(For anyone wondering, that word Mejai always says, 'Sav'ta' is supposed to mean 'child' in whatever language he's speaking. He won't tell me what language it is.)

Chapter Forty-Nine: End of the Beginning

"Is this the end of the beginning?
Or the beginning of the end?
Losing control or are you winning?
Is your life real or just pretend?
Reanimation of the sequence
Rewind the future to the past.
To find the source of the solution;
The system has to be recast."
End of the Beginning-Black Sabbath

DBZ

Falmer's shadowed face was peaceful and still. He had been groomed and dressed in what the Earthlings had called his 'Sunday best.' The concept had been unfamiliar in description, but its execution was anything but as Diamond looked down at her dead husband dressed formally in his silver Gylderian battle armor, his shimmering gloved fingers laced together atop his sternum, and lying preserved within a transparent vacuum chamber.

Six days had come and gone since Frieza had finally fallen, and those days had been a blur of plans and arguments Diamond had only been vaguely aware of taking place. She had remained silent and kept to herself throughout most of it. The only time she'd really spoken up was when the King of Earth's belligerent reluctance to utilize the Dragon Balls had finally broken the last threads of her patience and she had exploded on the monarch. Bardock and Mejai had found it rather entertaining, though Aurah had been left exasperated despite Diamond's outburst having been the catalyst that would lead to his eventual agreement.

Diamond hadn't cared then and still did not care now as she studied her husband's face as she had done before on so many occasions. He was the only person that had ever really mattered in her world before and after Gylder had been destroyed. Her only concern was to pursue every opportunity available to her to get Falmer back. It was a narrow-sighted desire, and she knew it. She just didn't care. She had been spared accepting his death once and she was not ready to accept it this time either, even though his lifeless body was lying before her, framed between the encased bodies of Amotto and Seripa as they motionlessly awaited their moments of resurrection.

She had to wonder if they were aware of their impending restoral to life as she glanced at Amotto's and Seripa's vacuum chambers in turn. They, too, were dressed in formal battle armor, though theirs bore the green and black of the Saiyan Royal Guard. She looked back to her husband. It didn't really matter if they were or not. It would be only a few more moments before the Dragon-God-Mejai insisted Shenlong was referred to as such-was summoned to grant their wish.

Many hours had been wasted in disagreement trying to come up with the most relevant wish so as to ensure the maximum number of resurrections. Mejai, ever the one-man think-tank, had suggested they word the wish in such a way that as many victims of the Cold Regime were revived as possible, including the victims of those that served the regime. Diamond hadn't really cared about any of the details regarding that aspect of the plan. All she cared about was having Falmer back.

She looked up and glanced to where Mejai, Aurah, King Koku, and Kami were standing together, deep in discussion with Zarbon and a towering female Flazerian that was no doubt Lady Maseselyo, the latter two having just arrived within the last hour. Mejai and Aurah were dressed in dark blue formal Earthling suits (Mejai's reasoning being that it "looked snazzy," though it clashed horribly with his bright green hair,) while Zarbon and Maseselyo wore their finest armors complete with their respective colors of red and blue, and black and gold. They both also wore blue scouters.

She imagined they were no doubt discussing the plan of opening Earth to the remaining Saiyans in the universe. That idea had popped up many times over the past few days. She'd gathered that the Dragon Balls were limited to a Standard year for being able to revive someone, and the Saiyans had been destroyed nearly two Standard years prior. The Gylderians were more fortunate as it had only been a third of a Standard year since their planet had been destroyed. They would be resurrected and then ferried from the planet compliments of the awaiting fleet hovering in the skies above the Cleric ship. Mejai, for whatever reason, refused to name the massive starship.

Diamond was just thankful she didn't have to move on with her life without having Falmer at her side; her race being revived was just a bonus.

Though she supposed if she'd been forced to, she would have moved on. She had no idea what she would have done, but she might've been more involved in the discussions following Frieza's defeat. She might even have volunteered to assist with Aurah's proposed Academy, perhaps even becoming a teacher again. She had greatly enjoyed her occupation before the death of Lord Vogan had completely upended Gylderian society leading her to decide to re-enlist into the military along with her recently-retired husband.

Falmer had withdrawn from the service a mere Standard year prior to Frieza destroying planet Vegeta. It had been his intention to take up his late father's research into Ancient Gylder and finish unlocking the secrets into the Ancient's mysterious Rite of Passage. Of course recent information now tied the teachings in with Saiyan Cleric teachings. It was fascinating and she was eager to delve more into the studies alongside Falmer.

She looked up at the towering ship that blotted out the sun. Mejai had mentioned multiple times that the ship was the largest store of information in the universe, containing the histories of hundreds of civilizations throughout the millennia. Though he as yet had not revealed just how that was possible. She supposed it had something to do with his claims of being ancient and more than likely having witnessed some of those histories. As he claimed anyhow. It was still difficult to believe a being could exist for more than a century or two.

Really most of that was irrelevant until Falmer was back to investigate it further with her. Which shouldn't be much longer. She could feel Bardock, Seluri, Vegeta, and the human girl Bulma-because she refused to let anyone else handle her radar-approaching slowly from the southeast.

They had been gone only a few days when Lady Aurah had received a call from Vegeta to say they had found the last Dragon Ball in possession of an old man on a small cay in the ocean. Apparently the man had offended Seluri in some way while the group had been attempting to negotiate with the man for his prized possession, which had ended with Seluri snatching the Dragon Ball from around his neck and then kicking the old man out into the ocean.

Diamond almost hated that she missed that, but she had preferred to stay behind and help guard the bodies of the fallen warriors.

In the first few days following the end of the battle, the King of Earth had informed his people of what had actually transpired on that day. While many were grateful to the unknown warriors that had given their lives to stop the real-life monster they had seen Frieza as, there were some that blamed the Saiyans and Gylderians for leading Frieza to Earth in the first place. Granted their presence had not helped the situation in any way, they clearly missed the obvious point that Frieza was a galactic tyrant and would have found his way there eventually in the end.

Even so, the discontented had decided to try and desecrate the bodies and sabotage the preparations for the coming resurrection, though they of course knew nothing of the wish to be made. It was rude and disrespectful, but ultimately harmless as the saboteurs fled each time they saw one of the assorted aliens in Lerayo's squad wander by. Diamond just watched the scene each time, feeling no small amount of amusement at it all. The Earthlings were still remarkably primitive in thought despite their impressive technological advancements, but it was clear they could learn to be better so she wasn't too bothered by their antics. They would undoubtedly adjust in time.

And there would be a great many adjustments to made as had been discussed. The Gylderians would need to find a new home planet since it didn't seem that Shenlong had the capability to completely undo all the damage done and resurrect so many people at the same time. So their planet wouldn't be restored with this wish. Diamond had heard a brief suggestion that the Gylderians could share Earth, but that idea was shot down as Gylder had been more than three times the size of the earth and had been the home to trillions of Gylderians. Hence why Zarbon and Maseselyo had finally been allowed knowledge of Earth's galactic coordinates so they could supply the necessary ships to transport the Gylderians to a new home world. Though it was likely to take multiple trips…

She was sure Lady Aurah had said where the new planet was located, but she likely missed that information as she'd been in and out of the conversations mentally. But they had a new home to go to and where it was didn't matter in the end as the Gylderians would make it a true home through their collective efforts.

And she would be side-by-side with her husband, the most important detail of the whole situation in her mind. And they would decide their future together as they always had in the past. Would they help to rebuild their people's society? Would they become involved in the war? Those seemed the most obvious options available to them, but she wondered if Falmer would return and want to involve himself in the war straight away. His power had far exceeded anything either of them had ever thought capable of Gylderians. Zether's incredible power had already been far beyond anything their people had ever seen before, but Falmer's new power easily made him one of the most powerful entities in the entire universe. Which, as she'd seen, carried a certain responsibility.

Or at least a perceived responsibility that Falmer recognized. He had told her shortly before leaving for battle that he'd never imagined the universe could be so heavy. He had readily acknowledged his power growth and had even somewhat feared it, but he was quick to accept it. He'd always been remarkably strong thanks to the training his father, Spark, had put him and Zether through, so he'd always borne the weight of responsibility during his tenure in the military. The biggest reason he'd even re-enlisted was because he'd felt his strength would be necessary, and neither one of them could have realized just how right he would be.

But what would happen now? She smiled at the mystery of it. The opportunities were aplenty. They had always seen their lives as an adventure and this was just another chance for them to choose a new path to explore. They could even finally start a family of their own if they so chose. No matter what it only mattered that she and Falmer chose together as they always had before.

Approaching voices drew her attention from Falmer's vacuum chamber and she looked up at the approaching group of Lady Aurah, Mejai, King Koku, Kami, Zarbon and Lady Maseselyo.

"Ice 4-1-9 has proven exceptionally difficult to liberate," Zarbon was saying to Lady Aurah as they drew nearer.

Maseselyo huffed, her slitted nose flaring dramatically. "I would have sent more powerful squads had I known that was where Cold sent his most powerful warriors for Special Forces training."

Zarbon smiled apologetically. "Yes, that was my fault I admit." The group paused before the chambers, Lady Aurah casting Diamond a glance that she answered with a slight smile. "I should have known Cold would make some changes following my defection, but 4-1-9 will fall and we will drive the Ice-jin Forces from its surface as we've done 0-2-1, 4-6-3, and 1-1-9."

Maseselyo snorted and folded her plated arms across the breastplate of her black and gold battle armor. "You say that, but Cold will return and we will lose ground again."

Diamond frowned as Lady Aurah looked at Maseselyo sharply. "Where has Cold gone?" she asked, a bit more demanding than she probably intended judging by her immediate grimaced look of regret.

The Flazerian leader's mirrored eyes shimmered as she glanced at the Matron of the Gylderians, her plated brow shifting into a disapproving glare. "Far away is all we know. We only know he's even gone thanks to leaked information that was sent to us."

Zarbon smiled, almost wistful as he regarded the visibly confused Aurah. "We are unsure, but we suspect we may have an ally among Cold's innermost circle. Granted the information is limited, but knowing Cold has left his post has emboldened us to strike parts of their territory we would have otherwise avoided. Strategic points that should give us the edge we need to drive them back."

"Of course this could all still be a trap," Maseselyo snapped with clear annoyance. "Elaborate and convoluted though it may be, all the more reason to suspect subterfuge. We trust only ourselves, and only just even then. That is the way to win a war!"

Mejai chuckled which drew an irritated glare from the irate Flazerian. He grinned and waved a dismissive hand. "Well, you haven't been entrapped just yet so there must be some truth to this information. Besides, there are multiple ways to win a war and I've seen quite a few them in action."

Maseselyo narrowed her eyes with blazing menace. "Mind your tongue, you nobody." She unfolded her arms and moved to tower over Mejai with ease, her head tilted forward to glare down at him. "I will crush you."

Zarbon quickly moved between them, "Please, Lady Maseselyo. We must remember our common enemy. There can be no discord among allies at this crucial moment."

Maseselyo turned her fearsome gaze on the Aotian and gave him a rebellious snort. But she folded her arms again and moved away from Mejai. "Be that as it may, we must exercise caution in the future. 4-1-9 is evidence enough of that. This current undertaking is brash and careless and, if Coola catches wind of it, could very well end in disaster. Not to mention once we crush the Cold Regime, we'll once again have the Gylderians to contend with." She glanced sharply at Aurah with a pointed look of clear mistrust.

Diamond regarded Lady Aurah curiously as she forced herself to smile pleasantly. "Lady Maseselyo, I understand our peoples have had their differences in the past. I was honestly hoping we might be able to move forward as allies even after the war has finished. There is no reason we cannot work together and find peace with one another."

Maseselyo scowled in response. "Peace!" she snapped, her face twisting as if the word itself tasted horrible. "War is the natural progression of life through the cosmos! The strong survive while the weak perish or submit! That is the way of things in this universe! There can never be peace!"

Lady Aurah glanced at Zarbon who just shrugged. He'd obviously given up trying to change the Flazerian's mind long ago.

"War leads to destruction," Mejai retorted slowly, but with an unnatural edge to his tone which drew Diamond's gaze sharply around to see his midnight gaze set in an unreadable, yet focused, and unblinking stare. "Perpetual war will only destroy you and your people in the end, because opposition to destructive force will always arise to shut it down."

Maseselyo met Mejai's intense gaze and she matched it in turn. "What do you know, you insignificant bug?" she demanded. The air around her shifted as she blatantly summoned her ki, hers and Zarbon's scouters lighting up and beeping offensively.

Mejai grinned and narrowed his eyes taking on an expression of pure malice that was entirely out of place in his usually twinkling eyes, and Diamond actually felt a chill run down her spine.

"You can't even begin to fathom a fraction of the things I've seen, Mortal," he said disparagingly. "Imagine, if your small mind will allow, eons of perpetual death and war. Millennia upon millennia. Countless lives destroyed and/or ended. Is that how far you would carry this mindset?"

Maseselyo drew herself up to the fullest of her considerable height, towering several feet over the assembled group. "Everything in the universe decays! Who are we to go against that?"

"We are living and breathing, Flazerian," Mejai snapped, his gaze almost murderous in its intensity. Diamond had never imagined he could display such ferocity. He was always laughing and making jests, often at the wrong moment, but this was downright unnerving. He was always unpredictable but now she was wondering if he was about to get violent. Could he even get violent?

"Because of that," the ancient Saiyan continued crisply, "we have a duty to live and experience the beauty of the universe while it is here before us! Life is war enough for the living. Every being in existence recognizes that subconscious truth from the moment they're born by simply existing despite everything around them trying to kill them, from cosmic radiation to microscopic organisms that attack your cells."

Mejai scoffed as Maseselyo stared at him in sudden confusion. "So right and yet so wrong. It's always the same with your type, Flazerian. You see only the truth you want to see, ignoring the bits that make your stomach turn in fear. Yeah, that's right," he continued when Maseselyo recoiled as if she'd been slapped. "Fear, that's what it is. Believe it or not, but it really is that simple. Either you have power and fear losing it, or you simply fear death. It's always about fear and not recognizing that is how tyrants like Cold and his sons are able to gain their power and control. And this won't be the end of it, because it never ends. Tyrants always come to power because of people like you!" he stated loudly, jabbing his finger towards her accusingly.

Maseselyo opened her mouth to retort, but paused as she tilted her head towards the sound of an approaching craft. She jerked her head around to stare at a boxy Earthling vessel descending towards them. "Who dares to-"

"Oh stuff it you overgrown Armadillo," Mejai snapped as he waved his hand dismissively towards the craft. "Not every little action is aimed to insult you!" Maseselyo turned her gaze on him again and he grinned, giving her a quelling glare. "You'll realize the truth one day, perhaps even sooner than what I'm thinking. That day you'll have to face it and accept it, or succumb to it. But for now, the matter is moot. First things first." And with that he turned towards the craft as it settled nearby and its roaring engines were shutdown.

Maseselyo clearly wanted to say more-she probably wanted to know what an Armadillo was,- but Diamond saw the look of confusion that settled in and kept her from saying anything else. Just as he had a few times before, Mejai had somehow reached even this stubborn Flazerian on a level that she had understood but that she could not explain. It was fascinating the way he could redirect someone just by giving them a look. What he'd said hadn't been all that profound or impactful, but somehow he'd given Maseselyo cause to pause and ponder.

She glanced at the Kami of Earth. He'd remained silent, content to observe the events, though the look on his face suggested he was of the same mind as Mejai. Throughout most of the proceedings of the last few days he'd remained silent, choosing to speak only when it was absolutely necessary. He seemed to prefer observation over interaction, though that now seemed likely to change by the rebellious fire now burning in his eyes. Was it Frieza's appearance and the subsequent realization that he was far beyond outclassed, or did he simply recognize that times were changing and he had to adapt accordingly? Whatever the reason, Kami's wary attitude had given way to what she could only see as a begrudging willingness to face these new challenges.

She looked towards the ship as a door swung open and Vegeta, his shoulder fully healed thanks to a brief appointment with a rejuvenation chamber, and the human girl Bulma hopped out, followed shortly by Bardock and Seluri. Bardock was holding a bag that must have housed the seven mystical artifacts.

King Koku cleared his throat and Diamond glanced at the furred King of Earth as he looked up at Zarbon. "Before I forget there is the matter of supplementing my military forces."

Zarbon nodded his head. "Of course, Your Majesty. Courtesy of Lady Maseselyo here, the newly promoted Captain Lerayo will be working with Captain Jeice alongside your military leaders to sufficiently bolster and train your forces."

"And upon the resurrection of my people," Lady Aurah offered, "I will also be handing out appropriate assignments. I have a few prospects in mind already," she finished with a smile. "Of course I would offer my own services, but I must accompany my people and lead them in the rebuilding of our society. But Earth will not be abandoned. Especially now," she added as she looked upon the bag at Bardock's side as his group joined theirs.

He scowled as he held the bag out towards her. "Is this about protectin' Earth again? I done told you me and Seripa will handle that."

Aurah flashed him a grin as she took the bag from him. "So you've said, but I have plans of my own, Bardock. I may require yours and Seripa's help in the future."

He snorted. "I know you will." He glanced at the chamber that housed his mate's body. "Ain't many people with our power, so 'course you'll need our help."

"And then some!" she agreed with a laugh. She looked down at the bag as she opened it and her eyes widened as she saw the seven magical Dragon Balls pulsing with a golden light, and emitting a low hum in time to the pulses.

"They have done that since we retrieved the last ball," Seluri said with a roll of her eyes. "It was interesting at first, but it quickly grew to be annoying."

Mejai grinned as he looked into the bag. "Wow those are small. The ones I saw were as big as my head!"

"They're almost as big as mine," Bulma spoke up which drew a chuckle from Aurah, Mejai, and Koku. Bardock, Diamond, Kami, and even Maseselyo merely smiled. Well Maseselyo looked less angry than before, while Vegeta folded his arms with a huff and looked out to where Lerayo was briefing her squad in preparation of the impending mass resurrection, which begged the question of how to even prepare for something so ridiculous. Most, if not all, of the assembled soldiers probably thought the whole plan was a farce. Diamond looked back to Falmer's chamber as Kami gave a protest at Mejai's comment.

"I'm just saying!" Mejai laughed. "Their size is relative to the power used to create them in the first place, but that in no way lessens their overall capabilities. They mainly serve as a conduit to the Dragon Realm anyhow."

Kami looked sharply at him. "The what?"

Mejai chuckled as the others looked at him as well. "You really need to pay a visit to your homeworld sometime. They could teach you your history much better than I could. I only know what I learned in my brief experiences with the Namekians."

Diamond noted that King Koku regarded Kami cautiously anytime he looked at him. She was sure it was more than a little disconcerting to suddenly discover your local god was actually an alien who had not known he was an alien until only recently. She could only imagine what either of them thought of the matter.

"I suppose I should," Kami reluctantly agreed, pulling thoughtfully at his chin. "I do have so many questions…" He shook his head and looked at Mejai. "I must remain on Earth, though. I cannot so lightly shirk my duties."

Mejai grinned. "Even gods need a vacation once in awhile. Trust me!" He laughed and deftly snatched the Dragon Balls from Aurah's hand, Diamond's heart momentarily skipping a beat and her breath catching in her throat. "I think we've all waited long enough!" He turned and strode away from the vacuum chambers, heading straight towards the massive crater that would forever mar the surface of this otherwise beautiful world. Seluri gave a cry of protest but a dismissive gesture from Aurah actually silenced her.

It took Diamond a few moments, a few moments that the others utilized to follow after the enigmatic, vibrant-haired Saiyan, for her to realize that Mejai had as much reason as her to be anxious to make the wish. She knew he did his best to hide his thoughts beyond the ones he was willing to share, but he could never have hidden his reaction when Amotto had died. Though she'd been grieving Falmer's all-too recent demise, she had not been so far gone that she had not recognized his own anguish when she'd felt Amotto's ki vanish.

She fell in step behind them, though she cast a reluctant glance Falmer's way as she did so. She knew it was a silly reaction, but given the absurdity of the whole situation she was almost afraid that the moment she left his side his body would disappear along with the Dragon balls.

They caught up to Mejai at the rim of the crater just as he upended the bag and dumped the Dragon Balls into its depths, Diamond's stomach dropping with the burnt orange gems.

"Hey!" Bulma protested as she dashed forward to try and catch them. He snatched her up just as she would have run headlong into empty air.

"Sav'ta," he chuckled as he set her down. "Just watch, alright?" he winked down at her as she glared up at him through sudden tears.

"I hafta bring my daddy back!" she shouted at him. "Why'd you do that?" she asked with a sniffle.

"It is okay, child," Kami spoke up. "So long as the Dragon Balls are near to one another, you can still summon Shenlong."

She sniffled again as she looked at Kami. Diamond could feel her pain. She had almost cried out herself when she saw the Dragon Balls falling away and out of sight. "R-really?" Bulma asked for assurance.

The wizened Namekian dipped his head in a nod. "Really. Just watch." He offered her a reassuring smile.

"Alright people!" Mejai cried, looking to each of the assembled group in turn. "King Koku, you've alerted your people to not fear anything they see for the next few moments right?"

The furred monarch gave a start. "Erm...what?"

"I'll take that as a resounding no. Oh well!" Mejai clapped his hands together and spun to face the crater. "Too late now! Shenlong! Come forth and grant our wish!"

Before anyone had time to utter a protest at Mejai's cryptic words, a golden radiance shone from the crater and they were all forced to shield their eyes against its brilliance. The light dimmed and Diamond looked on with spots in her eyes as a twisting beam of light was racing into the suddenly blackened sky. Lightning flashed as the beam spiraled in a path that seemed to stretch for miles over their heads. It looped over and under, twisting and spiraling in and around itself, moving like the beam of light it was at a rate barely any of them could follow.

Then all at once, there He was. Diamond had not really known what to expect, but to see it...She could have never expected the great monstrosity hanging in the air over them, miles and miles of spined serpentine body writing through the sky as a great horned head snaked slowly down through the air towards them, its intently glowing red eyes locked on their little group. A cavernous reptilian mouth opened, whip-like whiskers waving through the air as its voice rumbled in a roar that shook the air and trembled the ground. Tiny clawed arms halfway down the length of its sinuous great body clawed idly at the air as Shenlong lowered his head into the crater and settled his crimson gaze on the assembled group.

Despite herself, Diamond gulped and had to force herself to stay still. A tremendous effort considering the being glaring apparent menace at them. Beside her, Maseselyo was warily eyeing the rows of fangs, each individually more than twice the size of her. Bardock was gaping in actual open-mouthed awe at the massive dragon effortlessly suspended in the sky shrouded in a pulsing golden aura. She felt a tiny hand grip hers and she looked down at Bulma as she frightfully glued herself to her leg. She gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and looked up as Shenlong growled.

"It has been centuries since last I was summoned," Shenlong's booming voice thundered all around them, the resonation shaking the ground beneath their feet. "Speak thee thy wish. I shall grant ye any one, and but one."

Mejai grinned and folded his arms across his chest. "Well well. It really is you."

Shenlong's fierce gaze focused in on Mejai and his eyes narrowed slowly. "Do not dally, mortals. Speak thee thy wish now."

Mejai blinked and took on a look of mock hurt. "So you don't remember me?"

Shenlong growled impatiently. "I do not remember every mortal I meet. Do you have a wish or not?" The tip of his tail gave an irritable jerk and they all felt the gust of wind it swept their way, capes flapping and hair whipping in the mini-gale.

Mejai laughed. "Oh yeah, we've got a wish for you! And if you don't remember me, then you'll probably forget this wish, too!"

Shenlong grumbled. "Speak thy wish. My patience grows thin."

Kami gave Mejai a piercing look. "Hurry it along."

"Yeah, stop screwin' around!" Bardock barked in agitated agreement.

Mejai glanced over his shoulder with a sly grin. "You know any one of you could make the wish yourselves. But I'll humor you!" he cackled like a madman and turned back to the Dragon-God scowling down at him. "Shenlong, we wish for you to restore life to all those killed as a result of the actions of the Cold Regime as a whole in the last year. Oh, and for good measure, anyone that would be resurrected where there used to be a planet, just go ahead and resurrect them here if you would. As well as any Saiyans you happen to bring back."

Shenlong's eyes flashed as he narrowed them with a low growl. He was silent for a while as they all stared up at him with bated breath. His silence stretched on before, finally, he frowned and said slowly, "This wish...will be difficult. I am unsure of my ability to restore so many at once. I will try."

"If ya need a divine boost, just let me know!" Mejai crowed as Shenlong's eyes shone brighter and his golden radiance intensified.

Diamond was so focused on the spectacle that she almost missed the comment, but she wasn't the only who had looked to Mejai in curiosity as Maseselyo and Zarbon were eyeing the ancient Saiyan with keen interest. Seluri had, in turn, noticed their interest in Mejai, though it seemed only Diamond had caught that. But she didn't have time to ponder on that as a crack of thunder drew their attentions skyward to see Shenlong's tail whipping the air in apparent agitation.

Shenlong roared and Diamond thought her eardrums would burst as she quickly clamped her hands to ears as the sound drummed into her skull. The others mirrored her actions, their gazes locked on the Dragon-God looming over them. Only Mejai seemed unfazed, staring up at Shenlong with a smirk.

The roar cut out and Shenlong's eyes dimmed. He seemed to let out a breath and he dipped his head. "It was a difficult wish, however it is done. Fare thee well, Mortals." He paused and arched a scaled brow as he regarded Mejai with sudden intensity. He rumbled a chuckle after a few seconds and nodded his head slowly. "A divine boost. Welcome back, Mejai. You know He will be less than pleased by your reappearance."

Mejai's smirk faded. "Well, He doesn't have to know just yet."

The group of gathered onlookers looked between the dragon and the enigmatic Saiyan in wonder.

Shenlong chuckled again. "You know He already knows." His body flashed and became pure light. "Fare thee well!" The Dragon Balls rose, glowing, from within the crater and instantly blasted away into seven different directions, the light that had been Shenlong abruptly vanishing and the sky instantly becoming blue again.

As the others turned to regard Mejai in curiosity, Diamond spun and dashed towards Falmer's vacuum chamber. Her legs carried her across the pock-marked landscape in a flash, and she skid to a stop at its side, looking down almost breathlessly just as Falmer's eyes opened and he looked around in immediate confusion.

DBZ

Bardock glared at Mejai as the mysterious man turned to grin at the assembled group. Diamond dashed back towards the ship, but Mejai had garnered Bardock's complete attention in that moment. Just who the hell was this guy really? He'd begun to dismiss most of Mejai's absurd claims, but after that little scene he was questioning every belief he'd come to hold about the man.

And it was clear he wasn't the only one, but a cry of elation managed to draw his attention towards the ship as the center vacuum chamber's lid was sprung open by a visibly excited Diamond. His gaze shifted to the one to the right of it and his eyes went wide as he spotted movement within it. He instantly phased across the distance and jerked the lid open, startling a visibly confused Seripa nearly into defense mode.

"Bardock! Wha-" she was interrupted as he jerked her into a fierce embrace, crushing the air out of her newly-filled lungs. He'd all-but forgotten his suspicions.

"Bardock!" she gasped, her tone surprised at his show of affection, but undeniably pleased at the same time.

"Seripa!" he whispered harshly as he held her against his chest. He could hold her like that for the rest of his life if he had his way.

"It's okay," she whispered reassuringly as she gave him a gentle squeeze. "It's over now. Everything…" she paused and he looked down at her confused face. She looked up at him with a frown. "Everything's...okay now?" she asked slowly.

He smirked and nodded his head towards Falmer and Diamond, as well as Amotto beyond them as she slowly swung her legs over the side of the chamber and stood up. Seripa followed his gaze and her eyes lit up at seeing her friend alive and well.

"Amotto!" she cried, scrambling out of her chamber to rush to the befuddled woman. She threw her arms around her and Amotto tensed up in her grasp. She allowed herself to relax after the barest moment's hesitation and Seripa drew back to grin at her. "You were amazing!" she cried happily.

Amotto grinned sheepishly and tried to look anywhere else at all. "I guess...but...What's going on?" She looked at Diamond and Bardock grinning at hers, Seripa's, and Falmer's confused gazes.

Falmer, his arm wrapped firmly around Diamond's lithe body, arched an eyebrow as he looked between her and Bardock. "Do enlighten us. I was fairly certain I had died back there." He glanced around as if he were looking for something, but he shook his head and looked at Bardock. "So Frieza is dead." It wasn't a question.

Bardock's grin never faded as he nodded to Seripa. "Damn straight he is. She put him down for good."

Amotto looked at Seripa in surprise. "You transformed?" she asked, her eyes lighting up with glee.

Seripa smiled. "Took some motivatin', but yeah I did." Her hand lifted to touch her stomach almost absently and she froze.

Bardock looked at her sharply, his gaze locked on her vacant stare. He grabbed her shoulder, his grip tight with sudden concern. "Seripa!" Instant panic mode. Her death had apparently dealt irreparable damage to his psyche. He grimaced and loosened his grip as she met his gaze with an airy smile.

"It's back, Bardock. It's back," she whispered as her eyes shone. He blinked. He hadn't seen tears in her eyes in such a long time that his instinctual response was concern, but her smile threw him all off. She was crying but she was happy. And what was back?

She laughed and fell against him, her body feeling abnormally light and frail against him. He sharply grabbed her shoulders in his growing concern as he looked down at her.

"Seripa, what are you talkin' about?" he demanded with a frown. He needed a concrete answer so he could deal with the problem for her.

She looked up at him with a fierce grin, her eyes narrowed ferociously. "Shut up. You did it to me, asshole."

He blinked and looked around at the others regarding him with knowing looks. Well, he was glad they at least knew what the hell was going on. He frowned as Amotto smirked at him and he looked at Seripa again and she laughed up at him.

"Do I have to spell everything out for you?" she demanded as she drew back and grabbed his hand, immediately placing it to her abdomen before he could protest. It dawned on him almost instantly, the tiny ki defiantly stronger than it had been before, and he felt like a great fool as he groaned.

"Seripa, I'm sorr-" but she laughed and hugged him.

"Just shut up!"

"Yes, indeed, Bardock just shut up," Mejai said as he joined them. "Why are we telling Bardock to shut up again?" he asked Amotto in an aside, regarding her out of the corner of his eye. She smirked back at him and nudged an elbow into his side playfully.

"Oh, you know. The usual," she replied with a shrug.

Bardock thought he caught a glimpse of immense relief coming over Mejai's face, but almost instantly it was gone and he thought he might have imagined it. He looked down at Seripa as she rested her head against his chest.

This moment was theirs and he would enjoy it for however long it lasted. For the first time that he could ever remember, he felt as relaxed as Seripa seemed just then. All their worries erased along with Frieza. He smiled and hugged her close to him.

"I love you, Seripa." And as he said it, he realized it was probably the first time he'd ever said those words aloud to her. She looked up at him in surprise and he grinned. "I love you, Seripa," he repeated, his tone fiercely defiant. He'd never had to say it. It had always been an understood fact between them that they were mated and what that meant to them. But right then, and out of nowhere, he'd wanted to say it just to say it. And to also say all the things he'd never said because of their deeply ingrained teachings contradicting everything they'd ever felt for one another. His eyes met hers and he leaned down to kiss her.

"Yo! Bardock!" He paused and blinked. Frowning he looked around to see Zether wearing his golden battle armor complete with his honorific cape flapping in an idle breeze. He was smirking at the Saiyan, his gloved hands on his hips, looking exactly as he'd had on Jynn-jin 13.

Despite the rude interruption Bardock grinned and turned to face the Gylderian man as he strode towards them. He was surprisingly pleased to see the man alive and well. "I'll be damned," Bardock chuckled as Zether paused at the foot of Seripa's chamber, his back to the towering ship. "You just don't stay dead do ya?"

Zether grinned and scratched a fingertip against the edge of his golden goatee. "Something like that. Though the second time doesn't really count." Bardock thought he heard just the faintest trace of an edge, but he immediately decided he'd imagined it. Zether's personality was unpredictable anyway; he might have manipulated his tone to have an edge so as to get a rise out of Bardock. It wouldn't have been the first time, after all. The Gylderian knew how to get under his skin and vice versa.

So Bardock chuckled. "If it don't count for you, it don't count for me. But here I stand."

Zether seemed to freeze, which should have had Bardock past the edge, and he rolled his eyes around in apparent thought. "Yeeeah...You say that but..." he trailed off.

Bardock arched an eyebrow as he regarded the younger man. Zether was always odd, but he couldn't shake the sense that he should be more on guard. He shifted his gaze and looked behind the Gylderian to see an assorted crowd of confused people walking from around the edge of the Cleric ship, a wary mob slowly approaching the distant, but easily recognizable, forms of Aurah, the Aotian, and the Flazerian.

Your time has come, Bardock. He went rigid at the sudden familiar voice and he looked at Zether again, and he saw the clear regret in the Gylderian's eyes. He knew Zether hated him for more reasons than he could count, but he understood in that instant that what was to come was undesired and had nothing to do with that hatred. The stunning blow of that realization was all that kept Bardock from instinctively transforming, though it happened so fast that he might not have even transformed in time.

Zether thrust his arm forward and fired a blast directly into his heart. And his aim was true; Bardock's body was dead before he hit the ground, his understanding of the Kanassan's words frozen in the set of his lifeless eyes.

DBZ

The Kanassan appeared standing before him in that same empty void he'd always appeared in, his gaze grim as he stared at the Saiyan. Bardock didn't even bother getting irritated as he usually would have. Instead he shook his head and folded his arms across his chest. It was too late to change anything and he could already see the void shrinking in on itself with the shutting down of his mind. He probably only had around a minute or two left before everything faded completely.

So he smiled. "My time came. I wasn't expectin' it to be Zether, though."

"If not Zether, it would have still happened. But I can now tell you why."

The Saiyan abruptly sat down, folding his legs beneath him. "Fill me in then."

The Kanassan offered a slight smile. "Bardock, my name is Toolo."

"Yeah I was wonderin' if you even had a name. So what else can ya tell me?" Bardock thought he was taking his own death surprisingly well.Not that he had much choice.

"When you were restored to life by the Pool of Life, you were only partially restored."

"You sure 'bout that? I sure felt whole," Bardock said with a grin.

The Kanassan chuckled. "I am. You were resurrected by an ancient race called the Aquatians."

Bardock arched an eyebrow. "I thought the Pool of Life was native to Kanassa?"

"That one was, but it was put there eons ago by the Aquatians." He paused and glanced around the shrinking white void being swallowed up by encroaching darkness. "You do not have much time left, so I will make this quick. They've resurrected countless other warriors throughout history, slowly building an army to serve their own ends. They did the same with you, taking a piece of your soul and replacing it with a piece of soul from one of their own. You were their slave, whether you knew it or not.

The Kanassan chuckled again. "However, they had not known that I had attached a piece of my soul to yours already, so for a time they did not have a way to control you."

Bardock frowned and glanced to the edge of the void rushing rapidly towards them. "When you stopped talking...they had taken control?"

"Not quite, but they were close. You and I were still connected, so they were limited as to what they could do. You were valuable to them, because of who you are in Time-Line Zero," he paused as Bardock looked sharply back to him.

"Time-Line Zero?"

The Kanassan nodded. "The original Time-Line, before it was tampered with."

Bardock frowned. He'd hoped to gain some clarity before he died but now he was just even more confused by these revelations. "I don't understand."

"I know. But they would have used you to help destroy this universe and more. The gods saw this and so Zether was sent to kill you, because he, too, had been chosen as an Aquatian vessel. His death at Frieza's hands allowed his soul to heal, though, so when he was resurrected again he was whole. This will be true for you, too, if you are brought back again.

"Though if that happens our connection will be severed for good. This is the last time you and I will be able to speak to one another."

The void shrank in under them leaving them in complete darkness. Bardock stood up slowly.

"So this is it, then. More mysteries and then nothing…?"

"Unfortunately," Toolo said with a grim smile as his form began to fade away. "I do sincerely wish it could have been different. You, Bardock, are a truly unique individual. I am honored to have known you."

Bardock smiled as the Kanassan faded into nothing. "You, too, Toolo."

And then nothing.

DBZ: Witness

(And that is the end of Witness. Oh yeah, this really is the last "official" chapter of Witness. Don't worry, I will post an epilogue soon, though it's to set up the coming sequel, cause yeah of course there will be a sequel. There's still more story to tell.

But Witness is done. I really never thought I would say that. 7 years strong. Well, just short of seven years. Haha! But seriously, I actually thought I'd finish this damn story years ago. I never intended to drag it out for so long. And yeah, I've gone back and reread it multiple times and there are some parts that just hurt to read! Haha! But hey, it was my first real big attempt at something grandiose. And it went a bit bigger than I intended, but it was fun.

But yes, Witness is done. Because the whole point of Witness was to see Frieza die at the hands of Seripa and that's exactly what happened. Witness is over. It just has to end here otherwise it may grow into something that never ends and I don't think any of us want that. Ha!
Buuuuut...Be that as it may, Seripa's story isn't over just yet. Neither is Amotto's, or Zether's or Mejai's, or even **SPOILER ALERT** Bardock's. So yeah, there's a definite sequel. And I'm gonna admit right now that it's purpose is to tie up loose plot-points. Cause there are quite a few, but hey I did make up most of this while I was writing it. And I did have some vague plan for each random idea I threw in so it'll work out somehow. If this frustrates any of you readers, sorry but that's how I write. It's fun for me! Haha!

So yeah, if anyone's interested in seeing what else happens to these particular characters then you're in luck! Just don't expect it to run as long as this one did! I already have it mostly outlined and I have NO plans for it to be even half as long as Witness.

Doesn't mean plans don't change...just don't get your hopes up if you're wanting another 350,000+ words strung together to tell something akin to a story.

But seriously thanks to everyone that has read and reviewed this story. It has been great fun and I hope y'all check out the sequel. Until then! Individual Lies out.)