The universe was still reeling from the aftermath of the Tournament of Power. The multiverse had been saved, but the scars of war lingered. In a dark, forgotten corner of the universe, a sinister figure stirred.

On his home planet, Planet Frieza #17, Frieza, the galactic tyrant who had been resurrected by Whis, has had spent many nights sleepless, haunted by the memories of his gruesome demise at the hands of a mysterious teenager who can turn his hair yellow like a Goku did back on Namek. The boy deflected all his attacks and sliced him up in pieces with his sword before disintegrating him. The entire time in Hell, Frieza had thought about it. Sure, Goku handed him his first defeat on Namek, but it was the boy in the blue jacket & gray sweatpants that killed him. He then flashed back to his stint in the afterlife; he had met Cell, a bio-mechanical android who revealed the identity of his killer: Trunks, the half-human half-Saiyan son of Vegeta, who had time traveled into the past. The warlord's obsession for revenge burned brighter with each passing moment.

As such, Frieza issued an order to his team of the best scientific minds in the Frieza Force: construct a machine capable of transporting someone through time & space. He gave them all she schematics & details Cell gave him. Despite this, his chief scientist Aval, a stout alien with red skin who resembled the late Sorbet, said that it could take some time for them to complete the project.

Frieza coldly told him that they had one month.

29 days later, Aval called to him, saying the time machine is ready.

"It wasn't easy, master, but I believe it is ready." he said.

"Good." replied Frieza. "I can't wait to extinguish the last of the royal monkey bloodline."

"But sir, if I may make a suggestion,"

"No, you may not!" said Frieza

"I was just thinking, why not travel to planet Namek and aid your past self in defeating that accursed Saiyan Goku?"

"Oh, I will get to him, believe me. But first, I want to pay a visit to Vegeta's son in the future. He made me feel fear only for the second time in my life. Now, it's his turn. Oh, and I believe I said that you may not make your suggestion!"

Frieza slowly turned his head to face Aval, giving him the same stare that he had given so many. Aval was frozen in fear as Frieza darted to him and punched him in the face so hard, it sent him flying through a wall. "You're lucky Aval. I still might need you." he said, although Aval was unconscious at that point.

The machine arrived at the coordinates Cell told him: an Earth 25 years in the future. In this dystopian timeline, a pair of super powerful androids known only as number 17 and number 18, had ravaged the world. Despite being a super Saiyan, Trunks couldn't defeat them. But after time-traveling into the past and getting much stronger, Trunks returned and wasted no time in destroying the androids. Thinking about the androids, Frieza could only say,

"Amateurs!"

Meanwhile, at the Capsule Corporation building, Trunks, wearing his usual attire of black tank top, gray sweatpants and yellow boots, was having tea with his mom. Suddenly, he stood up and looked at the ceiling.

"What's wrong, son?" asked Bulma.

"It's an energy unlike anything I ever sensed. No, it's familiar. But...It can't be! He's supposed to be dead!" Trunks replied. Without using another word, he quickly ran out of the building and took off into the sky.

He headed off in the direction of the energy source. He stopped in mid-air to take it all in. There, standing in a green field, wearing purple armor with brown shoulder pads, was Frieza. Sensing his arrival, Frieza looked up to see the startled expression of the half-Saiyan.

"Frieza!" Trunks said.

"Trunks, son of Vegeta and some human wench. Who knew the Prince of all Saiyans had a romantic side. I though his true love was fighting." sneered Frieza.

'DON'T YOU DARE CALL MY MOTHER SUCH A THING!" Trunks spat out. "Furthermore, how the hell are you still alive! I'm guessing," turning his head to the time machine "that is some-sort of time travel machine."

"Correct, young one. As to how I'm back, I won't bore you with the details, but I was given a second chance. And I will use that chance for some payback."

"You've come seeking revenge," Trunks declared, his voice unwavering.

"Correct again."

'But how do you know who I am."

"One word: Cell"

"Of course," said Trunks. "He told you about me."

"You must have inherited your mom's brains. Cell told me that he briefly killed you. I'm going to repeat the process. You cut me down, sliced me into pieces. Today, you'll face the true meaning of power!" Without a moment's hesitation, he transformed into his Golden form, the aura around him crackling with raw power.

"What the hell is this?!" exclaimed Trunks.

"I've gone Super Saiyan." he mused. The ground trembled beneath his feet as he launched himself at Trunks, aiming a vicious punch at his face.

Trunks reacted instinctively, sidestepping the blow and countering with a flurry of kicks that connected with Frieza's side. "You think you can defeat me again? I've trained harder than you can imagine!"

The battle escalated rapidly. They exchanged blows, each impact shaking the very foundation of the earth. Frieza unleashed a barrage of energy blasts, but Trunks dodged with the agility of a master fighter, retaliating with ki blasts of his own that erupted against Frieza's golden armor.

"You've gotten stronger, but not strong enough!" Frieza growled, frustration creeping into his voice as he unleashed a flurry of ki blasts aimed directly at Trunks. But the half-Saiyan powered through, his aura blazing as he dodged and weaved through the onslaught, closing the distance once more.

"You've gotten stronger. But so have I. As you know, we Saiyans have potential for unlimited power. We are constantly training to get stronger. I'm no different." With a roar, Trunks' hair suddenly turned blue, a brilliant light enveloping him as he screamed.

"No, it can't be! You...you..."

"That's right, Frieza. I have attained Super Saiyan Blue." Frieza had remembered the Super Saiyan Blue look from when he saw Goku attained it. But he was undeterred. He landed a devastating blow that sent Frieza crashing into the ground. "This is for everything you've done!" Trunks yelled, driving his fist down into Frieza's chest, pinning him to the unrestrained ferocity, Frieza lunged forward, unleashing a barrage of Death Beams. But Trunks danced around his attacks, his movements displaying masterful agility. As Frieza unleashed a flurry of strikes and attacks, Trunks countered with precision, his sword striking through Frieza's defenses with relentless accuracy.

Unfazed, Frieza unleashed a massive energy sphere aimed at Trunks. The explosion lit the wasteland as dust and debris filled the air. But even amidst the chaos, Trunks emerged, unfazed, energy swirling around him as he countered, "It's not enough, Frieza!"

Frieza gasped, feeling the weight of defeat settle upon him. "No! I cannot lose to you again!" he spat, struggling against the power that overwhelmed him.

But Trunks held firm, breathing heavily. "You had your chance, Frieza. I won't let you terrorize anyone ever again."

The battle raged, Frieza unleashing devastating attacks, but Trunks countered each blow with effortless ease. Golden Frieza's might was no match for the Super Saiyan Blue's unbridled power.

With a swift motion, Trunks sidestepped Frieza's attack and countered, his fist connecting with Frieza's jaw in a single, devastating 's body flew back, crashing into the earth, his golden form flickering and dimming as he struggled to regain control. Pain shot through his chest, and for the first time since his resurrection, Frieza felt a cold, numbing fear grip him.

Maybe he isn't the mightiest warrior of all time.

In an act of desperation, Frieza charged straight at the half-Saiyan headfirst like a bullet. Buit Trunks stood his ground and smirked. Frieza's collided with the young man's chest...and he didn't move! Golden Frieza was knocked to the ground. Trunks then slowly walked over to him, picked him up by the throat, and delivered a powerful punch to the villain's stomach. Golden Frieza could only clutch his stomach and fall to his knees. To make matters worse, his Golden Form dissolved, reverting him back to normal. He was laid out in the dirt, trembling and broken-not just in body but in mind and spirit.

Frieza's arrogance shattered like glass. The realization of his defeat hit him hard. He scrambled to his feet, but the mighty warrior before him loomed larger than any opponent he had faced. "No! This cannot be!" he shrieked, panic creeping into his voice.

Trunks stepped closer, the aura of a true Saiyan enveloping him. "You were once the mightiest being in the universe, Frieza, but now…" His voice lowered, but the conviction rang true. "That title belongs to me!"

Frieza's heart raced as he fell to his knees, his pride crushed under the weight of defeat. "Please," he gasped, "I… I submit. I've made a grave mistake."

Trunks raised an eyebrow, taken aback by the sight of an all-mighty emperor bowing before him. "Return to your time, Frieza. Maybe this will teach you a lesson," he said, a mixture of disdain and pity in his voice.

Frieza quickly returned to his time machine and activated it the remnants of his pride disintegrating into the air. "You may have won this battle, but I will return!" he thought to himself, even as he fled.

As the time machine vanished, Trunks stood alone in the ruins, a mix of relief and resolve flooding his heart. He had protected the Earth once more and the threat of Frieza was gone, at least for now.

To be continued...

Author's Note: 'Aval' is Lava spelled backwards