Rose sat at her piano, humming to herself as she played a little tune. She turned her head and smiled over at Dende as he walked the edge of the Lookout. He looked peaceful, relaxed. These years of peace had been good to them. She couldn't remember a time in her life when she'd ever been happier. Her thoughts went to Paige and Goten at the tournament, wondering how they'd done. She was certain one of them would win it and even though she hadn't said it to anyone, she secretly suspected Paige would win. She admired her for her strength and her boldness. Even though Rose didn't approve of violence, she had wished Paige good luck that morning and supported her. But she and Dende had decided not to go to the tournament. She didn't think she could stand to watch their loved ones beat each other up, even if they all thought it was fun.
She smiled to herself as her fingers worked over the keys. It had been a wonderful morning. They'd eaten breakfast together with the family, everyone excited about the tournament. And then she and Dende had found themselves alone at the Lookout, a rare occurrence. They'd taken the time to thoroughly enjoy each other, making love in the warm sunlight, just taking comfort in the serene silence as they held one another.
A strong, cold wind blew across the Lookout, drawing Rose's attention. That was odd; it was so warm out today. She blinked at the bright light that reflected off the tile. At first she thought she was imagining things, the figure that appeared was so ghostly pale, but then she realized that a young woman was standing there beside Dende, her shoulder bleeding, her face bruised. Rose stood up, watching curiously. No one ever came to the Lookout except for their friends and family. Fear suddenly filled her as she watched the young woman slowly but determinedly walk towards her mate. Why hadn't Dende sensed her yet? His back was turned and he gave no indication that he was aware of her presence. Rose saw the blade in the girl's hand flash in the sunlight and her heart stopped. "DENDE!" she screamed in warning.
Dende turned towards his mate, but the flash behind him caught his eye and he turned suddenly, but he wasn't fast enough. His hands reached up to stop her, trying to gain purchase in her clothes to push her away as he felt it. The hot blade sank deeply into his side once, twice, three times. He roared out in pain as he finally pushed her away, the girl's necklace that he had latched onto came away in his hand, the cord snapping from her neck.
Rose could feel the splitting pain where the mysterious woman had stabbed Dende. She ran to him, screaming for him. NO. No, no, no, no! Sixteen years together wasn't long enough. It was but a breath in the great span of time. She couldn't lose him again.
Dende stumbled to the ground. He felt pain, but it was all a haze. He fell to his knees clutching his side. It was warm and sticky. He pulled away his hand and looked at his fingers coated in blood. His lungs, his chest felt heavy and he coughed violently, leaning forward as he spit up blood from his mouth. She'd hit his lung. He was losing his strength. He looked up feeling his love drawing near, "NO! No, Rose! Stay back!" Gravity took him and he fell to his side as he watched Rose run towards him as that horrifying girl licked his blood off of her blade before she vanished.
Rose watched him fall, her heart shattering. Where had that girl gone? Rose paused, casting a quick glance around. She was mere yards away from Dende who was telling her to run. Rose hissed as she was jerked back by her hair. What…? A slicing pain ripped through Rose's throat and her eyes went wide, the scream strangled in her throat, the sharp blade wiggling side to side, cutting the back of her throat as well. That woman had moved too fast for Rose to see and had appeared behind her to stab her in the neck.
An eerie smile pulled at the young woman's lips as she withdrew the blade and Rose felt a rush of fluid down her throat, her mouth stinging with the metallic taste of blood. The pale stranger released her and she fell face-forward onto the cold, hard tile. The girl sneered for a second before she snapped her fingers and disappeared in a shimmering cloud of silvery smoke.
Dende felt a horrible pain in his throat, where Rose was stabbed, mutilated. He was going to be sick. He'd never seen so much blood. Seeing it run from his love's neck made it hurt all the more. "ROSE! NO!" he coughed, more blood dripped from his lips. He tried to pull himself towards her, but slipped and smacked his nose on the tile. He looked down to see what he slipped on.
Oh... oh gods that... was that all his blood? He felt numb all over, a coldness was seeping into his limbs, making him clumsy. He crawled inch by agonizing inch over to Rose. "It's okay, beloved. Baby, I have you. I won't let... you die here... I got you." He was dying. It tore at his heart, tears rolling down his face, not of the death, but of losing her. Again. He had just enough power to heal her, if he hurried. His hand started to glow.
Rose looked to him, gasping for air. She tried to speak, but all that came out was a wretched gurgling sound, blood bubbling from the hole in her throat. Tears streamed from her eyes as she saw the enormous amount of Dende's blood seeping across the tile towards her. Her own blood was mixing with it. She hacked, blood pouring from her lips. She tried to still her heart, to stop the flow of blood, but it only seemed to hammer harder in her chest. Dende's hand was glowing with that soft yellow light. She shook her head furiously, reaching for him, wanting only to hold his hand. "NO," she mouthed, unable to speak the words, her severed vocal chords in pure agony. She stared hard into his eyes, willing him to hear her thoughts. 'Don't leave me behind.'
Dende's hand stopped short, the glow immediately fading away. Tears slipped down his cheeks. He'd almost made a terrible mistake. "I am never… leaving you… again," he managed to choke out. He pulled himself up next to her, struggling. "Hold on. Not yet... don't... go." It was more for him than her. His vision was fading. He finally was even with her, laying on his side, pulling her close, their foreheads touching. He felt relief as he looked into her eyes, his hands, legs entwining with hers. Yes, this was better. A calm came over him. "I love you, Rose. Let's go together." He gasped for air, his voice softer, "It's our bodies that are dying, Rose. Not us. Remember our first night together? Our spirits? Let's… leave like that… Our choice"
She was struggling for breath, drowning in her own blood, the only sound from her now was that chilling death rattle. She felt cold and scared. She met his eyes and nodded, tears spilling down her nose. She pressed her lips to his one last time. Oh, if she could have just one more day upon this earth with him. Rose met Dende's eyes one last time. 'I'm ready,' she thought and together, they closed their eyes.
It was easier than falling asleep. And just as soon as the pain of the physical world was gone, Rose felt herself being shaken awake. She opened her eyes, the pain and the blood were gone. Dende was next to her, whole and smiling. "Dende," she breathed, recognizing this ethereal form of him, so like his physical body, but more handsome, a glowing quality to his skin. She was happy to have her voice back. That death had been horrifying. She glanced around. There was nothing. They were standing on something solid, but all they could see all around them was nothing but a soft, white light.
Dende smiled at her and hugged her to him and twirling her around. Drawing her close, his antenna brushed her forehead in a gentle caress. "Oh thank the Mother!" He leaned in and kissed her long and deeply, twining his hands into her hair, she was even more radiant than before. "Say it again. Say my name. Oh Rose. I thought… I thought I was going to lose you forever this time." He tucked her into his arms and buried his face into her neck.
"Dende," she breathed into his ear, clutching at him, holding him as tightly as possible. "My love. My Dende." A happy tear spilled from her eye. She pressed her lips to the side of his neck, he felt warm again. She couldn't believe that they were together. Never before in all their lives had this happened.
"You have done well," spoke the most beautiful feminine voice either of them had ever heard. They broke apart, still holding hands, looking for the source of the voice. They saw Her then, walking towards them in flowing silver robes, Her hair wild and beautiful, Her skin glowing like the moon. They instantly bowed before Her and She finally came to a stop at their bowed heads, smiling down at them. "Stand, my dear children," She said kindly.
Rose looked to Dende, who nodded and they got to their feet. She took each of their hands in Hers, smiling at them. They shied away, She was too beautiful to look at, but they bowed their heads again and listened to Her words.
"You have done great work upon the Earth in the many lives you have lived. You have grown and learned many lessons. Your soul is weary. Your task is complete. You may pass on now, if you wish."
"On?" Rose asked, without raising her eyes. "Where would we end up?"
"Heaven. Valhalla. Summerland. A beautiful place of peace and rest, a place without suffering and sorrow. You have earned it. And there you shall remain for eternity. Together."
Dende dared lift his eyes, looking to Rose as tears filling his eyes. "Together?" He looked to the Mother. It sounded beyond amazing. He ached for it almost as much as he ached for Rose. He didn't care where they went so long as he got to stay by her side. But their friends, they hadn't had a chance to say goodbye. And with their bodies on the ground like that, they would be devastated. "I want to accept a thousand times over and more," he turned to Rose, lifting her hand to his lips, "Great Mother, words cannot express our thanks." Truly, his soul felt liberated. They could finally rest and spend every moment with each other. Free. "But our friends back on earth. What of them?"
"You may return for a moment, if you wish," She answered Dende's question. "Go to them. Comfort them. But return swiftly." She gave them one last final smile before turning and walking away, disappearing into the white light.
Goten laughed and threw his arm around his best friend. He was aching and sore from the fights that day, but he'd had a blast. "Man, that chick was pissssssssssed," he teased Paige, thinking of the look on the pale girl's face when she'd finally dragged herself out of the ring. "Hey, I was gonna go out with some friends later. You wanna come with us? Celebrate your victory?" he asked as they walked towards his father and Paige's father. Goten was uncomfortably aware of the look Piccolo was giving him and let his arm drop from Paige's shoulders. "Hey, Dad, can I come with you all to the Lookout? I'm gonna take Paige out to celebrate," he grinned.
Paige laughed, looking over at Goku and her father. "Ooooh, you gonna buy me a drink, you sexy fiend you? Your other friends will be green with envy if they see you hanging out with me." She winked at him and bumped his hip as they walked. She did feel good, though if Vegeta and Goku had participated in the tournament, she was sure they would have handed her ass back to her.
Goku laughed, "Sure! Why not? You deserve to celebrate! Come on, then, I'll even take you guys to your first stop for the night before I get out of your hair." He ruffled Goten's hair affectionately. "I'm glad Alice was able to put you back together!" He looked over at Phoenix, "You too."
Phoenix gave a big grin. "She did it cause she loves me so much, don'tcha, Ally?" he called loudly and laughed when she groaned and shook her head. "My job here is done," he announced proudly. He bounced over and hugged his grandpa. "See ya later. I gotta go find Dad," he said and waved at the others before he took off to search the stands.
Goten squirmed out of his dad's reach. "Daaaaad," he whined, fixing his hair again. He turned around and grinned brightly at a bunch of young women in the stands who were giggling and looking at him.
Piccolo couldn't stop himself from rolling his eyes. These kids could be more concerned with their appearance than their fighting skills, and Goten was one of the worst. Piccolo let out a long exhale through his nose, thinking that Goten wouldn't have so many girlfriends if he didn't keep up his "image" or whatever it was he was always bragging to Paige about. As long as Goten only viewed Paige as a friend, Piccolo supposed he could tolerate the kid. "Come on, Paige," Piccolo finally said. "Let's go tell Dende about your victory. Alice! Time to go."
Alice jumped and waved goodbye to Phoenix, thankful her father had called her away. Phoenix was far too noisy and energetic for Alice's taste. She linked arms with her sister and smiled. "Ready."
"We have to celebrate!" Sabriena grinned, throwing an arm around Goku's waist as she and Tien walked over. She squeezed her husband before she pulled Goten into a tight hug, then proceeded to look him over, making sure he was okay.
"Mom," Goten whined. "Jeez, you guys are embarrassing me today. I'm fine, really! It was just a little bump on the head. Alice fixed me up." His face burned bright red as he cast a glance at the girls who were still ogling him, some of them now awwing at the way his mother fussed over him. He clapped a hand to his face, groaning into his palm.
Goku just leaned his head back and laughed at the kids before he slipped his arm around Sabriena, giving her a tight hug before he leaned over. "I could really embarrass you if you want. Your dad and me could kiss. Isn't that what girls are into now a days?" He laughed again.
Goten felt his face blush again, but snickered the next second when Tien reached over and popped the back of Goku's head. "Ha! That's what you get," Goten teased. "See? Dad's on my side." He grinned and stepped closer to Tien, who just gave Goku a disapproving look and shook his head.
Goku rubbed the back of his head and pouted at Tien. "You're no fun," he said before he stuck his tongue out at him. He stood up straighter and looked around at the group he had to take back to the Lookout. Jenny was standing next to Piccolo, looking proudly at her daughter. After her fight with cancer, she had finally filled out and no longer looked like an empty shell, but looked as healthy as she had ever been though she kept her hair short. "Are we all ready to go?"
Paige just grinned and linked her arms with her sister as Goku got everyone together and pressed his fingers to his forehead. The next minute they were standing up on the white tiles.
"We're BACK!" Goku called out, looking around for the familiar pair that walked the edge of the Lookout. He let go of mostly everyone, turning on Tien so he could pull him into a quick kiss as payback. He laughed and jumped away as Tien tried to retaliate.
Tien shook his head as Sabriena doubled over with laughter. "You're in trouble when we get home," he warned his mate, pointing at Goku. He tried to fight the smile on his lips, but he couldn't quite manage it.
Goku grinned, "The bad kind of trouble or the good kind where I get to hide in the bed and you come and find me?"
Alice shook her head. "I did not need that mental image in my mind," she said as she looked around, pausing as something wasn't right. It made the hair on the back of her neck stand up and she felt all the mirth drain out of her as she grew silent and scanned the Lookout.
Paige grinned as she looked around, excited to show Dende and Rose her trophy; Rose didn't approve of the violence, but had wished her luck all the same that morning. "Guess who won!"
Piccolo narrowed his eyes, his ears twitching. There was nothing, no sound of Dende or Rose at all. The place was hauntingly quiet. He knew Dende loved the silence, but even if he and Rose were sleeping, he should've been able to sense their presence. Had they left to go somewhere? That seemed odd to him.
Alice let her feet carry her, walking off in a direction a few steps before she stopped. She couldn't sense Dende anywhere on the Lookout.
Piccolo caught the look in his daughter's eyes and it sent a chill up his spine. He knew it even before he asked the question. Alice couldn't sense Dende either. But he asked the question anyway. "What is it, Alice?"
Alice turned and looked back to her father, "Dende never leaves the Lookout, especially not after Rose moved in." She spun around as she searched for something out of the was a strange shape on the opposite side of the Lookout. Her breath caught in her chest at the sight of the figures on the other side of the tile floor. "Dende?" she asked loudly as she broke into a run "NO!" She screamed.
It had to be him, but he wasn't answering, "DENDE?!" The closer she drew, the harder the realization set in. "MOOOOM!" she called over her shoulder to Jenny. Nothing could have prepared her for what she found. There was so much blood. Her teacher, her mentor, Dende, was lying in a huge pool of blood that mixed with Rose's, twisting in a strangely beautiful marbling of red and purple. Alice's scream rent the air as she dropped to her knees beside Dende. Dende and Rose were laying side-by-side, their hands grasped together, "DENDE! ROSE!" Alice screamed again, staring in horror at the body of her uncle, the one person who understood her and taught her how to handle her powers that were so different from her sister's. "NOOOO!" she sobbed as she fell to her knees and covered face with her hands.
Jenny felt her blood run cold at her daughter's cry for her. All mirth left her as she turned and saw death. Her stomach dropped. Dende. Rose. Her feet were moving before she even realized it, and she slid to a stop on her knees as she leaned over Rose and Dende, her hands glowing with blue magick as she dropped down into the puddle of blood. "Shit, shit, shit." She moved her hands over them, covering Rose's neck as she tried to heal the flesh. She tried to draw them back, but there was nothing. They were gone. Both of them.
She looked over at Alice, her eyes filling with her tears. Their skin had long since grown cold, the blood congealed. Their skin ashen. There was a terrible hole where Rose's throat should have been. And there was so much blood. Who could have done such a terrible act to these two amazing, kind people. They were her family. She cried out and sobbed as she laid over them both, their blood seeping into her clothes. For the past fifteen years, they were like brother and sister to her. Now they were cold, covered in blood and brutally murdered. Dead. "Noooooooooo!"
Everyone on the Lookout had frozen. Piccolo flew to his wife and daughter, his whole body frozen as he saw his brother. "Jenny, heal them," he gasped. Her sobbing told him it was too late. He grabbed his head, trying to make sense of it. No. No this could not be. Of all people, why them? They were the kindest, purest people he'd ever met in his entire life. And here they lay, murdered in cold blood without cause or reason. He, too, dropped to his knees, wrapping his arms around his daughter. He gritted his teeth against the tears that flowed anyway. Piccolo felt like he'd swallowed a block of ice. His brother was dead. "Jenny," he breathed, repeating himself a little louder. "Heal them."
Goku's mirth vanished in an instant and he left his mates to run after Piccolo as soon as he saw his friend take off after his daughter. The Namek's hearing was far superior and he could hear the shouts of horror before he did. His heart was pounding in his chest, Paige and Goten close on his heels. When he saw what was there, he was lost to his sensations. His friends. No, NO. It couldn't be them. He had just seen them that morning, alive and well! He felt sick and his stomach lurched, "NO! DENDE! ROSE!"
He dropped to his knees into the blood, his hands hesitated over the. Oh gods, there was so much blood. "NOOOO!" He felt tears cascading over his cheeks, looking down at the two. He couldn't explain it, but he felt a tremendous loss. Not them, they were too innocent to die in such a horrible way. He turned and slammed his fists into the tiles cracking them. Their bodies were so entwined. There was a trail of purple blood smeared in a line towards Rose. Goku cried out in frustration and pain. He had crawled to her after he had been stabbed. Goku's blood was boiling; he wanted someone's head for this. "Who did this!? "Who would do this?! WHO!" he cried before he curled in on himself.
Paige's eyes widened as her heart stopped and her legs turned to jello under her. They were lifeless. They were still staring at each other. Their eyes dead, staring at each other. She barely heard her mother sobbing next to her.
Goten caught Paige around her middle as her knees gave out under her. He thought he might be sick. Not them. Please, not them. He screwed up his face and looked away, clinging tightly to Paige. "No," he whispered, his voice shaking. After everything Rose had done for him, how she saved him from that nightmare of a life with Chichi, he couldn't bear to see her murdered like this. "NOOOO!" he screamed, squeezing Paige even tighter as he buried his face into her hair, trying to hide his tears.
Jenny kept trying, summoning up her energy, her magick, trying to move it over them, trying to heal them, but oh gods. Gods no, it wasn't working. She kept trying to pass the water over their wounds, but nothing happened. The wounds would not close and their eyes would sparkle with life. She sobbed and reached down, collapsing over her brother-in-law. "Dende! DENDE!" she cried out.
Paige felt numb as she clung to Goten, feeling his sorrow mixing with her own. Not them. How many nights had Dende and Rose sat at her bedside and read her stores, looked out for her? Rose had saved Goten. "WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM!? WHO DID THIS?"
Goten shook his head, tears streaming down his face. "I'll kill whoever did this," he hissed in Paige's ear. He felt his energy surge as he looked over at the bodies again, his face going red in his fury. "Paige, I swear to you, we will find whoever did this and we will make them suffer for it."
Tien was horrified as he and Sabriena approached, staring at the bodies on the floor. It was surreal to him. Out of everyone in their family, the last people he expected to die were Dende and Rose. They were the gentlest people he knew. They had no enemies, no reason for anyone to wish them harm. He felt a knot in his throat as he listened to Goku cry. He pulled Sabriena closer to his side as she bunched her fists in his shirt. An anger rose up in him. This wasn't right. They'd done nothing to deserve this.
Alice curled over her own knees, hugging her ribs as she sobbed. She shouldn't have gone to that stupid tournament. If she'd been at home, maybe she could have saved them. She could have healed them after they were attacked. She couldn't stand the sound of her loved ones crying, their emotions only fueling her own pain, adding to it, like gasoline on a fire. Oh, it was making her sick.
"Oh no, we arrived too late, my love. I'd hoped we would have gotten back before they found our bodies."
Alice gasped and looked up. She had to be hallucinating. She'd heard Rose's voice. But there they were, Dende was standing before her, Rose at his side. Both of them looked whole and unhurt with a glowing, slightly transparent look to them. Rose was in a simple, flowing white dress and Dende in a brilliantly white gi. They looked more beautiful than they had in life. There was a slightly misty quality to them and their voices echoed slightly as they spoke.
Rose smiled at Dende, then held out a hand for Goku. "Oh, my dearest friend, do not be sad."
Jenny sat in the blood, staring up at them. "Spirits..." Her eyes bubbled up with fresh tears as she looked at them.
Goku blinked through his tears looking up at them both, "Rose?" His voice raw with emotion, but he reached out and took her hand, blinking as he found it surprisingly solid. Goku gasped as he looked up from the lifeless bodies on the ground, hearing Rose's familiar voice. He screwed up his face as he was on his feet in a second, hugging them both close to him. "Please don't go. Who did this to you? We...we could get the dragonballs! We could wish you both back!" He pulled back, but looked at Dende when he touched his shoulder.
Dende shook his head. "Goku, thank you for the offer, but please don't. As cliché as it sounds, we are in a better place now. Our cycle on Earth has ended. Don't cry, we are alright. We are with the Mother."
Paige gripped Goten tighter as she looked over at the ghosts. She had to agree with her best friend. Whoever murdered them had to die. She pried her eyes away from the bodies on the ground to look at the spirits standing before them.
Dende smiled down at little Alice before he looked around at the rest of them. He smiled at his brother, Goku, Tien, Sabriena, Jenny, Paige and Goten. "Dry your tears. We are fine. Well, you know. As fine as two spirits can be. We've passed on together. That hasn't happened since our bodies were first separated by Zeus." He leaned down to where he had fallen, his staff in one hand, the necklace the girl had been wearing in the other. He took up his staff once more before he looked back to the young Namekian. He smiled at Alice and reached out a hand to her.
Alice got to her feet, walking to him. "D-Den-de?" she sobbed, wiping at her eyes with one hand as she reached for his hand with the other. "D-Don't leave me! I'm sc-scared! I'm not ready!" She was crying freely, her emotions pouring forth. Alice had always been tender-hearted. She felt things harder than most people, which is why Dende knew she would be a good guardian. "Dende, please don't go!"
He hugged her close, kissing the top of her head. "You've never been more ready. Alice, you know you can do it. Just remember everything I've taught you. You know you have abilities within you that have yet to blossom yet. Don't shy from them when the time comes." He smiled at her, "You'll have to revive the dragon again." He kissed her cheek, "Take my staff. It's yours now. You'll do fine. You have the best family to help you along." He reached out, pressing the staff into her palm before he patted Alice's head, "My dear little heart. The Earth is under your protection now, Guardian."
"Wh-what?" Alice stammered. "Dende, I can't! I'm not ready for that!" She shook her head violently. Oh, how could he ask that of her now? Her heart was still breaking, even though she was looking at them. She was surprised at Dende's touch, how solid his hand felt on her head. How it still managed to bring her comfort, that he could still soothe her so. She felt the panic ebb slightly. Alice clutched the staff to her chest, nodding at his words. She'd known for a long time that this was her destiny, her duty to take up Dende's staff when his time here on earth was done. She just never expected for it to happen so soon. Without him at her side, how was she supposed protect the whole earth? Her tears continued to fall as she stepped back, the staff clutched in a vice-like grip.
Jenny blinked, her daughter was going to be the new guardian. She had known that was going to happen, but she was still so young. How could the entire world be placed on her shoulders now? Jenny shook her head, she was still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that they died.
Rose looked over Goku's shoulder at Jenny and gave her light, warming laugh. She could see the surprise in her eyes, the worry there now along with the sadness. "Oh, Jenny, calm down. Alice knows what she's doing. Dende has taught her well." Though she knew why Jenny was concerned. She had always been the one who fussed over Dende the most, worrying that he worked too hard, that he spread himself too thin. Rose understood that Jenny did not want that same burden to weigh too heavily upon Alice.
Goten released his hold on Paige and stepped a little closer. "What happened?" he demanded. "Who did this to you?!" He didn't know which emotion was stronger in that moment; his sadness or his anger. He felt the wash of gold over his hair, the change in his eyes for just a moment as he struggled with himself. He wanted revenge for what had happened to them.
Rose and Dende looked at one another. "We don't know," Rose finally said. "It was a young woman. She was beautiful, but haunting, almost like a ghost. She stabbed Dende and then she attacked me. She had long, pale hair and pale eyes." Rose looked sorry that she couldn't give them any more information than that. She hadn't been able to sense anything about that girl and apparently from his silence, neither had Dende.
Dende shook his head, looking to Goten first, "We did not recognize our attacker. She was injured when she came here." He closed his eyes as he remembered, "She was a young woman around your age. Maybe closer to Paige. She did not speak a word."
Paige felt her gut twist and she tugged at her father's hand, "Daddy, that's the girl who I fought in the tournament." She felt sick, "Did... did this happen because of me?"
Piccolo shook his head. "No, Paige, this is not your fault." Did it happen because she'd defeated Antonia in the tournament? Deep down, he knew the answer was yes. Was it Paige's fault? Not in the slightest. She had fought in the tournament the same as anyone else. He knew that the Altantians were sore losers, but he had never expected this. Paige had fought well and earned her title. But now he was worried. Without Dende and Rose, their time of peace would now be over. He had to admit, fourteen years was a good run. The longest they'd ever had, as a matter of fact. Was he prepared for whatever was to come? The idea terrified him. He put his arm around his daughter and pulled her to his side.
Dende looked over to Goten and glanced back at Goku as he stood and went to his son's side.
"Isn't there some way we can bring you guys back!? It's not your time!" He wiped at the tears on his face before he looked at his son whose anger was shining through. "Please, you guys can't leave us yet."
Dende turned back to Goku. "No. Please, Goku. I know it may seem sudden and without warning, but it is our time. Never before have we both died at the same time, where we could travel together in the world beyond. We have been on this earth for too long."
Sabriena wrapped her arms around Tien and Goku. She would never, ever forget what Rose and Dende had done for their son. This hurt. This wasn't right. All these years of peace, now it was all going to be gone. Those years before Rose and Dende came together had been hell. This was senseless. She broke away from her husband. "Rose! Dende! PLEASE! Let us find the dragonballs! Don't you know what this world will be like without you?! WE NEED YOU! I... I can't..." she trailed off, trying to catch her breath in her panic. She couldn't take it anymore. Sabriena let the tears flow down her face in front of her family and friends. "I can't go through that again! PLEASE?!" She dropped to her knees, begging, pleading with them, all sense of pride gone. "Just stay until our lives here are done! Just a few more years."
Rose stared down at Sabriena, sighing deeply. She looked to Dende and spoke softly, "Perhaps we're being selfish." She looked tired and sad as she said it. She wanted so badly to cross over, to go to Summerland and rest. But their loyalty to the earth was pulling at her heart again. She felt terribly torn and she didn't know what to do. The tears in the eyes of their loved ones ripped at her heart. She hated to see them so sad.
Dende blinked around at the group. He was so tired. He could feel it in Rose. It was just calming to know that they had made such an impact on their lives. He turned and looked down at his body holding onto Rose. He didn't want to do that again.
"Tis only a few years, my love," Rose said. "We can give that much, can't we? I know you are tired and weary. I am, as well. We've lived a thousand lives since the beginning of time. But never have we had such dear friends. Only a couple decades more, and then we can have our eternal rest." She looked exhausted as she said it, but she managed a smile. "Let Alice be the guardian of Earth. I can quit my job. We can grant them this small amount of peace. They have done so much for this world as well." Her voice broke and she turned away, fighting her own tears. She was so afraid that she and Dende would not have the opportunity to cross over together again.
Dende shook his head as tears slipped down his face. "I cannot. Our entire lives have been selfless. Can we not have this in death? If we come back, we may not have this opportunity again. To pass together, to be as we are now." He looked over at his friends, his family, "We both love you dearly, but I do not think my soul could bear it if I were separated from Rose again. Please, do not wish us back. I will refuse it. Please. I beg you."
"Sabriena," Tien said softly and pulled her to her feet, wrapping his arms around her. "We can't ask them to do that. We all know their story. If they come back now, the whole cycle might start over again. They would have to find each other again and probably never have this chance again. They finally have a chance to spend eternity together. Don't ask them to give that up. You and I bound our lives together for the same reason. Would you give that up?"
She shook her head and hugged him tightly for a moment before she looked over at Dende and Rose. "I'm sorry," she whispered, realizing how selfish her request had been. She wouldn't leave Tien's side for anything, not even in death, and yet she had asked Dende and Rose to do that very thing. She wiped hastily at her eyes and looked at Dende. "I'm still a selfish brat sometimes," she said with a watery laugh.
Dende smiled and stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her. "Just like the day I met you," he said before he realized what he had said. His eyes went wide and he laughed, "Oops, death does not come with a filter on the mouth. You have transformed into a beautiful, caring woman, Sabriena. I am glad I had the chance to meet you and watch you change over the years. You keep Goku and Tien under control, you hear?"
She nodded and hugged him back, fighting the tears once more. He had been the first person to be kind to her when she first came to this place, the only one determined to tolerate her, it seemed. "I always keep them under control," she said. She pulled back and smiled up at him. "I'm glad you finally get to have some peace and quiet. Enjoy it. Cause when I get there, I'm gonna cause a ruckus and you know it."
Rose gave a small smile and stepped closer to Goten and Goku. "Don't be sad," she said in a soft voice. "You don't understand. Dende and I have never made it to paradise together before. Always in the past, one of us would arrive before the other, but we couldn't find each other. The gods didn't want us to be together again. Time and time again, we returned to the earth, searching for each other, finding each other, but never reaching eternity together. I know it was a gruesome death. But I would endure it a thousand times again if it meant Dende and I found our paradise together."
Goten was sobbing, "But we need you here! You can't just leave us! Don't go!" He felt like he could scream and it was all he could do to keep his knees from giving out under him.
Rose felt her heart aching at his request. She nearly agreed to stay just to make him stop crying, but in the end, she just couldn't do it. She looked to Goku, "Please, we're so tired. If we were wished back, we might not cross over together again. And then the cycle would continue." Her voice cracked, "I don't want to lose him again. Please don't wish us back. Don't make me do this."
Goku held Goten tightly against him as he looked at Rose with tears in his eyes before he reached out for her and cupped her cheek as he nodded. He wouldn't do that to her. To them. "We... we're going to miss you guys." The tears slipped down his cheeks, the world around him was so blurry. "Rose, I can't thank you enough for what you did for us. What you did for my son. Gods, why... why did this happen?"
She looked back to Goku, searching his eyes. "It's the way it was meant to be. I know it is harsh and I know it hurts. Don't think that we don't hurt for you as well. But I would not change it," she answered. Her voice dropped quieter, but lost none of its intensity. "We have lived so many lives upon this earth, working to help its people. Never before have we had this chance for rest. I would suffer that death a million times over if it meant I could cross over with him. Do you understand?" She smiled when he nodded. "I will miss you," she said softly to him.
Goku hugged her close and kissed her cheek. "I'm going to miss you too. We all are." Goku couldn't deny the happiness he felt from them. Free from pain. He nodded at her, enfolding her into his arms. "Enjoy it on the other side. I don't know two people who deserve to live the rest of eternity together in peace more than you and Dende. You've done so much for me, my family, this planet. We... we will see each other again, right?"
She held him tightly. "Of course we will," she promised. "This isn't goodbye forever. Just goodbye for now." Rose leaned into Goku a little bit and smiled at him. "I should thank you. If it wasn't for you, I might not have found my other half this time." She pulled back a little bit, still holding onto him, looking deep into his black eyes. "When your time here is done, when you cross over, Dende and I will be there to greet you. I'm sorry our parting must be so sudden, Goku. I would have liked to continue our adventure." She gave a sad smile, "You'll have to finish it and tell me and Dende all about it."
Goku gave a watery laugh and nodded, "I love you guys. Take care." He squeezed them both tightly and pulled back, finally letting her go. He needed his family. He walked back and let his head drop onto Tien's chest and pulled Sabriena close.
Tien wrapped his arms tightly around his mates, tears stinging his own eyes. He could feel it, the sorrow in the air as if the earth itself was already mourning their loss. He understood Sabriena's fear. They had enjoyed these long years of peace. What would happen now that the last of the first humans was gone? They had kept them all safe and now that protection was no longer. He tangled his fingers into Goku's hair and pulled him to his chest, letting him cry. "Shh, it's okay," he whispered. "It's going to be okay. They're happy now. We'll see them again."
Rose looked to Jenny. "If ever I had a sister, you were it," she said softly. She turned to Jenny and gave her a big hug, "I'm going to miss you, sis." If anyone came close to being a sister, it was Jenny. You didn't just live in the same home with someone for over fifteen years without becoming close.
Jenny had picked herself up out of their blood and looked around at them both. She tried to think. Tried to remember their particular situation. That they were happy to die together. "You... gods... it won't be the same without you. What about the peace of earth? What happens now that you are gone?" Jenny forgot about her hands covered in their blood and hugged Rose tightly, sobbing out at the contact. She noticed when she pulled back that there was no blood on her clothes. Gods, it was really happening.
She hugged Dende. "I love you guys." Her eyes watered up again as she stared off at the blue sky. She thought about that morning, how they had all been laughing at the breakfast table, teasing each other as they left for Capsule Corp to head to the tournament. "I'm going to miss you. I know you two are happy, relieved, but your last moment shouldn't have been like this."
Dende looked over at her, smiling, "The earth does what it always has. It survives. Alice is more than ready and there will be much peace with her guiding it." He looked back to his young apprentice, "You are ready. Trust your instincts, trust your family. They won't let you down and should you find yourself in an impossible situation, you will know what to do. It's in your blood. Remember, your father is my brother. My blood runs through your veins."
Alice was scared and heartbroken, but she couldn't deny the little bit of pride that resounded within her at Dende's words. Her father's blood. Dende's blood. She could do this. She launched herself at Dende, throwing her arms around his neck, hugging him as tightly as she possibly could. "I'll miss you," she whispered, her tears flowing freely down her face. "I wish you didn't have to go. It's n-not f-fair!" She clung to him as if she could keep him there by simply holding onto him.
Rose could feel the otherworld starting to pull at her. She reached for Goten and hugged him, smiling at the way he clung to her. "It's okay, Goten," she said softly, stroking his hair. "It's going to be okay. Dende and I aren't hurting and we're so happy now. And we want you to be happy, too, okay?" Her lip trembled as she hugged him. It had been him that had brought her to Dende, his need for help when he was little that ultimately reunited them. "I am so proud of you," she whispered in his ear. "You are an amazing young man, Goten. It was an honor to be part of your life and to watch you grow."
Goten sobbed and hugged her for all he was worth. She had saved him and now he had not been able to do the same for her. He was sick with guilt and anger. But even more than that, he was heartbroken. "I'm sorry," he blubbered. "Rose, Dende, I'm sorry." He barely heard Rose as she soothed him, telling him not to cry, to be strong. He gasped for air and wiped his eyes as he finally nodded and pulled back from her. "Goodbye, Rose. Thank you for everything."
Paige was crying hard and she rushed forward, hugging Dende. "I'm going to miss you, Uncle. You cause some trouble for me, okay?" She managed a smile. "You'll have to tell me how sex is in the other world" She giggled despite herself and turned to Rose, to give her a hug, "Thank you for saving him."
Rose hugged Paige back and then smiled at her. "Well I couldn't leave you without a best friend, could I?" She lowered her voice, "You take care of him."
Piccolo gripped Dende's shoulder, fighting the tears in his eyes. His brother. He had to swallow the knot in his throat and he squeezed Dende's shoulder a bit tighter, unsure of what to say. How do you say goodbye to someone you spent nearly your entire life with, who knew you and understood you better than anyone else? He swallowed harshly, tears brimming in his eyes. He wasn't ready to say goodbye.
Dende looked up at Piccolo, his bigger brother. He hugged him close, "Take care, brother... I am going to miss you." He sighed, "Keep an eye on your daughters. You know who Paige is safe with, let her be herself." He gave his brother's shoulder a squeeze before he pulled back and looked to Rose. "Our time here grows short and we are tired. Dying takes a lot out of you apparently."
Rose stepped beside Dende, lacing her fingers into his. "Don't be sad," she tried to comfort them. "We will see each of you again. Take care of each other. We love you." They were slowly growing more transparent as if they were fading away on the wind.
"Until we meet again, my brother," Piccolo said softly, knowing Dende could hear him.
"No," Goten whispered harshly, clenching his fists at the sides. He wiped his eye on his shoulder watching them fade. Gods, it hurt to see them go. He was going to make this right. Somehow, he was going to avenge their deaths.
Paige ran over to Goten, wrapping her arms around him as they watched Dende and Rose.
Jenny stood back, weeping as she watched them both go. Two huge parts of her family, just gone. Just like that. She let Piccolo pull her into his embrace as she cried.
Goten turned as they finally faded from view, an anger seeping into him, mixing with the sadness he felt. No, he would not stand idly by and let Rose's killer get away scott free. Frowning, he pulled his phone out of his pocket, sliding his thumb across the cool glass. He dared not even whisper to Paige for fear of Alice or Piccolo hearing him. He'd spent far too much time around the Nameks to know better. He typed out a quick text message to Paige, 'Come to my house tonight. That bitch is NOT getting away with this. We'll make plans then.' And he slid his phone back into his pocket.
Tien rubbed at Goku's and Sabriena's backs as he took a shaking breath and wiped his eyes on his shoulder, trying to keep himself calm. They needed him to be that, to play that role right now. He was the one who couldn't fall apart. "We should do something with their bodies," he said quietly. "We shouldn't leave that for Piccolo to deal with on his own. It's not fair to them."
Piccolo looked over at Tien and gave an appreciative nod. He hugged his wife and youngest daughter close for a moment, letting them cry into his shirt. "I don't want you two to have to be a part of this. Alice, why don't you take your mother and get everything ready? We'll take care of them."
Jenny swallowed and nodded and wrapped her arm around her daughter's shoulders. "Let's go wash up," she said, looking down at the blood they were both covered in. She wanted to throw up, burn the clothes. Everything. And they would need to make calls, let the rest of their friends and family know what had transpired.
Alice nodded, recalling the special robes she would most likely have to start wearing. She bit her lip as they walked away from the gruesome scene, she would have to remake the dragon as well. Create a new statue and everything that entailed. She had a lot of work to do, but first she needed time to grieve.
Piccolo watched them go, his heart aching not only for the loss of his brother and sister-in-law, but for the pain he knew his family was in. He sighed and looked at the bodies on the floor. The Lookout was going to feel so empty without them now. Oh, the irony. For years, he'd enjoyed his solitude before he met Jenny. And now he was so used to having his loved ones around that he didn't know if he could deal with them not being there anymore. He looked over at Paige who was quickly typing something into her phone before she started towards their bodies. "No, Paige. Let us handle it," he said. He didn't want her to have to be a part of that. He knew she was stubborn, that she would insist on it. He stepped closer to her, blocking her path. "Go to Goten. He needs you," he said before he turned towards his brother's body again.
Paige's eyes widened and she nodded. She slipped her arms around her father to give him a tight hug before she turned and went to Goten who had moved to sit on the edge of the Lookout, his head in his hands. She sat next to him, rubbing her hand over his back as she leaned over and put her head on his shoulder.
Goten leaned back into her, giving into his tears, sobbing against her. "I failed her, Paige," he whispered, looking out over the world, licking his lips, trying to stop himself. "That bitch isn't getting away with this. I swear it."
Paige shook her head. "You didn't fail anyone. This is my fault. We can't…" Tears slipped down her cheeks and she cut off, unable to finish. She closed her eyes and let her tears fall.
Goku looked up from his mates, his eyes red. "Let's go help Piccolo, Tien. Sabriena, maybe you should see if Jenny needs any help," he said as he leaned over, kissing her cheek before he wandered over to his friend. He looked down at the bodies on the ground a moment before he knelt and passed a hand over their eyes, closing them. "Let's not keep them parted for long," he said as he gently picked up Rose. Her body was already growing stiff.
Piccolo nodded and picked Dende up, wincing at how cold his brother's body was in his arms. There was a huge lump in his throat, restricting his air, and he couldn't swallow it. His expression went stoic, save for the tears that stung his eyes. He tightened his grip and turned to walk towards the temple that would lead down into the Lookout. "Follow me," he said to Goku. He nodded to Tien, who was moving to clean up the blood left behind by their bodies. "Thank you, my friend."
Tien nodded back, not sure of what to say, so he remained silent and knelt on the tile to start cleaning. He would find them in a minute once all the last traces of blood were gone. He didn't want that as a constant reminder to them all of the loved ones they had lost. Something caught his eye in the pool of blood and he carefully reached out to pick it up. He cleaned it off and held it in the palm of his hand, looking it over. It looked like an ornate key on a necklace. He turned to call after Piccolo, but he and Goku had already disappeared inside. "Paige?" Tien called and got to his feet. "Hey, sweetheart, do you know what this is? Was it Rose's?" he asked as he held it out to her.
Paige lifted her head and turned to Tien, looking at the odd necklace that he held in his hand. She stood up and walked over to him before she reached out and took it. She turned it over in her hands, swallowing hard. "I'm not sure. I'll ask my dad about it when he... you know." She wiped at her eyes again and shoved the key into her pocket. "Thank you, Tien," she said quietly before she went back over to Goten, sighing as she sat down. Her father and Goku would probably clean up Dende's body and Rose's. She wasn't sure what it all entailed. Just that Guardian's were placed below in the maze as was tradition.
Sabriena waited with Jenny and Alice as Piccolo and Goku brought the bodies into the room. It was the same room where they had laid Gramma and Lindsey when they died, where Krillin had laid until his memorial service. They could gather their friends and family there to pay their last respects before their bodies were laid to rest.
Her lip trembled as she looked at them, her thoughts still going to what would happen now that they were gone. She set down the dress Jenny had picked out for Rose to wear and she stepped closer, looking at them. She tipped her head curiously at a thin pink cable that hung out of Dende's pocket. She carefully reached over and pulled on it, her eyes going wide as she recognized the pink earphones she'd left with him the first time she returned to Japan. She'd told him the Lookout would be too quiet without her and that he would miss her. She gasped and clenched the mp3 player in her hands as tears spilled down her cheeks and a sob escaped her throat. "I should've been nicer to him," she cried.
Jenny looked over at Sabriena, recognizing the headphones that she held. She gave a little watery laugh, tears slipping down her cheeks again. "He would wear those all the time you know. When he didn't think we were looking at him." She turned and drew Sabriena to her, turning her face into her neck. "You were nice to him, don't you remember? I don't think he would want to change a thing."
"H-He did like the cake I made for him," Sabriena said, crying and laughing at the same time. She hugged Jenny tighter, her chin trembling. "Jenny, I'm so scared," she whispered in her friend's ear. She drew a shaking breath and stepped back, sniffling harshly as she looked down at the earphones in her hand. "I should make cake for everyone. I think Dende would've liked that."
Jenny nodded. "We will have cake and soup. Maybe even tuck away some cake in here," she said as she looked down at the headphones in Sabriena's hand. "We can leave them with him, if you want? Or perhaps Alice might enjoy them?" She turned and looked at her daughter who was adding some oils to the water they would use to wash the bodies.
Sabriena set the earphones next to Dende's body. "I'll let Alice decide," she said. She stared down at the Namek, her throat tight. She looked up and met her husband's eyes for a moment; he looked twice as upset as she felt. And that was saying something. She blinked a couple times and swallowed before she leaned over and pressed a kiss to Dende's forehead. "Goodbye, my friend," she whispered before she turned and left, heading to the kitchen to make cake for everyone because she didn't know what else to do then.
Alice looked up from her task, at the little headphones that sat there. She remembered asking Dende about them once or twice. He had said that it brought him clarity, not just through the music, but from the person who had given him the little device as well. He said it gave him hope when there was little to be found. That a person could change so much, one small act of kindness that was like a drop in a still pond. How that little drop made big ripples that grew and grew. She smiled to herself as she remembered accusing him of quoting more Disney movies. "I would be honored if I could have them."