Chapter 18
Age 767
Scene: Fake Planet Vegeta
The sky above the barren planet is littered with rifts in spacetime, prolonged exposure to the Dark Dragon Balls having taken its toll. Out of one of them flies Trunks, who scans his surroundings for a moment before realizing where he finds himself.
Trunks: This is bad…I was barely able to keep up with Raditz and Ginyu under the Dark Dragon Balls' influence. So how am I supposed to…? No, calm down Trunks. Maybe you'll get lucky and it'll be Paragus or something.
Suddenly, Trunks notices another powerful energy rapidly approaching him. He braces himself, only to be met by a familiar tackle from Goten.
Goten: Trunks! Thank goodness you're alright.
Trunks: I could say the same to you. But don't start counting chickens just yet. If I'm right about where we are, we're in for a hell of a fight.
Goten: Oh, you recognize this place? I don't think I've seen it before in any of the Time Scrolls.
Trunks: Come on, Goten! You have to study more than just the main timeline, you know!
Goten: That's funny, I don't think I've ever seen you studying them either.
Trunks: Well…that's because…look, that's not important right now! What matters is there's a powerful Saiyan rampaging on this planet, and if the pattern I've been seeing keeps up, he's about to get a whole lot stronger.
Goten: Hey, Trunks…are you sure it's just one Saiyan?
Two more energies approach the Time Patrollers, although from their perspective, the same is true. The figures Goten and Trunks believed to be small because of their distance turn out to be much smaller than them to begin with, though they seem to have grown an extra inch or two since their last meeting.
Goten: Goku!
Trunks: Vegeta!
Vegeta: Trunks!
Goku: Goten!
Broly: KAKAROT!
Trunks: Shit.
One fist raised, the Legendary Super Saiyan charges towards his sworn enemy, Goku mirroring him with a fist full of the energy of his friends. The two clash, and while Broly strikes first, he just barely misses the mark, giving Goku the opportunity to dig his fist straight into his chest. Broly rises into the air, seemingly defeated, but right on cue, the Seven-Star Dark Dragon Ball arrives to retrieve him from the brink of death. Wasting no time to preserve the integrity of the timeline, Trunks and the rest of the Time Patrol descend, landing in front of Goku.
Kakarot: Trunks? What're you-?
Trunks: No time to explain! Just take the others and get out of here! I'll handle this!
Kakarot: Seriously?! He's crazy strong, are you sure you can handle him?
Trunks: I'm staking my life on it. Besides, I'm not alone.
Goku looks behind him, immediately understanding the Time Patrollers' resolve. He nods, and Instant Transmissions away, gathering his immobile comrades.
Kakarot: Let's see…Gohan, Piccolo, Vegeta, and…wait, Trunks?! …heheh, that explains it! He's with those kids! Hey! Good luck, you four!
With those final words of encouragement, Goku finally teleports away, friends in tow, narrowly avoiding a large ki blast from Broly. Furious, the Legendary Super Saiyan turns to his new foes.
Broly: Gyah! Worthless scum! You let Kakarot get away! Do you have any idea what happens when you get between a predator and his prey?
Goten: You've got it twisted, Broly! We're the ones who've come for you!
Broly: Hahahaha! Good one! Now let's see if you fight as well as you run your mouth!
Without warning, Broly charges towards Goten, who pulls out his Power Pole and plants it firmly in the ground, blocking Broly's punch. Trunks leaps up from behind, bringing his sword down across Broly's face. Broly stumbles back, aggravated but not particularly hindered by the wound, blasting Goten and Trunks back with one large ball of energy. Goku and Vegeta come flying in to replace them, bursting into Super Saiyan 2 to deliver a series of punches to his torso that do little more than push him back. Only after a joint kick to the Dark Dragon Ball in his chest does Broly seriously react, taking note of the area of impact.
Broly: I see…so this is what you're after, is it? I hardly noticed, but come to think of it, you four are far stronger than Kakarot and his pathetic lot. This thing must be what's keeping me ahead of you worms…hahaha! Well, then! If you want this ball so bad, come and take it!
Goten: With pleasure!
Goten extends the Power Pole, hoping to knock the Dragon Ball out of Broly's chest, but the Legendary Super Saiyan reacts faster, grabbing the pole and throwing it to the side, Goten in tow. Goten tries to take advantage, powering up to Super Saiyan 2 and aiming a blast at Broly's back, but Broly puts up an energy shield without even looking, charging towards the remaining three Saiyans on the ground. As the bulk of muscle approaches them, Goku and Vegeta jump out of the way, leaving Trunks to transform into the same lightning-charged Super Saiyan as his peers and kick Broly into the air with both legs. Broly's shield shatters, leaving him open to a three-way combination of energy blasts. Broly, finally beginning to sustain damage, flashes a wicked grin at the Time Patrol, clearly enjoying the battle he finds himself in.
Broly: Finally stopped holding back, have you? Good! Now I get to have some real fun! GYOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAH!
Drawing on the power of the Dark Dragon Ball, Broly's already terrifying aura skyrockets beyond comprehension, sending all four Time Patrollers flying alongside a mass of debris. Broly slowly descends to the ground, creating two massive craters where his feet land. A fear unlike any other fills the heart of the Time Patrol, understanding perfectly well that Broly has broken his way into Super Saiyan 3. Goku and Vegeta, both realizing how hopelessly outclassed Trunks and Goten now are, throw their own limits to the wind, awakening into Super Saiyan 3 and diving head-first into combat.
Trunks: Since when could they-?!
Goten: Questions later! Fusion now!
Trunks: R-right!
Broly throws a storm of ki blasts at Goku and Vegeta, both expertly dodging as they move to attack Broly. When the hybrids reach their target, however, they find Broly has disappeared, only realizing his location when he descends from above, stomping both of them into the ground. Both Saiyans struggle under Broly's oppressive weight, but just when hope seems lost, a winding punch from yet another Super Saiyan 3 sends Broly flying off of them.
Goku: What-?
Vegeta: Who-?
Gotenks: Heheh. The Grim Reaper of Justice has arrived! No need to thank me.
Broly: Guh! …Haha! Please, I really must insist! The more of a fight you lot put up, the more I'll enjoy tearing you limb from limb!
Gotenks: Talk big all you want! It's three of us versus one of you! Grovel for forgiveness and maybe I'll let you off easy!
Goku: …We're dead, huh?
Vegeta: Yeah, we're getting off anything but easy after that.
Broly roars at the Time Patrol, firing a massive energy beam from his mouth. Gotenks and the Juniors split up to avoid it, flying towards the source of the blast. Gotenks arrives first, and swings his scythe at Broly, but the behemoth makes an effort to dodge this time. Unfortunately for him, the turn lets Goku and Vegeta punch him right in the face. Broly falls back, still on his feet, and tries to punch the pair. Vegeta stays behind to block the fist with two hands, while Goku goes in for a mighty punch to the chest. The blow makes direct contact with the Dark Dragon Ball, seemingly a decisive blow, but Broly, resilient as he is, reaches behind himself and grabs the Dragon Ball as it flies out, lodging it back into his chest. Goku stands in shock before Broly kicks him away, following him into the air to hold him up by the collar of his gi.
Broly: Heheheheh…hahahaha! Get real! Did you seriously think that'd be enough to defeat me? You're just as stupid as that fool Kakarot! In fact, now that I look at you, the resemblance is uncanny! But don't think I'll be satisfied with just killing you in his place. Once I'm done here, I'll track him down and wipe out everyone on his pitiful planet!
?: Fat chance, fatty! You'll have to wipe out all of us first!
Broly turns around to see himself surrounded by a sea of ghosts, courtesy of Gotenks. Furious, Broly throws ki blasts wildly, destroying the ghosts one by one. The smoke from the explosion grows larger and larger, until one distinct figure cuts through the cloud.
Vegeta: You fell for it!
Vegeta kicks Broly square in the face, staggering him and forcing him to drop Goku. The young Saiyan regains his composure mid-air, floating by Vegeta's side as Gotenks rises between them.
Gotenks: Nice going, Vegeta! Only you were short enough to blend in with the ghosts like that!
Vegeta: It was noth…hey! Who's short?!
Gotenks: Lament your genes later. We've only got one shot to take down Broly. See that comet?
Goku: I'm not sure how I didn't before. It's huge!
Gotenks: Huge and deadly. You'd never survive if you were shot right into that thing. And neither would our not-so-little friend here.
Goku: Right! Let's do it, everyone!
Broly finally regains his senses, unknowingly standing in perfect alignment with Comet Camori. Seeing the Time Patrol charging one more attack, he laughs, and begins charging his own.
Broly: Try it, weaklings! I'll blow you away with your own attack! Just don't say I didn't warn you!
Gotenks: Burning…!
Vegeta: Galick..!
Goku: KAMEHAMEHA!
Broly: GIGANTIC OMEGA!
The two beams collide, and despite their gusto, the three hybrids find themselves on the losing end of the struggle.
Goku: He's…too strong!
Vegeta: We can't lose! Not after coming this far! Give it everything you've got, even if it kills you!
All: HAAAAAAAAAAGH!
Tapping into every ounce of energy in their bodies, the three Saiyans perform the work of miracles, pushing Broly's attack back at him.
Broly: No…impossible! You're nothing! Nobody! I refuse to die to someone like you!
Gotenks: You've had your way long enough! Show's over!
Broly goes barrelling into the comet behind him, the impact annihilating both it and him, leaving only the Dark Dragon Ball behind. only the Dark Dragon Ball behind. The victory comes not a second too soon, as Gotenks defuses and all four Saiyans revert to base, falling to the ground.
Goku: It's…over…
Trunks: No…not yet. Even if we have all the Dragon Balls, that demon is still on the loose.
Vegeta: "That demon?" What demon? We already beat Towa and Mira.
Goten: A-ah! Up there!
Rather than coming down to earth, the Seven-Star Dark Dragon Ball remains suspended in the air, the other Dragon Balls leaving the Time Patrollers' possession to orbit around it. A slender figure fades into visibility, laughing like a madman as the Saiyans struggle to even stand.
Trunks: You!
Demigra: You remember me? I'm flattered, truly. Unfortunately, it won't be enough to save you.
Goten: Who are you?! What are you planning to do with those Dragon Balls?!
Demigra: My, awfully impudent, aren't you? But, I suppose I've been rather rude myself, not introducing myself all this time. I am Demigra, Lord Mechikabura's right-hand man and heir to the throne of the Demon Realm, now that Towa's out of the picture. Thanks for that, by the way!
Vegeta: You and Towa were in cahoots?
Demigra: You insult me! We were in direct competition for the Dark Dragon Balls, and as you can see, the better man won. While that idiot wasted her time and energy chasing you around, I took the logical approach - let you fools do all the heavy lifting, then steal the Dragon Balls right out from under you once you can't lift a finger! A perfect plan, right?
Goku: Yeah, pretty good. But you forgot one thing.
Demigra: Oh? And what, pray tell, is that, child?
Goku: I'm not gonna give up that easy!
Demigra: How quaint. You can still stand. But don't think for a second that means you'll be able to fight me. In fact, why don't I show you just how outclassed you truly are?
Demigra descends to ground level, tearing off his shirt. The demon screams as he gathers energy, his hair standing on end as his sclerae turns black and a tail protrudes from his rear.
Vegeta: This energy...he's just one person, and he's as strong as Mira was at full power!
Demigra: So, how about it? Still want to fight me? If I were you, I'd think your answer through.
In spite of his enemy's immense power, Goku continues to stand defiant. Just as he is about to open his mouth to deliver his answer, he is interrupted by a telepathic message.
Supreme Kai: Stop!
Goku: That's…the Supreme Kai of Time!?
Trunks: Supreme Kai! You're alright?
Supreme Kai: Don't worry about me, my injuries are all but healed by now. But yours aren't! You can't go throwing yourself against someone like that or you'll die!
Goku: But we can't just do nothing!
Supreme Kai: I have a plan. Just please don't do anything stupid until I arrive! I'm almost there!
Goku considers the Supreme Kai's warning for a moment before begrudgingly easing up his battle stance, much to Demigra's amusement.
Demigra: Hahahahaha! As I thought! You're completely unable to oppose Lord Mechikabura, let alone me! Enjoy your final moments, Time Patrol. I'll get you a front row seat to the end of time!
With the Dark Dragon Balls firmly in his grasp, Demigra creates a rift in spacetime leading directly to the Demon Realm. Just as he leaves, Chronoa appears out of her own.
Supreme Kai: Goku! Vegeta! Put these on!
Goku: The Potara? That's it? That's your plan?
Supreme Kai: I don't see you coming up with anything! Now hurry, we don't have time to waste!
Goku: Fine, fine…but why us? Why not Trunks and Goten?
Goten: We just fused, remember? Even if it's a different type, we can't fuse again for a while!
Vegeta: Looks like we're the last hope again, huh, Goku?
Goku: …yeah.
Narrator: Just when victory was within reach, the Time Patrol has entered the eleventh hour! Will the fusion of Goku and Vegeta be strong enough - or fast enough - to stop Mechikabura from getting his wish? The victor will be determined, next time on Neo Dragon Ball Heroes!