Shining Friendship
Chapter 13
Author's Notes: Wow, I haven't updated in like...years? I finally felt like writing another chapter for this story. And seeing how I've updated a lot of my writing in the Fiction site, I guess it's safe to say that most of the writer's block is finally wearing off.
The Struggle
"Four dragon balls so far," Goten stated as he looked down at the bag Mr. Popo gave him. He flew across the sky, looking at the dragon radar held in his hands. "The next one shouldn't be too far away, I hope," he said. "Soon, Trunks will be back!"
----
"I swear this walk is longer than the way home from school," Trunks complained. Just then, a huge truck headed towards him, stopping as it approached him.
"What you up to, boy?" a blue-skinned man with small horns on his head walked out. His tussled brown hair moved as if it were moving against the wind, even though there was no wind in Other World.
"I, uh...how do you get to King Yemma?" Trunks asked, putting his fists up with hope.
The man frowned. "Why would you want to meet the King? It's a waste of time, believe me, especially if you're planning to escape back to the living world," the man said. Trunks stared at him dumb-founded, wondering if the man could really read people's minds. "Don't mind, I don't read people's minds," the man said, "most people who ask where the king is do that so they can try and escape. I speak from experience."
"Oh," was all Trunks could say. "I'll be going now," he said.
"Didn't ya want to know where the king is?" the man asked.
"No worry there!" Trunks faked a laugh. "I...I think I can find my way there, thank you."
"Kids," the man murmured as he jumped back onto his seat. "They can't make up their minds."
As soon as the man left, Trunks began to wonder which direction lead to King Yemma.
----
Forces clashed on Earth's sky, making summits topple to the ground. Gohan and Goku charged towards Buu with all they had, but all their strategies seemed to be like child's play to Buu. "He's stronger than before," Goku managed to choke out. "He's invincible!"
"Where's Vegeta?" Gohan suddenly brought up.
"Darn it, where is he?" Goku growled. "That jerk." Just then, something higher up in the sky was seen speeding down. Goku noticed the blue blur, in which had knocked Buu to the ground. "Vegeta!" Goku cried.
"He can't fight Buu all by himself!" Gohan cried. "He'll get killed! What do we do?"
"Vegeta!" But Vegeta ignored Goku's cries. "What the hell is he thinking?" Goku cursed under his breath. "He'll get himself killed!"
Goku flew down into the small combat Vegeta was having with Buu and he swung Buu away. Buu crashed into a cliff. Hoping the hit would buy them some time, Goku turned to Vegeta. "What the hell are you doing, Vegeta? You're going to get yourself killed if you don't let us help you. Don't you understand that by yourself, there's no way you can defeat Buu?"
Vegeta spat some blood, grinned, and punched Goku in the face. Goku blinked, his eyes wide open as he looked back at Vegeta. He could feel warm blood trickling down his chin. "What's gotten into you?" he said just above a whisper.
"Listen, Kakkarot," Vegeta began, "you get your son and get out of my way. I'll make Buu pay for what he did to Trunks and I'll make sure I make him pay by myself."
"Vegeta, what's the point?" Goku cried. "Trunks will be brought back to life with the dragon balls! It's not worth throwing away your life. Now, let us help you!"
"Shut up, Kakkarot," Vegeta cried. "I'll make sure that monster regrets ever touching my son. And once it does, I'll have his knees on the ground begging for mercy."
"Vegeta..." Goku sighed.
"Dad!!" Gohan called from the sky. "Look out!!"
Goku turned around to find an energy beam headed straight for them. He pushed himself and Vegeta out of the way, landing hard on the ground. He got back on his feet, spitting dirt from his mouth and looking back at Vegeta. "Vegeta, listen to me! If you kill yourself, then you'll only make your son miserable when he comes back!"
"I know what I'm doing," Vegeta stood up.
"No, you don't," Goku replied. "And that mistake will cost you and your family."
Gohan flew down and landed next to Goku. "Buu's back," he said. He realized the silence between his father and Vegeta. "What happened?" he asked. "Dad, what's wrong?"
"Vegeta," Goku spoke up, "you know I'm right."
Vegeta turned his head away from the pair of them. Goku knew he was struggling with thoughts of his own. He just hoped he would figure it out quickly before Buu finished them off.
He heard Vegeta chuckle. "Where are the fusion earrings when you need them?" he said, turning back to Goku.
Goku smiled. "So you accept our help?" he asked.
"Hell, if we don't fight together, that beast will never be beaten," said Vegeta. "But how will we get rid of it?"
Goku winked. "I've got an idea. It's a bit of an amusing one, though."
Gohan stared at the two, confused. He still had a hard time figuring out what the other two were talking about.
----
Trunks spotted the entrance to Other World in the distance. He grinned and flew to the large building, seeing the usually long line of ghosts outside, waiting for judgment. Trunks flew in through a window and saw the large figure of King Yemma sitting in its desk. "You will go to Hell," he heard King Yemma announce. A small, white and round ghost shook nervously, waiting for what was about to happen. Trunks stared with mild interest as the floor formed a hole beneath it, and the ghost was sucked into it. Then the floor reappeared again.
King Yemma's lips opened, about to say, "Next!" when Trunks decided to swoop in at that moment. He landed right on King Yemma's desk. King Yemma's eyes widened in surprise. "Hi, King Yemma. Stopped by to ask you something!"
"Erm...sure..." King Yemma flipped through his notebook, each page sending a burst of wind against Trunk's face. "Er...unless I'm mistaken, you have already been assigned for Heaven. I'm sure that wandering around is not a hard task. What is there to be questioned about?"
But Trunk's was now walking on Yemma's notebook, his eyes reading over the listed names. "Wow, there are so many people that come here. And this notebook is as thick as a rock! I bet you have more than a hundred notebooks just as filled!"
"PAY ATTENTION!"
"Y-Yes, sir!" Trunks jumped into military position, his hands glued to his side.
"My patience is growing weary. I have too many ghosts to deal with and simply don't have the time to chit-chat. Now tell me, what do you need help with?"
"A-Actually, sir, I was wondering if you could let me off. You know, let me go back to the Living World. Please, please, please!"
"I am sorry. I cannot do that," King Yemma replied. "Now go back to the Heavens."
"But this is really urgent! There's this really bad guy on Earth and he's killing a lot of people and so I have to fight him!" Trunks said, hoping something like that would change the King's mind.
"No, I'm sorry. Goku's there to solve the problem, anyway," said King Yemma. "Now please get off my notebook so I can resume working."
But Trunks didn't move. "Please, sir. Isn't there a way for me to come back to life?"
King Yemma shook his head. "No, I am sorry. Unless the dragon balls – ah – I hear young Goten is searching for the dragon balls back on Earth. Perhaps he may wish you back to life."
Trunks's eyes lowered. With everything that had been going on, he doubted that. He recalled how he last treated Goten; not a very smart way. And that's how he ended up getting himself killed. Goten hated him, he was sure of that. There was no way he would get brought back to life, at least not for a very long time, when someone else but Goten had the dragon balls...
"Um, I need you off my notebook now."
----
Back on Earth, a triumphant cry could be heard from the mountains. Goten had found two dragon balls. And now there was only one left.