A/N – Sorry it took awhile but here's another chapter. It's short but at least I'm able to get this out.

It's been a bad month for me. (( I basically went to a doctor because there was some bleeding and then they discovered a polyp. They were surprised because I'm so young that I shouldn't have something like this. Anyways after waiting to be scheduled because for some reason they couldn't take me immediately - I went into surgery and they removed it! Woo! Now I'm just waiting tests back to see if it's cancerous or not. So yeah this is where I am now. Praying for the best! ))

Anyways I hope you are able to take some solace into this chapter. As always sorry for any spelling or grammar mistakes. I spell checked but even that isn't perfect. Hope you enjoy, see you soon!

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Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ

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Chapter 19: Role Reversal

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"M-Mother, please." Trunks begged as his mother's wails bounced off the walls. He had never been placed under such a predicament in his life. His mother always a fierce firecracker. Now an awkward role reversal as he continued to cradle his mother in his arms.

His name resounded off through the dampened cavernous tunnels. Trunks would have been fixated on his mother had it not been for the eerie feeling bubbling inside him. There was someone or something about. It was weak, but Trunk's knew he felt a presence before it vanished without trace.

Trunk's eyes narrowed for a moment before softening when a lone bat flew by with a small screech. He almost laughed had it not been for the tight grip on his shirt. Looking down he spotted his mother's blue locks and with it her cries once more rang in his ears.

If only his father hadn't gone off somewhere. With a disdaining look Trunk's recalled the events that unraveled moments ago. His younger self taking it upon himself to sacrifice his life in order to save their mother because he himself was unable to put the enemy quickly down. The Trunks in this time more unforgiving than he could ever possibly be. Now because of his mistakes two bystander's deaths would rest uneasily in his mind. Turmoil starting to cloud his judgment.

"How long," His mother pleaded with glassy orbs as she finally looked up at him. Hair messy and ever so unruly but none of it as noticeable as those enormous ocean blue glistening orbs. "How long before you go too?"

Trunk's mouth at first faltered at his mothers words but then caught with frowning disapproval.

"I'm not going anywhere Mother." He told her directly. Bulma's facial expression quickly changed into a scowl. She attempted to pull away and distance herself but Trunks growled refusing to let his mother fall deeper into the darkness. He gently touched the side of her jaw with his thumb and when she her eyes met his. He reassured her with his own. "My presence in this time line no longer has any meaning. After all my world is pretty much considered the new past...If anything your here to save me not the other way around." He finished chuckling a bit even though his words were pretty much daggers into his own anguished heart.

His mother seemed to accept that and with a small blush Trunks brushed the tears off his mother's face. "You know if anyone should be doing this it should be father." He joked soberly and Bulma offered a weak smile.

"I'm sure Vegetto would love to." Bulma snorted, "Where the hell did-" She paused, and Trunks blinked at the widening look in her eyes. Her face drained of color and with curiosity he followed her gaze beyond his shoulder.

Lusc.

"Aah." Trunks breathed out in dull reminder.

His mother had probably gone into shock and not seen just what Vegetto had done in response to Lusc's attack.

Trunks moved blocking her view before her eyes could roam towards what would be a very severed head gaping towards them. He had hoped it was enough to be able to still communicate to his mother freely but she was clearly distressed more then ever.

"Where?" She questioned direly and Trunks sighed.

"I don't know." He answered truthfully.

One moment his father was cool and collected then after hearing Lusc chuckle, everything became inverse.

Especially because Vegetto went full berserk and proceeded to lopping off Lusc's head.

"F-Fa-" Trunks began only to be silenced by Vegetto's bellowing war cry.

It was then that Trunks could only gap as Vegetto's power-level continued to surge to new heights.

The whole area itself began to shake, rocks slowly levitating from crackling energy. Trunks panicked, his mother simply turned to him with shaking hands, eyes so dark and hallow as if her soul had been ripped from her body.

"Mother." Trunks breathed out a bit taken back and as he did Vegetto departed. An exclamation mark shot over Trunk's head and while he did make motion to pick up on his ki, his mother continued to foil his plans.

For Bulma had thrown herself into him and grieved into his chest.

"I see." Bulma replied blankly as her brows however furrowing in response. "Can you track him now?" She questioned.

"I'll try." He could only say before closing his eyes and searched wholeheartedly for his father's ki. Trunks even pushed himself to his SSJ state but still not even a trail could be detected.

An astonished bead of sweat slid down his forehead as he relayed the bad news to his mother.

Bulma's reaction was just as he anticipated. She frowned and looked down at her hands. He knew she was probably cursing herself for not being strong enough but to him her strength wasn't important. It was her happiness that fueled him.

Trunks made it his mission then and there to get them to the dragon balls no matter what. With a deep breath Trunks shot up from his sitting position and looked toward where Lusc had been planning to take them. He swallowed roughly.

"Stay here. I-"

"No!" Bulma protested and Trunks was stunned to see his mother wearily rising to her feet. She almost stumbled but Trunks caught her.

"Mother, it's okay, your not emotionally able to continue. I don't mind doing this alone. I'm used to it remember." He lectured as he moved to help her stabilize her footing. Bulma growled, slapping his hands away from her own despite her wavering about.

"Mother please-"

"Trunks," She gritted out, "I started this adventure with you. Don't you dare think about leaving me behind."

Trunks knew she was talking about his younger counterpart but he didn't dare correct her.

"Okay." He drew out, "but promise me to stay close. I don't want you to see-"

"I promise."

As those words flew from her lips, torches suddenly lit up bringing the area to light. A wall moved and behind it a familiar figure. Bulma felt her lips tug into a smile as the figure too smiled back at her.

"Moori!"

Trunks rolled his eyes when his mother seemed to spring towards Moori and the two shared a hug. His mother oblivious as the two chatted amongst each other despite a broken carcass nearby.

Trunks could only do what any other person in his position would do.

He face palmed.

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TBC -

A/N - Thanks so much for the reviews!

A/N 2 - To answer one review:

I know the story can be confusing so sorry for that! Really I am! Honestly just know that I know how the story ends. It just getting there that's a beech right now. Also it's not all about Vegeta it's just since it was focused on this OC. Whom Vegeta if I remember from DBZ was killing off a bunch of Namekians in search of the dragon balls. So going from that Lusc is a character that just thinks about wanting to get revenge. Blinded by rage sort of like Vegeta back then?

Don't worry about that with Moori though. We will see more positive. More talk of Goku as Goku saved them. Moori is the type of person to look at the good then the bad. It's going to be a balance, I assure you. So just hang with me.

I talk to myself all the time about how its going to go in these lengthy outcomes but when I write it's like. ONE SENTENCE. Then I'm like uhhh and then its grind from there. But next chapter finally I'm positive the dragon balls finally will appear and exist and were one step closer to whatever happens next! Yay! See you next time!