AN: These are much shorter than the previous parts, but I hope they have just as much impact. Thanks for reading!
Please enjoy this installment, and as always review, favorite, etc.
Disclaimer: All DBZ content is owned by Akira Toriyama, Funimation, and Toei Animation.
Part Four: Dies Irea
Dies irea. Dies illa solvet saeclum in favilla. "Day of wrath. That day will dissolve the Earth in ashes."
Gohan ran to Mia, her body limp as he picked her up, not minding his own dead arm hanging off him. He held her close, crying as his mind tried to wrestle with the reality of the situation. His hand grazed her cheek, his mind trying to connect with hers only to find silence. "Nonononono," he breathed, pressing her into his chest. This isn't real. This is just a bad dream, he tried to tell himself, closing his eyes and trying to wake up. He thought back to this morning, how happy they were eating toast and cheesy eggs. Gushing over their baby's kicks in bed. That's where I am, he convinced himself.
He opened his eyes, and her empty gaze peered back at him. He felt his tears streaming down his face. He hadn't cried since he was a boy, when his temper would get the best of him and someone would end up hurt.
"MIA!?" He heard a cry above him. Her mother landed next to him, clutching at her daughter crying, "Mia … Mia … Oh, baby no."
Gohan looked up as Siyaka pulled Mia's body to herself. His gaze fell on the androids as they stepped out of the barn, smiling at their murder. The blonde cackled as she jumped into the skies, and 17 mimed blowing smoke off a gun before following after his demented cohort.
Gohan saw red. Nothing mattered anymore. Mia was dead. Their child was dead. Nothing could bring them back. Gohan stood, feeling his power radiating off him. His rage shook his body and the loss was more powerful than he could imagine. His gaze followed the android's retreating figures. This ends today. BY MY HANDS! He'd snapped, and his power surged as he shot into the air after them, Siyaka calling for him to stop. But he didn't listen.
The androids had apparently been hoping he'd give chase as they sped up, their laughter echoing in his ears. They didn't get far before he sent 17 crashing down into a wrecked building. Gohan recognized it as the Orange Star City Center, still in ruins from their attack a year ago. It was where Mia and himself were put in each other's paths. And he knew this was where it ended.
18 laughed as she landed on a broken wall, bent rebar sticking out of it. "It's going to take more than that," she laughed.
17 blasted the building apart, walking out from underneath the raining rubble. His black shirt was ripped and hanging off him weirdly, causing 18 to laugh. "Nice kick. Funny," the brunette android remarked with a sneer as he walked out. "I hope you enjoyed it, because that move is going to cost you your life."
Gohan set his jaw, trying to focus through his pain. He wasn't a child anymore and wasting all his energy on a single blow wouldn't work. Siyaka was right. He would have to be ruthless to win. And nothing sounded better right now than to rip each one of the robots apart until there was nothing but scrap metal. And he wanted to enjoy it.
17 threw the first blast, and Gohan jumped up to dodge it. He flew himself up, drawing 17 away from the city and his cohort. One on one, he might have a shot. Gohan threw a chop at him with his good arm, which the android blocked. 17 kicked, which Gohan blocked with his knee. 17 tried to bring his arms down on Gohan's head, but the hybrid phased out of the way, trying to throw a punch from behind. 17 spin-kicked the Saiyan away, sending him into a barely standing cement wall that collapsed under impact.
Gohan burst out from under the rubble, his Super Saiyan aura blazing around him before he shot a blast at an inbound 17. The android dodged it with ease, but Gohan was able to predict where he'd move, and was there to land a punch in the robot's cheek. 17 responded swiftly with a knee to Gohan's abdomen. Gohan spluttered a little before launching his new assault on the android. They traded blow for blow back and forth, Gohan doing his best to dodge and block while countering and parrying. If he'd had full control of his right arm, he'd be much more formidable with doubled the punches and parries. But as of right now, he could barely lift it without pain. Finally, Gohan took 17 by surprise by doing a flip kick Mia had taught him, sending the android flying into another building. He charged a blast to shoot after the android.
As Gohan landed, 18 was on him in her brother's stead, giving him a swift punch before he could even register what was going on, sending him into the glass window of a now derelict jewelry store, his ki blast fading out. Gohan groaned as he landed on his ass, shattered glass falling around him. His head throbbed from the punch.
"Jeez," 17 grumbled, coming up next to his sister. "That one actually hurt."
"Well, Gero did note, 'Volatile when angered,'" 18 remarked, resting her fist on her hip. 17 rolled his eyes at her quip. "Maybe we should do this together." 17 ground his teeth before giving a small nod, and they launched into action together.
Gohan pulled himself to stand just barely, his head still ringing from 18's hit. Suddenly, 18 swiped his feet out from under him while 17 caught his chest with his knee, adding a punch to his face while Gohan was prone. 17 continued to punch, weakening the hybrid while 18 readied a double-handed blast, yelling at her brother to move at the last second. The blast detonated, sending Gohan flying back through a few walls.
Gohan groaned, pulling himself to stand again, breathing heavily. His arm hung awkwardly and was completely numb at this point. He held his shoulder carefully, trying to think around the pain. He noticed blood dripping from his brow to his cheek. Surely his head had been gashed at some point, but he wasn't sure when. As he looked up, he saw 17 and 18 land on either side of him, walking towards him menacingly. "You know this destruction is pointless. Someone will come around and put you in your place."
17 smirked. "Like who?"
18 smiled with her brother as she added, "Those jerks thirteen years ago couldn't."
"Your wife couldn't. Now your baby won't."
Gohan's fist tightened, feeling his rage resurge. How dare they joke about them!
18 crossed her arms as she finished, "And neither will you."
"That's where you're wrong! I will put you in your place once and for all!" Gohan growled, thinking hard on what had happened that morning. How they murdered his pregnant wife, clearly just to get to him. "Not one death will go unpunished!"
17 and 18 charged, and Gohan threw a blast down, blowing up dust as a distraction, allowing him to dodge them in the dust. He flew up, trying to separate them again. It didn't work as planned as they flew up behind him. They caught up with him quickly, each firing double blasts on him. Gohan threw out a defensive block, dispelling the blasts as they collided against it. 18 flew up from behind, trying to land a punch, which Gohan caught with his good hand. 17 was on him just as fast, knocking him down from the skies to the ground.
Gohan recovered quickly, back flipping away from them as they landed, and shot a one-handed Kamehameha blast. The androids fired their own blast, meeting his Kamehameha wave with a mighty clash. The blasts struggled against each other for a minute before Gohan shoved more ki into the blast, feeling his rage swelling. His blast took over theirs with ease, knocking them back into another destroyed building. He jumped into the sky, charging another finishing blast, leaving himself open.
17 took advantage of his opening, shooting at the hybrid with his own cheap shot. Gohan acted quickly, knocking the blast to the side. Gohan realized only too late that the blast was a distraction as 17 jumped up, knocking the hybrid back to the ground. Gohan rebounded again, hopping up a few buildings to gain higher ground. 17 followed him quickly, gaining on him. Gohan shot a few blasts to push him back, not seeing 18 shoot up behind him. She threw a punch, which he just barely blocked, doing another flip kick, knocking her down, almost hitting her brother. 17 dodged his sister, still zooming up towards the hybrid. Gohan dropped down towards him, phasing to his ankles, grabbing one before flipping him around and slamming him into the rooftop of one of the buildings, cracking the cement. He jumped off the curved roof, allowing 17 to slip and fall to the ground.
Gohan landed where 18 and 17 stood, both looking ruffled, their hair sticking out in loops and fly-aways. Gohan smirked. They may not bleed, but they weren't infallible. 18 ran her fingers through her hair as 17 wiped dust from his jaw. Gohan grit his teeth, his ki flaring up again as he glared down his wife's murderers.
The sky darkened and rumbled, the first droplets of rain hitting the ground before a curtain of water fell from the heavens in heavy rain making things barely visible. The androids stalked forward, their glares matching Gohan's, stopping only a few feet away from him. They shared a brief communicative glance before shifting into each other's silhouette, jarring Gohan as they launched at him. 18 struck low, 17 high. Gohan barely dodged each blow, instead kicking high, landing his foot in 17's abdomen. 18 landed a punch, then 17 and 18 worked together trading blows with Gohan, the hybrid barely able to counter against their simultaneous onslaught. Both androids working different angles to try and break his defenses.
17 kicked low, tripping Gohan in the process. Gohan fumbled away, shooting into the air as 17 and 18 gave chase. He flew into a building for cover to lose them easier, but they flew in right behind him, shooting at the rafters so the building would collapse on top of him. 17 shouldered him through the wall, sending the hybrid flying into another collapsed building, sliding off it feebly. 17 and 18 hovered above the hybrid's broken body, their hands pointed below as they leveled the block with ki blasts. Gohan screams raked through his body as he realized this was it. Every explosion hit him and detonated, destroying him piece by piece. The pain was excruciating until suddenly there was nothing. Just a white room and a comforting feeling.
"Gohan," he heard a voice call. He turned, seeing the smiling face of his wife who ran to him, hugging him tightly to her.
He embraced her back, happy to see her. His mind was confused. Something told him he wasn't supposed to be there, but he couldn't remember why, and he also didn't want to let go. Something told him in the back of his mind she was supposed to be gone, that some nightmare had taken her away. But she was real. He could feel her in his arms. So it must have only been that.
He felt a tear on his shoulder and he pulled away, his mind becoming clearer, as if waking from a dream. He looked in his wife's eyes, and she was crying. "You weren't supposed to go after them."
He frowned. Who? he asked himself, only remembering his fight with the androids, what caused it. But this wasn't where he'd been. And this wasn't home. Now he was confused again. "Where are we?"
"We're dead," Mia stated solemnly.
He gripped her hand tighter, chewing on the inside of his lip as he wrestled with this new reality. The stood at the end of the line of souls waiting to be judged by Yemma. Death. This is what it's like to die. He wasn't sure what he'd expected. He asked his father once after he'd finally returned from Namek what it was like to die. His father had told him what he at seven could understand, but the feeling was different. He didn't feel the pain from his fight with the androids. He didn't feel discomfort. Just peace. Like waking from a long nap.
He looked her over, noting, "You aren't pregnant anymore."
She gave a sad smile. "No."
He nodded, feeling a lump in his throat as he chewed on his lip. "Do you know where Bracken's spirit went?"
Mia smirked knowingly. "I guess you didn't notice before rushing off to avenge me." Gohan frowned at the comment. She reached up to his head, opening her mind to his.
Earlier that morning:
Gohan walked out of their room and stopped by her on the way to the door, pulling her into a chaste kiss. I love you.
I love you, more.
He pulled away and headed out.
"You come back in one piece," Mia ordered as he swung the door open, her hand clutching her swollen belly. He gave his trademark Son family grin as he gave her a small wave and stepped outside, before shooting off into the skies.
Mia let out a long sigh, rubbing her large belly before hoisting herself up. The amount this child pushed on her bladder and caused her Braxton Hicks, she couldn't get any sleep the night before. So she'd resolved to try and nap to catch up. Pregnancy and exhaustion did not go well together from Mia's perspective. She laid herself down on the bed, getting as comfortable as her huge bump would allow her, and started to drift off.
She wasn't sure how long she'd been napping, five minutes or an hour, but she woke to a sharp cramping that felt like someone had a vice grip on her uterus. She felt a small pop and her body started leaking uncontrollably. "Oh … oh no," she breathed, pulling herself up to stand, her legs feeling weak under her as the fluid gushed out of her like a waterfall. She braced herself against the soaked bed, trying her best not to slip as she made her way to the hallway to get the phone, breathing deeply to calm herself. The pain eased and she was able to get to the phone, only for another contraction to hit. She knew she was supposed to be timing these, as Gohan kept mentioning every time she had Braxton Hicks.
The androids certainly picked a fine time to take her husband's attention.
As the contraction subsided, she took the phone off the cradle dialing Capsule Corp as she went back down the hallway to the bathroom. She'd remembered Gohan mentioning water birth as one of the safest home births, and with him at least two hours away, home birth it was. The phone rang and rang until the answering machine picked it up. She hung up, not really having time to leave a message like, "Hey, I'm in labor. Call me as soon as possible for birthing guidance. Hopefully you hear this before the baby gets here."
She quickly dialed Libby's number and started running herself a bath. She had another contraction as the phone rang and rang, and she gripped the side of the bathtub, her knuckles going white as she almost cracked the porcelain.
"Hello?" Sharpner answered, sounding smug as usual.
"PUT LIBBY ON THE PHONE!" Mia cried out, her hand over her bump as she could feel it spasming under her skin. She may have screamed it, but she wasn't sure. All she knew was the androids could have kicked her ass to kingdom come and it still wouldn't hurt this bad.
"Mia?" Libby asked over the line. "What's wrong?"
"Baby's coming. I need help," Mia gasped out as the contraction finally ended. The end was always the worst, and then release.
"Is Gohan taking you to the hospital?"
"He's not here," Mia huffed, checking the bath water to make sure the temperature was suitable, not too hot. She took off her clothes as carefully as possible as she added, "I can't get a hold of him. I'm getting in the bath."
"I'm on my way," Libby responded quickly.
"I just need guidance …" Mia trailed, getting in the bathtub before another contraction hit and she screamed, "Nope! I need you here! I need you here!"
Libby handed the phone to her mom, saying, "Keep her on the line. Mia, I'm coming!" She heard Libby say to Sharpner, "Either give me your keys, or get in the car!" The front door slammed shut, and Mia calmed as she gripped her belly.
"Are you timing your contractions?" Mrs. Ploom asked.
"No," Mia huffed around her current one. "I can't think enough to count."
Mrs. Ploom laughed. "You use a watch."
"Oh," Mia sighed sheepishly. "Duh."
"Don't get out of the bath. I'll time it here," Mrs. Ploom offered. "They seem to be pretty close, would you say?"
Mia made an affirming grunt as the contraction ended and she felt relief. "Ok, it's stopped."
"Marking the time now," Mrs. Ploom noted for her. "And you're sure this is labor?"
Mia wasn't offended by the question. The amount of Braxton Hicks contractions, and wondering herself if she was actually experiencing labor or not, the end of pregnancy sometimes felt like one long birth. "My water broke," she answered, calming her breath.
"That's a good indicator."
"I thought so," Mia joked. She let her head fall back against the cool porcelain wall. She felt her braid slowly soaking up some of the water, her tail floating lazily at the top. Mia took only a few calming breaths, enjoying the relief before another contraction hit and she called out, "Ah!"
"Marking it," Mrs. Ploom noted again.
They continued like that timing each contraction until Mia heard the front door bust open. "Mia!?"
Mia couldn't say anything except an incoherent cry. Libby came running back, seeing Mia clutching her belly and the phone next to the bath. She picked up the phone and said, "I'm here. What do I need to do?" Libby nodded, and Mia caught something along the lines of "measure the cervix with your fingers." The contraction ended and Libby moved to do so, looking to Mia carefully asking, "You don't mind, do you?" Mia lazily shook her head, breathing hard against the cold porcelain. Libby rolled up her sleeve, and dipped her hand into the water, reaching into Mia to check her. "I should've really taken you out before second base though …" Libby joked.
"Wha-?" Mia was barely able to get out.
"Nothing," Libby said, pulling her hand out. She leaned into the phone saying, "Yeah, I didn't feel anything. … No, I mean like the stuff wasn't there, just a hole… Uh-huh… Uh-huh…" Libby turned to Mia and asked, "What's seven times fifty?"
"Why? I can—FUUUUUCK!" Mia responded as another contraction hit, and she clutched her belly, chanting the f-word to herself.
Libby ran her through her breathing exercises. As the contraction subsided, Libby asked, "Ok, how are they feeling?" Mia shot her friend an exasperated look, breathing heavily. "I need to know if you're ready to push."
"It feels like I'm being stabbed in my pelvis," Mia stated quickly.
Libby nodded, saying into the phone, "Yeah, I think she's there." She turned to Mia quickly, setting down the phone, offering a hand as she said, "Ok, when the next contraction hits, you've got to push. Ok?" Mia nodded weakly, grabbing Libby's hand as she sat herself up a little. "Also, please don't break my hand," Libby added quickly.
Mia could only give her a small annoyed glare before the next contraction hit and she pushed.
Mia sat next to the crib, smiling at her son. He looked so much like his father. His hair stood up on end though, like Siyaka said Vegeta's did, except for one lone bang which dripped over his forehead. He hadn't opened his eyes yet, but she knew they would be ebony and expressive like Gohan's. Although, it was clear he had Trunks' brow. He was swaddled in a white blanket, which hid his fuzzy brown tail.
"You did a good job," Libby whispered over her shoulder. It had taken Mia forty-five minutes to push Bracken out. Libby had helped clean Bracken, making sure he cried, telling Mia it's what the doctors did with Rulla to check her breathing. She cut and tied the umbilical cord and helped Mia with the rest of the delivery. She helped Mia get dressed in yoga pants, a loose fitting tank top and sweater. She also brought extra witch hazel pads for her, showing her how to apply them. Libby had truly been a godsend.
"Only because you were here to help," Mia stated softly, smiling at her friend.
Libby shrugged. "I do what I can." She looked into the crib, looking at the baby and smiled, "Bracken fits him." Mia nodded tiredly. Libby eyed her friend carefully before adding, "You should get some sleep. I can watch him until Gohan returns." Again, Mia nodded agreeably, struggling to stand up from the chair. Libby moved to help her, but Mia put her hand up as she stood. She'd have to move around on her own at some point. And the zenkai was supposed to kick in soon.
There was some noise out front, like an explosion. The house shook, and the lights flickered. Mia frowned, turning off the nursery light. "What was that?" Libby asked, but Mia lifted a finger to her lips, telling her friend to stay silent.
As she walked towards her room, she saw Sharpner looking wide eyed, hiding behind a wall. He jerked his head towards the front window, peering over one of the cow fields where she heard some of her cattle crying and stampeding. She looked out carefully, seeing the androids taking pot shots at her cows. Quickly, she pulled Sharpner back into the back hallway into the nursery.
"What are they doing here?" Sharpner asked, huddling next to his sister. Libby looked on worried. "They" could only be two people. "I thought they were in Ginger Town!"
Mia's lip trembled, wondering where Gohan was. He was supposed to be fighting them in Ginger Town, but they were here. She couldn't let herself think about it. She stood, looking back toward the field. She could hear them now, taunting her to come out. They wanted her.
"What are you doing?" Libby asked barely above a whisper, clearly petrified knowing what was waiting for them. "Don't go out there."
"I need you two to stay in here. Stay quiet. Keep Bracken safe."
"Mia, no!" Libby whispered.
But Mia wasn't listening. She had to assume Gohan was dead, and the only person who could keep their son alive was her. She walked out of the room, and as Libby tried to chase after her, Sharpner grabbed his sister, holding her back. Mia did her best to look strong as she stepped out of the house. She could feel some of her ki returning, but it would be at least a day before she'd healed completely.
She hopped over the fence with a determined grace, and as she landed, she yelled, "HEY!" garnering the androids' attention.
"Miss Cattle-hand has arrived," 17 crowed, turning to her, a smirk on his face. 18 looked equally smug.
"Get the hell off my property!" Mia snapped, her fists balled. She quickly tried to power up to Super Saiyan, but with her body weak from the labor, she could barely hold onto it. It required too much focus, which she didn't have with her hormones all over the place. Post Partum really was a bitch.
18 acted faster than Mia could even register, phasing right next to the princess and striking her to the back of the head, knocking Mia out.
When Mia woke, her head was splitting in pain. She could barely open her eyes, and a part of her wanted to vomit. She could feel she was tied up, sitting on a chair and as she looked at the floor, she could see the concrete and straw. Her barn. She looked up, seeing the androids bickering as they did.
"I don't like waiting. This is taking too long," 18 groused.
"Maybe 13 was better than we thought," 17 remarked with a frown.
"No. You measured him, and he was nothing without his extra parts." 18 scowled in confusion adding, "What was with that anyway? Why put 13's last functioning components in two other broken androids. That makes no sense."
"Gero did a lot of things that didn't make sense."
"Good thing we killed him."
Mia did her best to burn off the ropes with a controlled blast while the androids argued, hoping to escape out the side door. She could just barely sense energy, and she could tell Gohan was on his way. He'd be there in a matter of minutes in fact. The ropes fell away, hitting the concrete with a regrettable thud.
Both androids looked toward her, seeing her arms free. Mia quickly jumped up, trying to run out of the barn only for 17 to clothesline her, sending her back down. "Now, now," 17 laughed, "We can't have the bait running off before the big show." He pulled her up, holding her arms behind her back to control her movements.
Mia frowned. Bait? "For what?" she asked.
"Your husband," 18 answered as if it were obvious.
Mia shook her head confused. "He went to go fight you in Ginger Town."
17 gave his sister a sly look as he said, "I don't think she's understanding her role in this."
"Clearly," 18 smiled, walking around to her front. "See, Gohan is this pain in our ass, and we realized the best way to get rid of him is killing everything important in his life: You and the baby you're carrying."
Mia froze. They were after Bracken. They just didn't know she'd delivered already. Mia tightened her lips, knowing the androids were going to kill her as soon as she ran. It didn't matter when she died, just that she did. Preferably in front of Gohan. But she knew she could keep them safe. They wouldn't look for Bracken in the house if they thought she was still pregnant. Gohan was the wild card, because he didn't know either.
Gohan flew overhead, and 17 shoved her outside, laughing, "Showtime!"
Mia looked up, seeing Gohan pull in for a landing. Mia ran towards him, doing her best to zig zag like her mom had told her, but in the moment, it was a lot harder to do. She waved her arms at him yelling, "Get out of here!" There was a loud bang, a pain in her chest. She saw the blast barrel through her into Gohan's shoulder as she fell, the world fading away around her.
Mia pulled her hand away from Gohan's temple, disconnecting her mind from his. His eyes were wide as he tried to blink back the tears. "A boy?" he asked. Mia nodded. "I had a son?"
Mia opened her mouth to respond, but an attendant called out to them, "Mia Jicama and Son Gohan? King Yemma will see you now."
Mia grabbed Gohan's hand, pulling him towards their judgement. The palace was large and had a large "Welcome" sign over the gate, but once they stepped through the doors, it was clearly because King Yemma was a giant. The whole palace was one room with red carpet and a large mahogany desk where a giant pink demon looking man sat, his black hat sprouting large horns. He had shaggy black hair, and a grizzled black beard. The oddest part was the giant's bored stare through red reading glasses at his notebook labeled, "Earth Deaths Age 781."
"Mia Jicama, according to your record, you only started doing real heroic work this past year after meeting Gohan. Before then, your life was fairly average. No great misdeeds to make up for. No great heroic feats to boost your standing," the giant man stated boredly, not looking away from his notebook.
Gohan's grip tightened on Mia, hoping that wherever they ended up, it was together.
"Son Gohan on the other hand has done so many good deeds that he's earned a permanent spot in heaven," Yemma added, placing his notebook down and removing his reading glasses.
Mia's grip tightened on her husband's, trying her best not to cry as she asked, "We won't be together anymore?" Yemma frowned looking at the couple. Frankly, he was used to people trying to argue their afterlife sentencing. People always thought they deserved better than they actually do. Forgiveness for past discretions wasn't his to give.
Gohan pulled her closer to him as he stated, "Frankly King Yemma, I'd rather be placed with her."
The giant narrowed his gaze on them. Now that was something he didn't see everyday. Someone denying heaven to spend their afterlife with another. "I didn't say you'd be separated. You are a shoe in. She just barely made it."
"I made it?" Mia asked hopefully. Yemma frowned as she squealed, hugging Gohan tightly. He hugged her back, kissing her head gently, happy to know they'd be together. It already hurt so much knowing he'd never see his son. But the prospect of spending forever with Mia made it bearable.
"Gohan?" a voice asked behind them.
Gohan let go of Mia, turning to see his father standing next to an elderly lady with pink hair and a witch's outfit sitting on a hovering ball. "Dad!" Gohan quickly pulled his father into a hug, which Goku responded in kind. It had been fourteen years since his father had passed. Mia stood off to the side, looking to the ground awkwardly.
"Baba, what are you doing here?" Yemma asked in a booming voice.
The witch frowned at him, stating, "You know how chaotic it is on Earth these days? It's safer here."
Yemma scowled at the witch, not liking the answer she gave him. "The afterlife isn't your hideout."
Baba gave him a funny look before stating, "If you gave me a warrior who could defeat those hooligans, then I wouldn't need a hideout, would I!?"
Yemma set his jaw at her response. She knew as well as him there wasn't anyone able to defeat the androids. Not at the moment.
Goku tapped his son's shoulder, drawing his attention. "Who's that?" Goku asked, pointing to Mia.
Gohan smiled. "Mia, this is my dad. Dad this is my wife, Mia."
Mia offered her hand, and Goku took it with a beaming smile that matched his son's. As Gohan and Goku began talking again, Mia stepped away back to Yemma, asking, "Sir? I was wondering if there was a way to see our son on earth." Gohan stopped, looking back to Yama for an answer. He was eager to see his son as well.
"I can help with that," the old woman said, her voice crackly as she floated toward Mia, gesturing for her to follow. Mia did, and Gohan and Goku followed behind her. As she reached the outside, she hopped off her ball, asking for the child's name, which Mia supplied, and the old woman started her magic, grumbling over her crystal ball.
An image began to take shape until it was clear. Siyaka was holding little Bracken in her arms as Libby cried into Sharpner's shoulder. Siyaka had taken Mia's body into the house and put her in a glass casket, which Mia didn't know about. Libby and Sharpner must have left the room after the androids left. Bracken cried, and Siyaka tried to calm him by gently bouncing. Mia could see her mom was crying, but doing her best to keep it from affecting her.
Gohan crowded in towards the ball, trying to see his son. A bittersweet smile on his face as he said, "He's beautiful." Mia nodded grabbing his hand to keep from crying. Goku also looked on, his lips pursed as he realized what they were looking at.
Trunks came flying in, carrying Gohan's body into the living room with everyone else, something different about him. Bulma came running out of one of the back rooms, producing another casket from a capsule, and Trunks eased him inside. Bulma started lighting candles, and Siyaka handed Bracken to Libby, mentioning she had to break the news to ChiChi before flying out. The image fizzled out, and Mia did her best to keep from crying.
Gohan pulled her close to him. "Our goodbye is only for now."
She nodded, knowing he was right. Goku put his hand on Gohan's shoulder, and they knew it was time to leave. Hand in hand, she followed her husband into their afterlife.
AN: As always, favorite, follow, remember to leave a review!
