Disclaimer and Warnings: Mentions Mpreg, Heats, violence, swearing, and Alpha Dominated Society!

Timelines and ages are slightly different from the original DBZ world.

Since I'm making up a lot of terms here I thought I'd drop some definitions.

Suitors:An Alpha who is courting a Omega. During the courting phase, they are Suitors, after the pair has mated they are referred to as Mates.

Pillage: When a crew goes off to claim planets in the name of Vegeta-sei. A first Pillage and how well a crew does on pillages is a status mark.

Ranks of the Saiyan Warriors: (from lowest to highest)

Third Class
Second Class
First Class- Also known as Elites
Captains

High Council:The High Council is a level between Captains and the King. They advise the King on troublesome planets and which troops should go to what planets. There are Six Council members total. Generally, the position is passed down from generation to generation, unless circumstances dictate otherwise.

Author's Note: Hi Gang! Guess what! We are one chapter away from the finale! I can't believe it. And yes, I am working on that chapter right now. I'm so grateful for everyone for sticking with this story throughout the years and the new audience it has found. Your reviews really are what kept me coming back. So thank you.

One note for this chapter. I had to go back and make a slight change to a previous chapter (Chapter Twelve) to reestablish that Goten knows a certain technique. The chapter has been edited and updated to reflect this. When I wrote it (nearly eight years ago) I didn't have all the details of this final battle planned out but now that I was writing it I realized some small changes had to be made. So, if you go back and read it you might notice the change. Or you might not. :)

Also, I'd just like to say that after the recent Brolly movie I've grown to love that large Saiyan monster. So please know that the Brolly in this fic is based on the older movies.

I hope you enjoy this chapter. As always it ends with a bit of a bang.


Alpha Royal

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Final Sacrifice


"One...Two..."

"AH!" A scream tore from Goten's throat, drowning out the quiet snap of bone. Tears gathered against his lashes as he tried to breathe through the pain. And slowly, miraculously, the ache in his tail bone began to fade away. Not completely, of course, but it was bearable compared to what he endured before. He sniffed, wiping the tears away before he dared to look at the alien beside him, "You didn't say three."

"You would have tensed," Piccolo answered. "All done."

Goten looked down and saw the odd bend of his tail was still there, but when he ran his fingers along its length, he couldn't feel the protruding bone anymore. He attempted to give it a slow wag, once to the left and twice to the right. It obeyed, throbbing in mild protest, but at least all seemed well. Now for the real test. "Help me up?"

"And where do you think you're going?"

"I want to see how much mobility I have."

Piccolo frowned at him, but he offered a hand anyway. Once on his feet, Goten stood in place, waiting for his body to adjust to the change. If his vision blurred and his muscles buckled, he would have known within seconds, but to his amazement nothing shifted. The ground didn't flip from under him and his legs were holding his weight.

Tentatively he took a step forward. Piccolo tensed, ready to catch him should he fall, but Goten waved him off. He took another step, felt his tail adjust to counter his balance. His legs were shaky, but at least he didn't fall. "Alright, I can work with this."

"You're not going to 'work' with anything." Piccolo growled, "You're in no position to fight."

"But I can help," Goten protested. His tail attempted to curl around his waist, but the tip struggled to securely tuck in place. Gently, he tucked it in as best as he could. He couldn't fight with his tail wagging about.

Piccolo's eyes narrowed on him. He had a strange face, Goten realized, one without eyebrows, which made it even more unsettling when he showed his disapproval. "How?"

"I make a pretty good distraction." He offered with a small smile.

It did little to convince his stoic guardian. "Conserve your energy. The fight is just getting started and you might actually need it later." Slowly Piccolo's eyes moved upward where the clash of lights and power continued.

Goten followed his gaze, but it was impossible to tell from the ground what was happening. Trunks' power appeared to match Brolly's, but even with Gohan's help it didn't seem to make a difference. Brolly's energy was still frighteningly high.

"You want to fight too, don't you?" He asked, watching the Namekian carefully.

Piccolo didn't say anything at first, but his silence was answer enough. If the stories Goten heard were true, the leader of Namek detested running away from a fight as much as Goten. Which meant, there was a chance the alien wouldn't hold him back if he rushed into battle.

"It doesn't matter. This fight will be over soon." Piccolo nodded towards the east and there Goten felt a third power zooming towards them. Brolly and Trunks' energies nearly overshadowed it, but there it was. His father, glimmering in the same golden aura as the others.

Goten sucked in a breath as the aura slammed into him. The rumors all said his father was unlike any fighter on the planet. Some even said he was stronger than the King. Goten always thought those were just rumors born from people who had never really seen his father fight. But the power level that came rushing towards them felt like a stranger.

Like the man those legends spoke of.

Goten watched in silent awe as his father tore through the sky and slammed into the fight. Even from the ground, he heard the boom of fists colliding against flesh. Felt the planet tremble under his feet.

"Three Super Saiyans against one," Piccolo said smugly, "that guy doesn't stand a chance."

"Yeah," He was fixated on the four unique ki signatures hovering above him. Three were similar to each other, fluctuating with each blast and kick. Brolly's wasn't climbing anymore... it was having a difficult time keeping up now that his father had arrived.

This is what he was afraid of, Goten realized, he knew he couldn't fight all of us at once.

Something shifting among the rubble tore his attention away. He turned and was shocked to see a familiar head of blue hair climbing over some fallen debris.

"Bulma!" He cried out, stepping forward, but his body wasn't ready for the quick movement. Goten stumbled but didn't fall. He steadied himself and limped over to her as best he could. Leaving Piccolo's protests behind.

Bulma didn't hear him. She was intent on her own task, climbing over fallen rubble as she made her way deeper into the destruction.

"Bulma!" He called again. This time, catching her attention. He saw her freeze and turn, her face apprehensive before melting into a bright smile.

"Goten!" She jumped down and rushed forward, meeting him across the field of concrete and bringing him in for a crushing hug. A human's embrace normally wouldn't be anything painful to a Saiyan, but Goten felt this one. His muscles protested only slightly as he returned the hug and buried his face into her soft skin.

"Goten," Bulma cried, "I'm so glad to see you. I thought... Well, I don't know what I thought, but I was so worried. I'm so sorry, I couldn't protect you."

"Don't apologize," he said quickly, "Please Bulma. Don't. There was nothing you could have done. I'm alright. Really!"

For the most part.

She nodded, her eyes teary as she pulled away and looked at him. "But you were limping..."

"I'm fine," he repeated. "Now, what were you doing?"

His question seemed to break through her motherly concern. A sharpness returned to her face, one that reminded him of the Queen he knew well. "The ship that Vegeta was on. It's right behind this building."

"The ship?" Goten blinked towards where she pointed and saw the large metal structure that had once been a ship. It was in ruins now, the flames still burning weakly, eating away at the last of the flammable material. "I thought the King was..." He couldn't bring himself to say the word, but a sharp look from Bulma cut him off.

"Dead?" She finished, shaking her head, "Not my husband. No way, I would know. I am not going to believe it until I see his body with my own eyes."

There was a confidence in the words that Goten couldn't argue against. Saiyans usually had a bond between mated pairs, one that grew stronger with time. Supposedly some Saiyans could tell the minute their mate died, even with an entire galaxy between them. Did humans have the same sense?

It didn't matter what he said to her, the queen would climb over jagged rocks and reach into the flames herself to get to the King. He might as well make sure she didn't kill herself in the process.

"Here, let me help you, " he told her.

Her gaze scrutinized him again, taking in his injuries, considering if his assistance would exacerbate any wounds. It was a look that Trunks definitely inherited from his mother. "Okay, you can both come along." She said, inclining her head to something behind Goten. He turned and found Piccolo hovering nearby looking non-to-pleased. Bulma gave the Namekian a warm smile, "Hello Piccolo. Glad to see you recovered well."

"No thanks to your security," Piccolo said with a smile that showed off sharp canines.

"I'll make it up to you," she said, "If you help me find my husband, I promise to never ask you to come back here again."

To Goten's surprise, Piccolo's eyes flashed in delight. The alien's lips pulled back into a toothy smile as he uttered one single word. "Deal."


Trunks was always taught that there were three ways to fight.

One was either driven by their brain, their strength, or pure instinct.

Fighting with strength was most natural for Alphas. He'd learned that using one's Brains was for weaker Saiyans; those who needed to outsmart their opponents when strength was not in their favor. But combining both aspects yielded the most favorable outcomes.

Fighting on pure instinct was a part of every Saiyan, but it was difficult to do intentionally and even harder to perfect. A Saiyan became fixated on every movement the enemy made, and every muscle he was controlling in return. It was a hyper awareness that allowed Saiyans to be unmatched fighters in the universe.

But it had drawbacks.

One could only focus for so long before that concentration broke. They were forced to shift to a reprieve from the intense fighting where a warrior could catch their breath and work on auto pilot, letting their strength and power level do most of the work.

Those Saiyans didn't know the adrenaline that came from combining all three techniques. But Trunks knew. He'd felt it on Borgessa, fighting Aun and Squral. And he felt it now, fighting Brolly alongside two other Super Saiyans.

They were completely in sync. Even with Goku's late appearance, even though Trunks had never fought beside the father and son in battle before. It was like their Super Saiyan energy was driving their every move.

They moved without uttering a word. Ducking and attacking in unison. When Goku jumped back, Gohan and Trunks were there to continue the onslaught.

Together they managed to make the monster bleed. Brolly glowered at them, panting as he reacted to each punch. His movements were growing slower by the minute. The pressure of fighting three charged Super Saiyans was too much.

Trunks bared his teeth and pushed harder. He landed a blow against every inch of Brolly's massive body, his fists cracked the Saiyan's armor, peeling it away piece by piece. He was in a state of meditation so deep everything around him felt mute in comparison.

"Trunks, look out." Gohan's arm pushed him aside just as Brolly reached to grab him.

The large Saiyan just barely missed, but the shove was enough to shake Trunks out of his concentration. Suddenly, the world came back to him. The pain racing up his bleeding knuckles, his lungs screaming for air. He hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath, but now he was panting hard, trying to control his racing heart.

Gohan was beside him, pulling him back so he could recover while Goku moved on the attack.

"Pace yourself," Gohan said gently, "you'll use all your energy like that."

"Sorry," he said, but his body was still buzzing with adrenaline, calling him to go and rejoin the fight. Screw breathing. Screw energy levels. He just wanted to beat Brolly into a bloody pulp.

Gohan's hand landed on his shoulder. The weight of it grounded him somewhat, drawing him out of the addictive rush that had consumed him. "It happens," Gohan said, "I know the feeling, but we got him on the run. This is a battle of attrition now. If we can outlast him..."

"We'll win." Trunks nodded, wiping the sweat and blood from his eyes.

They watched as Goku dodged a meaty fist and swung his leg out. The angle of his body gave the kick extra momentum, it landed against Brolly's ribs sending the man flying backwards. Trunks could see it now, the same intensity was in Goku's eyes as he fought, but the move had given him the break he needed to dance back and rejoin their group.

"You two alright?" He asked, it was the first time they had to exchange words since the fight broke out. The two younger Saiyans nodded, watching the distant sky for Brolly to make a recovery. "Trunks, where is Vegeta? We could really use his help right about now?"

A lump suddenly appeared in his throat at the reminder. He swallowed it, hiding his grief as best as he could. "He didn't make it."

"What?" Shock scuttled over Goku's face before he shook it away, "No, no that can't be right."

"I watched the explosion."

"But I can feel him."

"What?" Trunks reared back at the news.

Goku nodded, head bent low as he searched the ground for something. A scowl decorated his handsome features, "Yeah, it's faint but there."

Disbelieving laughter bubbled up his throat. He couldn't believe it. Alive, his father was alive. How did he miss that?

No, he knew how. The shock and anger after the explosion had consumed him. He'd been too focused on revenge to wander if there was any chance of survival. He should have known better. "I should go find him."

"Don't. We need you here. Besides, it feels like Bulma and Goten are down there." Goku inclined his head and Trunks followed his gaze. There on the ground below them, he could see three small specks huddled near the wreckage of the Ice-jin ship.

His heart thumped against his ribcage as he recognized one of the specks as his mate. There, whole and safe. Thank Kami. Every fiber of his being itched to go down there, to sweep Goten in his arms and never let go.

But Goku was right. He needed to take care of Brolly first. Neutralize the enemy before there was any celebrating. But Trunks couldn't take his eyes away from his mate. It felt like days since they'd last seen each other.

It looked like Goten and Piccolo were already digging through the wreckage, searching for the King.

It was at that moment that Brolly returned. He didn't charge towards them like Trunks might have expected, instead he floated nearby, grinning like a maniac.

"Brolly, you've been holding back on me." Goku said, his tone almost conversational. "I can't feel Paragus anymore, guess that means I only have to worry about you now."

Brolly sneered, "Don't look so smug Kakorot. If it was just you and me, you would be dead by now."

"Give me a little credit." Goku's energy crackled in warning, his aura flaring out in a push that matched Brolly's invisible power.

Brolly frowned, the cool confidence in him wavering for the first time. Gohan was right, this was what he'd been trying to avoid. Fighting each of them one on one had been an easy feat. But a group of Super Saiyans was no easy task.

Trunks could see he was weighing his options. Thinking first before attacking. So far, Brolly had been all offense, this was the first show of hesitation. A thrill tingled up Trunks' spine at the sight. Kill him, his instincts sang, don't give him the time to think. Don't let him get the advantage.

But Goku was the senior fighter among their little group, and he hadn't moved yet. "You and Paragus put a lot of thought into this plan of yours. Too bad it was all for nothing."

Brolly sneered, "There were... a few surprises we didn't take into account." His eyes fell on Trunks in quiet accusation, letting the Prince know exactly what kind of surprises he meant. "If you would have died on Borgessa, it would have made things so much easier."

Trunks smirked at him, "You didn't take into account that I'm a Super Saiyan."

Brolly's lips twitched in their scowl. "Two Super Saiyans." he corrected, "Kakorot's second brat was an unexpected surprise, but I've decided how to remedy that."

The way he said those words made Trunks' skin crawl. He saw it clearly now, the lust in Brolly's eyes. He couldn't help but look down to where he knew Goten was, eager to reassure himself that his mate was safe.

There was Goten, easing something out of the ship scraps. A person, Trunks realized, heart pounding. His father!

He realized his mistake a second too late.

Brolly followed his gaze down and saw the scene playing out before him. His face twisted in murderous rage. "Father always said I was too soft. This is what I get for being too lenient with a Omega," Brolly sneered as energy began to gather in his hand. The ki pulsed, bathing the sky and the fighters in a green light before conforming into a tight orb. Trunks could feel the atoms vibrating inside it. The heat was so intense he could feel it emanating even from a safe distance. One touch and it would unleash a deadly explosion. "I won't make the same mistake again."

Brolly raised his arm and threw the ki blast down towards their loved ones. A shout tore from both Goku and Trunks, but the Prince was the first to react, diving down with every ounce of speed he could muster so he could race against the blast.

Pure instinct. That was what drove his movements as his feet touched the ground. He heard a shout behind him. His name echoed on different tongues, but there was no time. Throwing up his hands Trunks did the only thing he could think of to protect his family.

He took the hit.


Just moments ago, Goten considered himself a lucky guy.

He was alive and, after digging through a pile of melted scrap for a few minutes, it appeared that the King was as well.

He found King Vegeta, unconscious and bleeding, pinned against a metal plate by one of the ship's massive doors. It took Goten a little bit of time to unhinge the metal. His eyes roamed over Vegeta's body, trying to assess the damage. His leg looked broken and there was a long deep cut across his left eye. His energy was barely there, but now that Goten laid eyes on him, he could feel it. Alive and pulsing slowly, like his heart.

"Vegeta!" Bulma cried as Goten eased the King out. She hovered closer, tears in her eyes as her hands roamed over his body. "I told you he wasn't dead." She murmured softly, placing a kiss against his bloody brow. "I told you."

Goten smiled as he watched the scene. Finally, something good had come from all this destruction. No one else aboard the ship had survived. It had been a grueling ten minutes of searching through burnt bodies and intense heat. The smoke alone should have killed the King. But it appeared Vegeta had managed to find one the standard oxygen masks found on every ship in case of space breach.

That had been his saving grace.

He glanced up to look at his own mate. Trunks and the others were just floating there, talking. Goten felt his insides pinch as he wondered what they could be talking about. And that's when he saw it.

Brolly extended his hand toward the ground. A bright light of sickening green energy collected into the palm of his hand. And Goten realized it was pointed at them.

Brolly unleashed the orb at the same time Goten moved. Throwing his body in front of Bulma and Piccolo. He powered up as much as he could and threw his hands in front of him, ready to take the brunt of the impact.

But before it hit, a shadow flashed into view, materializing in front of the blast right before it hit. His mind worked to pinpoint what the shadow was, or who it was. A glowing light formed around its silhouette, and it hit him.

Trunks. He was holding back the blast.

A scream echoed in Goten's ears along with the roaring pulse of energy. The force behind Brolly's attack pushed Trunks back where Goten caught him. "I got you," he hissed, digging his feet into the ground, not giving a single inch. He could feel the unrelenting heat from the blast, could feel the strain in Trunks' muscles as he worked to hold it back.

The others were just behind them, bracing for the strongest force to win. If they were pushed back, even a little bit, it would mean death.

Goten dug down deep, calling on every molecule in his body to hold steady. He couldn't feel the throbbing pain in his tail anymore. Or the ache of his muscles. All he felt was Trunks' strength, pressed against him. All he could do was offer his strength in return.

He screamed, pushing forward, and he heard Trunks join in his war-cry. His Super Saiyan aura joined with Trunks', offering him everything Goten had left, feeding into his lover's power. With one last guttural noise Trunks shifted his arms and redirected the ball of energy off into the sky.

Goten blinked, watching as his vision shifted from that all-consuming green to the normal dark red. In the distance, he saw the clashing gold of his father and brother engaging in battle against Brolly once again. The cool air touched his face, offering a little relief before he collapsed to his knees.

"Goten!" His name came from three different voices, but only one truly mattered to him.

He looked up, squinting against the golden light that encased Trunks. He managed a weak smile, "Hey Trunks."

The lavender haired Saiyan dropped to his knees, his hands steadying Goten's shoulders. Worry was etched into his handsome features, but this battle looked like it had aged Trunks.

"Goten," the Prince breathed, before bringing the other boy into a crushing hug. "Kami, don't scare me like that."

"What did I do?" Goten whined, "Brolly is the one who attacked. And you're the one who disappeared."

A strangled laugh worked its way out of Trunks's throat at the accusation. "I'm sorry. You're right." He pulled back, blue eyes piercing as they stared at Goten like he was a lifeline. "I'm just so glad you're okay."

"Me too," Goten said. It only hit him now how worried he'd been. How he wondered if his mate was dead, or hurt. How he'd whimpered Trunks' name when his tail had been broken. Goten had been terrified. And all that fear hit him in one suffocating wave, tightening his chest, restricting his heart and then it was gone. Because Trunks was here now. And suddenly he wanted to cry.

Thunderclap shook the ground beneath them. It was a brutal reminder of what was happening. Both Saiyans turned to the sky, where the battle was escalating. His father and Gohan were holding their own, but they needed more Super Saiyans to win.

Trunks knew that too. "My father?" He asked, quickly getting to his feet and extending a hand.

"He's alive but in no condition to fight." Goten said. Trunks pulled him to his feet more than he would have liked to admit, but he managed to stay standing. He pushed down all the emotions of their reunion. Those feelings had no place on the battlefield when there was still a fight to be own.

Taking a shaky breath, he felt a cool calm take over his body as he said, "But I can fight."

Trunks' gaze hardened as he watched Goten carefully. "The only difference between you and my father right now is that he's unconscious." he said, "You are not fighting."

"But you need another Super Saiyan." Goten argued, "Please Trunks. Let me do this. You said we would do this together."

He watched the effect those words had on the Prince. His eyes widening like he'd been slapped and then narrowing in careful consideration. "You barely have any energy left."

"But I do have some." Goten said, flaring into a Super Saiyan. It wasn't an easy transformation like it had been in the past, but he could still fight. "Brolly worked very hard to avoid fighting four Super Saiyans. I can help."

"You'll have to keep up." Trunks said, but Goten could sense the alternative meaning to the warning. I can't be distracted by you.

He clenched his fists at the challenge. Feeling a feral need to prove Trunks wrong well up inside him. "That won't be a problem."

Trunks grinned at him, pride and love shining in those beautiful blue eyes. "I was hoping you would say that."


Goku felt his skin split open across his knuckles. The sting of blood and sweat fizzled through his nerves, lighting them on fire. He pulled his arm back and threw another punch, feeling the bones of his hand crunch against Brolly's iron jaw.

Again and again he threw down his fists. With each punch more blood speckled Brolly's face, but the Saiyan's blood coated teeth kept smiling at him.

"Is that all you got?" Brolly spat.

They were both panting, covered in injuries from head to toe, but Goku could feel his energy fading fast. He'd spent a lot of ki speeding to the battle and fighting the Ice-jins, but he had to keep going.

"You should thanking me, Kakorot. I kept your son safe while you were off planet. I spared his life when my father wanted to snuff out every bloodline connected to you."

Goku gritted his teeth and threw his entire body into the next blow. The aftershock of it shuddered through his frame. The larger Saiyan fell back, face stunned. Goku jumped into action, screaming for Gohan as he cupped his hands together and summoned energy as quick as he could. His son appeared beside him, imitating the same stance.

Brolly was already coming back to his senses when they unleashed a blast of blue energy upon him. A scream tore from the Super Saiyan as he was engulfed in light and pushed back out of their immediate range.

"Geez," Goku growled, shaking the numbing sting out of his hands, "He just won't stay down. We can't just rely on our punches. If we want to get him we'll need to take him out in one clean blast."

Gohan nodded, understanding dawning across his severe features. "The Kamehameha?"

"Yes, but we don't have enough time." Goku hissed, "He's on us the moment we stop to gather energy."

"Dad!" A shout perceived through the sky, drawing both father and son out of their plans. Goku's eyes widened in surprise when he saw Goten and Trunks flying towards him.

"Goten," He breathed in relief. Seeing his youngest alive and well was one thing he would take comfort in. When Brolly sent the attack down, Goku had already been in motion to go on the defensive. But Brolly had been smarter than that, crueler. The second he sent the ki blast he materialized in front of Goku and punched him in the ribs, breaking at least two. The attack had been so fast, it left him breathless for an entire minute. But Brolly didn't give them a minute. He'd had Goku on his toes since, beating away at him and not sparing him any chance to think.

He was grateful for Trunks' quick reaction, but now...

Goku's eyes narrowed on the pair. Black gaze lingering on the boy who was supposed to be protecting his son. "You shouldn't be up here."

"He can fight Goku." Trunks said, chin raised in an act of defiance that reminded Goku so much of Vegeta. "You said we needed another Super Saiyan."

"Goten," Gohan interjected, "I thought you couldn't fight."

"You're hurt?" Goku asked, but Goten was quick to wave off the concern.

"I'll be okay. This is more important."

Pride swelled inside Goku, overshadowing the suffocating concern. He stared at his son, standing beside the Prince in a halo of golden power. Despite fighting Brolly earlier, Goten was still here, ready to fight. He'd proven himself time and time again in battle. If he was willing to fight, Goku wouldn't be able to stop him.

Four Super Saiyans are better than three. He admitted, heaving a sigh, especially if we're going to pull this off.

Trunks looked over his shoulder, towards the direction where Brolly disappeared. They could hear the Saiyan's enraged screams as he powered up, gathering all his energy for another onslaught. "What do you need from us?"

"We need time." Goku said, "So I can gather the energy to do a Kamehameha with Gohan."

"That will be enough?" Trunks asked.

Goku swallowed his hesitancy. The same question had reared its doubts in his mind, but he couldn't think like that. "It has to be."

Trunks and Goten looked at each other, a silent conversation dancing between their eyes before the Prince said, "Goten can help."

Goku blinked at his son. "You know the Kamehameha?"

Goten nodded, "I used to practice it at home. I had to use it on Borgessa to get out of the tunnels. I should have enough energy."

Amazing. Not for the first time he was struck in awe over the things his son had accomplished. The doubt he'd been holding down disappeared as he realized, "Three Kamehamehas will be more than enough."

Gohan beamed at the idea and a tentative smile pulled at Goten's lips before his eyes fixed on his mate, "but what about you?"

"I'll distract Brolly."

The air dissipated at the realization. Trunks would need to hold the giant off by himself. He'd managed before but taking the brunt of Brolly's blast had taken a toll on the Prince. "We can't help you if you're in a pinch." Goku warned.

Trunks flashed them all a confident smirk. "Just give me a shout before you send the blast my way."


Goten watched Trunks blast off to intercept Brolly, heart in his throat. The desire to follow after him burned as bright as a star. But he was needed elsewhere.

His father and brother were descending out of the sky, their faces set in determination. "Why don't we just do it up here?" Goten asked, "We could be closer to Brolly then. Waste less time."

"The force of this blast will be astronomical." Gohan answered, boots gracefully touching the ground. "We need to be grounded to stabilize the blast and ourselves."

Goten swallowed, "If it's that big will Trunks have enough time to dodge it?"

His father and brother looked at each other, but their expressions left little confidence. "Trunks is fast," Gohan said quietly, "I'm sure he'll be okay."

But if he's not? The thought stopped Goten cold. He only just got Trunks back, losing him again would be...

"Goten," a hand fell on his shoulder, the weight of it was enough to bring his thoughts back to the task at hand.

The fight. Brolly. Goten blinked rapidly, eyes glancing towards the sky where he could see Trunks holding Brolly back. Then his gaze settled on his father who was standing there with a look of understanding on his face. "Everything will be okay, son. I've got a plan."

Goten nodded stiffly, still unable to put his unease aside. Goku smiled at him and then ushered him to his side. "We'll do it from here. Are you two ready?"

"Yes," they chorused. Goten looked beside him, at his brother and father, this was the first time all three of them stood together. The first time they were all fighting together. He forced his nerves down and concentrated on his power. Bringing as much of it to the surface as he could for one final blast.

If this didn't work, he would be spent. There was no looking back. Only forward.

And up. He thought, eyes glued to the battle raging above him. His father crouched low, cupping his hands together in a familiar stance. "Ka... me..."

Goten and Gohan copied his form, bringing their hands back as they recited those fateful words. "Ha...me..."

A surge of blue light exploded around them, spilling from their fingertips and bathing the battlefield in its deadly glow. Above them, he saw Brolly pause, his attention transfixed on the three Super Saiyans below. He moved to charge them, to put a stop to their attack, but that was when Trunks appeared behind him and grabbed him in a headlock.

"Trunks!" Goten cried.

"Goten," His father snapped, "Don't break your concentration. We need more energy!"

Goten knew his father was right, but if Trunks was holding Brolly in place, there was no time for him to get out of the way. He stared at the two fighters above him. It was clear Trunks was doing everything he could to hold Brolly back. To give them this chance.

Their only chance.

"Goten! We need you now!" Goku cried, "It's time."

Duty and family called to him, but his heart was still breaking. This was what he always wanted. To be a fighter. To be a hero. He just never realized what it might cost him. His injuries were nothing compared to this final choice.

But he knew what he had to do.

Trunks would be furious if Goten squandered this opportunity.

"Ha... me..." he repeated, feeling the orb of power in his hand form. It vibrated as he spilled every ounce of himself into it. Everything he had to win and lose hung on one attack.

His father threw his hands forward and Gohan and Goten did the same. Their screams of power echoed across the desolate capital. "HAAAAAAAA!"


Trunks gritted his teeth as Brolly's gigantic form bucked under him. He squeezed hard, the arm around Brolly's throat felt like hugging a mountain. He held on with all the strength and determination he could muster.

Below them, a light unlike anything he'd ever seen before sparked to life. It started off a pristine blue that reminded Trunks of his mother, but quickly the light became the icy white of a dwarf star. With each second that passed it grew brighter and larger. Staring at it made his eyes ache.

"You fool," hissed Brolly, "You'll die too if you don't let me go."

"I know."

Brolly paused at that, the slightest hesitation, as he if hadn't expected such honesty. And then he laughed, a full body booming sound that made Trunks' eardrums bleed. His large hands clawed at Trunks' grip. No longer trying to scramble free, but now holding on for dear life. "Fine then," snarled Brolly, "If I die, I'll take you with me."

He meant it as a threat, but Trunks knew this moment was coming. Had known it would come the second he agreed to hold Brolly in place.

To save his planet. His family. His Mate... he was willing to die.

His father would be happy at least. It was the noblest death a Saiyan could ask for. His mother however... she would take the news hard. His crew would grieve for him but they would also understand. And Goten...

I'm sorry. Trunks silently thought, pushing the sentiment down to where his mate was providing power to the blast. Please don't blame yourself.

But it was the only way.

The air pressure around them suddenly became heavier. And now Trunks saw the blast was heading towards them, kicking up a windstorm of debris as it streaked across the sky. The heat was so intense now, it sucked all the oxygen out of his lungs. He could barely breathe, barely see. All he could do was cling to Brolly and ensure he didn't move.

"No..." Brolly screamed, "NOOO!"

The blast hit them both at the same time, but Trunks felt Brolly's body disintegrate under his touch. The flesh and bones protected him from the brunt of the force until they melted away into nothing. And then he was on fire, screaming as his body boiled from the inside out. His skin bubbled and oozed until there was no pain. Just a light. A bright, beautiful light.


The Author's Note has been moved to the beginning of the chapter.