"I cannot believe this," Vegeta said while gasping the air between chuckles.

Tai didn't like people laughing at him, especially the Saiyan prince. "Are you done?

"To think a low class Saiyan could become so powerful."

"After years of chasing Kakarot, I thought you would be done with that Saiyan Elite nonsense," that brought Vegeta out of his laughter, and Tai enjoyed how his nose scrunched at the mention of Goku.

"It's fitting that a Saiyan would become the pinnacle of strength."

Whis glanced back at the bickering Saiyans with a raised eyebrow. Vegeta looked almost identical to how Whis remembered, and despite knowing of Tai's strength, he still marvelled at how strong the Saiyan prince had become. "He's still a great distance from Lord Beerus."

"I didn't need the reminder, Whis," Tai pouted.

"Apologies, my Lord," Whis said.

"That doesn't matter. Saiyans have the infinite potential for growth," Vegeta said.

"He's right about that. you've come a long way these past 7 years, and you'll go even further."

Tai squirmed at the expectations being placed on him. He knew what they were saying was true but hearing it out loud was disquieting. He felt the subtle change in speed of the Warp and Tai knew they would soon reach Earth.

"We're almost there. Brace yourself Vegeta."

The Saiyans jerked forward, banging against the godly barrier protecting them from the suffocating vacuum of outer space. They groaned and stretched their necks to hurry the pain away. When Tai could finally open his eyes to see where they were, he heard a group of footsteps running at them. The most distinct coming from a large, elderly man with wearing a horned helmet.

"Dad!" Trunks shouted as he ran straight towards Vegeta, grabbing his father's hand while laughing joyously. Trunks' gaze hardened when he looked to Tai, and Tai ignored the child, pretending to see something interesting in the distance. "This guy tried to tell me you were gone forever, but I knew he was a phony."

Vegeta looked at his son and shook his head "He was right, I shouldn't be alive right now, but I am. And it's all thanks to him."

Another set of footsteps came toward them, and these made Vegeta's jaw tighten to the point Tai thought his teeth would crack. The slap that came didn't seem to surprise the Saiyan prince, but that in itself surprised Tai. What happened between these two?

"Don't you ever do something like that again," Bulma snarled.

Vegeta briefly held her gaze before looking away "Tch." Bulma gasped at the Prince's disregard and stormed off to the Lookout's bedrooms, followed closely by Chi-Chi and Yamcha.

The others soon joined the crowd and Goten whisked Trunks away so they could fly around the lookout. Goku smacked Vegeta on his shoulder, wearing his patented grin. "It's good to have you back Vegeta."

If Bulma's glare toward Vegeta was cold, Vegeta's to Goku was icy. He shrugged off Goku's shoulder before walking over to the Lookout's edge. Tai frowned at the latest development. He brought Goku and Vegeta back so that the group would feel better, but it seemed to have the opposite effect. A hand on his shoulder brought him out of his thoughts and just like that, his full attention was on his closest friend. Gohan clasped Tai's shoulder and brought him in for a smouldering embrace.

"Thanks Tai, you don't know what this means."

Tai was ashamed of the pang of hurt the pierced his heart at the words of appreciation. "You're right, I don't."

Gohan recoiled, "Sorry."

Tai shook his head and broke Gohan's grip on him. "You didn't mean anything by it."

Tai's parents may not have been as kind as Goku or Chi-Chi, but he still missed them dearly. It had been too late to resurrect them, and knowing the lives they lived, Tai knew they would have been processed and reborn as something new. Gone as part of this forsaken balance, forced upon us by a foolish child and his even more foolish whims. Whis banged his staff against the back of Tai's head. Tai sometimes forgot that his master could read his mind. Whis respected his privacy when possible, but the fact that he was in his head right then told Tai he was being evaluated. The nature of the test escaped him.

"We are in your debt oh great destroyer," Gohan said with an exaggerated bow.

"If you ever call me that again, I'll vaporise you."

"Sorry oh lord destroyer."

Tai's cheeks shook while he tried to keep the smile from adorning it. But then he remembered this was temporary. He was going to leave and likely to never return. Tai didn't like the feelings whirling in his stomach and chest, and he knew the longer he stayed, the stronger those feelings would become. They are safe and happy. I've done what I can, now they can return to their lives.

He excused himself from Gohan and left with Whis without saying goodbye to anyone else. He gave the group a sombre look. Dende's Lookout was a marvel, with its pristine white tiles serving as a background to lush green trees, vibrant flowers and grand pillars. Goku's friends made it look like a painting, a masterpiece befitting the hall of Grand Zeno's palace. And the longer he looked, the more he realised that he didn't fit in the picture, and perhaps he never did. Soon the Earth was gone, and the warp was all he could see.

Though his exit went unseen by most, Goku and Vegeta kept a close eye on their fellow Saiyan. When Tai had reached well out of Goku's sensory range, he approached Vegeta, who still had his back to him, arms folded looking over the Earth like a guardian would.

"I guess Tai did the same thing for you," Goku guessed.

"I'm surprised you're here Kakarot. I thought you would continue cowering in the afterlife," Vegeta said, still refusing to face his rival.

Vegeta didn't have to look back to know that Goku was rubbing the back of his head. "I thought I was a magnet for all the bad guys coming to Earth. But Buu was going to happen with or without me. I thought by letting him go and giving the boys a shot at him would leave the Earth in a better place. But now, everyone's dead and it's my fault. At least when I'm here I can do something about it when trouble rolls through."

"Tch."

Goku grinned as the last remnants of the warp dissipated, removing any evidence that Tai had returned at all. "So, did you get a read for how strong he is?"

"No, I couldn't sense a thing."

"I know right. But the pressure around him is insane. I wonder how strong he is."

Vegeta said the only thing that mattered to him at the time. "He's strong enough to destroy Majin Buu."

"Yeah, from what the others told me he didn't break a sweat. I could feel Buu even in the World of the Kai's. I wouldn't have stood a chance with the power Buu had gained."

"Even with Super Saiyan 3?" Vegeta asked in a tone more Oozaru than man.

"Yup, I would've been toa-" Goku caught himself, and Vegeta's dismissive and irritated behaviour suddenly became clear to him "Vegeta I can explain."

"Save it Kakarot."

Goku respected Vegeta's wishes and didn't say another word. Instead, he joined him in looking over the Earth. The distinct lack of life energy was haunting and Goku knew that Vegeta shared in the same guilt he shared. This was both their faults, but Goku knew Vegeta carried more weight on his shoulders than he did. They had failed because neither were strong enough and then their thoughts landed on Tai and they knew power he had, and both were filled with the same excitement and burning desire.

They needed to become as strong as the Destroyer.


"Are you sure it is wise to leave without goodbye?" Whis asked.

"It's better this way," Tai mumbled, focusing on the sounds of the Warp cutting through solar winds and dust clouds.

"If you say so."

Whis faced forward and they continued their journey back to Beerus' planet. He searched for Tai's mind, but just as it had been since he smacked him, Tai's mind was empty. Whis sighed and instead searched for Tai's emotions. Even if you empty your mind, your emotions manifest in other ways. Frustration festers on the top of your mouth, while anger takes root in your nose and happiness is the warmth that radiates from your skin.

The emotion oozed from Tai's every pore. Sadness, frustration, anger, fear, disappointment and confusion lit like a lone beacon in the endless night. Whis had detected the feelings from the moment he picked Tai up months ago, but they weren't this strong before. They completed the rest of the journey and Tai went straight for his quarters and slept.

Days passed and Tai barely said a word to anyone. Instead focussing on his mental and physical training. His body was progressing, but his mind was not, and if he is to become a destroyer, they must both be in sync. After a particularly frustrating spar with Whis, Tai finally asked the question that had been plaguing him.

"Master why did you send me to earth?"

"I told you, so you could accept the responsibility of a destroyer," Whis answered calmly.

"But I have!"

"No, you haven't otherwise, you would have perfect control over the Hakai."

"I used it to destroy Majin Buu."

"Then please demonstrate."

Tai huffed and pointed his palm at the nearby forest and gathered energy into his hand. A small purple orb grew, with black lightning pulsing from his fingertips. The lightning encircled the orb and danced around it while it hummed in Tai's ear. He looked to the trees, ready and willing to wipe them from existence when Icarus stumbled out into the open. Tai shook his head, and the dragon was gone, but that lapse was enough for the Hakai to go haywire. It crept up his sleeve and his golden wrist band began to disintegrate. Whis tapped Tai's arm and the Hakai was gone and his clothing repaired.

"This doesn't make sense!" Tai screamed when he realised all the progress he'd made was for nothing. He thought by beating Buu he had taken significant steps to replacing Beerus, but alas he was wrong. His seafoam eyes returned to their usual black while he tried to rein his anger.

"I told you. You have a long way to go before you can challenge Lord Beerus."

"But I had it. I was in control and I used to destroy Buu. What happened?" Tai growled, but Whis' silence on the matter told him that this was just another part of his test.

"Master, something has been bothering me for years now, and I think it's the question you wanted me to ask."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, I think I do."

"Tell me."

Tai took a deep breath and looked to where Beerus rested, just years away from ruining the lives of those unfortunate enough to cross his path. "Why do Destroyers exist?"

A warm smile graced Whis' effeminate features before he twirled his staff extravagantly. "Do you wish to go back?" he asked.

The lack of confirmation threw Tai momentarily, but the question fascinated him. I couldn't be going back this soon... could I? "I don't know."

"Tai, to truly master the powers of a destroyer, your mind must be at peace or you risk destroying not only yourself, but the universe as a whole."

Tai gulped. "But what does that have to do with earth."

"You haven't lived Tai, that's why I sent you to Earth. You may have had a breathing, living body, but what did you do until your last breath. Your childhood was spent either beneath Frieza's thumb or training for whatever threatened Earth. Destroyers have the task of ending life, so that's why they are chosen from mortals. They have a perspective that Kai's don't. You need to live among the mortals and explore the universe to get a better understanding of life, so can judge when it must end."

"Does that mean you're sending me back?"

"Yes, but not now. When they wish everyone back to life, you should return. And this time I want you to try and interact with the Earthlings. Think of it as a part of your training. For now, focus on perfecting your god Ki control. It still leaks from you."

"Yes master," Tai said and Whis couldn't help but notice the heat building across every inch of Tai's skin.