Chapter Text
“What happened— you three, and Trunks! Grab me the Senzu Beans!” Bulma shouts as she panics, seeing the bodies of Future Trunks, Goku, and Vegeta lying on the ground of Capsule Corp.
“Yes, ma’am!” The Pilaf Gang scrambles off to search for them with Trunks in tow.
“Yes, Mom!” Mai pulls Kid Trunks along as they head off to search for them.
“Please be okay…” Bulma sighs, but just as she's about to place her hand on Future Trunks' chest.
“Ugh…” Future Trunks grunts as he rolls over, attempting to pick himself up, but it's futile.
“Bastard—” Vegeta remarks as he forces himself to sit up, all the while Goku might as well be sleeping.
“Oh, phew, I was about to take your vitals.” Bulma sighs, but this time with far more relief coated with it.
“Here you go!” Mai hands over the Senzu Beans to Bulma, who snatches them,
“About time.” She huffs and gives a bean to each of the three injured Saiyans.
“Hah…” Future Trunks pants as he almost gags at the taste.
“Ahem, feeling any better?” Bulma composes herself and looks at her son.
“It’s good to be back…” He responds, smiling softly as he looks around to figure out where he is.
“Ouch…” Goku says as he comes to his senses, the Senzu beginning to take root.
“How could we have lost so badly? It’s humiliating.” Vegeta stands up and immediately turns his back to everyone, looking out the window and eyeing the time machine sitting outside.
“Alright, I’m all pumped up to go! Now I’m ready for the rematch!” Goku beams as he shoots up, having recovered, and stretches for his upcoming battle.
“You… You idiots! I put all that work in getting the time machine and fuel ready, and ran into battle without even taking the Senzu Beans?!” Bulma shouts and shakes the bag at the Saiyan trio.
“That makes sense for you, Goku! But you didn’t say anything, Trunks?! Gosh, I thought Future me raised you better than that.” Bulma regrets saying that last part almost immediately as she looks to Future Trunks.
“Go easy on us, Mom…” Trunks laughs awkwardly.
“I guess we did screw that up!” Goku laughs, clearly unbothered. “So, where’d you find that bag anyway?”
“Are you sure you want me to answer that, Goku?” Bulma grimaces, shaking her head.
“It was in the bathroom.” Kid Trunks speaks up, he feels out of place at the moment.
“Ohh, that makes sense! I think I had to use the bathroom right before we left.” Goku comments, and everyone looks at him.
“You’re unbelievable!” Vegeta shouts, turning away from the window to curse at Goku.
“Sorry, you guys, that was my bad.” Goku scratches the back of his head awkwardly, as everyone looks mad at him.
“The understatement of the century! I thought you died!” Bulma shouts.
“So, Black still won even when there were all three of you against him?” Kid Trunks asks, as he tilts his head, curious as to what happened in the first place.
“Well, we weren’t just fighting Black.” Future Trunks says, as he recalls the battle he had with Black and Zamasu.
“Are you telling us he has an ally now? Can your timeline get any worse?” Bulma speaks up, but just like before she also regrets what she said. She's gotten far too comfortable with everyone around her, and having Future Trunks back is making her have to change a bit.
“...” Trunks goes silent for a moment.
“But who?” Kid Mai asks, breaking the silence.
“It’s okay, Mom. But, there was a guy named Zamasu, and we had to fight both of them.” Future Trunks recalls, as he composes himself.
“Okay, wait a moment, Zamasu?... He’s the Supreme Kai in training for Universe 10 with a similar Ki to Black, right?” Bulma asks, as she beckons the Saiyan trio to keep relaying information.
“That’s him, alright. I thought he’d be good like the other Kai’s, but he’s a bad guy, that’s for sure. And a strong one at that!” Goku crosses his arms and nods his head.
“That’s weird… You guys thought he was this so-called ‘Black’? But he’s working with him, instead?” Bulma continues, trying to clear things up in her own mind.
“What’s more is that he’s Immortal,” Vegeta remarks, his voice deadpan.
“Immortal?!” The Pilaf Gang all shout, in tandem with Kid Trunks.
“So you mean he can’t be killed? Is it because he’s a god?” Kid Trunks asks, as he looks at his bigger self.
“Not even deities are supposed to be fully immortal,” Bulma adds, as she racks her head around the situation she's found herself in.
“He’s also invincible…” Future Trunks adds onto Vegeta's comment, his voice almost hopeless.
“That too?!” Pilaf is out cold, shocked by the revelation.
“Yeah, and that’s not the only problem either. Black already figured out how to transform into a Super Saiyan.” Goku continues, at least he's the only one who looks somewhat upbeat about this whole situation.
“What?! What level did he reach?” Kid Trunks asks, almost finding this whole thing unbelievable.
“He’s calling it Super Saiyan…” Goku's voice trails off as he thinks about what the name could have possibly been.
“Rose, dumbass. I wouldn’t call it a regular Super Saiyan transformation, it’s like our blue forms but corrupted. He skipped the whole process.” Vegeta reluctantly finishes for Goku.
“Yeah! That’s right, Rose!” Goku repeats confidently.
“Rose? So for all the names you’re implying, it's the strongest level ever reached? Did he achieve it on purpose?” Bulma rubs her forehead, already fed up.
“Tch.” Vegeta scoffs.
“I think I could still beat him if I went all out from the start! But, that wouldn’t be as much fun—” Goku says, as he continues to stretch, but his voice is cut off by Future Trunks, who has a far more serious look on his face.
“Goku?” He taps him on the shoulder.
“Oh, sorry-” Goku chuckles awkwardly.
“This isn’t a laughing matter. Next time I see him, I’ll kill him.” Vegeta says, his voice grumbly and annoyed.
“That’s why we need to get back there so we can beat him!” Goku justifies, putting both hands on his hips confidently.
“Hold on! Do you even have a plan?” Bulma asks, already knowing the answer.
“How do you intend to beat an enemy that can’t be killed or hurt? Trunks over there stabbed him through the chest, and he walked it off.” Vegeta turns to Goku, curious as to what he could have in mind.
“Come on, we need to think of something!” Goku says, and the Prince sighs and turns away.
“Maybe… we’ll all be invincible too!” Goku says, as the focus of the room turns back to him.
“You really think that’s possible?” Future Trunks asks, his voice returning to hopefulness.
“You don’t think—” Vegeta starts, but he's never given the chance to finish his thought.
“We just need to bring a whole ton of Senzu Beans!” Goku announces, and Vegeta almost screams, all the while everyone else collectively groans.
“And this coming from the guy who forgot all of them last time!” Bulmaa sighs as she begins to walk away.
“Well, obviously I won't forget them this time!” Goku tries to argue, but against Bulma, it's futile.
“No way that’s obvious with you!”
“Hey, Mom?” Future Trunks asks, as he shifts awkwardly.
“Yeah, sweetie? Sorry I got mad earlier, I didn't mean to say that. I just thought you guys might've–” Though Bulma's thoughts are interrupted by her son who speaks up before she can finish.
“It's okay, I forgive you. I couldn't be upset with you. If anything, I'm glad you're here…” Trunks gives a weak, but very real smile at his mother before continuing.
“I just wanted to ask. How's Gohan doing?” Trunks seems a bit apprehensive about asking, but all Bulma can do is chuckle to herself.
“I haven't seen him since the last time I was here. Is he… doing well? I just don't want him to get tangled up in this either.” Trunks continues, trying to get through this conversation as fast as he can. Even though he's the one who brought it up.
“Oh, Gohan? I think he's been good! He graduated not long ago, and he's a researcher now! He's super smart, I tell you! I should ask him for help with the time machine actually!” She sounds proud when Trunks mumbles in agreement.
“I can believe that, my Gohan was really smart too. Just uh, didn't get a lot of chances to use it.” His voice trails off, and Bulma pouts, and brings her hand to her son's cheek. “Hey, don't make yourself upset, son.” She smiles as she steps back, and Trunks sighs. “Well, I'm glad he's been okay…”
“You know, you can just go along and see him! If he hears it's from you, I'm sure he'll make time out of the way for you!” Bulma chirps as she pulls out her phone and brings up Gohan's contact.
“W-Wait! You sure? I mean, it's been years at this point, I don't know if that's a good idea.” Trunks goes to reach for the phone, but Bulma pulls away before he can reach it.
“Oh, come on! Don't get yourself down, I can call him right now!” Bulma presses the dial, and Trunks goes for another attempt to grab the phone, but it's futile.
“Wait, wait, I didn't say that would be–” Trunks panics, but gives in after he hears Gohan's voice on the other side.
“Bulma? How's it been?” Gohan asks on the other side, it's different from what Trunks remembers, but it makes sense it's been a decade or so since he's last been here. And even more so than the last time he heard Future Gohan speak. And now he sounds way too similar.
“Just fine, Gohan! Someone’s here to see you, isn’t that right—” Trunks is far out of the door already.
“Get back here!”
“Mm…” Trunks grumbles and keeps his head down as Gohan appears at the door, he’s dressed in his scholarly clothes, and while a new sight for Trunks, he has to admit it suits him.
“Don’t grumble like that! You look like you take more after Vegeta than me. It almost makes me disappointed. Now, come on, say hi to Gohan, Trunks.” Bulma nudges Trunks, who reluctantly looks up at his mentor's past self.
“Uh, hey Gohan.” He makes quick eye contact with the Saiyan, before immediately shifting away.
“Trunks? I didn’t think I’d see you again. Is there a problem in the future?” Gohan asks, as he steps closer and Bulma keeps her son in place.
“Uh, maybe.” Trunks mumbles, as he’s hit on the backside of the head by Bulma.
“Stop being so awkward!” Bulma whispers, but it can hardly be called a whisper.
“Sorry, it’s a little hard right now! I didn’t think you’d actually call him!” Trunks responds exasperatedly.
“Is it Buu? If it is… I can help! A little rusty, but I’m more than strong enough to handle him!” Gohan chimes in, he sounds confident in himself, which brings a sense of calm to Trunks.
“No, it isn’t. I killed him before he was released, it’s something far worse—” But before he’s able to even respond, Gohan interrupts again.
“Worse than Buu? Did you get Lord Beerus to get on your bad side?” It’s hard to think of something worse than Buu in Trunk’s timeline, and Gohan seems to be lost in thought for a moment.
“It’s Goku…” Trunks admits and Gohan’s mouth goes agape for a second as he hurriedly looks at Trunks.
“Huh? Wait hold on, Dad? What’s going on here?” Gohan removes his glasses and rubs his eyes for a moment before checking if Trunks is still here.
“You’re going to need a debrief, Gohan! Come inside, I’ll clear things up with you.” Bulma beckons the two inside and Gohan quickly follows.
“Goku Black… Zamasu… why haven’t I heard of this?” Gohan absorbs all the information Bulma relays and sighs.
“Well, it wasn't really something I wanted to get everyone evolved into.” Trunks admits, as he fixes his gaze on the other Saiyan.
“Plus, they’re really strong. I tried fighting Black, and even with Super Saiyan two, I could barely keep up. And now even with Dad’s and Goku’s Super Saiyan Blue we couldn’t beat them!” Trunks continues, trying to convey just how dire the future is for him.
“They sound really tough if that’s the case…” Gohan pauses as he imagines a foe with his father’s face, who is even stronger than him. It's not hard to imagine, but it's definitely not fun to think about.
“I’ve gotta step out real quick! I’ll be right back!” Gohan says as he pulls out his phone and makes his way to the door.
“You’re not leaving right, Gohan?” The future Saiyan asks, a bit panicked, distressed even but Gohan reassures him.
“What? No, of course not! I just need to tell Videl I might not be back for a little bit.” Gohan steps out and takes a call.
“...”
“Who’s Videl?” Trunks asks as he turns to his mother looking a bit confused.
“Gohan’s wife!” Bulma replies, proud to announce it to Trunks but the other Saiyan looks utterly horrified.
“He has a wife?!” Trunks mouth gapes, as he looks back outside, and already makes the motion to stand up.
“And daughter too, she’s really cute, she’s named Pan!” Bulma continues, not noticing the distressed look on Trunks. He looks panicked almost, just this close to running away.
“No, no, I can’t get him involved—” He stands up swiftly, but he’s stopped by Bulma.
“He wants to help you, Trunks. You can’t stop him. You have people who care for you here, think of it as… paying it forward from back then!” Bulma convinces and offers her son a smile which seems to calm him down.
“...Okay, alright.” The future Saiyan sighs and makes his way back down onto the couch with a deep sigh.
“Looks like I’ve gotta get back to training,” Gohan announces as he steps back inside, and unbuttons his vest, trying to get some ease in his clothes.
“So, you’re going to help?” Trunks looks up at Gohan from his seat, looking for some sort of reassurance.
“As much as I can.”
“Truth be told, I haven’t fought much recently! But, I’m still a lot stronger than I was as a kid.” Gohan stretches, bones popping, as he warms himself up with a quick rehearsal of a kata or two, before suddenly transforming into a Super Saiyan two.
“You must’ve reached this too by now, right Trunks?” Gohan says, as lightning sparks around his aura, the golden glow of a Super Saiyan radiating off of him.
“Yeah!” Trunks follows suit, as the two Saiyans are embraced by the familiar golden light, the pressure of the forms causing rocks to be kicked up around them as they get themselves ready.
“This is the same forest I fought Father, so I thought it'd be a good place for us to spar too.” Trunks says as he stretches as well, but his scarred body doesn't need much warming up. If anything it deserves more rest.
“Alright, well, gotta get myself back into shape somehow!” Gohan says as he steadies himself and gets into a stance.
“I’ll try not to hold back, you don’t either!” Trunks shouts as he finds himself in a stance of his own, both warriors staring each other down, both not knowing if either of them is going to take the first move. But Gohan is the first to act on initiative.
He lunges at Trunks, and the other Saiyan jumps back to move with the momentum and blocks the punch. He throws a hook in response, which Gohan blocks and throws another punch at Trunks's stagnant head, but the other Saiyan is able to dodge out of the way just in time. Gohan continues his assault with a flurry of punches, which Trunks struggles to keep up with. This isn’t like his fight with his Father before, this is a far more technical bout.
Gohan throws a right straight, then a left hook, then wheeling into a knee with his right leg. Trunks blocks, blocks and blocks each hit. Though it's definitely keeping him on his feet, and keeps him on the defensive. The other Saiyan is able to keep up his momentum and attempts a ki-infused open palm strike, to which Trunks parries, pushing down, attempting to elbow Gohan up top with that same arm, but it's easy for Gohan to move his head out of the way before using his free hand to find Trunks head, but the other Saiyan jumps back before he's met with Gohan throwing himself back in.
Finding an opening, Trunks goes to sweep Gohan’s legs, and then throws a punch up high, trying to catch Gohan as he dodges, but the other hybrid jumps over the sweep and flips away, Trunks goes to pursue, and Gohan, mid flip fires a ki-blast keeping him away. Trunks is forced to block, and Gohan repositions.
The two Saiyans circle each other for a moment before rushing back in. Gohan throws a quick jab, which Trunks blocks, then he follows up with a right hook, though he already saw it coming and ducks beneath it to attempt to land a punch to the gut, but Gohan jumps back as he charges up a ki-blast at Trunks. He quickly swipes it away, attempting to pursue, but is hit across the face by Gohan’s fist, which sends him right into a tree.
Trunks crashes through it, but quickly recovers and throws himself back onto his feet. He charges his ki and yells out at his friend, “I think I can handle your Super Saiyan Blue, Gohan!” Trunks declares, as he prepares himself for the inevitable azure light.
“I've seen Fathers and Goku forms more than enough at this point to get used to it.” Trunks announces, as he takes a moment to catch his breath.
“Oh, I don’t have that,” Gohan remarks abruptly.
“Really?” The future Saiyan pauses and tilts his head at Gohan.
“Yeah, about that… I may have slacked a bit in my training.” Gohan awkwardly scratches the back of his head.
“I have something else besides blue. But uh, that form has been evading me as of late…” Gohan continues, his voice trailing off.
“You’re still really strong, though! Hit me with whatever you got then!” Trunks resumes and charges his ki, lighting crackling in the air, as the battlefield is consumed with their ki.
“Likewise!” Gohan smiles, as he charges his ki in tandem with Trunks.
The two fighters charge back in, Gohan throws a winded-up left punch, but Trunks realizes it’s a feint. He attempts to check Gohan’s exposed right side with a punch but is caught, and in return, Trunks catches Gohan’s punch. The two Saiyan’s caught in a deadlock, but not for long.
The two fighters don’t even attempt to overpower each other. Gohan gets the upper hand with a knee to Trunk’s stomach, and then with that same leg, he lands a kick straight up to his chin, but the other Saiyan returns with a roundhouse kick to Gohan’s head, and then fires a ki-blast at him to get away.
Through the smoke, he flies straight up, moving off the ground and into the air since he doesn’t seem to have much of a chance against Gohan in hand-to-hand.
Gohan fires off a blast at Trunks, as he pursues him into the sky trying to gather some data, and the other hybrid dodges out of the way. Gohan nods to himself and fires off a barrage, which Trunks also dodges, but he doesn’t expect the ki-blasts to now be homing in on him.
He looks back to see Gohan flying after him, but he spots that one of his hands is controlling the ki blasts. Trunks, in return fires off a few to attempt to get him off his tail, and Gohan quickly swipes them away.
Trunks takes some evasive action, as he weaves and dodges between the blasts, and fires off some of his own to blow up Gohan’s prematurely.
Then suddenly, Gohan blitzes ahead, while Trunks is caught busy, attempting to dodge the blasts, and is hit in the back with a kick down to the Earth. Trunks stops halfway, as the ki-blasts circle Trunks, Gohan already self-assured in victory. “Haven’t fought that well in a while—” But he's quickly cut off.
“Super Explosive Wave!” Trunks yells as he expels his ki outward blowing up the circling ki-blasts, and charges up at Gohan.
Gohan, caught off guard is hit with a punch to his gut, and then a follow-up kick to his side as he’s sent flying down to Earth, but just like the other Saiyan catches himself before he falls further.
“Shouldn't get too cocky!” He remarks, as he prepares an attack. “Masenko!” Gohan quickly fires up at Trunks, and before the blast even leaves his hands, he’s on the move to close the distance.
Trunks meets the blast and returns the favor with his own hastily prepared attack. “Burning Shot!” And just as quickly he’s off to meet Gohan, the two blasts connect in an explosion, as Gohan and Trunks meet. The two of them exchange blows in mid-air.
Gohan attempts a knee, but is checked by Trunks, bringing his own knee up to block. Trunks, using the momentum, tries to use his free leg to wheel kick Gohan but is blocked by his forearm before Gohan grabs his leg and throws him across the sky.
Trunks powers up, stopping himself from flying too far and flies right back to Gohan throwing a flurry of punches, but it's sloppy and is quickly blocked. Gohan tries a counter-attack but is also blocked. Trunks attempts another counter but is met with a point-blank ki-blast, sending the warrior flying back a bit. The smoke causes enough of a cloak for both warriors to pull back and recompose themselves.
But as Gohan gets back into the zone, he notices the distinct lack of a sheath on Trunk's back. “Where’d you put your sword?” Gohan asks, as he catches his breath.
“I left it at Capsule Corp. with Mom…” Trunks says with a sigh, as the other Saiyan does the same.
“Did you use it against Vegeta and Goku?” The younger Saiyan asks, more curious than anything.
“Just Goku. I swear I’m not holding back!” Trunks sighs, as he takes a deep breath. “...and you said you weren’t training…” Trunks chuckles, it’s obvious that he’s enjoying himself.
“I don't! Piccolo or Dad tells me to sometimes, and I take them up on their offer now and then. But that’s really all.” Gohan responds, smiling earnestly.
“I have a lot of responsibilities now, and training isn’t one of them. But, I can’t just watch as your future is in danger. I have to do something about it.” Gohan nods over to his friend, and Trunks smiles in return.
The two of them fly down, acknowledging the battle is over, as both fighters return to their base forms as they land.
“I can’t say how thankful I am that you’re willing to help me…” Trunks replies almost solemnly. “You have a wife and daughter, I don’t want to take you away from that.” He continues, his tone reluctant.
“Hey, it’s okay, Trunks! I wouldn’t be out here training with you if that wasn’t the case, I promise. Do you need a Senzu?” Gohan smiles and takes the pouch out of his pocket and hands it to Trunks.
“Oh, yeah, I guess so.” Trunks takes the pouch, grabs a Senzu, and gulps it down quickly. “Bleh, forgot how those tasted… Do you need one too, Gohan?” He offers as he hands the pouch back to Gohan who shoves it back into his pocket.
“I think I’m all right! A little tired, but nothing some water couldn’t fix.” Gohan laughs and Trunks just smiles.
Then suddenly, the mood shifts. “You said that this so-called ‘Black’ and ‘Zamasu’ beat you, Goku and Vegeta, right?” Gohan says, his voice serious and almost detached. He's taking the situation more seriously than Trunks initially thought.
“Yeah… and he even transformed into something he called Super Saiyan Rose. It’s like Father and Goku’s blue forms.” Trunks grimaces as he recalls the battle for Gohan. “I couldn’t even sense his ki anymore.”
“Huh… looks like this won’t be enough then. If he really did beat you all, I'd gotta take training seriously.” Gohan huffs, as he seems annoyed, not at the idea of training, but at the prospect of facing down the man with his father’s face.
“How’d Vegeta react seeing, ‘Black?’” Gohan asks, trying to find humor in this situation.
“As you’d expect… he charged right at him.” Trunks laughed coldly.
“And how did that work out for him?" The other Saiyan asks, more or less knowing the answer.
“He got stabbed…” Trunks remarks, finding a little humor in the memory.
“Haha, makes sense for him.” Gohan remarks as he sighs, but he knows their conversation has gone dry.
“Best you’d be off to Capsule Corp. I’m going home, see you tomorrow?” Gohan offers a smile to Trunks as he turns away.
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll see you tomorrow." Trunks waves, and returns the smile to his friend.
“Oh, and one more thing. Next time you go back to the future, bring me with you, got it?” Gohan flies off before Trunks can say anything.
“Hey!... I'll see you tomorrow then." Trunks sighs as he flies off in the opposite direction to Capsule Corp. A heavy feeling weighs on his heart.
“Does the time machine even have enough room…?” Trunks remarks to himself, if they really squeeze into the machine, maybe?