Trunks woke up. It was 8 o’clock. " Man! I never sleep that late! " he thought. He got dressed and went down the stairs to the kitchen.
Videl: " Pan-chan! You’ll be late for school again! "
Pan appeared out of nowhere and zipped past Trunks.
Pan(passing by Gohan): " Hi tousan! Bye tousan! " And she was gone.
Trunks(entering the kitchen): " Ohayou, everyone. "
Gohan: " Ohayou, Trunks-san. Hope you rested well, ‘cause you’re going to have to face your father today. "
Trunks: " Don’t worry. If someone can handle him, it’s me. "
Gohan: " How do you want your toasts, Trunks-san? Light, medium, dark? "
Trunks(startled): " You just eat only a couple of toast for breakfast?!?! "
Gohan: " Of course not! But I discovered them to be a nice apetizer. So, how do you want them? "
Trunks: " ... "
Trunks: " ...Medium. "
Gohan put two stacks of bread slices in his hands and, to Trunks’ surprise, he simply charged up and (Ta-dah!) they were done!
Gohan: " Dark for my wife over here, and medium for my buddy over there! "
Trunks had never thought of using his power to perform such common tasks. The idea was kind of funny but practical. Seeing Trunks’ " now usual " puzzled look, Gohan spoke up.
Gohan: " I first learned when Piccolo-san left me alone for six months before he trained me. I used to cook all my food with my power. Besides, since there no longer is fighting to do, I wouldn’t want this power to go to waste. "
Trunks(not sure of himself): " Er...you’re probably right... "
Gohan: " Let’s finish breakfast and head for Capsule Corp. Headquarters. "
Trunks: " Aren’t you supposed to be working today? "
Gohan: " No, not today. Actually, I took a day off. I don’t get to see my friends very often, you know. In fact, it’s been quite a while since I last saw Piccolo-san. I wonder what he’s doing. Oh, well. I still bet you’d like to see your father first. "
Trunks: " Right. "
Trunks wasn’t sure Vegita was the first he wanted to see. And unlike what he had just said, he wasn’t sure he could handle him, either. Breakfast got on with Videl ordering Gohan to fix the wall Trunks had trashed the day before and Gohan hoping not to forget about it.
It was 10:00 when Gohan and Trunks reached Capsule Corp. Gohan pushed a few buttons under a viewscreen near the front door, and after a few seconds, Bulma appeared on the screen. Trunks instinctively moved out of the screen’s viewing range.
Bulma: " Oh, it’s you Gohan. Is there anything wrong? "
Gohan: " Of course not, Bulma-san, but I’d like to see Vegita-san. Where is he? "
Bulma: " Do I really need to answer that? I’ll let you in. "
The image of Bulma on the viewscreen disappeared and a short clicking sound in the door told Trunks they had been given the right to enter. This was a particularly strange experience for him since he was used to going in and out of that same building at will in his time. Now he wasn’t Bulma’s son anymore, he was " someone else ". " Frustrating... ", he thought.
The two of them got inside and went directly to the gravity room. Gohan noticed Trunks was visually studying the interior of the building. Obviously, for him, the Capsule Corp. Headquarters looked the same from the outside but not from the inside. It took a few minutes to reach the room. When they finally arrived, Gohan checked a control panel on the right side of the door.
Gohan(to himself): " 1100g. Always improving, eh? "
Gohan shut down the system, opened the door and went in, Trunks on his heels. Inside, Vegita was kneeling, his back to them, his shoulders moving up and down as though he was catching his breath. The door shut behind them.
Vegita(getting up): " So. You decided to come back, did you? "
Seeing that no one was answering, he went on.
Vegita: " Don’t worry. I felt your ki as soon as you arrived. You haven’t changed. "
Trunks: " Can’t say the same for you, tousan. "
Vegita(turning around): " WITH YOU I’LL ALWAYS BE THE SAME! HA! "
Trunks avoided the energy-dan and took off his jacket, which he handed to Gohan in a way that made him understand he didn’t have the right to interfere in this fight. Gohan rested his back against the wall besides the door, folded his arms and smiled. He knew it would all come down to this.
Trunks dashed toward his father and started a basic combo. Vegita easily blocked every single hit, even though no ordinary eye could see them, and he countered by throwing Trunks against the wall. While Trunks was getting back up, Vegita looked at Gohan and made the number 4 with his hand. Gohan understood and pushed a few buttons on the panel near the door, cranking up the gravity to 400g. Vegita smiled, in his famous wicked way and Trunks got up, visually unhindered by the gravity. Vegita flew up midway to the ceiling and transformed into a Super Saiyajin. Trunks was surprised that his father would transform so soon but picked up his cue and did the same.
Vegita: " BIG BANG ATTACK!!!! "
Trunks moved out of the way of the fireball and felt Vegita’s foot in his back. The hit sent him down, but he recovered, turned around and shot an energy-dan. Vegita simply batted it away and dashed toward him.
Vegita: " CYCLONE BLASTER!!!! "
Vegita started spinning around Trunks so fast he became a blurr, hitting him with a flurry of fireballs from every side, but he quickly jumped back as he saw the bubble of energy around his son.
Vegita: " The Barrier! "
Trunks(smiling): " I picked it up from #17. It was far too useful... "
Vegita: " You may be full of surprises...and imaginative... but I’m DEADLY!! "
Vegita powered up to Super Saiyajin 2. Trunks was impressed, but not surprised.
Trunks: " Even if you’re more powerful, you can’t move as fast while in SSJ2. "
Gohan: " You finally understood the error you made against Cell. "
Vegita: " Stay out of this, Gohan. This is between him and me. "
Gohan was surprised by Vegita’s reaction. He was no longer like this. It’s like the return of Future Trunks had changed him back the way he was 20 years ago: arrogant, cold, violent... It felt...like the past had returned.
Vegita(turning toward Trunks): " So you think you’ve got a speed advantage, eh, runt? Well, think again. "
Vegita dashed and punched Trunks high in the air, appeared over him and started spinning around him again, giving punches and kicks at blinding speed. Trunks wasn’t fast enough to block the hits anymore and started feeling dizzy, Vegita’s face zipping past him again and again until he finally felt an attack that sent him down to a corner of the room. As Trunks was starting to regain his senses again, he turned around to see, helpless, a Big Bang Attack speeding down toward his face. As he felt himself drifting into unconsciousness he could hear his father speak.
Vegita: " Hmph! What a wimp! You haven’t been practicing Trunks... "
Slowly he opened his eyes and heard Vegita.
Vegita: " Finally! It’s about time! A little more and I thought you’d died from this attack, Trunks. "
He was laying on a bed in a medical room he had never seen before. Standing to his right was Vegita, arms folded, frowning. To the left was Gohan and, " Oh no! ", besides him was Bulma.
Bulma(yelling like crazy): " Why did you hurt him that bad!? He comes back to see you, trying to ask for your help and you almost beat him to death! What’s wrong with you! "
Vegita: " I had to test him! No wonder he came to ask for help! I didn’t expect him to be so weak. He couldn’t even break a toothpick! "
Bulma(suddenly smiling): " Ah, Trunks-chan. We took you out of the regen tank a few minutes ago. How are you feeling? "
Trunks: " Sorry, kaasan. I knew I would have to fight him upon my return. I just didn’t expect him to be so...brutal. "
Vegita: " Me? Brutal? Look at you! You were not even strong enough to stand up straight! "
Trunks: " ... "
Trunks: " It’s true, I haven’t been practicing. I had so much to do...I...I’m sorry, tousan. "
Vegita: " Apology accepted, Trunks. "
Trunks was speechless. " Is that guy really my father? ", he thought.
Trunks(struggling to sit up): " ...What? "
Vegita(emotionless): " Welcome back, son. You can count me in. "
Trunks understood that Gohan had explained the situation to them and that, somehow, his father was no longer as evil as he once was. He was still rather cold, though.
Trunks: " I’m glad, tousan. "
Vegita: " Besides, you’d never defeat Broli without my Cyclone Breaker. "
" Still cold and still arrogant, too. ", Trunks thought.
Bulma: " But, why did you go see Vegita before me, Trunks-chan? "
Trunks didn’t answer immediately. There were two reasons that he could think of why he had gone to see Vegita first. First, he missed his father. Bulma was still alive in his time, but not Vegita. The other reason he wasn’t sure of. He was afraid. Afraid of his other self. He hadn’t thought of it until he came to this dimension. Why was he afraid? There was no reason. He was Trunks and the other guy was just another Trunks, not the same person. They had grown differently and had had different lives. In fact the other Trunks should be a year older than him, now. There was no reason to be afraid of him. There was something else. His mother. He was afraid of meeting her too. But why? Then, suddenly, Trunks understood. He was afraid that his mother in this dimension would hate him. He no longer was Trunks. He was, to her and everyone, the " other " Trunks. It was so frustrating. But there was nothing else to do but to accept it.
Bulma: " Why did you, Trunks-chan? "
Trunks: " ...I...missed tousan. "
He settled for the first reason. It was understandable and an easier explanation. But the time would still come when he would have to meet the " real " Trunks.
??????: " Kaasan! I invited Goten over for supper tonight. Is it ready yet? "
?????: " Konnichi-wa! "
Bulma(turning around): " Konnichi-wa Goten-kun! No, supper’s not ready, I’ve been busy today, Trunks-chan. Let’s just order from Pizzarotti tonight. "
??????: " Yeah! I’ll take care of it! " And the two University students went away.
Trunks then let go of his breath, relieved. He thought the moment he feared had come sooner than expected.
??????: " Hey! Who’s the guy on the bed? "
Trunks had come back in a second, and was walking towards the bed. Future Trunks looked at him, nervous. They were both staring at each other almost like in a contest. Trunks broke the silence.
Trunks: " Haven’t seen you around before. Nice haircut, though. " Then Goten joined in.
Goten: " Hey! He looks just like you, Trunks! Who is he? "
Bulma(stepping in): " Now, now, boys. We’ll talk about all that during supper. "
Goten and Trunks stepped out of the room and Future Trunks felt the pressure going back down. But, suddenly, someone else appeared.
???: " Kaasan! I’m back! Oh! Konnichi-wa tousan, nii-chan, Gohan-san! I’m going to play outside with my friends, now! Bye! "
And she too, was gone. " As fast as Pan ", Future Trunks tought, " but looks like a younger Bulma ". Wait a minute! Didn’t she call him " nii-chan "?
F.Trunks: " Tell me, Gohan-san, who’s that child? "
Gohan: " Well, she’s Trunks’ sister, Bra. "
A sister! This Trunks had a sister! Unbelievable! Incredible! F.Trunks didn’t know what to say. He had always wanted to have a brother or, better yet, a sister. But his mother had never fallen in love again since Vegita’s death. And her name was Bra. She was so adorable! Her voice could’ve been a little less annoying, though.
F.Trunks: " Man! She sounds just like Rhini in Sailor Moon! "
Bulma: " You...never had a sister, right? "
F.Trunks lowered then shook his head. But at that same moment...
Bra: " Hey! How come nii-chan’s in the kitchen with Goten-san and here in the infirmary at the same time? "
Bulma: " That’s a long story, sweetheart. Why don’t you go out and play, hm? "
She frowned, made a face, then ran off.
Vegita: " Bra! "
Bulma: " Oh, let her go. "
F.Trunks: " Has she inherited any Saiyajin abilities? "
Vegita: " She’s fast. Damned fast! But not very strong. "
F.Trunks: " She looks just like you, kaasan. " Bulma smiled.
It was supper time. It always took long for Pizzarotti to deliver. Trunks and Bra didn’t mind. They loved Pizza, but almost never ate any. It was like an exotic meal to them, and to this country. Tonight was a special night. They gathered around the table and Bulma was the first to speak.
Bulma: " Trunks-chan, Bra-chan, Goten-chan, meet...Trunks. "
The three of them froze. How could he be Trunks?
Trunks: " How could he be ME? "
Bulma: " Go ahead everyone. You can eat. "
Bulma: " Well, Trunks-chan, this Trunks came to see us about 20 years ago. He said his name was Trunks and he came to warn us of the coming of the Cyborgs. "
Trunks: " The same Cyborgs you told us about? "
Bulma: " Hai. He came back in time in a time machine that I had invented for him in his time. He helped us with the Cyborgs and then went back to his time. Now, he came to see us again. "
F.Trunks: " So you’re Son Goten-san, right? "
Goten: " Un. "
F.Trunks: " I came to ask you Goten-san, and you Trunks-san, to come and help me. In my time, an evil person has appeared and I can’t defeat him alone. "
Trunks: " What’s his name? "
F.Trunks: " His name’s Broli. He is the legendary Super Saiyajin born every 1000 years, and he’s too strong for me. "
Gohan: " Vegita-san and I are going with him. It’ll be dangerous, but you’re both very strong. Together, we just might succeed. "
Vegita: " ... "
Trunks: " Sounds like fun! When do we leave? "
Goten: " If Trunks goes, I’ll go! "
F.Trunks: " Arigatou everyone. "
Bra: " Can I come too? "
Bulma: " No, sweetheart. "
Bra(unhappy): " But nii-chan said it was going to be fun! Why is he always the one to have all the fun? "
Gohan: " Bra, nii-chan is going to risk his life and might die trying to beat up that bad guy. "
The look on Bra’s face changed, as if she was thinking while half-understanding.
Bra(suddenly smiling): " Never mind! " And she resumed eating.
Bulma: " By the way, Trunks...speaking of dying...YOU’D BETTER NOT!!! "
Trunks(embarassed): " I’ll do my best. "
F.Trunks: " We have to get Piccolo-san now. "
Vegita: " Why? We’ll be more than enough to kill Broli. "
F.Trunks: " Don’t be so sure, tousan. He’s incredibly strong. "
Vegita(looking at Gohan): " Yeah. I heard Kaioushin say the same thing about Boo, once. "
Gohan: " Don’t start again, Vegita-san. You could never have defeated Boo without my father’s help. "
Vegita: " Nor him without mine! "
F.Trunks: " I don’t care. I want to go ask him. It’ll be his decision, not yours. "
F.Trunks’ leader-like tone surprised everyone. The rest of the supper went on normally.
Gohan and F.Trunks were flying toward the Tenkai, the three others had decided to wait for them. Soon, the Tenkai was in sight and they landed.
Gohan: " Piccolo-san? "
Piccolo: " I knew you’d come. "
Piccolo was looking inside the motor of a black hovercar. He left all his work and went towards the two visitors. In one snap of his fingers, his clothes were clean again.
Piccolo: " Well, Trunks. I felt you when you arrived. You h aven’t changed much. "
Gohan: " What’s that car doing here, Piccolo-san? "
Piccolo(embarrased): " Well...it’s mine. "
Gohan: " I thought you gave up driving long ago. "
Piccolo(pissed): " It’s none of your business, Gohan! "
Gohan(to F.Trunks): " Must be an idea he picked up from Kaiou-sama. "
Piccolo: " Did not! "
?????: " Did too! "
Gohan recognized this voice coming from the back.
Dende(joining them along with Mr Popo): " Still trying to fix this car, eh? "
Piccolo(still pissed): " Oh, shut up! I’ve been God once! I can do anything! "
Dende: " It’s been two weeks since you started. "
Piccolo(boiling): " Oh, never mind! " He folded his arms, frowned and looked away.
F.Trunks: " Nice to see you again too, Piccolo-san and you Mr Popo, but who’s this? "
Dende: " I’m Dende, don’t you remember? "
F.Trunks(shocked): " Dende!? Well,...I...well...I didn’t recognize you, that’s all. "
Piccolo: " So, why did you come back? "
F.Trunks: " Me? Well, I came seeking your help. I want you to help me defeat Broli who just appeared in my time. "
Piccolo: " Not this legendary numbskull again? "
F.Trunks: " He’s more than just a numbskull now. He’s very intelligent. "
Gohan: " Vegita-san, Trunks, Goten and I are going. "
Piccolo: " So? What do you need my help for? "
F.Trunks: " Trust me, I don’t think we’ll be too many. "
Piccolo(without joy): " Alright, then. I’ll come. "
F.Trunks: " Arigatou, Piccolo-san. Now, we only need Krilin-san and Ten-san. "
Piccolo: " I wouldn’t count too much on their help. Better to ask Mr Boo. "
F.Trunks: " What do you mean? "
Piccolo: " Tenshinhan has gone away and " retired " with Chaozu. As for Krilin, he’s now considerably weaker than we are. And #18, well, she may have infinite energy, but she’s no longer a match for us. "
F.Trunks: " #18!!!!? She’s alive? "
Gohan: " She got married with Krilin-san. " F.Trunks was shocked once more.
F.Trunks(calming down): " I don’t care. I’ve seen enough of her for my entire life! "
Gohan: " About Mr Boo, Piccolo-san, I wouldn’t count on him either. "
Piccolo: " Why not? "
Gohan: " I learned that somehow, Oob is still " connected " to him. As Oob’s power increases, Boo gets weaker. He should be about as strong as Krilin right now. We can’t count on him. "
Piccolo: " That would explain the drop in ki. Any news from Goku? " Gohan shook his head.
F.Trunks: " Since there’s no one else, we’ll leave tomorrow morning. Piccolo-san, be at Gohan’s at eight! "
Gohan and F.Trunks left. They went back to Capsule Corp. to inform the others of the news and returned home after telling Goten not to say anything to Chichi.
The next day will be one to remember. The Z senshi, now made up of Son Gohan, Son Goten, Piccolo, Vegita, Trunks and Future Trunks, will duke it out against the mighty Broli. Can our heroes face and defeat this monster again?
To be continued in chapter 3: Terror! The Invincible Broli!
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