DISCLAIMER:
Rath: (silently hands Vetyga an encoded message before unsuccessfully attempting to melt away into the shadows)
Vetyga: (gives Rath a strange look) "This is ridiculous… Why are you being so secretive all of the sudden? The twist has already been revealed. And why are you still wearing that plot armor? There is no mob out to get you!"
Rath: "Shhhhh! You may not hear them… You may not see them… But they are watching!" (backs away as she waves her hands in front of her face)
Vetyga: (rolls her eyes as she deciphers the encoded message out loud) "WE DO NOT OWN DBZ!"
IN THE PAST WORLD:
"There's something you should know…" Vegge had told them as they approached the Rift of Rijow.
"What is it, Vegge?" Goku asked.
"Th-The Rift has a riddle connected to it…" Vegge said.
Bulma immediately turned to the child. "Where did you hear about that?" she questioned. She had never mentioned the riddle to him before and as far as she knew, he had still been unconscious when the Yuuli brought it up back on the 'Ghoul Saber'.
"I found out from Sugo," Vegge admitted. "He learned about the riddle and told me to tell you... B-But I figured out what it meant on my own. I was told to warn you..."
"Warn us of what?" Bulma prodded. The Yuuli… Sugo… Vegge… How was it they all understood the meaning of the riddle before she herself had figured it out?
Goku, Goten, and Trunks glanced at each other. They had no idea what Bulma or Vegge were talking about.
"The riddle of the Rift..." Vegge took a deep breath.
It wasn't too late to do what his older self commanded him to do. If he told them the truth, he would not have to face the wrath of either him or Frieza... Then again, where else would he go? Everyone in the universe hated Saiyans and he had foolishly killed off the only companions he had. He was tired of obeying others in fear for what they would do if he didn't. He'd probably be made to suffer no matter what he decided to do. That's how it always worked out for him. Frieza made that clear.
Who was his older self to order him around? Vegeta thought he could control Vegge with threats? Vegge wanted to prove him wrong. He did what he wanted! No matter what happened next, at least Vegge would have the satisfaction of knowing that for one brief moment of his life, it was he who had total control. No one would ever be able to take this moment away from him.
Vegge chose to lie. "As counted in, is counted out… It means you have to enter one at a time," he said. "If you all try to go at the same time, it'd count it as being only one person and then only one of us would make it through..."
"Thank you, Vegge, for letting us know. If you hadn't told us, we could have made a grave mistake," Goku said solemnly.
"Just go," Vegge shrugged. He could not look Goku in the eyes. Goku had saved him from Frieza's abuse, but here he was returning the favor by lying to him. He had no doubt the adult Saiyan would hate him for it too. He supposed it couldn't be any worse than what he was already accustomed to.
Goku looked at him with concern, but did not say anything.
"See you on the other side, Trunks," Goku said after turning his gaze from Vegge to Trunks.
Bulma wiped a tear from her cheek. She couldn't believe it was finally happening. Soon they would all be safe and sound in the Present World. She turned to Trunks and shook her head.
"Knowing you, you'll want a moment to talk with Vegge before you cross the Rift's boundaries, but don't take too long, okay? A few words, nothing more... I mean it!"
"Mom, I know," Trunks insisted.
"Alright, just making sure," Bulma smiled at him before giving Vegge a look of encouragement. She knew that deep down Vegge was afraid of what would happen once he crossed the Rift's boundaries. She wanted to let him know that everything would be okay and that he had nothing to be afraid of, but she figured Trunks sensed his unease as well. She had no doubt that Trunks would spend some moments alone talking with his younger father to help ease his fears. Trunks was so protective of Vegge.
They knew the Rift would not stay open long, so they did not linger.
Goten gave Trunks a thumbs up before hopping through the Rift first. One by one, his father and Bulma followed after him.
"Don't take too long," Bulma whispered.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIFT:
Goku, Bulma, and Goten could barely see more than a few steps ahead of themselves as the Rift distorted their vision. It felt as though they were in a maze of shifting mirrors. Their surroundings constantly warped and twisted around them. It was hard to keep track of one another.
It was hard to say when it happened, but at some point the desolate purple landscape of Rijow vanished entirely. In its place came a place covered with lush green, purple, and yellow vegetation.
"Is this still Rijow?" Bulma murmured as the chirps of hidden alien life forms echoed around them.
"It would make sense," Goku nodded.
They waited patiently for Trunks and Vegge to come through as well.
It wasn't much longer before the shadowy outline of Vegge came within sight. He looked confused and apprehensive at the new environment.
"Vegge!" Bulma exclaimed. She rushed to scoop him up in a hug. It did not surprise her at all that Trunks would have his younger father go through first.
Vegge's entire body tensed from the contact. The only time anyone ever touched him was to hurt him or else to move him around if he was too injured to do so himself. Still, he did not push away from her. His mind was focused elsewhere. He knew he had sealed his own fate when he had chosen to lie to them. Vegge could not stop himself from trembling. He tried so hard to control his own fate, but perhaps he just made it worse.
To say that Bulma was concerned was an understatement. She instinctively held Vegge in a tighter embrace as she felt his small form begin to shake. What was he so afraid of?
Time seemed to pass by agonizingly slowly as they waited for Trunks to make it through the Rift. The Rift grew smaller and smaller, but still he never came.
"Something's wrong," Goku said. He attempted to go back to retrieve Trunks, but his vision darkened the moment he tried to re-enter the Rift. Goku found himself forcefully repelled away from it. He tried again and again with greater determination, but each attempt ended in the same manner. It was clear they were no longer allowed to go back into the Past World.
Something died within Bulma as she watched the Rift slowly fade away.
"Maybe there was another exit," she suggested. Her voice cracked with desperation. "There must be… Everyone else made it through. There's no reason Trunks wouldn't be here…"
Goku tried to lock onto Trunks's ki signature, but he came up empty. His senses were not distorted as they had been on the 'Ghoul Saber'.
"I… I can't sense him anywhere," Goten's voice shook as he too tried to reach out to locate Trunks.
"N-No!" Bulma wailed. "It's gotta be a mistake. That was our only chance! It was our only chance of returning to the Present World. If he isn't here… If… If he isn't here, it means…"
Bulma couldn't finish her sentence before she fell to her knees. Her body became wracked with sobs. If Trunks failed to make it through, it meant that he was now stuck in the Past World with no hope of ever returning. Never had Bulma felt such emotional pain as this. It wasn't supposed to end like this!
Vegge squirmed awkwardly. Bulma's grip on him was practically suffocating him by this point. He did not know how to react.
Goku gently placed a hand on Bulma's shoulder. "For now, we should return to Earth," he said softly. "I promise you we will figure out a way to bring Trunks back home safely, even if we have to use the dragonballs to do so."
Bulma nodded at Goku, but her heart wasn't into it. She felt numb.
Goku frowned. It hurt him to see his friend in so much turmoil. He sighed as he reached out with his senses one last time. There was still no sign of Trunks, but he could vaguely feel the familiar ki signatures of those back on Earth. After he locked onto Gohan's ki, he indicated for Goten to grab hold of his arm, while he kept contact with Bulma's shoulder.
Goku counted down, "Returning in three… two… one…"
He then used his instant transmission technique to transport them all safely back to Earth.
IN THE PRESENT WORLD:
The Z Warriors on Dende's Lookout were taken by surprise when Goku suddenly appeared before them along with Bulma, Goten, and Vegeta's younger self.
"Dad! Goten!" Gohan exclaimed.
"Bulma?" Yamcha asked in concern as he noticed his ex-girlfriend sobbing. Before he could take a step forward to comfort her, Vegeta was already there.
Seeing Bulma crying like that only fueled Vegeta's rage. Vegeta roughly tore Vegge from his mate's arms and threw him to the floor.
"You thought I was bluffing, did you?" Vegeta growled as he watched his younger self stand back up.
Within seconds, Goku put himself between Vegge and Vegeta.
"What's your problem, Vegeta?" Goku questioned angrily.
Vegeta scowled as he glared up at the taller Saiyan, "This does not concern you, Kakarrot."
"Actually, it does," Goku replied evenly.
Meanwhile, Vegge's heart raced. He had not expected to be confronting his older self so suddenly. He desperately wanted to flee the situation, but he had no doubt that Vegeta would stop him from doing so.
"It's amusing how little you know of me," Vegeta commented. "Don't you think I'd know how to handle myself better than you would? I bet he never told you that he and I shared a connection while you were stuck in the Past. I told him to tell you about the riddle…"
"But Vegge did tell us about the riddle," Goku defended.
Vegeta was not expecting that. He glanced between his younger self and Goku.
"Then why is he here, Kakarrot?!" Vegeta's raged. "Why is it my son stuck in the Past? Vegge does not belong here!"
Goku blinked. He had yet to tell them all what happened to Trunks. How did Vegeta know? Did Vegge inform him somehow?
"We don't know why Trunks isn't here," Goku admitted. "Something went wrong. We entered one at a time…"
"Bullshit!" Vegeta exclaimed. "It's not hard to decipher. 'As counted in, is counted out.' It's so damn simple. Four of you went into the Past, thus only four of you could use the Rift to return to the Present. You tried to return with five people anyways, didn't you?! You ignored the warning like the idiots you are!"
Something about the look of surprise on Kakarrot's face made Vegeta turn his attention back to his younger self. "What did you tell them, Vegge?" he questioned suspiciously.
Vegge stammered, "I… I…"
Bulma felt the slap of betrayal as she looked to Vegge.
"He told us only that we had to enter one by one… H-He and Trunks were the last to enter the Rift. We had no idea… Oh Trunks!" Bulma sobbed. Her son had cared so much for his younger father. Knowing that Trunks's predicament was premeditated made the whole thing worse to bear.
Even Goku could not hide his disappointment for Vegge's actions. "Well, there's still the dragonballs," Goku offered.
"They were used not that long ago," Dende hated to be the bearer of bad news. "It'll be almost a year before they can be used again."
Vegeta's eye twitched. His son would be forced to survive in the harsh reality of space for a whole year? The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth. Space was unforgiving and cruel. Even if Trunks managed to survive, he would be forever changed.
"The boy will stay with us, so that I can keep a close watch on him," Vegeta declared. He glared at everyone one by one as though daring them to challenge him over it.
Goku was the only one to openly object. He'd seen the rage in Vegeta's eyes.
"I don't know if that's a good idea, Vegeta," Goku said after a moment of hesitation.
"Considering this mess is equally your fault, I suggest you do not question me, Kakarrot," Vegeta replied darkly. He then barked at Vegge, "Who would you rather stay with, brat? Me or Kakarrot?"
Vegge did not hesitate in his response. "Y-You!" he replied as he kept his eyes focused down at some random spot on the ground.
"See?" Vegeta smirked. "I'd say that settles it."
Goku frowned. Vegge's response was one out of fear, not desire, but he had no way to prove it. If he put Vegge on the spot, he had no doubt the child would deny it.
The other Z Warriors stayed silent. Some of them simply did not wish to challenge Vegeta over the matter, but it was as if the remainder of them did not view Vegge as a child... And certainly not one worth protecting. To them he was a conniving little murderer who had orchestrated Trunks's downfall. They did not understand his situation, so they judged him by Earthling standards. Young or not, he was just some monster who enjoyed causing harm to others in any way he could. He knew right from wrong. He was in full control. This meant his actions were inexcusable. He enjoyed the thought of making Trunks suffer. That had to be his main motivation...
Vegeta went to gather up his daughter and wife. He then took to the air and turned a glaring eye towards Vegge. "Keep up or there will be consequences," he ordered.
Vegge nodded as he watched Vegeta fly off. He felt uneasy as he felt several pairs of eyes scrutinizing him. His tail tightened around his waist as he quickly took flight and raced after his older self.
IN THE PAST WORLD:
Trunks was confused as to why the Rift kept repelling him away each and every time he tried to enter. Vegge had gone through only moments prior. Why was it not working for him now?
It was only after the Rift disappeared entirely that Trunks began to panic. His mom had made it clear that if they did not make it through in time, then they would be stuck in the Past forever. Why didn't it let him through?!
He frantically began to search around for another entryway into the Rift.
'I must be overlooking something,' he thought to himself. 'Just stay calm… The Rift is still here… Somewhere… I just can't see where it is. It doesn't make sense that it would stop working as soon as I try to enter.'
"Technically, it is balanced," a voice called out to him. "They cannot let him return or else the balance would shift the opposite."
Trunks quickly turned his head in the direction the voice had sounded from, but the only thing he saw were shadows.
"Who are you?" Trunks demanded as he put up his guard. "Show yourself!"
"Perhaps Drinn would show himself if the boy hadn't made it a demand," the voice replied back.
"You could be an enemy!" Trunks tried to sound confident, but his voice shook with unease.
"And then the boy would be dead, wouldn't he?" the voice replied. "If Drinn wished him dead, he would be so already, but no, Drinn was merely here to complete his task. Nothing more, nothing less!"
One moment there was nothing but shadows before Trunks; the next moment the shadows morphed into the solid form of Drinn. Drinn was still concealed from head-to-toe by his flowing hood and robes.
Trunks stumbled backwards onto the ground in surprise.
"Who are you?" Trunks demanded once again. He was unable to keep the fear from his voice.
"Who is Drinn?" the figure asked. "Drinn is Drinn. That is all Trunks needs to know. He is so demanding for one in his situation..."
Shock must have been evident on Trunks's face, because Drinn then continued, "He is surprised that Drinn knows his name, but yet he does not know Drinn, yes? The Fates know many many things. It is but a minor detail to know Trunks's name. They have been watching him ever since his original interference, but now that the balance is restored they have no need to watch him any longer. Drinn remains only to sate his own curiosity."
Trunks stared up at Drinn in confusion. "What do you mean 'the balance'?"
Drinn looked up and added, "They should know, it can no longer be considered interfering if the task is already complete. Are they surprised he understands this fact?"
"Who are you talking to?" Trunks raised an eyebrow.
Drinn laughed as he turned his attention back to Trunks. "Drinn thinks the boy has more important issues to worry about. Drinn has lots of time to spare; Trunks has none…"
Rath: Just want to say thank you for all the reviews you guys left for the last chapter. Wonderful responses! I tried to get this chapter out as soon as possible as a show of appreciation. Hope you all enjoyed!
Until next time… Sawatdee!