The Great Saiyaman Fiasco

Author's Note: This is a sequel to "An Alternate Afterlife, and the storyline is briefly mentioned in Chapter 10. Keep in mind this will probably be heavily revised as I think of new story ideas and discard old ones for my mini-saga, but this will give you an idea of where I now think "An Alternate Afterlife" is going.

Trunks stared. And stared. And stared. And stared. He would have stared even longer, but his hearing finally caught the tail end of Goten's question

". . .think?"

"Huh?" Goten repeated it. "Well, um. It's certainly. . . well, to be honest Goten, you look like a

reject from the circus of Hell." The black haired demi-saiyan huffed, though the black hair wasn't in evidence, hidden as it was beneath the helmet.

"It was your mom who designed it for me, Trunks."

"Geez, I guess she had a fit of temporary insanity or something. Usually mom knows good fashion."

"Well," and Goten took another look in the mirror, "I like it."

SWITCH

"Hey, Gohan."

"Goten, please tell me Vegeta slipped some drugs into my drink last night."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because I'm seeing things."

"Bulma designed the outfit!"

"Get her to design another one."

"No! This is perfect! I have a superhero routine and everything!" Goten demonstrated.

"The last thing I need is Ginyu Force flashbacks, Goten. I have enough nightmares as it is."

SWITCH

"Goten, if you honestly plan to keep that monstrosity, I won't appear in public with you. Not even if it was to witness your brother's execution."

"You barely even looked!"

"The overwhelming blanket of horror and despair I sensed from the local fauna that gazed upon your costume gave me a pretty good idea."

"I like this outfit!"

"Proving once again that animals lacking sentience have far more fashion sense than the entire Son family put together." Goten glared up at his mentor, who had two or three inches on him.

"I thought you would support me."

"Goten, I'm saving you a great deal of shame by telling you this now; you will be laughed off the streets if you actually go through with this."

"Gohan doesn't like it either."

"This costume's pure ugliness is the uniting force that pulls myself and your brother together."

"But. . ."

"Stick to fighting, Goten, and take my advice; never go into the fashion industry."

SWTICH

"Brat, if you appeared like that on Vegeta-sei, you would be put down mercifully."

"I have the saiyan spandex, though."

"Hardly a redeeming feature. It doesn't even look suited for fighting. That cape is just begging to be wrapped around your neck. And the helmet can't offer all that much head protection. Probably limits visibility too."

"It's designed to impress people and intimidate evil!"

"Any evil that is weak enough to be intimidated by that could easily be dealt with by a human child."

"I didn't come here for your opinion, Vegeta."

SWITCH

"Mommy, look! Goten is a clown!"

"No, sweetie, Goten is a superhero."

"Like the chicken man on TV?"

"Yes, Bra, like the chicken man."

"Yay, Goten is going to save us from the evil forces of cutlery and pot pie!"

SWITCH

"What do you think, dad?"

"It's certainly an interesting fashion choice, son. But I wouldn't recommend it for a fight."

"I'm just going to be against regular humans, dad." "

Well, then, have fun I guess. The antenna aren't the best idea, though. Or do they give reception or something?"

". . . Never mind, dad."

SWITCH

"Goten, what happened?" The demi-saiyan, now sans Great Saiyaman outfit, flopped down on the couch.

"They laughed me off the street, Trunks. Just like Cell said they would. He was right. You were right." Trunks smiled smugly.

"Aren't I always?"

"That's why I had your mom design me a new costume! Look, it's got a cape and everything, except now, the antenna don't. . ." Trunks snatched the hologram watch off of Goten's wrist, and threw it into the nearby sink full of dirty dishwater. There was silence. "Trunks, that was unnecessary."

"How about I take you out to an all-you-can-eat buffet to ease the pain? Bet you can't get us kicked out."

"You're on!"

FIN