Chapter 115: I'm Goten

Trunks is so mean! So, what if he has a girlfriend. So, what if he has all the latest toys. He even made fun at the fact that I look like my dad, and how much of a goody two shoes I am. It feels good to be nice to people. I'm getting tired of people comparing me to my dad. Why won't anyone see me? That's it, I'm letting my hair grow out. I'm getting tired of Trunks pushing me around, since I'm weaker than him. Everyone praises my big brother for how smart he is. They even say how at one point he was the strongest among the grownups, while he was still a child. I'm pretty much surrounded by incredible people, but what am I?

I'm Goten! I'm not a strong warrior, like my dad. I'm not a genius, like my brother. I'm not quick temper, like my mom. I'm Goten! I have hobbies that is my own. I like being nice to people. I like helping those who can't help themselves. I like making other people happy. I also like bugs. I like playing video games. What other things make me, me? Guess I'm going to figure it out.

After that whole thing with mom and dad, dad been acting weird around me. Not the bad kind, just weird. Like he's been giving me extra food. I don't mind that. During his after-dinner work outs, instead of being on top of him, like usual, he makes me do the work out too. While we do so, he talks to me. Like asking me about my day, or if I learned anything new. Or he ask what I want to be when I grow up. I don't know the answer to that. He always tells me, whatever I choose, I'll be amazing at it.

Dad recently left with Whis, and I'm left with mom. This is ok. Mom been giving me more food, whenever I ask. Sometimes she even said I should go catch a fish for dinner. I'm so happy dad taught me. It's actually fun. I found it funny how after dinner I started doing the work outs I did with dad. Somehow it felt right to do them. When I miss a day it's hard to fall asleep. In the morning I would even do the stretches dad taught me. I'm glad he did. It makes me feel ready for the day.

I wonder why he taught them to me now. I wonder why nobody taught them to me. I never seen Gohan stretch in the morning. He sometimes work out, but usually on the weekends. When I slept over Trunks place, the other day, he questioned why I did these new things. I just told him how dad taught them to me, and it feels good doing it. Trunks tried joining me, and he said how painful some of the stretches were. And hearing, and feeling, his bones crack was weird. "You get used to it. After a while it's a welcome feeling."

"Maybe to you, weirdo." That's another thing I've noticed. Whenever I join him, and his dad, train they just go straight to doing kata, or just begin sparring. There's no warm ups, no stretching. Doesn't that hurt after a while. Probably why training usually last a little past an hour, the most. After I started doing what my dad taught me, I could last longer than Trunks in our sparring matches. I'm even able to hold my own. If I out last him, I win. Which is usually why, after a point, he tries using force to take me down. This is great! I can do something Trunks can't. I can't wait to tell dad.

…

When Goten came home, later in the day, he looked in a bad mood. I asked him what was wrong, but he didn't want to talk. I would try make him talk, but after what I went through, he deserve his moment. But there was just something off about him. He did seem a little better during dinner. But clearly something wrong. When I was about to start my, after dinner, work out, I asked him to join me. He smile as he got ready to hop on my back. I told him that wasn't what I meant. I wanted him to actually join me, as in doing the work out with me. He looked surprised but he did it.

Chichi looked ready to say something, but I waved her off. If he's not going to tell me what's wrong, fine. But he's going to work it off. That's something I come to realize we did wrong with Gohan. We tried to protect him from everything. We pretty much overprotected our Gohan. Not even giving him a chance to see he can protect himself. Not this time. Goten doesn't need us for every little thing. He's a smart boy. I'll help him be his own person; it's the least I could do.

The next morning, I taught him a few stretches. He complained at first, but then comment how it actually felt good. As we waited for breakfast, I taught him a small little warm he could do, to start his day. It started to become our new daily routine. It was coming to the point he started doing after-dinner work outs without me, since he finished eating first. I also came to notice our things. After eating, he look as if he wanted to ask for more, but didn't. So, I just started giving him some of my food. I even notice his hair was starting to grow, and Chichi wanted to cut it, like always. I told we should wait till he ask for a haircut. She was surprised by my answer, but agreed.

With these little changes he was looking happier. Not saying he wasn't happy, just that this seems like a whole another level of happy. When he didn't go to Trunks, after school, he do his own little routine. He finished homework, then either be on his phone or play video games till dinner. Sometimes he would use his phone at the table, and Chichi has to keep reminding him to put it away. I thought that was funny. Gohan had his books, and Goten has his phone.

Then came the day when Bulma called about Whis. That got me excited. Plus, she called me just when I was finished at the market. Once I got home, to change and leave, I saw that Goten was home. I just finished changing when he knocked to come into the room. When he saw me in my gi he looked so excited. He even asked if he could come with me. I saw the no problem with that. But, on qui, my lovely wife comes in and says how he needs to stay and study. She was so into her speech she didn't realize we snuck away, till we were already outside. But she had called Bulma, and it seems he couldn't go. But at least he didn't look that disappointed.

Just when Whis had finished saying that he'll train me, was when Chichi finally caught up. And she looked angry. What did I do this time? "Did you finish the fields?" Uh? Yes. "And did you go to the market?" It's on top of the dresser. She had an approved smile. "Have fun." With that I told everyone bye for now, and left with Whis. Wouldn't Vegeta be surprised.

…

Dad left a month before my summer vacation started, and now I'm enjoying my vacation time. I am slightly sad that Trunks went to visit his aunt for the week, and Marron went visit her uncle, also for the week. So, I'm stuck on my own. I could visit them, but they're having family time. I could always hang out with Videl and Pan, while Gohan at the university, but there's nothing to do there. I do spend time with mom, but she's usually cleaning, or making something. I at least work out with her, but it doesn't feel right. So, I end up surfing the internet on my phone, and playing video games. But that's becoming boring.

I try working out on my own, but it feels weird doing it randomly. I prefer when I do it during the times I'm used to. So, what now? Since Bulma has work, she'll be in her lab. Maybe I could ask her if she has a laptop I could borrow for a bit. Surprising she just gives me a brand-new laptop, and helps me set up. I do almost what I do on my phone, but it's easier on the eyes now. I end up looking up different things and something caught my attention. It's like the book mom gave me. I ended up spending the day looking up that topic, and now I have a new goal in mind. Manipulating my ki.

Gohan and dad can form ki blast, and raise and hide their ki. Of course, so can I. Gohan can also manipulate ki into shapes and colors. But it took him a long time to be able to do it. I then remembered when mom and dad had that talk with me, and I witness dad raising his ki. How it had different colors before he went super sayian. How they told me it took dad a super long time to do that. It even took Gohan a long time. But for me, it was easy to master. Well, then. Let's see where I could go from here.

For the rest of the week I practice this thing called meditation. I tried to fit it into my daily schedule. Like doing it after a good stretch, and before bed. Before I knew it, I was able to feel and hear every movement my body made. I was starting to become one with myself. When Trunks came back, and we decide to have a sparring game, I noticed something different. I was able to easily counter his every movement. It was weird. I've seen how mom does it, whenever we were out and something happened. How she uses her enemy's movement and strength against them. But this seems different somehow.

I was able to feel his movements coming at me, before I could see or sense them. It was becoming a reflex. I still wasn't stronger, but my defense was better, and I could out last him. He even had to go super sayian to try to one up me. This is fun. It frustrates Trunks to no end though. Um. I want to try something. I wonder if I just try to raise my ki into time to block, I wonder what'll happen. Absolutely nothing. Maybe I should work on that. Maybe it's possible to make a shield using my own ki. I've seen everyone do it, but they usually have it as a whole-body shield. I just want to focus on one spot.

It'll be fun if I don't have to go super sayian to be faster, and stronger. But same time not use my ki either. If anything, I should work on using my ki as my defense. Wouldn't that be something. Everyone always raising their ki to become stronger and finish their opponents, but they drain so easily. Maybe there's a way around it. I'm going to practice all summer to see if I could do it. Wouldn't everyone be impressed that I could do something no one else can. That thought made me happy. I won't be in someone else's shadow anymore. People will finally see me, and only me.

After our sparring game, Trunks wants to play video games. That soon turned to prank calls and trying to hide from Bulma. I slowly came to realize something. Trunks is super aggressive, and can be rude. But he's fun, and is nice to me. Also, the only one who sees me for me. Well, till dad came around, and he started comparing us like everyone else. Actually, just the way we look. It did make me happy when he pointed out I didn't have dad's dimples. Also, I'm not as naive as him or Gohan. It felt nice having my best friend point out how I'm different.

…

Goten sure been acting strange lately. He's very quiet, and seems very focus on something. Whenever I check on him, he's always doing something different. Once I caught him meditating. But the way he looked, doing it, caught me by surprised. His hair moved as if he was transforming, but it never went gold. He even asked if I was ok. I guess I was there for too long and he noticed me. And when we sat down to eat, he seems very calm. Even his ton of voice is calm when he ask for more helpings.

It's strange seeing my energic baby become a very calm boy. He does still go out and play, and does a lot of his usual hobbies. But it's how calm he is that's strange. When did he get a laptop? I also notice he seems to also developing more of an appetite. Gohan didn't go through his changes this early. Is that's what happening? My baby is going through puberty? Or could it be due to him doing more exercise? He has been working out more. He even tells me about his spar games with Trunks. But why isn't he energic? That's what worries me. Maybe I'll ask Goku when he comes back.

Goten really needs a haircut. I tried to wait till Goten tells me about it, but I just can't anymore. I finally talked him into getting his hair cut, and the same cut like always. He looked upset about that, but didn't argue. He was well behaved during the whole thing. "Mom?"

"Yes sweety."

"Could you make me another gi? My old one isn't fitting." Uh? I simply agreed, but it did catch me by surprise. When I took his measurements is when I finally notice how much he grew. Looks like we're going clothes shopping. While I measured him, he doesn't want an undershirt for his gi. He also would it to be little bit more snug, instead of its usual loose. I told him fine, and that we're going shopping later. He seem excited about that.

As we went shopping, he was more interested in clothes that weren't like his usual traditional. I told him I wouldn't mind buying a few outfits of his choice, but he still have to wear his traditional. He agreed, and he picked out two outfits. I was very pleased they weren't that expensive. And when we finished shopping I had enough over to get him an ice cream. It was looking like a fun day. And he looked so happy. On our way out the mall, he ended up pulling me into this jewelry store. I was confused, till he said I should get something for myself. I didn't really need anything, but he instead I still get myself something. I got a new pair of earrings.

As I worked on his new gi, I started thinking about how much my little boy changed. I wonder what came over him. He's still the sweetest little thing ever, but something is different now. He's not that energic. It's like he calm down. But what could have caused this change? Well, his next checkup is coming up. Maybe I should bring it up with his doctor.

The doctor says there's nothing wrong. That it's probably just the cause of puberty, as I expected. It's just that this is different than how Gohan went through. Maybe I should really wait till Goku gets back, and talk to him about it. Maybe he had noticed the change. Could that be why he started doing those things with Goten? I thought he was just finding new ways to bond. Oh, I don't know. Uh? Where is Goten? He didn't mention he was going to Trunks today. His window is open. He probably went out in a hurry. Wait! If he was in a hurry, then something bad is happening. My boys never use the window unless it's an emergency. I really hope he comes back ok. Come home safely, Goten.

…

What in the world is going on? Who are these guys? They seem to be wearing something close to Vegeta's armor. Even Trunks confused. But everyone else seems to know what's going on. Even Gohan seems more enraged than I ever seen him. This isn't good. Me and Trunks try our best to keep up, but even we can see we're a little outmatched. So, we fused into Gotenks, and become more effective at fighting back the waves of soldiers. We were even able to save my brother before we spilt.

Then we saw him. This one person, sitting in a floating chair. Everything about him felt pure evil. The aura around him was a thick blackness, that it made me shake with fear. The moment he spotted us you could feel the rage blasting from him. "Frieza!" Frieza? That's Frieza? The same Frieza Gohan told me about? No wonder there's nothing but evil pulsing from him.

"Gohan!" Those bad guys hurt my big brother. OH NO! "MR. PICCOLO!" They killed him! Come on Bulma! Contact Whis! We need our dads! We tried keeping everything uncontrol on our own, and we failed. Gohan idea better work. Dad! Dad finally here! I hope our dads are strong enough to take down that monster. Dad! They hurt dad! No! Oh no! That monster blow up the earth! MOM!

Thanks to Whis the earth is back, and dad was able to kill that monster. That means mom is back. Uh? Gohan asked Mr. Piccolo to train him again. Maybe I should pick up my training too. Today was a mess. I'm still so weak. That shouldn't happen again. Next time I will be stronger.

As me and dad fly home, he looks trouble. When we get to our house, he still seem troubled. When we open the door, we see mom in the kitchen. I feel happy to be able to see her. And it seems dad is too. We go up and hug her, and she seems to be caught off guard by it. It takes us a while to finally let mom go. Well, it doesn't seem like dad wanted to let go just yet. Maybe he wanted to give mom a proper hello. So, I just walked into my room, and made sure it was heard that I closed my door. Mom and dad deserves to have their alone time.

With that said, I chose to do a basic work out, till I heard a knock on my door. When I looked at the clock, it was already dinner time. Where did the time go? Guess I was just so focus I didn't realize. When I came out to eat, I saw mom and dad looked really happy. That's good. As we ate, dad told us all he did on Beerus planet. When he was done, he asked us what we did. Mom told him how I continued doing the routine me and him started. Also, other things she saw me do. Like the meditating. Dad seem very impressed. He even ruffled my hair, and told me how proud he was. This felt nice.

After dinner, we worked out together, but this time he wanted me to try something else. It wasn't hard, but it sure was fun. I was even surprised mom joined us this time. When it was time for bed, dad asked if I wanted to join him in the fields tomorrow. Since it was still summer vacation, I said yes. With that he left my room, and I started my, before bed, meditation.

…

I was so surprised by mom calmness in letting dad go train. It was a welcome surprise, to say the least. The rest of the day, I spent time with my family. Everything seem to be going so perfect. Well, till Videl pointed out that maybe I lost some weight. Ok. That I lost major weight. I was starting to look like someone who never worked out. But can you blame me? After I found out we were going to have Pan I stopped carrying weights. Then work had got me busy to where I didn't really work out when I got home. I made all my free time about my family.

At least now I felt comfortable wearing short sleeves shirts outside. I don't know why I still felt the way I did about my muscles; or to be correct, the muscles I used to have. I was still pretty strong, so it wasn't all bad. I'm naturally strong due to being half sayian. But as I spend time with my family, I don't really miss all the training. I actually felt settled in my life. Why bother training? There's no big threats. My family is perfectly fine. I was starting to feel at ease, and comfortable in these times of peace. I pretty much had even put my gi in storage. Not like I'll ever need that again. Oh, how wrong was I.

I can't believe this. How is it even possible? When did they even…? I should have known. I should have figured something was up, last month, when the skin became oddly dark. Why didn't I think someone was making a wish? And why didn't I sense anything strange was on earth? This is awful. I'm at fault for being so caught up in peaceful times. I even had to use a track suit, since I forgot where I put my gi. This is embarrassing. I'm even surprised that I'm able to hold my own with these guys.

I failed, and I almost died. Oh no. is Piccolo didn't step in I would have been done for. I failed. I didn't just fail my friends; I failed my family. The very ones I vow to keep safe. The moment I slack off is when everything comes crashing in. Instead of trying to stay on top, I just get there and then I fall. When will I ever learn? We need to contact dad. Do I even have the strength to give him a single to latch onto? Just gotta try. I did it. I had just enough.

Why is he saying his proud of me? I failed. I failed! Frieza blow up the earth. NO! VIDEL! PAN! If only I was strong enough! If only I kept up with my training! Whis turned back time. My Videl and Pan are alive; as if they didn't just die. I feel a great relief wash over me. But I can't let it erase my resolve. After Mr. Piccolo is revived, I asked him to train me again. He looks pleased.

He did have a moment and questions why not dad. Dad can't train me. As incredible a fighter dad is, dad is too soft on me. Dad was always soft on me. I'm his son. I could never fail in his eyes. I can't have that. I need to get stronger, not taken lightly. Besides dad has his own thing going for him. I need my own thing. I need to stop failing so damn much. Mr. Piccolo is at least hard on me, and doesn't take me lightly. Or does he? I'm going to just have to find out.

Once I got home, I could stop from hugging my precious girls, and kissing my wonderful Videl. That night, I just couldn't be apart from them. That's it! I'm going to train again, and be able to keep you girls safe. I promise you that. I'm going to do everything to protect you. I have to be ready for anything, regardless how peaceful things seem. I can't let peace settle in like that ever again. Letting peace take hold of me had me fail every time I was needed.

I'm no longer that scared little boy. I no longer can fail anymore. I failed Piccolo. I failed dad, and that cost him his life. That was a failure I try to never repeat, and yet I failed at that too. I failed today. But that's it! No more! I vow to get stronger. I vow to always be ready to keep my family safe. I then look at our sleeping Pan, in my arms. I promise you Pan, you'll never go through with what I went through. I promise you, as your daddy, you'll always be safe, protected, and have happy life. I even promise that I'll be there by your side; I'll never leave you. I vow you'll always have a smile. Daddy won't ever be gone for too long, because daddy will always come to your rescue. Daddy promises to never, ever fail you ever again.