NOTE: We're back with the next chapter! I'm glad you guys enjoyed the Ginyu stuff, so I hope you're looking forward to the Freeza parts of the next intermission. I've figured out how I'm going to do GT and Super, when I eventually get to those. They'll be sepereate

stories that I'll start on once I've finished 'A Devil's Darling'. I'll do some of the Z films too like the Cooler films, Tree of Might, the Broly trilogy, and Wrath of the Dragon (These are all non-canon to the main story).

Enjoy and Review!

Chapter 14: Aftermath

If there was anything Makima felt confident about it was her identity. She knew exactly what she was and who she would always continue to be. She was a concept, an idea twisted into living form from the decrepit minds of humans. She was unnatural and natural all at the same time. A creature born from the depths of darkness to spread that darkness to everything around her. Makima would stand at the apex, the highest peak of Devils and humans alike to cement herself as the one truly in control.

But then a single speck of light entered her domain without permission, and everything around her changed.

She never knew what she would do if she lost that light permanently.

As she and Gohan conversed with the guests of Goku's funeral, the Control Devil found herself face-to-face with the one who gave them their chance at a brighter future. The young man from a future-to-never-be stayed in the back to avoid the crowd. As extroverted as his mother was, it was clear that Trunks got his anti-social qualities from his father. He was a sweet boy, but he'd buckle under too much social pressure if given. He liked his space and she respected that.

Makima loved her space too. Touching her stomach, she reminded herself that her space would need to expand in 9 months.

"Ah… Mrs. Makima!" Trunks noticed her approaching. "I guess you wanted some space too, right?"

"Yes, my son should be able to help the guests if they need any." Makima responded.

Trunks turned his eyes to stare at the boy who saved the whole universe just a week ago. His thoughts drifted off to his version of Gohan, who failed to save their world in the end, but had entrusted that hope to him. "He's amazing, isn't he?"

"Yes, much like his father. Gohan's light shines just as brightly and I'll make sure it'll continue to do so." Trunks felt that the last part was more directed to herself rather than him. The future traveler stared at the woman in front of him and thought back to his version of Makima. They were the same person, but their attitudes towards the death of Goku were vastly different. He honestly wondered what that change could've possibly been.

"Trunks, what happened to her?" Makima's question dragged him out of his thoughts.

"E-eh? Who are you-"

"I can tell by the way you're looking at me. You're thinking about the version of me in your timeline, yes?" Makima saw right through him. It was something she was stupidly good at doing to people and he still wasn't used to it.

"Y-yeah, sorry about that." Trunks rubbed the back of his neck.

"I don't care too much about that. Just answer my question." Makima requested.

"Are you sure? This isn't exactly a happy story." Trunks said.

"Nothing about my life is a happy story."

"Fair." Trunks sighed. He closed his eyes for a moment before opening them back up. "I don't know everything as accurately as possible, since I was just a baby when everything went from bad to worse. But from what Gohan and Mom told me, after Goku had died it was like a flip had switched in your brain. You were colder, quieter, and far more intimidating to be around. Gohan said it was like the warmth that your home used to be filled with had been frozen over by a blizzard. The home that he had loved since childhood had died with his father." Trunks looked back to see if she was going to say something, but the Devil's face hadn't changed at all. "Then the cyborgs appeared, allies started dying, and the only ones left that could fight were you and Gohan."

"She tried to control him, didn't she?" Makima came to the conclusion all on her own.

"Y-yeah, and it didn't end well."

"Of course it didn't." The Control Devil scoffed softly. "Gohan is strong, much like his father. He's stubborn like me, but he doesn't possess my patience at all. Trying to force her will on him was the dumbest thing she could've done, and I'm certain it led to their relationship falling apart."

"Nailed it on the head. Their fight was also how he achieved Super Saiyan. It would be more than a decade later when…you two would see each other again." Trunks tightened his grip on his sleeve as the memory came back to him. The anger, the pain, the sorrow, and the sense of failure of being unable to help his master-his friend. And his inability to keep his promise to Makima to stay by his side and to never let his light go out. "W-when we found out that Gohan had been killed…it truly broke you. You had already been suffering from Goku's death, and the loss of your child pushed you to suicide."

"She no longer had any light in her world. A world without light is a world that she couldn't live in…" Makima closed her eyes, taking deep breaths.

"I'm sorry-"

"It's not your fault. You were a boy, and that responsibility never should've fallen to you. It was the incompetence and inability of us adults that caused your world to fall into disarray." Makima turned away to leave.

"W-wait, Mrs. Makima!" Trunks reached for her. The woman stopped and turned her head back to look at him. "I-I just want to make sure that you're okay. With Goku gone I don't want to… I can't see you fall like that."

Makima stared at him for a moment before chuckling softly. "You're a good person, Trunks. I honestly question if you really are Vegeta's son. When you find my reincarnation, be careful around her. She'll attempt to attack you to get information. And good luck in saving your world." Makima turned back and started walking back towards her son.

Trunks stared at her back and allowed himself to relax. As much of a worrywart he tended to be, the future warrior couldn't help but feel hopeful for the Son Family in this timeline. He saw the way the Control Devil loosened up around her son and even engaged others in conversations. It was something his mother said was pretty uncommon for her to do. But maybe, after hearing his story and learning of the alternate path she could've walked, she could walk forward.

Perhaps the Devil that fell in love the hardest could learn to live in a world without the one she loved the most.


Lightning cracked the skies around Krillin and Piccolo as they felt the Earth settle from the aftermath of Vegeta's final attack. The Namekian released a breath and handed the kids over to Krillin. "Take the kids back to their families."

"R-right." Krillin nodded as he slung Nayuta over his shoulders and held the boys under his arms. "What are you going to do Piccolo?"

"I'll check the aftermath. Be sure to tell everyone what happened." Piccolo glanced at the ex-monk. "I don't know what happened to Goku, but Gohan was killed by Buu. I heard Vegeta confirm it when he fought Buu."

"W-what?!" Krillin gasped. As he watched Piccolo take off, the small martial artist hung his head low, mourning the loss of one of the best people he's ever known. "No…not Gohan."


Piccolo touched down inside the crater, observing the damage done and the pink remains of the monster. "Anything less would have allowed Buu to regenerate. He sacrificed himself to ensure that the monster was gone for good. He saved us all."

"G-gwaaah…"

"What?" Piccolo whipped his head over to see that Babadi had somehow miraculously survived not only his attack but also Vegeta's explosion. "What a tenacious creep. He must've used a force field to protect himself. Whatever, I'll finish him off for good this time." Piccolo declared and slowly approached the shivling warlock.

WIGGLE!

Piccolo stopped after hearing the squishy wiggling noise on the ground. He looked down and saw that the pieces of Majin Buu had started moving. "W-what?! Majin Buu's fragments are…!" Suddenly, the pieces all turned into mini Majin Buus and started clumping together in the air. Piccolo's body instantly filled itself to the brim with fear and despair. He wasted no time in flying away from the area to avoid getting caught by the pink monster. As he flew back towards Krillin, he could hear the joyful cheer of the unkillable entity.

"BUUUUUUUUUUUU!"


"G-grah…" Goku groaned as he slowly regained consciousness. He stood back up, rubbing the back of his head to relieve the stinging. Goku picked up the empty bean bag on the ground. "Stupid Vegeta, he ate my last Senzu and went to fight Buu by himself." He stretched out his senses to search for the prince, but could only feel the mighty dark presence of Majin Buu. "That's Majin Buu's KI, but I don't feel Vegeta or Gohan…what's going on?" Goku searched in a different direction and got better results. "Oh, there's Piccolo and Krillin! I guess they got turned back to normal! They might know what's going on!" Putting two fingers to his forehead, the Saiyan teleported to the Lookout.


"G-Gohan…" A battered Shin muttered as he forced his body to move. Behind him, he dragged an unconscious Asa Mitaka by the collar of her blouse. The Kai's body screamed from his wounds. "P-please be alive…"


After getting healed by Dende, Goku listened to the story of events that transpired while he was unconscious. The Saiyan from Earth cursed himself for falling for Vegeta's taunts and tricks. "The Supreme Kai, War, Vegeta, and Gohan…" Four lives, one of them being his eldest son, had already been claimed by Buu's terrifying power. If he had just been there from the beginning then his son would still be alive. His thoughts drifted to Makima and how he would have to explain the news to her.

"As the Supreme Kai said, Majin Buu's power is beyond imagination. It won't be long before Earth and the rest of the universe is snuffed out." Piccolo said.

"But we have Goku here now! You can totally kick his butt, right buddy?!" Krillin looked hopeful.

"No, I can't do it." Goku dashed his hopes. "Vegeta was just as strong as me and he was helpless against Majin Buu. Sorry, but I don't stand a chance."

"D-dammit!" Krillin cursed.

Goku thought back to something, a technique he had learned during his time in the afterlife. "...But if Vegeta or Gohan were still alive then we might've stood a chance."

Piccolo shook his head. "Numbers won't make a difference against someone like this."

"No, I mean I could've fused with them." Goku clarifies.

"Fusion?" Krillin tilted his head.

"Wait! You mean the ability to combine with someone else?!" Dende exclaimed. "Like how we Namekians can fuse with one another?"

Goku stood up to explain. "Sort of, but the guys I met in the otherworld had a different way of doing it. You have to be of similar height and power to achieve this technique. When they combine, they become way stronger than the sum of their parts."

"Then you could've fused with either Vegeta or Gohan and fought Buu?" Piccolo asked.

"I never tried the technique myself since there was nobody at my power level there. But I guess it doesn't matter now…huh?" Goku sighed.

"Wait, but you could just meet up with Gohan and Vegeta in the afterlife! Then fuse with them and come right back!" Krillin suggested.

"No." Piccolo dashed his hopes again. "Goku's soul will never be allowed to return again after today, even if he were fused with others. Vegeta…will be in a far different place."

Mr. Popo stared at them all, wondering if they would've realized the obvious by now. But since the four of them were still struggling to realize the solution, he decided to point it out. "Why not just have the kids learn it?"

"Mr. Popo, you're a genius!" Goku exclaimed.

"I thought it was quite obvious." Mr. Popo said, but they already stopped paying attention to him by that point.

"Piccolo, I won't have enough time to teach them to completion, so do you think you can take over when I have to leave?" Goku requested.

"Sure." Piccolo nodded.

"Alright! With this we finally have an ounce of hope!" Krillin was happy enough to do a little dance.

"It'll take some time for the kids to learn this technique. Many people-humanity itself will likely be wiped out by the time they've mastered it." Piccolo mentions.

"Maybe so, but as long as Dende and the Dragon Balls are safe, then they can be brought back." Goku responds. He put his fingers to his forehead. "I better hurry and find Makima."

"Isn't she with everyone else?" Krillin asked.

"Nah, Vegeta attacked her to goad me into fighting him. I need to find her to let her know about the situation and Gohan's-"

Suddenly, the sky turned pitch black as if it were night. Goku stopped searching for his wife's KI and gasped. "It got dark all of a sudden! Is someone summoning Shenron?!"

"Bulma has the Dragon Balls! They don't know what's going on!" Krillin exclaimed.

"That's right! She's trying to bring back all of the people Vegeta killed at the tournament!" Goku realized.

"If they use the three wishes now, then the Dragon Balls will turn to stone for a year!" Dende reminded them.

"I'll be right back!" Goku quickly teleported to where Bulma's KI was located.


Denji remembered Gohan telling him how massive Shenron was, but he never believed his friend until this moment. Going around the world and collecting these seven orbs didn't take as long as his fellow hybrid had described, but he was thankful for that. At least he got to help take out some whale Devil that had swallowed one of those balls.

"S-so huge..." Denji turned to look at Videl, who was equally as shocked as he was. "This dragon is really going to bring people back to life?"

"I guess so." Denji shrugged. "Maybe I could use one of the wishes for a girlfriend?" His suggestion caused the champion's daughter to give him a flat stare. The chainsaw hybrid flinched back from her stare. "I-I was just joking!"

"Sure." She scoffed. They then heard a crunch noise and looked over to see Fami chewing on a chicken leg. "Uh…?"

"Trust me, you two will get used to it." Fami said as she took another bite.

Denji leaned over to Videl. "When did she get that?"

"I don't know."

"Do you think she'll get me one if I ask?"

He received another flat stare.

The richest woman on the planet chewed on her lip. "How should we put this one?" Bulma looked to Yamcha.

"How about…! Can you bring back everyone who died today, except for the bad ones!" Yamcha requested loudly. "That should do it."

"Thanks." She gave him a thumbs up.

Shenron's eyes glowed red. "YOUR WISH HAS BEEN GRANTED."

"CRAP! I DIDN'T MAKE IT!" Everyone turned to see Goku had suddenly appeared, clearly panicked.

"GOKU?!"

He ignored them to speak with Dende. "Hey, Dende, they already made a wish. What should I do?"

"Tell him we don't need the other two, so then we'll only have to wait four months."

"Okay, thanks!" Goku closed the connection, then looked up at Shenron. "We don't need the rest yet, Shenron! Thanks!"

"FARE YOU WELL." Shenron disappeared in a bright golden glow. The Seven Dragon Balls took the skies and split across different directions across the globe.

Yamcha approached his long-time friend. "Goku! What's this all about? We still could've used those two wishes!"

The Earthly Saiyan smiled sadly at them. "I'll take you all to the Lookout first. Piccolo and Gohan will explain everything while I go find Makima."


Kibito gasped as he stood to his feet. The assistant to the Gods checked his limbs, realizing that he had been brought back to life. "Didn't Dabura kill me? Have I come back to life? I can't believe it." As he got over his shock, the red-skinned man realized something important. "The Supreme Kai! I must find him!" Thankfully, Kibito was able to sense his lord's faint energy levels. "He's still alive! I must find him quickly!"

Meanwhile, Shin was barely clinging onto life. "G-Gohan…is…ali…" He finally lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground, dropping Asa like a sack of rocks. Luckily, before his life could extinguish, Kibito managed to locate him.

"Supreme Kai…and isn't that one of those Horsemen?" Kibito touched down next to the pair. He ignored the girl in favor of restoring his lord back to full health. Kibito's healing abilities brought Shin back to full health instantly. "Supreme Kai!"

"K-Kibito?! How are you alive?!" Shin questioned, jumping to his feet.

"I don't understand it myself, my lord." Kibito responded.

Figuring it was better to appreciate the small miracles, Shin gestured to Asa. "Quickly, grab War! We must find Gohan before he perishes to his wounds!" Listening to his lord, Kibito slung Asa over his shoulder and followed Shin into the skies.

"Do you feel Buu's power, Kibito?" Shin asked.

"Yes, and it is as powerful as we feared. The universe shall never know peace as long as Buu and Babadi are allowed to run rampant." Kibito responded.

"Do not fear, Kibito, as I sense a faint glimmer of hope."

"What?! Do you mean in Son Gohan?!"

"Yes, and War too as well. They may not be strong enough to challenge Buu as they are, but with what I have planned their skills and abilities shall surely prove to overcome his might." Shin's alluding proclamation confused Kibito further.

"You would truly put your hopes in these Devils and mortals?" Kibito asked.

"Yes, I will. You haven't seen the power they possess, Kibito. Not yet you haven't." Shin smiled. He looked down at the forest below and felt a pulse of strong KI within the grass. "Down here! Gohan's just below us!"

"There he is!" Kibito and Shin touched down next to the unconscious hybrid. His wounds have clearly worsened just from the time spent with no treatment given.

"That was close. Any longer and he might've died from his wounds." Shin sighed in relief. "Kibito, we shall take them to our realm first before giving aid."

"W-what?! To take such lowly beings into the realm of the Gods so casually! Such a thing has never been-"

"Do as I say, Kibito! The fate of the universe rides on this!" Shin's orders were absolute. Kibito had no other choice but to listen and transport the four of them away from Earth.


Makima rose out of the waters of Papaya Island, her clothes were an utter mess from the power of Vegeta's attack and the ocean's weight pressing down on her. With a snap of her fingers, Makima replaced her previously nice dress with a pair of black fitting pants and a silver-colored blouse that showed her collar. She whipped her arm and allowed her favorite trench coat to cover her body once more. Makima floated down onto the destroyed street, taking in all of the damage that Vegeta had caused in such a short time. If there hadn't been already, she was certain some new type of Devil would be born from this incident today. However, there was something more important that called for her attention. "Darling."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to try and sneak up on you." Goku's voice came from behind her. The Control Devil turned around to face her beloved, and she could tell that he was thinking about something. He was always easy for her to read.

"Darling, explain the situation to me."

He did as told, telling her everything that had gone down since they had first left the tournament to follow the Supreme Kai. Makima wasn't surprised to hear that another God made a blunder in underestimating her darling and the rest, which obviously made distrust grow between himself and them. Nor was she surprised to find out the reason Vegeta had gone apeshit and committed another terrorist act, his unresolved sexual tension with her husband hadn't escaped her notice in the last seven years. It was just incredibly frustrating that he had to make everything about him at the worst possible time.

The news of Majin Buu's awakening unsettled her a bit. While her husband had yet to have direct contact with the entity, their children and some of the others had. Thankfully, the twins and Trunks were safe. But Vegeta, War, and the Supreme Kai hadn't been as lucky to survive their encounters. If Makima was being honest, which she usually is, she didn't care about their deaths.

Vegeta deserved it and she only wished it had been more painful for him for causing the mess in the first place.

While it was a pity that an innocent girl got caught in the crossfire, she and her troublesome sister will be brought back with the Dragon Balls.

Makima did not give shit about the Gods to care about Shin's death.

However, there was a single piece to it all that was clearly missing. Someone who she was very aware of had been a part of that group that Goku refused to mention. She could see it in his eyes that he was hiding the information as if trying to find some way to say it. "Darling, what about Gohan?"

"Darling."

"Gohan…was killed by Buu too. Piccolo confirmed it." Goku waited to see if his wife would react. But she made no visible reaction to the news and just stared at him.

"I see…" Makima said quietly. "...Was there a body?"

"No. Piccolo said there was nothing left."

She couldn't sense any lies in her husband's tone, nor could she feel her son's energy anywhere on the planet or nearby stars. Which confirmed the truth of the matter that her oldest son had been killed.

"B-but it's okay, Makima!" Goku's usual smile looked back at her. "The Dragon Balls will be reusable in four months! Once Majin Buu has been taken care of, then you guys can use them to bring him and the others back to-"

"Does it mean nothing to you?"

"Eh?" Goku stopped as his wife's emotionless words washed over him. "Makima-"

"Does our son's death mean nothing to you?" Makima repeated.

"What?!" Goku was flabbergasted at the accusation. "Of course, I'm upset-"

"Then why would you even conceive the thought of saying that to me right now. I do not care if your little safety blanket can bring our son back, Goku."

Oh, she was pissed enough to actually use his name.

"What I care about is the fact that our son is dead and neither of us were there to save him. Was he sacred, was he saddened, was he hoping that one of us would arrive to save him before it was too late. That we'd scare away the monster hiding beneath his bed. But no, we'll have to wait four months to find out." Makima turned and started walking away.

Goku found his voice again and reached out for her. "Makima, wait! I can take us right to the Lookout-"

"I'll fly." She declined his offer. Makima stopped and turned her head to look at her husband. "I'm not angry at you, darling. But I want you to understand that we failed as parents." With her piece said, Makima took off towards the Lookout, leaving Goku to stew on those words.

Goku looked down at his feet, his mind drifting off to the last time he had seen Gohan. The uncertainty that his son had in himself to live up to his expectations and how much of a failure Gohan must've felt like in his last moments. "Y-yeah… I guess we did fail, huh."

Makima could feel the dark thoughts filtering through the air, Majin Buu's chaotic energy was clearly messing with her senses. But that didn't matter, what mattered was the subject of her children. The ones that were still alive and waiting for their mother to comfort them in their time of need. The ones she had yet to fail. "Is this how you felt…?" Makima thought back to her future counterpart. "Is this how it feels to lose your own child?"


"BULLSHIT!"

"Denji!" Aki whirled on the hybrid as he stormed up to Piccolo. The chainsaw hybrid grabbed the Namekian by his cape, glaring right into his eyes.

"BULLSHIT! There's no way, there's absolutely no way Gohan's dead!" Denji roared. Aki tried to pull him back, but the teen refused to budge from his spot.

After Goku had left the group on the Lookout and went to find his wife, Krillin and Piccolo explained everything that had happened. The Namekian left nothing out as he went into details on the deaths of their fallen comrades. Bulma had burst into tears immediately upon learning of Vegeta's sacrifice, Yamcha was doing his best to try and comfort her. Videl stood frozen in place as she tried to come to terms on the deaths of her crush and friend. Tears that she was trying to fight back against tickled the edges of her eyes.

Fami just moved to stare out at the world outside of the Lookout. When the news was given, she hadn't said a word or eaten anything since. Nobody dared to disrupt her, understanding that she needed her own personal space.

Everyone else mourned the losses and tried to do their best to come to terms with the situation given to them. Power was quiet as she watched Denji's emotional outburst. In that small brain of hers, she understood her friend's distress to an extent.

"It's the truth, kid." Piccolo said.

"And I call BULLSHIT! Gohan wouldn't die! He's too strong to die! I've seen it myself, there's no way he'd let some freak take him down!" Denji argued.

Krillin, holding Marron in his arms, stepped. "I'm sorry, but Majin Buu was just too strong even for someone like Gohan."

"Where's the body?!" Denji's demand silenced him. "Until I see a body then there's no way I'll accept it!"

"Vegeta blew himself up, do you want me to try and find his body too?" Piccolo silenced the hybrid. "Gohan's power is nowhere to be found and Vegeta was the one to confirm that Gohan had died. Buu erased him from this plane of existence and there's no changing that."

Denji's hand shook, emotions growing further and further. Anger and sadness were threatening to explode inside of him. He needed something to take his anger out on and the green jackass in front of him was the best target. Denji pulled back his fist with a shout. "RAH!"

"You dumbass-uh?" Aki was stopped when Goku appeared between Denji and Piccolo. The Saiyan grabbed the hybrid's wrist, holding him in place.

"Goku…" Krillin muttered.

"Hey, there's no need for that." Goku lightly scolded the blonde. "I understand that emotions are high, but there's more important things going on right now." He released Denji's wrist, the hybrid flinching away from the Saiyan. Once again, the chainsaw hybrid felt his chest tingle at the sight of him again. Deciding to retreat for the moment, Denji shoved Aki away and stormed off from the group.

"I'm sorry about him." Aki apologized. "He's a pain in the ass, but the sudden terrible news pushed him too much."

"He's Gohan's friend, right?" Aki nodded his head. "Then it makes sense that he's upset. Don't be mad at him, okay?" Goku smiled. The hunter was surprised to hear just how soft and understanding Makima's husband turned out to be.

"Goku, where's Makima?" Piccolo asked.

"She didn't take the news well. She'll be here soon if she isn't already." Goku answered.

"Can you hear me, Earthlings?"

Everyone on the Lookout flinched from the sudden mental intrusion. Some of them looked around for who could be talking to them right now. Piccolo, however, recognized the voice immediately. "Babadi?!"

"Do not bother looking for me. I speak directly into your minds using my magic."


Makima stood over her babies, softly brushing their hair out of their faces. She was thankful to see that Goten and Nayuta were sleeping peacefully next to Trunks, clearly unaware of the terrible situation they were in. She was enjoying this quiet time until a dreadful voice decided to interrupt it.

"Sorry to intrude on your peaceful day, but I had a terrible day thanks to four idiots! Close your eyes and I shall grant you a visual picture."

Makima's blood boiled seeing Babadi threaten her children. Piccolo and Trunks were also on the warlock's shitlist, which was still a point of concern. Piccolo was an adult, but to threaten children in such a way had pushed the warlock up on her priority list. It was foolish of him to create a mental connection between them. She listened to the rest of his spiel and watched as Buu turned an entire city's population into candy before decimating it with his breath. Due to Babadi's pettiness, her children, Trunks, and Piccolo were now public enemy #1 across the entire globe.

It didn't take long for some foolish dumbass to attempt to sell them out. She would've killed the guy herself if Babadi hadn't done it first.

"No more false calls! I'm much too busy killing humans! I might be coming to your town next! If those fools' locations aren't given to me in the next five days, kiss your planet goodbye!"

Before Babadi could cut the connection, Makima sent a warning shock through it. The warlock hissed in pain at the mental attack, surprised that it could be achieved in the first place. His connection to everyone was severed by the Control Devil herself. "Pitiful. I'll have to wipe everyone's memories when this is all over."

"Mama…?"

Makima looked down to see that the kids were finally waking up. Goten and Nayuta rubbed their eyes as Trunks yawned. She waited until the children had wiped their sleepiness away before addressing them. "Hello, children."

"MOMMY!" Goten shot into her, taking his mother off her feet. She balanced herself and held the boy in her arms as he buried his face in her chest. "You're here! You're here, Mommy!"

"Yes, I'm here."

"Momma!" Nayuta was next and Makima made room for her daughter as well. "You're here, Momma!"

"Yes, I'm here." Makima said softly.

Trunks felt a bit awkward but spoke up anyway. "Uh? Where are we exactly?" The last thing he remembered was hugging his dad, then everything went black.

"The Lookout." The four looked to see Piccolo and Goku arrive in the room. "Enough dawdling, kids. There's a lot that you need to catch up on."


The temper tantrums were expected.

"NO! NO, HE'S NOT DEAD!"

"MY DAD CAN'T DIE! YOU'RE LYING!"

"BIG BROTHER ISN'T DEAD!"

Goku, Makima, and Piccolo stayed silent, allowing the kids to get their emotions out. The three hybrids screamed and stomped and cried loudly in denial of the harsh reality put upon them. Everyone else listened silently, but were disheartened by the sounds of the children, clearly hating it.

Goku had heard enough. "ENOUGH! WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR CRYING! LEARN THIS FAST IF YOU WANT REVENGE!" The children listened to his shout, stifling their cries and stood facing the three adults. His features softened at them. "I'm sorry, but we don't have a lot of time before Babadi finds us. We have to start now."

"Can't we put them in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber?" Piccolo suggested.

"No, they can only use it for two days in their whole lives. It's best if we save it just in case." Goku replied. "I'm certain they'll learn this fast. Let's start. You need to remember this too, Piccolo."

Makima could sense the distrust the kids were holding towards her darling. Considering the situation and the deaths of their loved ones, it was obvious that they would hold contempt towards the man who they don't know and who wasn't there.

Goku continued on. "You'll only be able to stay fused for 30 minutes, even if you succeed. Then you'll split off and have to wait an hour before fusing again."

"Only half an hour?" Piccolo's disgust was clear.

"Half an hour can be enough if they don't waste time." Makima said.

"Exactly." Goku nodded. "They'll get the job done if they get it right." He turned back to the kids. "Okay, turn Super Saiyan."

The three glared at him.

"Hm?"

"What were you doing when Gohan and Dad got killed?" Trunks asked. The other two clearly had the same question burning in their minds.

"I was out cold." Goku answered easily.

"Out cold?! At a time like that?!" Trunks scoffed.

"How are we supposed to learn anything from you?!" Goten spat.

"Gohan was wrong, there's nothing special about you." Nayuta snarled. She was right to think that this guy was worthless. Her big brother and aunt were dead and the supposed 'strongest in the universe' was taking a dirt nap.

"Watch your tongue!" Piccolo yelled. "You brats don't understand-"

"It's fine, Piccolo. They're not wrong. If I had been better, then none of that would've happened. It's my fault." Goku took the verbal hits. He would be lying if he said that the clear distrust and spite from his own kids didn't hurt. But he understood that he was still a stranger to them, they had only known Makima, Gohan, and his sisters-in-law as their own family.

He didn't have much of a place in their hearts, and with the small amount of time he had left…he never would. Goku had to accept that truth.

"It's true that I can't beat Buu, but this trick will allow you guys to do it. If you want to avenge everyone, then you have to listen to me." Goku tried to convince them.

"Tch…! As I want to learn from-" Nayuta was cut off by a mental intrusion. Babadi was once again invading their minds.

"Hello again, Earthlings. Just as before I'll be destroying another city. Unless Ma Junior, Goten, Trunks, and Nayuta show themselves right this instant!"

"T-that's us! He's talking about us!" Trunks exclaimed.

"Close your eyes, guys, then you'll see him!" Goten yelled. The two followed his lead and gasped at the sight of Majin Buu and Babadi looming threateningly over a city. When nobody came forward with information, Buu turned everyone in the city to candy before blowing it to pieces.

Makima was about to send another shock to hurt the warlock, but three tikes beat her to it.

"Babadi! Buu!" Trunks growled.

"Oh? What is this?"

"This is Trunks!"

"I'm Goten!"

"And I'm Nayuta!"

"We can't do it right now, but I swear that the three of us are gonna kick your ass!" Trunks declared.

"Stop talking! He'll find our location!" Piccolo yelled.

"No need." Makima had already blocked the connection, preventing Babadi from finding them. She looked back at the kids and smiled at the pure determination rolling off of them.

"Are you three ready now?" Goku asked.

"Yeah!" Trunks nodded.

"We'll beat those jerks!" Goten added.

"I may not like you all that much, but if you can help us get stronger, then I'll listen!" The spirals in her eyes glowed with a fierce passion.

"Good." Goku felt a sense of pride well up in his chest at his kids. "Let's get started."


Deep within the confines of Hell, where thousands upon thousands of Devils screamed and tousled to till their reincarnation, a certain black-haired woman smiled playfully at her newest companion. "Sooooo? How does it feel to be a failure?"

Vegeta, the Prince of all Saiyans, growled at Death, the final Horseman of the Apocalypse. "Shut the hell up!"

"Aw, don't be like that, Veggie!" She waved playfully.

"I'm going to kill you."

"You're welcome to try, sourpuss. Welcome to my hell."

Chapter End

NOTE: Welp, Vegeta is clearly in the wrong Hell. I wonder how that happened (Think back to the chapters about Trunks' future). The next couple of chapters are going to be focused a lot on character interactions and hopefully growth along with it. Denji's meeting with the Son Family (Something I've been holding out on) will finally come to light in a main chapter instead of an intermission.

You will get to see Super Saiyan 3 Goku tho. I won't be skipping that or their reactions to it.

Next chapter will cover the Gohan and Asa stuff, I just felt like this was long enough already.

I don't mean to paint Makima in a terrible light, but yeah, the only 'death' she clearly cares about is her son. I don't think that's too weird of a thing.

If you're wondering why Goku doesn't consider fusing with his wife, it's because they aren't close to the same power levels, and he simply doesn't know how that would actually turn out. While he could just lower his power enough to match her that could still prove to be a detriment. Vegeta, while not as strong, wasn't that much weaker from Goku that fusing into Gogeta would cause an issue.

Have a great day!