A/N: I've attempted a slight spin on Saiyan history, trying to add something different to it that I think could fit, I guess, so I don't know how it'll go, but it is an important part of this story, so let me know what you think.

Minotia was screaming at the top of his lungs and Zangya was at a loss at how to calm him down. All the reasons he would normally cry about had been taken care off and the only thing the Hera could put it down to was that her baby son was stressed, that he could sense the trepidation that hung oppressively in the air. She could feel it too, but she pushed to the back of her mind; calming Minotia was her biggest priority. Tapion was usually the best one for the job with his gentle and nurturing heart; that didn't mean Zangya couldn't be caring, but it was sometimes a struggle for her. She wasn't used to caring about another individual, but since giving birth to Minotia, the event had brought out a whole different side to Zangya that she never thought existed. Sometimes it caused her trouble as she tried to reconcile her past with her future, but she felt that some days she managed…some days, like right now…not so much and it made her feel like a hopeless mother, like she didn't deserve to raise this child.

"Come on, Minotia," Zangya said as she gently bounced the baby, hoping to get him to stop crying. "Please…stop? I wish your father would return so we can both have some peace of mind. I hope he's not far away…coming home soon."

The baby continued to cry and in desperation, Zangya started humming a song. She wasn't musically inclined; again that was another specialty of Tapion's, but she felt encouraged when Minotia's cries dropped from wails to whimpers. Her humming strengthened and soon, Minotia stopped crying, cuddled against her chest as he sniffed. Emboldened by this, Zangya allowed herself a small smile.

She could do this after all.

-X-

Ocarin was dead.

Pan's blood thudded in her ears and everything around her became white noise as she looked upon the bisected halves of her friend. Her blood boiled and raged, as the doppelganger of her father turned around with a sinister smile. The rage burst the dam walls and Pan screamed in fury, transforming into a Super Saiyan and her power continued to rise. Tears formed in her eyes, the deaths of two good friends hitting her hard and her emotions became the fuel for her ascension. Anything that was not pinned down was hurled by the force of her rage, a whirlwind of golden energy and bio-electricity swarming around her. Black watched in amusement as Pan gave one final scream and breached the barriers of Super Saiyan 2, her eyes fierce and every strand of hair a blade of golden-white. Tapion was shocked at what he was witnessing: the fury of an emotional teenager combined with the strength of a Super Saiyan 2.

"I'll…I'll kill you for that!" Pan spat, cupping her hands to the side. "I will make you pay!"

She launched the Super Kamehameha Wave and the powerful beam smashed into Black with the fury of a wrathful maiden. She increased the power of the beam, shredding the road and anything else that wasn't tied down in her attempt to avenge Ocarin. When the beam finally ended and the debris settled, the dust slowly cleared – and Black stood there, smirking and unharmed.

"How?" Pan cried in horror. "How is that possible? That was with my full power!"

"Oh, come now, did you really expect that to actually work?" Black taunted. "Your little transformation is miniscule compared to my power. Throw everything you've got at me; it'll only serve in making me stronger and my vengeance that much easier to achieve."

"You're a monster!" Pan yelled.

"Me, a monster? Outrageous. If anything, it is the mortals that scurry about and sully the universe that are the real monsters. You spit in the faces of the gods and for your sacrilege, you have been judged and the punishment is death."

"And you're the executioner," Tapion said.

"Judge, jury and executioner," Black grinned. "You have been convicted and found wanting."

"Pan, we need to go."

"No!" the teenager growled. "He needs to pay for what he did to Ocarin!"

"We can't fight him. He tanked your Kamehameha Wave like it was a bee sting," Tapion stated. They had to go: despite Pan's ascension, he knew they were both no match for their opponent and they needed to leave before they ended up like Ocarin. But a teenager with the power of a Super Saiyan 2 was not going to be easy to budge, not when she was hell-bent on fighting Black.

"Actually, it felt like a bothersome fly," Black felt compelled to point out.

Pan snarled at the suggestion. Even though it looked like her father, she wanted to pulverise him so bad. "He needs to pay-"

Tapion struck her with a knife-handed chop, landing on a pressure point. Pan never expected the blow and she instantly reverted to her base form as the blow forced her unconscious, the rage swept out of her like a candle in the wind. Tapion quickly caught her as Black made a face of appraisal.

"That was quite brave of you," he sneered. "Because now you've lost your only chance of surviving this encounter…not that your chance was very high to begin with."

He flew at them – Tapion fired a ki blast at the ground and the explosion ripped up in Black's face. He crossed his arms over his face to protect against the debris – not that it mattered to him – but when the smoke cleared, he realised that his prey had disappeared.

"Wherever you've gone," Black growled in frustration. "I will find you and I will kill you."

-X-

Something was wrong.

This wasn't Sadal.

Something had happened here and nothing resembled Sadal as Trunks had last seen it; there wasn't a single sign of life for miles and any form of civilisation that remained was now crumbled ruins. Ruins that hadn't been touched in decades.

"What happened here?" Trunks wondered. "Where is everybody? I can't sense…anyone at all."

None of this made any sense. Surely, he said 'Sadal', right? He hadn't gotten it wrong and the Eternal Dragon sent him to a desolate planet by mistake? It would be a wasted wish if that was the case and with Black threatening the world, Trunks couldn't afford to make mistakes. It might have been easier to simply wish Cabba, Kale and Caulifla to Earth instead, but with Black's astonishing power, Trunks knew he needed more than three Saiyans. He need an army, hoping that in the past five years, Sadal had built up such a force, their defeat at Bojack's hands a strong motivator; plus, Trunks figured it'd be easier to explain to the Saiyans and ask for help then simply wish them to Earth and try to explain the situation to them before Black found them. He wanted them to be prepared for what they were getting into, but looking around at the barren, soulless wasteland made Trunks wonder if something else had gotten to the Saiyans instead, diminishing his hopes of fighting Black.

"I have an hour to kill; I best survey this planet and hope there is someone here who could help."

As he raced through the sky, noting that the gravitational pull was at least ten times stronger than that of Earth's, by his estimate, he thought of Lazuli and Azure and he could only hope that they would be okay, knowing that Black would hunt them down. The thought of Black brought a burning ache to Trunks' body, a fierce desire to stop him and the hurt of him wearing Gohan's face and it upset the half-Saiyan that Gohan's face, twisted with malice, was the last thing his mother saw –

Trunks suddenly descended and crashed to the canyon-scarred ground, landing on his knees as tears ran down his face, his body wracked with heavy sobs as he finally mourned the loss of his mother. She had been such a strong, supportive pillar in his life, his driving force and the one person who kept him sane after Gohan's death; he couldn't imagine what life would be like without her and even though he could wish her back with the Dragonballs, it didn't make the loss hurt any less – his mother was dead and it was a shot to his heart and so, Trunks cried and mourned her passing, fists clenching as he swore to avenge her death, no matter the cost.

"I will make him pay, Mom. I will make him pay for taking you away from me – you have my word, my promise, that I will do everything I can to destroy Black and then I will wish you back to life."

His tears slowed when his hypersensitive ears picked up wind movements, an indicator that someone was flying and whoever it was, they were flying right towards him. Wiping the tears away, Trunks stood, trying to pinpoint the location and he slid into a defensive stance – he had no idea what to expect, but after so much tragedy already, he wanted something good to happen. He couldn't sense whoever it was, but he could feel a…intense pressure, but nothing more and just that feeling alone captured Trunks' breath in limbo – was it a potential ally or another foe to him to face?

Waves of dust stretched into the sky from the sheer speed and Trunks tightened his stance, wanting to ready for anything – and a man approached him…only this was no mere man. He came to a stop before Trunks and the half-Saiyan had to tilt his head backwards to look at his face, given the man's seven-foot frame. He was massive, with thick muscles coiled tightly with power in such a way that made Trunks feel like an ant in comparison to this man. His eyes were dark, steely and scrutinising, but also with a hint of age-old weariness. His black hair was thick and shaggy, reaching to his shoulders and he even had fierce sideburns that added to his intimidating appearance. Trunks noticed that his monkey tail was loose, unlike the Saiyan standard, and even that appendage looked threatening. The Saiyan was bare-chested and wore an ancient-looking battle skirt, boots and bracers that Trunks had never seen before.

"Who are you?" the Saiyan questioned and his nostrils flared like a bull's. "You're a Saiyan…not even a full-blooded Saiyan. Where did you come from?"

His voice was commanding and powerful, as if he had never once feared anything in his life and was used to people bowing before him. Trunks took an involuntary step back, the Saiyan's sheer presence making him re-evaluate his situation and wanting to be as far away from him as possible. It was like there was an invisible aura around the Saiyan that choked the air and Trunks knew that this Saiyan was responsible for that unexplainable pressure he noticed earlier.

Eventually, Trunks found his voice. "My name is Trunks. I'm only a half-Saiyan and I came from Earth looking for help from other Saiyans. This is Planet Sadal, correct?"

"It was," the Saiyan replied gruffly. "And then the Saiyans destroyed it in their conflicts with one another before abandoning this world and moving on to the next. Now, now, I can no longer hear them, apart from you. The Saiyan blood lives on, but it is diluted and no longer fierce as it used to be."

"My blood is fierce and strong," Trunks couldn't help but growl at the mammoth Saiyan. "I seek help to save my world from destruction and I asked to be sent to Planet Sadal to search for it, but I was wrong."

"The Sadal you seek is in another universe. How did you get sent here?"

"The Dragonballs."

"Ah," the Saiyan nodded his head. "Perhaps you should have specified which Sadal you wished to be sent to. Those Namekian Dragons are finicky beasts. Useful, but finicky."

Trunks felt embarrassed and therefore didn't feel the need to correct the Saiyan. Instead, he responded. "I'm sorry, but who are you?"

"I am Wu-kon," the Saiyan replied. "I am the God of Saiyans."

There was a moment before Trunks' brain finally realised what he'd been told. "What?"

-X-

Black soared through the sky, intent on chasing his prey and continuing his mission. Massacring the residents of West City had lifted a weight off his shoulders, but his job was not finished – it had barely begun, but the slight resistance he had faced were annoying; minor inconveniences that he would delight in eviscerating. He would destroy them all, destroy all the mortals and finally bring paradise to the universe. After all, who could stop him?

A ki blast hurtled out of the city he was flying over and Black grinned as he smacked it aside: someone wanted to die. He dropped onto the streets and grinned at the military forces before him. Infantrymen and tanks filled the streets, all bravado, like they stood a chance against him.

"Open fire!" one of them cried and their weapons unloaded energy blasts upon him. Capsule Corporation-designed weaponry meant specifically for moments like this.

On someone like Trunks, the barrage would be effective if he didn't transform, an overwhelming pummelling that could bring him down. But on someone one Black, who welcomed the salvo with open arms, the grin still on his face as the blasts felt like gnats to him. Let them have a moment of hope, let them think they could stop him, let them think they have a chance –

He flew out of the barrage, his fist buried deep into a soldier's chest. Like a whirlwind, he moved, faster than the eye could see as he ripped the soldiers apart and in a matter of seconds, every single soldier lay dead. The tanks tried to follow him, but he was too fast, using the Aura Slide to slice one tank in half and it exploded, while with a second tank, Black shoved an energy blast of his own down its cannon and the tank erupted from within. He heard a roar and looked up, seeing a squadron of jet fighters fly overhead. They turned and unleashed their payloads upon Black – he took the hits head on, the explosions tickling his body and he shot into the sky, chasing after the jets. One by one, Black tore through them, their carcasses dropping to the ground like burning flies.

"Time to erase the filth," he thought as he cupped his hands to the side. "Kamehameha!"

-X-

The world had been thrown into chaos and for someone who had thrived on chaos for twenty years; it was a surreal feeling for Lazuli. She had ruined the world and drove humans to near the point of extinction...she repented and the world recovered, bringing a kind of peace to the Android's life that she didn't know she needed and she had enjoyed it. Enjoyed the quiet, enjoyed the family life and now, it had been flipped upside-down with Black's arrival. Perhaps this was Lazuli's comeuppance? She had slaughtered so many for so long, it was only a matter of time before she had to pay for her crimes. Changing her ways wasn't simply enough; the world had to suffer instead. An unstoppable threat wiping life from the planet in an instant, easily defeating any resistance; it reminded Lazuli of her past so much that it caused an ache in her heart. She had been in Black's position herself and to see it from Trunks' point of view for once, to actually experience what he had gone through…the clarity rang strong. She now had to defend what mattered most to her against someone she couldn't beat, who killed without discrimination.

And to make matters worse, he wore Gohan's face, the very same face that would haunt her nightmares following her change. When she first killed Gohan, she barely gave him another thought afterwards; the deed had been done and he would never bother her again. But here he was again, alive and completely different. She had no idea how Gohan was back again, but Lazuli knew she had no choice but to kill him again, to protect the world and Azure. Unfortunately, their numbers were falling; with Ocarin dead and the Dragonballs de-activated, the future looked bleak. Lazuli had no idea how Trunks was going to return without Shenron's aid, but until he finally did, it was up to her to take his place and lead the fight against Gohan Black.

Lazuli pulled up to a stop above the woods, Azure and 16 beside her. Mother, daughter and the Android looked down at the treetops before the child finally spoke up. "Why are we here, Mom?"

"We're fighting a war and we need all available help," Lazuli replied. "And since Tapion came this way with Pan, I'd say we're at the right place."

She descended first, discovering the elaborate tree-house that Zangya built and Tapion improved over the years. Her daughter and 16 arrived with her and with a small smirk, Lazuli floated to the front door and politely knocked on it. Ten years ago, she would've kicked or blasted the door off its hinges. How times have changed. The door opened almost automatically and relief passed over Tapion's face as he widened the gap and allowed them all inside.

"Nice digs," Lazuli said as she took a quick look at her surroundings. "You've made yourself a nice home here. So, where's Pan?"

"She should be waking up in a moment," Tapion replied as he shut the door and lead them further inside. "I brought her here so she'd have somewhere comfortable and peaceful to wake up to."

"What happened?"

"Nothing, really. She ascended when we met Black, after Ocarin…was killed. I had to knock her out to stop her from fighting him."

Lazuli let out a low impressed whistle. "You knocked out a Super Saiyan 2? Her guard had to have been down for that to happen."

"Lazuli?" Pan groaned groggily as she greeted them. "Where – what's going on? Where's Trunks?"

"Gone to get help," the Android replied, as Zangya came into the room, sans Minotia. "And that's why we're here."

Zangya made a face. "You want me to help you? I'd like to, but I cannot leave Minotia."

"You might not get a choice," Lazuli said. "Black is out there, tearing the world apart. Sooner or later, he'll find his way here and you won't have a chance at stopping him. Help us now and we might have a chance while we can. It's our only option."

"And what about my son?" Zangya asked, as Tapion hooked his sword over his shoulder, sighing at the comfortable weight. "He's only a baby and can't fend for himself."

"We take him to Videl. She can look after him until we return."

"Full offense, but Videl is a human," Zangya stated, her face hard. "How the hell do you expect her to look after my baby? She won't be able to protect him in any way at all."

"She raised Pan," Lazuli pointed out and the teenager perked up.

"How is my mom?" she inquired. "Have you…heard from her?"

"She is fine," 16 replied. "Evacuations are still underway and with people panicking, it is creating chaos in its own way, but your mother is okay."

The teenager nodded and noticed Azure. Without a word, she moved towards the child and hunched over her, whispering in her ear. Lazuli watched them, but she didn't say anything when Pan steered Azure towards the front door. Some peace and quiet in a calm place would do great for her child and she was thankful for Pan for taking her away from the adult conversation.

"So, what's happened with Trunks?" Tapion asked. "Where did he go?"

"He made a wish to Shenron to be sent to Sadal for an hour," Lazuli explained. "After an hour, he would be automatically brought back here with reinforcements. However, Black killed Ocarin, which killed Shenron and now Trunks is stuck there, so we have no choice but to go on without him."

"Not that I want to be a downer or anything, but what are our chances without Trunks?" Tapion wondered.

-X-

Trunks' mind swam as he tried to process the news and ended up repeating himself. "A God of Saiyans? Is that even a thing? I never knew Saiyans had a god."

"They did, for millennia, because I was the first Saiyan, the first to shed our natural Great Ape forms and take on this form before you. It was glorious to be worshipped," Wu-kon said, a hint of nostalgia and sadness in his tone. "They stopped gifting tributes and seeking glory in my name and that of my brethren long ago, long before they brought our home world to ruin. My brethren, most likely inflicted by the conflict instigated by our descendants, killed each other until only I was left. I have been residing on the moon ever since…until you arrived."

"If you're a God, then can you help me?" Trunks asked, slowly overcoming his shock. "My home is being attacked and I came here looking for help."

Wu-kon's eyes narrowed. "A true Saiyan never asks for help…except Yamoshi. Do you not have the power to fight your opponent?"

"I have plenty of power, but it's not enough."

The God chuckled. "Show me."

"Huh?"

"Show me your power, Saiyan. Show me how strong you are."

"I…uh…well alright, here goes," Trunks replied and he summoned every inch of power he had to transform into Super Saiyan 3. Wu-kon crossed his arms and gave a small nod of approval.

"It appears you've reached the pinnacle of Saiyan strength, but you haven't tapped into your full potential."

"I'm confused," Trunks admitted.

"Tell me, half-Saiyan, were you born with a tail?"

"I was, but it was removed at birth. Earth doesn't have a moon anymore, but my mother didn't want that risk. My father wasn't impressed."

"Yes, your father. Royal blood. I can smell it in your veins. Interesting. Allow me."

Wu-kon held out his hand and Trunks felt a strange sensation in his lower back. There was a rip and the half-Saiyan frowned as he looked over his shoulder, shocked to see a gold-furred monkey tail waving lazily behind him…his own tail!

"What the-?"

"There," Wu-kon said. "Now you can achieve your full potential."

As soon as he said that, Trunks felt the power swelling in his body. The strain wasn't as apparent as it used to be, but even with the increase in power, he still felt it wouldn't be enough to face Black.

"Fight me," Wu-kon commanded. "Show me that the Saiyans haven't disgraced themselves over the centuries. Show me if you are worthy to face me."

Trunks lunged and threw a punch – Wu-kon dodged it. The hybrid fired off a multitude of punches and kicks, but not a single one hit their mark…the God dodged every single strike with swift ease. In response, Wu-kon simply tapped Trunks' chest with his index finger and the hybrid found himself blasted along the ruined desert ground. When he finally came to a stop, Trunks sat up – and could only see the God as a tiny speck in the distance. His jaw dropped.

"Such power with barely a touch of his finger. He truly is a god. If I can get him to come with me to Earth, we can stop Black for good."

Trunks stood up and Wu-kon appeared before him. "You are strong, but if you cannot beat your opponent with this kind of power, then what hope do you have of winning?"

"So help me like I've been asking," Trunks snapped, resuming his normal form. He quickly checked his tail, found it still remained and was now brown-furred. "I understand Saiyans like to fight alone, but they're all gone now and I'm the only half-Saiyan left in this universe. That ideal is out-dated and for who I'm fighting against, I need all the help I can get."

"The answer is no," Wu-kon replied. "As much as I am a Saiyan and love to fight, I am also a God; my full power is capable of destroying the universe."

"Well, this guy wouldn't need your full strength. You could probably kill him in one strike."

Wu-kon side-eyed him. "You are a strange Saiyan. Most would enjoy the thrill of fighting a stronger opponent and don't see the need to involve a deity in their battles."

"Yes, but I need to win," Trunks said, exasperated. "He is killing people and threatening my family, my world…he's already killed my mother, right in front of my young daughter. I'm not asking for much…I just want this guy defeated so I can live my life peacefully."

The God's eyebrow quirked. "I repeat, you are a strange Saiyan. Regardless, this is a mortal endeavour and I have no need to get involved. Return to me if a God of Destruction comes your way…if you survive an encounter with one."

"That's not good enough!" Trunks exploded. He needed help; he need to stop Black by any means…he was desperate. "I'm not leaving until you help me in some way…because if my world dies and I go with it, it will be the end of the Saiyan race! Do you hear me? The Saiyans will be extinct and it will be because you decided to sit back and let it happen, just like with Planet Vegeta."

Wu-kon narrowed his eyes. "You are quite foolish to talk like that to me. I could crush you like a bug and it would be effortless on my behalf. Planet Vegeta was beyond my influence and since the Saiyans felt they no longer needed me…perhaps I no longer needed them. But I can see that fire in your eyes, the desire and will to win no matter the costs, the fire of a true Saiyan. This is the offer I make to you: if you show me that you are worthy, I will help you ascend beyond your mortal form; at the very least, that should be enough to assist you. If you disgrace yourself, I will destroy you, since you will die anyway and if it's at my hand, I will make it an honourable death. Deal?"

Trunks weighed it up. He desperately needed to stop Black and while there was the possibility of failure, at least he had an opportunity to grow stronger and possibly gain the strength he needed to fight Black. With a nod, Trunks got into a stance and with a shout, he powered up to his maximum, reaching Super Saiyan 3. "I'm ready whenever you are!"

Wu-kon grinned and squared his feet with his shoulders as he shouted. Wind whipped up around him in a furious frenzy and it took all of Trunks' strength to not be thrown aside, but he started sliding backwards from the immense force. Finally, he was literally blown off his feet when Wu-kon powered up and when Trunks sat up and opened his eyes, his jaw dropped in shock.

Wu-kon's body was adorned with white fur, save for his hands, chest and face, while his hair had become silver blades reaching down to his waist like a Super Saiyan 3, with two long thin strands hanging over his face. His black eyes were now sky blue and his tail had grown at least three times in length. The pressure around him had intensified and Trunks felt like he was suffocating under the sheer power radiating off the God.

"Holy crap, no wonder why he's a God. I can't even sense his power and I can see why he refuses to fight; he could definitely destroy the universe with this power. I wonder, could I utilise this power as well?"

A silvery aura surrounded Wu-kon, intercut with blades of aqua-green lightning bolts and Trunks gasped as he realised something: Wu-kon was the one he saw in his vision when he ascended to Super Saiyan 3 for the first time. A Saiyan God nodding at him with approval when he reached the pinnacle of ultimate Saiyan power. After his transformation and due to pressing matters at the time, Trunks never gave the vision any thought, but standing before a literal God right now brought that back and to Trunks, it could only mean one thing: he had to be worthy to gain a God's attention from the other side of the universe. He had to be!

"Ready for not, here I come," Trunks cried, determination and courage driving him as he flew at the God of Saiyans, prepared to give it his all and prove his value.

-X-

Flames licked the crumbling wreckages of the buildings that once adorned the city. The road was warped and shredded, the flaming carcasses of cars piled up on the streets, corpses littering the pathways. Black walked calmly amongst the devastation, fire reflecting in his sinister eyes, as he savoured the justice he had wrought upon the populace. A necessary act to bring paradise to the universe, to erase the mistakes of the gods who had allowed their arrogance to contaminate all of creation. The gods had paid for their mistakes; now it was time for the mortals to repent, to be judged for their own arrogance. It was why he wore this body, among other reasons: this body had been touched by the realms of the Kais, touched by the Elder Kai himself, a blasphemous act that made the body the perfect tool to be used by Black; a symbol of his righteous rage.

And with near limitless potential power at his fingertips, Black knew that no-one could stand up to him and it was exactly as it should be: he, the deity passing judgement on the disgusting, worthless mortals and once he had expunged them and their false gods from the universe, then peace could finally be restored. His shark-like smile gleamed in the inferno: the Zero Mortal Plan was in full swing and could not be stopped.

Black lazily raised his hand and launched an energy blast at the remains of the city.

A/N: Wu-kon is named after Sun Wukong and yes, his transformation is based upon Super Saiyan 5.