Chapter Text
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Gohan let out an anguished scream, berating himself as he felt the tears burn, obscuring his vision. Krillin was the first to move towards him, kneeling beside him and rubbing his back as he cried. “You just let it all out, little buddy.”
“I failed! Dad didn’t have to sacrifice himself!”
Krillin waited a moment before trying to speak, “Gohan—”
“Stupid, selfish, impulsive, HYPOCRITE!!!”
“Gohan…”
“YOU HAD ONE JOB!!!”
“GOHAN!”
“WHAT?!”
Krillin gave him a simple smile. “Dragon balls.”
Gohan’s hiccups subsided. “Oh…”
“Yeah, we’re gonna be okay.” Krillin helped him up before going over to the still unconscious Android 18.
Trunks watched as he picked her up. His thoughts from earlier forced him to look away. As he overheard his father and Krillin, a strong blast of wind and dust picked up. At the source an energy they all recognized filled them with a fresh wave of terror. ‘No…!’
None of them could speak as they slowly came to understand what this meant. A sing-songy chuckle slipped through the thick fog, and before anyone could act, a golden energy beam split through the cover of dirt and sand and pierced through Trunks’ chest, striking him near the heart.
Broly felt too many sensations at once, his emotions overlapping and ensnaring one another, melted together until nothing became discernable. Everything else fell away as he watched the scene in slow motion. His body moved before his mind could.
He dug his knees into the ground, skidding to a halt as he carefully picked up Trunks’ form. “Princess…!”
His hand was held over the gaping wound on Trunks’ back. He tried not to let his mind go as he felt the blood stick like a second skin. He used his other hand to carefully move Trunks’ hair out of his face and cradled his jaw, rubbing his cheek in an attempt to soothe him.
His larger palm gripped the pale hand that weakly squeezed him back, a last ditch effort at comforting the giant. “No… No, no, no—! Please, please Princess… I’m begging you, stay awake! Stay with me…!” He pleaded in a hushed tone, straining as he feared his voice would be too abrasive.
He was always too clumsy with sensitive things. He wasn't made with deft hands or elegant limbs. He tried not to move Trunks too much for fear of losing him faster. “It’s going to be okay, Trunks. I promise, we’ll get you… we’ll find help! Just… stay…!"
Yamcha ran over to try and give Trunks a Senzu bean. His hands shook and he flinched when Broly grabbed the tiny bean from him, feeding it to the man lying limp in his arms. “Trunks, you need to chew. This will help!”
“Hey… Big guy…?”
Broly continued to try and aid Trunks in consuming the tiny bean. Krillin piped up carefully. “Broly…”
In his frantic state, the Saiyan kept muttering hurried, desperate words. His face grew more pained as he watched the life sapping out of Trunks in real time. His rueful cries fell on cloudy ears, “You promised…! You promised you’d show me the stars and their names! You said you’d show me the little bugs made of fire! Trunks, please!!!”
Krillin couldn’t watch the misery any longer. “Broly!”
Broly's brows arched with the weight of his grief as he scrunched his face. His eyes bore through the tiny human when he finally looked at him, trembling with a simmering rage moments from eruption. He howled, voice breaking as he snapped, “What?!”
Jumping, Krillin sadly said through the lump in his throat, “He already stopped breathing…”
Looking down, Broly saw the lacking rise and fall in Trunks’ chest, yet still couldn’t accept it. He wouldn’t. “No…” He held Trunks higher in his arms, spilling more blood on himself. “No…!”
A moment of silence passed as Broly took him in. His head had to be supported for Broly to see his face. His eyes were still open, unfocused. The blue in them was dampened to a withered moonlight. It reminded him of the lake back on New Vegeta…
His mouth hung open, lax and leaking more blood. Even in death, Broly couldn’t find him anything less than beautiful. Soon it would all slip away and he’d be left as bones and ash, and Broly would still find something remarkable in the color of his marrow and the flight of his remains in the wind.
When the moment passed, the world fell silent, the air stilling along with everyone's baited breaths.
Rage couldn't be what this was. This was too specific, woven too deep into his being it felt like it came from the universe’s gift of gases and minerals, a part of his very existence, and it snapped.
Everyone covered their ears as Broly roared loud enough for every living being in the universe to feel what he felt. Some of them fell back, nearly blown away in the crashing waves of Broly’s incredible power. He knelt in his legendary form, still managing to tower over them while holding the fallen Trunks. Veins bulging over his taught muscles, the world became far as the pumping of his blood in his ears overpowered every other sane sound. His energy grew to unimaginable heights, rapidly destabilizing both himself and the area around him.
Anguish and madness embraced the Legend. The others were left grasping for loose ends as they watched him let out guttural wails, each time shaking the Earth, and holding their lost comrade tighter. It felt reminiscent of the last of a species calling out in hopes for a love that will never answer. No one in the group dared step close, fearing what the Saiyan would do if he felt threatened, no matter if the hands offered were to help rather than hurt.
For one time in his constant climb towards perfection and power, Cell felt a twinge of fear for his immortal self. The very essence of greatness he felt, it was no less fitting for a legend he could only recall through the knowledge Vegeta’s cells fed him, and with it the intimidating sense of finality followed.
Broly was prepared to end everything: Cell, the entire population, the world, the whole universe, to repay the loss of the one he so willingly lost his entire being to without a qualm. He got no further than raising his head to bare his teeth that bit down the last of his merciless cries when an unsteady hand reached for his face.
Broly’s attention was quickly swayed from the threat, seized by the gentle touch. In an instant, he was timid. He gaped at the eyes that were slowly blinking up at him. “…Broly…”
Broly let his body curl around Trunks, forming their own little bubble as Trunks spoke soft enough only Broly could hear. A wobbly smile decorated his features. “Heh… I get it now…”
Wiping away the blood that continued to come from Trunks’ mouth while he spoke, Broly insisted gently through the distortion in his voice from his earlier outburst. “Princess, please. As much as it heals me to hear you again, save your strength.”
“Broly… look at me.” And he obeyed. The smallest tug and Broly was bowing down so he could be as close as the other needed. Trunks placed a featherweight kiss to his temple. “Please… Let Gohan win this… It has to be him.” And Broly felt his heart tear as he saw the tears building in the corners of his eyes. Trunks’ voice was rough, agonized to breathe out the subtlest syllable. “You knew it, Gok—kAgh! Goku did…! Now, I do… So please…” He rested his head against his jaw. His warm voice descended into a deadly quiet, bordering on fear as he said, “Do this one thing for me… And, don’t… don’t let go, please…?”
Of all the final wishes he could’ve made, of all the things he could ask of him, of all the words he could tell him with his last breath, Trunks chose this. ‘What else,’ Broly thought, ‘what else could be done but to carry out his final dying request?’
Broly nodded, kissing the crown of Trunks’ hair that still smelled faintly of strawberries. “Rest, Princess. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll find my way back to you. Just… wait for me…”
As the wind carried their promises, Broly let his power fall as he returned to his base form. His eyes resembled purgatory; not quite alive, not quite dead. Not at all accepting. He held Trunks close to his heart and busied himself with his mourning. Gohan felt those eyes latch on to him, and he made a silent promise of his own as he turned back to Cell.
‘I’ll make it up to you. Both of you.’
Realizing what was happening, Cell felt a laugh bubble up his throat, until he was full on cackling. “You know, this is what I love the most about you Saiyans!” His eyes were opened so far, it looked like his eyelids were stapled apart, unnervingly small pupils matching his grin. “You just let the fight go on instead of actually doing anything! And oh-ohh boy, you’ve already wasted your second chance. Your time is up.”
Flexing his hands as he felt out his somehow newly perfect form, he continued. “Now I’m sure you’re all wracking your brains over how I’m back and better than ever! It all lies within my body. A nucleus so miniscule but terrifyingly powerful, and lucky for me—not so much you—it survived my little kamikaze. But the best part? My inherited Saiyan biology gave me a boost in my power! Returning me not only to my Perfect form, but one even greater than before!”
Gohan powered up, a tense smile coloring his face. “I’m not even mad you’re still alive! I’ve got some shit to work through.”
Cell’s laugh was slowly drained out by Vegeta’s angered scream. While Broly had been guarding Trunks in his final moments, Vegeta hit a wall. A wall that he would break through solely to correct the wrong that had been felt through his entire soul. He blasted through the sand clouds, cursing Cell’s name as he began a long series of attacks, blasting with everything he had. He let himself and the entire environment be engulfed by the rising storm of dirt and debris.
Despite it all, Cell’s energy was felt in front of Vegeta, and he could only watch, stunned, as he was given a painful blow strong enough to send him into shock as he crashed into the ground. “How wrong you are, Vegeta. It’s only over when I say it’s over.”
He watched Vegeta twitch as his body felt the waves of pain settle in, then raised his finger while announcing, “And it’s over NOW!”
When the blast he shot towards Vegeta hit, more smoke kicked up. Once it all cleared, Gohan stood in front of the Saiyan’s crumpled body with a bleeding, broken arm. He strained himself to stand, watching the drops of his own blood pooling into the ground.
“Do you seriously plan on continuing like that?” Cell questioned from above. “Still as stubborn as ever. Well, have it your way then. Let’s get this over with.”
Gohan gasped as he saw the gesture Cell’s hands made. A kamehameha.
“I want you to know this blast isn’t just meant for you, Gohan. It goes out to the entire world!”
Gohan, standing at the frontlines to what spelled out the end of it all, began muttering to himself. “Vegeta, you brain-dead IDIOT! Trunks could’ve been brought back, simple as that. But no, you pick now of all times to be a parent?! Oh, well would you look at me. I’m no better. Could’ve just let you BITE IT! Now I’m monoplegic, my dad’s dead AGAIN, and Cell’s gonna kill us all!”
Very faintly from behind, he heard, “...I’m… sorry… Gohan.”
Gohan was stunned. “Oh wow, we are screwed.”
“That you are, Gohan.” Cell said merrily. “Honestly, the cherry on top of this sundae of a day is that, because I am not burdened by the evolutionary failure of aging, I will live forever, roaming the stars eternally.”
Broly felt doubt rear its ugly head through Trunks’ words.
‘It has to be him…’
If he hadn’t felt what he did earlier, since the moment Dende began reporting what was happening in the tournament, he would’ve left the planet with Trunks in his arms far quicker. Against his better judgement, Broly chose to root for the kid.
Piccolo was in a similar state of mind, refusing to go down so easily. “GOHAN! You better snap out of it before I come over there and make you! Your father wouldn’t just stand there and take it, SO NEITHER WILL YOU!”
“Mister Piccolo…”
“You wanna do right by Goku? Then DON’T let that bastard scare you!”
Cell chuckled darkly from in front of him. “He’s right, brat. It’s just like you told me. There’s no point in being afraid of the inevitable.”
Resolute, Gohan matched him. “Yeah. I guess you’re right.”
With one arm, Gohan powered up and started the beginnings to a kamehameha of his own. Krillin yelped, “Grab your bodies, and MOVE!”
Broly flew up with the rest of them, protectively holding on to Trunks, and watched as Gohan and Cell shot their blasts. ‘It must be you, Gohan… He believed in you, so I will believe for him.’
Landing far away, they all watched as the blasts met. The Earth shook again, and they could only wait. Their breaths caught when Gohan’s blast was nearly swallowed by Cell’s. The tween looked like he was speaking with someone, frantically spouting words none of them could hear through the raging winds. After more struggle, Gohan cried out and pressed on, overpowering Cell for a few short seconds.
Through a strained voice, Cell called out. “So what’s this, brat?! Your second wind or your dying gasp?! Either way, it doesn’t matter! Behold, the power of TWO HANDS!”
Gohan’s feet were driven back into unforgiving ground as Cell’s blast almost reached all the way around to his own hand. He refused to give up. Not now. Not after everything already lost to this monster.
From the cliffs where the group had moved, Piccolo was done standing by. “Gohan…” He felt waves of pride, faith, and lethal acceptance pulse through his veins. “I’m not letting you go down alone.”
He flew into the fray. Krillin watched him go in distress. “Where the heck did Piccolo’s brain go?! To think he could save Gohan all by himself!”
Tien interjected. “He doesn't think he could, but he's going to try anyway.”
Waves of intent flowed from the fighter, his face telling them he’d already made up his mind. The shorter man sputtered incredulously, “Tien! Don’t tell me you’re seriously considering doing the same!”
“Sorry, Krillin, but it’s not fit for a warrior to just sit and wait for death without putting up a good fight!” Tien said, concrete in his decision.
Yamcha nodded. “Because you’re a man of honor, and a little pigheaded.”
Tien smiled. “Maybe so, but I’ve always liked the sound of that honor excuse more.”
They shared a look and both flew off. Krillin gaped wordlessly. He sighed before glancing up to the Saiyan still holding Trunks, guard impenetrable. He took notice of the human’s gaze and simply nodded. ‘Go.’
Krillin nodded back before flying off. All together, the rest of the Z Fighters shot their strongest attacks, pushing and pushing. Despite being knocked down, feeling their nerves shake as they were struck with Cell’s energy, they kept getting back up.
Gohan yelled for them to leave. Get to safety! Something!
They refused.
From the ground where he lay, Piccolo spoke, even if the person the words were meant for didn’t reach them. “No, Gohan. I won’t let you die all alone out there, ‘cause kid, you were the first person to ever show me what it means to have a friend.”
Pledging their individual reasons, they got back up. They kept fighting, draining their energy and forcing their bodies to shoulder the weight together. When Vegeta joined them, choosing to attack from above, even his attacks were countered. His pride pressed him to keep going, to prove he was as great as he was meant to be.
“Why can’t you people just stay down?!” Cell admonished. “No chance! YOU HAVE NO CHANCE!”
Expelling more of his power, Gohan watched as Cell blew all his friends away. Returning to the young warrior, Cell was mad with glee. “Take solace, young Gohan! Though you have fought alone, you will not die alone! That is my gift to you! A PERFECT DEATH!!!”
When it seemed to come to a cataclysmic end, a blinding blast hit Cell from above, far stronger than the others, evident from the burn he felt crawling into his enhanced skin. Turning around, he was met with the towering Saiyan who had made him tremble in fear for that split second. ‘The Legend of Saiyans’ an inner voice said, like an omen before a calamity.
Cell could only think that the Saiyan burned. He seethed, low but lasting, like coals sheltered under glowing embers. He radiated blistering heat, now twisted to hate. A hearth became a house fire, and a home he was for a wretched ache, a rage so quiet it slid through the armored skin of Gero’s greatest creation, and it stuck him to where he stood, enough for the youth to gain the upper hand. With one last scornful glare from the Legend, and a ringing cry from the descendant of a reforged Saiyan hero, Cell relived his moments from creation to now, and he felt his ashes scatter in the resounding blast, singing a symphony to himself and those within him who followed his journey to now. He did it his way, and shall die as he lived.
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The moment the air grew peaceful, everyone savored the fact that Cell’s energy was now fully gone. Gohan began falling to the ground, detransformed and exhausted. Piccolo rushed to catch him, slowly floating down to solid Earth safely.
Everyone gathered around him, proud smiles all over their faces. Gohan struggled to keep his head up, feeling the resulting pains and bruises all over his body, but he was the first to notice something still wrong.
Looking past the group, Gohan tried to carry his unsteady limbs on his own. Piccolo helped support him as he found what the younger was watching.
Broly was sitting far away from them. In his lap lay Trunks, paler than usual and body still dripping red.
Gohan whispered, “He… doesn’t know, does he?”
Piccolo looked at Krillin, who just sighed after a moment and cautiously began making his way over. About ten feet from the pair, Broly’s head snapped to him and Krillin flung up his hands, nervously trying to smooth things over. “Hey-hey-hey! It’s okay! We have the dragon balls, which means we can wish everyone back from the dead, including Trunks! So please just… don’t destroy the whole planet before we can fix things?”
Hearing this, it seemed like Broly was gathered whole again. His eyes lit up like the cities at night and he lost the deep scowl previously on his face. He slowly picked himself and Trunks up, walking over to them much calmer now.
Yamcha took Gohan into his arms and cheerfully said, “Good work out there, kid. Now let’s get you healed up at the Lookout.”
They all began the journey to the Lookout, where Dende and Mr. Popo awaited their arrival eagerly.
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“I get it, it’s a beautiful desk! Can I just go to Heaven already—!”
Trunks felt his soul get yanked from where he stood in the Other World in the middle of conversation with King Yemma, when suddenly he felt corporeal sensations again and he opened his eyes.
Sitting up, he asked no one in particular, “Where am I?”
“PRINCESS TRUNKS!!!”
Gohan giggled as Trunks was wrapped up in a pair of large arms and pressed into a solid shoulder. The black hair and golden accessories told him exactly who this was. “Broly…?”
Gohan waved from beside them, looking refreshed. “You’re on the Lookout. We won!”
Relief crashed over him. The Saiyan’s arms holding him like he hoped they’d fuse still hadn’t let go, so he let himself lean into the other, raising his arms to accept the warm embrace. “That's… That’s incredible. We really did it?”
Piccolo chimed in. “Turns out this kid really is stronger than any of us could’ve known.”
Gohan laughed heartily as the Namekian patted him on the head. “We all did it. I couldn’t have done any of that without you all being part of the reason.”
Broly pulled back from the hug and Trunks was startled when he saw tears bordering his eyes. His hands found their place, holding the Saiyan’s face. “Hey, hey… It’s okay, Broly. I’m back. I’m alive.”
“Princess…” Broly’s voice was the softest he’s ever heard it. It made the back of his throat hurt. “I thought… I didn’t… No one told me you could come back. I thought I had lost you, for good…”
Trunks massaged the area under Broly’s ears as he comforted the larger man. “I’m sorry no one told you, big guy. And I’m sorry for giving you such a scare.” He wiped the tears that had yet to fall and tried to smile. “But hey, thank you.”
“Huh…?”
Trunks elaborated. “For honoring my last request. I can't lie, I was a bit worried. How did you manage to control your powers after I had died?”
Broly blushed as he answered. “I…” He glanced at the flower beds he’d learned to nurture during his stay. “This is your home, Princess, thus, it is now my home too. You obviously love this planet, fighting so hard to preserve it you jumped entire timelines even if it changed nothing in yours. My powers, they just… flowed. For once, control became natural when you’d given me your final wish.” He refrained from mentioning how he'd already made his mind up on demolishing everything and everyone in sight when he thought the other was gone.
Trunks gave him a look. “You were probably upset about it, weren’t you?”
Broly averted his gaze and pouted. Pouted. He was gonna be the death of Trunks. “Well—It's not everyday your partner gets murdered and you can’t retaliate against their killer despite having every ability to do so.”
Softening his gaze, Trunks leaned forward. “So guess it’s official then. We’re a couple?”
Broly suddenly looked alarmed. “Did–Were we not–Do you not… want to be?”
Even if that was the case, the look Broly had on his face made Trunks’ heart lurch into his throat. “Yes, Broly. I want to be your boyfriend.”
“Is that another word for ‘mate’?”
Trunks shrugged. “Yeah, basically.”
“Then…” Broly smiled, finally at ease. “I’d love to be your boyfriend, too, Trunks.”
Piccolo groaned, sick of Krillin’s botched pick-up attempt on Android 18 and the two’s flirting. “Sorry to interrupt,” he was not, “but we need to get to Namek so Porunga can revive Goku!”
As majority shared agreement, a voice spoke from the sky. “Hey, guys!”
“Goku?!”
Gohan’s eyes went wide hearing his dad’s voice again. “Dad!”
“I’m in heaven with King Kai!”
Another voice spoke up, nasally and thoroughly wronged. “Yeah, thanks for specifying ‘on Earth’, by the way, YAMCHA! YOU ASSHOLE! ”
Krillin excitedly called out to them. “Okay, Goku! We’re gonna go to Namek and wish you back, so just sit tight up there buddy!”
“Yeah, about that…” He began. “I gave it some thought, and… well… every time the Earth was in danger, I’m always the common factor. I’m just thinking, maybe it would be better if I just stayed dead.”
The group was stunned. Krilling tried reasoning with him. “But… you’ve been a part of our lives for so long… It can’t just end like this! Right...?”
Goku’s voice returned. “I know it’s hard guys, but I think it’s for the best. And this doesn’t have to be goodbye forever! Maybe one day—when the time is right—I’ll come back to see you all again! But it is goodbye! For now, at least. And Gohan, I know I—”
Gohan shook his head, smiling up at his dad even if he couldn't see him. “Dad, it’s okay. You were right. I can take care of us. Just… Promise you’ll call every once in a while?”
“Of course!”
King Kai squawked indignantly. “I am not your cell phone!”
“Whoops! I gotta go, getting some interference.” A few of them laughed at that. “Take care, all of you! Gohan, be sure to take care of your mom, and say ‘Hi’ to your baby brother for me!”
With one last goodbye, Goku’s voice faded out. The last wish was used by Krillin, who had asked for the bombs in Android 17 and 18’s chests to be removed after Shenron couldn’t turn them back to fully human. His words caught Trunks’ attention.
‘Dr. Gero stole their lives away from them. I just think they deserve a better life.’
Once the wishes were made, Shenron disappeared in a blast of golden light as the dragon balls descended around the Earth. After Android 18 popped out from behind a pillar demanding to know why Krillin had used their last wish on her and her brother, she flew off of the Lookout in search of Android 17.
Tien was the first to begin their own farewells. “Well, I better get home. I told Chiaotzu if I wasn’t dead by the end of the day, that we’d eat out.”
“Ha! Gay!”
Tien just gave the other a smile. “I’ll miss you too, Yamcha.”
Gohan piped up. “Thank you for all your help, Mr. Tienshinhan.”
“You’re the one who picked up our slack kid.” Tien replied. “Now keep that bright head in the clouds, and strong feet on the ground. And Trunks?”
“Huh?”
Tien gave him and Broly a nod. “Go wreck their shit.”
Trunks smiled and nodded back. “That’s the idea.”
With a wave, he finished with, “Until we meet again, which will probably be when the world’s in danger so just… Keep a close eye on Vegeta.”
Krillin spoke up next. “We should probably follow his lead. Namek has shorter days than this has been.”
“What about you, Trunks? Are you going back to your timeline right away?” Gohan asked.
“Well…” Trunks glanced up at Broly before facing him. “It’s probably gonna take a few months for my mom to adjust the time machine to make it a two-person ride, so if it wouldn’t be any trouble,” he then turned to ask Mr. Popo and Dende, bowing, “while Broly and I are in this timeline, would it be okay for him to stay and continue helping out up here? He seems to really like it.”
Dende and Mr. Popo shared a look before smiling at them. Dende spoke up first. “It wouldn’t be any trouble at all! He’s obviously shown to be a strong protector.”
“And he took to caring for the Lookout’s plants like a bee taking to honeymaking!” Mr. Popo added.
Trunks and Broly nodded. The former didn’t miss the shivering pride in the Saiyan. “Looks like we’re staying a bit longer.”
“Well, whenever you guys do go back, we’ll be there to see you guys off!” Krillin assured them.
Trunks felt the happiest with his decision since arriving in the past. “Thanks, guys!”
Gohan shifted his attention to the Namekian standing by quietly. Piccolo caught his stare and raised a brow. “What about you, Mister Piccolo? Are you also gonna live up here?”
He considered it for a moment, looking between the other three he’d be sharing the living space with (narrowing his eyes at Broly), before nodding. “Yeah, I think so.”
“Then I’ll come visit you as much as I can, if it’s alright with you!”
Piccolo matched his smile. “You know it is. I wouldn’t miss it for the world, kid.”
Walking up to Dende, the smaller Namekian looked up at him. “Don’t be a stranger, Gohan. I’m counting on you to visit! It can get lonely at the top…”
Gohan giggled, bringing the young Namekian into a hug before adding reassuringly, “Aww, don’t worry! You’re all gonna love it here. Mr. Popo’s the greatest!”
As he watched the two youths laugh amongst themselves, Trunks felt something brush against his knuckles. Turning to the culprit, he felt the beats in his chest pulse a little stronger at the sight of Broly looking so shy. With a soft smile, tentatively, he wove their hands together, holding the glint in the other's eye and offering a sure nod, receiving one back.
They shared one last goodbye across the whole group before they flew off to their destinations.
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