Set to "Hero's Return" by Hammerfall

It had been a battle so sought after due to years of pain and humiliation. Vegeta had wanted, no needed it for so long he could not even remember anymore, but now it was about to end once and forever.

The brutal and utter revenge of a Saiyan Prince came swiftly and savagely in the form of the largest, most violent explosion in the history of the planet Earth. As beautiful as it was deadly, the all-consuming energy blast swept across the devastated landscape, putting a stop to a nightmare that had plagued the planet for over twenty years. It was finally alright to wake up.

When the blinding light and thunderous roar subsided, Trunks slowly but steadily pushed away the tons of rubble that had fallen on him and took a breath of dusty air, wiping the sweat out of his eyes in an attempt to see what had actually happened. He sighed with great relief as a worn Goten and Bra came into view.

"Oh thank Kami you guys are alright!" cried the tired Saiyan. "Where's dad!?"

Trunks' question was answered when he finally noticed what his sister and Goten were both staring at in silent awe.

A towering inferno of golden ki swept the rest of the enormous cloud of debris away into the evening sky, thoroughly surrounding the proud warrior from which it originated. Vegeta floated above the massive crater his attack had created in full Super Saiyan 3 glory, his power still generating incredible shockwaves across the whole world. The prince slowly turned and looked to his children and nephew, his face telling the entire story instantly.

"He... HE DID IT!!!" exclaimed Bra.

The three young demi-saiyans' deafening cries of victory and joy thundered across the entire country as they rushed towards Vegeta, each of them embracing him tightly. Bra began to sob, tears of joy rolling down her cheeks as her hair faded back to aqua blue.

"There's nothing to be afraid of anymore," whispered Vegeta.

Vegeta then focused his ki around his loved ones, who gasped as their wounds and fatigue from the short but decisive battle faded away. Bra snuffled and wiped her face, grinning at her father.

"Daddy you look funny without eyebrows," she giggled.

For the first time since anyone could remember, a small smile crept across Vegeta's hardened features.

"Let's go find your mother."

The other three nodded. Vegeta was the first to take off with Bra close behind. The prince then turned to face his children and nephew, who reminded him so much an old rival and friend of his. The three teens looked at him in wonderment as he uttered something they would never forget.

"You all have made me proud," said Vegeta. "More than you'll ever know."

As Vegeta and blasted away, Goten, Bra, and Trunks looked at each other wide-eyed before high-fiving, cheering and celebrating.

********

Vegeta touched down in front of the battered Capsule Corp. building, hair blowing slightly in the wind, still inwardly basking in the glow of their victory. The bastards were gone... gone forever.

"BULMA?? BULMA!!??"

Goten and Bra then landed beside him.

"Don't worry uncle," grinned Goten. "Trunks went to get her."

Before he could reply, all three of them spotted Trunks approaching from the west. In his arms rested his mother, shaken, exhausted, but alive. As he landed Bulma leapt from his arms when she spotted her husband and sprinted towards him, although she was fairly surprised by his enormous golden mane of hair and lack of eyebrows.

The proud prince met his wife in mid-sprint as they embraced and kissed as if it was the end of the world, but no one would have to worry about anything like that anymore.

"I'm never letting you go woman," said Vegeta.

"I was hoping you'd say something like that," whispered Bulma.

Trunks and Bra turned away, both of their faces turning scarlet. Goten laughed big and loud, in turn causing Trunks to chase him around the front lawn.

Suddenly, Vegeta dropped out of Super Saiyan 3 back down to his normal state.

"That form will take much training to master," panted Vegeta.

Bulma wiped her eyes and began to brush the sweat from her husband's brow.

"But it sure did the job didn't it," she said, beaming.

Vegeta smirked, holding his wife closer.

"Yeah."

The mood became very solemn as Goten sat down in the grass and ran a hand through his tangled hair.

"I... wish Gohan was here to see this..." said Goten.

Everyone was in silent agreement, which was until they heard Trunks gasp in amazement.

"I think he does..." beamed Trunks, pointing towards the horizon.

What the group saw then was too good to be true and to real to be an illusion or a figment of the imagination. Adorning the radiance of the setting sun were the ghostly figures of warriors from the past, all proud, all smiling. Vegeta wore perhaps his widest smirk ever. Some could even call it a smile.

The others stood speechless, realizing for the first time as to what was happening.

"Hey there Vegeta, I'm so proud of you guys!" echoed Goku's voice, close but yet so distant. "I knew you could do it!"

Vegeta crossed his arms, his smirk growing even brighter.

"Was there ever any doubt Kakarot?"

Goku donned his trademark goofy grin and laughed.

"Not with you Vegeta!"

Vegeta's expression then softened.

"Besides, your inspiration lived on and never faltered, not once old rival... old friend."

Goku immediately stopped laughing, his expression that of surprise and joy.

"Thank you."

Goten then stepped forward, his eyes filling with tears.

"Fa... father?"

Goku saw his youngest son and smiled softly.

"Goten, I've always watched over you as you grew into the man you are now and... I couldn't be more proud my son," said the ethereal hero. "I love you so much."

Goten's face glowed.

"Same here bro," said Gohan stepping up beside their father. "I miss you guys so much."

"So do we Gohan," said Trunks.

"Yeah," sobbed Bra.

"Hey you guys!" shouted Tien. "The androids are at the check-in station so we should probably go and make sure they get to hell without any problem!"

The others nodded before turning to wave at their friends in the living world.

"We'll always be with you," smiled Gohan.

"Always," said Goku.

The teens all wiped away their tears as the heroes started to grow fainter from sight.

"Kakarot!" smirked Vegeta. "Someday we will meet again, and we will have our fight."

Goku grinned and gave the thumbs-up as he and the rest faded into the horizon.

"Count on it."

Vegeta let out a heavy sigh, content that everything was going to be alright. The remaining Z-Fighters could now look to a brighter future with their loved ones. The prince, full of pride, stepped to the front of the group, gazing into the vast horizon.

"Bulma, prepare a time machine large enough for all four of us."

The blue-haired beauty's eyes widened.

"But Vegeta, why?"

The Super Saiyan turned to face everyone's questioning eyes, cracking his knuckles.

"When I was in the past, Kakarot said that we would never fail," he stated. "He was there for me and I'm gonna be there for him in the battles of the past."

Bulma smiled, nodding slowly and running up to hug her husband.

"We're with you daddy!" said Bra.

"Hell yeah," smirked Trunks.

Goten breathed softly and smiled.

"Always."

"You know what this means right?" said Bulma, wrapping her arms around her husbands neck and tickling his chin, which got her an ever-so-curious look.

"What...?"

"YOU, mister prince, are a good guy now! In fact you have been for a long time," grinned Bulma.

Vegeta snorted, quickly looked to the side and crossed his arms as everyone else burst out laughing.

"The Prince of All Saiyans a good guy... NONSENSE!"

He was trying very hard not to smile.

THE END

A/N: To all those who read I really do appreciate the positive feedback. Be sure and keep an eye out for my future fics, especially over at my FictionPress account. They'll come steadily as I'm now also working with a new heavy metal band that I'm a part of, now only known as Purifier. Be on the lookout.

Peace, BBS