with him?" Goku asked. Vegeta nodded.
"He was a frie....A fellow Saiyan that I knew." He said crossing his arms. "I know what he is capable of. I hate to admit it, but he was almost as strong as me." He said. Trunks clenched his fists and bit his bottom lip.
"Gimme the map." Bulma demanded. Goku gave it to her and she ran to the lab. Ten minutes later she emerged. "Go, it's programmed and everything. If you leave now you should be able to get there at about five o'clock this evening." She said. Immediately Trunks walked to the space ship followed by Vegeta, Goku, and Gohan. They all sat down and pressed a few buttons. Then they sat in complete solitude until they reached the planet Floraz.
*******SIX HOURS LATER*******
"YOU HAVE NOW REACHED YOUR DESTINATION FLORAZ." The computerized voice said. They didn't need to be told twice. Everyone filed out of the spaceship and onto the barren planet. There were few trees and not very much grass, but there were millions of rivers and streams everywhere. The air felt dry and cold. A gust of wind sent a shiver down everyone's spine. They felt around for any life at all and found only a small trace.
"That's Starlight." Gohan said. He jumped into the air and headed north. "This way!" He yelled. The others followed. As they got closer they came to the conclusion that the energy was indeed from Starlight. They kept flying until they found her, about one hundred miles away from where they had landed. She was standing on the edge of a cliff over looking a river, with a scowl on her face. Trunks was elated. He flew over to her with his arms wide open.
"Leave." She said flatly. He got closer. She punched him. Trunks fell. That punch had caught him completely off guard. Trunks was deeply hurt. He looked into her eyes. Some how her eyes had turned red. It wasn't the same Starlight he knew. Just then Lettuxe appeared behind her with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face.
"Hello...Kakarrot..." He said flying off of the cliff. Starlight followed. When she dropped from the cliff her bangs moved up slightly, revealing the jewel on her forehead.
"What have you done to her?" Trunks demanded. Lettuxe laughed and flew over to him.
"Oh, I remember you...you're that little brat from earth, hahahaha..." He floated slightly behind Starlight and kicked her forward. "Kill him." He said. Starlight lunged at Trunks and began punching him. Trunks couldn't hit her back, no matter how weird she acted. He blocked most of her attacks and dished out none in return. Lettuxe flew towards Vegeta.
"Well well well, if it isn't my dear friend Vegeta. What? Is royalty too good to save his friend from a horrible death?" He asked. Vegeta growled.
"Shut up. If I had known Freiza was going to destroy the planet, I would have warned everybody!" He snapped.
"Don't be stupid. All you have ever cared about was yourself, what would a little knowledge have done to your arrogant ways any way?" He smiled and turned back to Goku. "But I think I'll get you first. Or maybe your brat." He said smiling at Gohan. Gohan snarled.
"Who are you?" Goku asked. Lettuxe laughed.
"Oh, so you don't remember me eh?" He said. He looked over at Trunks slowly getting beat up from inside out. He smiled, "Well I'll tell you, they'll be at it for a while." He said. "About fifteen years ago I wanted to take over the world but you had to interfere with my plan. And then you had the stupidest excuse for not killing me, you said that you wanted me to 'live and never return.' Well, I've got news for you buddy..." He said turning Super Saiyan. "I did return and now that I've got you right where I want you...IT'S OVER." He said powering up again and turning Super Saiyan Two. It clicked in Goku's head.
"You!" He said. Lettuxe laughed.
"Yes...ME!" He said jumping at Goku. He punched Goku in the face and sent him to the floor. Goku stood up and rubbed his sore cheek. He glared at Lettuxe and glanced over at Starlight. He closed his eyes in despair and opened them to re-glare at Lettuxe.
"What have you done to her? It's me you want!" He yelled. Lettuxe laughed and snapped his fingers. Immediately Starlight stopped fighting Trunks and flew to her father's side. He grabbed her head and lifted her bangs.
"I own her now. It's the Saiyan way; have a daughter, she is yours to own." He said laughing sickly. Goku stared at Vegeta. He looked down on the floor.
"It's true, it is the Saiyan way." He said. Lettuxe laughed again (A/N: He does that a lot when he knows he's winning....) He slapped his daughter across the face. Starlight's eyes turned back to purple and she winced. Lettuxe picked her up by her shirt collar and immediately her eyes turned back to red. He dropped her to the floor. Goku snarled.
"No! What gives you the right to do that to her?!" Gohan yelled. Lettuxe walked up to Gohan and stared him straight in the face.
"The fact that I am bigger than her." He sneered kneeing Gohan in the stomach. Gohan keeled over in pain. Immediately Goku turned Super Saiyan.
"You CANNOT treat my kids like that!" Goku yelled lunging at Lettuxe. He began punching and kicking him. Vegeta smirked on the sidelines. Then, in mid-battle, Lettuxe snapped his fingers and Starlight began fighting both Trunks and Gohan. Gohan was confused. Trunks looked over at him.
"Don't hit her! I know it's not the Starlight we know but I know that beneath all this she's the same person on the inside. Didn't you see her eyes change when he slapped her? I know she's in there somewhere." He said as Starlight stopped and became a Super Saiyan. Gohan and Trunks did the same. She screamed and began taking all of her anger out on Trunks.
"Starlight! What are you doing?" He yelled. Then he managed to grab hold of her wrists and pin them behind her back. "It's me, Trunks! Don't you remember me?" He asked, on the verge of tears. He turned her around to face him and looked deep into her eyes. She looked back. Her eyes were still red. She became limp in his arms. He let go of one of her wrists and moved her bangs out of the way. The jewel was shimmering. He tried to pull it out but failed in his attempt. He must have triggered something when he tried because she went ape-crazy on him. Gohan stepped in and tried to help. He looked at her.
"Sorry Star." He said. He closed his eyes and punched her to the ground. Trunks gave him a horrified look. "I know, but maybe if we beat her up a little bit she'll be back to normal." He said. Trunks nodded slightly as he went down to where Starlight was waiting for their next attack.
"She will never be the same!" Lettuxe yelled. He was winning in his battle with Goku. Then Goku stopped to do a Kamehameha Wave but Lettuxe stopped him. He transported behind him. "Boo." He said punching Goku in the back. Goku screamed out in pain and fell to the floor. Lettuxe saw this as an opportunity and rammed into Goku's stomach with his elbow. Goku spit up blood and screamed.
"Help Vegeta!" He yelled, not afraid to ask for help. Vegeta's eye twitched. Lettuxe was really beating Goku up. "No..." He said under his breath, "I AM THE ONE WHO'S SUPPOSED TO KILL KAKARROT!" He yelled turning Super Saiyan. He lunged at Lettuxe. Lettuxe smiled.
"Now we can see what you're really made of...KING VEGETA!" He yelled. The two Saiyans fought. Just then Goku joined the fight, in a lot better condition. Lettuxe was confused, and for the first time he wasn't the one smiling. Vegeta smirked.
"Nice to see you've decided to join us..."
Bulma stood outside the room Trunks had been using for the past few days. She was worried about him. His power level had increased so high that it alerted Goku AND Vegeta, and they had to restrain him and drag him to the Capsule Corp. He had been in that room for over two hours. Everyone else was in the kitchen scheming on how to get Starlight back. Bulma sighed and opened the door.
"Trunks? Trunks honey...Come on out. They're working on a plan to get her back right now." Bulma said. She looked at Trunks. He had the shades drawn and the lights out. It was pitch black. He was sitting on top of his bed, holding a picture of him and Starlight. Bulma turned on a lamp next to the door. She was just about to go console him when Vegeta came behind her and turned off the lamp.
"Let the boy mourn in peace. He will get over it on his own time." Vegeta said gently pushing her out. He closed the door behind him. Once again, Trunks was all alone. He turned his bedside lamp on and stared at the picture in his hands. It had been taken on the day before the Cell Games. They were both wearing their bathing suits and they were sitting on the edge of a river. She had her arms wrapped around his neck and her head on his shoulder. They were both smiling and having a good time. Trunks's eyes filled with tears that clouded his vision. He blinked them away and lied his head down on his pillow. He sighed heavily and listened to the others in the other room.
"DAMMIT!" Goku yelled from the kitchen. He pounded his fists on the table so hard the walls shook. Trunks sat up. He had to go see if he could help. He didn't like feeling so helpless. Still holding the picture in his hands, he got off his bed and walked to the kitchen. Everyone looked up as he entered. He looked at everyone. Chichi was sitting at the table with a red-tearstained face.
"We need to get her back. Who knows what that man is doing to her right now." Chichi said in a cracked voice.
"I could go to King Kai's and ask him where Floraz is but....I doubt that we could make it there in time." Goku said. He bared his teeth in frustration. Bulma jumped as an idea hit her.
"I've got an idea! Goku you go to King Kai's and get him to draw out a map for Floraz. Then I can program a spaceship, like the one that Goku used to get to Namek, to get to Floraz and we'll get Starlight back in no time!" Bulma said. Everyone let out a relieved sigh. Goku didn't waste any time. He went straight to King Kai's. Gohan's anger began rising.
"I can't believe it. She's gone. After everything we've been through. I wasn't there to help her." He said. Trunks walked over to Gohan and placed a hand on his shoulder. Gohan's anger dropped as he looked up at Trunks.
"We WILL get her back." He said solemnly. Some how those five words consoled Gohan. He sat down at the table and sighed. Just then Goku re- appeared in the kitchen. His face didn't hold it's usual look of silly, out-witted determination; instead his face looked old, like he was wearing thin. He took a piece of paper out of his pocket and unfolded it. Everybody crowded around him as he placed it on the table.
"It's not far." He said. "But it is in another galaxy, next to a planet called Shabaru-"
"Shabaru?" Vegeta asked loudly. Goku nodded. "That was the neighboring planet to my home planet Vegeta! I often invaded it when I was a child. Boy," He said pointing a gloved hand at Trunks, "What was this Saiyan's name?"
"Lettuxe." He said looking at the floor, wishing he had told them that sooner.
"LETTUXE?" Vegeta shouted.
"Are you familiar with him?" Goku asked. Vegeta nodded.
"He was a frie....A fellow Saiyan that I knew." He said crossing his arms. "I know what he is capable of. I hate to admit it, but he was almost as strong as me." He said. Trunks clenched his fists and bit his bottom lip.
"Gimme the map." Bulma demanded. Goku gave it to her and she ran to the lab. Ten minutes later she emerged. "Go, it's programmed and everything. If you leave now you should be able to get there at about five o'clock this evening." She said. Immediately Trunks walked to the space ship followed by Vegeta, Goku, and Gohan. They all sat down and pressed a few buttons. Then they sat in complete solitude until they reached the planet Floraz.
*******SIX HOURS LATER*******
"YOU HAVE NOW REACHED YOUR DESTINATION FLORAZ." The computerized voice said. They didn't need to be told twice. Everyone filed out of the spaceship and onto the barren planet. There were few trees and not very much grass, but there were millions of rivers and streams everywhere. The air felt dry and cold. A gust of wind sent a shiver down everyone's spine. They felt around for any life at all and found only a small trace.
"That's Starlight." Gohan said. He jumped into the air and headed north. "This way!" He yelled. The others followed. As they got closer they came to the conclusion that the energy was indeed from Starlight. They kept flying until they found her, about one hundred miles away from where they had landed. She was standing on the edge of a cliff over looking a river, with a scowl on her face. Trunks was elated. He flew over to her with his arms wide open.
"Leave." She said flatly. He got closer. She punched him. Trunks fell. That punch had caught him completely off guard. Trunks was deeply hurt. He looked into her eyes. Some how her eyes had turned red. It wasn't the same Starlight he knew. Just then Lettuxe appeared behind her with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face.
"Hello...Kakarrot..." He said flying off of the cliff. Starlight followed. When she dropped from the cliff her bangs moved up slightly, revealing the jewel on her forehead.
"What have you done to her?" Trunks demanded. Lettuxe laughed and flew over to him.
"Oh, I remember you...you're that little brat from earth, hahahaha..." He floated slightly behind Starlight and kicked her forward. "Kill him." He said. Starlight lunged at Trunks and began punching him. Trunks couldn't hit her back, no matter how weird she acted. He blocked most of her attacks and dished out none in return. Lettuxe flew towards Vegeta.
"Well well well, if it isn't my dear friend Vegeta. What? Is royalty too good to save his friend from a horrible death?" He asked. Vegeta growled.
"Shut up. If I had known Freiza was going to destroy the planet, I would have warned everybody!" He snapped.
"Don't be stupid. All you have ever cared about was yourself, what would a little knowledge have done to your arrogant ways any way?" He smiled and turned back to Goku. "But I think I'll get you first. Or maybe your brat." He said smiling at Gohan. Gohan snarled.
"Who are you?" Goku asked. Lettuxe laughed.
"Oh, so you don't remember me eh?" He said. He looked over at Trunks slowly getting beat up from inside out. He smiled, "Well I'll tell you, they'll be at it for a while." He said. "About fifteen years ago I wanted to take over the world but you had to interfere with my plan. And then you had the stupidest excuse for not killing me, you said that you wanted me to 'live and never return.' Well, I've got news for you buddy..." He said turning Super Saiyan. "I did return and now that I've got you right where I want you...IT'S OVER." He said powering up again and turning Super Saiyan Two. It clicked in Goku's head.
"You!" He said. Lettuxe laughed.
"Yes...ME!" He said jumping at Goku. He punched Goku in the face and sent him to the floor. Goku stood up and rubbed his sore cheek. He glared at Lettuxe and glanced over at Starlight. He closed his eyes in despair and opened them to re-glare at Lettuxe.
"What have you done to her? It's me you want!" He yelled. Lettuxe laughed and snapped his fingers. Immediately Starlight stopped fighting Trunks and flew to her father's side. He grabbed her head and lifted her bangs.
"I own her now. It's the Saiyan way; have a daughter, she is yours to own." He said laughing sickly. Goku stared at Vegeta. He looked down on the floor.
"It's true, it is the Saiyan way." He said. Lettuxe laughed again (A/N: He does that a lot when he knows he's winning....) He slapped his daughter across the face. Starlight's eyes turned back to purple and she winced. Lettuxe picked her up by her shirt collar and immediately her eyes turned back to red. He dropped her to the floor. Goku snarled.
"No! What gives you the right to do that to her?!" Gohan yelled. Lettuxe walked up to Gohan and stared him straight in the face.
"The fact that I am bigger than her." He sneered kneeing Gohan in the stomach. Gohan keeled over in pain. Immediately Goku turned Super Saiyan.
"You CANNOT treat my kids like that!" Goku yelled lunging at Lettuxe. He began punching and kicking him. Vegeta smirked on the sidelines. Then, in mid-battle, Lettuxe snapped his fingers and Starlight began fighting both Trunks and Gohan. Gohan was confused. Trunks looked over at him.
"Don't hit her! I know it's not the Starlight we know but I know that beneath all this she's the same person on the inside. Didn't you see her eyes change when he slapped her? I know she's in there somewhere." He said as Starlight stopped and became a Super Saiyan. Gohan and Trunks did the same. She screamed and began taking all of her anger out on Trunks.
"Starlight! What are you doing?" He yelled. Then he managed to grab hold of her wrists and pin them behind her back. "It's me, Trunks! Don't you remember me?" He asked, on the verge of tears. He turned her around to face him and looked deep into her eyes. She looked back. Her eyes were still red. She became limp in his arms. He let go of one of her wrists and moved her bangs out of the way. The jewel was shimmering. He tried to pull it out but failed in his attempt. He must have triggered something when he tried because she went ape-crazy on him. Gohan stepped in and tried to help. He looked at her.
"Sorry Star." He said. He closed his eyes and punched her to the ground. Trunks gave him a horrified look. "I know, but maybe if we beat her up a little bit she'll be back to normal." He said. Trunks nodded slightly as he went down to where Starlight was waiting for their next attack.
"She will never be the same!" Lettuxe yelled. He was winning in his battle with Goku. Then Goku stopped to do a Kamehameha Wave but Lettuxe stopped him. He transported behind him. "Boo." He said punching Goku in the back. Goku screamed out in pain and fell to the floor. Lettuxe saw this as an opportunity and rammed into Goku's stomach with his elbow. Goku spit up blood and screamed.
"Help Vegeta!" He yelled, not afraid to ask for help. Vegeta's eye twitched. Lettuxe was really beating Goku up. "No..." He said under his breath, "I AM THE ONE WHO'S SUPPOSED TO KILL KAKARROT!" He yelled turning Super Saiyan. He lunged at Lettuxe. Lettuxe smiled.
"Now we can see what you're really made of...KING VEGETA!" He yelled. The two Saiyans fought. Just then Goku joined the fight, in a lot better condition. Lettuxe was confused, and for the first time he wasn't the one smiling. Vegeta smirked.
"Nice to see you've decided to join us..."
