Spectre.
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball Z, just the original characters I have created.
Tunks looked at the sleeping form of his friend, wondering what made him propose the training. He himself had his own reasons for accepting. He didn't exactly want to tell Goten the real reason, even though Goten would probably guess sooner or later. Nevertheless, it had gotten him to this chamber. A little over a year ago, he probably would have wanted to go out and have fun… a year a go. Or was it a day ago. The room of Spirit and Time had a tendency to make people forget. No wonder Goku had almost lost his sanity. Who wouldn't? His thoughts drifted to the day he decided.
Trunks was studying in his room for some academic stuff or something. Vegeta didn't really care. All he wanted was to train him. So he knocked on Trunks' room window. The lavender haired boy looked up with a look of utter annoyance. What the hell kind of pain did the old man want to put him through now?
"Trunks, come out. I need to talk to you"
Okay that wasn't expected. Vegeta wasn't exactly the kind to talk. His usual "talk" was "You. ME. Training. NOW." Or "That all you got, brat?".
Perhaps he wanted to lay off the training for a bit? Let Trunks at least finish his studies?
Yea. Right. Even Goku wouldn't believe that.
Sighing, Trunks took off behind his father. Might as well get it over with…right? As they flew, Trunks kept stealing glances at Vegeta. The older man was set on something. Whatever it was, it was making Trunks uneasy. His father wasn't exactly the most peaceful man on the planet. Everything was settled with his fists, and he was a thousand times stronger than Trunks. Yea. Real comfortable. Another sigh. Hopefully he wouldn't be to beat up to finish his projects.
So lost in his musing he was, that he didn't realize that Vegeta had stopped, and he was going full tilt. Crap. It took a lot of adrenalin to stop about two centimeters away from his father's back.
"Trunks… Be aware of your surroundings"
The calm tone wasn't his father's. Since when did Vegeta act calm about awareness? He usually beat the awareness into him. What was going on? Vegeta turned around to look at him. For just about a full minute they didn't talk. He just stared. Trunks did his best to look neutral and unafraid. That sweatdrop on the side of his head didn't help, though.
"Trunks, you and Kakabrat #2 are the next generation of Sayians on this planet. With all the experiences we've had, you'd think you would take your training more seriously"
There it was. The same usual argument over and over again. It was getting tiresome.
"Dad, you know that we have other duties, besides fighting. At times of peace like this, we have to earn our bread. Figthing isn't going to help us there."
Vegeta dismissed it with a wave of his hand.
"Son, understand that I am not asking you to become a full time fighter. I am asking you to be ready. One day, there may be a threat that will take us by surprise. What will happen then?"
"Nothing takes either you or Goku by surprise. Why should we be worried. You're just about the strongest being in the whole universe."
" Kakarott…Goku is strong. I am strong. We push each other, we've become what we have because of that. We protect you because we can. We can because we train. He's stronger than me. That's a detail. The fact is, I just keep pushing. So what will happen when we die? We aren't immortal, you know?"
Trunks felt like he had just taken a blow to the stomach. He couldn't exactly deny that. Considering how many times people had been brought back with the Dragonballs, they had just been taking life for granted. For crying out loud, a god had given his own life to bring Goku back in a time of need.
"Dad, that is true and all… But we have the fusion. When Goten and I fuse, we are just about able to take on anything"
"And when the fusion runs out, you have another hour of being beat up and pretty much being killed. Assuming you do kill most threats, what will happen to your children if they slack like you do? They won't be able to defend themselves or anyone. The tradition of Martial Arts as you call them will pretty much die. So will the planet. Think about it."
His father shot off in the general direction of the city before he had formulated a coherent reply. It's not like he really had one. Everything his father had told him was true. He never truly thought of it that way but… Ah DAMNIT!… Now he won't be able to concentrate on his homework… crap. Leave it to Vegeta to get his mind on fighting. Again. Maybe he's more sayian than he cared to admit. No…Vegeta made sense.
Slowly, the youngest Sayian Prince made his way back to Capsule Corps.
During dinner, Vegeta and Trunks kept glaring at one another in between gargantuan sized servings of food. Bulma glanced at her mate, then at her son and just sighed. She'd soon have to look into fixing the Gravity chamber soon. The way those two were looking at one another was borderline murderous in its intent alone. Bulma started rubbing her temples. Why, oh why did she fall in love with a crazy warrior from outer space so many years ago? This is going to be a lonely evening.
Father and son just stood up, and wordlessly headed to the Gravity Chamber. There, Vegeta turned the gravity up to 450G, the highest current setting.
"I see you have given my words some thought"
The sarcastic tone was back in his voice. Damn him, just rub it in.
" I wanted to show you that the younger generation isn't as… slacking as you thought it is…Dad."
Vegeta raised an eyebrow. Trunks had potential. He turned around to face his son.
"Really? Show me. As a matter of fact, I'll even give you a distinct advantage"
Now it was Trunks' turn to look a bit surprised. Vegeta was either cocky or he was in a very good mood. Nevertheless, it was best to look at this carefully.
" And what is that advantage?"
" I won't turn Super Sayian. At all. You can, though."
Now that was unexpected. Since when did Vegeta give THAT much of an advantage? What exactly was he planning?
"Well stop looking at me like that, idiot. Come at me!"
Well… since he asked so nicely. Trunks locked his eyes with his father's and concentrated on outputting as much energy as he could. The result was the all too familiar yellow explosion and transformation into super sayian. He had to go further. To push his limit. So he tried…With a powerful shout, he brought all his power to the surface, to the edge of his control… Flexing his arms and legs, he reveled in it. If Vegeta indeed intended on fighting him in his form, he'd oblige. For one, he'd like to wipe that arrogant smirk off his father's face. Wouldn't anyone?
Vegeta's smirk was arrogant on the outside, but he was proud. Trunks was taking his lessons to heart. It was time to push him a bit. What better way than to say:
"That all you got, brat?"
That very sentence had the desired effect. Trunks' features hardened even more. Perfect. Now he'd really test the boy.
Trunks was pretty sure that his father was standing in front of him, but now he definitely wasn't. He barely ducked as a blow whistled by his head, missing him by a millisecond. Putting his hands down, he tried kicking backwards, but met only air. Vegeta was already at his side, getting ready to boot him like an overused soccer ball. He twisted in the air, bringing his arms up to form a cross block… And Vegeta punched him in the ribs. The hit was so powerful that he wondered if his father had found a way to turn Super sayian without the obvious changes. Keeping his mind to the present, Trunks looked up, to try to find his father, only to feel him behind him. This is going to hurt.
He was propulsed forward by that knee in his spine and punched to the ground again. This wasn't supposed to be like that. He could literally feel the difference in power between his father and himself. Why was he being so dominated? He had to focus, damnit!
Trunks stood up and watched his father land noiselessly on the far end of the GR wall, just to launch himself at him. No time to slack off, eh? Standing up, he met his father in mid-air, going on the offensive.
Fist met fist
Leg met knee
Open palm met air
Growl
Knee met elbow
Foot was blocked
Trunks was getting frustrated and kicked forward with all his power. While his father was busy taking the brute force of his kick onto his arms, he put his hands together to hammer his father from up top. It would have worked if he didn't leave his whole frontal area so vulnerable. He took a really powerful punch in the gut, knocking the Super Sayian out of him. Literally. With lights dancing at the edge of his vision, he knew that his advantage had turned into a weakness. He didn't even lift an arm before he felt himself being flying forward, result in a powerful hand chop to the back of his head. Before he slipped out of consciousness, he heard Vegeta's words:
" I'm glad you've decided to be a bit serious about this. But damn it, Trunks… don't slack off anymore. This performance was less than appalling"
With that, Vegeta left the Gravity room. Trunks would get out soon. He didn't exactly need his help. Contrary to his words, Vegeta was glad. Trunks had for once met the challenge head on, instead of being scared. Today was the first time he didn't back out. Yes, Vegeta was proud of his son. In more ways than one. Oh and he packed a punch. It took all his self control not to flinch in pain when he blocked that last kick.
A couple of days later, Trunks had still been thinking about it when Goten came down to ask him to train with him. Still reeling from that defeat, he readily accepted.
"Hey.. Trunks! How long have you been awake?"
Trunks snapped out of his trip down memory lane.
" Oh about fifteen minutes. Goten, when did you decide to become strong… and why?"
The youngest Son looked at his best friend.
" I had wondered the same thing about you. I thought you would refuse to train with me, but I was happily surprised when you accepted"
A tiny smile formed on Trunks' face. Goten could be the most clueless person on the planet, next to his father, and yet he could be so perceptive, it was scary to say the least. Goten sat up and looked thoughtful
" Have you ever wondered what it'd be like if we trained like our fathers?"
"Not until a couple of days before you called me"
" I had a talk with Gohan about it… he had a lot to say. And to show."
" Oh yeah?"
" I couldn't touch him, Trunks. He had stopped training hardcore for ten years.. and I couldn't lay a hand on him."
Trunks looked at his best friend. It was rare for Goten to get so worked up about things like this. What exactly happened between him and Gohan?
Aaaaand cut! Okay this is as much as I'll write for now. Hopefully this story actually gets reviewed I just about abandoned it. I had to be reminded of why I love to write.