Chapter 35: Turning point

The sky was growing darker by the second as the other Z warriors flew over to meet Gohan, and lightning clashed against the sky. A single bolt crashed down, striking the seven glowing dragon balls. The balls crackled with energy as a golden beam of light erupted from the balls and quickly took the form of the almighty dragon Shenron.

Goten came to a halt, closely followed by his father and the others, and stared up at the dragon in confusion.

"Why is Shenron out? We didn't call him." He asked. Gohan continued to stare up at the dragon as he answered his little brother.

"Yes we did. We called him before but instead that smoke dragon came out. Now that we've defeated all of the evil dragons, Shenron can come out again and grant us our wish."

The others all nodded slowly at Gohan's explanation but were interrupted by Shenron.

"No, I am not here to grant a wish, although you did summon me. I am here because you have misused the dragonballs. There is always a safety 'trigger' of sorts programmed into the dragonballs so that if they are ever misused to the extent that the negative energy is freed as it was here, then the dragon shall never again grant a wish. Because of this I must now leave with a guardian of my choice to prevent the dragonballs from being misused again." The mighty dragon explained in his deep voice.

"Wait! What do you mean 'never again grant a wish'? We need a wish to fix all of the damage done here! Hundreds of people have been killed by both the dragons and from the whole Super 17 episode! I may have caused that so please, allow me to fix it!" Goku cried out, almost pleading with the dragon.

"Please Shenron? A very close friend of mine had her father killed. And then the entire western capital is gone! Allow us to fix this, please? You owe us that much." Goten added. A frown swept across Shenron's scaled face.

"I do not owe you as it was you people who have a tendency to over use the dragonballs in the first place!" he snapped and Goten flinched slightly but stood his ground, as did Goku.

"However, you have saved the earth time and time again and you were the ones to put things right. The earth is forever in your debt, even if it doesn't know it. One last wish won't damage the balls too much." Shenron then added as his eyes glowed a brighter red before fading again.

"It is done."

The small group gathered by the dragon then turned to see the city-sized crater glowing as it filled in. The glow brightened and the next thing they all knew, West city stood in its place in all of its former glory. Goku grinned his famous grin and quickly checked the planet for a very familiar energy signature. He soon found it and his grin widened. Krillen was alive once more.

"Now then Goku," Shenron called down to the saiyan in question, interrupting his thoughts, "I have something to ask you. I need a guardian to help me protect the dragonballs. I would like that guardian to be you. You have defended this planet all through your life and now that your son is more then powerful enough to take over, I would like you to come with me. It is the perfect chance to increase your own strengthen."

Goku's eyes widened and his mouth broadened into a grin as he stared up at the dragon.

"Really? You want me? I don't know what to say!" Goku stared before noticing the others. Zara, Trunks and Vegeta were all looking away slightly awkwardly as Gohan and Goten stared sadly at the floor, Goten clenching his fists at his side. Goku watched them and then sighed. He knew what he had to do.

"I'm sorry Shenron," Goku began, turning to face Shenron again," But my place is still here." Everyone else turned to stare at Goku in surprise as the saiyan continued.

"All of my life I have taken my family for granted or was separated from them despite the fact that I wanted to be with them. It's about time that I put them first and watched them grow. Besides, Gohan may have surpassed me but that doesn't mean that I can't still help." Goku finished. Shenron continued to look at him unblinkingly before turning his head to look at all of the others.

"And I assume that it is the same for the rest of you?" the dragon asked and they all slowly nodded, Vegeta only scoffing. Shenron's eyes glowed as he considered this before he hunched over slightly and blew out a white smoke dragon. The others all blinked as it took a more solid form. The new dragon had green scales and wings and had a build and height much like Goku's. It looked almost exactly like the brothers Nuova and Eis Shenron only with the original Shenron's colouring. This was the new guardian dragon grafted entirely from good ki that was going to protect the dragonballs and go with Shenron.

"I thank you Z warriors for returning the dragonballs to normal. Now I must leave. Fare thee well!" Shenron then called as he rose into the air with the dragonballs and the new guardian dragon. The guardian dragon absorbed the seven dragonballs and then both he and Shenron flew high into the sky and disappeared into the distance. The others all watched them leave silently.

"Good bye Shenron, I hope we'll see you again someday." Goku muttered before turning to the others.

"Maybe we should all go get the others and…um…what?" Goku asked, realising that now all eyes were on him. Goten walked hesitantly towards his father.

"Did you mean what you said to Shenron?" he asked, his face trying hard not to show any emotion. Goku stared blankly at his son.

"Well yea, of course I did. I made a promise to you and I intend to keep it. It really is about time that I started considering you guys and I really do want to watch you live the rest of your lives and maybe even watch you make a family of your own." Goku explained. Goten cracked a grin at this but he didn't say anything. Goku grinned at his son and ruffled his hair playfully, earning a laugh from Goten.

The others all watched them, smiling. Gohan walked over to his father to join in the little family moment and Trunks stretched out, wrapping his arms around Zara from behind.

"Looks like things can finally get back to normal now. And it looks like Goten is happy too." He commented as Zara grinned and leant back into his chest. Vegeta smirked at his son as Goku and Gohan exchanged a knowing glance before they both turned to the couple.

"I bet you're pretty happy about now yourself." Gohan commented as Goku continued to grin.

"When's the wedding?" the older Son man asked and the couple blushed deeply.

"We don't really want to get a head of ourselves right now, Goku." Trunks replied before both he and Zara spotted the knowing looks being swapped between the three oldest saiyans.

"What's going on?" Zara asked suspiciously, looking from one saiyan to the other. Goku and Gohan both looked over at Vegeta, who then explained.

"The saiyan ritual for marriage isn't exactly like the human one. We have blessings from a man of power, usually royalty or a general, and then we have the most important part: an empathic ki-bond between the couple that is normally created at a moment of intimacy. And, judging by those marks on your necks, you've already under gone the bound."

Trunks, Zara and Goten all stared at Vegeta in shock. Goten glanced at his friends' necks before turning to Vegeta.

"What do you mean a moment of intimacy? Do you mean we could all be married and not know it?" he asked, panicking. Vegeta shock his head.

"No, the instinct to bond only comes when the right emotion is there. You're fine but my son and his mate over there seem to have a few feelings they didn't even know they had." He explained. Goten calmed down slightly but Trunks and Zara had only just begun to panic. They both stepped away from each other as Zara approached Vegeta.

"What do you mean by that? We're married all ready? We're not ready for that!" She exclaimed.

"Well clearly you are, onna, or this wouldn't have happened." Vegeta replied calmly.

"What's the problem? Marriage isn't so bad. Besides, it's not exactly complete. You haven't done the blessing part." Goku pointed out.

"What's the problem? Goku, what do you think? You guys haven't exactly got the best track record in your marriages! You keep dying and going away, leaving Chichi alone and my parents are constantly arguing! My view on marriage right now isn't exactly perfect." Trunks exclaimed.

"Mine isn't exactly sunshine and buttercups either. My parents were seriously messed up. They were only really together because of a pheromone accident that gave them me." Zara pointed out. Goku looked at Vegeta and Gohan for some help and Gohan stepped forward.

"It really isn't that bad all the time. Bulma and Vegeta have a strong relationship, they just love their verbal spars. And then Mum and dad were always fine together when dad was around. Besides, you don't have to use them as marital role models. My marriage to Videl is fine. You can just look at us instead." He told the young couple who calmed down slightly. Trunks walked over to Zara and held her hand.

"Gohan does have a point. And so does Goku. We're just bonded right now. We can get married later. How about we just live together for a while to get used to the idea?" he suggested and Zara nodded.

Gohan rubbed his hands together and grinned at the others.

"Great, now that that's decided, how about we go get the others? I've got a baby to prepare for after all." Gohan announced and then took off towards Capsule Corp and the space ship before the others got a chance to ask what he meant.

Goku ducked under the incoming punch as Pan continued to press forward, determined to hit her grandfather. It was the day after Gohan had defeated Omega Shenron and the dragonballs had disappeared and now Goku was fulfilling his promise. He was spending time with his family.

Goku continued to weave through Pan's attacks until she growled in frustration and burst into the legendary level of super saiyan. She then proceeded to use a lightning fast axe kick on Goku but the crafty saiyan disappeared mere microseconds before the attack would of hit. Pan growled and glared as she turned to face her grandfather who had materialised behind her.

"Hey! That's cheating, Grandpa! I thought we agreed no instant translocation." She pouted and Goku laughed before turning to his youngest son who was leaning against the wall of the house.

"I wasn't cheating, was I Goten?" Goku asked.

"Well kind of but Pan cheated too. There are no super saiyan transformations this close to the house. It's mum's golden rule ever since dad and Gohan broke her table and good china." He pointed out. Pan pouted and Goku laughed as he stretched.

"He makes a good point. So how about a break? I'm getting hungry!" Goku announced. Pan rolled her eyes as she powered back down to normal.

"You're always hungry, grandpa." She pointed out but let Goku go anyway, opting to finish her spar with Goten as her opponent.

Goku smiled at Pan and Goten before making his way into the house through the screen doors. He walked into the kitchen and froze when he spotted Chichi watching her son and granddaughter through the kitchen window. Goku blinked at her and started to rub his neck nervously.

"Um…sorry if we've been disturbing you in here." Goku said slowly. Chichi jumped at the sound of his voice and quickly turned round to face her husband, slightly embarrassed at having been caught.

"Oh, you weren't. I was just watching. I haven't seen Goten and Pan this happy in a while." She confessed and made her way to the cupboards. Goku watched her as she quickly set to work getting out pots and pans and he slowly frowned in concern.

"Chichi, is there something wrong?" he asked slowly. Chichi stopped her little search and slowly turned to glance at Goku.

"I…Goten…told me about Shenron." She said slowly. Goku blinked and lent against one of the counters.

"He did?" he asked and she nodded.

"Yea, he was really excited about it. He's happy that he can finally have his dad back." She told him and Goku smiled lightly. But he was still concerned.

"That's good and all but I don't understand what you're saying."

"Did you really give up an offer to train?" she asked. Goku hesitated before nodding a yes. Chichi watched him before embracing him in a hug and burying her face into his gi top. Goku blinked and awkwardly patted her on the back, not really understanding what was going on.

"I…you know I've been wanting to talk to you for a while. I know I haven't been around very often and I wanted to apologise…" he started before he realised that she was crying. Goku blinked and gently tilted Chichi's head up to look at her face.

"Chi, what's wrong?" he asked, completely confused.

"Gohan and I have both always known that you're always thinking of everyone. You're always looking out for our best interests. That's why you decided to stay dead after the Cell games and I like to think that's why you left with Uub. We've always known, Goku, you're pure and good and always putting the earth first." She explained, shaking as she continued to let her tears flow.

"But sometimes I wish that you wouldn't go and that you'd stop leaving me. But that's selfish. I shouldn't stop you from protecting us all. And sometimes I wonder why you keep coming back to a selfish old woman like me." She finished, letting out another sob. Goku stared at her and then pulled her into another hug.

"You're not selfish, you're incredible. I'm surprised anyone could put up with me and what I put you through. You're incredible, Chichi, not selfish. That's why I'm with you." He told her. Chichi held on to him tightly and Goku ran a hand through her hair affectionately.

"From everything that's happened, I should be the one apologising to you." Goku said softly and Chichi shook her head.

"No, you being here makes up for everything. Besides, we knew." Chichi said quietly and held on to her husband. Goku nodded and smiled, allowing the hug to continue as everything else was forgotten.

A/n: the end of this chapter was an idea submitted by Chris. Thanks for that!

I also have the bond explanation here, even if it is small. And it looks like Goten's view of his father has done a u-turn. That's good news for Goku!

Reviews:

Chris: thanks; I'm not sure about the real GT's fight scenes though. The way I remember it, Goku was on the run a lot…as for your question, I have a few more chapters planned but then that's it. There's not going to be another bad guy but I might do a one saga long sequel that will probably be the equivalent to GT's TV special, only a different plot and no Goku JR. but I may be persuaded to go back and add in the black star hunt. Thanks again for your Chichi suggestion.

Trugeta: I forgot about that. So no, that wasn't going to happen. There really would have been no point…

Darksupersaiyan: thanks! Will do.

Son Oliver: they will get their tails back, ok, Next chapter in fact. I'll have to just be plain stupid not to give them their tails back. That and Vegeta would kill me :D.
as for the universal spirit bomb, that bugged the hell out of me for obvious reasons if you compare the spirit bomb in the Buu saga with the universal spirit bomb. What was GT thinking? Anyway, I'll save you the rant…for once.

Rejhan: heh, glad you liked. And there's not much left to do now. Its almost a shame, I was having fun with this but I've done the whole 'Goku passes the world saviour thing on' thing so I haven't got much more to do, except maybe humouring the reviewers. Oh well…

Masterofmonster: please tell me you remember the end of GT. I'm sure you do because I remember talking to you about it after it first aired in the UK. And I'm pretty sure I remember you saying you'd rather Goku stayed so…here you go. You gave me this idea before I even decided to write this thing.
Oh yea, and -takes Gotenks back- I thought you had Eli…-frowns-.

Well that's the end of this chapter. Ja'ne!