A/N: Sorry for the late update. Hopefully now I get back to regular updates since I think I've got it worked out now. Thank you to everyone for the reviews and favourites and sticking with this fic. It means a lot to me.
The cool breeze on her skin brought 18 out of her reverie and she looked around in confusion before she realised she was back on Kami's Lookout. Vaguely, she remembered the final moments of the fight with Broly and she wondered how on earth she managed to survive such an explosive outcome, given that her head was still ringing. She heard footsteps and looked up at 16, who extended his hand, but she refused it in favour of standing up on her own.
"Why are we here?" 18 demanded, seeing the others gathered nearby.
"We have located all the Dragonballs," 16 replied.
"How long was I out for?"
"Long enough. The explosion destroyed the jet and we were forced to go without as we searched."
"Who carried me?" 18 questioned with a wary and disgusted look at Trunks, hoping it hadn't been him.
"I did," 16 replied and she let out a short sigh of relief. "We are ready to summon the dragon."
"Summon the what?"
"Arise, Shenron!" Trunks cried.
The Dragonballs glowed brightly, the sky filled with dark clouds and the light erupted, swirling high above the Lookout to form into the mighty dragon Shenron. The jaws of 18 and Pan dropped in awe, the latter's eyes lit with excitement. For 18, she had never seen anything like this before and with the Namekian's words earlier on how this creature could grant any wish she desired, she began wondering if it was possible to bring her brother back from the dead, as Shenron lowered his head towards the group.
"You who have gathered the seven Dragonballs, I shall grant you two wishes. Speak them now, mortals, so that I can return to my slumber."
"Two wishes?" Trunks mouthed with a look at Ocarin, who nodded. "Uh, very well. Shenron, I wish for this planet to be restored to its former glory before the Androids destroyed it. Cities, wildlife, resources, people, everything and everyone. Except for Android 17."
"Hm, that is within my power to grant, however, it will consume both wishes. I also cannot bring back anyone dead longer than a year," Shenron stated. "Are you sure this is what you want?"
Trunks glanced at Ocarin again, knowing that the Namekian wanted to bring his home planet back and return there. However, Ocarin gave him another nod, granting him permission and the half-Saiyan mouthed 'thank you' and looked up at Shenron. "Yes, that is my wish."
"Very well," Shenron announced. Across the world, life was restored. Cities were restored to their former glory and for cities that were half-way rebuilt, they were instantly finished, the surrounding areas returned like they never vanished. Forests and wildlife bloomed back to life, resurrecting Mother Nature from the ashes of the Androids' reign of terror. "Your wish has been granted. Farewell."
Shenron faded into light, the Dragonballs melted into him and the light dispersed into seven smaller beams of light that shot off from the Lookout in their own directions and the dark clouds faded away. Trunks smiled, feeling proud for having finally restored the damage done to the planet and he turned around to face an impassive 18, although he could tell she was barely holding back her fury.
"The Dragonballs can revive anyone?" she questioned.
"Uh…yeah," Trunks said slowly and he realised that she heard him make the wish. "Did you really think I would wish your brother back to life? After everything you and him did to me? Especially when I barely see any reason to keep you alive."
"I helped you kill Broly."
"I'm sure it was out of the desire to protect the planet and not your own sorry hide," Trunks replied and 18 growled.
"Do those Dragonballs recharge? They're not a one-time use only? The dragon said he can't bring back anyone dead longer than a year."
"They take two years to recharge," Trunks lied and he saw the immense fury cross her face. "Don't even think about it, Android. I will shut you down."
There was no way he was giving her any hope she could revive her brother, lest she plotted against him to do just that. He glanced at Ocarin, who looked like he was able to refute that lie, but then thought better of it and closed his mouth and Trunks looked back at the female Android.
"The remote survived that?" 18 narrowed her eyes.
"Of course," he lied. "My mom is not an idiot. She made it to withstand explosions like that."
For a moment, he sweated that she would call his bluff, but in the end, she seemed convinced and walked away with a huff, no doubt planning his murder, but he would deal with that when the time came.
"Can we get something to eat?" Pan asked. "I'm starving."
"Yeah, sure," Trunks told the child and he looked at Ocarin. "Thanks again. I know you wanted to bring your planet back, but I greatly appreciate it."
The Namekian shrugged. "If I had brought Namek back, I would be alone there, doing nothing but living in the past. Here, my skills are needed and I can have a purpose."
"Again, I appreciate it," Trunks said. "We should get going. Come on, Android!" he shouted at 18, his hand hovering near his shredded jacket as a threat and she rolled her eyes.
"Just you wait," 18 thought as she slowly took to the sky with everyone else and Trunks waved goodbye to Mr. Popo. "When the time is right, we'll see who can throw their weight around. Sooner or later, you'll drop your guard and I will kill you."
She doubted the remote survived the brutal battle, but despite the fight, Trunks didn't look too worse for wear and she didn't want to tempt fate. Not yet, not until she was sure she could stand a chance against him.
They flew over a city and Trunks felt utter joy and pride at seeing it restored, looking exactly like it did before the Androids destroyed it. The world felt alive, having literally crawled back from the dead and he felt proud for having a hand in that. The nightmare was finally over, but he knew that the scars would always remain. The Earth was revived to its former glory and peace was restored, but there was no fix-it band-aid for the survivors of the carnage, the ones who will always suffer from the trauma for years to come. He knew this personally, still suffering the odd nightmare even three years after he initially destroyed the Androids and saved the world. And as long as 18 remained alive, the nightmares would never fully go away.
He glared at the female Android in front of him as they flew towards Capsule Corporation. His hands itched to unleash his power on her and destroy her once more, but he resisted the urge, his battle with Broly having worn him out. He believed that she was irredeemable and deserved only death, but 16 did have a point: if Vegeta could change, so could 18, in theory.
But the difference was that Vegeta made the choice to change. 18, on the other hand, never made such a choice and always refused when Gohan tried the same thing on her and her brother. Even now, she hadn't chosen to stop her evil ways; she was simply preserving herself, even if that meant helping him against Broly. It was only a matter of time before she slipped up, before she went back to her murderous ways and then Trunks could finally destroy her and close that chapter for good.
She did help him defeat Broly and even though he knew it was to save herself, 16's words kept niggling at the back of his mind and it made him wonder: could it be possible, that she could change? Or was it just wishful thinking?
Whatever the case, Trunks was tired and he was thankful when they finally touched down on the grass outside his home, where his mother and Videl were waiting. Pan eagerly jumped into her mother's arms, chirping away about how she saw Shenron and could now go Super Saiyan, even transforming to prove it. Trunks smiled to himself at the display, proud of his efforts and he turned to his mother.
"You did it?" Bulma asked and her son nodded. "You were able to summon Shenron?"
"I made the wish," Trunks grinned. "Everything is back to the way it should be."
She pulled him into a hug and he tightly embraced her back. A weight had been lifted off their shoulders with the restoration of the world and after the embrace, Bulma looked at Ocarin. "I can't thank you enough for your help."
"It was my honour," the Namekian replied.
18 wanted to gag. If this was what she had to put up with in an effort to stay alive, she would rather be dead. She was sorely tempted to make a cutting remark, but decided it would be in her best interests to keep her mouth shut, for now. Her time will come.
"Can we go inside?" Trunks asked his mother. "We've just had a massive battle and I'm starving."
"I was wondering why your clothes are ripped," Bulma said. "I thought you and 18 had another fight."
"Well, unfortunately, she's still here, so no, we didn't," the half-Saiyan said as he followed his mother inside.
18's fists clenched at the implication and she had to double down on her anger. She had to get stronger somehow and finally get her revenge, but she had no idea how she was going to do that without Trunks knowing about it. Looking down at her ruined clothes, 18 decided to do what she always did when she was furious and couldn't destroy stuff: go shopping.
"In that case, I need new clothes," she called out before everyone could enter the house.
"That's not my problem," Trunks called back.
She growled, holding back the urge to smite him. "Fine, leave me in these rags, but what happens if there's another fight and these clothes get so destroyed, I'm naked, because you wouldn't let me get some new clothes."
Trunks was instantly paralysed by the horrifying thought and a disgusted shudder passed through him. A naked 18? How repulsive! "Fine!" he finally managed to say. "I'll have something to eat and then…we'll…go…shopping." He shook his head to rid himself of images of a naked 18 and hurried inside.
The Android smirked to herself. Not only had she made him completely uncomfortable, but now she had given herself a chance to slay him. There would be a moment he would be distracted in some way and she would seize the opportunity to destroy him for good. As Trunks staggered inside, no doubt scarred for life, 18 turned towards Ocarin. "So, what are you?"
He recoiled. "Excuse me?"
She tilted her head at him. "Last time I saw someone like you, we didn't get to exchange pleasantries. I simply killed him and I've been curious to know what he was."
"I am a Namekian," Ocarin said standoffishly. "The one you speak so casually of was called Piccolo, a defender of both Planet Namek and Earth. He was a mighty warrior."
"Hm, obviously not mighty enough. I killed him in one blow."
Ocarin hummed, trying to not let her words get to him. He knew what she was trying to do: goad him into a fight where no doubt she would win. He'd already tested himself against her brother and lost and the outcome in a fight against the female Android would be no different. He was no fool and yet, he knew he had to get stronger. He was outclassed by the Androids and had stood no chance against Broly. If he were to remain here on Earth, he needed to be able to defend it whenever the time came. He couldn't spend every fight being beaten so easily, but it was not like the Namekians that made up his being were warriors, having fused together out of necessity.
"Come on, let's have a little match, just the two of us," 18 goaded. "Unless that big, muscly freak wore you out too much. I'll even go easy on you if that's the case."
Ocarin crossed his arms. "I know what you're trying to do and I will not fall for it. You will have to find some other way to sate your violent urges."
"Well, it's not like I'm allowed inside the house," 18 said. "Prince Blondie thinks I'll go postal and kill his precious mother. He's not exactly wrong."
"Bulma is a wonderful person," 16 spoke up. "She is intelligent and caring and as such, I will not allow you to do such a thing, 18."
"You couldn't stop me even if you tried," the female sneered at him. "Both of you are so weak, it's embarrassing. How does Trunks expect you to help protect the stupid humans when you can't even protect yourselves?"
"A friendly spar cannot hurt," Ocarin decided. It probably was not a good idea, but he desperately needed to get stronger, because she did have a point. "If I need to help destroy you, it wouldn't hurt to learn some weaknesses."
"We should not be fight-" 16 started, but 18 cut him off.
"Shut up, 16," she snapped as she slid into a stance. "You're such a bore. Ready when you are, Namekian."
-X-
Luke and Thomas slowly edged out onto the frozen lake together, both struggling to comprehend what just happened. Hours earlier, the lake had been completely annihilated at the climax of a powerful battle, leaving only a crater behind, but then all of a sudden, the lake was restored as if nothing had happened earlier in the day. Intrigued, but mostly confused, the two villagers were now on the lake, trying to see if they could figure out what exactly was going on. Luke expertly skated around the cracks and fissures in the ice, looking for answers and as he gazed into the watery depths below, something caught his attention.
"Hey, Thomas, come look at this," he called and his friend quickly joined him. "You see that?"
"What am I looking at?" Thomas queried.
"There. Do you see it?"
Thomas crouched onto his hands and knees and peered through the crack. Faintly, he could see a tiny flicker of some kind of light and at first, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, but then there was another flicker of purplish light and he frowned.
"What is that-?"
An explosion of water and shattered ice consumed him and Luke was sent flying. He slid along the ice, his body broken and aching from the impact. His breaths came in as heavy gasps and he peered over to where his friend had been annihilated and something – actually, someone – rose up from the depths of the lake, his body surrounded by a golden glow as his murderous eyes flashed red.
"Kill you," Broly snarled. "Going to break you, weakling."
The last thing Luke saw was a flash of green light and then his life was snuffed out of existence.