"Trunks!" Lazuli called and he turned towards her, a smile stretching across his face and she wrapped her arms around him. However, since she was still in her Super Android form and therefore much taller than him, the hug planted his face right in her chest…not that he would ever complain. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too," Trunks smiled, breathing in her perfume as he held her tight. "Looks like you did a good job in holding down the fort. Where's Azure?"

Lazuli broke away. "She's fine…unconscious, but fine. Black knocked her out."

At hearing that, Trunks whirled around towards the villainous pair. "Do you feel brave, Black, attacking a child?"

Black shrugged carelessly. "She should count her blessings…it's only a matter of time before she suffers the same fate as the rest of the mortals and enjoy the privilege of time I have given her."

Trunks snarled, noticing Zamasu. "Who the hell are you? Black's sidekick?"

"Nothing so debase. I am Zamasu and we are associates. We have the same desires and goals…it's almost like we are one mind."

"Well, I don't care who you are; you fight with Black, you're dead."

Zamasu chuckled. "Foolish mortal. You should learn your place."

"Funny, because I'm about to show you yours."

Trunks stepped away from Lazuli, his face grim and determined, while his tail waved behind him, catching his wife's attention. However, she knew now was not the time to ask him about it and instead, she watched as Trunks squared his feet. He kept his mind calm and focused, seeking out the power buried within him, thanks to Wu-kon. He tapped into it, bringing it to the surface, feeling it run rampant through his body. A standard aura surrounded Trunks and as the floodgates opened, he gave a shout as he attempted to seize control of the power. Black and Zamasu glared as Trunks was covered by glowing blue light, gold energy sparking off from his silhouette. The combined light was blinding and a beam of gold energy shot into the sky, running along the dark clouds until it consumed them. The entire planet shook from the magnitude of Trunks' powering up and while Lazuli watched in amazement, Black and Zamasu simply wore annoyed expressions. Trunks' screams could be heard within the light, echoing as the surrounding area trembled and quaked.

The gold beam gave a final surge and dissipated, as Trunks' silhouette curled in on itself, struggling to contain the power that swamped his body. Finally, he straightened with a burst of control, the blue light fading away to reveal Trunks surrounded by a hue of red light. He had gained a few inches in height, although he was still shorter than Lazuli; his overall body musculature was also thinner. Crimson fur covered his torso and arms, save for his chest and abdomen, which meant his upper clothes were gone. Trunks' tail was also crimson, while his hair had spiked up similar to his Super Saiyan form, but was furthermore shaggy thick at the back, reaching to his shoulders…and it was black, just like his eyebrows. His eyes were sapphire, filled with fierce primal power and when Trunks brought his godly aura to life, it was the orange flames of a raging fire.

"The blasphemy," Zamasu murmured, incensed. "The audacity. To think you, a mortal, are worthy of a god's power…to think that you consider yourself a god like us…the arrogance!"

Lazuli was still confused and awe-struck: she definitely couldn't sense Trunks now, only the immense pressure and she was curious how he had gained such power. Trunks kept his steely gaze on Black and Zamasu and he drew his sword, then hunched over, his blade horizontal. He appeared to move and Zamasu gasped, but Trunks remained right where he was, still hunched over.

"Behind you," Trunks said.

Zamasu glanced back, saw the half-Saiyan and the Afterimage shot forth, completing the move as it bisected the Supreme Kai and merged with its creator. Trunks then kicked Zamasu in the back and he smashed into the ground.

"Holy crap, the speed and power on him!" Lazuli thought. "Finally, the tables have turned."

Black whirled around and swiped with his Aura Slide, but Trunks swatted his hand aside and drove his blade towards his adversary. It ripped through cloth, scratching the flesh and Black snarled as he darted backwards, Trunks' Godly speed unnerving him. Instead, he unleashed a series of energy blasts, hoping to pulverise him, but Trunks shot through the barrage and smashed him in the jaw with a powerful right hook that caused the foundations of the city to shudder.

Zamasu spat dirt and rocks as he stood, completely unharmed from the Inferno God Blade. He dusted himself off and saw Lazuli right before him – she smiled and waved and kicked him in the jaw.

"What are you?" the Supreme Kai queried. "I cannot sense you…and yet, you are not a god."

"No, I'm an Android," Lazuli said and she pivoted, planting a spin kick into his gut that shot him like a pinball through the rubble of the city.

"It is a testament to the mortals' arrogance that they think they can create artificial life," Zamasu said as he picked himself up. "That they think they are like gods because they build robots. And to have that artificial life replicate mortals...they spit in the faces of the gods with their arrogance."

"Do you really enjoy hearing yourself speak?" Lazuli questioned as she punched him. She followed up with a crushing and precise kick that shattered Zamasu's left arm. A palm strike to the side of his head smashed him into a ruined building. "Perhaps I should rip your tongue out."

"Such a violent beast," the Supreme Kai as he stepped out of the ruin and he flicked his left arm, the bones healed from the savage kick. "But that is what happens when you consort with the most primitive and violent mortals of them all…the barbaric Saiyans."

Lazuli punched him back through the building. "Says the guy who thinks murdering millions is not barbaric at all." She knew as soon as she said it how hypocritical that made her sound, but she didn't care. She'd been punished for her crimes and made up for it, so she refused to dwell on it and she refused to let this bastard get away with what he'd done.

-X-

Azure slowly came to with a groan and pushed away at the hand that was shaking her.

"You're a lot tougher than you look," Zangya commented.

"Where's Mom?" the child asked, looking around, a slight panic rising in her before she realised that her mother was naturally undetectable. "Is Tapion okay?"

"I'll be fine," the Konatsian replied as he joined his partner, his bloodied stumped bandaged and held against his chest. "I won't be able to play my ocarina again, but I'll live."

"I'll give you a senzu bean," Azure offered as she retrieved the satchel. "Why didn't you eat the one I gave you?"

"I gave it to Zangya. She needed it more. How many beans are left?"

"Two, after this one," Azure answered as she brandished a bean to the Konatsian.

"Save it."

Zangya made a shocked face. "Tapion, you have to. You need your arm to help fight."

"Zangya," he said softly, touching her arm tenderly with his hand. "I'm not strong enough and we need to save those beans for those who are. If there's any chance of us surviving this, it won't be with my help; it'll be down to Trunks and Lazuli."

"We are fighting for our very lives, our son's life and you want to throw away the one chance you have of assisting because you think you're not strong enough? What happens if we have a shot at victory and we fail because you refused to regrow your arm?"

"What happens if Trunks and Lazuli, our biggest shots at surviving, go down and can't be helped because I ate one of the beans? Ocarin is dead, we still have to find Pan and she would need it more than I do; that attack she took was brutal. What happens if Azure here gets injured? You've seen Black's power. I'd rather have one arm than let a child die."

"So, you're tapping out?" Zangya grilled, trying to reign in her emotions. "Right when our son needs us the most, you're going to quit?"

"I'm not quitting," he argued as the city around them rumbled. "I'm giving our stronger friends everything they need to win this battle, even if it's at my expense. Look, we can't sit around here and argue this all day; we need to find Pan."

Discomforted by the argument between the couple, Azure decided to search for Pan instead, trying to remember which direction the teenager had been blasted. Focusing her senses, the young girl managed to lock onto Pan's signature, weak as it was, and quickly took off. She soon found the elder quarter-Saiyan buried in a pile of rubble and without hesitation, Azure dug her out, Pan stirring in the process. Azure then gave Pan a senzu bean as she came to and within seconds, the teenager was back on her feet, looking no worse for wear.

"Thanks, Azure," Pan smiled and then the smile was replaced with apprehension. "How's the fight going?"

"I don't know," Azure admitted softly with a shrug of her small shoulders. "I need to find my mother."

The city trembled again and Pan nodded. "If we head in the right direction, we'll find her. She might need our help."

-X-

The power flowing through Trunks' veins was unlike anything he'd ever felt before. It was like he was in an entirely different realm than what he was used to, his previous transformations and their strength paling in comparison to his Saiyan God form. The power was almost intoxicating and if it wasn't for the pummelling he was delivering to Black, Trunks was certain he'd lose himself to the immense power…and he felt like he hadn't even tapped into the form's full potential.

Black swung his fist; Trunks blocked and socked him in the gut – Black gagged as he felt the reverberation through his body from the force of the blow. Trunks struck with a spinning kick and Gohan's doppelganger smashed into the ground, throwing up chucks of rubble as his body tore through the ground. Flinging his hands out to his side, Trunks charged godly energy into his palms, feeling the intensity of his ki, felt the power swimming in his veins and then he slammed his palms together, combining the two blasts into one.

"Take this, Black!" Trunks cried. "Final Flash!"

Infused with the ki of a god, the powerful beam hurtled towards its target like a freight train and smashed into the rising Black with the force of a hurricane. The imposter tried to hold back the beam, but the force of the Final Flash was too much for him and he was swept off his feet as he was drilled across the city, culminating in a massive explosion that instantly destroyed the surrounding area in a ten block radius. A huge mushroom cloud reached into the dark sky and Trunks lowered his hands, wondering if he should dare to hope for the possible: had he finally won the battle? If Black was truly dead, Trunks would be sending a fruit basket to Wu-kon every month in thanks…or a different kind of gift that the God of Saiyans would appreciate if he didn't like fruit baskets.

Preparing himself for any kind of outcome, Trunks followed the trail of destruction the Final Flash had wrought until he reached Black's resting place. Descending to the edge of the crater (he was secretly impressed by the volatile power, having blasted several hundred feet underground); Trunks drew his sword and waited for any sign of life. A few rocks tumbled into the crater, echoing as they fell, but the half-Saiyan refused to let up his guard.

…if Black had survived that Final Flash, then Trunks wasn't sure what he could do next.

Movement!

Trunks fired an energy blast into the crater; it exploded and Black flew out from the blast, landing on the other side of the crater. While the hybrid was furious at his adversary surviving, he was proud of doing some lasting damage…Black was bleeding from his eyes, mouth and nose, as well as numerous cuts on his body through his ripped clothing, but…he was grinning like a madman.

What the hell?!

"Wow, that was impressive," Black smirked as he spat a globule of blood. "Just a little more power and perhaps I would've been done…as it is, I can barely stand."

"Perhaps I can help you with that," Trunks offered, brandishing his sword.

Black chuckled and it sounded so unnerving with Gohan's voice…Gohan never chuckled like that…so sinisterly. "Ah, you amuse me, Trunks, but that's where it ends. You see, you've infuriated me…a mortal with the power of a god…I was born a god and therefore, that power is rightfully mine. For you to think that you have the right to come into my realm and take that power for yourself…I don't know who is more arrogant: you or the gods responsible for the creation of the mortals?"

"How about you stop monologuing and start making suggestions on how you wish to die?"

Black laughed. "Such violent thoughts. If you think I am ready to simply keel over and die, just because you think you are equal to me, you have another thing coming. Seeing you in that transformation, with that kind of power…it fuels my rage, it fuels my purpose and my purpose is stronger than anything you could throw at me!"

Bored with the conversation, Trunks shot at Black, sword by his side. The imposter narrowly dodged the blade and a single strand of black hair fell; Trunks pivoted and slammed a kick into Black's flank. He skidded along the ground on his face and Trunks lunged – his sword impaled the ground when Black darted out of the way in time with loud laughter and the half-Saiyan growled in frustration.

At that moment, Zamasu appeared beside his partner, as Lazuli dropped down beside Trunks. She looked pissed off, while Zamasu wore a mocking smirk.

"I'm surprised he's not dead yet," Trunks said to his wife. "With your power, he should be dust."

"Everything I hit him with, he shrugs off like it's nothing," Lazuli replied, never taking her glare off Zamasu. The Supreme Kai gave her a small wave and she growled, then sighed and finally looked at Trunks, taking in his appearance. "What is with the fur?"

"I met the God of Saiyans and he granted me his power," the hybrid explained. "I'm essentially a Saiyan God."

"Huh…that's pretty…neat."

"Speaking of power," Black called out and he grinned as Zamasu healed his wounds and restored his clothing. "Ah, that's better. So much better. Now, I am one with Gohan's power; his potential is finally mine to use. Allow me to demonstrate."

He flared his dark aura and shouted at the top of his lungs, powering up while his comrade wore that infuriating smirk. The city trembled, cracks splintering the ground and running up the sides of the buildings, some shaking apart from the strength of Black's power. He roared, his aura burning higher into the sky, lightning flashing in the clouds.

"No, no, this is insane," Trunks stared in horror. "His power is rising…he's reaching an entirely different level."

The lightning increased in intensity, as Black gave one final roar of power and there was a brief, powerful flash of light. When Trunks and Lazuli lowered their hands once the light was gone, shock and horror crossed their faces, as Black grinned at them. He had transformed into a Super Saiyan, but his hair was pastel pink with faint white highlights, his eyebrows pink as well and his eyes were light grey. While his hairstyle resembled Gohan's Super Saiyan appearance, it was longer, spikier and fiercer than the original hairstyle. His black aura was now dark purple around his body, transitioning to an immensely dark red on the outside, jagged and flame-like, illuminating his body. Black grinned, feeling the surge of power within his veins and he clasped his hand in amazement.

"Oh, God," Trunks cried.

"So, this is what happens when a deity evolves the Super Saiyan transformation, combining the two powers together as one," Black mused. "Super Saiyan and god ki. Given the colour, I think I shall call it Super Saiyan Rose. Yes, Super Saiyan Rose Gohan Black."

"Aw, Gohan, I never knew you'd look pretty in pink, but it suits you," Lazuli taunted.

"Jest all you like, Android, but the gap between us is now phenomenal. It'll go better for you if you simply surrender and die."

"Not a chance!" Trunks shouted. "Galick Gun!"

The signature purple beam rocketed from his hands and slammed home upon its target – when the dust cleared, Black was unharmed, grinning and his aura up. With a smile like a shark, Black flew at Trunks with amazing speed – and kicked him in stomach before Lazuli could even blink. Trunks yelped as he was shot across the city and Lazuli copped a simple backhand that smashed her into a building.

"Oh yes, this should be a delight," Zamasu said, floating into the air, hands clasped behind his back.

Trunks groaned as he slowly rose and he turned around – he gasped as Black touched two fingers to his throat and the hybrid was paralysed, unsure how to react. The speed and power. Black was a powerful opponent before and now in his Super Saiyan Rose state…Trunks felt hope dwindling away with each second that he felt Black's fingertips at his Adam's apple.

"When will you learn your place?" Black asked, sounding like he was asking about the weather. "Mortals are beneath the gods, they are never meant to be in the same realm as them. But your arrogance has driven you to snatch godly power like it belongs to you."

Trunks gulped – and Black sucker-punched him in the stomach. The half-Saiyan gasped for air and Black punched him again. Trunks bounced off the side of a building, the impact leaving a crater in the wall; Black followed up with a powerful kick, collecting Trunks before he fell and the building collapsed in a cloud of dust when the half-Saiyan was blasted through the foundations.

Zamasu floated overhead, enjoying the spectacle – until he was struck from behind and he impacted the ground. Lazuli then unleashed the Dead End Rain once more, pulverising the surrounding area (by now, there was virtually nothing left of the city), but she wasn't even surprised when Zamasu sat up in the crater, unharmed by the vicious barrage.

"I'm going to tear his head off…let's see him survive that," Lazuli violently thought.

"Mom!"

"Oh no," the Android thought and sure enough, there was her daughter, Pan beside her. "What are you doing here? You need to get out of here, both of you. You can't be here."

"We thought you needed help," Pan said and she looked down at Zamasu. "Who the hell is he?"

"Black's ally, Zamasu. He's a real pain in the neck."

"He doesn't seem so strong."

"Yes, but he's immune to everything I've hit him with; he should be dead by now."

"Has it sunk it yet?" Zamasu asked. "The futility of your efforts? Has your feeble minds realised exactly why you can't kill me? I'll give you a hint: it's the opposite of mortality."

Lazuli cursed as she realised the implication. "Kami, he's immortal. No wonder nothing worked."

Zamasu's grin was smug. "A necessary act to ensure the completion of the Zero Mortal Plan."

Lazuli rolled her eyes. What this Plan was, it didn't sound good and she didn't care to hear anything more about it; she needed to help stop it from being completed, but with an immortal opponent, she knew the chances of the fight ending in her favour were slim to none, especially now that Black had transformed.

"Where are Zangya and Tapion?" Lazuli asked her daughter.

"They were arguing because Tapion didn't want a senzu bean. He thinks you and Papa need the them more than him."

"That noble fool," the Android muttered. "Alright, get them and get out of here. We need to retreat."

"Running away won't solve your problems," Zamasu spoke as he flew up.

Lazuli smashed him in the head with a kick and blasted him away with the High-Pressure Energy Wave. "Maybe not, but it sure beats having to listen to you dribble crap."

-X-

Super Saiyan Rose.

The power was exhilarating, Black found, as he blocked Trunks' dual roundhouse kick and exploited the opening – by gut-checking him. With this evolution in power, he knew there was no stopping the Zero Mortal Plan and soon, the universe would be purged of all mortals and restored to the beauty it was before the gods contaminated it with the creation of mortals. Trunks' aura burst to life and he vanished – Black spun around and stopped the Burning Strike dead in its tracks. He grabbed Trunks by the ankle and slammed him into the ground, then kicked him like he was a soccer ball.

"You see, Trunks, you are no match for the real power of the divine," Black boasted. "You are living on borrowed power; power that doesn't belong to you and for your blasphemous act, you shall be judged and pay the ultimate price."

His brilliantly-coloured aura merged onto his right hand, forming a sword of ki. Trunks coughed and reached for his sword – only to realise that he had lost it in the beat-down. Refusing to show any sign of panic, the half-Saiyan stood and readied himself. Black grinned and lunged, slashing with his sword and Trunks did his best to avoid the nasty blade, trying to find any opening he could exploit, but Black was too fast, his movements like a graceful dancer that was precise and deadly – Trunks hissed when the sword hit his flesh, leaving an angry rip across his chest. Black attempted a thrust, Trunks trapped his sword arm and slammed their heads together – Black simply responded with a head-butt of his own that floored the hybrid.

"You can fight all you like, but the truth is, you are a simple mortal. You are the wheat and I am the sickle," Black said and his sword reformed into his aura. "My cause is just and righteous."

"Shut the hell up," Trunks spat as he forced himself to stand once more.

"Hmph, such arrogance to fail to realise your place. No matter, I will change that for you."

Trunks couldn't believe it. He had finally achieved a whole new level of power; one from a completely different realm, one that he never even imagined existed and yet it still wasn't enough! If the power of a god wasn't enough to stop Black, then what would?

Black lunged and blasted Trunks away with a right hook, then cupped his hands together, pink and black energy swirling in his palms. "Kamehameha!"

Trunks yelled in pain when the Super Rose Kamehameha smashed into him, delivering pain like he'd never felt before. The energy wave carried him through the carcass of the city until he finally crashed into a building, the Kamehameha detonating upon him. In comparison, when Lazuli had blasted him with a powerful energy attack at the end of his first failed fight as a Super Saiyan, it had almost killed Trunks; the Super Rose Kamehameha made that attack feel like a mosquito bite.

Trembling on his feet, his body ruined by the attack, Trunks felt the god ki drain out of him and he slipped from his Saiyan God form into his regular state, his upper clothes restored, and he collapsed on the ground. He had no energy left and could only watch as Black approached him, Violent Fierce God Slicer at the ready.

"I need to get up…I can't give up now…the world is relying on me," Trunks thought grimly as he struggled to stand.

Savouring the thought of finally slaying his prey, Black lunged and raised the energy sword, ready to strike – an energy blast struck him and while it didn't hurt, it annoyed him. He growled at Lazuli, who followed up with the Infinity Flash, pounding him with multiple energy blasts. Black reactivated his aura to better defend against the blasts and when the rain finally stopped, he peered through the dust and growled in frustration when he discovered that both Lazuli and Trunks were now gone.

"Dammit," Black snarled, unable to sense either of them. "Where did you go? You can't run away from me forever."

"Don't be too overly concerned," Zamasu said as he joined his partner. "If they show their faces again, we will kill them and after witnessing your power, they wouldn't dare show up again."

"I want to kill them. I want to feel their blood on my fingers, their hearts beating in my hands-"

"Calm yourself. There will be another opportunity perhaps, but we cannot lose sight of our goal."

Black sighed and resumed his base form. "Very well. In the meantime, we shall wait. Tea?"

"Oh, yes please."

-X-

Once they arrived at the Lookout, Lazuli glowed until she had reverted to her normal form and she gently set Trunks down. He was immediately pinned by Azure, who had tackled him with a hug and he couldn't help but laugh as he hugged her tightly in return. He kissed her temple and she broke away in need of a hug from her mother, who gladly gave her one. After receiving a hug from Pan, Trunks looked up as he sensed Tapion and Zangya, grimacing when he saw the former's stump.

"Welcome back," the Konatsian greeted.

"Thanks. You really need to eat a bean."

"We've already have this conversation," Zangya glowered as she crossed her arms in vexation. "He thinks you and Lazuli would need them more than he does right now."

"With what we're up against, I'm lucky to be alive. Besides, Trunks does look like he needs a bean."

"Look, we're not going to argue about this at all," Trunks cut in before the Hera could retort. "There are far more serious problems at hand here and that is Black and Zamasu. We need a way to take them down before they cause any further damage to the world."

"Who's Zamasu?" Zangya asked, wrinkling her nose.

"Black's ally. Weak, but immortal," Lazuli replied.

Tapion looked thoughtful. "Maybe…maybe I could trap him inside me with my ocarina, like I did with Hirudegarn…but-"

"See, exactly why you should regrow your arm," his lover was quick to point out.

"Sort it out among yourselves," Trunks said as he slowly stood up with renewed determination. "I'm going into the Chamber. Let's see how strong I can become as a god. Azure, you're coming with me."

"What?" Azure asked in surprise. "Really?"

"Yep, two hours in the Chamber. Let's go."

Lazuli kissed her daughter's head and let her go to join her father, as she grabbed his hand and he led her into the Chamber, determined to regain the upper hand against Zamasu and Black and stop them from tearing the world apart.

A/N: Probably cop some flak for it, but Super Saiyan God doesn't interest me at all. I do like Super Saiyan Blue, but God is meh to me. But for someone like Black, you need god power to fight him and since I've been a fan of the Super Saiyan 4 form since I first saw it 15 years ago (I like what it represents and the design is sweet too), I decided to combine SSJ4 and SSG into one as something different. To me, making SSJ4 a God form feels like what a Saiyan God should look like. It might not be everyone else's cup of tea, but that's what I'm running with.