Passing through Hell's exit, the trio suddenly found themselves standing directly in front of King Yemma's towering check-in desk.
Yemma: *He nodded down at them, taking in the sight of one thoroughly battered Saiyan hybrid while the other two barely had a scratch.* "Well, I'll be damned..." *the giant man boomed, his eyes locking straight onto the black zircon shard now clutched securely between Goten's fingers. Yemma cleared his throat loudly.* "I hope you didn't leave my realm in total ruins."
Goten: *He scratched the back of his head sheepishly, glancing sideways at Melody and Trunks before answering.* "Uh… mostly intact?"
Trunks coughed—loudly—and subtly drove an elbow straight into Goten's ribs.
Yemma: *He let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his temple as if he could already see the mountain of paperwork piling up on his desk.* "Of course you did." *He shook his head, but the job was done—they had the shard. It was time to return to Earth.* "Just get out of my sight before I decide to throw you back in myself!"
Yemma snapped his massive fingers. In a flash of light, the trio vanished from the afterlife.
An instant later, they reappeared right in the middle of the quiet tiles of Kami's Lookout.
Goten: *He exhaled a long breath, stretching his arms high overhead.* "Finally... air that doesn't smell like hellfire and brimstone!" *He turned to Melody, his expression softening with a small, gentle smile.* "You okay?"
Melody: *She nodded, offering a soft, exhausted smile.* "Yep. But give me a shower, your mother's home cooking, and a million kisses, and I'll feel even better."
Goten: *He chuckled warmly.* "I'll do you one better. All of those... but a hot bubble bath instead."
He slung a strong arm around her shoulders, pulling her flush against his side into a tight hug. His muscles ached, and his gi was covered in dust and scrapes from the Titan, but they had actually succeeded. It was the best feeling in the world. Melody leaned into his warmth, letting herself sink into him and just enjoying the closeness after such a brutal ordeal.
Goten: "C'mon, let's go home. Catch!" *Goten called out, tossing the black zircon shard across the Lookout toward Trunks.* "Make sure Dende gets that. We're heading home!"
Trunks: *He caught the glittering shard effortlessly with a broad grin.* "Alright, you two lovebirds. I think I can take it from here." *He gave Goten a knowing, teasing smirk.*
Goten: *He returned it with an affectionate roll of his eyes.* "See ya later!"
Trunks watched with a smile as the two leaped off the edge of the Lookout, taking to the open sky and flying off together toward the horizon.
Goten: "Alone at last," *Goten said softly as he pulled Melody onto his back mid-flight, carrying her like she couldn't fly on her own.* "Just you, me, and a hot bubble bath."