Trunks was sworn to secrecy about Chichi's pregnancy, and since she wasn't really 'sick'. The time traveler accepted, on the condition that the woman would accept and do a little less around the house, and would leave breakfast to the teenager and request assistance from Goku and Gohan afterwards. Chichi agreed, but Trunks knew her delegating household tasks to Goku was unlikely to happen. At the very least that following breakfast would not fall on the poor woman's shoulders…
Seeing how early in the morning it still was, Chichi went back to bed after showing where everything was for the pancakes, in case Trunks woke up before her. Trunks decided she'd slept enough, but still went back to Gohan's bedroom for the hour-ish left before dawn, sat on the futon in front of his bed, slid back her hand into his, under the covers and laid her head on her forearm to observe his sleeping form. He had managed to maintain super Saiyan while asleep, and Trunks wanted to see more of that impressive feat. Gohan squeezed the returning hand, still deep asleep, and the older not-so-child-anymore was struck with awe. Just how much had the boy progressed in the Room of Spirit and Time with Goku? Her version of Gohan would be so proud and relieved. And perhaps a little bitter, as this whole mess started with Goku's untimely death. Was Gohan a jealous person? Probably not.
Trunks more or less dozed off while thinking all these things through, until Gohan woke just a little before dawn, as per usual routine. After good morning wishes, she changed and went on to prepare breakfast while the rest of the household woke up. Chichi had brushed her hair back into a proper bun and put on a robe, Goku was out of his pajamas and in a tank top and loose pants, Gohan put on the purple gi gifted by Piccolo; he'd need to buy some more outfits now he had grown a solid ten centimeters 'all of the sudden'. And obviously, going shopping when everyone believed the end of the world was coming was… well. Unlikely.
After tying her hair up in a high ponytail so even the front parts wouldn't get in the way, Trunks told the Sons to start eating while she cooked, so 'the first ones don't get cold' . She piled them up on serving plates so they could eat in batches as they came, while Gohan exchanged empty serving plates for full ones in the kitchen. She continued cooking as Goku and Gohan's food-disappearance magic trick slowed down, while Chichi had started her (more reasonable) portion. She finally sat down with the last batch and served herself a portion to eat with the family. Everyone complimented the pancakes (despite them not being as good as Chichi's, Trunks was certain of it) and they idly chatted away.
"With your hair up like that you look like a cute girl," Goku commented between mouthfuls, and Trunks almost choked on her syrupy mouthful.
"Goku-sa!" Chichi scolded, while Gohan tapped gently on Trunks' back so she'd swallow.
"What? Girls wear their hair high like that, don't they? Bulma had a braid high like that when I first met her," Goku gestured at the top of his head. Chichi's bun was at the same place too, and Trunks finally stopped coughing, red in the face from the sudden fit.
"It's true you look like Bulma-san," Gohan added after having tapped her back to help her with the food.
"I do have my mother's hair," Trunks conceded the resemblance and hoped that would be enough to bury the lead, so to speak. She put down her silverware long enough to undo the hair, loosely comb it with her fingers and properly tie it back at the nape of her neck, noting to not tie it high again in this world.
"Why didn't you cut it in the Room of Spirit and Time, by the way? I cut Gohan's," Goku asked between two mouthfuls.
"We'll need to fix that by the way, Gohan-chan," Chichi sighed. Sure it was shorter, but the cut was a mess.
"I couldn't do it myself without hair clippers and asking Vegeta-san to use the scissors seemed like a terrible idea." Even with as much trust as she'd given him when they finally talked, Trunks still had been reluctant to be anywhere near vulnerable near her would-be father. A pair of scissors near her neck was second only to her falling unconscious, even if she had pushed herself to allow it to happen once more after the first time he pushed her off limits. Which is why she regretted not having brought clippers, she could have perhaps taken care of the length at some point.
The Sons agreed with the sentiment and the subject was dropped. After cleaning everything, Goku turned on the radio when the house clock marked seven thirty in the morning, and walked outside with Gohan. It was time for their morning stretches with the (prerecorded) instructions of the local station, the device on the outside table. Trunks went back to Gohan's bedroom to fold back the futon, take care of the bed sheets and retrieve her belongings; she'd abused their hospitality long enough and was ready to go. Despite everything, she wanted to be near Capsule Corp as that noon should be when Vegeta left the Room of Spirit and Time.
Gohan insisted she stay for the morning stretches, and Trunks agreed. She had done their stretching and breathing exercises when she stayed over in 764, so she wanted to apply it to her old routine, especially now her sword was repaired. She missed it and didn't mind working on it in their presence. She stepped away enough to have enough space to swirl without endangering the Sons, but stayed close enough to listen to the radio's instructions and the idle conversations which she participated in. Gohan had never seen her use her sword, and he was interested in seeing the teen in action all while doing his own morning routines. He'd only seen King Cold's slicing and execution from afar, after all.
The radio program was interrupted by flash news.
"We are sorry to interrupt, but.."
"Hey, someone is working!" Goku remarked while stretching his arms up and down.
"The news just came in. The Royal Army is heading towards Cell and they'll start their attack anytime now! One of our men is with the commander."
The three adults and one child dropped their exercises and turned back to the radio. That wasn't expected.
"Don't do it! Fools! You're going to get yourselves killed!" Goku shouted, knowing full well they couldn't hear him, but still expressing his anger at the idiocy. Trunks frowned, the news report sounded familiar. The sense of dread took her as she sheathed her weapon, Goku was right, if they didn't turn back they would all die.
But the military opened fire, and the sounds on the radio conveyed the violence of the full blown attack.
"An incredible attack was just launched, you can hear the ruckus!" The field-reporter said as the sounds slowly stopped. Then a gasp. "I don't believe it, it looks like Cell was unaffected!" Followed by brief screams and static. Cell had retaliated.
Gohan clenched his fists, the news angered him, all these people just died. Trunks had the same reaction, but she was more used to death and it being reported in the news. Goku was beyond angry, however.
"We'll wish them all back with the Dragon Balls," Chichi reassured the other three, and before they could feel the sense of relief with that statement, Goku frowned and looked quite displeased.
"Gotta talk to Piccolo about that.." Goku mumbled as he put his fingers on his forehead.
Trunks was quick to react; Goku just expressed doubts about the Dragon Balls, and that had her worried. She promptly grabbed his other arm before he would disappear on them. "I'm coming too," she affirmed, and Goku acknowledged before disappearing.
The pair appeared on the Lookout a moment after, where Piccolo was meditating and Mr Popo was tending to the gardens.
"Yo Piccolo!" Goku called. "You got stronger! You stayed in the Room of Spirit and Time a full year right?"
The Namekian opened his eyes and saw the two. Goku was still in super Saiyan and Trunks saluted with a friendly smile and nod.
"That's right. Despite how much stronger I got, tell me, I don't stand a chance against Cell, do I, Son?"
"Nope, you don't at all," Goku was candid and Trunks looked back at the man whose shoulder she had just let go. The world's hero had no filter when he was confident about something.
"Thank you for not sparing my feelings," Piccolo half-appreciated, half-scolded, but the scold was completely missed by his old rival. At least there was no desilusion. Trunks took good note of not asking Goku's opinion on anything unless she was ready to actually hear it.
"Piccolo, there's a problem. With the fusion, Kami-sama stopped existing, right? Can you undo that? We'll be needing the Dragon Balls to revive everyone killed by Cell and the two Androids."
"No, I am whole again and I cannot unfuse."
"Well that's too bad," Goku was light about it, but still tried thinking about solutions.
"And no, I cannot make Dragon Balls; I inherited Kami's wisdom, but not that power." Piccolo anticipated the logical follow up question.
Shit. Trunks didn't know that piece of information. She, too, had started taking the wishing orbs for granted, even if she jumped into the incoming blast to avoid as many casualties as possible when Cell made his announcement. At least the Earth's population wasn't completely wiped out...
"Well that's also bad," Goku was still carefree about it all. "Gohan told me the Namekians went to a new planet, so I'll try and go there, see if one wants to become our new Guardian and create a new set?"
That was an excellent idea, and Piccolo and Mr Popo agreed. Mr Popo in particular, he looked so purposeless since Kami disappeared.
"Earth can have a new God?" The Genie asked with stars in his eyes.
"Yup, I hope so!" Goku replied with a smile as bright as ever.
"How are you going to get there? We don't know where that planet is, Son!"
"Well I just gotta find a ki similar to yours, and I'll just instant-transmission there!" Perfectly logical reasoning. Totally feasible.
"I need to know where that planet is," Trunks stated quickly, putting back her hand on Goku's arm again, gripping a little too firmly, driven by a sudden sense of further hope for her world. 'Mother didn't have the coordinates of their new planet, so building a spaceship to find a needle in a haystack was a bet with worse odds than bending the laws of the universe with time travel. If I can tell her where it is…!'
Goku was surprised at the sudden lack of reserve by the teenager, but he accepted, and focused.
"Gotta find a ki similar to Piccolo's…" he mumbled, and focused more, and more, all serious in the face. "Be quiet, I'm tryin' to focus," he added despite no one speaking. Goku's focused face became more and more serious, until after a few long minutes of trying, he conceded defeat with a childish whine.
"Can't find them, their kis must be too weak and the universe's too big… What now?" Goku tilted his head, trying to find a solution, while Piccolo and Mr Popo looked astonished. Trunks didn't let go. Her mother had told her how they got to Namek to begin with.
"Goku-san, it was someone named Kaio-sama who gave you the initial coordinates, isn't that right?"
"Right! Kaio-sama, Kaio-sama," Goku focused, and with a 'ah, found'im!' the two vanished again.
Trunks expected Goku to communicate with the Kai, not actually go to him, and she took notice of the higher gravity, the incredibly tiny planet, the running monkey, and the road that circled the entire planet. It was surreal.
"Trunks? You can let go, you know?"
Trunks did as asked with an apology. She'd pressed her fingers hard on the man's arm, the grip could have harmed or at the very least bruised any normal being. Goku didn't hold a grudge, thankfully.
"Oh, hey Bubbles! It's been a while," Goku walked and saluted the monkey who saluted back, then called for the Kai. "Kaio-samaaa?" Goku raised his voice a little, walking around the planet, and finally, finding the Kai asleep in a lounger.
Trunks walked closely behind, curious to see who the man whose training had helped Goku and his friends defeat Vegeta and Nappa long before her birth. Gohan had talked about the Genkidama after all.
The Kai woke up after Goku talked to him, and he scolded the Saiyan for waking him up 'for a visit', which Goku looked surprised about. How come the Kai didn't know the Earth was in terrible danger? Well, the Kai watched over many planets, he wasn't paying attention to Earth in particular. Goku gently scolded Kai for napping, and then explained briefly about Cell and the Cyborgs and Androids created by the Red Ribbon Army to kill him, and how Cell now wanted to kill everyone on earth unless someone bested him, and had already killed many. Trunks looked displeased.
For some reason, the North Kai hadn't communicated with Bulma after everyone's death in her world, while he had communicated with them when Tenshinhan, Chaozu and Piccolo died, to tell them where Namek was back when they first fought Vegeta. Bulma had stated 'the gods have forsaken our planet, so it is up to us to save ourselves,' when Trunks had asked why she worked so hard. The god probably didn't care all that much, as in the couple of decades her world had been on fire, they heard nothing from him. Or anyone else, for that matter. The gods had truly turned their backs on them.
".. And I didn't die because this nice guy here," Goku gestured to Trunks, "came from the future to give me the medication, else we'd all be dead."
Trunks kept her hostility in check and nodded respectfully when introduced. Well, 'introduced'.
"I still missed the fight though, that was disappointing, but hey, Gohan got super Saiyan and he's so strong it's.." Goku put his hands to his head and made an explosion sound and gesture. Mind-blowing. "Cell's crazy powerful though."
"Well those artificial humans really seem to be a big problem for Earth. Trouble seems to follow you, Goku!" The strange round-like god noted with a light scold.
Goku scratched the back of his head. "I get that, sorry… So, if you could tell me the direction, I should be able to find their kis more easily, especially from here, please?" He clapped his hands to beg for the Kai's help in the matter at hand.
The Kai agreed, focused his antennae, and looked around, while Goku talked about how Mr Popo was lonely without Kami and hoping they'd be found. The Kai barked for silence, and once he indicated the direction, it was Goku's turn to try and focus, while Kai spoke highly of that Yardrat Instant Transmission technique, and Goku gently scolding him for distracting him.
When Goku mentioned he'd found them and was ready to go, Trunks moved to reach, but something stopped her as she tripped. She'd not seen the Kai move, her guard was down and she glared daggers as she regained her balance. The god wiggled his index at her.
"Nope, I agreed to help Goku, not you. Goku, go, I'll be talking to this intruder while you do what you need."
Trunks held back a growl, she was so close, and this god was on her way. Her hands become fists.
"Don't worry kid, I won't be hard on you, I just want to talk. Now, shoo Goku!" The god ordered, and Goku spared an apologetic look at Trunks. Push come to shove, Goku could go back with her without going through the god. Goku disappeared.
"Alright, what's your story, kid from the future?" Kai got serious once the Saiyan was out of his hair. Trunks stayed silent long enough to calm down her temper and regain some manners.
"Trunks. Trunks Brief," she stated her name with acknowledgement.
"That's a.. name." The Kai's antennae wiggled.
"Mother's family has a pattern with names, I know. If you prefer, I also go by Tora, the tiger symbol." She sighed. She liked her name because she mostly heard it from people she loved, but there were childhood-era jokes still in her mind. "To answer your question, my story is what Goku-san said, but it seems it's more accurate to say I come from a different universe rather than this world's future. In my world, the Cyborgs appeared after Goku-san died of illness, and killed all of Earth's warriors except for me. Mother, whom you know as Bulma, created a mode of transportation to change the fate of the planet for the better. My apologies for coming to your home without prior invitation, I, too, really need the coordinates for the planet the Namekians have moved to in 763."
"There's rules, you know," the tiny man with antennae walked to her with assurance and circled her, gauging her. She stayed still, even if her eyes narrowed on a potential threat. She wouldn't be tricked twice.
"I have no doubts I have broken more than a few of those by existing, Kaio-sama, but my intentions are only to rid this world of Cell, and my world of the Cyborgs."
"I'm willing to help you, you did get rid of Freeza and King Cold, dismantling the Planet Trade Organisation with your actions. But you'll still need to… pay a price."
"What could I provide that would interest a god?" Trunks had a hard time keeping her irritation to herself, this was nonsensical, she hated being toyed with. All while having no idea of how much the death of Freeza and Cold had affected the universe. She had no idea what the PTO was, but she figured it had something to do with the Saiyans being mercenaries, wiping out planets to sell them. Something that had shocked Bulma when she heard about it from Raditz when he was surprised Goku hadn't fulfilled his mission.
"Make me laugh." The Kai planted himself in front of her, balancing on his feet front to back with a little grin.
"Make you laugh?" Trunks repeated, agape. She believed it would be her life, or servitude, or anything else.
"Yes! Tell me a good joke, and if it makes me laugh, I'll give you the information you seek. And no redos, you can't tell me the same joke Goku and his friends told me to earn my training."
"With all due respect, Kaio-sama, my world has been reduced to about a hundredth of its original population, our guardian perished alongside everyone else, and the planet as a whole is dying. And you are asking me to 'make you laugh' ?" It was infuriating and completely ludicrous at the same time. She was ready to fight him there and then.
"Yep!" The Kai didn't budge, that was his condition. He didn't question nor doubt the legitimacy of his request, and if anything, found Trunks' super serious demeanor funny. Gods sure were callous and uncaring, but why would it be any other way?
Trunks crossed her arms, and thought about it. She'd have to comply, even if her pride told her to blast the offending party. She decided against fighting the Kai, even if her instincts screamed at her for it. She had no humor, she was a child of blood and war, so coming up with a joke on the fly was difficult. She crossed her arms and thought harder about funny situations she could retale. Then she groaned at the memory of Bulma's words when she had taken a few pictures of her and the baby together.
"Well?"
'This better work.' Trunks silently cursed and apologized to Tenshinhan for using the technique for such a stupid request. Baby-Trunks wasn't with her, so she had to find another Trunks for it to work. The stakes were too high, and if otherworldly humiliation was the price, then so be it. Her pride wouldn't get in the way of her goals, no matter what. She crossed her forearms in front of her to perform the Multiform technique and create a clone.
"Oh?" The Kai had seen the technique before and was impressed, but it wasn't funny. "Nice move, but?"
"We are now a.." Trunks died inside, the embarrassment was unbelievable, and wanted to backtrack and not say it , the clone facepalming with far less control over her inner thoughts. "A good pair of trunks."
'What a cute pair of trunks!' Bulma had giggled when taking a picture of the older one passing blocks to the younger as he tried to pile them up in the living room of Capsule Corp. Trunks just about fell over when she heard the terrible joke. She promised she'd give those photos to her mother too, and she was certain her mother would absolutely say those exact same words. She promised she would be out of the house after giving her the photos so she wouldn't hear it again.
The North Kai looked at the pair of Trunkses through his round black glasses. Then snickered with both hands on his mouth. Then plain out laughed at the absolutely terrible practical pun-joke, and Trunks would have to lock that memory away and never speak of it ever again. The defeated clone boiling with second-hand embarrassment disappeared after glaring daggers at her copy, and Kai giggled some more.
"Alright, good one kiddo, with props and everything. B+, just because your delivery and enthusiasm could've been much better. So the new planet for the Namekians is over there in that direction." Kai indicated as he'd indicated before.
"I beg of you to please give me coordinates like you did for Mother in 762, I cannot teleport like Goku-san." She tried through gritted teeth.
"Yes, yes, you need them with Earthling units, right? So impatient, these youngsters… Fine, fine, I'll convert them for you, but only because it was a good one.. So.. From your measuring system, it would be in the outer arm of the Galaxy..."
Trunks promptly engraved the numbers and quadrant details in her brain and wrote them down in her watch's memory. She had no idea how they'd get there, spatial coordinates meant nothing as she knew little about astronomy and space travel. But she knew time had an impact on planetary and stellar positions relative to one another.
"Kaio-sama, how will the coordinates change, over the next twenty years? I need to know where the planets will be in 784.. And in 787." Truth is she had no idea if and when they'd be able to secure transport, but if the coordinates changed, they could be light years off the mark… By having two other points of reference, she could perhaps recreate the equations that ruled over planetary movements? That, and she didn't pick those dates at random.
"Twenty years isn't that much, when you measure galactic distances." The antennae of the Kai moved, the question was intriguing. He materialized a sort of astrolabe coupled with a compass and gave it to the intruder.
"But here, with this, you'll know the direction and distance to New Namek from wherever and whenever you'll be, with Earth's Sun and the three biggest blackholes of the quadrant as point of reference. You know those, right?"
Trunks nodded. She knew the basics of how galaxies worked and had a good idea of where to find the information needed to read the instrument. She knew about the blackholes of the quadrant even if she couldn't name nor place them on the fly.
"This is perfect, thank you so much Kaio-sama," she added with gratitude, holding the object close to her. With the initial coordinates and this instrument, as well as dusting her knowledge of astronomy, she could calculate the positions of the planets whenever.
By the time she was done properly thanking the god, despite her initial reluctance, and her still distrusting him because his alternate self hadn't helped her world, Goku had reappeared on the planet with a tiny Namekian. Trunks almost jumped out of her skin, the sudden 'pop' still uncanny for her hyper-aware senses.
"Found ourselves a new Kami-sama!" Goku declared, joyful as ever. The green-skinned child (?) looked just as surprised.
"Ah, you must be Dende! Pleasure meeting you in the flesh, young one," the Kai saluted. Trunks recognized the name from the stories her mother and Gohan told her about Namek, and how it was him who had helped with the wishes. Dende bowed low, recognizing the voice of the man who had given him instructions after being resurrected.
"You good to go, Trunks?" Goku asked while the other two exchanged courtesies.
Trunks waited for the North Kai to give his assent, which he did by waving them all off, 'get off my lawn' style. She smiled a little and went on to put a hand on Goku's shoulder. It only took them another moment to be back on the Lookout.
"Dende!" Piccolo exclaimed, something between surprise and happiness.
"Piccolo!" Dende exclaimed back with a cheer.
After a brief explanation that Dende accepted becoming Earth's new Guardian, Goku said he'd go fetch Krillin and Gohan while the Namekians reunited and caught up. Mr Popo was in tears. After they'd chatted a little, Trunks took the time to properly introduce herself to Dende, putting on her kindest demeanor.
"Gohan-san and Mother told me about you. My name is Trunks Brief."
"I'm Dende. Brief, like Bulma-san and her parents?" Dende asked, apprehensive at first, and Trunks nodded.
"Yes. It's a long story, but to simplify, I am an older version of the baby she recently had with Vegeta-san."
"Vegeta?" Dende got wide-eyed and visibly scared, Piccolo tssked and let the younger Namekian hide behind his cape, reassuring him Vegeta wouldn't harm him. He was still in the Room of Spirit and Time, but would be out soon.
Another moment later, Goku was back with Krillin and Gohan, and Dende ran to them, recognizing them for the time they spent together on Namek and at Capsule Corp. Trunks stepped back to stand with Piccolo. She looked at Gohan and Dende being playful and friendly, Krillin and Goku discussing some things and Mr Popo looking fondly at everyone. Clearly Dende was uncomfortable with her presence, so she naturally stepped away.
"Vegeta-san did substantial harm to the Namekians, didn't he?" It wasn't really a question, she didn't know the details. Both Gohan and Bulma had kept some of Vegeta's horrors secret from the child. She was told he had come to fight them on Earth and that he'd been a reluctant ally on Namek, but only seeing Dende's reaction she realized he had been cruel there too.
"His sins aren't yours to bear." Piccolo answered the true issue plaguing the teenager's mind, and Trunks tensed at the clear read the Namekian had had on her. "Dende's just a kid, he'll warm up."
"I know now not to mention Vegeta-san if I manage to reach that planet," she held the astrolabe in front of her, its parts moving and an arrow with numbers indicating a direction in the spherical object. Slightly down, behind her.
"You'll be going to Namek in your own world," Piccolo noted, and Trunks nodded.
"I try to seize opportunities as I see them, as my world isn't forgiving for those who stay passive. I have no idea if it's feasible, but at least I have the information necessary for us to consider trying."
Would she be able to go to her version of the new Namek and obtain a Guardian for her world? She held the astrolabe closer to her chest, then put it away in the inside pocket of her jacket. Everything was so much more difficult without Goku around, she realized, and she understood why her mother needed Goku to survive the virus, first and foremost.
"Why haven't you gone back to your world already? You're strong enough to deal with your pests now, aren't you?"
"I won't lie and say I haven't considered it… But I am responsible for Cell's presence here."
"787-you isn't you. And getting killed wasn't his fault anyway."
"I also did not destroy it nor Eighteen when I had the chance to," her eyes narrowed on Krillin an instant. He'd have been caught in the blast if she'd tried to disintegrate Cell and Eighteen as soon as Vegeta was out of the picture. Though now she doubted it would have worked, considering how bad she was at converting her energy into ki blasts.
"That's on Vegeta and Krillin for being dumbasses."
"I didn't use the Mafuba well enough."
"Cell knew the flaws of the technique and broke free, it's not on you, you performed it properly."
"Without my interference, none of this would have happened."
"Without your interference, we'd all be dead," Piccolo rolled his eyes. This was getting annoying.
"I promised I wouldn't let anyone die."
"Trunks, stop putting so much weight on your shoulders."
"Someone has to do it."
"You're just a kid, you're overthinking."
Trunks crossed her arms and closed up. He was right, she was thinking too much, and his answers forced her to be grounded and stop regretting past events she could do nothing about. She then looked back at Piccolo, considering how he spoke of her, and then raised an eyebrow. Her mother had told her how Piccolo Daimao had been killed by Goku when he was fifteen, and he spat an egg, which spawned this Piccolo. This Piccolo who was the second Piccolo Android 16 knew. Regardless of fusion with Kami, this Piccolo was the one who fought Goku in the Tournament and who trained Gohan when he was a toddler. She then realized something.
"You call me a kid, but.. Aren't you like, only four years older than Gohan-san?"
"I'm a reincarnation, my biological age means nothing," Piccolo grumbled.
"That means I'm at least four years your senior, you should call me Trunks-san and I should be calling you Piccolo-kun," she smiled wide, trying to get a rise out of the taciturn Namekian.
"You were the one calling Gohan 'Gohan-san' even when he was six. Get out of my face." Piccolo gave her a slap on the back of the head, and she chuckled after taking it without complaint. The Namekian was done with the stupid discussion, but if Trunks was to believe the slight smirk on his face, he'd found the exchange at least entertaining.
"Thank you, Piccolo-san." She met his eyes an instant to convey the sincere gratitude in her words.
"Tora-san!" Gohan called her over, and after a glance back at Piccolo, she approached him and Dende who had been chatting near the gardens.
"Yes, Gohan-san?"
Gohan didn't answer, instead looking at Dende who was all head down, hands behind his back, shy. Gohan elbowed him a little.
"Tora-san is nice, don't worry," Gohan half whispered and glanced back at the older teen who looked expectant.
She decided to put a knee down to match Dende's height, he was barely taller than this world's Gohan was when they first met, and waited patiently for the little alien to find his words.
"Trunks-san, Gohan told me something... You really killed Freeza for good?" Dende asked sheepishly after finally making eye contact.
"I did."
"So he won't ever attack our planet again?"
"Ever again," Trunks confirmed. "I sliced him and his men, then disintegrated every molecule of his body about.. three years ago." It had only been about a year and a half for her, but she counted from the date on her watch and August 764, rather than how much time had actually passed for her.
"And he also used that sword on the other big, stronger guy, and it was cool," Gohan retold and even made some gestures to match what little he'd seen of when Trunks sliced Cold. In hindsight it should have been the first clue that this wasn't Goku, but it didn't matter.
Gohan's enthusiasm was contagious and Dende looked up at the grip and pommel of the sword behind Trunks' right shoulder, with stars in his eyes. The instrument of the demise of the monster who had caused his people so much grief. Trunks was amused by the two of them and seeing the interest, she unclipped it, sat down with them, and drew the weapon out for them to see, then held it with both hands by the blade to let them see- and touch.
And with permission, both boys touched the hilt, the grip, the guard, the flat of the blade, the point… Reminding Trunks of how she'd first reacted when she saw it for the very first time and was allowed to touch it too.
'Beware of the edge, little girl,' she remembered the gentle voice of its original owner.
"It isn't as heavy as it looks," Trunks indicated they could take it from her hands, locking back the memories in her mind. "Beware of the sharp edge," she added as Gohan put his hands underneath to weigh the weapon, then lifted it to try it, then passed it to Dende.
The weapon was almost as tall as Gohan, and Dende held it with difficulty, not used to actually hold a weapon, even if it was lighter than he expected. Gohan helped him and they 'played' with the object for a little while until they returned it to its owner with gratitude. There was something nostalgic seeing children admire the weapon, just as she remembered admiring it herself. She put it away, thankful it had been repaired, she still needed to find out how that happened. Perhaps it was because the weapon was enchanted, as the original owner had stated, but it breaking on Eighteen's arm had been a shock.
Mr Popo and Goku approached the kids and after a short talk about the role of guardian, Dende stated he came here for that and took possession of Kami's staff.
"I will be able to create the new Dragon Balls for Earth in a few days, but it'll take some time. Unless you still have your Dragon?" Dende explained; Mr Popo confirmed they still had Shenron's original model, which meant he'd be revived and be able to grant a wish immediately. But before doing so, he still needed to go over the responsibilities of Guardian, and learn more about the planet before actually taking the formal mantle and revive Shenron.
By the time the explanations were over, Mr Popo stated Vegeta would be out of the Room soon and Dende put on a brave face. Trunks did the same, deciding to wait for him. The Sons bid their farewells, Trunks telling them to take care of Chichi and apologize on her behalf for not saying goodbye properly. Krillin gave his farewells as well, accepting the Goku-express to Kame-House, but promising Dende he'd come and visit. Gohan made the same promise before the three vanished.
Trunks stood by Dende when Vegeta stepped out of the Room of Spirit and Time, a little past noon, while Piccolo watched the King's speech apologizing for the demise of the army and hoping for a miracle. She took a moment to take a proper feel of Vegeta's ki, appreciating he'd grown stronger in the second stay, but if her ki-sensing was somewhat anywhere near accurate, the power gained (at least what she could feel of it) didn't match the leaps they made together. The older Saiyan's clothes looked worn, he walked towards the platform when he noticed the two waiting for him, while Mr Popo went to reset the chamber for further use. Considering he didn't look that angry or annoyed, Trunks guessed he was content with his results.
Vegeta didn't expect to see anyone waiting for him, let alone his heir nor the Namekian child he'd met prior. His eyes narrowed on one then the other. The older Namekian ignored him, so he ignored him back.
"Welcome back," he heard from his would-be kid's meek demeanor, and their eyes locked on each other. He became hostile an instant, believing the brat had returned to the comfort of the chains, but was proven wrong when Trunks' aura immediately matched his and the Namekian child was maneuvered away from the potentially dangerous situation.
Mr Popo gave a warning/plea about not fighting on the Lookout, but both Saiyans ignored the Genie. Or at least didn't give any sign of acknowledgement. Piccolo didn't spare them a glance either, but accepted Dende coming closer to him for shelter.
With the fly out of the way, Vegeta walked in strides to approach Trunks, unblinking, and even allowed himself a smirk seeing the other immobile and perfectly at ease. Confident, even.