"Dragonball AS: Ultimate Cell Saga"

Chapter 89- "Coronation"

By- Tiny

The planet Saiyasei was a beautiful paradise the likes of which the Saiya-jin from Earth could only imagine, having lived in the bustling metropolises and hectic day to day routines back home. The sky was a beautiful red-orange color with yellowish clouds stretching out across the massive expanse every now and again, the outlines of the triple moons visible in the early evening sky. Everything else greatly resembled Earth, save the much more advanced technology and superior architecture, but there was one very obvious difference.

The gravity on this planet was much higher than Earth's own, probably about fifty times that of the blue planet, meaning that Saiyasei was much more straining on the Saiya-jin body than Vegetasei. Not that it bothered any of the inhabitants or anything, but it was a little uncomfortable for people who had not only been in a single gravity environment for years, but who has been dead just hours ago. Still, the people of the planet had gathered around at the old royal palace, where they knew their king resided, and hoped deep inside that maybe there they could get some answers as to their mysterious resurrection.

As the populace poured into the royal courtyard, they could see their king and queen standing out on the balcony dressed in their most regal armor, waving silently to the anxious crowd. Standing behind the king was another group of people dressed in the classic elite-style armor, all clearly Saiya-jin despite their odd appearances, save two, who were dressed in a much more noble outfit. Who the lavender-haired warrior and his blonde-haired counterpart were the crowd did not know, but it was quite clear that the answers were about to come as the king began to speak.

"People of Saiyasei, those who call me their king, today is a glorious day in our race's history; a day in which the most feared race in the universe was given a second chance!" Vegita shouted, "Today is the beginning of a great era of peace and prosperity for not only our people but for the entire universe, so let us revel in the fact that it was our people who brought this era around!"

The people rejoiced as their king spoke, dancing around like idiots underneath the overhang from the palace, happy to hear that they were no longer slaves of any empire or servants of a tyrant. Rather they were now, once again, the independent and proud people that they had been before Frieza and his family; the people that they had always hoped to be again someday. It was a time of tears, of joy, and of sadness, but it was not yet over as the king began to talk yet again.

"As you all know, I have been the king of the Saiya-jin for well over a century, the longest reign of any in our history," Vegita smiled, a tear in his eye, "But now, as I grow older and weary of the burden, the time has come to pass on the title of king to another of my line. I had always hoped that that man would be my son, but alas the great prince Vegeta will never be returning to his people, as he sacrificed his very life as royalty to bring about this new age."

The crowd was dead silent now as their ruler spoke this terrible and unbelievable news, that the crown prince of their people was not going to be the successor to the throne as they has always thought. Even more shocking was the news of his 'death', since he had been known to be stronger than even his father, the king, and there were many cries of anguish at the news. Still, there was no time to reflect on the sad information as the king's speech continued, his smile broadening as he signaled for the lavender-haired man and his mate to come forth.

"My people, I present to you the successor to the throne and my grandson, the only son of the Saiya-jin prince Vegeta," Vegita's voice boomed as he removed the heavy pendant from around his neck, the placing it on the other man's, "People of Saiyasei, I, King Vegita the 21st of the Saiya-jin race, present to you with your new ruler, Briefs Trunks, the 22nd King of the Saiya-jin and his queen, the lovely human woman, Marron!"

The people down below didn't know what to say at first, unsure as to how they could accept a half-breed, something that had previously been considered a dishonor to their race, as their king. Still, there was something about this Trunks that made them all feel a mixture of both respect and fear towards him, as though his strength was surging through everything around them. In reality it was, as the newly crowned ruler wanted to make clear his presence to the people, and they could feel in flowing through them as the stared in wonder at the pale-haired warrior.

The Saiya-jin people on instinct bowed down at the base of the palace courtyard, falling to one knee with their arms crossed over their chests in the traditional royal salute of the Saiya-jin guard. The new king smirked at the sight of his people, the people he had heard so much about from his father and grandfather, bowed down in respect at his feet, the kind of respect that he knew he and his friends deserved. A new age had indeed begun for the universe as Trunks surveyed the people approvingly, finally feeling at peace with this side of himself.

"Rise, my people; rise and gaze upon the face of the future!" Trunks' voice boomed across the courtyard, "A new day has dawned and we will celebrate it until the dawn has turned into dusk!"

The people celebrated well into the night, the feast that had been prepared by the women from Earth being consumed at an unbelievable rate, and the mood tended to be quite jovial. The former king had informed his people that he would still be living in the palace with his grandson, serving as a liaison to the new king until he found his footing in the government system. Some of those people had made remarks about how a hybrid couldn't possibly be a strong ruler or even have any power, but a quick change to Super Saiya-jin from the new king quickly put aside any such disbelief, bringing a sense of relief to the former ruler.

There was only one who didn't take part in the festivities at the palace, a man who didn't even belong in this world at all, and one who looked like a mirror image of the new Saiya-jin king. The warrior from the future, Mirai no Trunks, had been glad to see that the future he had helped to bring about saved yet again, but now his time in this world was over. He had his own time and his own family to see to, including his little girl and his mate, and he was just about to go back to them when a familiar energy walked out into the courtyard near him.

Standing directly behind the future warrior, arms crossed in the fashion that Vegeta had practically patented, was the newly crowned king of the Saiya-jin people; the man Mirai could have been. By all rights this Trunks should have been younger than his future counterpart, but due to the time differences between the eras, he was actually a bit older and more powerful. It was slightly intimidating to stand so close to someone that was, in every way but upbringing, the same personas you, but neither man showed as much as they stared into each other's eyes.

"Leaving already?" Trunks smiled, his hair blowing about wildly in the cool night air, "I would have thought you'd get a bite to eat before you left. There's more than enough...."

"Thank you very much, but I really do need to be getting back," Mirai sighed, holding up his hand, "My job in this world is done and the one I left behind still needs me to watch over it. Besides, my mate would kill me if I stayed away too long!"

"I know the feeling, Marron gets that way at times," Trunks chuckled, his face becoming slightly more serious, "Did you know that I actually grew up most of my life hating you? You, the one who gained the one thing I couldn't? My father's approval?"

"I can understand that and it may surprise you to know that when I was in this time so long ago, I actually envied you upon departure," Mirai nodded, walking up to his time machine, "You were going to get to lead the kind of life that I could have had if it weren't for the androids; a life with both parents in it."

"Who would've thought, huh?" Trunks laughed sadly, gazing up at the half moons in the clear night sky, "Two people who are, for all intents and purposes, the same man growing up with such different outlooks on the way things are...and how they could have been."

"Yeah, it is a little strange," Mirai agreed, "I guess it just goes to show that two people, even those who are technically twins, won't be the same."

"I guess your right," Trunks sighed, "You should probably get going now; I don't want your mate getting angry with me for keeping you away for so long!"

"Yeah, she can get a bit moody," Mirai agreed, hoping into the time machine's seat, "Good-bye and good luck, King Trunks!"

Trunks just smiled as the machine built by the future version of his mother lifted off in a brilliant white glow, the engines that activated the time travel device humming to life as the wind picked up. After a few seconds, not to mention a bright flash of white light, the ship had vanished as though into thin air, taking with it the warrior who, without his presence, none of this could have happened. The new king just smiled as he looked at the spot where the ship had been just moments before, the breeze once again blowing over his skin as he headed back to the palace.

"Same goes for you," Trunks mused, "My brother...."

NEXT TIME: The epilogue.......