Chapter 3: The Final Visit
A strange stillness hung in the air as the rippling portal slowly dissolved into a glowing sphere above the horizon. Whis stood, arms crossed and staff humming lightly, eyes narrowed with knowing calm.
"And now... Phase Two begins," he said, voice steady.
Goku, Vegeta, and Broly stood still for a beat, each absorbing the weight of his words. Their muscles tensed. A quiet mix of excitement, dread, and confusion swirled inside them like an unstable fusion.
Goku scratched the back of his head. "Phase Two already? That was fast."
"We just barely got the hang of the balloon thing," Broly muttered, brows furrowed.
Vegeta crossed his arms. "Tch. I expected more than child's play anyway. What is this next phase?"
Whis offered a small, mischievous smile. "Before we begin, there is one thing you must all do. A farewell."
"Farewell?" Goku asked.
"Indeed. This next phase of training will be... immersive. You will not return to your homes for the next 365 Earth days. Therefore, I suggest you go back now and see your loved ones. Say goodbye. You have exactly 24 hours before the dimensional portal seals."
The three Saiyans exchanged surprised glances.
"A year?" Goku's smile faded into a serious stare.
"Cheelai..." Broly whispered, concern appearing on his face.
"Hmph," Vegeta grunted. "Fine. I suppose Bulma and Trunks deserve at least that."
Without another word, Goku and Vegeta raised two fingers to their foreheads and vanished in a flash. Broly looked to Whis.
"Go," Whis said gently.
Broly gave a small nod and blasted off into the sky.
The moment they departed, Whis hovered into the air and disappeared into a swirl of glowing clouds. Behind him, the countdown began. The portal pulsed faintly, a cosmic lock ticking toward closure.
At Mount Paozu, Goku appeared on the front lawn with a deep breath. The peaceful wind of the countryside brushed past him, but the tranquility ended as soon as the front door opened.
"GOKUUUUUUU!" Chi-Chi's voice rang through the valley.
Goku winced. "Uh-oh."
Inside, Chi-Chi had a wooden ladle in one hand and a glare sharp enough to cut metal. "Where have you been? You just vanished again! Goten's been asking about you for weeks!"
Goku rubbed his neck. "I was training... kinda important training."
"Training!? Without telling your wife!? Without checking in at all!?"
He shrank slightly. "I brought back some fruit from another planet?"
SLAM.
Meanwhile, at Capsule Corp, Vegeta wasn't faring any better. Bulma stood in the lab, arms crossed, wearing her protective goggles like a war general.
"Let me guess—you went to train again without asking."
"It was Whis's idea," Vegeta replied quickly.
"Do I look like I care? My lab exploded while you were gone! Again!"
"It's still standing."
"Barely! You're grounded. No space travel. No ki blasts in the yard. No talking about pride."
Vegeta grimaced. "This is beneath me."
"So is sneaking out like a teenage boy."
Despite the scolding, the evening turned gentle. Chi-Chi cooked Goku's favorite dishes, her frustration mellowing as he laughed and helped around the house. Goten joined in, thrilled to have his father home. They talked, sparred lightly, and shared stories late into the night.
Bulma set a quiet dinner in the Capsule Corp garden. Vegeta didn't say much, but his presence meant more than words. Trunks showed him a new fighting technique, and Bulla climbed onto his shoulders giggling.
For one night, the warriors were fathers. Husbands. Sons of Earth.
Ten hours remained. The park where it all began—where Whis first arrived—sat quiet under the morning sky. Goku and Vegeta appeared almost simultaneously, drawn by instinct.
"Kakarot," Vegeta greeted.
"Vegeta," Goku nodded.
They stood in silence for a moment, unsure what to say. Then, laughter broke the stillness. They turned to see Goten and Trunks flying around the park, sparring and laughing.
Goku smiled. "They're growing up fast."
Vegeta folded his arms. "Hmph. Trunks is still reckless. But... strong."
Suddenly, both fathers blinked.
"Wait a second..." Goku said.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Vegeta asked.
"Let's take them with us!" they shouted together.
The idea exploded between them like a shared epiphany.
"They're old enough. If we're going to be gone a year, we should train them too," Goku reasoned.
"A warrior's blood should not go stagnant," Vegeta agreed.
But then reality hit.
"Chi-Chi and Bulma are gonna kill us," Goku muttered.
Vegeta sighed. "Worse. They'll say no."
Back at Capsule Corp, the negotiation began. Goku and Vegeta stood before their wives, pleading like students begging for a school trip.
"They'll be safe! It's supervised by Whis!" Goku promised.
"And it's an opportunity to make them strong," Vegeta added.
"Absolutely not," Chi-Chi snapped.
"No way. Not happening," Bulma followed.
"You can't just vanish with our sons!"
"They have school! And lives! And mothers who care about their well-being!"
The argument lasted hours. The boys stayed silent, nervously peeking around corners. Even Broly came and stood by quietly, watching the chaos with curiosity.
Eventually, the Saiyans gave up and collapsed in the living room, defeated.
Goku sighed. "We tried."
"Saiyan blood is no match for motherhood," Vegeta grunted.
The sun dipped low. Only two hours remained.
Then the air changed.
A cool mist slithered in from the sky. The wind grew still. The clock had struck zero.
Bulma and Chi-Chi, mid-lecture, yawned.
"I don't know why I'm so—so... sleepy..." Chi-Chi murmured.
Bulma blinked slowly. "Me too... just... five minutes..."
They slumped onto the couch, fast asleep.
The Saiyans sat up, startled. Outside, a familiar light spiraled down from the sky.
Whis descended from the clouds like an angel, staff glowing.
"I see the negotiations went about as well as expected," he said with a knowing smile.
"Did you...?" Goku asked.
"Only a temporary sleep spell," Whis confirmed. "They'll awaken peacefully in a few hours, none the wiser."
Goten and Trunks stepped forward.
"Are we really doing this?" Goten asked.
"We won't let you down," Trunks added.
Broly nodded behind Whis . "Let's go."
Goku looked back once more at Chi-Chi, asleep on the couch. He smiled sadly.
Vegeta glanced toward Bulma and whispered something under his breath.
The five Saiyans gathered near Whis. He tapped his staff once.
A column of divine light surrounded them, lifting them into the sky.
The portal shimmered one final time—then sealed shut.
To be continued...