The comeback

I need you

The scene was serene in the sprawling backyards of Paradis, where a beautiful outdoor villa stood as a temporary home for one of the world's most formidable warriors, Goku Black. The sun was low, casting warm hues over the land as he worked, cutting timber with impressive strength, muscles flexing under a simple tank top. Nearby, his loyal direwolf, Doom, lay on the grass, watching lazily. It was a rare moment of peace for him, a calm before the storm.

Then, Goku Black heard the distant hum of engines. He looked up as a convoy of four black GMC Yukons pulled up the winding path toward the villa. As the convoy came to a stop, he didn't need to guess who had arrived. Smiling, he tossed his shirt on, straightening as the guards stepped out first, all in sleek suits and sunglasses, standing at attention. Finally, the middle door opened, and Queen Historia Reiss emerged gracefully from the car, her presence as commanding as it was calming.

Historia approached him with that regal confidence she carried so well, but Goku Black could sense a heaviness in her demeanor, a quiet urgency. She nodded to him, acknowledging his strength and resilience, two qualities she knew she would need now more than ever.

"Goku Black," she said, her voice steady but gentle, "may we have a word?"

"Of course, Your Majesty," he replied, gesturing toward a seating area under the shaded veranda. The two sat down, and Goku Black looked at her with a steady gaze. He could see the burden in her eyes, the weight of her people's suffering.

There was a pause, as if Historia were gathering the right words. Finally, she spoke, her voice laced with both resolve and sorrow. "Karlova District has been overtaken. My people... they're suffering unimaginable horrors." She looked away for a moment, eyes darkening. "I've come to ask for your help."

Goku Black leaned back, folding his arms as he took in her words. There was nothing he despised more than senseless cruelty, and though he wasn't one to swear loyalty to kingdoms, the idea of an innocent people under siege stirred something within him.

"I'll fight," he said simply, his voice unwavering. "But if I'm going to put myself in the middle of this, I want to know how far we're willing to go to save them."

Historia looked at him, eyes unwavering. "Whatever it takes," she said softly. "I will not let Karlova fall. My people will be free."

Goku Black nodded, a determined smirk forming on his face. He knew then that this wasn't just another fight; this was a battle with meaning, and he would stand by Historia to bring justice to Karlova.

Together, they would bring fire to those who sought to bring darkness to Paradis, and nothing would stand in their way.

As Goku Black listened, he felt a cold weight settle over him. Historia wasn't here for small favors or empty reassurances—this was deadly serious.

Doom, sensing the tension in his master and the weight in Historia's words, nuzzled her hand gently. She smiled faintly, patting the loyal wolf before looking back at Goku Black with intense eyes.

"Black," she said softly but firmly, "I wouldn't have come here if this was just a small problem. Karlova's fall is no ordinary crisis—it's a threat to the very security of Paradis. Why do you think I came here, of all places?" She took a steadying breath. "I came to you, not just because you're the strongest warrior I know, but because you're my ex—and the former commander of the Elite Counter-Terrorism Unit."

For a moment, Goku Black was silent, the memories of his past flooding back to him. His gaze drifted to an old photograph on the nearby table. In it, he stood with his former team, all of them wearing skull masks, clad in the tactical gear bearing the insignia of the Counter-Terrorism Unit. They were a force once feared by their enemies, forged in the heat of battle. Behind them loomed a Black Hawk helicopter, the silent sentinel that had carried them into countless missions.

He reached for the photograph, running his thumb over the faces of his old comrades. They had been more than a team; they were a family bound by trust, sacrifice, and a shared commitment to protecting the realm. Some of them were gone now, others scattered. But the values they had fought for still burned within him.

He looked back at Historia, his jaw set, and his eyes hardened. "I thought I'd left that life behind," he said quietly, voice tinged with a mix of regret and resolve. "But if they're going after our people like this, then they've given me no choice."

Historia met his gaze with a fierce determination of her own. "I need you back, Black. Not just as a fighter—but as the leader you once were. Help me rally a force that can take on this threat."

Goku Black placed the photograph back on the table, straightening up. He took a deep breath, the weight of the past settling heavily on his shoulders, then nodded.

"If this is what you need, then I'm in. We'll get Karlova back, Historia. And we'll make sure they never dare to do this again."

A spark ignited between them, a shared purpose, and a remembrance of battles they had once fought together. This time, it wasn't just for glory or duty—it was for the people they swore to protect. And they would give everything they had to ensure that Karlova's spirit would never be broken.

Goku Black's eyes held a steely focus as he spoke, his mind already calculating the steps he'd need to take. "Give me three days," he said firmly. "I'll gather them all again."

Historia's lips parted, her gaze softening as she looked at him. This was her chance to tell him what she'd kept in her heart since the day they parted. She took a breath, her voice barely a whisper. "Black... I still—"

But he cut her off, his attention already drifting back to the mission ahead. His gaze was distant, as if he were already piecing together his strategy, lost in thoughts of the old team he'd have to bring back. The silence that hung between them stung, but she let it be, knowing now wasn't the time to rekindle the past.

Doom, sensing the unspoken words, nuzzled against Historia's side, a warm and comforting gesture. The loyal direwolf's affection brought a faint smile to her face, even as her heart ached with the words left unsaid.

She reached down and patted Doom, grateful for the small bit of solace. "Take care of him, Doom," she murmured, feeling as if she were letting go of something precious.

Goku Black rose, his resolve solidified. "In three days, I'll be ready," he said, giving her a nod. "And we'll make sure Karlova stands strong again."

Without another word, he turned, heading toward the shadows of the trees to begin the journey that would call his old comrades back from the lives they'd built in his absence. As she watched him leave, Historia knew she would have to bury her feelings once more, letting him go in silence, for now. Because what mattered most was Karlova's freedom—and they both knew sacrifices had to be made.

Historia took a steady breath, her composure returning. She slipped on her sunglasses, masking any trace of the emotions stirring within her. With a final look toward Goku Black's retreating figure, she turned to her guards, her voice resolute.

"Let's move out," she said firmly, her tone a reflection of her unwavering resolve.

Her guards nodded, immediately moving back to their positions around her. They opened the door of the GMC Yukon, and Historia climbed in, her mind already racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. As the convoy started back toward the heart of Paradis, she glanced out the window, seeing the landscape of her kingdom pass by.

In three days, Goku Black would bring his team back together. And when he did, they would face the fight for Karlova's freedom with every ounce of strength they had.

But even as she prepared herself for the battles ahead, she couldn't help but think of the words she hadn't been able to say, the emotions she'd chosen to bury. With a soft sigh, she pushed those thoughts aside. Now was not the time for regret; it was a time for action, for strength.

As the convoy sped back toward the capital, Historia's resolve only grew stronger.