The Capsule Corporation gardens had never looked so battered. Two days after the battle with Gohan Black, the grounds were still scarred—craters in the lawn, shattered trees, and the faint scent of ozone lingering in the air. Yet, for the first time in what felt like an eternity, the Z-Fighters and their families gathered not for war, but for something like peace.
Bulma had insisted on a "recovery brunch." She and Future Bulma had worked through the night, patching up the mansion, setting up tables, and—true to form—rigging a dozen new security drones to patrol the perimeter. The sun was bright, the sky clear, and the air buzzed with the sound of conversation, laughter, and the clatter of plates.
Future Gohan stood at the edge of the garden, arms folded, watching the others filter in. He still wore bandages beneath his shirt, but his eyes were clear. Goku was the first to approach, balancing a plate stacked high with pancakes.
"Hey, Gohan!" Goku grinned, mouth already full. "You sure you don't want any? Bulma says these are the best in the multiverse."
Future Gohan managed a smile. "I think I'll pass. I'm still not used to eating this much after a fight."
Goku shrugged. "Suit yourself. More for me!"
Vegeta stalked past, arms crossed, scowling at the spread. "Kakarot, you're going to eat us out of house and home. Again."
Goku just winked. "You say that every time, Vegeta."
Future Trunks and Present Trunks arrived together, the younger Trunks bouncing with energy. "Mom said we could spar later, right? I want to show you my new move!"
Future Trunks ruffled his younger self's hair. "Maybe after we eat. And after you help clean up the mess you and Goten made in the training room."
Trunks, already halfway through a plate of eggs, looked up sheepishly. "Sorry, Mom!"
Bulma, bustling by with a tray of juice, shot him a look. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood, Goten. And that you saved the world."
Present Gohan, sitting beside Videl and Pan, watched the scene with a quiet smile. Pan tugged at his sleeve. "Daddy, can I go play with Marron and Puar?"
Videl nodded. "Just stay where we can see you, sweetheart."
Pan dashed off, Marron and Puar in tow, giggling as they chased each other around the garden.
Piccolo stood near the edge, arms folded, surveying the group. Krillin and Android 18 joined him, Krillin rubbing the back of his head. "You know, I never thought I'd see the day when we'd all be here, just… talking."
Android 18 smirked. "Don't get used to it. Something always comes up."
Android 17, leaning against a tree, nodded. "She's right. But I'll admit, it's nice to have a break."
Tien and Chiaotzu arrived together, Tien carrying a tray of tea. "I brought something calming. Thought we could all use it."
Chiaotzu floated beside him, eyes wide. "It smells nice!"
Yamcha, sunglasses perched on his head, sauntered over. "If there's tea, I'll take some. My nerves are still shot from that last fight."
Master Roshi, cane in hand, eyed the food with delight. "Ah, nothing like a good meal after a world-shaking battle. Reminds me of the old days."
Uub, a little shy, hovered near the edge until Goku waved him over. "Come on, Uub! You earned your spot here."
Uub smiled, taking a seat beside Goten and Trunks.
Future Bulma and Bulma coordinated the food, occasionally pausing to compare notes on repairs and upgrades. Videl and Chi-Chi chatted nearby, Pan and Marron darting between them. Mr. Satan, ever the showman, regaled Ox-King and anyone who would listen with exaggerated tales of his "heroic" role in the battle.
Puar floated above the table, occasionally transforming into a teapot or a napkin just to make Pan and Marron laugh.
As plates emptied and the initial excitement faded, the conversation turned to the battle.
Krillin broke the silence. "I still can't believe we survived that. Gohan Black… he was something else."
Piccolo nodded. "He was more than just strong. He was relentless. Calculating."
Android 17 crossed his arms. "I've fought a lot of things, but nothing like him. He felt… unbeatable."
Future Gohan looked down, voice quiet. "He was me. Or at least, he wore my face. That's what made it worse."
Present Gohan reached over, placing a hand on his future self's shoulder. "You're not him. You never could be."
Future Gohan managed a small smile. "Thanks. But I can't help thinking—if things had gone differently, if I'd made different choices…"
Vegeta snorted. "Don't waste time on what-ifs. We all have regrets. The point is, you fought him. You won."
Goku nodded, unusually serious. "Vegeta's right. You didn't just fight him—you grew. We all did."
Future Trunks leaned forward. "He was obsessed with justice. With erasing mortals. But in the end, it was our unity that beat him."
Bulma, pouring tea, added, "And a lot of luck. And science. Don't forget the science."
Future Bulma grinned. "I'll drink to that."
Yamcha, swirling his tea, looked at Tien. "You know, I never thought I'd see the day when we'd be fighting alongside two Bulmas, two Trunks, and two Gohans."
Tien smiled. "The multiverse is a strange place."
Chiaotzu piped up. "I liked having more friends. Even if it was scary."
Master Roshi leaned back, stroking his beard. "I've seen a lot in my time, but that was something else. Reminded me of the old King Piccolo days. Only bigger. And with more hair."
Everyone laughed, even Piccolo.
The sun was dipping low, casting a golden glow over the Capsule Corp garden. At a table near the edge of the lawn, Goku, Vegeta, Future Gohan, Future Trunks, Present Gohan, Bulma, Future Bulma, and Piccolo gathered, plates mostly forgotten as the conversation turned serious.
Goku leaned forward, curiosity shining in his eyes. "Hey, Vegeta… that thing you did at the end of the fight—your hair turned red, and your power just exploded. What was that?"
Vegeta crossed his arms, brow furrowed. "I wish I could tell you, Kakarot. It wasn't like any transformation I've used before. It felt… ancient. Like I was tapping into something deeper than rage or pride."
Future Gohan nodded, his gaze sharp. "It was more than just a new look. For a moment, your power was… overwhelming. You caught up to me, even in my most compressed Mystic state. I could feel it—your base was multiplied to a level I didn't think possible."
Present Gohan, always analytical, added, "Future Gohan's base is already stronger than most of us transformed. For you to reach his level, even for a moment, means that form is something entirely new."
Future Trunks looked at his father, awe in his voice. "Dad, you were incredible. I've never felt anything like that from you."
Bulma, already scrolling through data on her tablet, shook her head. "My sensors couldn't read your power at all, Vegeta. It was like you vanished from the instruments. The numbers just… stopped."
Future Bulma nodded, her expression troubled. "It was the same for me. I've never seen a transformation spike like that. Even Gohan's compressed Mystic form, which we calculated at seventy or eighty thousand times base, was matched. Vegeta, what did it feel like?"
Vegeta hesitated, then spoke quietly. "It was… raw. Like every cell was burning, but focused. I wasn't just drawing on my own power. I could feel everyone's energy—yours, Kakarot's, even the Earth itself—feeding into me. But it was different from anything I've ever done."
Piccolo, arms folded, regarded Vegeta with a thoughtful look. "You know… when Gohan Black transformed into that pink-haired form, I couldn't sense his energy at all. It was like he was using a different kind of ki—something beyond what we know. Maybe that's what happened to you, Vegeta. Maybe you tapped into the same kind of energy."
Future Gohan's eyes widened. "That would explain why we couldn't sense you, and why Bulma's sensors failed. If it's the same as what Gohan Black used, maybe it's… 'god ki' since Gohan Black was Zamasu, a kai student or something like it."
Present Gohan nodded. "It makes sense. If there's a level of power that's invisible to normal senses, that would explain a lot."
Bulma looked up from her tablet, excitement in her eyes. "If that's true, we need to study it. If we can figure out how you did it, Vegeta, maybe we can help everyone reach that level."
Future Bulma agreed. "I'll start running simulations. If we can understand the mechanics, it could be the key to surviving the Tournament of Timelines."
Goku grinned, clapping Vegeta on the back. "Whatever it was, it was awesome! Maybe next time, you can show me how to do it."
Vegeta rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of pride in his voice. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Kakarot. I still don't know how I did it."
Piccolo's lips twitched in a rare smile. "Whatever it was, it might be the strongest state we've seen yet. And if we can all reach it… maybe we'll have a chance at the timeline tournament."
As the afternoon wore on, the conversation turned to what lay ahead.
Future Bulma gathered everyone near the main table. "Alright, everyone. We need to talk about the Tournament of Timelines."
A hush fell. Even the children quieted, sensing the shift in mood.
Future Gohan spoke first. "We don't know when Danzai will appear again. But we have to be ready."
Goku nodded. "He said we'd need a team of seven. We've got the power, but we need to train together. Learn each other's moves."
Vegeta crossed his arms. "We can't afford to be caught off guard. That last fight proved it."
Present Gohan looked at his father, then at Future Gohan. "We should start tomorrow. Sparring, strategy, everything."
Piccolo added, "And we need to rest. Heal. If we go in exhausted, we're finished."
Bulma tapped her tablet. "I've already started repairs on the gravity chamber. And I'm working on new armor. Just in case."
Future Bulma nodded. "We'll need to coordinate. Share everything we know about the other timelines. Their strengths, their weaknesses."
Krillin grinned. "Guess it's back to the old grind, huh?"
Android 18 smirked. "You love it."
Tien spoke up. "We should rotate training partners. Mix up the teams. No one gets comfortable."
Chiaotzu nodded. "I'll help however I can."
Yamcha cracked his knuckles. "I'm in. No way I'm sitting this one out."
Master Roshi raised his cane. "I may be old, but I've got a few lessons left to teach."
Uub looked at Goku, eyes shining. "I want to help. I want to get stronger."
Goku smiled. "You will, Uub. We all will."
Videl squeezed Gohan's hand. "Just promise me you'll be careful."
Chi-Chi wiped her eyes. "I just want everyone to come home safe."
Pan and Marron looked at each other, sensing the seriousness.
Mr. Satan puffed out his chest. "Don't worry, Videl! With me around, nothing can go wrong!"
Ox-King chuckled. "We believe in you all."
Puar floated down, landing on Yamcha's shoulder. "We're all together. That's what matters."
As the sun began to set, the group lingered in smaller clusters.
Future Gohan and Present Gohan sat together, watching the sky.
Future Gohan broke the silence. "Do you ever wonder what it would be like if things had been different?"
Present Gohan nodded. "All the time. But… I think we're where we're supposed to be. Right now, at least."
Future Gohan smiled. "Yeah. Maybe you're right."
Goku and Vegeta stood apart, looking out over the city.
Goku grinned. "You know, Vegeta, I think we make a pretty good team."
Vegeta snorted. "Don't get used to it, Kakarot. Next time, I'm the one finishing the fight."
Goku laughed. "We'll see."
Future Trunks and Bulma walked together, talking quietly about repairs, about hope, about family.
Piccolo and Uub trained in the distance, Piccolo offering quiet advice as Uub practiced his stance.
Krillin, Android 18, and Marron sat together, watching the sunset.
Krillin sighed. "You know, I think we might actually get a break. For a little while."
Android 18 smiled. "Don't jinx it."
Marron leaned against her mother. "I like it when everyone's happy."
Tien, Chiaotzu, and Yamcha shared stories, laughter echoing across the garden.
Master Roshi and Ox-King toasted to old times, their voices soft in the evening air.
Videl, Chi-Chi, Pan, and Puar watched the children play, hope shining in their eyes.
Mr. Satan practiced poses in the background, just in case anyone was watching.
As darkness settled, Bulma and Future Bulma lit lanterns around the garden. The group gathered one last time, sitting in a wide circle beneath the stars.
Future Gohan stood, looking at each of them in turn. "We've been through hell. We've lost, we've suffered, but we're still here. Together."