Still don't own a thing
"So why are we all here?" Tien said ringing the door bell at Capsule Corp.
"Because we got a letter that said to meet up here at 10," Yamcha answered, "and because we all look super freakin' young that's why! Maybe Bulma will explain it to us."
"Maybe she made a wish on the dragon balls," Chiatzu suggested.
"There are no more dragon balls remember?" Bulma said opening the door wider for them to come in, "plus I'm as confused about it as you are."
Their eyes widened as they saw the youthful Bulma in front of them. "Whoa Bulma! You look just like you did when we were dating!" Yamcha said.
"Keep your eyes in your sockets weakling!" Vegeta said with a snarl from the background.
"Easy Vegeta," Bulma said, "come in guys." The trio headed into the living room where Gohan, Videl, Pan, Chichi, Goten, Bulla, Trunks, Marron, Majuub, and Vegeta were gathered around the table. Granted Vegeta was sitting a little farther away from the table. The three sat with the group and Bulma took a seat next to Vegeta.
"Marron where are your parents?" Bulma said.
"They'll be here, I sure as hell wasn't going into their room to wake them up," Marron said shaking the image out of her head.
"Why not?" Majuub said sarcastically giving her a sly grin.
That comment seemed to shed light on what they meant and sent Bulma on a fit of laughter. "Hey Vegeta we got competition!"
Vegeta blushed and grunted, Trunks, Pan, Goten, Marron, and Bulla groaned with a face of disgust. Majuub, Chichi, and Tien joined in the laughter. Chiatzu was oblivious to it, and Yamcha just pouted.
"Well lets hope they don't to have another round," Vegeta said, "I need to know what the hell is going on here and I don't have a problem walking into that room and getting their butts over here."
"Ha you're bluffing!" Bulma said.
Krillin awaked because of the light flashing in his eyes and because his body was not as sore as it usually was after a crazy night with 18. "Huh?" Krillin said looking at his arms which were still bruised up but completely unwrinkled and smooth. Krillin gasped and reached for a mirror on the bedside table. He looked at himself and had to bite his tongue so that he wouldn't scream. His face looked and smooth, his thick mustache was gone, and his hair was pitch black, all the bald spots gone. He looked like he did when Buu first arrived. 18 felt her husband stirring underneath her and she opened her eyes. At first she noticed his face completely in shock, then she noticed the wrinkle-free face and the black hair. She sat up on him abruptly and touched his face softly as if making sure she wasn't dreaming.
Krillin confirmed that it was a reality but simply moving his hips up slightly. He was still inside her so she gasped at the feeling and then gasped at the realization that she wasn't dreaming. "Krillin…how did you…"
"I have no idea," Krillin said, "I woke up this way."
"Come on let's shower and try to find some answers," 18 said pursing her lips in thought.
They showered quickly and kept their eyes shut most of the time so they wouldn't give in to temptation and start getting kinky. When they went downstairs they saw a note on the refrigerator that said "Something weird had happened, come to Capsule Corp at 10, Marron."
Krillin looked at his watch and said, "oh shit it's 10:30! Let's go!" 18 nodded and they flew out the window as fast as they could. About 15 minutes later they arrived at Capsule Corp where Vegeta started yelling at them for being late. "Sorry we got delayed," Krillin said lamely.
"Oh we know," Bulma said sarcastically implying that they really did know. 18 and Krillin immediately blushed and tried to change the subject.
"So why are we here" 18 said and then noticing Bulma and Chichi's new appearance, "and why do you two look young again?"
"I don't know but I like it," Chichi said.
"We all got letters saying to meet here, nobody knows anything," Bulma said, "but I can see that the same thing happened to Krillin."
"It's called eternal youth," an icy dark voice said from behind them. They all turned and gasped when they saw 17 standing there at the doorway, calm and cool, as always.
"17!" 18 said gasping. Krillin immediately pulled 18 back and got in a defensive position in front of her. Vegeta. Goten, Trunks, and Gohan went super saiyan and got in their stances. Majuub powered up and joined the defensive line. 17 did not get phased by this. He knew it was gonna happen. He simply sighed and put his hands in the air as if in defeat and said, "I come in peace."
Everybody gave a collective "huh" and relaxed. They did not drop their guard but they powered down. They all backed up except for Krillin who refused to stop protecting 18 and stood his ground.
"I'm the one who sent you those letters," 17 said, "I'm here to explain the weird events of last night. The glowing and reversal of your aging process." Everybody looked at each other and then focused on 17. Krillin relaxed slightly but did not move from his spot. "Relax Krillin, I am no longer under the control of the filthy Dr. Gero and Dr. Mew, and my evil counterpart is dead."
"How can I relax," Krillin said, "you may be back to the way you were before, but you just came back from the dead!"
"I did not do any magic if that's what you mean," 17 said, "16 found my pieces scattered all over the place and spent the last two years repairing me and reactivating me. You all know that 16 is a good person, he would never have revived me if he knew I was gonna repeat the horrible things I did back then."
Krillin nodded and relaxed, "are you saying you regret what you did? You know killing those people, and me?"
"Yes, that's why I shot each of you with the eternal flame that caused you to glow and return to your younger state," 17 said.
"You shot us with what!" Vegeta said standing up.
"Calm down Vegeta," 17 said calmly, "that's a good thing."
"And you shot every single one of us with it?" Gohan asked.
"I don't remember glowing," Trunks said.
"I know, most of you guys were occupied," 17 said, "I got Pan when she was walking with Geruu near a dark alley," Pan's face paled and she looked at Trunks, Trunks gulped. "Trunks was not that far away," 17 said giving them a knowing look. "Then I got Goten and Bulla who were driving to Capsule Corp together, they did notice the glow." Goten and Bulla nodded in understanding. "I got Tien, Yamcha, Chiatzu, Chichi, and Goku when they were sleeping."
"Wait Kakkarot!" Vegeta said, "Kakkarot was here?!"
"Yes we asked him to come," 17 answered, "he already knows everything. He came to visit Chichi and then left." Chichi blushed knowing what 17 had really seen. "I got Marron when she was…sleeping" he said emphasizing the last word so that Marron could know what he really meant. She gasped softly and gulped looking at Majuub in acknowledgment. He sweat dropped and looked at 17 nervously. 17 just gave him a glare and said, "Majuub was doing the same."
"Later I came here and got Vegeta when he was training and Bulma when she was doing that physical on Goten and Bulla."
"Well that explains my sudden strength during the training," Vegeta said, "but that still doesn't explain why this 'eternal flame' had this effect on us."
"I'm getting there," 17 said, "I got Krillin and 18 last and then put the letters in your mailboxes."
"When did you get us?" 18 said speaking for the first time since she first saw him. Her voice was a little shaky.
"You guys were asleep," 17 said blushing. 18 knew how they were sleeping and she started blushing as well.
"How embarrassing," Krillin whispered so only 18 could hear. 18 nodded slightly.
"NOW EXPLAIN YOURSELF ANDROID!" Vegeta said losing his patience.
"This eternal flame was given to me by 16," 17 started, "it is designed to give a person eternal youth. If you are old you go back to the age where you were strongest, and if you are younger, you will grow up to that age and stop there. You will stay this young and strong for the rest of eternity." Everyone gasped and 17 continued, "Vegeta you didn't change much, and neither did 18 or me. Bulma, Chichi, and Krillin are the most obvious changes. Gohan and Videl are back to how they were when they doing that Saiyanman crap. Goten and Trunks are already there. Yamcha, Tien, and Chiatzu are at their fighting peak. Marron, Majuub, Bulla, and Pan, haven't quite grown into it yet, but they will get there. As will Goku, he will just return to the state he was before that stupid wish was made and stay that way."
Everybody looked at 17 in complete shock. They were speechless. Even Vegeta couldn't say a word. Finally 18 stepped forward, putting her hand on Krillin's chest to tell him to stay back. "Why did you do this for us 17?"
"I felt bad for what I did when Dr. Mew and Dr. Gero had control over me," 17 explained, "I just want to make amends. Will you guys forgive me and allow me to be part of your group? At least enough so that I can see my sister and get to know my niece and my brother-in-law?"
This left everyone more speechless. Instinctively, everyone looked at Vegeta for a response. Goku specifically left Vegeta in charge of everyone's safety when he left with Shenron, so they waited for his answer. Vegeta looked at 17 firmly to see if there was any sign of deception in his icy blue eyes. "Did Kakkarot give you another chance?"
"Yes, he said that if Piccolo, you, and 18 didn't get another chance a lot of things would be different. So he said I deserve another chance as well."
Vegeta thought that over and remembered that Goku spared his life when he could have easily killed him and then saved his life countless times afterwards. He remembered that Piccolo was evil and his integration to the group was essential to all of Goku's big battles. He looked at Bulma and then at Krillin. If Goku had not given Vegeta another chance, Bulma would have married Yamcha and spent her life miserable because of his cheating habits. And if he had not given 18 a chance, Krillin would have probably spent the rest of his days alone. But what if Vegeta gave him this chance and then 17 betrayed them and killed them all. It's true he was way stronger than 17, but 17 is deceitful and could kill him when his back is turned. What should I do! Vegeta thought to himself, knowing that his decision could either join his family and friends closer together or destroy them and rip them apart.
Vegeta's answer and the climax of this story in the next chapter! Review! =)