Disclaimer: DBZ is not owned by me in the likeliest situation.

Shinzon – New Existence

Chapter 7: Dare To Dream

"Crystal ball? What crystal ball?" Trunks' statement did not make one bit of sense to either of the Son sons.

"The lady... she has a crystal ball. A bad one, an evil one."

"How could a crystal ball be evil?" Gohan asked in curiosity, his eyebrows rising on his head.

"I don't know... I just... looked into it and the next thing I knew I was... being attacked. I was afraid something might happen to me or my parents." Trunks paused for a minute as if thinking deeply. "I think the crystal ball brings your fears to life."

"Really? You're sure it was just coincidence?" Trunks nodded. "Well, if you're sure... I'll believe you." Goten was eyeing Trunks' wounds and Trunks took noticed.

"What's up, Goten? Why are you staring at me?"

"Did it hurt? When you were... attacked?" Goten's eyes grew with his question as though the answer was going to be horrific. Gohan took the moment to shush Trunks with a glare.

"Goten... Don't ask Trunks that question."

"I was just..." Gohan shook his head firmly and Goten silenced himself. Trunks shifted his weight uncomfortably on the couch, trying to think of some thing to start the flow of conversation again. Gohan turned his eyes to Trunks.

"We need to get you home soon. Your parents must be worried sick of you."

"Worried doesn't even describe it, brat." Three heads spun around to face the front door, which was standing open and revealing a Vegeta who, for once, actually looked fearful. Vegeta strode over to his son and examined him. "Just who in the hell attacked you son?" He asked harshly, but not at his son, more like his anger was pointed at whoever hurt his son.

"I don't know, dad. I was looking into the crystal ball-"

"What?!" Vegeta interrupted. "You were looking into a crystal ball?"

"Yes... Is that wrong?" Vegeta didn't answer but walked over to the window and peered out, his arms crossed over his chest as he was in very deep thought. It showed in his face. Everything remained quiet for a few minutes, the three boys looking at Vegeta, Vegeta looking out the window. Finally, Vegeta spoke.

"A long time ago when I was younger, we came across a fortune-teller. A weird one at that too. She had threatened us that she would change the future for the worse, and end my father's life. We ignored her prediction." He paused. "Later on we heard her say Frieza was going to kill us all, and of course we prosecuted her. How wrong we were. We found out she was right and we were wrong, but I thought that was the last of them, of those fortune-tellers."

"What about Baba?" Gohan asked. "She's still alive."

"She's for good," Vegeta snapped back. "Crystal balls are said to be of the fortune-teller woman. Any crystal balls that aren't clear or white are said to belong to her."

Trunks took this time to intervene Vegeta's narrative. "I saw a black crystal ball dad. Is that bad?"

"The hell it is son." Turning around, Vegeta strode back over to the three others. "A black crystal ball is to bring death and misfortune. Are you sure that is the color you saw? And just where were you anyway when you did see it?" Trunks glanced sideways.

"I was... training by the forest..."

"By the forest?"

Trunks sighed. His father had him. "I was in the forest searching around for something to do and I just ran into this figure."

"What kind of figure?"

"Uh... One that was in black. She was holding a black crystal ball in her hand, like she wanted me to see into it."

"Let me guess, you did?" Vegeta hissed. "I should have known."

"Sorry daddy. I couldn't help but glance at it. But when I did, I was like paralyzed. I didn't know what was happening. Then I felt pain in my side. I think it was my left..."

"How'd you get away?" Gohan asked in mild curiosity.

"I don't know. I just remember being near your house."

Vegeta put on his thinking face again. "So you have no recollection of what happened after that? Typical. I bet they wanted this to happen."

"Dad...?"

"Come on, Trunks, I'm taking you home now." Vegeta picked up Trunks and proceeded to go outside. He took a step outside when he froze for a second, turning half-way back. "What's wrong with Kakarot?"

"What do you mean 'what's wrong'?" Goten asked in his tiny voice.

"Kakarot's ki is off. It's not its usual feeling. You might want to check that out." Vegeta turned and took off with Trunks in tow, leaving the Son sons bewildered slightly.

---

Reina strummed her fingers on the desk in earnest boredom. Part of her plan was missing. Not in a document way, but in a screwed up way. The little purple-haired by was supposed to be dead, but he's well and alive, according to her crystal ball. And her crystal ball was never wrong. Never.

Reina stared into her little black crystal ball. It was showing an upstairs room, possibly a wooded-one. "Shouldn't he be getting up? Siena couldn't have possibly drained that much out of him for possession." Suddenly a little girl in white clothes entered the room slowly.

"Mistress, I was wondering if I may possess another different person. Possibly the boy." Reina glanced at Siena hard.

"That does not go into accordance with my plan." Siena shuffled her foot in the ground a bit.

"I know, Mistress, it's just that... well... this could actually help your plan a bit. I'm only doing this to help." Reina gave another hard glare at Siena, sizing her up.

"Very well. But you must do one thing first..."

"I understand, Mistress." Siena bowed and left the room.

---

Gohan peeked around the corner of the door, making sure his father wasn't about to leap out and attack them. He was taking a big caution since Vegeta had told him what was wrong with his dad. He saw his father lying on the floor in the same position he was in when he, Gohan, had woken up from unconsciousness earlier. Gohan sighed and ushered his brother inside.

They sat on the bed and watched their father carefully. Hopefully, he would get better soon. Or the world might not remain peaceful any longer.

---

"You aren't who you used to be." He turned his head. Who had said that? And, in fact, just where was he? The landscape was full of fog and he couldn't see into the horizon, which was a little disturbing. Something did not seem good in this place. The voice repeated the phrase and Goku couldn't help but feel apprehensive. What did it mean by 'You aren't who you used to be.'? His mind was befuddled with the mystery, and it seemed that mystery would never be solved.

"You have changed for the worst." Goku turned his head again. It had been a different voice, one that dripped of malice. He didn't heed this one's words, even if the statement was quite possibly true. He took one step and his word turned into darkness. Now more voices popped up, saying different things that confused his mind further, even if they may have meant the same meaning.

"Evil has corrupted you."

"Your power is nothing now."

"You are losing everything as we speak."

"You have lost their trust."

He had lost their trust? Who were they? Then it hit him. Not a physical blow, but a mental one. His sons'. He had lost his sons' trust. His last thought was a depressing one as he slipped back into the unconscious state he was in before.