Light Of Willpower [Future Trunks x OC]

33: Cornered

(January, 783)

"I can't do it..."

Trunks and Niya shared a look between them, worried. They had been training about a month together, and Kusuke still wasn't able to transform into a Super Saiyan. He was still limited to the Ayatan Saiyan "Phase One," which was inferior to Super Saiyan, as spars between Kusuke and Gohan had previously showed.

Kusuke panted, sweat dripping down his bruised face and body. He looked up at the two Super Saiyans before him, furious with himself.

He was older and more experienced than them. So why? Why wasn't it clicking?!

"You'll get it," Niya encouraged, lowering down to her base form. "It took a while for Trunks to do it, too."

Trunks nodded, also lowering to his base form. "Yeah. It took a lot for it to finally happen," he glanced to the side. His chest ached at the death of Gohan, his Teacher.

The older Saiyan sighed and stood. "I know," he said seriously, now looking down at the two teenagers. "Niya, you transformed after watching Dad die. And you, Trunks, it was seeing your Teacher dead that made you transform."

The teenagers shifted a bit uncomfortably.

He then turned in the direction of his house, eyes heavy. "The common theme is loss... But I can't lose anymore. My friends are gone. Cities are gone. Our parents are gone," he shook his head. "If I lose you or Kandi or Noemi, I'll die for sure."

"Kusuke...," Niya stepped over to hug him from behind.

"That's why this is so important to me," her bother continued. "I have to be a Super Saiyan if I'm going to protect them and you guys. I can't ask you kids to fight those monsters when it should be me—an old man—who should be protecting you, just like Gohan did..."

After a silence, Trunks spoke up.

"I think... Gohan sacrificed himself because he trusted us to become stronger than him."

The siblings turned to him, surprised.

Trunks wore a weak smile as he thought of Gohan. "I don't think we need all of us to be Super Saiyan in order to defeat the Androids," he said. "But as long as we're working together, we'll be strong, no matter what."

Niya reached up and clenched the Red Jewel in her hand. She thought of the Androids. She remembered the good times with Seventeen and the bad. He needed to be vanquished from the world.

She thought of Niko, and the kind of future she wanted for him.

Yes. The Androids needed to be defeated. And now, the only chance they had was for the three of them to work together.

The were Earth's last hope: its remaining defenders.

"You're right," Niya agreed, turning to meet his eyes.

In their stare, an understanding crossed between them. One shared a few times before, when they were filled with urgency and determination. They wanted to save the world and meet the Earth that once was before the Androids. The finally wanted peace.

"Then let's do it."

The teenagers turned to Kusuke.

"Let's not waste anymore time," he told them, the determination reaching his eyes as well. "It's time to defeat those Androids for good."