DRAGON BALL Z
AT ANY COST
CHAPTER V: DEVESTATION
BY
Sgamer82
LOCATION
Planet Earth, Capsule Corporation Infirmary
Goten began to regain consciousness. His vision was blurred, his shoulder was throbbing, and his head was aching. As his vision cleared, he began to see where he was. He recognized Capsule Corporation's infirmary. He saw life support machines and vitals readouts beside him. Goten began to see a figure sitting on a chair next to the bed he was in. It was his mother, Chichi, asleep.
She must have stayed beside me. Thought Goten. He looked around to see if anyone else was around. He saw his father, Son Goku, standing at the door, watching him.
"D...Dad..." he managed to say. Goku walked up to Goten and put his hand on Goten's good shoulder.
"I'm here, son." He told Goten.
"Dad...I don't really know what happened..." Goten stammered, "he just came outta nowhere..."
"Don't talk right now, Goten." Goku said, cutting Goten off. "Save your strength and rest. You've been unconscious for about a week and a half."
"Okay..." Goten said, before asking his father something, "Dad? Is Trunks okay?"
Goku suddenly assumed a somber look and simply shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Goten. Trunks was dead before I even got there."
"Oh..." Goten looked away from his father and let his tears flow freely. He was already aware Trunks probably hadn't survived. But somehow hearing it just made it finally hit Goten that he had just lost his best friend.
Trunks..., said Goten to himself, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. Sorry I couldn't help you.
"Don't worry, Goten." said Goku, "We can still get Trunks back. We have the Dragon Balls, remember? Gohan and the others are already working on getting them."
This cheered Goten up, and Goku knew it. Goku sat by his son's side, next to his sleeping wife, and watched as Goten gradually returned to sleep. Goku eventually woke up Chichi and let her know Goten was conscious. Chichi was happy to know her son would be okay and began to make sure Bulma would be okay.
* * * * *
The next day Goten stood in the main courtyard of the Capsule Core complex. He looked around and saw several of the buildings were in ruin. When Goten asked what happened to them his father simply said that Vegeta hadn't taken the news of Trunks' death too well. That was more than enough explanation for Goten.
He also looked at the seven Dragon Balls set before him, Goku, and the others. Everyone was here, Gohan, Krillin, 18, Marron, Vegeta, Piccolo. Bulma had even brought one year old Bra to see the Shenron appear. Goku walked up to the Dragon Balls and gave the proper chant.
"Come out Shenron! And grant my wish!"
The Dragon Balls gave their bright, radiant shine and out shot the bright yellow beam that would take the form of Shenron. The great, miles-long Dragon took shape and looked down upon the people on the ground.
"YOU WHO HAVE SUMMONED ME." said Shenron, "MAKE YOUR WISHES NOW."
"Bring Trunks back to life!!" Goten shouted before anybody else could.
The Dragon was still for a few brief moments before replying to the wish.
"THAT WISH CANNOT BE GRANTED." the Dragon said matter-of-factly. This shocked everyone.
"Why can't you bring Trunks back!" Goten yelled, not knowing or caring if Shenron would do something to Goten for the way he was being talked to by the pre-teen half-Saiyan.
"THE ONE CALLED TRUNKS HAS ONCE BEEN REVIVED BY MY POWER. I CAN NOT RETURN ONE TO LIFE WHOM I HAVE ALREADY BROUGHT BACK!"
Goten was very confused, he looked around at everyone else. They were all surprised, Bulma looked as if she was in shock. But soon, all the adults got knowing looks on their faces. As if they understood what was happening.
"What? What's going on?" Goten asked, "Trunks died once, sure, but Porunga brought him back to life, not Shenron. This shouldn't be a problem. What's goin' on!?"
Gohan kneeled down to look Goten in the eye.
"Goten, do you remember the stories we used to tell you and Trunks about when we fought Cell?"
"Yeah, that's when dad died to make sure Cell didn't blow up the Earth."
"That's right. But there are some details we always kept hidden. Things we felt shouldn't be revealed." Gohan sighed
"Like what?" asked Goten, determined to learn why everyone looked so upset.
"Three years before the battles with Cell and the Androids, Frieza came to Earth seeking revenge on Dad for beating him on Namek.
"Dad was rushing to get here, but he was two hours behind Frieza. So instead of Dad stopping Frieza, someone else did.
"A boy appeared out of nowhere, turned into a Super Saiyan, and single-handedly defeated Frieza, his father, and all of this troops. He came seeking Dad. He had a vital warning. He told us that the Androids would attack and everyone would die fighting them.
"Woah..." Goten said, surprised at his brother's story. He had never heard these things before now.
"Three years later, the boy joined us in fighting the Androids and Cell. After Cell self-destructed...after Dad died...Cell managed to come back. He killed the boy, but we revived him after I defeated Cell."
"Who was the boy?" asked Goten, though he had an idea where this was heading.
"The boy's name...was Trunks. It was Trunks, from a future where 17 and 18 destroyed the Earth. Where every one of us was killed, and you were never born. It seems Shenron considers the future Trunks and our Trunks the same person. Because he revived future Trunks, Shenron won't revive our Trunks."
Goten could only stand there with his mouth hanging open. He never knew any of this before now. His shock was slowly giving way to the anger of having this kept from him and the sorrow of knowing the Dragon Balls wouldn't bring back Trunks.
"Why didn't you ever say anything to me before?!" Goten shouted. Tears flowing from his eyes.
"Because we were hoping to protect Trunks. How it works is that whatever happens here, in this time, doesn't affect anything that happens in the future. Future Trunks sought to change his future, but it wouldn't have worked. But we feared that Frieza's soldiers wouldn't know that and kill our Trunks, thinking it would bring back Frieza. So it was agreed Dad take the credit for killing Frieza, as it happened in Future Trunks' world."
Goten felt a total mixture of emotions. Relief that he knew why Trunks couldn't be revived. Sorrow that he may not see Trunks again for some time. Anger that all these secrets were kept from him.
All of these emotions added up into one big blast of fury. He let out a giant shout of rage and, before anybody could stop him, flew off by himself. He didn't pay attention to anything except being alone.
He didn't even hear his mother shout his name.
END OF CHAPTER V