All rights belong to Akira Toriyama, Toyotarou and Toei Animation
This is based on the manga cannon, so there may be some discrepancies with the anime.
When Vegeta transformed into super saiyan blue, Goku felt that things were going to go their way. Something within him had glowed, warm, as he realised he was feeling profound relief. Vegeta had gotten something of himself back, something that, months ago, they never thought he would see again. And Goku was so happy for him. But it didn't change the fact that they were going to win this, win the wish on the super dragon balls, and restore Vegeta completely. Because although he had achieved the transformation, he was still far weaker than he had been, and Goku didn't know how long he would be able to hold out for against Toppo.
Then Gohan had been eliminated, and Goku had to admit his hopes had dropped. After all, Jiren was so much more powerful than anyone had anticipated. How could they hope to win?
But hopelessness had no place in Goku's heart. There was always something waiting for him, when their backs were against the wall. Always another transformation, another power, just a barrier for him to work through.
They would get through this.
Somehow.
Goku raced around his foe, throwing ki blast after ki blast, trying to find an opening. But there just wasn't one to be had on this opponent.
He just stood there and took all of Goku's attacks, completely unfazed. Anyone else in Goku's position might consider the fight hopeless, but Goku wasn't one to give up, no, never.
Except that one time with Cell.
But apart from that, never.
There had to be a way. Bulma was counting on them. Vegeta was counting on them, even if he didn't know it.
An unborn baby, and Trunks, were both counting on them. And as Universe 7's strongest fighter, it was Goku's job to take charge of the situation.
A yell in the distance caught Goku's attention, eyes reaching its source in time to see Vegeta fly over the edge, hair black and powerless.
Darn.
Well, he hadn't been their second-best fighter anyway, no matter what Toppo had said. Although Vegeta had broken into his super saiyan blue form, he had still not been more powerful than Frieza. Who was … where was he, actually?
And 17 was still around somewhere. He was far stronger than Goku had anticipated, a real trump card.
And now he was taking up the fight against Toppo as well.
Against both Toppo and Dypso.
Strong as he was, Goku doubted he could manage both at once.
"Pay attention to your own opponent!" Jiren commanded, taking a few ominous steps towards where Goku was waiting with his first master. The one who was talking to him about…moving well?
Master Roshi, tiny, thin Master Roshi was squaring off against Jiren, ducking and weaving around his powerful blows, which were only useful so long as they connected.
Which they eventually did, knocking Master Roshi out of the contest, and leaving Goku alone against Jiren, the powerhouse of Universe 11.
"Move well, huh?" Goku considered his words, remembering the advice of the many masters he learned under over the years.
All right, time to put that to the test.
It had worked nicely for Master Roshi, for all of ten seconds at least. Goku would do a better job of it. He had surpassed his master in most things a long time ago.
As Jiren readied himself for another strike, Goku looked deep within himself, finding a power that he had not known before. A power which let him evade the blow with ease, appearing on Jiren's other side.
He could hear the people in the stands jittering, wondering at this new transformation, this new aura. He kept hearing the phrase 'ultra instinct' being thrown around. Had he really achieved it? Ultra instinct? The power of gods? Surely not, surely not so soon.
But the power within him was undeniable, pre-eminent, making him feel as if he could do anything, conquer anything, defeat any foe. This was the strength with which he could take down Jiren.
This was –
He reeled back as he was punched square in the nose, clutching at it as he went down. Darn, that had hurt! Climbing back to his feet, Goku was about to engage with his opponent once more, striving to find that ability which barely eluded him, when Frieza suddenly appeared beside him.
"Need a hand, saiyan?" he asked coyly, tail flicking behind him.
"No. I can take him."
"I doubt that very much."
Well, he would show Frieza. Goku threw himself back into the fight, punches and kicks flying in a barrage against an expressionless foe.
"You go help 17." He ordered of the former universal terror beside him.
If Frieza had been planning that very action before, he certainly wasn't about to do it now. No one told him what to do, after all. Especially not a saiyan. To Goku's annoyance, Frieza took the command as an invitation to but in on his fight with Jiren.
How rude.
But Goku couldn't help but feel it should have been someone else fighting alongside him. That this wasn't how it was supposed to go.
It should have been Vegeta. Just like all their time together training, trying to hit Whis. But it wasn't to be.
Vegeta.
He had to remember what they were fighting for, after all.
The saiyan in question was rankled, face set in a scowl as he sat apart from the rest of the team. Arms folded decisively, no one dared approach him, for they knew he would take any 'good job!' said as an insult.
He couldn't believe he had lost. To a man with ridiculous facial hair.
He had tried so hard, trained so much, spent almost nine whole months face to the grindstone so to speak, working against himself to produce gains in strength. Now it felt as if all that effort would never be enough. Because everyone else was so strong, and they were only going to get stronger, at a rate faster than Vegeta. For he had realised, much to his disgust, that his improvement rate was lower than before. He wasn't making the same gains as before. It seemed as if the fusion with the Darkness took a certain proportion of his energy, rather than a set amount.
It might explain why he had always been a step behind Kakarot, now that he thought about it.
The whole situation stank for Vegeta. He was supposed to show off his power, supposed to reach new heights, supposed to break new limits. This was his stage. His time to shine. He had been ready to win, to achieve victory, to achieve his wish and finally regain his strength.
But instead he was on the sidelines, watching, his hopes of recovery dashed as he watched his team soldier on. The fates were laughing at his feeble attempts to crawl his way out of the quagmire of his own making. His team members wouldn't make his wish. He wasn't sure what they wanted exactly. But Frieza certainly couldn't be allowed to be the last one left. That was a recipe for disaster.
At least 17 was struggling with Toppo as well. That made it better.
His thoughts turned to his recent transformation, the re-emergence of his super saiyan blue form. He had been proud to achieve it, ecstatic even. Only… It hadn't been what he had been hoping for. It was plagued with weaknesses, not strong enough to counter Toppo, not strong enough to account for the drawbacks, the main problem being his emotions. How could he have slipped back into that mindset, into that weakness of caring for others? He would need to work on that, control that appalling urge as soon as possible.
Kakarot and Frieza were clearly struggling, outmatched against the formidable Jiren. They launched attack after attack but he remained unmoved even at their best tag-team combinations. Victory seemed impossible, unless Kakarot pulled another trick out of his behind, in that infuriating way of his.
But Vegeta didn't think that was going to happen this time. Kakarot was once again in that strange new mode of his, 'ultra instinct sign' they were calling it. But Jiren remained upright, strong, immovable.
Vegeta felt helpless.
And…sort of bored. Watching a fight wasn't nearly so interesting as being in one, after all. Especially if one already knew the outcome. And watching the combat closely, Vegeta could easily tell that Jiren would be the victor. Frieza and Kakarot were backed up against the edge, fighting hard but ultimately it would be their destiny to lose.
Vegeta wondered what Jiren would wish for? What did the man who had all the strength one could desire want? Immortality, perhaps? Vegeta had been lured by that promise, once upon a time. He wouldn't blame Jiren for feeling the intoxicating call of life.
They were about to find out, Vegeta thought, as Frieza tumbled over the edge, re-appearing in the stands. Vegeta ignored him resolutely, watching Kakarot teeter on the precipice also. The balls of his feet were all that remained in play, scraping the floor as they were pushed back, inch by inch. Kakarot gripped Jiren's hands tightly, screaming with frustration and effort as he fought back.
But it was no use, and soon Kakarot joined them on the sidelines, panting and disappointed.
How difficult it must be for him, Vegeta thought, to have finally lost.
Welcome to my world, he thought bitterly.
It wasn't long before 17 was dispatched, Toppo finishing the job as Jiren watched on, still infuriatingly calm. Dypso had obviously disappeared over the edge while he hadn't been watching. But it was too little too late.
Now came the pressing question, Vegeta considered as the Grand Priest announced the winners, whose wish would be granted? Had Universe 11 decided on something as a team, or did they all have individual yearnings?
Toppo and Jiren were speaking, and he could hear their voices even from so far away. Toppo was conceding, telling Jiren he had only been in the fight at the behest of Lord Belmod, for the honour of Universe 11.
So it would be Jiren, then.
Vegeta waited, listening patiently.
He wished…for his master to be brought back to life? Of all things, of all the possibilities of the super dragon balls, that was his wish? Vegeta couldn't believe it, just couldn't believe it. To be ruled by such emotions as to desire approval from a master long dead? And in such a powerful warrior, no less?
How pathetic.