Chapter 22: Judgment
World of Void – IDS BA-MYU
"Inter-dimensional warp complete." Isol declared. "Goku, you know what to do."
"Right." Goku replied as he got on the intercom. "Attention all ships. This is your commander. We need to make combined interdimtienshinal...
"Inter-dimensional..." Isol coughed.
"Inter-dimensional time nexus. I have some good news. All ships stand by for my command. Three, two, one...launch."
All twelve ships gathered around in a circle. Their bows began to glow before a small sphere reflective sphere formed in front of each of them. After hovering for a few seconds the sphere's shot out into the center of the circle. The spheres quickly came together to form one massive sphere.
"Alright launch nexus teleportation in five four three two one...launch."
Isol pressed causing everyone on the ship to vanish instantly.
Inter-dimensional Time Nexus
Everyone aboard the IDS Ba-Myu and the rest of the ships reappeared in the pocket dimension.
"Man this place looks depressing." Goku stated.
"Tell me about it. I was trapped in one of these for two decades." Chronoa replied. "It felt like two hundred."
"Alright everyone, listen up!" Celes exclaimed. "Our dear leader Son Goku has something tell you."
"Yes! We have finally won, my people!" Goku proclaimed. "The feeble humans have been conquered. Long have you waited for this! And now, soon we shall claim their universe as our own!"
"You like that?" Chronoa whispered to Piccolo I wrote the speech myself.
"I don't know why you put him up to this." Piccolo replied.
"And to celebrate we shall pit this total cutie pie against this big green pickleman!"
Chronoa let out a giggle as Piccolo glared at her.
"And then the winner of those two will fight...the fruit of my loins? Really?"
"I thought it was a great line." Chronoa said proudly
And once I open this ceremonial jar filled with...fighting mits?"
"Mist." Chronoa corrected.
"I think there was a typo in your script."
"Oops, my bad.."
"Sir, what are you two talking about?" One of the Sankakukankei members inquired.
"Don't worry about it." Goku replied. "Anyway, once I release the ceremonial fitting mist from this jar the fight shall commence!" Goku screwed open the lid of the jar and let out the remaining ether which went straight towards the remaining infected Sankakukankei causing them to undergo the same process as Goku and the rest.
The same look of remorse that came over Goku that come over Isol that came over Celes and everyone who had already been treated came over the rest of the now cured Sankakukankei as they remembered what they were willing to do to get their new universe.
"We were monsters..." One of the recently cured stated.
"But now you're you." Goku replied.
"So what happens now?" Piccolo asked Chronoa.
"Now I try my best to appeal to Lord Zeno. I'll go to Zeno's palace and try to convince him not to punish them and..."
Chronoa stopped her words as the top of the inter-dimensional time nexus opened and up.
"...I do not think you have to worry about going to them." Isol stated as the Grand Minister and Zeno floated in the air above.
"Well, what do we have here." The Grand Minister stated as he and Zeno descended to the ground.
"How did you..." Chronoa began to say.
"Find you?" The Grand Minister interrupted. "It was hard not to notice a nexus of this size."
"I can explain..."
"You can try but I'm not sure there's anything you can say. I am afraid Lord Zeno has decided that they are to be erased and you to be stripped of your duties as Supreme Kai of time and you know once Zeno sets his mind on something it's hard to talk him out of it."
"Lord Zeno, these people don't do deserved to be erased. They haven't been in control of their actions for a while now and the actions that led to their state were those of a people just desperate to survive. Surely you can understand right?"
"But they were bad so they need to be destroyed." Zeno replied as he began to raise up his hand.
"Wait!" Goku exclaimed. "You're called Zeno right?"
"That's Lord Zeno and you certainly are a brazen one." The Grand Minister chuckled.
"Yes, That's my name who are you?"
"Lord Zeno, I am Son Goku. I know what they did was wrong. I even had a part in that...But that doesn't mean they don't deserve a second chance. You don't seem like that bad a guy. I can't really feel your energy but I can tell you're pretty strong too. If I can beat you in a battle will you spare them?"
"Goku, this is the King of the entire multiverse." Chronoa replied. "His power is beyond anything you can imagine."
"I know but that doesn't mean I can' try."
"That's my dad for you." Gohan stated. "No matter how seemingly impossible the challenge he'll meet it head-on."
"You'd really wanna fight for them?" Zeno inquired.
"Yes, I would."
"I like you." Zeno replied as he let out a child-like giggle. "Okay, I won't destroy them."
"Thank you, Lord Zeno." Goku replied.
"Goku, you did it!" Chronoa exclaimed happily.
"You must certainly are something." The Grand Minister stated. "I can't remember the last time Zeno took an interest in somebody like that. But that being said what are we to do with your majesty?"
"Hmmm? You decide." Zeno replied.
"As you wish. Bringing your universe back would be rather difficult. Creating universes are a bit harder than destroying them. But there is plenty of room in universe seven."
"Universe Seven?" Goku replied.
"Your universe, Goku." Chronoa replied. "And before I was made The Supreme Kai of Time, it was my home as well. But what about those who were erased?"
"They shall be restored as well. That universe was a smaller one. I'd say about ten planets in universe seven should be able to fit their entire population."
"Thank you so much." Isol replied.
"Then does that mean..." Chronoa began to say hopefully.
"Unfortunately Trian cannot be brought back..."
"But...why?"
"He died in the World of Void. When someone perishes here they cannot be brought back...I am sorry. I can, however, show you his last thoughts before he died."
The Grand Minister extended his right hand forward causing a life-size projection of Trian to appear in front of Chronoa.
"...Trian."
"Chronoa, I'm sorry I let you down. I thought I was confident in my actions but maybe that confidence was really arrogance. I may not have known as much as I thought I did but there is one thing I know to be an absolute certainty and that's you. You can correct my mistakes. I believe that more than anything else because I believe in you. I love you."
"...Thank you." Chronoa said as she tried and failed to fight back her tears.
Everyone stayed silent for a few moments to let Chronoa grieve.
"We have taken the liberty of bringing back everyone who was killed by the Sankakukankei including the planet Namek." The Grand Minister stated.
"Just like that?" Goku replied.
"Yes. I figured we'd save you a wish on your Dragon Balls. However, please don't take this lightly. We won't do it again. Death is something that should have purpose."
"Thank, Mr. Priest guy." Goku replied.
"That's...never mind." The Grand Minister sighed. "Isol, you and your people say your goodbyes and you shall be transported to one of the planets."
"Thank you, Goku. Regardless of why we did it most people would not have defended us the way you did after what we did to you." Isol stated.
"Don't mention it."
"You too, Gohan. You showed strength and determination far above your age."
"Well, when you're kidnapped by a giant green slug man and forced to learn how to fight at the age of four, you learn to grow up fast."
"And thank you, Chronoa. For everything."
"Just promise me, you'll do your best to make Trian proud."
"We will. Vegeta, Krillin. I am sorry about the things you had to endure."
"It's all good." Krillin replied. "Honestly, that was probably like the third worst thing I've experienced."
"Just go before I decide to change my mind about kicking your ass." A much less forgiving Vegeta replied.
"I have sent word of your arrival. As you requested." The Grand Minister said to Goku.
"Thank you. Alright, Lord Zeno. We are ready."
Lord Zeno nodded before raising his right hand up in the air, and, within the blink of an eye. All of the former Sankakukankei disappeared."
"I guess this is where we part ways." Chronoa said to Piccolo.
"It's been quite the ride."
"I couldn't have done this without you. I'll miss you ya big green stud. Ha made you blush again."
"I'll miss you too." Piccolo replied with a wink. "Now look who's blushing.
Goku, Gohan, Piccolo, Krillin, and Vegeta all finished saying their goodbyes to Chronoa before preparing to leave.
"Alright then let's go home. I'm starving!" Goku exclaimed.
Zeno once again raised his hand causing everyone but Chronoa, The Grand Minister and himself to disappear.
"Now then we should discuss your punishment, Chronoa." The Grand Minister stated.
"Punishment?"
"Why yes. Regardless of the outcome you still broke the rules. You can't expect to get off Scot-free now, can you? Now I think cleaning Lord Zeno's palace should suffice."
"But that place is massive!?"
"Oh and that includes the Jellyfish."
"Aw man..."
West City – Capsule Corp
Bulma, Chi-Chi, 18, and a recently arrived Tien stood outside the entrance of Capsule Corp.
"Are you sure you weren't just hearing things?" 18 inquired.
"Bulma and I both heard a voice tell us to stand outside and wait for them to arrive." Chi-Chi replied.
"If you say so."
"I don't know, Chi-Chi. Maybe we're both just really tired and had some sort of shared delusion..."
A second or two after Bulma finished her sentence. Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Krillin, and Gohan, with his baby brother in his arms, appeared in front of them.
"Hey, Chi-Chi..." Goku greeted with a remorseful tone. "I'm s..."
Chi-Chi held up a finger signaling Goku to be quiet as she quickly approached Goku. Chi-Chi stared straight into Goku's eyes for several moments before a smile formed on her face.
"Goku!" Chi-Chi exclaimed as she embraced Goku. "You're really back."
"I'm sorry, Chi-Chi."
"I still don't fully understand what happened but I know whatever happened that wasn't really you."
"Hey, Tien. How are you feeling man?" Goku inquired.
"I've been better. A few of the locals managed to hide in a small bomb shelter and after they heard things quiet down they came out and found me and patched me up
"Hey." Android 18 said to Krillin.
"H...Hey." A slightly nervous Krillin replied.
"I'm glad you're okay."
"Yeah me too."
"Hey, guys!" Yamcha exclaimed as he flew towards Capsule Corp.
Well, look what the cat dragged in." Tien chuckled as Yamcha landed near him.
"Man I had hard time landing. The light reflecting off your head got in my eyes." Yamcha teasingly replied.
Suddenly a loud crying began to echo loudly throughout the area.
"Looks he's finally woken up." Gohan stated.
"I'm surprised he slept through all that." Goku stated.
"There there. It's alright." Gohan said to his baby brother only for him to keep crying.
"Hand him over." Chi-Chi demanded. After being handed the baby Chi-Chi began rocking him gently causing him to almost immediately calm down. "See there's no need to be Mommy's got you my little Goten."
"Goten?" Goku replied.
"Yes. I looked at him and it just came to me."
"I like it." Goku replied.
"Me too." Gohan added.
"Hey Goten, I'm your daddy."
"And I'm your big brother. I have we get along well."
Narrator
With all the gut-wrenching ordeal finally over, Goku, Gohan and their family, friends, and allies look to restrengthen their bonds and get back to a sense of normalcy on the final chapter of Strained Bond: A Hero's Fall to Darkness!
A/N
That's right Strained Bond is entering its last chapter. It's sad to see it but every story must have an ending. I really hope you enjoyed this chapter and the story so far. Let me know your thoughts and as always have a great day. ~TheUltimateMystic