1 Brat: chappie 1

Summary: It has been ten long years since Gohan defeated Cell. Things have been relatively peaceful. What will happen when a new deadly evil appears?

A/N: This story is A.U., the Buu saga, even though it's my favorite, never happened. Please read and review.

It was a normal day at Capsule Corp. Well, as normal as a day could get when you had the Prince of All Saiyans living with you. Bulma Briefs, the blue-haired president of C.C., was in her massive lab, and her husband and son were training. Vegeta was in the Gravity Room, training at 500g, and his son, Trunks was sparring with invisible enemies in the yard near the GR. Bulma didn't know what Vegeta was training for, but she didn't bother asking him, for fear of getting the usual monolog on how 'great' and 'superior' the saiyan race was.

Trunks took a break from his training, pushing his lavender hair out of his eyes. He looked towards the GR, not at all surprised to hear his father still going full-steam ahead with his training. He rarely saw his dad outside of his daily training session, and all he wanted was for Vegeta to spend some time with him in normal gravity. Deciding that sparring with himself was getting boring, Trunks searched for other things to do. Hmmmm...

Wait a tick... he thought. Everyone seems to be together. Why?

He could sense most of the Z-fighters together in the mountains... And there ki levels were fluctuating massively.

They must be sparring together... this should be fun.

After shouting a quick goodbye to his mother, Trunks flew towards his friends. Nothing could have prepared him for what he saw when he got there.

Blood. Carnage. Screams. He watched in horror as an evil... something killed Piccolo. He saw Gohan scream in rage as he attacked the monster, only to get batted away. Then the thing's eyes focused on the young demi-saiyan. Trunks knew that he was outclassed, and he was frightened. But he remembered something his father had once told him during one of those extremely rare times when thy were just sitting together.

Flashback

Trunks and Vegeta were sitting in the lounge before dinner. As usual, Vegeta was silent and scowling, as Bulma had made him turn off the GR early for whatever reason. Trunks was fidgeting nervously. He had something to ask his father, something about his past. Vegeta noticed this and looked at his son with raised eyebrows.

"What is it, boy?" he asked, not sounding like he really cared. Gulping and gathering his nerve, he spoke quietly to his father.

"C-can I ask you something, Dad?" Trunks stuttered.

Vegeta grunted. Trunks took that as a yes.

"Mom and Gohan told me about when you fought someone name Frieza. They said you were really brave, even though you were scared. They said you put up the best fight out of anyone until Mr. Goku got there. Mom said you died... and you kinda already knew you would." Trunks paused here to take a breath and ensure that he still had his wits about him.

"So, I was wondering... if you knew you couldn't win, than why did you fight? Why didn't you run or hide? It must have been real scary. I would've run."

Vegeta was silent for a long time. Just when Trunks had given up hope of ever getting an answer, his father spoke.

"First of all, I was not scared. Secondly, saiyans never run, brat. I did the honorable thing and that is that. Thirdly, as the Prince of All Saiyans, it was, and still is, my duty to avenge my race. Lastly, saiyans are warriors, through and through. I went down fighting, as is honorable." Vegeta looked at his son intensely as he spoke again; "Always remember who you are, boy. You are a descendant of a proud race of noble warriors. Never forget that. You said before you would have ran. You were wrong. The saiyan in you wouldn't allow it. Better to die fighting than to live a coward."

End Flashback

As the monster known as Jax advanced on the orchid-haired child, he was surprised to find no fear in his intended victim's eyes. No, there was just anger and a fiery determination as the kid smirked at him. Trunks saw that Jax was bewildered at his lack of fear, and he had a total Vegeta moment, smirking for all he was worth.

"I won't run, Jax. I'm a saiyan, and I would rather die fighting than run and live like a coward!" Trunks yelled. He powered all the way up to super saiyan and the fight began.

About five minutes later, back at Capsule Corp, a certain saiyan prince noticed a considerable drop in his son's ki.

When Trunks' life force only got lower, Vegeta could no longer conceal his worry.

"WOMAN! Where is the brat?" he bellowed.

"Your son left about ten minutes ago to go spar with the others." Bulma said huffily. "And I have a name."

"So?" Vegeta mumbled under his breath. He tried to sense the others, and was shocked and a bit unnerved. Their energy signals were very weak, and he couldn't find the namek at all. After kicking himself mentally for not paying attention, Vegeta took off in the direction of his son's fading power level.

Meanwhile...

Trunks choked as Jax rammed his big knee into his solar plexus again and again. As he was thrown to the side and blasted repeatedly, Trunks kept repeating his father's words in his head. He almost cried with relief when he sensed his father coming.

Just a little longer... he thought, I can't give up... He knew that he was going to die. But this was what his Dad wanted, wasn't it? For him to act like a true saiyan. He would make his father proud... No matter what. He smiled when he saw his father nearing as he was tossed aside like a rag doll...

"Di-did-didn't give u-up Dad..." He coughed up, smiling weakly. But Daddy... It hurts so bad... The last thing he saw was his father running towards him and then his world went black.

End chappie 1

Well? You likey? Hm? Yes? No? Tell me please. Seriously, if you don't review, I'll sic Trunks on ya.

Trunks: looks miserable

He's my muse cuz I didn't wanna freak Vegeta or Piccolo out as I worship them. PLEASE REVIEW! I'll give you some cake...