All five dead warriors closed their eyes and let out relieved sighs as they felt Cell's energy shift planes. It was over at last. "I still... don't get it." Trunks said after a moment, opening his eyes. "What happened to Gohan out there? I mean..." he stopped, not really sure what he meant. He knew what happened but at the same time his brain just wasn't accepting it.
"The second level of Super Sai-jin." the Grand Kai said simply. "That boy is only the second in all of existance to have ever reached that stage. And the first to ever do it while still alive." He looked the five of them over for a moment. "The five of you are more than welcome to stay here and continue your training." he said at last. "To have tried to fight that creature..." he trailed off.
"Thanks for the offer." Sakura said, bowing lightly. "But we're not staying long."
"Well, you're not." Appla said looking at them. "Goku and I are here for good. We've both been wished back twice already. That's all we get."
"I'm staying as well." Bardock said.
"Are you sure?" Trunks asked.
Bardock nodded. "I know Raditz and Gohan will understand. I'm going to stay here and train with Goku and Appla."
"Er, what?" the Grand Kai interrupted. "You all have me lost."
It was King Kai who explained. "The Earth has a set of Dragonballs. They'll surely be summoning the Eternal Dragon soon to revive those who died because of Cell." He paused and tilted his head slightly. "Though, I don't know what they mean about having been wished back twice..."
"King Kai... don't you pay attenion to anything?" Goku asked. The short Kai was about to make an indignant remark to that but was cut short by the Grand Kai's laughter.
Appla looked up at the mirror again. It was now showing the Z Fighters on their flight to the Lookout. "When... you go back. Could you... give Raditz and Gohan a message for me?" she asked, looking toward the two time travelers.
Sakura nodded. "Of course."
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Earth, Son Home:
"They did it!" Roshi cried as soon as he felt Cell's Ki vanish.
"You mean... you mean it's over?" Hercule asked looking over to the bald man. Roshi simply nodded.
"Oh, thank Kami." Bulma said softly. "Come on, we should head to the Lookout guys, that's where they're going to go to summon Shenron." She lifted the baby Trunks up in her arms and took the young Sakura's hand. "Hercule, could you carry Chi-Chi out to the air car?"
"Sure."
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Planet Vegeta, The Palace, Throne Room:
"Is... it finally over?" Chaotzu asked softly. It was the first time he'd spoken since the fighting had begun.
Vadora placed a hand on his small shoulder and smiled down at him, the relief evident in her eyes and reflected in his. "It's over. He made it through."
"I still can't believe that kid's power." Toma said after a moment. "It was... amazing."
King Vegeta nodded. "A second level... of Super Sai-jin. That's certainly not in any of the legends."
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Cell Games:
Gohan lowered his arms, panting, and stared up at the sky for a moment. And then his hair turned black and fell. And so did he. "Gohan!" Piccolo called worried, shooting down and landing beside him. He'd broken out in sweat and his Ki had dropped low, but it was stable.
"He's probably just exhausted." Yamcha said as he walked over toward the two of them.
"It's more mental than physical, I think." Hotaru said softly, as she landed beside Yamcha. "After everything that's happened over the last few hours it's understandable."
There was silence for a moment as everyone gazed either at Gohan or the blue sky above them. "Time to regroup back at the lookout." Piccolo said at last. He bent down and picked up Gohan and glanced around as the others still laying about were picked up as well.
Vegeta had picked up Trunks' body. Yamcha had gone over and gotten Appla's. Tien had picked up the still unconcious Raditz. Hotaru had carefully picked up the battered Videl. Sango had 17 in her arms and Krillin had 18. He looked around some more, his eyes going over everything. The landscape was tottally decimated for at least two miles in every direction. He wasn't even sure where the ring had been, originally, at this point.
With a sigh he lifted into the air and started the flight to the Lookout, the others trailing behind him, each at their own distance and pace. No one was in any real hurry to reach their destination. The flight was made in silence and it took them almost twenty minutes to get there. By the time they landed Raditz was concious again, though Gohan was still resting. Those unable to stand were laid down on the floor.
Dende was waiting for them at the Lookout's center, standing over the Dragonballs. "We'll wait, just a moment longer." he said, walking over to them. "The others are on their way." He stopped a few feet from Hotaru who was still gently laying Videl down. Once she was on the floor Dende knelt over her, held his hands over her body, and set to work mending her broken back. It took a few moments, it was no minor injury he was fixing, but soon she was back on her feet again. As soon as she stood she moved over to where Gohan lay resting and sat down beside him.
Everyone turned and looked at the sound of a groan. 18 was starting to stir. Opening her eyes she sat up and rubbed her head. "What... where..." she started, looking around.
"Hey, are you... ok?" Krillin asked, holding a hand out to help her up.
"What... happened?"
"Gohan kind of... well, you see, Cell..."
"Cell's dead." Piccolo said, cutting off the short Human's stammering.
18 looked around and then saw 17 laying a few feet away by Sango. She took Krillin's hand and pulled herself to her feet and went over to where he was. As she knelt down beside him, Bulma's air boat topped the side of the Lookout and landed on the edge of it. Raditz hadn't been the only one to come back to conciousness since the end of the Cell Games, as Chi-Chi's voice could attest to. "Gohan!" she cried, jumping out of the vehicle and running over to where he lay.
Hercule wasn't too far behind her, either, as he made his way over to Videl. Bulma, meanwhile, went straight to where Trunks' body lay, the baby Trunks still in her arms. Meanwhile Roshi led the young Sakura over to her mother. Dende moved aside from the others and back over to the Dragonballs.
"He'll be fine." Piccolo said, glancing back at Chi-Chi who was kneeling over her son. "He just needs time to rest."
"Well, we are all here now." Dende said, gazing over the group. "I suppose, it's time to do what we can. We must... phrase our wish carefully."
Piccolo nodded as he looked back toward the other Namek. "We need to revive those who were killed when Gero first appeared, not just those killed at the Cell Games."
"What about reviving those killed by Gero's creations?" Yamcha asked. "Would that work?"
"Wouldn't that bring back 19 though?" asked Krillin. "I mean, 18 did take him out."
"I don't think so." 18 said, shaking her head. "He wasn't really alive. He was entirely machine."
Piccolo nodded. "Right, no soul. I'd say Yamcha's idea is the best wish we can make."
"We'll still need the Namek Dragonballs later to revive Bardock." Hotaru said, thoughtfully. "We used the Earth ones to restore him after the Budokai, before Zarbon came. But, at least everyone else will be back."
"Ok. It's time." Dende said with a nod, holding out his arms. "Arise, Eternal Dragon Shenron, and grant our wish!" As his voice echoed over the lookout the Dragonballs began to glow fiercely. The sky above them darkened and clouds began to form. Lightning flashed and then a burst of light surged into the sky sending wind gusting out around them.
Those who had not yet seen Shenron, and even those who previously had, stared up at him in awe as he took form above them. Moments later the glow faded away and the large green Dragon gazed down at them. "You who have called me to this plane, speak now and I shall grant any one wish within my power." his voice boomed.
Piccolo was the first to find his voice and so, it was he that made the wish. "We wish to revive all those killed by Dr. Gero's creations this passed month!"
Shenron's eyes began to glow but it lasted only a moment and then stopped. "Your wish cannot be granted."
"What!?" Krillin yelled up. "Why not!?"
"Easy, Krillin." Dende said. "Shenron, we understand that Goku and Bardock were revived once by you already. We do not mean to include them in the wish."
The Dragon made a small grunt and seemed to nod in it's understanding. Once more his eyes began to glow. It lasted longer this time, a couple of moments, and then faded away. "There. It has been done. Those who died and could be restored live once more. And now, I bid you farewell." Suddenly the Dragon's body began to glow brighter and brighter and those gathered had to soon look away so as not to be blinded.
And then in a brilliant flash Shenron was gone, the seven Dragonballs floating up into the air. They stopped a good distance up, flashed once, and then zipped out toward the horizons. As they left the light returned to the sky and the clouds vanished. Now, standing where the Dragonballs had been only a moment ago, was Sakura. As they noticed her presence, Trunks groaned and sat up holding his head.
"Couldn't Shenron have done something about this splitting headache?" he muttered as he pulled himself to his feet. Bulma was hugging him instantly and crying into his damaged armor. It didn't take long before Hotaru was holding Sakura too.
It was several moments before everyone calmed down enough for either time traveler to be able to say anything. Sakura moved over to Gohan and knelt down beside him. "That was incredible Gohan." she said, even though she wasn't sure he could hear her. "I never... would have expected you to be the one to stop them."
Trunks placed a hand on her shoulder as he stood behind her. "He always did seem to find power from nowhere when it really mattered." he said. "My guess is... His death was so fast in our time-line that he just wasn't pushed enough for the transformation."
Sakura nodded. "Neither Gero or 16 are ones to toy around in a fight." she said standing up again and turning to face the others. "Anyway, we were... asked to give you guys a message. Appla had one for Gohan and Raditz, so does Bardock. And Goku... has one for everyone." She took a deep breath before continuing. "First, Bardock doesn't want you to revive him."
"What?" Raditz asked, shocked. "Why not?"
It was Trunks that answered. "He didn't specifically say the reason but... I could see it. He didn't want to come back without Appla."
Raditz sighed and nodded. He should have realized his father wouldn't come back if staying was the only way to stay with Appla. He was too emotional for a Sai-jin, at times. Though, he supposed having been with her for over 40 years would have made a strong bond.
"What about Goku and Appla?" Bulma asked.
Sakura nodded. "Well. Appla wanted to let you know..."
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
May 27th, Capsule Corp:
The service had ended a little over three hours ago. King Vegeta had called for a formal one to occur on Planet Vegeta next month, to give people time to attend, but those on Earth decided to hold their own first. Friends and Family that was already on world only, and Capsule Corp's security personnel had been turning away camera crews all morning.
18 and 17 had both dissappeared shortly after 17 came to. No one had been sure where the two of them had gone, but the suprising thing had been when they'd turned up at the service. 17's arrival there, more so than 18's, had been the real shocker.
But the Cyborg had his own reasons for going. He may not have known Goku or the others, but they had changed his life quite a bit. And somehow, he saw this service as finally marking the end of that old life and a chance to start a new one.
Gohan had been a bit down when he first heard that Bardock was going to stay in Otherworld. But that had only lasted until he'd heard his father and grandmother's messages, and the rest of Bardock's. Knowing that they were proud of him had lifted his spirits quite a bit.
Of course, Chi-Chi hadn't been too thrilled with part of the message. The part where Goku and Bardock left Gohan in charge of protecting the planet. She knew the training would cut into his studies but she wasn't going to complain about it. She just couldn't see saying no to the last request of the two Sai-jins like that.
At some point during the service 18 had wandered off, and Krillin had been the first to notice. Not long after that he'd disappeared from the small gathering as well. No one had seen either of them since then, and it had been almost three hours. They weren't the only guests missing, either. 17 and Sango had both vanished at some point as well. Hotaru couldn't really place when she'd noticed them gone, they just had been.
The service hadn't been all sadness, though. Everyone had told stories about the three that they'd lost. And while it had hurt at first, to realize that they'd never have new stories to tell, it was soothing to look back on all the good times. And then the phone had rang, one of the doctors from West City Central Hospital was calling.
Chi-Chi had gone in the day after the Cell Games had ened because she wasn't feeling too well. She'd insisted it was just because of circumstances, that in a few days it would go away. Bulma wouldn't listen and with a little help from Hotaru, had dragged the woman to the hosptial. Now they had answers for why she felt sick. She was pregnant. That news had lifted spirits quite a bit.
Now, it had all come to a close and the final good-byes to two other people were underway. Trunks and Sakura stood in the courtyard of the Capsule Corp compound, their time machine sitting behind them. It was time for them to go home and deal with matters there. "You be careful, you hear me?" Bulma said, hugging Trunks.
"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him." Sakura said.
"Well, he'd better keep one on you too." said Hotaru as she hugged her daughter. "Don't be strangers, come back and visit us now and again, ok?"
"Sure thing." Trunks said with a nod. "We'll see about coming back every year around now." He turned toward the time machine and stopped, turning his eyes up to the sky.
Sakura stood beside him and looked at him for a moment. "What is it?"
"Huh? Oh... it's nothing. Just... it hit me, you know. The Earth is still here and in pristine condition. It's not a wasteland like in our time. The Androids are all gone, the universe is safe. And we have the power to save our time now too."
Sakura smiled and nodded. "Let's go home."