Chapter 1
Gohan sent a barrage of fist at his father's face, and Goku grinned excitedly. He had thick black hair that stuck out from his head at odd angles and black eyes. His son's hair was cut shorter, but it still seemed to spring violently from his head. Below another son watched, who looked like a carbon copy of his father.
Gohan, the younger man, was becoming angry, they had been fighting for over three hours, and he still hadn't managed to land a blow on his father. His father may have the capability to reach Super Saiyan 3, but that didn't mean Gohan was a push over. With a roar of rage, he exploded into Super Saiyan 2 and intensified his attacks.
Goku's grin widened. He remained in his normal form, and though his son was trying his hardest, he came nowhere near breaking his father's defense. Goten watched in a amazement as after a few minutes, Gohan began to slow down. They were still moving so fast that no normal human would even be able to see them, but to Goten's well-trained eyes, Gohan's face was beginning to tighten and sweat began to pour down.
Finally, Goku stopped and put up a hand. "Let's call it a day, son," he said with a grin. "I know you want to get back to your family."
Finally Gohan smiled. "I have to tell you Dad, having you back, with no one coming to the planet, has been wonderful. I think I'm on the brink of reaching Super Saiyan 3."
Goten floated up to join them just in time to hear the last comment. "Ha! Right Gohan. When you can hit Dad at normal form, then maybe you'll be on the brink. I however, am at Super Saiyan 2 already. Beat that!"
Gohan shook his head and grinned. Being around his father had increased Goten's chi like Gohan had never been able to do.
Goku grinned again. He had never been so happy either. Ever since Buu things had been quiet. He had enjoyed the time he had been spending with his family. Afternoons he trained with his two boys, and mornings and evening, he and Goten would stay home with Chichi. She was teaching them both to read and write. She seemed surprised that they both were picking it up so fast. "Goku," he could hear her voice in his head, "and here I always thought it was because you were too dumb to read or write. Now I realize it was because no one ever taught you. No wonder Gohan is so smart!" Goku stilled played dumb with Vegeta however, and it still drove Vegeta crazy.
Speaking of Vegeta, Goku turned his eyes to the north. He could see him coming, his aura blazing around him and leaving a trail as he flew through the sky. Putting his dopey grin on his face, he greeted him, "Hey, Vegeta!"
"Shut up, Kakarott," Vegeta scowled, "I'm here to talk to your brat." That said, he turned to Gohan, "The princess would like your daughter to come and play. She will expect her in a half an hour. Now go." With that said, Vegeta flew off again, most probably to go back to his own training.
Gohan grinned ruefully and Goku laughed. "Well, I suppose I'd better go get Pan so she can play with 'the Princess.' I'll see you later, Dad. Bye, Goten," with a wave, Gohan was gone.
Goku turned and looked at his youngest son, "So, Goten, you want to spar some more?"
Goten shook his head, "I've already had my turn, and I'm still sore. Let's go home and say hi to mom and Chikou!"
With a nod, they both took off for home.
They shortly landed at the door, and Chichi came out to greet them with the newest edition to the family in her arms. Born a two years earlier, Chikou looked at the world with bright black eyes, and her mother's hair, though it did stick out slightly at the ends. Her small tail curled around Chichi's arm. Chichi proudly set her on the ground, and she ran to her Daddy.
Goku scooped her up and gently tossed her in the air. She squealed with laughter as she soared thirty feet straight up and screamed with joy as she came sailing down. Chichi had a loving smile on her face as she looked at her husband's happy smile. Their third child had proved a happy edition to their home indeed. Goten, after ruffling Chikou's hair, came sailing in the door and whined, "Mom, I'm hungry."
In response, Goku's stomach also growled and he looked eagerly toward his wife. She grinned and nodded toward the door. Goku raced inside with Chikou and she giggled as he sat down at his seat. Goten was just behind him. The speed of their wake caused a couple of objects to sway, but surprisingly nothing fell. Chichi came in and they all started to eat. After months of work and effort on Chichi's part, Goku now had a semblance of table manners. His appetite had not decreased at all, but he at least knew enough not to talk with his mouth full. Goten a copy of his father in every way had also improved, but not enough for Chichi's tastes. Chikou also shoveled her food in her mouth and then with a giggle she reached over and grabbed some of her Daddy's food. He stopped long enough to grin at her reproachfully, and then he continued to shovel food into his mouth.
"Goku! If you can stop eating long enough to pay attention to your daughter, you can stop long enough to listen to me!" King Kai's voice echoed in Goku's head, "It's important!"
With a last swallow, Goku looked up at the ceiling and asked, "What is it, King Kai?"
Chichi's look froze, and unnoticed she clasped her hands together. Every time that rotten little insect interrupted them, something bad happened. She could not bear to lose her husband again, and it seemed King Kai already was threatening the security of their home. Chikou looked over at her mother and noticed the expression on her face. The two-year old looked at her Daddy and saw, for some reason, his talking to himself seemed to be upsetting to her mother. She couldn't imagine why, because to her, everything her Dad said was funny. Goten looked worried though too, and so Chikou repressed the urge to giggle, although her tail continued to writhe with mirth. "Why sad, Mommy?" she asked.
With effort Chichi removed the expression from her face as Goten turned to look at her. "I'm not worried, dear," Chichi assured her, but Chikou could tell she was lying.
"What is it, Goku?" King Kai's stressed voice came in Goku's head. "What is it always? Something is coming. I don't know who or what it is yet, but I'm willing to bet it is not good."
"So you don't really know anything yet, do you?" Goku asked. He hadn't faced anyone since Buu, and he was really enjoying his way of life at the moment. Sure, he loved to fight, but he was just beginning to realize how much he had missed by being gone that long. He knew he couldn't change his past decisions, but if it was up to him, and someone else was strong enough to take care of the problem, he'd prefer to let them do it.
"I know enough to know it's bad, Goku! I also know it is a threat to the earth!"
"When is it coming?" Goku asked with a sigh.
King Kai's voice seemed annoyed, "In the next week or so. Goku, why are you being so picky for details?"
"I'm not, King Kai, I just would like to know more about who I'm facing and how long I will have to prepare. I wouldn't say that's being picky."
"Yes, whatever," King Kai said. For some reason he seemed in an especially bad mood. Whatever it was was must have gotten him mighty upset. Then his voice changed completely. "Hey, Goku! I have another joke for you..."
Goku, suddenly began to eat again, the equivalent of hanging up the telephone. He did hear however, King Kai's last grumble as he went away.
"What was it, Dad?" Goten asked, his face seemed slightly worried, but a little excited as well. For the longest time he had wanted to fight another villain, to prove to his Dad and Gohan that he was worth their trouble of teaching him to fight.
"King Kai. He says there is something bad coming. Like he ever calls with good news."
Chichi was surprised by the sarcasm in her husband's voice. She hadn't even known he could be sarcastic. She smiled tenderly at him, knowing he didn't want their way of life to end anymore than she did. "Are you needed?" she asked carefully.
"Probably," Goku sighed. "I'll probably need to go train more every day to prepare, but mornings and evenings are still reserved for you." Leaning over he kissed her, and Goten made gagging noises behind his hand. However, as Goku turned a glare on him, he said, "MayIbeexcused?Thanksmom,bye!" and raced out the door.
Chikou giggled. To her, Goten was almost as funny as her Dad was.
Goku smiled at his daughter, ruffled her hair and then waved good-bye at Chichi. "I'll be back," he said.
Goku headed out to the deserted island where he'd fought the androids and almost succumbed to his heart virus. He could remember his feelings of helplessness, and of rage, and at the moment similar feelings were plaguing him. If he thought about it, he could still feel the android's fingers clutching his throat, and his weakness as the last of his chi had flowed out of him. He could also hear the android's robotic laughter and see his leering face. Goku never had told anyone that he still frequently came back here, and that he sometimes wished Vegeta had left the android alive so Goku could have finish him off once he'd dealt with his internal attacker. Unlike future Trunks had predicted, no one else had succumbed to the deadly virus, it had been a one time thing with Goku as its only recipient.
Now Goku concentrated as he let those feelings of helplessness flow through him. His anger burned bright and he roared as he soared through Super Saiyan 1 and 2 and became Super Saiyan 3. The very power of his transformation caused the earth around him to shake and crack. He was far away from any people, but he knew eventually he would have to leave the earth itself if he were to become much stronger. He was on the brink on another transformation, he could tell. Three years he had been training, working everyday to increase his potential. He would sometimes go off alone at night and train some more, at the moments when home felt the most restricting. Now he pushed himself to the limits. He screamed as the flow of power went from pleasure to pain, but still he pushed. He could fill the wall of resistance crumbling, he could feel the source of untapped power behind that wall, and he concentrated on boring a hole through it. He felt it begin to crumble and he seized onto that helpless feeling, the anger and frustration, and hit it as hard as he could. The wall shattered. Power flooded through Goku, and the entire earth shook as though it was a giant's snowglobe. Eyebrows exploded onto his face and ran down to directly in front of his ears. His eyes changed from blue to deep gold, and his hair shrank to half its length and then stuck out sharply. Goku breathed heavily as he settled to the earth.
He looked at himself in a pool of water that was created when he'd caused the earth to shake and he smiled at the results. He'd been the first one to a transformation again. He'd been first to them all except Super Saiyan 2. He'd let Gohan be the first. What most didn't realize, but might if they thought about it, was that Goku could've been the first to that stage, too. He was stronger than Gohan at that point, and if he'd have pushed himself, he could have done it. However, with a decision he regretted in some ways now, he forced his son to become what he was meant to be, and tried to leave the world in his hands. It had worked, at least until Buu.
He should've known Vegeta would be the first to come to the island. Goku stood and tested out his new speed. He punched and it was so fast, at first it caught him off guard and then he recalculated his speed and instantly had his new speed down pat. He moved off the island so Vegeta wouldn't see where he'd been, and Vegeta came roaring up. Goku wasn't surprised to see him furious.
"Kakarott! How in the world did you..? What exactly...?" Vegeta didn't seem to be able to finish a sentence, his mouth hung open and wobbled like a suffocating fish. Gohan, Goten, and Trunks were right behind him.
"Wow!" Goten said excitedly. "That's awesome, Dad, what do you call it?"
Goku waggled his long eyebrows at his son and said, "I though Super Saiyan 4 sounded good."
Vegeta who hadn't even reached Super Saiyan 3 yet, watched Goku with amazement. He, who had struggling for the past three years to become what Goku seemed so easily able to become, now was another level behind him as well. He lunged at Goku and tried to hit him. Goku moved so fast it looked like Vegeta punched right through his head.
"That is incredible," Gohan said, stunned.
Trunks tried to keep up the cocky air he had inherited from his father, "It's not too bad, I suppose," he growled, but his eyes betrayed his excitement.
"Anyone want to spar?" Goku asked with a grin, and on cue, all four of them turned to Super Saiyan 2 and attacked him. Trunks had turned Super Saiyan 2 only a few days after Goten. After seeing "Kakarott's other brat" turn Super Saiyan 2, Vegeta had forced Trunks to train until he, too, was at the same level.
Goku handled all the attacks with ease, not a one of them even coming close to him. Suddenly he stopped, and everyone else, surprised, also stopped.
Goku turned and looked at his fellow Saiyans.
"They're here," he said.