"Dragonball AS: New Recruits Saga"

Chapter 17- "Fathers and Sons"

By- Tiny

Almost two years of training had done the entire group a whole lot of good, especially the new recruits. Ice and Sanil had formed a fast friendship and were close to reaching a new level of power that they knew was there. Gohan now had full control of his SSJ3 form and could stay in it for days at a time without dropping in power. Goten and Trunks had also mastered the power and were close to reaching the Legendary form of Saiya-jin.

A whole lot had changed as well over the two years, including the three Saiya-jin toddlers, now known as the 'Troublesome Trio'. Goken and Medon had shocked everyone a few months earlier by transforming into the SSJ stage when Vegeta had taken their toys away. That made them the youngest Super Saiya-jin's ever, and Vegeta suspected Bikini could transform as well. The only unsurprising thing that had happened was when Goken had said his first word: food.

Raditz and Diive had also decided to settle down with a couple of Earth women, named Reyna and Hiromi, and were now the fathers of two bouncing baby boys. Things were going smoothly for the Z crew, but they all knew it wouldn't last.

"Grandma," little Medon whimpered, "Is breakfast ready yet?"

"Almost sweetheart," Chi-Chi smiled, "Why don't you go and get your daddy for me. It should be ready by the time you get back."

"Okay!" the little boy cheered, "I'll be back!"

"So much like his grandpa," Chi-Chi giggled, "If only he were here now."

"Thinking of Kakarot again?" Raditz asked, stepping into the kitchen, "Good things, I trust?"

"There were nothing but good times when he was here," Chi-Chi sniffled, "Shouldn't you be out with your wife though? Not here in the kitchen with your sister-in-law."

"She's out in the car, getting Kimuchi out of his seat," Raditz laughed, "Besides, I need to check up on my family every once in a while."

"Well, thanks," Chi-Chi smiled, "How is my nephew doing, anyways?"

"Well, he's gotten pretty big now," Raditz chuckled, "He said his first word this morning when Reyna was changing him. She's absolutely delighted about it all."

"Really? What did he say?"

"He said 'momma'," Raditz beamed, "Of course he called me that too, but you know how that goes..."

"They're all growing up so fast," Chi-Chi smiled, not listening closely to her brother-in-law, "Please come home soon Goku. I know you don't want to miss out on this..."

"I CAN NOT ALLOW IT!" the old Shenlong boomed, "SON GOKU MUST STAY HERE!"

"I told you!" Goku laughed triumphantly, "Shenlong won't listen to anybody!"

"Can it, Son!" Piccolo growled, "Shenlong, as the one who created you I am what most would call your father. You must do what I say!"

"I AM TRULY SORRY," Shenlong sighed, "GOKU MUST STAY HERE. I MUST PURIFY THE DRAGONBALLS AND ONLY A PURE SOUL CAN ACCOMPLISH THIS."

"A pure soul," Brolly smirked, "Dragon, sense my aura! Could I be a method for you to purify the balls?"

"HMM," the dragon mused, "YES, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO IT. YOUR AURA IS FULL OF NEGATIVE ENERGY. IT MAY CANCEL OUT THE BALLS NEGATIVITY."

"You've trained with the mightiest Kai in the universe and your still evil?" Piccolo grunted, "I don't understand Saiya-jin..."

"HE IS NOT EVIL, JUST FULL OF NEGATIVE ENERGY," Shenlong corrected, "WERE HE EVIL, THIS WOULDN'T WORK OUT."

"Told ya!" Brolly snickered, "You crazy Nameksei-jin!"

"ARE YOU READY TO DO THIS?" Shenlong grumbled, "I PROMISE IT WILL BE A COMPLETELY PAINLESS PROCEDURE."

"I am ready for whatever you throw at me," Brolly gulped, "Let's just get it over with already!"

"AS YOU WISH, SAIYA-JIN!!!"

Not waiting for Brolly to brace himself, the Dragon shot into the Saiya-jin's chest in one quick jolt. Brolly's face twisted in a slight twinge of pain as the seven Dragonballs followed Shenlong into his body. That's when the changes started.

Right before Goku and Piccolo's eyes, Brolly's hair shot down to his knees in golden spikes and then shrank back to a semi-normal length of black hair. Red lines appeared under the Saiya-jin's green eyes and matching fur rippled across his body in a matter of seconds. The sudden increase in Brolly's size and build ripped his shirt clean off faster than you could say...

"HOLY SHIT!" Goku gasped, "Shenlong transformed him!"

"INDEED I HAVE," Shenlong laughed, "BY CANCELING OUT THE NEGATIVE ENERGY IN HIM, I UNLEASHED HIS FULL POWER. HE IS ALMOST AS STRONG AS VEGETA NOW."

"Did the process work?" Brolly asked, his voice oddly calmer, "Can we leave with Kakarot now?"

"INDEED YOU MAY, MY FRIEND," Shenlong grinned, "I WISH YOU LUCK ON YOUR JOURNEY AND BID YOU FAREWELL, SON GOKU."

"You have been a good friend Shenlong and a wise teacher," Goku bowed, "I owe you big time."

"YOU OWE NO MORE THAN I," Shenlong sighed, "I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN, SAIYA-JIN."

"We're wasting time here," Brolly interrupted, "The Earth is on a short fuse right now and the flame is drawing closer."

"I hear you," Goku nodded, lifting off with Brolly, "Goodbye Shenlong, and thanks again!"

"GOODBYE SON GOKU," Shenlong smirked, "AND I WISH YOU GOOD LUCK ON YOUR JOURNEY."

"I thank you for your actions," Piccolo bowed before he left, "You've done me proud, my son."

Watching as the three warriors disappeared from view and headed back to the world of the Ultimate Kaio-Shin, Shenlong turned his rather large, toothy mouth up in a genuine smile.

"THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR, FATHER...."

"Hello Grandpa B!" Medon cheered, jumping into Bardock's lap, "Are you going to train with Mr. Vegetable?"

"That's Vegita, kid," Bardock chuckled, "And no, I'm taking the day off today and was wondering if you and my other grandkids wanted to come along with me?"

"I'd have to ask Daddy," Medon pouted, "He'll probably say no..."

"How can you refuse that face?" Bardock smiled, "Well, why don't we go and ask him ourselves? I'm sure I can talk him into it."

"YAY!" Medon cheered, "He's out back with Pan and Uncle Goten."

"Okay then, he should be easy to convince," Bardock laughed, "Let's go kid."

Leading his great-grandpa by the arm outside, Medon quite easily found his father and other relatives in a two-on-one spar. Pan and Goten kept on coming at Gohan, but the older hybrid gave them a run for their money and knocked both away easily. Bardock watched with amusement as Goten crawled out of the dirt and shook it off, not seeing his grandpa until the older man called out.

"I see all this training has paid off!" Bardock laughed, "For Gohan at least!"

"Good to see ya, gramps!" Gohan smiled, landing next to his grandfather, "What brings you out this way?"

"I wanted to ask if you and Goten would let the little ones come with me into the city for the afternoon," Bardock smiled, "Raditz has already let us take Kimuchi, he's with Chive right now. I was wondering if I might snag the other three?"

"Sure, they can go," Gohan laughed, "That is, if it's alright with Goten."

"I'm cool with that," Goten nodded, "I know grandpa will take extra good care of the little guys. Mom would kill him otherwise!"

"Ain't that the truth!" Pan snickered, "Give me a second gramps and I'll meet you out front!"

"Okay, but hurry up!" Bardock called after the teen's retreating form, "She's sure grown up these last few years. How old is she now?"

"Sixteen, soon to be seventeen," Gohan smiled, "Hard to believe when you think about it, but it's true."

"Well I'll be sure to keep the young men away from her while we're gone," Bardock chuckled, "I'm certain Chive will too."

"Bardock, c'mon!" Chive called from out front, "We're not getting any younger, you know!"

"Better get going, so I'll see you guys later!" Bardock laughed, taking off with Medon in his arms.

"Well, guess it's just you and me now," Goten sighed, watching the older Saiya-jin retreat into the distance "Think you're up for another round before lunch?"

"Whatever you say, bro," Gohan smirked, falling into stance, "I just hope you don't get hurt too bad."

"In your dreams, big brother..."

NEXT TIME: Goku has been freed from the Lair of Dragons and the trio are headed back to Ultimate Kaio-Shin's planet. But with less than two years left to prepare for the new evil's arrival, why is Bardock deciding to take a break? More importantly, why are the Saiya-jin king and his mate doing so? Find out in the next installment of Dragonball AS!!!!!!