Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball Z but I love the show! Vegeta is the best!

Author's Note: I would like to thank Trunks888 for the idea for this story. You're a great writer! I feel privileged that you would let me take one of your ideas and write the story for it. Hope you enjoy!

Ages: Gohan/Videl: 34 Trunks: 24 Goten: 23 Bra: 16 Pan: 13

TRUNKS: WARRIOR OF DREAMS

Chapter 1

Bra flew toward Capsule Corporation at top speed, but even at super saiyan she didn't feel like she was flying fast enough. She wished she could reach ascended saiyan like her father and brother could so she could fly faster. The scene that had just happened played over and over in her mind.

Trunks had been feeling under the weather for the past few days, but the Briefs thought it was nothing. Bra had spent the night at Pan's house, thinking everything would be fine. However, just as Videl had started to fix breakfast, the phone rang. "Hello," Videl said as she answered, "Yes, just a minute." Videl sat the phone down and went outside were Bra was watching Pan and Gohan spar. "Bra, your mother is on the phone."

Bra went inside and picked up the phone. "Mom, what's going on?" she asked. As Bra listened, she began to cry; by the time she got off the phone, Gohan, Videl, and Pan were all watching her. She brushed her tears away, knowing her father wouldn't approve, but it was not use. "Trunks has the heart virus; he's dying," she said, gaining shocked expressions, "I…I have to get home. Gohan, mom asked if you would go find dad; he left to train this morning. Trunks…Trunks wants to tell him bye." Bra burst into tears. How could her big brother be dying?

"I will, Bra," Gohan said, giving her a hug, "Do you want Videl and Pan to fly back with you?"

"No. I'm too fast for Videl and not fast enough to keep up with Pan," Bra replied.

"That's okay, Bra, call us when you find out what is going on," Videl said, touching Bra on the shoulder. Bra nodded, transformed to super saiyan, and flew off to Capsule Corp. as Gohan went to find Vegeta.

Bra landed at Capsule Corp. and raced to Trunks' bedroom; she could feel his ki slipping away. She entered his room still as a super saiyan, a transformation he had taught her. Bulma sat next to his bed trying to comfort him through the pain of his heart giving out. Though he was in pain, when Trunks felt his sister's presence, he opened his eyes, giving her a small smile. "Where's dad?" he asked weakly.

"Gohan went to find him," Bra replied, going back to normal. She walked over to his bedside, still crying. She laid her head gently on his chest. "Trunks, you can't die," she wept. Trunks wrapped his arms around Bra and looked at Bulma, who was also crying, though she tried hard not to.

Suddenly, Goku walked in the room. "Everyone's here. Videl told me you sent Gohan after Vegeta, are you sure you don't want me to transport and bring him back?" he asked.

Bulma shook her head. "Vegeta's stubborn, and he doesn't like you. Of all the Z Fighters, he listens best to Gohan. I'd send Bra, but she isn't as good at following ki signals as well as the rest of you and I know she wants to be here with Trunks," she replied.

"Alright," Goku understood. He looked at Trunks, who was gripped with pain and trying to comfort Bra. Goku understood what Trunks was going through; however, the antidote wasn't working for Trunks and it was only a matter of time before he would leave them. Goku nodded to Trunks then left the room.

A few minutes later, Vegeta walked into the room. He tried to appear calm, but it was clear he had been ascended and was worried about his son. Bra sat up on the edge of the bed but didn't try to stop crying. Trunks gently held her hand and his mother's hand. "I'm…I'm...I'm glad you…you made it, dad," Trunks struggled to say the words. Vegeta approached his son's bed and, kneeling between Bulma and Bra, placed his hand atop of Trunks and Bulma's hands and wrapped his other arm around Bra. "Mom, will you go get the others?" Trunks asked his voice and breath shallow and labored. Bulma nodded, leaving the room to get the others.

Vegeta stared at his son; sure, the heart virus had nearly killed Kakarot, but Vegeta never thought the disease would take his son. Trunks was strong, a fighter, a saiyan prince. A stupid heart disease shouldn't be able to kill him. Trunks struggled against the pain, trying not to scare Bra and trying to appear strong for his father. Shortly, Bulma returned followed by the other Z Fighters. Bulma took her seat again as Trunks struggled to lean up on his elbows so he could look at the other fighters. Bra and Bulma tried to help him but it was not until Vegeta helped that Trunks was able to sit up.

Trunks spoke, against his pain, as he leaned against Vegeta, "I wish it wasn't this way," Trunks said, "I always thought I would die one of two ways: either in battle, a noble death for a saiyan, or of old age, still a noble way to die. Gohan, come here, please. Until mom and the rest of the board can elect a new president, I ask you to take over my position at Capsule Corporation."

"Trunks, I can't do that. Your position should go to Bra, not me. She's capable, even more than I am. I can't." Gohan began to reject the offer before Trunks raised his hand.

"Gohan, please, she's not ready. I took the position to save it for her. I'm a fighter, like dad; Bra is the technological genius like mom, but she's not ready. Please, Gohan, you are the only one who can take the position right now. Please, I don't trust anyone else with it until Bra is ready to take it over," Trunks interrupted. Bulma looked worriedly at her son; with each passing minute, he was losing more strength. His breathing was incredibly labored and he was losing color in his face.

"Alright, Trunks, but just until Bra is ready," Gohan agreed. He did it mostly for Trunks, who he considered a little brother. Like the other Z Fighters, Gohan could not believe Trunks was dying of a heart virus.

"Thank you," Trunks replied. He leaned further back against Vegeta and closed his eyes; his strength was failing him. Bra wrapped her arms around Trunks' arm and gently leaned against his shoulder, her tears running down his arm. Trunks gently wrapped his arm around her, holding her despite his pain.

Bulma watched her family and fresh tears rolled down her cheeks; how could she ever face losing Trunks? She looked at Vegeta, would he stay once Trunks was gone? Trunks had been born out of a brief passion; a passion Bulma thought would be over within an instant. But when Vegeta returned from training in space and saw Trunks for the first time, he decided to stay. He wouldn't ever give her a reason why he stayed, but Bulma knew it as because he cared for his family. As if he heard her thoughts and fears, Vegeta discretely took Bulma's hand in his, letting her know that he wouldn't leave her. Bulma leaned against Vegeta's shoulder and sobbed; Vegeta was the only one with the strength to carry his family through Trunks' death.

Trunks took in a deep breath, his family and friends were looking at him. He opened his eyes; they were almost gray instead of the shimmery blue they normally were. "Bra," he said softly as he gently took her hand into his, "take care of mom and dad, okay? I love you all." Trunks closed his eyes again and rested his head in his father's lap as his breathing slowed; Bulma put her hand on his head and Bra held tight to Trunks' hand. Slowly, Trunks took one last, deep breath and then his ki dropped to nothing. Bra flung herself across Trunks' body and Bulma buried her head in Vegeta's shoulder, both of them crying.

Suddenly, Bra felt herself fall into Vegeta's lap. She looked up, Trunks was gone! "Where'd he go? Where's Trunks?" she cried.

Bulma looked where Trunks had been; she knew what had happened. "He got to keep his body in Other World, that's why his body disappeared," Bulma said softly.

"Trunks was an amazing person, strong and good. He spent his life protecting Earth; he would have died to protect it. It is only right he would get to keep his body in Other World," Gohan said; all of the Z Fighters agreed.

Later, after all the Z Fighters had left Capsule Corporation, Bulma walked by Bra's room as she got ready for bed. Bulma watched as Bra tried to brush her hair, but her hand was shaking too much. Bulma walked in, took the brush from Bra, and began to brush her hair. Shortly, Bra laid her head on her vanity and cried. "Trunks brushed my hair every night before I went to bed. We would spend time together at night and then he would tuck me in for the night," she sobbed.

Bulma gently stroked Bra's hair. "We're all going to miss him. Trunks was special to all of us. Come on, let's get you to bed, it's been a long day," Bulma said as she helped Bra to her bed. Bulma pulled the covers over her daughter, leaned down, and kissed her forehead. "I love you, Bra. Try to get some sleep," Bulma whispered. She turned out the light and walked out, not seeing Vegeta watching from the shadows.

Vegeta stood, waiting for Bra to fall asleep; after a few minutes, she was sound asleep. He quietly walked into her room and leaned over her bed. He gently ran his finger down her tear-stained cheek then pulled the covers back over her. He leaned down and gently kissed her cheek. "Don't worry, my princess, I will watch over you," he whispered and then left to go to bed.

When Bulma entered her bedroom, Vegeta wasn't there; she wondered where he could be. Bulma prepared for bed and just as she laid down, Vegeta walked in. She looked at him and though he would never admit it, she could tell he was also hurting at the loss of their son. He glanced at her and then prepared for bed as well. When he laid down, Bulma laid her head on his shoulder and cried herself to sleep. Unknown to anyone else, like Bra and Bulma, Vegeta cried himself to sleep that night as well; how could his son be gone?