Divergent Paths

Epilogue: Set Things Right

Disclaimer: Characters and premise are the property of Akira Toriyama, I'm only borrowing them for a little non-profit fun.

Bulma tucked the Dragon Ball Radar into her pocket. "The last one's in that cave," she announced and pointed to a dark crevasse half-way up a sheer cliff.

Goku crouched down to get on eye-level with his son. "What about it Gohan? Do you want to get this one?"

Gohan nodded firmly. "I wanna help save Yamcha-san and everyone," he declared.

Goku ruffled his hair and grinned. Chichi sighed in resignation as her son began scrambling up the vertical rock face. She hated seeing Gohan rush into danger, he was her baby after all. Still it was good that he knew how to protect himself. And if he had the skills to protect himself he would use them to protect others.

After a moment's hesitation Plum tugged on her father's sleeve. He loosened his hold to look down at her and she hopped to the ground then raced after Gohan. With the aid of her new claws she quickly over took her cousin. As she passed Gohan, Plum stuck her tongue out at him.

"Okay, it's a race!" Gohan declared.

The adults traded indulgent grins. It was good to see Plum coming out of her shell.

"You were a fool to let Ginyu go," 'Geta said quietly to Goku.

Goku shrugged. "I can't tell who will or won't reform if given the chance by just looking at them," he said unrepentantly. "Sorry, Vegeta."

'Geta rolled his eyes. "Why are you ticked? You knew what was going to happen."

"Yeah I knew you were going to kill him. I didn't know how easy it would be once you'd ascended, or how much you'd enjoy it." Goku hesitated. He bit his lip. "Maybe you even convinced me it was necessary. That's why I'm angry. I agree with you. Frieza didn't deserve to live."

"Damn right."

"And you knew him well enough to know he wasn't going to change." Goku sighed. "I am sorry 'Geta."

"Now you like me again, so you've gone back to mangling my name?"

"Yep," Goku replied. "I'm not sorry about letting that Ginyu guy go though. He might just need to get away from Frieza to become a better person, like you and Raditz."

"Doubtful," 'Geta replied. "You don't know what a non-Saiyan had to do to convince the Colds he was sincere in his desire to join up."

"I'd rather be wrong and have to fight him again than be wrong and have killed someone who might have reformed," Goku replied.

"There will come a time when you'll regret allowing your enemies to live and grow stronger," 'Geta stated.

"It might bring trouble, but I won't regret it," Goku replied with equal certainty.

Plum emerged from the cave holding the Dragon Ball aloft. Gohan emerged a half-second later and the two demi-Saiyans scrambled back down the cliff as rapidly as they'd scaled it.

Once she reached the ground Plum hesitated. She glanced at Gohan then shook her head, apparently reaching some decision. She ran across the flat and set the Dragon Ball at Bulma's feet then hid behind her father's leg.

Bulma crouched down. "Thank you Plum-chan," she said seriously.

Plum blushed and hid her face.

Bulma added the final Dragon Ball to her pouch. "Kuririn should have everyone gathered back at Capsule Corp," she said. "Lets do it there so we can see them as soon as they're back."

Once they arrived Bulma laid all seven Dragon Balls on the lawn not far from where the bodies of their friends had been laid.

Goku picked Gohan up and set him on his shoulders. "This will be the first time you've seen Shenlong, hmm?"

Gohan nodded.

"It's the first time for me as well," Chichi remarked.

"So, Vegeta-sama, what happens now?" Raditz asked.

"The dead come back to life," 'Geta said.

"A little bit on the details maybe?" Raditz grumbled.

"Watch and learn," Piccolo stated. "Dragon! Arise!"

The sky went dark. Shenlong emerged from the Earth, his vast coils filled the sky.

Plum 'eeped' and clung to Raditz as tightly as she could while Raditz, Appura, Chichi and Gohan stared up at the dragon in amazement.

Goku grinned and waved to Shenlong like an old friend. 'Geta and Piccolo watched indifferently while Bulma and Kuririn were torn between awe and acting like old hands.

"What is you wish?" Shenlong demanded.

"Shenlong could you bring back our friends who were killed by Frieza's men?" Bulma asked.

"Your wish is granted," Shenlong intoned.

"Thank you Dragon-san!" Gohan shouted as Shenlong vanished and the Dragon Balls scattered.

"Did we win?" Yamcha asked he sat up.

Kuririn clapped him on the shoulder. "I got an attack through with that ki you leant me. We beat him."

Piccolo offered Mr. Popo a hand up. "It is good to see you well," he said stiffly.

Mr. Popo looked at Piccolo in confusion, then he realized what had happened. He accepted Piccolo's hand. "Thank you," he said simply.

"I'm alive!" Yajirobi exclaimed. "You guys are really the best! But next time? Keep the over-powered lunatic bad guys far away from me, okay?"

"We'll do our best," Goku promised.

"How'd Choatzu and Tien manage?" Yamcha asked.

"Tien complained about us hogging the good fights," Kuririn replied. "Then they took off. You know Tien, he hates to be taken away from his training for long."

"That's Tien for you," Yamcha said. "I guess we won't see them until the next thing comes up."

Goku shrugged. "We could probably keep doing the teamwork drills you guys came up with. I think Piccolo is strong enough to handled you two-on-one now too. Tien and Chaotzu wouldn't want to miss that."

"Plum, you're going to need a bit of training in the best use of your new claws," Appura remarked to her daughter.

"Oh yeah!" Raditz exclaimed. "Plumy, show Daddy's friend Piccolo your pretty claws. Piccolo come here, you've got to see this! My little girl comes with weapons attached!"

"You are impossible," Piccolo remarked as he allowed Raditz the chance to show off his daughter.

"Gohan, I hear you fought pretty well too," Goku said. "Why don't you tell me about it."

'Geta drifted over to listen as well, he'd helped with Gohan's training as well and wanted to hear how well it had been employed himself.

Korin watched the group wander off. "I guess this means Yajirobi and I have to repair the tower ourselves?"

Yajirobi looked worried. "Actually, I just remembered. I gotta do, well something, for awhile."

Goku glanced over his shoulder. "I'll drop by tomorrow Korin," he promised, then went back to listening to Gohan's recounting of his first battle.

Korin smiled and shook his head, "They save the world from the strongest force for evil the galaxy had ever seen, and five minutes later everything's back to normal. At least until the next time."