Chapter 16
After what felt like an eternity, the mood had finally shifted to a more positive atmosphere. In reality, joyous. Mr. Snow was gone and so was anything related to the Ampheta Organization. It had all been erased, quite literally. Thanks to the black hole surrounding the Ampheta arena, there was no trace left of Mr. Snow or his company left. No evidence they even existed for that matter. Ironic, considering Snow dedicated his life to thinking he could take and collect whatever he wanted, be it his many possessions, signing fighters he admired or even treating people like possessions and now the people he wanted to keep to himself escaped and everything he owned had been annihilated. Whatever legacy Mr. Snow thought he had was now nonexistent.
Goku was lying down. He had decided to zone out for a bit after having his energy depleted, not to mention he was exhausted from fighting all day. Fighting with his energy being siphoned out via the Ki Neutralizer machine didn't help him feel less tired either. But now that they were far away from the Nihil cluster. The machines were destroyed, and his natural energy was finally beginning to return. He was starting to listen to the chatter beginning around him. He slowly sat up and collected himself. This ordeal was finally over. And there was one thing left he had to do. He began to look around the ship.
"Where was she?" he thought.
He started to look around. Krillin looked to have dozed off at the cockpit of the ship. Figures, he was getting older and had been through a lot of stress today. Plus, it was going to be a few more hours before they got back to Earth. Vegeta and Trunks were having a chat about something with Gohan and Videl, he couldn't make out what they were saying. He finally found her. Chi-Chi was talking with Bulma on the opposite side of the ship. Even better, Goten was with his mom.
Goku listened in on the conversation and already he could hear Vegeta was getting angry about something. "Gah, would you stop saying that word?"
"Which specific word?" Gohan was confused. "It's a complicated subject. I'm just trying to explain to Trunks how the wormholes work."
"That one! That foul word. I've heard that horrible word one too many times today!" Vegeta strained. "Can't you call them portals or black holes? Anything that doesn't remind me of those hideous, dirty, crawling... worms!"
"I don't understand what your problem is!" Videl cut in as Trunks started to burst out laughing. "It's just a word! It's not like saying worm will conjure up real worms!"
"Maybe not for you, but they appear in my mind and it's dreadful!"
While she argued with Vegeta, Goku began to feel true relief. He looked back to Chi-Chi who was still talking to Bulma with Goten by their side. It was so good to see the young boy didn't appear too roughed up. Goku had been worried about his youngest son but knew he could at least fight. And it looks like he handled himself throughout everything. Goku started to run up to that group and quickly picked Chi-Chi up while she was mid-sentence. She let out a cry before realizing it was her husband holding her up and her cries turned to laughter. Bulma smiled too and let them have their moment.
He turned Chi-Chi to face him. "I'm so happy you're ok. I couldn't stop thinking about you."
Chi-Chi giggled before smiling back at him. "We were wondering when you were going to wake up."
He looked down to Goten, who was smiling at him. "And you, son. I had you on my mind too, but I know you can fight. You really kicked a lot of butt down there! You're going to have to tell me about what you and Trunks did later."
"Ok!" Goten replied. "It was so cool! We met a new friend!"
Goku smiled and put his hand on Goten's head, ruffling his black hair. "I'm proud of you, son. You're a great fighter just like me and your brother."
He turned back to Gohan and Videl. "And we couldn't have gotten out of there without you two. Thanks for stepping up and coming out to find us. It must've been scary flying through space!"
"Ah, it was nothing." Videl said. "Actually, it was a pretty boring trip."
"Well, if you knew about astronomy then you'd have plenty of cool things to look at just outside the window." Gohan added.
"Whatever... nerd." Videl scoffed, playfully elbowing Gohan in the rib. He smiled and put his hand around her shoulders.
Goku looked over to Krillin who was still sleeping with the ship set to autopilot.
"He looks so peaceful; I shouldn't disturb him." Goku thought out loud. "I'll thank Krillin later."
Goku pulled Gohan closer to him to get a word in. "Say, can you and Videl distract Goten for a bit? There's something I want to tell your Mom."
"Sure Dad." Gohan said quickly. "Hey Goten, why don't you tell me about the shenanigans you and Trunks got into back there? You know, before Videl and me got there."
Gohan and Videl got Goten out of earshot between Goku and Chi-Chi as Goku began to approach his wife.
Goku lightly put his hand on her wrist. "Hey, Chi-Chi..."
She looked up at him. "Yes?"
"I'm sorry for everything." he began. "For ditching you at the mall and getting you involved with all of this. I'm supposed to protect you, and I feel like I really let you down..."
Chi-Chi pulled him closer, her arms around his neck. "Even the strongest man in the universe is going to screw up, not the first time and it won't be the last. And that's ok. I forgive you Goku."
She moved closer to him so she could gently rest her lips against his for a moment before pulling back to smile. She forgot how much she missed that face of his, she hadn't seen him up close in what felt like forever.
"I didn't get hurt and neither did Goten. And all of our friends got out safely too. That's what's important." she continued. "And I don't know if you saw, but I got to fight a little and best of all, I beat up Mr. Snow."
"No way, really?" Goku was actually surprised to hear that. He lost track of what happened to Bulma and Chi-Chi once Snow closed the window to his throne room.
Chi-Chi nodded. "Yep, we actually freed ourselves. You know, I actually miss fighting sometimes. Maybe I can spar with you one of these days..."
"That's crazy! I have no idea how you could get free up there but clearly you found a way." Goku remarked before letting out a chuckle. "And maybe we can figure something out if you want to spar. It's been so long since I saw you fight in the world tournament; I forgot that you're a fighter too. But one thing is for sure, the last thing you are is helpless, Chi."
Her smile grew and she looked longingly back at her husband before she shared another kiss with him.
Goku kept gazing into her eyes. "In fact, you're just simply amazing. I'm really lucky to have you. I won't ever put you in danger again, I promise."
Before Chi-Chi could reply, a loud shout was heard on the other side of the ship.
"This can wait woman! Don't you dare do this to me in front of everyone!"
Goku looked puzzled as Chi-Chi turned around to see what the fuss was. Bulma was crouched down next to Vegeta who hadn't left his spot. They watched as Bulma attempted to apply another bandage to the gash on Vegeta's head while Trunks tried to hold in his laughter behind his parents.
"No way!" Bulma protested while struggling to get the bandage on straight so it wouldn't fall off. "You need to be patched up, you've been dripping blood all over the floor this whole time! So, stop struggling and let me finish!"
Underneath the grit and scuffs, Vegeta was beginning to blush. "This is so humiliating! I'm a Saiyan warrior and I just finished a battle, do you expect combat to be sanitary?"
"No, but I expect you to be nice and clean!" Bulma quickly shot back. "Especially on one of my ships! Who do you think has to clean this up? Now hold still and stop being such a big baby!"
"You might as well let her finish, Vegeta." Goku said with a laugh. "I've known her for a long time, once she's determined to do something there's no stopping her."
Vegeta folded his arms and look down at the floor, grumbling as his wife finished applying bandages. On the other side of the ship, Krillin was beginning to stir.
"What's all the yelling about?" he croaked. "Are we home yet?"
"Shut up and go back to sleep!" Vegeta grunted. "And don't look back here! It's none of your concern!"
The rest of the last few hours on the trip back to Earth were the opposite of the trip to the Nihil Cluster. Jubilation replaced apprehension. The Saiyans and their families had defeated what had awaited them on the unfamiliar planet. The families sat together on the floor the entire ride back, the love and warmth radiating from everyone made the last hours of the journey fly by.
Finally, they were back home on Earth. The clear blue skies and familiar settings were a welcome change from being surrounded by black skies and the cold walls of Snow's arena. So was seeing the late afternoon sun. The group decided to take a few minutes enjoying the fresh air of their home planet before going their separate ways.
Out of nowhere, a worrying thought crossed Goku's mind. He walked over to Gohan and Videl.
"You guys remembered to bring the Dragon Ball back, right? You know, the one I left behind so you could find us."
The two were alarmed by Goku's change in demeanor. "I just remembered that I brought it with me, and I forgot to look for it! I was too busy fighting! If it got sucked into the black hole, we can never use the Dragon Balls again!"
"Relax!" Videl started as she began to unzip a backpack on the ground. "We made sure not to forget something like that."
She tossed the three-star ball over to Goku who quickly caught it.
"Whew!" Goku exclaimed wiping his sweat from forehead. "That could've been very bad! I think this was yours, Bulma!"
Goku pitched the ball over to Bulma. "Thanks!"
"Oh, Bulma?" Gohan started. He walked over and handed her a clear bag. She opened it and saw her clothes inside. Videl handed Chi-Chi a bag with her own clothes inside.
"We found these back on that planet." Videl explained, handing Bulma another bag. "And we got all the stuff you bought at the mall too before he threw you into the portal. We figured you'd want all this back."
"Oh, thank you!" Bulma said, those purchases slipped her mind, but she was surprised and ultimately happy to see them once again. "That was very considerate of you! You didn't have to do that!"
"I'm thankful too." Vegeta interjected. "I know she'd throw a fit if she lost all that junk and she'd blame me for it. Glad you thought ahead..."
Bulma pouted and slapped Vegeta's shoulder to get him to pipe down. Even though she knew he was right.
"We figured you'd want what you were shopping for. By the way, why did Mr. Snow have your clothes anyway?" Videl asked Chi-Chi and Bulma. "That's really creepy."
The two women started to blush. Their minds racing on how to change the subject. Trunks thankfully stepped in.
"Mom?" he said to Bulma, tugging on her hand.
"Yes, sweetie?" She turned to him, mentally thanking him for giving her an out for not explaining the embarrassing ordeal that she and Chi-Chi endured.
"Goten and me were wondering and you're really smart, you can tell us. What happens when someone falls in a black hole?" Trunks asked. "What happened to Mr. Snow in there?"
"Well..." Bulma started as she began to think back to her physics and astronomy classes. "To put it simply, he's probably not having a good time in there. For one, he's never going to be able to get out. Once you go inside what's called the event horizon, that's the point of no return. And he's probably going through what's called 'spaghettification'. Meaning the gravity force will compress him from top to toe, while stretching him at the same time. In other words, he's getting ripped apart just like spaghetti."
"That's assuming our combined blasts didn't incinerate him first." Vegeta added. "Otherwise, that black hole is sucking up nothing but his ashes."
"Couldn't have happened to a better guy!" Chi-Chi said. "Serves him right! I'm so thankful to not be in that horrible place anymore!"
"No kidding!" Goku chimed in.
"You know..." Bulma began. "I can't remember a time we all fought back against the same enemy, I mean all of us! From you and Vegeta to Gohan and Videl to Goten and Trunks. Even Chi-Chi and I got our hands dirty!"
"And we still won!" Goku said. "Even when Mr. Snow tried to cheat and pull every trick out of his hat to stack the odds against us!"
Chi-Chi smiled again and pushed her fist into her open hand. "Mr. Snow learned the hard way, don't mess with either of our families!"
"Mess with one of us, get all of us!" Bulma said. She looked at Vegeta who was still staring off and intertwined her arm around his He had been standing on the outer edge of the group and began to blush again at Bulma's affection but chose not to pull away.
Chi-Chi followed suit and found a spot under Goku's arm, resting her head on his chest. He held her close gently.
She looked up at him. "And not even the strongest being in the universe can come between our bonds." She said softly.
Goku smiled back and pulled her in tighter. They looked over at Bulma and Vegeta who were sharing equal affection in their own way.
"Just think, this all happened because me and Vegeta just wanted to spar!" Goku blurted out.
The women went silent, and Vegeta slapped his own forehead with his hand. They were so close to moving past their mistake and now Goku had just reminded their wives of it.
"Hmmm..." Bulma started. "I think you men owe us big time for leaving us behind and causing us to get kidnapped! What do you say, Chi?"
"I agree!" she replied. "What do you think their punishment should be?"
Vegeta groaned and joined in. "Perhaps you women shouldn't take so much time in your damned stores. We are Saiyan warriors! It's not in our blood to stand about and gawk at clothing items!"
Bulma ignored her husband's point and looked over to Chi-Chi. "I don't know about you, but I am not letting them forget this! I say we make them come with on all future shopping trips! What do you think?"
Chi-Chi grinned and nodded her head. "I say that's the perfect compromise!"
"This is great Vegeta!" Bulma said, excitedly. "Now you can come with me, and I can have you try on all the clothes I buy for you. I don't have to guess if something will fit anymore and return it because it's too small or too big."
Chi-Chi turned her attention back to her husband. "And it's all thanks to Goku! If he hadn't said anything, we might have forgot these two had to make up for leaving us!"
Goku started to laugh nervously as Vegeta stared daggers through him.
"I hope you're happy, Kakarot." he snarled. "Do you realize the fate you've just sentenced us to? I think I'd be better off falling into the abyss! And with your low attention span, you will not last long on these blasted shopping trips! They drag on and on and on!"
Goku let out another timid chuckle. "Ah heh... I guess we had this coming."
"I don't hear you protesting either mister!" Bulma said to Vegeta, who had a pained expression on his face. "And even if you were, there's no getting out of this punishment anyway!"
She grabbed her bags of clothes and began to head back inside the Capsule Corporation building. "I think I'm ready to call it a day. I'm going to need lots of rest, seeing as Vegeta and I are going to have a big shopping trip tomorrow! See you all again soon!"
Vegeta glared at Goku one last time before following his wife into the main entrance. Bulma turned around called Trunks over and he soon followed his parents to inside their home.
Gohan looked up as late afternoon began to fade into the orange glow of a sunset. "Yeah, it's gonna be late for us soon. See ya Dad!"
He began to hover upwards and Videl joined him. He waved at his father as Goku waved back. Soon Gohan and Videl began to fly back home.
Goku looked out to the sky. "Flying Nimbus!" he called out. Soon the orange cloud hovered beside him. He took Chi-Chi's hand and helped her onto the cloud.
"We better be getting home too, what a day!" And with that, Goku climbed onto the cloud next to his wife.
"Wait!" Goten cried. "Is there room for me?"
"Of course there is, Goten!" Goku said with a smile as he scooted over and made room for his young son. The three soon took off and headed back to Mount Pazou, finally reunited. All the enemies they had faced learned a hard lesson that day and that was that no foe had the strength to tear this family apart.
THE END
