"I refuse." Trunks was never this assertive with the Son family, but here she was, defying Goku's decision to train Gohan.
This didn't sit right with Gohan, who didn't hide his confusion and hurt, the feeling of powerlessness haunting him once more, and even Tora didn't want him to get stronger? This was.. Strange.
"Why? He's capable of it, isn't he?" Goku just expressed earnest curiosity, not a hint of anger or defensiveness in his voice. There had to be a reason.
And there was. Trunks kept her eyes locked on Goku.
"Being capable of it does not mean he should. Son-san, super Saiyan is not simply about obtaining more power or mastering a technique, it is the embodiment of hatred and rage. You and I obtained it in face of loss and a deep desire for revenge." Trunks paused, then blinked slowly to calm down. Goku and Gohan still being expectant, she continued with a pained expression. "Vegeta-san and Son-san are full-blooded Saiyans, you enjoy fighting, you seek challenges. Both of your reactions when Bulma-san tried to use the Dragon Balls to make sure the Cyborgs were not activated are proof of that."
When Goku tried to apologize for it, Trunks just shook her head and offered a slight understanding smile. "What is done is done, Mother had warned me this was the likely outcome of my warning. What I want you to understand is that for half-breeds, it's different. I know Gohan-san can, through rage, show unimaginable power," she let her voice go softer, more concerned, more caring. "But it isn't something you enjoy, like Vegeta-san, is it?"
Gohan took a moment to remember the power he had displayed when absolutely furious. When Raditz kidnapped him, when Nappa killed Piccolo, when on Namek… And he had a hard time disagreeing with the teenager; he loathed every instant of it. He teared up at the painful memories and shook his head no. Goku squeezed his hand and brought him into a hug.
"Vegeta-san's language is violence. His natural mindset is already similar to super Saiyan, which is why the form was easy for him to embrace. But Gohan-san isn't like Son-san nor is he like him. He is like me. As another half-breed who has already walked that path, heed my plea, the cost is too high." She punctuated her plea by bowing from her sitting position, needing to insist on how serious she was, and trying to hide the hurt and memories she believed could be seen in her eyes.
"Sit up, I hear ya," Trunks felt a hand on her shoulder, and took a moment to do as asked. "I get it. Imma let Gohan decide then. It's unfair to decide for him, right?"
Gohan had moved off his father and sat near the teenager, trying to make sense of everything he heard. Tora seemed to know Gohan well. Very well, even, and he felt he was missing something key to understand exactly what motivated the teenager to object to him getting super Saiyan. He had questions.
"Tora-san, can I ask you a few questions? I.. want to understand as much as I can, if I get to decide for myself." When the other agreed to answer, he asked. "Did you train to become a super Saiyan?"
"I wanted to, but I was refused. My mentor.. basically warned me like I am warning you now, and I did not want to listen because I sought power, to be of use, to seek revenge. He said 'super Saiyan isn't a sign of strength, it's a sign of anger and hatred, you cannot seek it at the risk of losing your essence'. I could not understand at the time."
Gohan had a hard time understanding without context, even if he related deeply with the teenager's desire to 'be of use'. He looked back at his father who looked expectant to know more too, then back at the teenager. "Can you tell us your story and how you became a super Saiyan, then?"
That she should have expected. She wasn't sure what to tell, what to keep, she looked at one then the other, then took a deep breath.
"I suppose it's a necessity. The cyborgs started their rampage when I was a baby, as you know already, decimating the Earth's defenses quickly. When I was about seven or eight, I met my mentor, but he refused to train me with those words I said before. I did not accept his refusal, I was blinded by my rage at the time, I knew I had the potential to help, because of Vegeta's blood in my veins. I would listen to the radio to go there and evacuate or protect earthlings, clear roads, anything to save even one more soul. And each time, he would come and fight them." She whispered the last few words, even if she kept her composure, opening up wasn't easy. "Society more or less continued working, then the infrastructure damage, the high number of deaths, the non-existent military.. It all was too much and earthlings regrouped in smaller societies, in bunkers, with little hope left for happiness, just survival. I was nine or ten, then. He finally accepted training me, since I was, and still am, a stubborn hot-blooded child who rushes to battle anyway." Admitting she had a short-temper wasn't easy, she tried to keep it under wraps, but it echoed with Gohan who'd seen the time traveler snap at Krillin earlier that day, and the discussion about boundaries that followed.
"He was everyone's hero, even if he lost every battle, because every second he bought them, he bought us, we could save more people… When I was twelve, I believed I was strong enough to fight them as well, so when they attacked a theme park near North city, I took on Eighteen while he was fighting Seventeen." She winced at the humiliating and painful memory, but decided to not listen to her usual reserved nature and just tell the two Saiyans what happened. "She played with me for a while and then got bored and decided to end me. He rushed at Eighteen to save me, and he lost his arm protecting me. They left us for dead. We had no senzu beans anymore either; the plant perished alongside society as a whole, as the world as a whole had fallen into despair."
Trunks didn't remember the last senzu was given to her after that fight, and Gohan made sure to take that secret to the tomb. To Goku and Gohan, Trunks' wish to the Eternal Dragon for a sprout made even more sense, and the importance of it wasn't lost on the two black-haired males. She took another moment to find the proper phrasing that would keep her as factual as possible, trying to keep her emotions in check.
"After he recovered, we resumed training, even if he still refused to tell me how to reach super Saiyan. One day, we were near Central City, we heard the explosions. I was ready to go, but he distracted me and knocked me unconscious, to go fight alone." A deep breath in, then out, white fingers holding on the fabric of her pants. "I found his body later that day, and that was when I first transformed. I was thirteen."
While Trunks continued, Gohan reached to take the teenager's hand, trying to give comfort. He vividly remembered how Piccolo died protecting him too, and knowing that Trunks didn't have Dragon Balls to revive his mentor only made the grief even worse. Gohan began thinking back at the scribbles the teenager had made on his sketchbook, and did some math. If Tora was born in November 766, he turned thirteen in November 789, so he was still thirteen in.. February 780. The date he had abandoned when he mentioned the events of his timeline. 'Tora-san, was that the event you held off on telling us in the plane?'
Trunks squeezed back and showed a faint smile, appreciating this Gohan caring. The uncanny irony that Gohan was comforting Trunks for Gohan's death wasn't lost on the teenager.
"People gave me the title they used to give him, Golden Warrior, probably because they did not see either of us upclose, just the color of our aura. I fought not to win, but to take over his role to amuse them, distract them and save as many earthlings as possible. With the exception of my spine, I believe they've broken every bone of my body," she chuckled dryly.
"At first I resented him and his sacrifice, I thought I had progressed a lot since the theme park, I was hurt he did not trust me, he thought of me as a weakling, but when I faced them next, as a super Saiyan, I understood I was barely a 'more durable toy' to them. He was right, I was only a liability for him in the end." She tried keeping those thoughts in, but she had decided to be honest, so she just said them with a certain unresolved bitterness. "I did grow stronger, as we discussed when we sparred, Son-san. At one point I could match either of them, but the two fought together, and they never lost energy, so I always lost."
"It took me until recently to understand why he refused to let me reach super Saiyan. I saw what it did to him, to his heart and kindness, how he battled his rage and sorrow, how he stayed alone, and how he wanted to preserve me from that painful path. Since I cannot apologize properly to him, please listen to his message. I beg of you to not seek super Saiyan, Gohan-san."
Goku thought over everything, then something clicked with the information he remembered from when they all first met. "Your mentor was a super Saiyan too?"
She knew they'd piece it out, but she couldn't bring herself to say his name just yet. Trunks nodded to let Goku know he was right.
"And he refused to teach it to you, but Vegeta and I died when you were a baby.. So your mentor was.."
"Me." Gohan added, letting go of the hand, shocked with the realization that all this time, the teenager had been speaking about him. And more so that he'd been treated with such reverence, with honorifics, because Tora knew him. Knew he liked fishing with his father. Knew he liked pistachios. 'Used to my ki. Accepted me close but not anyone else. And I want to protect him with all my soul…'
No use hiding it now, she looked away, cheeks pink, putting back her hands on her lap, trying to keep guarded. She really did not want to reveal that Gohan had been her mentor, but what was done was done, and she hoped it wouldn't change the trust the boy had in her. "I didn't want to burden your mind with that kind of information, Gohan-san, I hope you will forgive my secrecy."
"No it's ok, Tora-san. I understand your reasons. Thank you for trusting us." Somehow, Gohan didn't feel betrayed. Because that Gohan wasn't really him, not anymore. It was just the missing puzzle piece as to why he felt so connected with the time traveler. It was uncanny, but then Tora's existence on its own was uncanny, their talk by the Time Machine and earlier that day showed how much of a strain it all was. There was still a little unease about receiving a warning concerning super Saiyan from himself.
"Things are different now, Tora. Your version of Gohan transformed when or after the cyborgs killed everyone, eh?" Trunks didn't answer, she wasn't sure, and she didn't want to make a guess at something her version of Gohan always kept to himself. "But now, everyone's alive, including me, so I can train him for control, instead of having to get it on his own." Goku reassured with a bright smile. "You're right, it feels awful. Ya remember how scared you were of me on Namek back then, right Gohan?"
Gohan looked back at his father and nodded. He had changed so much the moment Krillin died, and when he ordered him to take Piccolo and Bulma and leave. He thought he'd lost his father then. He muttered a yes.
"But when we trained together ya weren't scared anymore. If we train for it instead of lettin' it happen because of emotion, it'll be A-OK." Goku made a thumbs up, he was confident.
"Dad's right, Tora-san, the situation changed thanks to you, and I know what to expect, so I can prepare." Gohan had listened to everything with attention. He was firm in his decision. "I'll do it, I'll become a super Saiyan."
Trunks was conflicted. On the one hand, she remembered how powerless she felt, as a kid, when Gohan refused to train her, refusing her help, how he forced her out of combat, so he could fight without having to worry about watching her. On the other hand, she understood why her version of Gohan acted the way he did with her, that he wanted to protect her at all costs even if that meant going against her wishes, like she now wanted to protect this younger version of him. She weighed the differences between both Gohans' situations; this one had his father to train him, and everyone was alive. This Gohan wouldn't transform on his own like her Gohan did, and like she did. But her Gohan only fought two cyborgs, whom she believed were weaker than the three ones in this world, plus the bio-android Cell. Her mind drifted for a moment; she wasn't afraid to do whatever it took to secure success. The ends justify the means. And yet she found herself hesitating. Gohan was strong, and he could be a great ally if he reached super Saiyan, and considering the new enemies, she shouldn't refuse another strong fighter on their side. She still couldn't endorse it, the whole world be damned, Gohan was more important. And yet, it's not what he would have wanted.
Seeing the silent worry in Trunks eyes, Gohan got a little closer and touched the other's arm, hesitant as the teenager's body language remained guarded. "I want to protect everyone too. We'll fight together, right?"
Agency. This Gohan, like her, wanted to have agency, to choose. This Gohan had more information than her version of him ever had, than she herself ever had. She looked back at Gohan, and touched his fingers with hers a brief instant, finding peace in the contact and in the words he told her, the same words she told him when they found the Time Machine.
"In the end it isn't my decision." It was the best approval she could give. Truth is she hoped that with the training with Vegeta would suffice to solve the crisis before Goku got better and before Gohan had to force himself to be a super Saiyan. "I should not have said anything in the first place, it was inappropriate of me and I stepped out of line. Please accept my apologies."
"Hey it's ok, you're still a kid too, makes me happy you care so much about my son! We'll make things right." Goku had a knack to brighten the mood and be pragmatic and confident. "I'm sure ya get to learn a lot with your pops in the Room of Spirit and Time, one full year in there and you both surely will break the limits of super Saiyan."
Trunks wasn't sure exactly how she could learn with Vegeta who kept fighting her at every turn, but at least she had an idea of how to convince him to come with her to that special room. She saw Goku repress a yawn, and she took it as a cue to leave, and Gohan followed her, Goku was sound asleep before they even closed the door, but before they went down the stairs, Gohan stopped the teenager by holding her shirt. She stopped and turned back, wondering what he wanted.
"We will fight together, right, Tora-san?" The teen hadn't answered the question before, and Gohan needed to hear it. Trunks knew she'd been caught avoiding it.
"If we have the opportunity to do so, yes." Gohan didn't like the wording of that, but it was the best Trunks could promise. He let go and they both went downstairs.
Most of everyone was asleep (or passed out drunk) around the coffee table, except for Tenshinhan and a recently arrived Piccolo, who were watching the late news with frustrations, and Chichi, who was finishing putting the kitchen back in order. She took off her arpon when the two half-Saiyans came back into view, and promptly gestured for Gohan to go back upstairs. Gohan went quickly to say good night to Tenshinhan and Piccolo, and whispered something about talking to the Namekian outside once Chichi was asleep, awkwardly shook hands with Trunks, and went back upstairs. Chichi followed her son, but did shake Trunks' hand as well, giving her thanks for the thoughtful gift and cake, which Trunks dismissed as being nothing. The teenager mentioned that Goku woke up to eat the cake and talk a little, and should be back in full soon. Chichi looked happy about it and went on her way.
Trunks approached Tenshinhan and Piccolo to pay attention to the news and sat by them. Still the same two towns, the same images.
"Son-san told about a special room on Kami-sama's Lookout."
"The Room of Spirit and Time? A good idea." Piccolo conceded.
"He wants me to go there with Vegeta-san for a full year." Tenshinhan and Piccolo turned to look at the teenager as if Trunks had grown a second head.
"Son's an idiot, Vegeta's going to kill you in there. We felt you two fight, he broke your forearm yesterday, Trunks!" Piccolo was alarmed, but Trunks was calm.
"That's just suicidal." Tenshinhan added, and Trunks just smiled at him. She knew the man had risked his own life, and even did a suicidal attack himself, but she didn't say any of it.
"Tenshinhan-san, Piccolo-san, I appreciate your concern, but Vegeta-san has accepted my existence and I would dare to say he trusts me. He might beat me to a pulp, but he won't kill me." I hope. "I understand his language, it is better he goes in with me than either of you, Son-san or Gohan-san."
"You have that much faith in that poor excuse of a father you've got?" Tenshinhan was having none of it, but Trunks just shook her head and stared coolly through the man.
"Vegeta-san is not my father." She didn't usually bother to correct everyone's confusion about Bulma and Vegeta being her parents, but she needed to establish the boundary then and there, and echoed once more to their discussion after their encounter with Cell. The cold stare she gave Tenshinhan and the firm voice she used reminded him of the outburst earlier. She needed to convince herself that Vegeta wasn't her father either.
"Right. Sorry. It's still.. strange."
"All forgiven. It's hard for me too, honestly, but it is necessary for that fact to be clear." She relaxed and smiled to show she meant her words. "As for life-risking ideas, a few days ago you mentioned the Mafuba. How long would it take for me to learn it?"