Disclaimer, in case it wasn't obvious. I don't own Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, or really any other property. Thank you.
The Long Road
Chapter 52: Rewind
Son Goku: Earth
"So let me get this straight," Goku started, resting his right hand under his own jaw as he slid one finger up to the side of his chin, stroking his jaw. "Towa and Mira are a pair of demons who travel across time to steal people's energy for nefarious reasons, wanting to take over the universe?"
This was kinda crazy. But what was more crazy, a pair of time travelling demons, or a bunch of teenagers turned into cyborgs trying to kill him? Or that he was an alien from a world destroyed by a galactic tyrant trying to take over the universe? Or that he was the legendary Super Saiyan? How about that his son was abducted when he was a child, taken into space, and used as a mercenary to slaughter innocent people?
Put in that context, this was, at least to Goku, pretty rational.
"Yea, I can see that," Goku admitted, having contemplated it enough. "And they're helping us because?"
"I wouldn't use the word help," Trunks corrected, before sighing, looking up at the Supreme Kai of time, nodding.
"I'll let you know when they're coming," she was quick to respond. "So, see you in a few minutes, to a few months."
In the blink of an eye, she was gone, and Trunks just seemed a bit relieved.
"She's been really angry since she found all these other realities," he offered. "Especially since we use time machines in the Time Patrol to go stop stuff. It kinda has only made the problems even worse. So... yea. Your entire reality probably only exists because someone passed through several times and-"
"You were saying about this Taro, Brass, and Junia," Vegeta cut in. "We want more answers."
Looking over at the two of them, Trunks just seemed increasingly uncomfortable.
"Father, its hard to explain, maybe-"
"Don't start with that. You may be my son, but you aren't either of the Trunks I know. You've told us next to nothing about our enemies, ones you're expecting us to fight."
Clear frustration started to show through on the younger Saiyan's features, and Goku knew he may have to step between the two if Vegeta put the pressure on too much. Right now though, he most definitely wanted to know the same thing Vegeta did. These three were alternate versions of Goten, Bulla, and Trunks? How did that even make sense that they were coming to kill all of them.
"Look, I don't want to make you mad-"
"A wise decision. An even wiser decision would be to answer my question, boy," Vegeta reiterated. "No more stalling."
With a deep breath, clearly at his whits end, Trunks did finally start his answer.
"Alright," he said tightly. "Well I can tell you what I know. And I told you before, I don't know that much about their world. I only know what I've been able to piece together after we've found the worlds they've ruined."
"Which one do you want to know about first?" Trunks followed up.
"Since we really only know their names. Who is Brass?" Goku asked.
"Brass would be a rough equivalent of Goten. He's Turles's second son-"
Immediately, Goku gave Trunks an odd look. How was he the equivalent to Goten, if he was Turles's kid? That didn't make any sense.
"Uhm, how is he like Goten, if Turles is his dad?" Goku asked honestly. "That doesn't make any sense."
Things suddenly became very awkward. Everything about Trunks body language became very... tense. Looking over to Vegeta, even he seemed to look about awkwardly. Well what did Vegeta get, that he didn't get? That didn't make any sense. Turning his attention back to Trunks, Goku just stared, waiting for an answer.
"Goku, I've not seen this reality directly, I can only tell you what I've pieced together," Trunks reiterated. "So maybe I'm wrong. But Brass is an equivalent to Goten, because he's Chi-Chi's second child."
Chi-Chi's second kid? But Turles was his-
For a second, something crept up in the back of Goku's mind before slowly starting to unveil itself to him. So Brass was Turles's son, and Chi-Chi's son. Which mean that Turles and Chi-Chi... ... ... Looking towards Trunks with both his eyes widening at the realization of what he was talking about, Goku felt something sharp stab him in the side of his lungs, making him breath in for one angry, desperately gulp of air. It already created uncomfortable scenario's in his mind as he felt himself getting slowly more angry.
"So Brass is Goten," he said roughly.
Goten was the son he'd had after Gohan had died. He was the glue that'd helped bring Chi-Chi and him back together. His second son was the thing that stopped him from helplessly going off into space to find Gohan, something he knew now, and then, had little chance of success. And in this world Trunks was describing, the closest thing to the Son he'd always known and raised, was a monster born to his wife after he was killed on Namek.
"Yea," Trunks said, before looking around uncomfortably. "Apparently his goal is to be the strongest warrior in existence. He prides himself on challenging stronger and stronger opponents, trying to gain more strength. He's lead around by Taro, the older of the two brothers. Look, we don't need to talk about this right now if you don't want to-"
Now is as good a time as any.
"Who is Taro?" Goku asked. "He's got to be your equivalent, but you already said that he's Brass's brother..."
"Same story. Bulma is his mother, Turles is his father. He's completely psychotic. After they started travelling through time, he started hunting down and killing me.The Supreme Kai of time thinks he's trying to absorb our memories and ki. I met him once, that was how I got here in the shape I was in. He nearly killed me, and I could see him in my mind while I was out, even several realities away," Trunks explained. "He's... a monster. I don't know how else to describe him. He's a perversion of everything I've ever stood for. He's killed countless billions and he's desperately obsessive. He just thinks every other Trunks he's met is a rogue piece of him that broke off."
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Vegeta:
Kakarot's lack of understanding of what was stated about Brass was painful to watch, even for Vegeta. He could say a great deal of things about Kakarot, and stupid was high on that list, especially given how long it took for him to put the math together and figure out what was being said. Vegeta of course, understood all too well what was being discussed. He grew up in the kind of culture which Turles had been brought up in from an even younger age. Might made right, and conquest meant more than just victory. The humans looked at these kinds of things as barbaric, and with time Vegeta himself came to view them in the same light.
The Turles of whatever time line this was, established himself at the head of some kind Saiyan Planet Trade, and after having killed Frieza and Kakarot, took Kakarot's woman perhaps as some kind of trophy for his conquest. It seems likely that anyone else who survived the encounter because him slaves or servants. In his own case, it sounds as if his alternate self was some kind of accomplice in all of it. But it was a damning statement on the culture which he derived from, and to an extent, still had pride in.
The creatures travelling through time and space right now, were the products of exploitation and rape. Monsters built up under a brutal system created by a combination of Saiyan culture and ruthless political and economic exploitation.
Hearing the fate of "Trunks", or Taro, as it were, did little to move him beyond thinking of his own wife being subjected to the advances of a brute as ugly as Kakarot, and as sick as Frieza.
When Vegeta faced Turles on Earth now years ago, he saw a grim reflection of what the Saiyans were, and in it, even he couldn't defend it. It was the same culture which Gohan stemmed from, and even if Kakarot's brat had managed to change enough to no longer warrant his immediate disdain, it most definitely showed the core of where his character came from. These bounty-hunting scum, looking for their next big score to increase their own power, were a blight. So much so that they were threatening the stability of space and time from their greed.
"So, is this Junia his offspring as well?"
"No," Trunks answered bluntly. "She's still the offspring of Bulma and that timeline's Vegeta. As I said, I don't have exact details. We just know the familial bonds they have. And I don't think they may be wholly aware of those bonds themselves."
"And so those are the three dangerous creatures coming to this world, and just how strong are they?" Vegeta asked. "And don't play down anything, tell us what their strength is like."
"Fantastic. They're stronger than I am. They're strength must be close to that of a Super Saiyan III, or maybe even more. All I know is-"
"Super Saiyan III?" Kakarot asked. "Uhm, what's that?"
Looking up at them a second later, Trunks clearly was enquiring between the two of them with the look he had, to see if they were joking.
He's seen worlds where we're stronger than we are right now?
"When you were in the afterlife, after Cell, you developed a technique called Super Saiyan III," Trunks offered, looking directly at Kakarot.
Of course he'd look towards Kakarot. Of course it'd be Kakarot who developed a new kind of Super Saiyan. What does the "Three" part of it even mean? This is pathetic.
It was impossible to hide at least some of his disdain. Even with the poor news regarding these alternate reality Saiyans, he couldn't help but notice how it was never him, but always Kakarot who somehow find some new level of power first.
"Uhm, Trunks, I killed Cell along with Vegeta, Piccolo, and you," Kakarot responded. "I've not been dead for a long time. I've been training on Earth."
The hybrid Saiyan almost choked at the response. Clear concern and worry came over him as he looked towards Vegeta for confirmation.
"Yes, it is true. Kakarot and I were among those who combined our power to rid this world of Cell. After the battle, Kakarot fought an alien named Bojack, where he ascended to a new level of Super Saiyan, where as I was able to quickly follow-"
"Oh no," Trunks breathed. "So you're both Super Saiyan II? What about Gohan?"
Of course he'd ask about Gohan. Admittedly, apparently this version of him was mentored by Kakarot's son, which made him immediately wonder just how corrupt and brutal he may have been. Of course, so far he'd been putting on quite the act if that was the case.
"The Gohan of this universe was raised in the Planet Trade Organization," Vegeta said bluntly, before Kakarot gave some heartfelt epic. "He came to Earth and was defeated by Kakarot. After that he trained here, and defeated Turles, as well as another Saiyan named Broly. He was killed recently while fighting a monster known as Garlic Junior. He's likely currently residing in Hell as we speak."
Visibly, Kakarot became uncomfortable at the remark, but just seemed to get quiet before looking back towards Trunks, not disputing a single word of what he'd said. How could he? It was brief, blunt, and true. Though one sentence did manage to come out of him.
"There is more to it than that," Goku said, but didn't elaborate further.
Yes, there is. Much of it I'm sure would only further increase your shame.
"Man, you're guys world is in really bad shape," Trunks said, looking between the two of them. "Most worlds have Goku at least at a Super Saiyan III level by now. And a lot of them have Gohan near that kind of level, or even past it. I'm really sad to hear what happened to him though. Because in my world he was such a huge part of everything in my life. He's the reason I'm the man I am today. His good nature and spirit helped me survive the androids. He gave his life to try and stop them, trying to protect people even after he lost his arm, and he stopped me from getting myself killed."
As Trunks spoke, Vegeta let himself observe Kakarot. It seemed unimaginable to Vegeta, that Kakarot could have raised Gohan, and seen any kind man that was even remotely the same. The man who Trunks was describing, bore only a vague resemblance to the Saiyan who'd arrived here from the sky six years ago? Seven? It didn't really matter. The man who Trunks described sounded brave, saintly, and good by his very nature.
The Gohan they knew, was at times cowardly, most certainly had a dubious moral compass even when compared to himself, and only found honour when backed into a corner. Of course, Vegeta knew the sacrifice Gohan had made for his daughter, someone who he knew Gohan hadn't informed his parents about. They weren't wholly dissimilar, but it was hard to imagine the kind of man Gohan would have been, had he been raised by Kakarot, and not by Turles.
Turles's parenting created monsters who travel across space and time, murdering everyone they find and causing the whole of existence to become an unstable nightmare. Kakarot raises his son, and he gives his life in the protection of others.
"He knew that his time was up, and I think he missed everyone a lot. But he knew when he left everything in my hands, even if I didn't, that even though I had big shoes to fill that I was going to be able to-"
Of course, it was obvious that Kakarot was agitated. He just seemed very quiet as Trunks spoke.
"So he was a good person then?" Goku asked.
"Yea, my mom always said he reminded her a lot of you," Trunks said with a smile. "When he thought I couldn't hear him, sometimes before we'd do something crazy or dangerous, I remember him just saying 'Gohan, what would you father do?'."
It was obvious that Trunks was walking down his own memory lane, with warm memories and the like, but the boy was too stupid to realize he was only serving to harm Kakarot's pride and dignity. Even Vegeta could see it.
"Boy, enough walking down memory lane-"
"Hey guys, I'm gonna go check on Goten, I kinda left him hanging. And I'm pretty sure Chi-Chi was making me lunch. So, I'll be back around soon, alright?" Goku asked, smiling brightly as he did.
"Uhm, okay, but Goku-"
He was already gone. Crossing his arms, Vegeta just stared at his alternate reality son and raised a brow.
"No matter who mentored you, you never know when you keep your mouth shut, do you?" Vegeta asked bluntly.
Blinking, Trunks just stared back at him, utterly confused.
Typical.
"Nevermind. Show me how to become this Super Saiyan III you were talking about."
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Goku:
The open air of the Lookout was replaced by trees. As far as he could have seen there was thick forest in all directions. This wasn't where Goten was, and this was hardly where his home was. His smile disappeared a second later as he felt his own hand move up, rubbing across his eyes with his fingers as he started to slowly walk through the forest. It always came back to this, even now.
He'd always wanted to imagine what Gohan would have looked like if he'd not been taken away from them. It was impossible to envision for him much of the time. Even in his dreams, he couldn't glimpse it. Chi-Chi had always told him that she imagined a brilliant scholar. He'd always wanted Gohan to be a fighter, but even in his mind's eye it was hard to bring that into view. It left him with only empty words, until the day he met Gohan.
The day he met a brutal thug who looked out only for himself, and looked out to save his own skin at all costs. But everything had changed since then. Gohan had... shown his conscience when he fought Turles. He'd shown his determination and dedication to his friends and family when he fought Broly. And he'd shown the same kind of bravery Trunks had attributed to his mentor, when he fought Garlic, and died.
But the man who Trunks described finally took form for him. He didn't need to know what he looked like, because he could see him. Even now as he walked through the forest, he was able to see him. It was like a mirror image of himself in many respects. He could see a man standing tall staring back at him. Someone unmarred by the trials of survival put forward to him in this world. There was a confidence in his eyes that bore resemblance to his own, and it was shocking.
In his mind's eye, Goku could see the son he knew he would have raised for the first time, and something painful stabbed into his heart when he saw it.
It wasn't that he was ashamed of Gohan as he knew him. No, Gohan had moved so far away from everything that he was, that the older Saiyan couldn't say that he was ashamed of him. Every struggle Gohan encountered he overcame it, just like he always had. But that wasn't the same as the son he could have had. There was a gentleness to this image of a man he'd never met, something perhaps born in his own heart. Perhaps he was just taking everything Trunks said too close to his own heart, but how couldn't he?
All of this stemmed from something he struggled with for decades. He'd not been able to save his son from Raditz. Only in his dreams did he imagine stopping Raditz before it happened. But there now lay the subject open to the world. In the world Trunks came from... he had stopped Raditz, or he'd found Gohan in space before all of the damage could be done. He'd found it within himself in that world to save his son.
But I couldn't do it here.
This Saiyan from the future was telling him that he was in most worlds, stronger than he could imagine himself in this place. A Super Saiyan Three, a stage beyond being just a regular Super Saiyan, or an Ascended Saiyan. It only made sense that these were Super Saiyan One, and Super Saiyan Two. Super Saiyan Three must have been a full stage beyond what they were in and of themselves, something he was only able to discover in the afterlife.
It was something they may even need to survive the coming threat.
But in the worlds where he found this stage, he was the champion who'd saved his son, and achieved something more. Now how was he supposed to do the same thing? Doubt was always something foreign to him, until the day Raditz beat him. Even then he could hide it, mask it behind his determination, but now he felt real doubt for the first time since Broly killed Goten in front of him.
How am I going to become this next level of Super Saiyan, if I can't save the people I care about? I've failed to save both my sons every time they've needed me. I've failed to become this new level of Super Saiyan, and worst of all, I've failed myself and my grandfather because I can't move past this. How can I move past it?
Stepping over a set of downed logs, Goku stopped at the sight of a familiar figure, looking up, he saw a flowing white cape and a set of black eyes staring back at him.
Well, it was time to try to deal with all of this. Or at least deal with some of it.
"Hey Piccolo."
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Piccolo:
Crap.
This wasn't exactly the most anticipated event. Goku was going to show up at some point, but he was hoping it was going to happen when he was a bit further away from his protege. First, he was concerned if Goku picked up the power and wanted to see it, second, he was worried that he'd have to explain what was going on. Not that Goku was any great intellectual, but he was no fool either. Well, at least he didn't think Goku was a fool. Because that would mean all the times Goku defeated him, it would mean he was defeated by a fool. It would also mean that the friendship he'd forged with the other warrior, would be done on a false pretence that Goku was sound of mind. Or at least as sound as he could be.
"Goku," Piccolo responded, nodding his head slightly while trying to avoid any signs of nervousness.
"We've got a big problem coming," Goku said. "If you felt it, Trunks came back from the future. It's not our Trunks either, and he's brought some really, really bad news. I'm going to need your help. I think we're going to need everyone's help even."
It's always something new. I should have guessed when I sensed Trunks, but this is exactly why I've got to harden the girl. Even if she won't be useful for this run, if we survive this we're going to need her in the future.
"Of course. What's coming for us this time?" Piccolo asked bluntly.
"Three time travelling Saiyans. They're stronger than me, Vegeta, or Gohan from the sounds of it. Apparently they're alternate reality versions of Goten, Trunks, and Bulla. And they're really, really strong. They tear through realities and kill any powerful warriors they find inside of them worth challenging."
Of course they're a bunch of crazed Saiyans.
Crossing his arms, Piccolo just continued to look back towards Goku. They were all reaching the limits of their strength, weren't they? He could tell that Goku and Gohan had reached a plateau in the last battle they'd faced. He doubted his own body could get much stronger, and he was barely as strong as a Super Saiyan II, if that. A lot of the power they were generating was just being lost, burned away by their bodies before it could be used even. That meant that if they were going to need to get stronger, it was going to have to be through other means. Training would persist their power, maybe create new techniques, but it wasn't going to change the fact that their ki couldn't get much more expanded in their bodies as they were.
"When are they going to arrive?" Piccolo asked. "How much time do we have?"
"Anywhere between a few minutes and a few months, according to Trunks."
That's helpful.
The thought was sarcastic, but Piccolo kept it to himself.
"We can start training and hoping for the best when you go get Goten. Just let me know by telepathy, and I'll hunt you down," Piccolo said seriously. "But I don't know how we're going to get much stronger than we already are-"
"Yea, apparently there is a level beyond an Ascended Super Saiyan. Trunks explained it, he called it a Super Saiyan III. He was surprised we'd not already achieved that level yet. Which means while we're training, I've got to find a way to unlock it so we can stop these guys before they do to our world what they've been doing to so many others."
Super Saiyan III?A new level? If that's as big a transformation as Super Saiyan, to Ascended Super Saiyan, than this is going to be incredible. The only problem is how do we unlock this? Just by training? That can't be it. There was an emotional trigger for both Super Saiyan and Super Saiyan... II? We need to figure all that out as soon as we can.
Sensing a small energy spike in the distance, Piccolo silently cursed it as Goku's head popped up.
"Wow, that's pretty strong for around here. I wonder who that is?"
"It's something I've been following for a little while," Piccolo said, before looking back at Goku seriously, trying to warn his friend not to go looking where he didn't belong. "I'll take care of it though, you just worry about that Super Saiyan III transformation."
There was an awkward, silent pause between the two of them as Goku stared back.
The Saiyan, the Earth's greatest defender, just seemed to take a few moments to let what was said sink in. Clearly, he was trying to process why Piccolo wouldn't want him snooping in on what he was doing. Reluctantly, and with a hint of disappointment, Goku nodded.
"Right now, it's going to really be just me and Goten, and maybe this alternate, Future Trunks who are training. Vegeta has always been training on his own. So you're going to come along too, right Piccolo?"
"Yea, as I mentioned, just give me the message and I'll show up as soon as I can," Piccolo said, before half smiling. "Besides, I want to be there when you crack this Super Saiyan III transformation."
A nervous smile was shot back in his direction as Goku nodded himself.
"We'll see... Hey Piccolo, I've got a question for you," he said after a moment.
The presentation was different than Goku's normal demeanour, and it immediately raised a red flag for the Namekian. Keeping his arms crossed, Piccolo just kept his eyes locked on to Goku, waiting for the question. It looked important and Goku had barely said a word so far.
"When we fought Raditz, was there anything that we could have done differently to... win?"
Win.
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Piccolo: Age 761
Two fingers were held in place as he gathered his power again. The first shot had failed to hit its target, but the second one wouldn't. Gold and purple energy crackled around his fingers as Piccolo just breathed in and out, staring down at Raditz as the Saiyan, wounded shoulder and all, lay on his belly beneath Goku, who held his tail in place.
It'd been too close when that giant maniac was charging him, holding that orb of energy that would have annihilated him certainly in one hit.
They were talking among themselves, and it was bad. Goku was listening to the scum on the ground.
"I'll never come back here, I promise!"
And as soon as Goku let go, the giant Saiyan pulled himself up, slamming his elbow into his face.
"You've always been too trusting, Goku!" Piccolo shouted angrily after him.
Shoving his boot further into Goku's chest, Raditz seemed to just delight in his brother's suffering. For a moment, it was like time... froze... Everything went still and seemed to shift for Piccolo, before he brought his fingers back to his forehead, starting to charge the Beam Cannon again. Right now, the more time Raditz spent making Goku suffer, the more time he had to charge the attack.
But what am I going to do when its charged? I can't hit him. Damn you for being so foolish Goku.
"Fool! You're a rare breed indeed by brother, just a sentimental idiot," Raditz laughed. "You're way too soft to be a Saiyan Warrior anyway."
"You... lied," Goku managed.
"How observant," Raditz responded dimly, before grinning. "But I am a Saiyan Warrior, and I won't hesitate to do anything to achieve my mission, even if that means killing my own brother if need be."
"Now scream, Kakarot."
Raditz shoved his foot down harder, Goku screamed more intensely. It was enough to even make Piccolo grimace. It wouldn't be long now before Goku was finished, and then he was going to be on the menu.
Think Piccolo, think! I need him to get hit by this thing, but how?
Narrowing his eyes on Raditz, Piccolo breathed in and out evenly as he felt the attack continuing to charge, nearly its peak.
"I guess you're not going to beg for your life, Kakarot. You're no fun at all! Say goodbye!" Raditz shouted, before pointing his finger in the air.
Throwing it down towards Goku's chest, Piccolo could only watch as a beam of golden energy pierced through his current allies chest, blood bursting out immediately. There was a surprised, and shocked look on Goku's face as it happened. Blood coughed up from his chest a second later.
"A mortal wound," Raditz chuckled, letting his foot off Goku's chest in order to gloat more appropriately. "You can watch me kill the green man, as you die."
I can't get a direct hit. So what the Hell am I going to...
For a moment, Piccolo was suddenly two steps away from where he was right now. Just as the Beam Cannon peaked, he stared down Raditz with two black eyes. He had one shot at this, and he couldn't waste it. Hell, this might even get him killed as well, but when they were in line to see who would get to Hell first, at least he could gloat by pointing out that he was the one who finished the job.
"You're a fool if you think this will be the end of Goku. They'll just use the Dragon Balls to bring him back to life," Piccolo pointed out. "And you'll not be there to stop them, because you're still going to die. Here, and now."
Stretching his right him as he slowly started to walk, Raditz just grinned with amusement.
"Oh?"
"Yea. Everything you've done here has no meaning, you're just going to die here, and that's it," Piccolo smirked, all the while staring down his counterpart. "Besides, someone as big and dumb as you doesn't stand a chance against me. You beat Goku, well congratulations. You win the prize of being killed by me now."
"You do talk a lot of talk, don't you green man?" Raditz sneered.
"And you piss a lot of pants, don't you space man?"
Right, he's going to be mad. So part one of my brilliant plan has worked. Now if this doesn't work, at least I can laugh at Kami when we get to the afterlife.
Fury broke out on the Saiyans face as he took one last step forward, breathing heavily as he scowled.
"You," Raditz sneered, before blasting towards him, his right arm reaching out to grab him.
Immediately, Piccolo shot into the air, kicking his feet off the ground before pointing his fingers down towards the Earth. A direct hit wasn't necessary, hopefully.
"Special Beam CANNON!"
The world turned to a mixture of golden light and blackened purple energy. All the colour of the world seemed to vanish and in the light, the first thing Piccolo saw was the look of realization of Raditz's face as to what had just happened. Even as he side stepped the blast at the final second, the blast collided with the Earth next to him, burrowing into the ground for a split second before everything turned to blinding light. At this proximity, Piccolo knew this could be a kamikaze. A fountain of golden and purple fire roared out of the ground as the blast went alive, sending energy in all directions. Inside of ti, he could hear Raditz scream as the energy overwhelmed him.
Piccolo's own roar, both of success and pain, followed as the blast wave washed over him next. His legs were blown away in seconds before his right arm was annihilated as well. Clothes tore and heat singed his remaining skin. Before he knew it, his body hit the ground in a thud.
The sound of rocks raining down from the sky all around him chattered through his mind as he slowly groaned. He needed more time to regenerate. It took energy, and right now he was completely drained. Deep purple blood oozed from his half cauterized wounds. Groaning as he sat up, using his half legs, Piccolo was barely able to watch as Raditz lay there, a good fifteen metres away. The Saiyan's form was near lifeless for several seconds, burns and blood covering a great deal of his own form.
Suddenly, it started to move.
Must, get. Limbs.
Concentrating, Piccolo focused anything he could. Painfully slowly compared to normal, legs sprouted from his knee stumps, and his left arm shot out. There wasn't enough in him to restore his right. Gasping in agony, Piccolo's new, sensitive skin was touched by the air.
No time.
And he was right, there was no time. He needed to close with the Saiyan and kill him. Getting to his feet, Piccolo fell forward immediately. Even with new legs, he barely had the energy to move. Grunting with the impact, he reached out with his arm, crawling after Raditz. It took almost two minutes to reach the grass, having pulled himself from the crater the Special Beam Cannon had left.
Pulling himself forward, he moved past the barely breathing body of Son Goku. With heavy breathing, Piccolo only spared him a glance as Raditz pulled himself further towards the ridge of the crater of where his space pod was.
"Stop. Him." Goku wheezed. "Please."
Looking back towards him, Raditz scowled, his burn covered face looking at him directly. There wasn't an overabundance of will to fight in his features. He was going to run. Trying desperately to get to his feet, Piccolo slipped even as he tried, sensing a chance for final victory.
Rolling into the crater, Raditz made several pained noises as he scaled down the rough terrain.
Slipping again, Piccolo pulled himself to the edge of the crater, just as the door to the space pod started to close.
"We'll finish this when I get back," Raditz said with a sneer, which slowly formed into a grin. "Then I'll have the last laugh."
"Raditz!" Piccolo shouted, even as the pod started to levitate.
For a brief second, he could see through the glass of the pod, seeing the hands of a small child pressed against it. Goku's son was in there still. It wasn't something to get torn up over, at least for him. Even if he was running now though, he would be back. Piccolo knew he'd be back. Staring up at the pod as it started to leave, he was left only to stagger towards where Goku was, trying to gather even enough energy to regenerate his other arm.
"Don't... Don't... Don't," each wheeze escaped Goku more and more weakly, making even Piccolo wince at the noise. "Don't let him. ... Take... my son."
All he'd wanted to do his whole life was stand over Goku as he died. The man had killed his father, and in essence, defeated the very makeup of what he was. He'd wanted revenge because he was literally born in it. But now he was standing there, it felt hollow. This was what he'd wanted to see?
Laying there, Goku looked desperately after where their mutual enemy had disappeared. There was a pain more profound than the shutting down of his body in his eyes, and the demon knew why. They'd saved the Earth, whatever that meant, but they'd failed to retrieve his boy. He didn't know the kid, but he could see just how much it meant to Son Goku in that moment. He'd always thought taking those kinds of things away from him would bring him more joy, but again, watching and experiencing it left him feeling totally different.
He felt sorry for the wretch in that moment.
"Gohan," he wheezed, shakily reaching his hand after where the pod had been. "Gohan..."
Sitting down next to him, Piccolo looked up where Goku was staring, feeling the power of Raditz fading quickly into the beyond.
"Just remember when you're in the afterlife," Piccolo managed to say tiredly. "That when you get back, you'll get your chance to save your son."
Rising and falling, Goku's breathing became weaker and weaker.
As strange as it was, it felt like the right thing to say, and it felt like the right thing to do, staying there while his rival died next to him.
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Piccolo:
They did win.
But that wasn't what Goku had meant. The memories were as alive as ever in the Namek. Of course, he'd changed significantly since then. He'd found a friend, maybe even a brother, in his former enemy Son Goku. He'd merged himself with a distant relative, Nail, and he'd reunited with Kami. He wasn't the same being, wholly, who fought against Raditz in that desperate battle. He wasn't even the same Piccolo that killed Raditz when he returned with Vegeta and Nappa in tow.
What Goku had really meant was there any way for them to save his son from the fate he'd received, and Piccolo had the answer. The only problem was, it was an answer he didn't want to say. What prompted this enquiry into what had happened was strange, especially given what they'd just been talking about.
"What brings up the question?" he asked.
"... It's just been something on my mind," Goku answered.
That wasn't the whole truth, which was annoying, but it didn't matter. If Goku wanted the truth, Piccolo would never shield his friend from an answer of this kind. The only problem was, of course, that telling the truth often had a tendency to hurt.
"I don't know what you want me to say, Goku, but you were there for the fight yourself. Do you think there was anything we could have done to achieve a better outcome?" Piccolo asked, turning the question around, hoping Goku wound find the answer himself.
"..." there was silence as the Saiyan stood there. "I did everything I could."
"Well, then you have your answer," Piccolo said bluntly.
"No, I don't," Goku was quick to counter.
Well, then he'd get it.
"You want my opinion then?" Piccolo asked, staring back at his friend.
"Yes, I want to know what you think," Goku answered, looking resolved for whatever could be said.
They'd never talked about the battle like this before. It'd always been a sensitive subject, even all these years later. Piccolo had wondered if and when one day it would come up. They'd certainly talked about Raditz before, and the fact his son was gone, or what had happened in that context, but how to change the outcome never came up. Piccolo had always assumed Goku had run through it in his own mind enough that he didn't need his input.
"I don't want to distract you from your training," Piccolo answered. "Go back to Goten and get ready. I'll join you shortly."
"So you think there is something we could have done," Goku answered for him, crossing his arms now, mirroring him.
Alright, but just remember that I warned you.
"You lost your son because you were too weak in spirit to win," Piccolo answered.
There was an immediate wince on Goku's part at the words. It was the old pain, but it didn't matter.
"When you let go of Raditz's tail, you let go of your son. You know that as well as I do Goku, I shouldn't have to tell you that," Piccolo then answered. "If you wanted to hear something else, then I apologize, but I won't conceal my opinion or the truth from you if you wanted a real answer."
There was silence on the other side from Goku, before he looked back at him a bit more lightly, looked simultaneously like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, but at the same time as if a great burden had been placed on him in exchange. A smile came across his features, even if it was a tired one.
"Thanks, Piccolo," he answered. "I'll let you know when we start training."
Placing his fingers to his forehead, Goku disappeared.
He had to know that himself. Why would he need to hear it from me?
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Goku:
Man, it's crazy how this can just throw your life around.
And it was true. How many times had this come up, and it just threw him into a tail spin? Even now when the world and all his friends were at risk, the first thing he went to and held on to was the fact he failed his son, sons even. But what made it sting was the fact that Trunks, this Trunks, had described someone who could be the same, but totally alien from his son. He described someone who was the son he always imagined, and it hurt to know that he'd somehow lost that. He never had it to lose before, he'd just lost a little boy. Now he felt like he'd lost someone he'd never known, but could imagine that he did.
The worst part was asking Piccolo for the truth, something he'd not done for two decades. The truth was a terrifying thing to be confronted with, but it was something he finally had the courage to hear, or at least he thought he'd had it. The brutal truth was something he always concealed from himself, and shoddily. There had been nothing he could have done to save Gohan... except not show mercy to Raditz. If he'd let Piccolo kill him, the whole world would have been different. For all he knew, they may never have met the other Saiyans. He may have never confronted Frieza. There was even a good chance he'd not become any kind of Super Saiyan to speak of. He may not have even had a second child, because with Gohan around, who knew?
Would he trade it all to save his eldest son?
The passionate answer yelled out in his ears. Yes, yes he would have given it all up. But there was something else there, something he knew all too well. His dying saved the world, and he saved countless billions by stopping Frieza. Who would have stopped the Androids otherwise? Who would have stopped Turles or Broly? Hell, even Garlic junior.
Was everything they accomplished because of him losing his son, worth trading away?
No.
Even if it hurt to admit, Goku knew the real answer.
Part of him felt the guilt, even as he walked up the pathway leading to his humble home. There was something liberating in the answer though. Because even if he hadn't saved Gohan, even if Gohan would have been a... much more... amazing person, the choice had been made and the world worked out the way it did. Too much could have changed. Was his happiness, and the happiness of his wife and son, worth potentially the lives of countless billions? The answer was no.
And in its own way, that brought him a level of peace he didn't expect, even if he still wished to see what could have been.
A pair of tired eyes looked ahead to see Goten standing outside, staring at where he was coming from. He could have directly come into the house with instant transmission, sure, but the truth was he always enjoyed walking up the pathway. It was his home, and it always would be.
Finally, he stopped at the top, opening his arms, as if nothing happened as he smiled. Because what else could you do?
"Everything work out?" Goten asked timidly.
"Kinda, apparently there are some inter-dimensional horrors coming to kill everyone," Goku answered. "Oh! And it turns out I might be able to get stronger, and so can you!"
It took his son several seconds of reading his features, trying to determine what exactly he was up to, before he pondered for several more seconds and just sighed, his shoulders sagging.
Yep, he figured out I was being serious.
"But... why?" he asked, sounding sad while he looked up towards him. "I'm so tired of-"
"We'll have Trunks explain it, he's going to do it better than I can," Goku said with a smile still plastered on his face. "But on the bright side, lots of training until it happens. There is apparently a whole new kind of Super Saiyan for us to reach for."
Breathing out with a still depressed demeanour, Goten nodded tiredly.
"What's wrong?" Goku asked, feeling concern.
"Well, I don't want to fight a crazy inter-dimensional monster," he admitted rather bluntly.
... Yea... this is gonna be kinda bad. But at least we'll have something to strive towards, right?
"... Oh," Goku sounded in response. "... Well, at least we'll get more training in!"
There was a halfhearted smile from Goten in response before he looked back up at him. He really didn't seem to want to fight whatever was coming. Unfortunately, whether he wanted to or not, Goten was now strong enough to help, and they were going to need him. It was a bitter irony that he even thought this way, especially given what the recent subject matter was with Piccolo. But sometimes the hard truths were needed.
"We'll have dinner first-" Goku was cut off by the sound of crying.
Thankfully, well, kind of, it wasn't Chi-Chi.
Walking inside a second later, Goku negotiated his way through the kitchen before entering the hall. The crying came from a familiar room.
"Come on, shhhh," Chi-Chi's voice cut through.
Stepping into the room, Goku stopped for a second, in a flash of time it was almost like it was only months ago. This had been Gohan's room, something that Chi-Chi had wanted preserved for years for when Gohan got back. Of course, that had happened, and he'd finally come home, but now he was gone. The room was now being taken over by his sister.
Keiko, what a weird name.
Of course, he wished he'd been around to name her with Chi-Chi, that way they could have picked something a bit more sensible. Like Goka. Goka would have been a great now. It sounded a lot like his own name, but with an a at the end of it instead of a u.
But, nothing to be done about it now.
Screaming, the girl was making a high pitched noise as Chi-Chi tiredly held the little girl.
"I've been trying to get her to calm down all day, and she just won't have it," Chi-Chi said, looking tired as she did even. "She won't stop crying. Can you take her, I wanted to get some stuff done in the kitchen."
Sliding the child over to him, Goku took the relatively light child into his arms, and immediately the cries stopped. As soon as they did, Chi-Chi stopped in her tracks, a nerve clearly running up her as she turned towards the little girl. Tears seemed to evaporate as the screams died, and Keiko just grinned and laughed for a moment while she stared back at him. Instinctively, Goku gave the biggest grin he could in response, as if competing with her for who could show the most happiness.
"..." still no words came from his wife as Goku turned towards her, holding the baby girl as she giggled.
"Well, she seems like she's not crying anymore," Goku commented, brightening up himself even.
A few playful sounds escaped his daughter as he just grinned back at Chi-Chi.
"If she was crying the last few hours because you weren't around, I think I'm going to have a heart attack," Chi-Chi admitted.
"Well, maybe she takes after- AGH!" Goku shrieked as the girl grabbed his hair, beginning to pull on a long sharp edge of it. His eyes bulged from what was happening as he almost make a squeaking sound. "Now honey, you wanna let go of dad's hai- AHH!"
She pulled again, and the laughter came a moment later, clearly amused by his discomfort. Looking over with two desperate eyes to Chi-Chi, he implied for her to help get the girl's fingers out of his hair, if only because she was pulling it. He could easily release himself, but he wanted to be careful not to hurt Keiko herself. Maybe this was her revenge on him for not being around when she was born, and saving her from such an odd name.
"Alright honey, let go of your father's hair," Chi-Chi said gently, reaching over and tugging at her arm as the child giggled gleefully. "Now let go... let go... Keiko."
The last word was more stern and the child let go. As soon as she did, she looked back towards her parents, her lips pressing together unhappily as a longer and longer frown seemed to from.
Uh oh.
Immediately an angry set of screams came from her as tears began to well again.
"Hey, hey, it's gonna be alright," Goku said with a grin. "Uhm. Well... you... Hey, look at this!"
Goku tipped his head back towards her, as his daughter stopped screaming, looking back towards his hair. With a gleeful smile returning, she reached out, grabbing his hair again in delighted amusement.
Well, this'll work until Chi-Chi can make dinner-
"Ow!"
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Pan:
Berries.
She loved berries. It didn't matter that she'd never liked berries before, she loved berries now. Why? Well that was simple. There were tons of berries, and picking them off each piece of branch only brightened her mood even more. Black berries, red berries, it didn't matter, they all went down the same. If she could have looked in a mirror, her face would have been smeared with the smeared remains of her berry-shaped victims. It'd been days since she'd found anything reliable in the form of food, and she wasn't going to let this one out of her hands.
She'd lived near the wilderness her whole life, but her mother was always there. Even if their relationship was strained, she always knew her mom knew what she was doing, and even then they were hardly scavenging the woods for food. Now, even as she sat with a belly full of the red and black berries, Pan just wished she could go home and find a nice, warm meal. Maybe her dad could cook it, because honestly he was probably a better cook than her mom was.
Of course, she knew she wasn't going to be getting any home cooked meals from her dad, but she wished she could. Sitting back against a tree, she looked out across the foliage around her. The canopy of trees were a lush green, and the sun was barely breaking through the leaves. Everything seemed to calm down as her stomach filled. Even the calm breeze that blew by, gentle rustling the trees branches, made her just want to go to sleep.
For a second, the world's colours seemed to distort however. She blinked hard, trying to keep everything in focus even as it fought her tooth and nail to separate itself from her desire. Standing at her full height, she tried to take several steps forward, but the world seemed to tip and turn as she did. Everything felt like it was spinning and she felt her stomach suddenly fill with nausea. Desperately, she tried to hold it down, but it even as she did the rustling of the leaves on the tree branches seemed to sound different, they almost seemed to echo all around her from all sides. Without even realizing it, she collapsed to her knees, and felt her body heave forward, spilling out a wave of purple berry-juice and fibre. Coughing several times, she felt her throat almost swell for a second before she managed to stagger to her feet.
The colours grew more intense in all directions around her and seemed to flash past her eyes as quickly and violently as possible. Stepping over the puddle of vomit, she stepped into a swirling vortex of sound and noise as she lost sight of anything real. The only real thing to her was the sun hanging in the sky, peering through a mixed swirl of green which had once been the canopy. She tried to do anything other than feel the misery of whatever this was, but it pulled her down. It almost made her want to just fall to her knees. Desperately, her eyes tried to focus on almost anything when she felt it start to rain?... No, that wasn't rain, it was too warm. Reaching up and wiping her forehead, she pushed the sweat from her brow as she tried to keep herself upright.
I need to go to a party.
She really, really go to a birthday party. I was somebody's birthday today, wasn't it? It had to be. Every day was someone's birthday, and it was really rude that she wasn't visiting for it. There was a crushing sense of loss that all these colours wouldn't tell her where the birthday was. She mouthed her lips, as if she was speaking, when she turned to the brown mix of colours next to her.
I'm lost she tried to say.
It was as if a smile formed in the mess of... anything, and just started to laugh hardheartedly at her. Why was it laughing at her?... It may her want to laugh. The laugh echoed so much it hurt her ears and she didn't know why it wouldn't stop raining. Smiling as her head almost fell off the back of her neck, she tried to laugh along with it. It was just a dull noise that came out of her, mixing in with all the echoes around her. Every step was a struggle as she finally hit another brow and green colour by her leg. The world collapsed helplessly around her as all the colours began mixing, and she felt herself falling, and fast. She felt like she was wet a second later. Everything was wet and cool and she couldn't breath.
Something was pulling her, really, really hard, down something. Everything was blue and grey, and sometimes brown. Suddenly, there were moving red things moving through the air around her, and there was a hard rumble coming from all directions.
When she blinked, it felt like she could fly, and that she was flying through the air. Unable to hold back, Pan giggled as she flew, until she hit something... hard. She felt herself vomit up water as she started coughing. Slowly, the colours stopped spinning so hard as she looked down at her hands, pressed firmly in the mud. There was still an intense, echoing noise overwhelming her senses. Closing her eyes hard, she moved her hand up to wipe away the water, and this time red came away. Blinking hard again, she slowly managed to step to her feet, trying to focus on anything.
"Hey Pan," her mom said, coming into view, smiling at her. "I'm going to go train, alright?"
"No," Pan whispered. "Please, I don't want you to go."
"Well that's really selfish, hon. I'd be a lot happier without you. Why don't you just go away?"
Blinking hard, even as her world started to spin again, Pan felt her eyes well with tears.
"I want you to stay," she mouthed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything. Please... don't go."
Stepping forward, she reached out for her mother, but before she could even understand where she'd went, she was gone. Her breathing increased, almost hyperventilating. Her heart started to race when she realized she was gone and she'd left her again.
"M-mom," she managed, looking around with one flick of her head, looking into the noise and colour around her, seeing flicks of red fly out into the strange mass of sight she was staring into.
"I'd be around for you, kid, but I'm dead," Mister Gohan- her dad, whispered.
Turning her head sharply, he was standing there in front of her. His clothes were ripped and torn, just like when she last saw him. She could see the fresh burns covering the inside of the rips, and blood stained both his shirt and jeans. He had the same glassy look in his eyes as he did when he'd... told her to run. Already sobbing without realizing it, Pan stepped towards him.
"Dad, please. I don't want you to be dead."
"Why? All you ever did was try to kick down my Magical Fudge Kingdom."
With a sharp intake, and a hiccup, Pan sobbed.
"I'm sorry I kicked down your fudge kingdom," she wheezed. "I just want you to-"
"Dead kid. Dead. Dead. Dead. Dead. Ed? Dead. Dead. End.-"
"Stop it!" she urged, trying to make him stop.
"-Dead Dead dard. Is Dard a -"
Before he could finish, she saw him fall to his knees, his mouth dropping open as blood slowly started to drain out of his eyes. Her stumbling steps turned into a run before she tripped on her own feet, sliding back into the mud as he kneel there in front of her.
"Dad! Dad!" she screamed, before a huge... all too familiar figure emerged from behind her.
"I told you I'd kill him, didn't I?" Garlic asked, his red eyes shining towards her. Without another word, she screamed as loudly as she could, her high pitch echoing through the forest all around her, as the world flashed to bright white.
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Author's Notes:
Hurrah for Poison Berries!
Well, we didn't hit the review goal, lol.
I've not managed to get anything new written over the last month, not due to a lack of inspiration, but between work and a severe heatwave in the Province I live in, my ability to write has been hampered significantly. I'm hoping to get another chapter done by the end of this month, but it may be slow going for the next few weeks. I don't function... almost at all, when its hot.
I'm trying to run things happening outside of the 'world' in every other chapter. AKA, Gohan, Taro and company, Babidi and co, ect. Where as the other chapters will focus on Goku, Goten, Pan, maybe Videl, and others. That way everyone gets a bit of exposure. I'm hoping to get some more Videl scenes in for Chapter 54, or at the very least chapter 56.
Anyway, I hope everyone enjoys the chapter. I'm not throwing in any "I get this many and an update comes sooner" this time, because I'm not sure I could meet any commitments right now given the heat. I will say that I will try to get updates done more quickly if I get more reviews however. :)
Also, don't worry, I don't want Goku too angsty over his failings. That's going to change a lot this Saga. He's Goku after all. I just felt that there was a little more for me to examine before setting the character up for more positive building, like I started to do near the end of the chapter. Life goes on, and the past does slowly fade away.
Reviewers:
ShadowFFD: Or there could be multiple aspects to who could be a Super Saiyan III?... We're going to see someone new become a Super Saiyan III. There already is someone who reached the goal...
Aqua Roxas: Everything will get explained! There is no reason to read The Catalyst unless you want to! I'd never force people to read an entire other story to get important, major plot points for this one :)
MasenkoX: It was Badass, and hopefully by Chapter 60, that'll get to be explained/seen.
Perfect Carnage: Gohan sees fighting as what lead him to Hell. There is no way he'd want Pan participating in it :(. And Trunks travelling back in time did fuck all the other times up, as as soon as it had outcomes that lead to other time travellers, it formed more timelines as they went back further in time. It all has a ripple effect. Trunks destroyed reality, by accident. :D
Pyromania101: Pikkon will get some showtime as well. He's the best the Afterlife has to offer, when it comes to not evil psychopaths stuck in Hell, lol
Brelic: I wouldn't count on Junia being a pairing for Gohan. It's highly, highly unlikely, and kinda creepy once the backstory gets explained more. Each time Junia, Taro, and Brass appear, I'm going to write from another perspective. Next time it goes up, Brass is going to be the primary perspective. The one after that will be Taro. I just wanna explore events through their eyes. And there will be flashbacks! I'm actually reallyexcited for a few moments that will come up, but particularly towards the climax.
Droole: Sex isn't possible in the afterlife, they're bodies wouldn't respond properly. And I doubt that Zangya could hope to force herself on Gohan. That'd be a short, and violent encounter, and not for Gohan.
Drewba12: That's right! Kiwi pride ftw!
Tomorrow4eva: Turles and Gohan are complicated, but they definitely are father and son. The problem is, Gohan isn't a copy of Turles. He's a much better person that Turles can ever hope to be. Even though Turles genuinely cares about Gohan, they're driven further apart by their natures. But you can care about someone, love someone, even if they're distant from you. Turles, even if Gohan's choices have disappointed him, still cares about Gohan. The only thing he cares about almost as much as himself, is Gohan.
PetrusMagnus: Vegeta in that world made a creature in his own image, sadly. So yes, Junia shares a lot of Vegeta's problems, even if their origins are different.
DBZ fan the first: Sorry for the delay :\
MaxPain32: Babidi's plans should come to fruition in... Chapter... ... 55? I think 55. Maybe 57.
Guest1: The last villain of the story is all planned out! I won't reveal anything, but I can say that the story is planned, from now until finish. Its just a matter of getting it written.
DBZFan: Why does Gohan need a pairing? I promise nothing on any fronts regarding his personal life, but I can say that people will be surprised by how it goes. As for Videl? Videl's life won't be easy. But one day, I think, she's going to be happy.
Anonymous: Taro's father is Turles, but his mother is Bulma. He was born in regular Trunks' stead. It'll all get shown going forward, when I write a flashback chapter centred around the trio. It'll probably come in the 60's sometime, and is going to be named after the story I was originally going to write around this called "Utopia".
89: I don't know what song those lyrics come from... I'm kinda thankful for that :\
Lil Dynamic: The negative feedback is fine, I just always respond to people. Sometimes people don't like that :\
Delias Starlight: It's going to be very interesting when Gohan gets back to life.
Guest2: Demigra won't be making an appearance. It's assumed this takes place after he was defeated by The Warrior and Son Goku.
VuvuzelaHero: Yea, Canon Trunks has a giant clusterfuck to deal with, so I wouldn't that excited unless you like seeing him stressed out and with a soul drinking vampire version of him chasing after him, lol
En Satsu Koku Ryuu Ha: No, tighter perspective is almost universally more awesome than the broad one. The only problem it can cause is if, long term, I need to expand someone else's perspective, I may need to go over things written before, given their reactions and thoughts on it may not be realized. But generally, that doesn't happen.
Darknessrising11: Uhhhh, I can't answer most of that without spoiling, but I can say Broly won't be a major Saga villain again. He may be seen a bit more this Saga however, but I wouldn't put him in a major capacity.
Guest3: I'm stoked! That's awesome! :D
JG76: I'm hoping I can wrap this story up in the next year if I can spend the time writing it, but it may take a year and a half to two years to finish. But I'm honestly hoping it only takes a year, given that I am going to eventually write something original. I've been planning out that world now, but I won't be writing anything extensively for it anytime soon.
SaiyanSastiel: There is only one or two GT characters that will be featured in this story. Overall, I didn't like GT at all. It's alright for others to disagree with me, but I've never been too attached. I have answered this before, but I don't mind answering it for you, given that you've just come aboard. Welcome to aboard by the way! I'm happy to have answered your question. :)
DisposableWarPig: That's not true. With Broly being dead, his power isn't expanding anymore. People's power doesn't innately rise in Hell. You can increase your power, but only through multipliers. Broly isn't smart enough to discover some new technique, especially given where he is right now :\
RaijuBlue: I really wanted a female character not in the venue of those really seen in a lot of settings. I also aimed for that a lot with Videl, and eventually Pan. I'm aiming for complex characters of course, but I don't want them really falling into any moulds that seem familiar. I'm glad you're enjoying her however, she was definitely difficult to write. :\
RaneWalker: Thanks!
RoxaShadow: Ness Frost!... I actually hadn't caught on to the name being Frostness until you said that, lol
Dead Survivor: That'd take away from the core of the coming Saga sadly. It's not that I wouldn't want to do it, it's just a matter of investment. I don't have the time to invest to do that, and keep the story moving. I was going to have the Ox King in this more too, but then I kinda sorted out having him in this would just drag the story out further, and really wouldn't add enough to the story to justify it.
Mizz-Madam: Never fear, an update is here. I tend to only really use OC's as villains, I very, very, very rarely use them as protagonists. It just doesn't sit right with me, especially considering that people wanna read a Dragon Ball fic about the characters they know.
SuperSassySaiyan: It has been brought! Poison Berries and all!
Angstina: Sweet! I'm glad you're enjoying everything!
Tulis: Who?
zZ Sky Ninja Zz: Junia is an alternate reality child of Vegeta and Bulma. Brass is an alternate reality child of Turles and Chi-Chi. And Taro is an alt reality child of Turles and Bulma.
Reader: I hope I don't bore you in the future! Lol. No that's awesome. I'm glad you're enjoying the story :)
Guest4: Not until Gohan's not dead. Lol
Readallday: He'll get wished back, if that's what you mean.
Guest5: That's a hard question to answer. Gohan would be around... 24-25. Videl would be the same. Goku would be around 43 I guess? Chi-Chi around the same. Which means Bulma is in her late 40's and Vegeta is going to be around 47-48 as well.
Thanks again everyone!