Hey everyone, so sorry for the delays. Real life kicked in a bit, but I've managed to finally get back to writing the rest of this story out and have a solid plan of where I'd like to go with it. No timetables again, but this small filler chapter won't be the only thing I post this weekend. I'll have a full chapter ready to go tomorrow: being sick has really given me the free time I needed to fill in the details I was missing earlier!

Chapter 13: Defiance

The white glow surrounding the two warriors slowly diminished away, Vegetto's eyes scanning the room before widening slightly in shock. He quickly moved up to Trunks' side, who cringed heavily in pain. The fusion knelt down to his right, watching the Saiyan struggle to push himself more upright against the wall while he clutched his right side.

"What happened here?! Where's Kassava?!"

Frieza raised an eyebrow, peering over Vegetto's shoulder while Trunks spoke.

"Gone...she made the jump into the timestream. I tried to stop her...but...but she overpowered me."

Frieza let out a small scoff, smirking slightly.

"Ah, the boy is still with you too."

Trunks' eyes widened at the sound of Frieza's voice, pausing to cope with his shock for a moment. His voice finally came out once again, yet it was still weak.

"How..."

Vegetto shook his head once, rising back up to his feet.

"Long story, one that can wait for now..."

The fusion's eyes turned, facing towards the Supreme Kai of Time as she entered the chamber. Her expression flat apart from her narrow eyes, moving towards the scroll.

"Your training with that woman has been a disaster ever since she got here, Vegetto. Frieza may be a powerful ally, but you were a fool to leave her here with Trunks and not expect her to do something like this."

Vegetto narrowed his eyes at the Kai's scolding, watching her turn around to face towards him once she was next to the Scroll of Eternity.

"I suppose while you were so busy being focused on recruiting, you also failed to see the deeper picture with this new threat called Blaze?"

Vegetto blinked, stepping forward.

"What are you talking about?"

The Supreme Kai nodded down towards the Scroll, remaining silent in response. Vegetto's eyes widened slightly, recognizing a dark purple tint having covered the entire material of the scroll. The lightning in the room hid its properties from differing angles, having lacked an ominous glow.

Vegetto lifted his head up, staring back at the Kai with a perplexed expression.

"What does it mean?"

The Supreme Kai lifted and dropped her shoulders once.

"How should I know? This tint on the Scroll has never occurred before, no matter who interfered with the time stream. My magic is being restricted again, and this time, there's no telling who it could be. You know the two time bandits from your encounter with Frieza..."

Her frown dropped a bit.

"This energy is something else entirely."

Vegetto turned his gaze back towards the Scroll, the Kai continuing.

"What's troubling is even more on this 'Blaze's' actions. This being has ruled an empire in the back half of the universe on his planet for over twenty years in peace. No one has submitted to his rule unwillingly.."

She gestured down to the Scroll, the image of a burning city playing forward with Blaze looking over the destruction.

"But now, suddenly, he decides to attack a neutral world that just so happens to be the same residence of Kassava's brother? For simply no reason at all?"

Vegetto kept his frown.

"Perhaps the new transformation made him enraged."

Frieza shook his head once.

"Unlike your forms, our race is not reliant on aggression to tap into our power. He would have to have a predisposition of hate to logically pull off an attack of this magnitude."

He shook his head.

"Besides, this is the same Arcosian that repelled my invasion on our homeworld. He is the self-righteous type as much as Goku was."

The Supreme Kai shook her head.

"It still doesn't add up, no matter what way you look at it. A new and more powerful enemy suddenly attacks Kassava's homeworld and the Scroll is possessed by an energy that blocks any magic from my end in a way that I've never seen before..."

Her eyes narrowed even more, locking with Vegetto's.

"Something deeper is going on here, Vegetto. You have to be careful."

Vegetto nodded his head once, turning his head slightly towards Frieza.

"So...ready for your first mission?"

Frieza broke out into a small smirk, crossing his arms.

"Of course. Blaze is one of the strongest opponents I have ever faced; a third battle will be our tie breaker."