Cosmic Crisis 3 - A New Enemy

Chapter 6 - Time Para-what?

Natalie stared at Bulma, fear surmounting her expression. She knew, but she didn't want to accept.

"Time what?" she asked, taking the still unconscious Trunks' hand in hers and holding it tightly.

"It's a time paradox. Something has shifted the normal flow of time, causing negative reactions in your very existence. It seems to also effect Vegeta and Trunks." Bulma explained, still typing in her laptop. "It seems that these events happened in the past, which could possibly erase you from the present." Natalie's eyes shot open.

"No!" she cried.

"Oh, Nat-chan." Bulma said, taking the girl in her arms. Natalie tore away from Bulma.

"You're lying!" she accused, her aura flaring. "I can't disappear! I just can't!"

"Nat-chan..." Goten said, putting his hand on her shoulder comfortingly.

"How can you just sit here!?" she cried. "Your family," Natalie said, thrusting her index finger in Trunks and Vegeta's direction, "is going to unravel before your very eyes!"

"Natalie I'm doing everything I can." Bulma explained, looking at the girl with sympathetic eyes. "Until I find out exactly when these changes take place, we're helpless to fight it." Natalie broke down sobbing, draping herself over Trunks' chest and gripping his shoulders in fear. Vegeta started to regain his conscious, and Bulma rushed over to check his vital signs. He rubbed his temples and sat up, looking around him.

"What's going on?" he asked, noticing Natalie's state. "What's wrong with the girl?" Bulma pulled him close and embraced him tightly. He looked perplexed as he placed his arm around her, while Goku, for once, had a look of apprehension on his face.

"We need to do something before more people are affected." He said. Bulma explained the circumstances to her bewildered mate. Natalie turned and looked at Goku with a tear-streaked face. "For all we know it could affect the outcome of the planet, or worse." Bulma pulled herself away from Vegeta and tried to gather her thoughts.

"You're right." She said firmly. "We need to find out the cause of these fluctuations in the time flow."

"B-but what about our vacation?" Natalie asked. Bulma looked at Natalie with a warm smile.

"Don't worry, Nat-chan. We'll still enjoy our time off. We're just going to have to be very careful." She explained. "I'm going to work on something to temporarily block the instability your bodies are experiencing."

"But, until then, do you think we'll be safe to go about our lives?" Natalie continued to inquire.

"I assume so. After all, until I create this device, there's nothing we can do to prevent obliteration." She said. Natalie hung her head. There was nothing they could do. She hated that phrase.

"Once we disappear..." Vegeta started. "Will there be any bringing us back?"

"That all depends." Bulma answered.

"On what?" Goku asked.

"It depends on whether I can find the ripple in time which has produced this outcome. Then there's the task of locating the source and motive behind it." She said, deep in thought. Natalie was feeling a strange sense of déjà vu and familiarity with the situation as a strange sensation washed over her body. It wasn't painful, but it made her stomach churn and the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

"What's going on..." she said. Her voice echoed and time itself seemed to come to a standstill. She could already tell that the fabric of their very existence was starting to become distorted. Her heart stopped in her chest, yet she felt no pain...just extreme fear. Subsequently, she suddenly felt as if her body was being torn and dismembered. As she opened her mouth to scream, she was shoved into the present and reality hit her like a brick wall.

"Natalie..." Trunks moaned, slipping back to consciousness. Natalie, who was still trying to regain her senses, swayed from side to side while Goten came to steady her.

"There's something wrong with her." Natalie could hear Goten's voice, but it sounded very distant and faded.

"It's the time shift. It's trying to tear her from existence." Bulma said, tapping vigorously into her laptop. "I don't know how we can stop it at this point."

"Nat-chan?" Trunks said, sitting up. Natalie was frozen in trepidation, as every cell in her body seemed to tremble. Finally, her body gave way and she collapsed onto Trunks' torso. Everyone gathered around her to try and make sense of the situation.

"Let's get her outside." Bulma suggested. "Let's all head for the beach, since the others must be worried sick." They all gathered their things and Trunks carried Natalie out the door, followed by Goten, Goku, Bulma, and Vegeta. After 5 minutes, they arrived at the beach where Chi-Chi, Gohan, and Videl were all waiting impatiently.

"And just where have you been?" Chi-Chi cried, looking at her husband with a rather dangerous looking glint in her eyes.

"Relax, Chi-Chi! I can explain!" Goku pleaded.

"What's wrong with Natalie this time?" Gohan said, noticing her limp body in the arms of Trunks.

"I can explain this." Bulma said, stepping forward. She pulled out her Capsule Corp. laptop and pulled up a 3-D graph that looked like two cylindrical cones, touching each other at the tips to make an exact mirror image of the other. However, in the top, predominant cone, there was some distortion near the tip. "This is a graph of the flow of time." Bulma explained. "The two cones represent the past and future. The part where they meet is the present." Gohan appeared to be interested in Bulma's findings, while Videl stared, deep in a stupor. Bulma went on to explain. "The distortion in this cone," she said, pointing to the graph, "is the point in time where there has been a change in the normal flow of time."

"Bulma-san...this means..." Gohan trailed off.

"Hai. It could change the outcome of everything as we know it. So far, it is only affecting Natalie, Vegeta, and Trunks, but it has the potential to get worse." She said. Natalie began to stir.

"Bulma-san, is there anything we can do?" Videl asked, gripping Gohan's arm in fear.

"I'm working on it." Bulma explained. "I'm trying to find the source of the time distortion." Natalie finally woke up and dropped to the warm sand.

"Nani?" she said, rubbing her eyes and shielding them from the bright sun. "Where am I?"

"We're on the beach, girl." Vegeta said, folding his arms.

"Oh!" she said, perking up. Her tail was moving from side to side as she looked out at the ocean. There were several people in the water, as well as on the shore. "Are we going to be swimming?" she asked.

"I'm not sure if we should." Bulma started.

"Come on, Kaasan." Trunks started. "We can't just sit around, waiting for something to happen."

"The boy is right." Vegeta commented.

"Oh, alright, guys. Just be careful, okay? This is a very serious matter." Bulma explained.

"Yeah, yeah." Vegeta murmured. "We'll be fine. Where's Kakarotto?"

"He went to get the surfboards." Chi-Chi replied. "Down at the surf shack." Natalie took Trunks and Goten by the arm.

"Come on, let's go swim." She said, literally dragging them to the shoreline, with her tail dangling behind her. Bulma and Chi-Chi laughed.

"She sure has a handle on them." Bulma said amusedly.

"Hey, Vegeta!" Goku's cried rang throughout the beach, causing people to stare. Vegeta turned around in annoyance.

"Nani?" he said through clenched teeth.

"I got us some surfboards!" Goku declared. He was toting 5 boards behind him, all tied together by rope. Vegeta growled.

"Kakarotto-san!" Natalie cried, running over to him. She grabbed one of the surfboards and headed for the beach without further delay. Trunks and Goten looked at each other, shrugged, and went to retrieve their respective boards from Goku as well.

Meanwhile, Bulma, Videl, and Chi-Chi had spread out a large beach towel and begun to sunbathe. Gohan stared at his mate and debated on whether to stay at her side or join his friends. Finally, Videl shooed him away so that she could talk to Bulma and Chi-Chi in private.

"Bulma, is that a new bikini?" Videl asked.

"Yes, I just bought it for the trip. Do you think it looks okay?" she asked, looking down at it to make sure that it was in place.

"It's great." Chi-Chi commented. "I wish I had a better figure...and a tan for that matter."

"Well that's what we're here for, isn't it Chi-Chi-san?" Videl said.

"That Natalie seems popular with the guys." Chi-Chi commented. "I heard she and Trunks have a 'thing' going on. Is this true, Bulma?"

"What do you mean 'thing'?" Bulma asked. "It's pretty obvious that they have affections for each other. And, after all, they will eventually have a daughter. That is, if this time shift doesn't interfere. But, as for their 'thing', it had better not be more than a friendly hug or kiss."

"Bulma-san, do I sense a hint of resent?" Videl jeered.

"Oh, I don't know. I just worry about the two of them. There have been hints that there's more going on that we think. Vegeta said that he walked in Trunks' room and the two of them were sleeping together on the bed." Bulma said, sighing.

"Oh, Gohan and I were like that too." Videl said, blushing. She then saw Chi-Chi's eyes pop open. "That is, after we were married." She quickly continued.

"But what about Goten?" Bulma said, turning to Chi-Chi. "Does he have anyone in mind?"

"Well, sometimes I think that he has a bit of a crush on Natalie, but then I convince myself that they just have a strong friendship." Chi-Chi replied.

"I hope not!" Videl chuckled. "We don't want a World War 3, now, do we?" Bulma and Chi-Chi laughed.

Meanwhile, Natalie, Trunks, and Goten all stood at the edge of the water, surfboards in hand.

"Well, who's first?" Goten asked. "I've never done this before."

"Neither have I." Trunks added. They both turned to Natalie.

"What are you looking at me for? I have no more experience with this than the two of you do!" she cried. They both looked at each other and smiled malevolently. "Guys...?" Natalie said, taking a few steps away from them. They then turned and grabbed Natalie, hurling her 30 feet where she landed in the water, face first. They laughed at her fate for a few moments, basking in their glory, and then realized that she hadn't surfaced. Trunks stared out and tried to locate her with worry on his face.

"Relax, Trunks." Goten said. "I know exactly what she's doing."

"What?" Trunks asked, turning to Goten.

"She's waiting for us to go and look for her, and then she'll strike." Goten replied. "Trust me, I know these things."

"How can you be sure?" Trunks asked skeptically.

"I have a good intuition." Goten replied proudly.

"Well I guess that you'll have no problems with the girls, then, Goten." Trunks said sarcastically, slapping his friend on the back and sending him flying into the water as well. As soon as Goten made contact with the water, and hand thrusted out of the water, grabbed his neck, and pulled him under. Trunks knew that he was the unexpected prey of Natalie the huntress. After a few minutes, the pair emerged from the water, laughing and splashing water at each other. Trunks watched from the side. After a while, he began to grow jealous. He noticed that Natalie was being more flirtatious with Goten than he was comfortable with. At that moment, Goten pounced on Natalie, sending her under the water. He pinned her against the ocean floor as she struggled to get herself free from his iron grip. Suddenly, two strong arms plunged into the water and tore Goten off of her. Surprised, she surfaced to find Trunks looking at Goten with anger on his face.

"What the hell are you doing?" Trunks hissed. Goten recoiled from Trunks and looked at him with a confused look on his face.

"Trunks what's wrong?" he said. Trunks continued to grow angrier.

"Just what do you think you are trying to pull, Goten?" he asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Goten said, growing annoyed.

"Trunks, what's the matter?" Natalie asked, reaching out for him. He backed away.

"And you, Natalie. I would have never imagined." He began. "All along I thought you two were just good friends. I should have known better." Natalie drew back.

"Nani?" she said. "Trunks, you're crazy. Goten and I...we would never -"

"Stop lying Natalie." Trunks said. He turned to Goten once more, seething with anger. "And you call yourself a friend..."

"Trunks, I-" Goten broke off. Trunks snapped around and punched Goten straight in the ribs, sending him back a couple of feet. Natalie jumped back in repulsion. Trunks went for Goten once more, but Natalie jumped in front of him.

"Stop it!" she cried. Trunks stopped his hand just inches away from her face. "Trunks, don't hurt Goten. He didn't do anything." Trunks looked at her with his teeth clenched and his aura surrounding him.

"Move." He said in a low, deadly tone. Natalie stood her ground and looked at him with determination in her eyes. "I said MOVE!" Trunks shouted, bringing his hands around her neck. She put her hands on his forearms and tried to pry his arms off of her, but it proved to be useless.

"Trunks, stop! She can't breathe!" Goten cried. Trunks didn't hear him and continued to tighten his grip. Goten powered up and tried to reason with Trunks. "Trunks let her go!" he shouted. "You're choking her!" Trunks looked into Natalie's eyes, which were now flooded with tears, and somehow found some satisfaction in bringing her pain. Suddenly, Goten threw his fist into Trunks' chest, knocking the air out of him. Trunks released his grip on Natalie. The girl fell towards the water, not left with enough strength to pull herself up. Just as she was about to collide with the water, her body once again began to warp and shift, causing her to fade from existence completely. Just as she disappeared, Trunks snapped out of his insanity. He looked in the direction of where Natalie should have been, and saw nothing. Goten stared at Trunks in shock. After a few minutes, a slight breeze blew past and rustles Trunks' hair. He was still staring at the water, expecting to see Natalie come to the surface with that all-familiar smile on her face, but the water remained still. Goten looked at Trunks, hardly believing what he had just witnessed.

"N..nani...?" Trunks muttered. He looked down at his hands, realizing that he had just used them against the girl he loved.

"Trunks..." Goten started. Trunks looked at Goten, tears forming in his eyes.

Vegeta watched Trunks and Goten from the shore, trying to relocate the ki that had just disappeared from his senses. Goku looked at Vegeta and observed his confused expression.

"What's the matter Vegeta?" he asked.

"Didn't you feel that?" he barked. "One of the ki's...it's gone." Vegeta tried to concentrate on it, but it was nowhere to be found. "Kuso!" he spat. "It was that baka girl!"

"Natalie?" Goku asked. He too sensed that her ki was missing. "Oh no! This is what Bulma was talking about!" he cried. In an instant, he was gone, and reappeared next to Goten.

"Tousan!" Goten cried. Trunks was staring at the water, with his fists clenched.

"Goten...where is Natalie?" Goku asked frantically. Goten shook his head sorrowfully.

"She's gone." He muttered. Trunks looked back and forth between Goten and Goku. Vegeta flew over to the three of them.

"What's going on?" he demanded. "Trunks what are you doing?"

"KUSO!" he cried. His aura flared, knocking everyone backward ten feet. "What have I done!?" he said, still looking at his hands.

Bulma was on the verge of falling asleep in the warm tropical sun when her laptop started to bleep erratically, startling the three girls. Bulma lazily pulled the computer onto the towel and pulled up the charts.

"Nani!?" she cried. "This can't be right!"

"What is it Bulma-san?" Videl said, sitting up and shielding her eyes from the sun.

"The timeline is shifting drastically!" she said in frustration. "It is beginning to affect the present."

"What does this mean for us?" Chi-Chi said, her lip trembling.

"I don't know, Chi-Chi." Bulma said. "I hope everyone is okay." Videl looked out towards the sea.

"There's some kind of commotion over there." Videl pointed out. "I wonder what happened."

"Kuso!" Bulma cried. "I have to go!" Bulma ran as fast as she could towards the crowd, leaving behind a frightened Chi-Chi and confused Videl. "Vegeta!" Bulma called out. Vegeta turned around at hearing his mate's cries.

"Nani? What is it?" he shouted back. Bulma finally reached him and was panting.

"I...I can't breathe..." she stammered. "Is everyone...okay?" she asked, looking around. Vegeta looked at Bulma for a second and then turned back towards Trunks, who still appeared to be in a state of shock. Vegeta turned back to Bulma and put his hands on her shoulders.

"Natalie is gone." He said.