Mount Paozu gleamed in the afternoon sun, the Son family's modest home transformed by the festive atmosphere surrounding it.
As Toji descended from the sky with Megumi securely cradled against his chest, he took in the unexpected sight below.
Bulma had clearly outdone herself. Several large tables stretched across the yard, each covered with pristine white cloths and laden with plates, cups, and silverware that glinted in the sunlight.
An outdoor kitchen had been set up nearby, where Chi-Chi and Panchy worked in perfect harmony, the delicious aromas of their cooking wafting through the air.
Gohan spotted them first, waving enthusiastically from where he stood beside his mother. "They're here!" he called out, drawing everyone's attention skyward.
Toji landed gently on the soft grass, followed by Goku, Vegeta, Krillin, Nappa, Tien, Chiaotzu, and Yamcha.
The group spread out as they touched down, Vegeta and Nappa keeping a noticeable distance from the three warriors they had killed during their first arrival on Earth.
Ox-King's massive form lumbered forward, his face split by a welcoming grin. "Welcome back, young man!" he boomed, clapping Toji on the shoulder with enough force to make a normal human stagger. "We've been waiting for-" His words died abruptly as he noticed the small bundle in Toji's arms. "Is that...?"
The question hung in the air, drawing everyone's attention to Megumi. The baby, sensing the sudden focus, blinked his violet eyes curiously at the assembled crowd.
A collective gasp rippled through the group. Dr. Brief's cigarette dropped from his slack mouth. Master Roshi's sunglasses slid down his nose. Chi-Chi froze mid-stir, wooden spoon dripping sauce onto the grass.
"Oh my," Panchy breathed, her perpetual smile widening. "What a darling little baby!"
Bulma stood motionless, her eyes fixed on the infant. Something flickered across her face - surprise, confusion, and for the briefest moment, a flash of pain - before she composed herself, stepping forward with a bright smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Well, this is unexpected," she said, her voice carefully light. "Looks like you brought back more than just yourself from space."
"Yeah... It wasn't exactly planned, was sooner also than expected," Toji explained as he rubbed the back of his head, a bit embarressed.
Chi-Chi marched over, wooden spoon still in hand, her expression shifting from shock to stern disapproval.
"Toji Fushiguro," she began, brandishing the spoon like a weapon, "are you telling me you had a child before getting married? What were you thinking? Where is this baby's mother? You two should be married immediately! A child needs both parents in a proper family unit!"
Toji shifted uncomfortably under her glare, adjusting Megumi in his arms. It was rare for anyone to truly have a problem with him besides family, he's not used to this. "Mrs. Son... It's... complicated," he admitted slowly.
"It's a long story, but to keep it short. I... offered to set aside our - me and the mother's - differences for Megumi's sake. I would have..." he hesitated, his expression growing more conflicted, "...married her if that's what it took to give him a proper family. But she left. She abandoned him - abandoned us."
Chi-Chi's righteous indignation instantly transformed into maternal outrage. "She WHAT?" she exclaimed, the wooden spoon now pointed skyward like a sword. "What kind of woman abandons her own child? And such a loyal, righteous young man? The nerve! The absolute nerve!"
Toji's expression shifted into a bit of suprise at the complete 180 Chi-Chi made, as well as remained silent, not defending Freeza. Chi-Chi's words weren't exactly wrong.
The memory of Freeza's cold voice declaring she would have killed their son in the womb if she'd had her powers earlier still cut deep.
"Well, you've done the right thing bringing him here," Chi-Chi declared, her tone softening as she peered at Megumi. "A good meal will cheer you both up. Come, sit down. You must be starving."
As Chi-Chi led him to the table, Toji caught Bulma's gaze. Internally feeling a bit guilty, since with his Ki sense, he could feel her... pain.
He knows they weren't really in a relationship, nor did he even try to make it happen, that she herself had been the one who had a crush on him, and logically by his own philosophy she is at fault for her own feelings and there is no blame on him, but he still felt bad for her.
Emotions weren't exactly the simplest things to regulate.
"Alright, everyone! Since you're all here now, sit down!" Bulma called out with forced cheerfulness. "Food's ready! Let's eat!"
The group settled around the tables, the awkward tension gradually giving way to the comfort of shared food and conversation. Plates were passed, drinks were poured, and gradually, the atmosphere relaxed.
"So," Krillin ventured between bites of roast chicken, "what was it like? King Kai said you stranded on a planet."
"Beautiful, in a deadly way," Toji replied, balancing Megumi on his lap while eating one-handed. "Everything there was trying to kill you. Acid rain, carnivorous plants, predators that could turn into mist..." He shrugged. "We spent most of our time trying to kill each other too."
"Wait, what?" Yamcha nearly choked on his drink. "You and that Freeza woman tried to kill each other?"
Toji looked at him confused for a moment, then reasoned that perhaps Yamcha still hasn't been told the story about Namek or hasn't really processed it yet.
He decided to oblige, and just answer.
"Constantly," Toji confirmed casually. "She pushed me toward an Absorption Pool - this thing that looks like water but dissolves anything organic. I retaliated by maneuvering her toward electrically charged vines." He glanced down at Megumi, who was contentedly gumming a soft piece of bread. "Neither of us succeeded, obviously."
"And... you still ended up together?" Bulma asked, her voice carefully neutral. "How does that even happen?"
Toji shrugged, his expression genuinely perplexed. "I honestly don't understand it myself."
"Well, we had our share of excitement too," Goku interjected, sensing Toji's discomfort. "Cooler showed up three days after you disappeared."
"He was even stronger than Freeza," Krillin added, unconsciously rubbing his chest where Cooler's blast had enveloped- and killed him. "We tried everything, but he was just too powerful."
"I died protecting Vegeta," Nappa announced proudly, slapping the prince's back. Vegeta scowled but didn't push him away. "Took a blast meant for him. Pretty heroic, right?"
"And I got blown to bits trying to help," Krillin added. "Though my Destructo Disk did manage to cut off Cooler's arm."
"That's when Kakarot transformed," Vegeta said, his tone a mixture of respect and envy. "The legendary Super Saiyan."
Toji couldn't quite hide his surprise. "Super Saiyan? The form you kept talking about during our trip to Namek? It's real?"
"Obviously," Vegeta stated as he took a bit of a chicken leg.
"Don't speak with your mouth full, Vegeta, it's impolite," Bulma jabbed.
"Wha- I'll eat however I damn want woman!"
"I'd love to see it if you don't mind," Toji asked Goku, turning his face towards him, ignoring the bickering two. It seems that despite Bulma's crush, she and Vegeta had at least gotten somewhat closer during his time away.
Perhaps she'll end up with him like in the original timeline.
"Sure thing!" Goku agreed enthusiastically, already half-rising from his seat.
"Goku!" Chi-Chi's voice cracked like a whip. "Nobody is transforming or fighting until everyone has finished eating. These ladies worked hard on this meal!"
"Sorry, Chi-Chi," Goku apologized, sinking back into his seat with a sheepish smile. "After dinner, then?"
"After dinner," she confirmed, her stern expression softening as she watched her husband pile more food onto his plate.
As the meal continued, Toji noticed Gohan sitting nearby, eyes glued to a tablet screen. Occasionally, the boy would glance up at him with a thoughtful expression before returning to whatever he was watching.
Finally, during a lull in conversation, Gohan blurted out: "Mr. Toji, does this mean you're like Darth Vader who ended up with a female Empress Palpatine?"
The question was met with stunned silence, followed by sputtering from Bulma, Toji, and several others familiar with Star Wars.
Gohan's eyes widened as he realized what he'd said. "No, wait, that's not what I meant!" he corrected hastily. "You're the Chosen One, but you stayed on the Light Side! You didn't fall like Anakin did!"
Chi-Chi sighed deeply. "I'm so sorry, Toji. Gohan's been obsessed with these... Star Wars movies lately." She shot a mock glare at Bulma, who suddenly became very interested in her water glass, whistling innocently. "Someone introduced him to them recently."
"Hey, they're classics!" Bulma defended herself. "Every kid should watch them!"
Toji, more amused than offended, turned to Gohan. "The Chosen One? What do you mean by that?"
Gohan's face lit up at the question. "In Star Wars, Anakin Skywalker was the Chosen One, prophesied to bring balance to the Force. He was literally born from the Force itself - no father! That's why he was so naturally powerful."
The boy leaned forward eagerly. "I think maybe you're like that, but with Ki! That's why you were born so strong and can learn techniques just by seeing them once. You're the Son of Ki!"
Toji chuckled. "I hate to disappoint you, Gohan, but I had a father."
"It doesn't have to be exactly the same," Gohan insisted. "But it would explain why you're so different from everyone else. Why you're a natural at everything Ki-related."
Toji considered this, surprisingly touched by the boy's theory. "I suppose that's as good an explanation as any," he conceded. Though of course didn't believe it.
He himself reasoned it was because of the special nature of his soul.
Gohan's eyes suddenly widened with excitement. He turned his tablet around, showing a picture of Darth Vader in his iconic black suit. "Mr. Toji, would you wear this? You're tall enough to be Darth Vader! It would be so cool!"
Toji blinked in surprise. "I don't exactly own a costume like that, Gohan."
The boy's gaze immediately shifted to Piccolo, who had been silently eating at the end of the table. "Mr. Piccolo! Could you make one with your materialization beam? But without the control panel, Mr. Toji isn't injured- Please?"
Piccolo's expression darkened. "I am not a clothing store, Gohan."
"Please?" Gohan clasped his hands together, deploying what Toji recognized as the dreaded "puppy dog eyes" technique. "Just this once?"
Piccolo held out for approximately ten seconds before his resolve crumbled. "Fine," he growled, rising from his seat. "Stand up, Toji."
As Toji amusedly complied as he handed Megumi to Chi-Chi.
He internally couldn't help but marvel at how different this Gohan was from the one he remembered from the show.
This boy was carefree, playful, unburdened by the trauma of watching his friends die or being forced into battle too young.
He hadn't had his neck broken by Recoome, hadn't seen Piccolo, the man he had begun to see as an uncle and a big brother sacrifice himself for him because of his own fear, or faced the hopelessness of fighting someone with absolute power- Freeza
This Gohan had grown up with certainty - certainty that the good guys would win, that adults would protect him, that evil would be vanquished.
And Toji was glad about that. Somehow, his presence in this world had preserved a child's innocence, and that felt better than a lot of things.
Piccolo pointed two fingers at Toji, a beam of light shooting forth. "At least this will be better than that ridiculous caveman outfit you're wearing," the Namekian muttered as the light enveloped Toji.
When the glow faded, gasps and exclamations erupted around the table. Toji looked down at himself, now clad in the full Darth Vader regalia - black armor, flowing cape, and the distinctive helmet covering his face.
It was made by Piccolo from comfortable and extremely durable material.
(Picture of different Vader Suit here:)
A mechanical breathing sound accompanied each breath he took.
"This is... actually pretty awesome," Toji's voice came through the helmet's modulator, deep and resonant.
Gohan circled him, eyes wide with wonder. "It's perfect! You look just like him!"
Everyone except Vegeta, Nappa, and Piccolo applauded the transformation. Even Chi-Chi seemed amused, covering her smile with one hand.
"Can you make a lightsaber with your Ki like you make your staff?" Gohan asked excitedly. "Show us some moves!"
Toji obligingly formed a beam of white energy in his hand, shaping it into a cylinder with a longer beam extending from one end. He gave it an experimental swing, the humming sound cutting through the air.
"Use the Force, Mr. Toji! Use Telekineses" Gohan encouraged, bouncing on his toes.
Toji had just begun demonstrating some basic moves when a massive shadow fell across the gathering.
Everyone looked up to see an enormous spacecraft hovering overhead, its design sleek and predatory - unmistakably of the same origin as the Saiyan pods, but vastly larger.
"What the-" Krillin began, rising from his seat.
The ship moved away, coming to rest several miles distant. A ramp extended from its underside, a red carpet rolling out in an oddly formal display.
Three figures descended - a blue-skinned humanoid with yellow hair, a tall brown reptilian being, and a tall, big alien with green skin.
They flew towards them, and descended before them, as they then approached with measured steps, their postures deferential rather than threatening. When they reached the edge of the gathering, they stopped and bowed deeply.
"Greetings," the blue-skinned leader said, his accent thick but his words clear. "We are the Cooler Force, now under new management. We seek Toji Fushiguro. It is a matter of great importance."
From behind his Darth Vader mask, Toji suppressed a sigh. He should have known his peaceful return wouldn't last long.
The universe, it seemed, had other plans.
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(Author Note: Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter!
Do tell me how you found it.
I had a lot of fun writing Gohan, since I wanted to show him more innocent now that he isn't as battle hardened like canon cough it will make him like fighting more cough.
So, the Cooler Force is here for their new Lord.
Do tell me what you think will happen. (I honestly can't wait to write, Toji in the Vader Suit to just meet King Cold. He'll probably appreciate the intimidating look.)
Well, I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)