Back with another chapter and you know what this means? We're almost at the end. I want to say after this chapter there will maybe be 2-3 more chapters at the most. Here we see Lily finally make it back home. And how here family and friends react to seeing her. Enjoy :)
First thing Lily felt was a rush of cold air. She looked around to see there was about an inch of snow covering the ground. She found herself in front of none other than Maya's house. She let's out a long shaky breath that is clearly visible in the cool air. She walks up and knocks on the door. The door opens and standing there is none other than Eric. Maya's fiance'.
His mouth drops open. "Lily?" he whispers.
"Hey Eric, sorry it's been awhile. But may I come in and explain? It's kind of cold out here and I forgot to bring a jacket." She said.
All he could do was slowly nod and allow her in. Then she hears the familiar tapping of paws on the floor.
"Mia!" She says.
Her dog all back nearly tackles her to the ground crying and trying to lick her face.
"Honey who's at the ..." There was a crash of glass to the floor.
Lily looked up at her long time friend. Unfortunately all Lily could think to say was. "Hey Maya, I'm back."
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion beginning with Maya's eyes rolling to he back of her head, then fainting and crashing down to the floor.
"Maya!" Both Lily and Eric screamed simultaneously.
They checked her, then Eric lifted her off the floor and laid her down on the couch. After a few minutes, Maya finally came to. First she stared at Eric, before spotting Lily who she thought at this point was dead.
"Are you real? Am I seeing shit?" Maya asked, still in shock.
Lily gave her a teary smile. "No, even though I always thought you were a little cuckoo."
That's all the confirmation she needed before tackling Lily into the biggest hug ever.
"Oh my god! Where were you!? I thought you were dead!? And...what the hell are you wearing?" Maya said, spewing one question after another.
"One question at a time Maya, though some of it is rather hard to explain. And you may not believe me." Lily told her friend.
"At this point, I'll even believe divine intervention. Lils, please tell me where you were? You've been gone for almost seven and a half months! The police looked everywhere for you! It's like you just disappeared into thin air!" Maya said.
Lily tried not to laugh at the reality of that statement. "I know, and I'm so sorry, I left the way I did. It just happened and I had no control over it."
Maya furrowed her brows. "You mean you were kidnapped?"
"Like I said, it's hard to explain and you may not believe me." Lily told her again.
Maya put her hands on her hips. "Try me."
Lily sighs and begins telling her story .Starting from the very beginning when she was mysteriously transported to a reality to one of their favorite childhood anime series. Eric brought them all hot cocoa during the story. Lily then told them who transported and why. How she was transported again with Goku and company to another more dangerous version of earth with gods and demons. How one goddess in particular, took an interest in their plight. All the way to the showdown between the sorcerer and the demons.
Finally, how said Goddess transported them back to their perspective realities and worlds.
"And before you put me in a seventy-two hour lock down in the psych ward I'd like to point out I have very substantiating proof." Lily stated.
By now, Maya's jaw was hanging to the ground and Eric didn't know what to make of the situation. Other than thinking she developed some kind of serious Stockholm Syndrome. While Mia is just sitting there with her tongue hanging out, tail going a mile a minute, due to her being so happy her owner was finally home. 'Well, at least the dog isn't judging me right now or think I'm nuts.'
Maya holds out her hands in front of her. "Okay, first we'll try it your way. Show us this proof. Then just maybe we will find you the best shrinks in the country to help you."
Lily winces at that. 'Okay Gaea, whenever your ready.' It was then right before Maya and Eric's very eyes Lily's being changed and altered quite dramatically. It looked like they were staring at a completely different person now.
"What the hell?!" Maya screeched while Eric just made the sign of the cross.
"Please do not be alarmed, I am the Great Goddess Gaea and Creator. I'm not here to harm you. Just here on Liliana's behalf to tell you all she said was true." The deity exclaimed.
"Right...get the bible." Maya mutters under her breath to Eric.
But Eric is frozen to the spot and won't move.
"As I said, I mean you no harm. This is all real. What happened to Liliana these past several months really did happen." To further her point Gaea sent out a mental projection to both Maya and Eric.
It was like they themselves were witnessing the adventure straight through Lily's eyes.
"This is some freaky shit. How'd you do that?" Maya asked.
"I can do anything child, I am after all the creator. What you just saw really did in fact happen. Lily endured all you've just witnessed." Gaea informed them.
"I don't understand, how this is possible. It can't be possible." Eric said, finally speaking after coming out of shock.
"That's exactly what Liliana believed too at first. Until she really started living it." The deity said.
"And your real. Goku, Vegeta, Frieza? All of them are actual people?" Maya asked.
"In their own dimension separate from this one, yes. I understand here they are purely fictional beings. But in their dimension it's not the case. They do in fact have actual lives." Gaea explained further.
Mia made her over to Gaea and started licking her hand.
"Well, we cannot express our gratitude enough that you were able to bring Lily back to us. But even still. This is a lot to take in. Can you show us more proof that you are real? And not some hallucination? Can you move something, make an object disappear?" Maya asked.
Gaea disappeared causing a startled yelp from Maya. She wasn't gone long before she came back holding something in her hand. 'Holy Shit! Is that an actual dragon ball!?' It had some odd traits to it. To show it wasn't some prop or ordinary sphere. It had an orange glow to it and there was some type of electrical charge in the air that seem to emanate from the ball itself. She held it out for Maya to take, who was hesitant to touch it at first. Before she finally slowly took it from Gaea and held it out in front of her and Eric. Maya looked closely at the ball.
When she looked closely, she could see power swirling around in the little sphere and it was unusually warm. Like it was giving off heat. Maya looked back up at Gaea and gasped with a teary smile. Gaea gave her a small smile in return.
"And Lily's been there all along?" Asked Eric.
Getting a firm nod from the Goddess. "Well Lils, you said you wanted excitement in your life. At least now you can say you finally found it."
Gaea retreated, letting Lily take over. Lily smiles. "You got that right. And it was quite the adventure."
Maya smiles biting her lip. "So, is Vegeta even hotter in person than the show?"
"After all that, that's the first thing you ask?" Said a surprised Eric causing Lily to erupt in laughter.
"Keep it reigned in Maya. Don't think his wife Bulma would like to hear you drooling all over her husband." Lily said with laughter in her voice.
"So their even together in reality? Just how close is the show to this new universe?" Maya asked.
Lily sat with them for the next few hours telling them everything about the DBZ Universe. All of the similarities and differences. In which there weren't that many differences. Except for the fact that in actuality, she managed to change a certain evil emperor. If it weren't hard enough explaining her time in their universe, she knew it would be exceedingly difficult to tell her of her involvement with the galactic emperor.
After thoroughly explaining her time there, Lily switched over topics and asked her questions she's been wanting to ask.
"How are my siblings, nephews, and Grand Parents?" Lily asked, nervously.
Maya gave her a sad but reassuring smile, "They're all doing fine, though I think they're somewhat heart broken over you disappearance. They haven't really been the same. I'll spare you the details. You haven't seen any of them yet?"
Lily shook her head. "No, Gaea brought me straight here first. But I'll be sure to see them next."
Maya nodded. "Your grandpa for a while would call here once a week asking if we heard anything. Was always sad to tell him, No."
Lily got a huge lump in her throat. "I'm so sorry any of this ever happened. I still don't understand, out of billions of people why this sorcerer guy chose me. Not that I would wish it on anyone else. But it was fucked up nonetheless. Last thing I would ever want to do is hurt the people I love most."
"We know Lils, and you need to stop blaming yourself. It wasn't your fault." Maya reassured her.
Lily nods but can't hold in the tears. "
It's late, maybe we should turn in for the night. I know you don't want to hear this, though something tells me you already had an idea. You no longer have your apartment. After being gone for so long, the landlord cleared out your stuff. We tried to take as much as we could. Though sadly couldn't take any of the furniture, for we had no space. But you can take the spare bedroom. I believe some of your spare clothes are here." Maya informed her.
All three of them stood up. Lily hugged them both thanking them for the offer. She especially thanked them for taking in and caring for Mia for her.
She's not sure how. But she managed to sleep soundly through the night. In the morning, Maya made Lily her favorite breakfast and chatted on some other things they may have missed last night. It was here, Lily told them she was only visiting here and then going back. They both looked at her in shock and asked why. She eventually worked up the courage to tell them she left someone behind that she needs to get back to. Maya kept poking at her asking her who it was. Lily finally told her it was Frieza.
All this did was confuse them and asked what he had to do with her wanting to return. The shy awkward look on Lily's face said it all, and the blushing didn't help either.
"Your kidding right?!" Maya yelled.
"No Maya, I'm not. He's different now." She said, in all seriousness.
How do you explain to your best friend your in love with an alien?
"But there isn't even anything down there. I always thought maybe the dude was a hermaphrodite or something." Maya said, flat out.
This caused Eric to spit out his coffee. "Trust me sweetie, he's anything but." Lily says with a smile.
Maya started laughing. "You little slut. really?"
"Okay can we not discuss this anymore while we are eating?" Eric said getting a bit uncomfortable.
Lily assured them she would visit as often as possible. That she would not be gone forever. Maya than asked the hardest question yet. What was I going to tell my family.
Lily said she felt she couldn't really tell them the truth. She wasn't sure if they could handle it or understand. Lily thought it best to tell them that she was kidnapped by some radical group, was their prisoner for months, before finally escaping with the aide of some inside help. She just won't go into detail and tell them she didn't wish to talk about it.
Maya was unsure they'd buy the story. But in the end, they would probably wouldn't care if Lily arrived back on a flying pink elephant. They would just be glad to have her back. Luckily it was Saturday, and not a work day. Eric had to run some important errands in regards to the Wedding. While Maya called up all of Lily's family to tell them to meet at the grandparents house around noon, bring the kids, and it was extremely important, she told them it had to do with Lily.
With that, they got in Maya's car and drove to Lily's grandparents house just a couple towns over. Lily didn't expect they all show. Especially her brother, who she had an even less relationship with than her sister. You can't imagine the surprised look on everyone's face when Lily came through the door. At first everyone stood there in shock.
Except for her twin nephews who came barreling into her and hugged her. It was then Lily started to cry. One by one the adults joined in until everyone had tears of joy in they're eyes. Her brother even passed over her youngest nephew. At now a year old, was a solid happy boy. They all bombarded her with questions at first.
It took a couple minutes for Lily and Maya to calm everyone down and she would explain everything. Of course Lily did, of her made up story that is. About being kidnap by some crazy radical group and being held prisoner. How she escaped with some inside help. She wasn't sure they would buy it at first because some areas in the story were a little rocky. In the end they were just glad she was alive and they had her back.
Lily wasn't sure how she would be able to visit them without raising suspicion. Especially knowing some of them wouldn't want to let her out of their sight again. That someone being her Grandfather in particular. When they all finally left that night she pulled her Grandfather aside. If there was anyone she could trust with such a story and would understand, it was her, Poppy. She waited until her grandmother went to use her phone, informing the rest of the relatives of her return.
Then pulled him aside to tell him the truth. She explained it as thoroughly as she could and pulled the dragon ball out of her pocket to show him the proof. Again he felt the strange charge, warmth, and power coming from the ball. Proving it was no joke. Gaea even projected the same events in his mind as she did with Maya and Eric. After it was all said and done, the first thing he said was.
"So when do I meet this guy of yours? I want the chance to be able to tell him I know many vacant spots to bury a body if he pulls anything." He joked.
Lily just laughs and hugs him. Jokes aside though, he asked that she still continue to visit them as much as possible. This is a promise she could keep. Maya drove them back to her house afterwards. Luckily, Maya was able to save most of her clothes and some personal belongings. Lily began packing her stuff.
"Wait, your leaving already? You literally just got here!" Maya exclaimed.
"I'm sorry Maya, but I made a promise that I'd return back soon. Don't worry I'll visit again very soon. I'll even come to your wedding in June. I'm sure as hell not going to miss that." Lily assured her.
Maya pulled her in for a tight hug. "You better, or I'll find a way to hunt you down."
Lily laughed. "I promise it won't come to that. I certainly don't want to miss the opportunity of witnessing your cousin Dave, getting shitfaced and dancing badly on the tables. Like he did at your cousin Beth's Wedding."
Maya laughed. "That jack ass better not. I think I might cut his bar privileges off early on during the reception."
They shared one more laugh. Then Lily gathered up the large travel bag and of course, she couldn't leave Mia behind so she decided early on she was bringing her dog with her so she packed a small handful of Mia's things too. She hugged Maya and Eric and said, 'Good bye'. She called upon Gaea who made herself known. Then Gaea and Mia disappeared and went back to the DBZ Universe.
This chapter was longer than expected. But Lily also needed a solid explanation to both her Best Friend and Family on where she's been for more than half the year. Even then I couldn't squeeze in enough without having to put it into two chapters. And I wanted to get Lily back to the DBZ Universe sooner than later. Until Next Time ;)