Authors Note: All right here's the next chapter. I must warn you Vegeta does do something a little out of character but I think it works well with the story. Anyways hope it turned out well. REVIEW!

"talking"

thinking

:communicating through a bond or telepathically:

dream or something happening within a dream

"talking within a dream"

something written/read like a sign or a note

Disclaimer: I don't own any DBZ.

Chapter Ten: Unexpected Sacrifice

Vegeta stood weakly, slightly doubled over with his feet planted in the ground. 2 long groves in the dirt and the condition that he was in showed everyone exactly what it was he did. His eyes were closed and half his chest armor was completely incinerated as his knees shook from trying to remain standing. He slowly and blearily opened his eyes and gazed at Youkai as he panted heavily. He looked slightly to his right at where Goku sat transfixed and shocked at the scene before him. Giving a weak smirk Vegeta weakly tilted his head towards the sky. Vegeta's eyes fluttered shut and he crumbled to the ground, dropping completely out of Super Saiyan as his spirit left his body. Vegeta lay on his back motionless except for his hair, which blew gently in the breeze. Before Vegeta's spirit passed on to the Other World he used his remaining strength to send out a telepathic message to his mate.

:Bulma…I…lov-:

SCENE CHANGE

Krillin's head shot up, as did Android 18's, Videl's, Marron's, Emma's, and the other Z-Fighters present. They all felt Vegeta's ki disappear and that could only mean that he was dead. Bra's eyes welled up with tears at the knowledge of her father's death and she instantly collapsed into her husband's embrace who didn't know what was wrong with her because he couldn't sense kis very well yet. Jasumin and Kasaiko broke down into tears and wrapped their arms around each other in an attempt to comfort 1 another over their grandfather's death while silently praying for their remaining family to be all right. Jaketsu and Kurige watched the 2 younger Saiyans with heavy hearts and hoped that they would get through this all right. The others watched them worry over their perspective family members while wishing for the safety of their close friends and the Earth in general. The whole group nervously looked at each other silently asking who was going to tell Bulma. However they didn't have to because just then they heard a crash and a scream. Rushing into the kitchen Bra found her mother in tears next to a broken mug. Bulma's face was buried in her hands and she slowly sank to her knees. Bra rushed over and hugged her mother as her own tears streamed down her face. Bulma wrapped her arms around Bra and the 2 cried on the other's shoulder.

No…Vegeta… Bulma chanted over and over in her mind.

SCENE CHANGE

Goku stood in complete and utter shock at what he just witnessed. Vegeta had just sacrificed himself to save him. Vegeta died saving his life. It was just too unbelievable. A few decades ago Vegeta wouldn't have even taken a punch for him let a lone a fatal ki attack. Goku soon regained himself and quickly ran towards where Vegeta's body lay. Although he knew that his friend was dead he had to check just to reassure himself. Reaching Vegeta's body he bent down next to him.

"Vegeta…?" Goku asked as he gently shook Vegeta's body.

No response. He looked at him agape and then slowly turned Vegeta's head towards him. Goku quickly stood up and slowly began to back away, the shock still registering in his brain. Then something clicked in his brain and he looked around in the sky frantically. He then gasped at what he saw.

SCENE CHANGE

Trunks floated in the air, frozen in shock. He just witnessed his father die saving Goku. Even though Vegeta had never shown his affections towards his son Trunks knew that he cared about him and Trunks could never hold that against Vegeta. He was, after all, his father and despite the fact that he had never acted like 1 he loved him nonetheless. Trunks felt tears brimming his eyes and roughly tried to shake them away. The foot-soldiers surrounding him began to move closer for an attack but stopped when Trunks let out a blood-curling scream as his energy exploded outwards in golden blaze. Pan looked up as she held Kies in a fierce headlock when she heard her mate's cry. She gasped and nearly released Kies from her grip when she saw Trunks' hair spike in a more defined way and begin to grow, soon reaching his back. Trunks' aura blazed outwards and incinerated the soldiers surrounding him. Trunks growled fiercely as his eyebrows disappeared and his hair flowed down to his butt as he completed his level 3 ascension. Pan gaped at the sight. Had she not been able to read her mate's thoughts she would have been smiling brightly for Trunks' successful ascension to level 3 but she knew that he was not thinking clearly and that he was going to try a suicidal attempt to kill Youkai. Giving a quick twist of her arm she broke Kies's neck before blasting him into oblivion just to make sure he was dead. She then turned towards Trunks just in time to see him blast off for Youkai with his fists ready to punch.

Oh no! Trunks! Pan thought desperately as she began to fly after him but her uncle's weakening ki diverted her attention in his direction.

Gritting her teeth in frustration and annoyance she blasted over to help her uncle. Powering up a ki attack she fired it at Ishi and caused him to fly backwards. Goten smiled and gave his niece a thumbs up before he finished off Ishi with his own Kamehame-ha wave. Nodding in satisfaction Pan blasted off for Trunks with Goten close behind.

SCENE CHANGE

Trunks reached Youkai and gave a huge battle cry as he pulled his fists back in order to punch. However, Youkai countered and sent Trunks flying. He then shot a powerful ki blast straight for Trunks. It struck him in the stomach, blowing a hole right through him and Trunks immediately plummeted to the ground, dropping out of Super Saiyan as he did. Pan stopped dead in her tracks as she saw Trunks plummet to the ground and her eyes filled with tears. Shaking her head she rocketed towards the ground and once she landed she ran up to Trunks.

"Trunks!" Pan cried before she bent down next to her fallen mate.

Pan gently picked up his head and set it in her lap as she attempted to wake him. She shook him and she smiled with relief when she saw his eyes twitch and heard a moan escape from him. Her smile quickly faded as she saw his breathing become shallow and almost nonexistent and she knew that he needed a senzu bean before it was too late. Finding Kumori's ki she turned to look at him and noticed he was currently getting ready to battle 5 foot-soldiers about 50 meters away.

"KUMORI! GIVE ME A SENZU BEAN!" Pan screamed angrily.

Kumori stopped and looked at her. Pan growled when he didn't immediately take out a bean as soon as she told him to and a scowl spread across her face.

"NOW YOU IDIOT!"

You know…sometimes I find it hard to believe that she's actually Gohan's daughter. She acts more like Vegeta than his own kids do sometimes. Kumori thought as he raised an eyebrow.

Pan's scowl deepened and Kumori chuckled nervously. He gulped, knowing better than to upset the current second strongest Saiyan on the planet, especially when it concerned her mate. Quickly taking out a senzu bean from the bag that was strapped to his belt he threw it to Pan.

"HERE PAN!"

Pan raised her right hand and caught the senzu bean easily in her hand without much attention. She then gently put it in Trunks' mouth and forced him to swallow it. Kumori meanwhile continued with battling the seemingly never-ending supply of men along with Piccolo. After a few minutes Trunks' eyes slowly opened and he sat up with Pan's help. Pan smiled in relief and hugged Trunks tightly.

SCENE CHANGE

Goten stopped when he saw Trunks get hit and immediately went after Pan to help when suddenly Furinto appeared in his path. Apparently he had recovered from his fight with Trunks and now he was determined to stop Goten from helping him. Growling in frustration and anger Goten began doing battle with the final living super warrior.

"Now it's your turn Half-Breed."

"Dream on Creep!"

Goten lunged at Furinto who quickly dodged and countered with an iron fist to Goten's jaw. Reeling from the hit Goten barely managed to block Furinto's kick. Spinning around Goten gave Furinto a 1-2 punch before delivering a round-the-house kick to his stomach. Furinto quickly retaliated with an uppercut before delivering his own round-the-house kick to Goten's stomach. Goten and Furinto continued to trade blows in this manner as the 2 evenly matched warriors tried to outdo the other.

SCENE CHANGE

Goku saw Trunks transform and charge Youkai all in a state of shock. But once he saw Youkai blast his friend's son, who also happened to be the husband of his beloved granddaughter, he had had enough. He gave a huge battle cry and fiercely charged Youkai. Youkai turned and smirked at Goku before quickly countering his attack. Goku tried desperately to defeat Youkai but he could barely even manage to land a punch while Youkai was making it seem like Goku was just standing still. But Goku was determined to keep fighting for the Earth's sake, his friends', and his family's sake.

SCENE CHANGE

Pan watched as her grandfather charged Youkai furiously before powering up to her max and flying off to help him. Trunks stood there for a minute to regain his bearings before instantly going level 3 and rocketing off towards Goku right behind his mate.

Author's Note: Wow Vegeta sacrificed himself to save Goku. Never saw that coming did ya? And now Trunks is at level 3 too! Interesting…I wonder how that's going to affect the outcome of the fight. And what about Pan acting like Vegeta (shudders)? A little creepy huh? Anyways hope you enjoyed it. Laters! Remember to review!