Rumor had it that the last known location of Babadi and Dabura was Earth, where they went to revive Majin Buu. They haven't been heard from since, so the Frieza Force could only assume the Saiyans had managed to eliminate them. That didn't perturb the newly revived Frieza, back in his pink and horned base form, from wanting to return for his revenge. If the Saiyans had indeed gotten so strong that they potentially dealt with Majin Buu, Frieza decided he'd simply have to do some training himself. All in all, it shouldn't take more than four months for him to get where he needs to be.
Far away on Beerus' planet Trunk and Ranch were trading blows as Whis looked on from far off. Their strength was certainly impressive, Beerus had been right when he told him to keep an eye on them, especially when during one of their fights a blue aura flashed between them. They had both paused and looked at each other, wondering if they'd achieve the same power as Ranch's father and uncle.
The entire time that they were on Beerus' planet the two half-Saiyans had been training hard. Whis was the first person since Gohan to train them both, and as a result they redeveloped the friendly rivalry that they hadn't had since they were kids. But because they spent pretty much their entire lives training with each other neither of them were able to throw anything that surprised the other. No matter what attack one used the other was able to counter.
Earlier Whis had commented that the two quite possibly relied a bit too much on each other. They were clearly at their best when they worked together, but became a bit sloppier when separated. But, Whis had to admit to himself, even when that was the case the other was usually around to compensate if needed. So his concern was what'd happen when the two were completely separated. Perhaps it'd be more prudent to train them one at a time.
Suddenly Beerus, who was in his pajamas, walked up to them looking drowsy. "What's with the noise? I can't sleep."
"Lord Beerus, you're up," greeted Whis. Trunks and Ranch saw who had arrived and anxiously flew down to meet him.
"Oh, Lord Beerus," Ranch said nervously.
"It's good to see you," said Trunks, placidly.
"What are you two doing here?" Beerus asked shortly.
"Well…we're here to train with Whis," answered Ranch.
"That much is obvious. Why, though? You want to get strong enough to take my place?"
"No, of course not," Trunks said quickly. "We just have to get stronger, that's all."
"Yeah, who knows what kind of crap will come at us in the future," Ranch added.
Beerus snidely said, "If you really want to know about the future, why don't you just use a time machine?" Trunks and Ranch gulped. "How did you even get here, anyways?"
"Whis brought us here," Ranch said.
"Is that so? In that case you must have bribed him with some delicious food."
Trunks just said, "Yeah, pretty much."
"So where is it?" Beerus practically demanded.
Trunks just took a capsule out of his pocket, pressed the button, and tossed it, causing a cooler with a bunch of tasty food to appear. "My mom packed a good amount, but it won't last forever, so I suggest making it last." Beerus barely seemed to have heard him as he began digging in.
Four months later at Capsule Corp the family was hanging out at the shooting range that Launch set up in the back, much to Bulma's displeasure. The table they put out was covered with food that they would be having for lunch, and Pilaf and Shu were already eating. Bulla was some distance away with toddlers Vegeta and Raditz, playing and making faces at them. Gohan was standing by blonde Launch, while on the ground Mai was looking through the scope of a sniper. They've been over a number of times since they met, but it was the first time Launch was letting anyone else shoot. It was certainly an adjustment to use the large rifle with her tiny body, but she managed to make it work. Mai steadied her breathing, made sure she had a good sight on the target, and pulled the trigger.
Blonde Launch looked through her binoculars at the target, and put them down looking dumbfounded. "Damn! Good shot, kid. You must've been doing this since you were in diapers or something."
Mai stood up and scratched her head. "Yeah…well…" She trailed off.
"Wow, total bull's-eye!" Gohan agreed, also looking down the binoculars.
Launch wore a cheeky grin as she lightly nudged Gohan, and quietly said to him, "Nice find. She's a keeper if I do say so myself."
Gohan blushed and was spared from having to respond by the arrival of his Aunt Chi-Chi, who was dragging along Bulma. "Come on, Bulma, it's not the most ideal spot for a meal, but you shouldn't be cooped up in your lab all day."
"Alright," Bulma said begrudgingly.
As they were about to sit down to eat, they were all suddenly distracted by an object in the sky that was gradually approaching them. Everyone gazed up at the spacecraft curiously until it landed on the lawn right by them. They all gathered around it, and when the hatch opened Bulma gasped, "Jaco?"
"Ah, Bulma, glad I was able to find you so quickly," said Jaco, jumping out of his ship.
"Everyone," she said to the family and gang, "this is Jaco. He's with the Galactic Patrol." Turning back to Jaco, Bulma asked, "So what brings you here?"
"Sorry that I don't have time for pleasantries, but I have a very important question," said Jaco. "Is it true that one of your friends was the one who defeated Frieza?"
"Yeah, that's right," she answered, no one noticing the shocked expressions on the Pilaf Gang.
"Actually," Chi-Chi started, stepping forward. "That was my husband Goku."
"Is that so?" Jaco asked, turning his attention to Chi-Chi. "May I please speak with him?"
Eyes cast downward, she said sadly, "He died a long time ago."
"Oh, excuse my callousness," Jaco told her in shock. "That's unfortunate—in more ways than one." Thoughtfully, he added, "How did he beat Frieza, though? He had to have been rather strong for an Earthling."
"But he wasn't an Earthling," Chi-Chi informed him. "He was a Saiyan."
Jaco's jaw dropped. "Saiyan? You mean a Saiyan from planet Vegeta?"
"Yeah, what's the big deal?" asked Bulma. "My husband was also a Saiyan."
"So was mine," added Launch.
As Jaco tried to process suddenly finding out that Saiyans had settled on Earth, Bulla began to make eager noises, hopping up and down while she waved her arm. "Ooh! Ooh! My brothers and I are Saiyans, too!"
"What?" Jaco blurted out in shock, staring at her. "Well, you certainly have the tail. Bulma, are these your children."
Bulma snickered. "I'm flattered but no. They're my grandchildren. My son's and her daughter's kids," she told him, indicating Launch. Jaco became more wary for some reason, so Bulma decided to get to the point. "What's all this about?"
Composing himself, Jaco said, "Well, I was hoping to speak with the one who defeated Frieza, but if he's gone…"
Bulma thought for a second, and then said with a smile, "Hey, if you really want to talk to someone who beat Frieza, how about my son? He took on Frieza when he traveled to the past."
"You mean he time traveled?" Jaco asked in horror. "Don't speak such nonsense! Time travel is a grave crime under galactic law! The punishment is expulsion to another planet!"
"Well, I didn't know it was such a big deal until recently," Bulma said calmly.
Launch strode forward, and bent over to glare menacingly at Jaco. "You gonna do somethin' about that, bub?"
Jaco buckled, and said quickly, "I suppose that doesn't matter anymore. Anyway, past or not, I guess I should speak with this son of yours, Bulma."
"Sure, but you'll have to wait. He and his wife are currently training on Beerus' planet," she told him.
He received yet another shock. "You mean Beerus God of Destruction? But he's just a myth!"
"If you say so," she said offhandedly.
"Look, this is serious," Jaco insisted. "Frieza has come back and is bringing his soldiers!"
"He's back!" Bulma, Chi-Chi, and Launch cried in unison.
"Yes!"
"But are you sure we're talking about the same guy here?" Bulma asked in a panic, as fear overtook the three women.
"Yes, I'm sure! I'm telling you, this planet and everyone on it is in danger of being annihilated!"
Launch suddenly placed a hand on Bulma's shoulder. "Either way we should call them back here just in case," she told her seriously.
Bulma nodded, and asked Jaco, "How long do we have?"
"Twenty minutes."
"Damn it!" Bulma exclaimed, pulling a communicator that she got from Whis out of her pocket, while going over to a cooler by the picnic table. Before Ranch and Trunks left, Bulma had made sure that they had a method of getting in contact with each other in case of emergency.
On Beerus' planet, Trunks and Ranch were sparring against Whis—well, not so much sparring, but more like just trying to land a hit on him. Despite throwing the best combos that they had developed over the years, Whis nonchalantly dodged everything. Beerus was close by, glancing in their direction every so often as he ate the dwindling amount of food that Trunks and Ranch brought from Earth. He was a little impressed by the progress the Saiyan hybrids made, although they still didn't pose a significant challenge.
Suddenly Whis' staff glowed, and Whis deftly got away from the two before they even noticed. Answering the call, Whis saw Bulma's image appear in the orb. "Ah, Bulma, how fortuitous!" he said delightedly. "We're running low on the delicacies you sent over."
"Are Trunks and Ranch there?" she immediately asked. "This is an emergency!" The two immediately flew up to look into the orb.
"What's up, mom?" asked Trunks in concern.
"Yeah, what's got you riled up?" Ranch said.
"I just got word that Frieza's back!" Bulma yelled.
"He's what?" the two shouted.
"But he's long gone!" Ranch cried in surprise. "Uncle Goku saw to that, didn't he?"
"Yeah, how is he back?" Trunks demanded.
"Does it matter? Whether my source is right or not, you two need to get back here right now!" Bulma shouted.
Beerus yawned. "Boring. That'd be such a waste of time."
Bulma growled, and pointed the communicator into a cooler. "And if you do us the favor getting them here quickly this is all yours!" She showed them a large strawberry sundae.
"Whoa! Look at that!" Beerus said excitedly, shoving Trunks and Ranch aside to get a better look. "Whis, let's get going."
"Very well, my Lord, although it'll take us about thirty-five minutes to get there," Whis told him.
Back on Earth, Bulma yelled into the communicator, "Hurry! Frieza will be here sooner than that!"
Gohan, seeing all the fear and panic that this was causing, stepped up and said confidently to his parents, "Don't worry, I'll hold this Frieza guy off until you get here!"
"No, you don't!" all the adults, including Ranch and Trunks through the communicator, shouted at him.
"Don't be crazy, Gohan," Chi-Chi said. "It'll be too dangerous."
"Yeah, you'll be staying here," Bulma told him. "If he's coming back to cause more trouble there's no way he's just playing around!"
"She's right, Gohan," Ranch sternly yelled, "don't you dare go out there!"
"Yeah, we'll be there soon," Trunks told them. The transmission cut off as they began their journey.
Bulma then angrily rounded on Jaco. "Why didn't you get here any sooner? Twenty minutes isn't exactly enough time to prepare!"
Jaco defended, "I would have gotten here sooner, but when I was going through an asteroid field one suddenly exploded when some kind of object passed by, and I was forced to detour!"
Launch suggested, "I hate to say this, but how about we call Roshi? He may be ancient, but he can put up a fight and might buy us time."
As the adults conversed, Gohan closed his eyes and concentrated. Now that he was actively searching, he immediately felt an ugly power emanating from out in space that was getting closer to the planet. It was surprising that he hadn't noticed it beforehand. Despite what everyone was saying there was no way he could just stand by and do nothing as he waited for his parents. "Mai, stay here with your friends, you'll be safe," Gohan suddenly said to her. Nobody was able to stop him as Gohan powered up and took to the sky at full speed in the direction of where the power would land.