Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball Z, just this story.
Author's note: Alright, I'm back. The last chapter wasn't that great really. It was pretty much stuff that was supposed to happen after Trunks got back to the future. It was just a prologue. The real story begins here. So, without further ado, let's get going!
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Trunks sighed contentedly. Reconstruction of pretty much every city the Androids had destroyed was going along smoothly. It hadn't started until recently, as things hadn't been safe enough to rebuild until Cell was taken care of.
Trunks was currently pretty far away from home. He had decided to lend his efforts to the cities most in need of repairs, and his home town had already been mostly taken care of. He cracked his neck and looked at the workers he was with. They were in the middle of rebuilding the frame of a building.
"Where do you want me to put the next I-beam?" he asked, rolling up the sleeves of his jacket.
"Up there," said the foreman, pointing. Trunks looked up towards the spot.
"Alright," he said, "Toss me the beam." There was a few seconds of silence. Trunks looked back towards the workers. They were all looking at him. "What?"
"You... You're kidding, right?" asked the foreman. Trunks blinked.
"Oh," he smiled. "Right. My bad. I sorta forgot." He walked over and picked up the I-beam. "Up there, right?" The foreman nodded. Trunks flew up and placed the I-beam in the spot the foreman had indicated. He started using his Ki energy to weld the beam horizontally to the vertical beams in place. "That should hold long enough for us to get some workers up here to do the rest." Trunks flew back down.
"You're a big help Trunks," said the foreman. "With you taking the place of the heavy machinery, we can spread more workers out. We're making unbelievably good time."
"No problem," said Trunks. "It's my job to do everything I can to get the world back to normal."
"Well, you're doing a great job," said the foreman. Trunks smiled appreciatively. "Go ahead and take some workers up there, and then we'll get to work placing the next I-beam." Trunks nodded. He flew two workers up and placed them on the beam he had just set up. They set about bolting it down and welding it properly. Trunks landed, and was prepared to continue working, when suddenly there was an explosion in the distance.
"What was that!?" exclaimed the foreman. "An accident!?" Trunks looked grim.
"That was no accident," he said. "I'm sure of it." He grabbed his sword (he'd gotten another one after he got home), which he'd laid down near the I-beams, and strapped it on. He knew that someone or something had just attacked, but he didn't know who, what, or why. He would find out. He took off towards the scene of the explosion. He arrived on the scene quickly.
There were workers and civilians groaning in pain, getting up off of the ground. It didn't look like anyone had been seriously injured. Trunks went to the nearest person, a brown-haired lady.
"What happened?" he asked, helping the woman up.
"I don't know," she said. "We were all just walking along, and then they came out of nowhere."
"Who?" asked Trunks. "Who came-?"
"Us," said a dreadfully familiar voice. Trunks looked up.
"No," said Trunks. "Not you two! I-"
"Didn't finish the job," interrupted 17 again. Trunks glared at them.
"Why did you do this?" he asked.
"Isn't it obvious, ponytail?" asked 18. "To lure you out."
"You won't catch us off guard this time," said 17. "We're wise to your tricks, and we know how strong you are now." Angry as he was, Trunks smirked.
"You really think so, huh?" he asked. 17 and 18 narrowed their eyes at Trunks. "Just saying," said Trunks. "I could beat you without going Super Saiyan."
"Prove it," said 17. "You fight me first this time. Normally, we'd both attack you at once, but that wouldn't be sporting. Or very fun." Trunks nodded. They both rushed forward. Their hands connected, and they each began trying to force the other down. Trunks began to gain the upper hand.
"That all you got?" asked Trunks. 17 smiled.
"You wish!" He began pushing harder. They were soon back at a standstill. The air around them began to crackle with energy. 17 started pushing Trunks back. "That all you got?"
"Not a chance!" answered Trunks. He pushed back harder. The ground benath them began to get pushed down through the sheer force of their energy. They were soon floating several inches off the ground. 18 just stood by, shaking her head.
"Men," she grumbled. "A bunch of testosterone fueled apes. Seventeen has to force him to the ground. He can't just go for the direct kill." She sighed. "What idiots." Trunks smirked.
"I think you're right Eighteen," said Trunks. "This is stupid!" He suddenly kicked 17 in the gut. He started spinning him around. He went faster and faster, until he was a blur. He then threw 17 straight into the ground. 17 went in several feet deep.
"Urg," grunted 17, crawling out of the ground. "Damn it. Stop giving him tips Eighteen!"
"How was I supposed to know he was smart enough to do what I said?" she asked. Trunks laughed.
"Sooner or later, I would have done that anyway," said Trunks. He rushed at 17. He began a furious attack, punching and kicking as hard and fast as he could. It took all of 17's speed to block. Unfortunately, blocking Trunk's blows hurt. A lot. "S'matter?" asked Trunks. "Didn't expect me to be this strong?" Inside, 17 was saying 'no, I didn't.' But he wasn't about to show any weakness.
"Of course I was," said 17. "I told you, we were prepared for this!" 17 kicked at Trunks, who blocked. 17 took advantage of the momentary distraction, and punched Trunks in the face. Trunks went flying backwards. He righted himself, and brushed a hand across his cheek.
'Shouldn't have let my guard down,' he thought. "No more fooling around!" He started launching Ki blasts at 17. 17 countered with his own. They all collided in midair. Both kept it up though, filling the air with energy blasts.
"You can't keep this up forever!" exclaimed 17. "But I can!"
"I don't have to keep it up forever," said Trunks. He disappeared, reappearing behind 17. "I got faster too, you know." The only reaction 17 had time for was his eyes widening in surprise. Trunks grabbed him, and charged his hands with Ki. He blasted 17, point blank. The smoke cleared, and Trunks dropped him. Actually, he threw him as hard as he could towards the ground.
"Seventeen!" exclaimed 18 as he hit the ground. She rushed over. He was still conscious, but he could hardly move.
"H-he..." grunted 17. "He's stronger than... than we thought Eighteen." Eighteen looked up at Trunks, narrowing her eyes at him. He didn't seem to have broken a sweat.
"I can take him," said 18. "You were caught off guard. I won't be." 17 nodded. 18 flew up towards Trunks, itching to make him pay for humiliating her brother in combat.
Trunks, although he hadn't shown any outward signs, was actually tired. He had gone all out to beat 17. He wished he hadn't challenged them to a fight without him going Super Saiyan. His Saiyan Pride wouldn't allow him to go Super Saiyan against them now. Besides, he told himself, he would prove that he could take them without powering up to that level. He'd undergone a lot of training to fight Cell, and he was now so much more powerful than he used to be.
18 reached Trunks and began her attack. She began punching and kicking, just as fast as Trunks had done earlier. To his dismay, she was hitting as hard as Trunks too. He was starting to think that it may have been surprise that let him beat 17. Maybe- His thoughts were cut short by a punch to the gut. While he was winded, 18 grabbed his long hair, pulling his face up to hers.
"We weren't expecting you to be this strong without you doing your 'Super Saiyan' thing," said 18, "That much is true. But you seem to have forgotten who you're messing with. We've killed Super Saiyans before now. Vegeta, for example. And Gohan." Trunks's face radiated fury. "What's wrong ponytail? Did I hit a nerve?"
"You're dead!" Trunks shouted in her face. He kicked her in the stomach as hard as he could. 18 gasped in pain, letting go of Trunks' hair. Trunks grabbed her by the head and kneed her in the face. He let go, and then unleashed a torrent of punches and kicks. He then smashed 18 to the ground. He landed. He was glowing golden.
"Nice one," grunted 17. "He's real mad now."
"Sorry," said 18, trying to get up.
"Sorry!?" exclaimed 17. "He's practically going blonde again!"
"We can beat him, Seventeen," said 18. "I'm sure of it." They both rushed Trunks. Trunks was now defending from both sides. Unfortunately for the Androids, he was doing a remarkable job.
"We can't hit him!" exclaimed 17.
"Yes we can, keep trying!" exclaimed 18. 17 and 18 kicked at Trunks simultaneously. Trunks caught their legs, catching them by surprise in the process.
"I don't think you two understand," said Trunks. "I can destroy you both in an instant!" He threw them both forward, and they skidded along the ground, eventually coming to a stop. "I haven't shown you my full power yet." 17 and 18 got up, prepared to fight to the death. Suddenly, there were screams. All three of them started looking around.
"What is that thing?!" someone exclaimed. Trunks looked forward. His eyes widened. There, in the distance, was a green figure he'd hoped never to see again. And it was coming right for them. He looked at 17 and 18.
"You two have to get out of here, now!" exclaimed Trunks.
"Huh!?" they exclaimed.
"What are you talking about?" asked 18
"Why should we listen to you?" asked 17. Trunks suddenly went Super Saiyan. He charged up a Ki blast, the one he'd used to defeat Freeza, and launched it straight at them. 17 and 18 blocked, closing their eyes and bracing for impact. When it didn't hit, they opened their eyes. Trunks had shot between them. They looked to where it must have hit. They gasped.
"That's why!" exclaimed Trunks, launching another large Ki blast. Cell took it full on, losing an arm and falling to the floor. He got up slowly, regenerating his arm as he did.
"What is that?" asked 17.
"That's Cell," said Trunks, keeping up the assault. "He's after you two. That's why you need to leave, now!"
"What?" asked 18. "Why the sudden concern, Trunks?"
"Because," said Trunks. "I care a lot more about keeping the world safe from Cell than beating you two." Cell was moving slowly forward, hampered by Trunks's constant attacks.
"What are you talking about!?" exclaimed 17. "We aren't leaving until you tell us what's going on!"
"Then help me keep him back!" exclaimed Trunks. He had wiped the floor with Cell the first time. He knew he must have missed a part of him, or Cell wouldn't be here. Unfortunately, Trunks knew that Cell had some Saiyan DNA in him. If Trunks's attack had brought him near death last time, Cell must be much more powerful now.
To Trunks's surprise, 17 and 18 actually started blasting at Cell.All three of them hit him at the same time, causing a small, powerful explosion. Cell's body, torn in two, was buried underneath rubble. They didn't have much time before he regenerated.
"Now explain," said 17. The fact that there was a third party after the Androids and an enemy of Trunks was the signal for a cease-fire.
"Cell," explained Trunks, walking over to where they stood, "Is Dr. Gero's ultimate creation. He was created to be the perfect living weapon. Right now, he's in his most imperfect state."
"Why is he after us?" asked 18.
"You guys," said Trunks, "Are the keys to his power. He wants to absorb you two-"
"Absorb us!?" exclaimed 17. Trunks nodded.
"Yes," he said. "If he does that, he'll attain his perfect form. At that point, he'll be unstoppable." Something about the look in Trunks's eyes gave the Androids no room for doubt. "So as much as I hate you, I have to ask you guys to go now and hide somewhere."
"Yeah right," said 18. "We don't run."
"You don't understand!" exclaimed Trunks. "Cell was designed to be able to overpower both of you! If he absorbs one of you, I still might be able to take him, but if you try standing your ground he'll get both of you! I won't be able to stop him then, and we'll all be doomed!"
"We'll already be inside him," said 17. "We'd already be doomed."
"Not necessarily," said Trunks. "The last time I fought Cell, he got punched so hard that he actually spit up... someone he'd absorbed." Trunks didn't have time to tell the whole story, so he gave only necessary details.
"So let me get this straight," said 18. "You actually want us to listen to you, and run away. Even though if we run away, you'll have once again failed to kill us." Trunks nodded.
"If I killed you," said Trunks, "Then he might still-" He was cut off by an explosion.
"Aaah!" exclaimed Cell, bursting from the ground. "There you are! Come here Seventeen and Eighteen. Make it easier for yourselves." He charged forward, only to be shot out of the sky by three simultaneous attacks.
"We've got to go!" exclaimed Trunks. "Now!"
"If you're so strong," said 18, "Why don't you just kill him all the way, Trunks!?"
"Because," answered Trunks. "I don't have enough energy left to pull off a big enough attack to stop him. If I hadn't wasted my time and energy fighting you two without charging up, we wouldn't be in any trouble at all. As it is, I tried to prove I could beat you without going Super Saiyan." Cell got up, only to get shot down once more. "We have to leave now!" The two Androids were silent for a moment.
"I think Trunks might be right," said 18, "As much as I hate to say it. We should probably go Seventeen." She turned to fly away. Trunks did likewise. However, 17 stayed where he was. He then took a few steps forward. Trunks and 18 turned around.
"What are you doing!?" exclaimed Trunks as Cell got up.
"I'm staying," said 17, blasting Cell's head off. Trunks and 18 landed as Cell's headless body hit the floor.
"You can't!" exclaimed 18. "We need to get away from that thing and figure out how to kill it! We can-"
"Eighteen!" said 17, forcefully. "Hear me out. Unlike you two, I've thought this through. Look at how fast Cell is regenerating. If we all ran away, he could follow us easy. And I'm sure he could eventually catch us. One of us has to stay here and hold him off. Trunks can't, because if what he says is true, he's the only person here capable of killing this thing. If he dies, we're screwed. I'm the only one that can-"
"I'm just as strong as you!" exclaimed 18, blasting at Cell's reforming head. "I can-"
"No!" exclaimed 17, silencing her. "No. Eighteen, please listen to me. I'd rather that thing got me than you. I'll hold him off, and you two run." He looked at Trunks. "You said you could take him if he absorbed me, right?" Trunks nodded.
"I'm pretty sure I can," he said.
"Well use the time I give you to make sure you can," said 17. "If you can still take him, then it's no problem."
"S...Seventeen..." said 18 quietly. 17 turned around and placed a hand on 18's shoulder, and another on her cheek.
"Eighteen," he said. "You're my sister. I won't let him get you. I'm not going to let anything get you. Not again." He looked into her eyes. "Now, go." Cell got up.
"How touching," he said. "A lovely little moment between siblings. Don't worry. After I absorb you, you can always be together." 17 turned back to face Cell. He cracked his neck.
"You want her?" asked 17. "You're gonna have to get through me."
"It's on my to-do list," grinned Cell. Trunks made to fly away, but 18 just stood there.
"Come on!" exclaimed Trunks, grabbing 18's wrist. "He's giving us time! Let's go!" Cell looked up at them.
"No!" he exclaimed. "You're not going anywhere!" he charged up a Ki blast and aimed for Trunks and 18. 17 was suddenly in front of him. He palmed Cell in the face, sending him flying backwards.
"I said, if you want them, you're going to have to go through me." 17 walked towards Cell. "Just because you were designed to be stronger than me, doesn't mean I can't put up a good fight." He took a quick look back at 18. She was looking at him. He gave a small smile. He turned back to face Cell once more.
18 looked back at her twin. "Seventeen," she said softly. Trunks flew faster, trying not to look back at the Android-turned-hero of the hour. He had never expected any kind of self sacrifice from either Android. 17 was about to fight a battle that he knew he couldn't win, but he was going to anyway. It was just like... No. 17 could never be like him. He could never be like Gohan.
Trunks lent every bit of energy he could to his speed, putting as much distance between 18 and Cell as possible. Behind him, he could sense the intense fight taking place. He could only hope that 17 would be able to provide them with enough time.
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A good half hour later, they landed in a forest. Trunks let go of 18, who immediately slapped him. She slapped him hard enough to send him into a tree. She grabbed his shirt and picked him up, slamming him against the tree once more. Trunks looked at her, and saw something he'd never expected to see. There were tears in 18's eyes.
"Why!?" she exclaimed. "Why didn't you talk him out of it!? You set yourself up to be some big-shot hero, and you can't save my brother!?" Trunks looked her dead in the eye. This new display of emotion changed nothing in his opinion towards her, or her brother. No matter how human she looked right now, she was still a monster, and needed to be treated as such.
"He knew what he was getting into," he said. "He sacrificed himself so that I could get you away from Cell. And I've fought you, Seventeen, and Cell before."
"Does he have a chance then?" asked 18, getting right in Trunks's face.
"No," said Trunks flatly. "He can't possibly win." 18 dropped Trunks in shock.
"Then why even say anything?" she asked.
"Because," said Trunks. "Having fought both of them, I know that 17 can hold his own for quite a while. We need to keep moving."
"Then why did you stop flying?" asked 18.
"Because," said Trunks, powering down to normal. "Cell can sense Ki energy like I can. Right now, any Energy that Seventeen uses is going to cover up our energy. But, Seventeen can't last much longer. I have to power down, and neither of us can fly or use Ki at all, or Cell could sense it. We'll have to continue on foot." 18 wiped the tears from her eyes. In an instant, she was back to her old self.
"What do you mean 'we'?" asked 18. "Why should I come with you?"
"Because," said Trunks. "It's one of the two choices I'm giving you." 18 looked puzzled, yet still defiant. "The other choice is that I kill you right here, right now." 18's eyes widened.
"And what makes you think-"
"Believe me," said Trunks, cutting her off. "I can kill you. If that's my only option to keep Cell from getting more powerful, I will. However, I'll have to find somewhere to put your body."
"Why?" asked 18.
"Because," said Trunks, "Like I was saying before in the city: If I kill you, he can still probably absorb your dead body. He'll get his perfect form anyway, and killing you would have been a waste of time."
"So," said 18, "You're saying I'm stuck with you because otherwise you'll kill me?"
"Not just that," said Trunks. "It breaks down like this. With you alive and with me, I'll always know where you're at. If Cell manages to find us, I'll be able to fight him."
"You could still do that with me dead though," said 18, angry that she was actually talking along his terms.
"Not exactly," said Trunks. "If worst comes to worst, you'll have to help me fight him. I'll need you alive for that." 18 digested all of this information. So, she was stuck with Trunks now? That was wrong on so many levels. Trunks hated her with every fiber of his being. Or did he? "And make no mistake," said Trunks, "The only, I mean the only reason you're still alive, is because I'm not going to let Cell get what he wants. Otherwise, you'd be dead right now." Yep. He only hated her.
18 glared at him. It was a horrible ultimatum. But, if she wanted to stay alive she'd have to go along with it. And she had to stay alive to get revenge on Cell. "Fine," said 18. "We'll work together for now."
"Agreed," nodded Trunks. "Now let's get moving. I recognize this forest. There's a town not too far away from here. We can get there tomorrow if we walk until sundown. We can get a car and keep moving from there."
"Where are we headed?" asked 18.
"To my hometown," said Trunks. "And to Capsule Corp."
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17 hit the side of the building hard. Cell was on him in an instant, grabbing his throat. They'd fought for a half hour non-stop. 17 had never seen anything so powerful! Except for maybe Trunks. Cell laughed as his hand tightened around 17's throat. 17 grabbed Cell's arm, attempting to get Cell to release his hold.
"Foolish Android," said Cell. "Stop struggling." Cell raised up his tail. The needle-like point on the end expanded to a hole large enough to swallow 17. "It'll all be over soon."
"Agh!" yelled 17, throwing up an energy field and blasting Cell off of him. 17 coughed. This was it. He couldn't hold Cell off any longer. He was far too damaged. "Eighteen..." he said softly. "At least you got away." Cell rose up in front of 17. 17 smirked, defiant to the end. "I told you Cell, I wouldn't go without a fight. But you know what the best part is?"
"What?" asked Cell, preparing to absorb 17.
"Heh," laughed 17. "You have no idea where they went." Cell's eyes widened in realization. "And neither do I. Even if you get me, I'm still the real winner here."
"Rrrrggg," growled Cell. "NOOO!" His tail changed back to needle form and he stabbed 17 through the stomach. He pulled 17 close. "Make no mistake, boy," Cell hissed. "I will find your sister, and that purple-haired nuisance. And I will kill them both. Then I will absorb her, and gain perfection." 17 coughed up blood. It sounded like he was trying to say something. "What was that?" Cell asked tauntingly. 17 spit blood in Cell's face.
"His name is Trunks," smiled 17, a small amount of blood trickling from his mouth. "Get his name right." Cell snarled and flicked 17 off of his tail. He then opened the end of his tail up, and began absorbing 17.
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Trunks stopped dead in his tracks.
"What's wrong?" asked 18.
"I just felt a huge surge of power," said Trunks. "Cell is now in his second form." 18 froze. That meant that 17 was... "We have to keep moving," said Trunks. "Let's go." 18 followed, too shocked to do anything else. She knew that 17 had gone into a fight he would lose. But... this meant that was it for him. He was gone.
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I feel terrible. I accidentally make 17 a total badass in my mind, and then I kill him. Well, that was chapter 2. Tell me what you think.
They may have been a bit OOC in this chapter, but I'm not sure. I think that 17 would have done something like that had the situation presented itself in the series. I think he would have sacrificed himself for 18's sake. I mean, they are twins after all. And I think 18 cared about him a lot as well. Again, they were twins.
And although 17 is gone, he'll still play an important role in the story. We'll just have to wait and see what it is.
Stay tuned for the next chapter.