"Apple Bloom..." Applejack managed. "Please...tell me...y'all ain't dead.."
The orange mare frantically looked above her sister's head for a halo; she sighed relieved when there was not one floating there. Before she could say another word, she was tackled to the ground (which in ten times normal gravity, didn't feel too great) by the slightly smaller mare. Applejack couldn't remember a time when Apple Bloom had hugged her so tightly; she didn't remember a time when she'd seen so many tears flowing down her cheeks as she did now.
"Applejack!" She blurted out in a half-sob. "Applejack, I missed you! I missed you so much!"
The tough southern pony was starting to tear up herself and wrapped her forelegs around her younger sister's body. After a few moments, they finally managed to stand back up, and look at each other without breaking down into happy sobs.
"It's a good thing my legs are so strong," Applejack chuckled, trying to lighten the mood up a bit. "if they weren't, that tackle might have had me on the ground for a lot longer."
She ruffled Apple Bloom's mane with her hoof, and the two giggled; being in each other's presence again was an amazing feeling.
"I'm sorry, sis." Apple Bloom finally said. "I just...I just really missed you."
"I know, and I missed y'all too."
Apple Bloom realized something all of a sudden; she looked around, apparently looking for somepony else. When she didn't find them, she turned back to Applejack.
"Where's Big Mac?" She asked innocently.
Applejack gave a sad little smile. "He's up in heaven, sugarcube, and he's never been better."
Apple Bloom's eyes went wide. "Is he really? Then...how come you're not in heaven?"
Applejack nodded to answer her first question, and then prepared to explain her own situation, when King Kai interrupted.
"Applejack was the Element of Honesty back on Equestria, and since she saved that world from several threats with her friends, she was given the choice to keep her body and train to be stronger, or go to heaven. Looks like she chose the former." He explained.
"That's right." The green-eyed mare confirmed. "To be honest, I actually did opt to go to heaven, but after a little while, it got too fru-fru for me. King Yemma told me I still had the choice to get my body back and train with the kais, so, I said good-bye to big brother, and headed down Snake Way."
Apple Bloom's eyes were full of wonder; her big sister had given up heaven to train with the kais. Sure, she'd done it out of boredom, but that just gave Apple Bloom even more determination than she had already to do the training. She had to impress her big sister.
Applejack turned to Goten, a hoof rushing to her forehead in self-realization.
"I am mighty sorry, I do believe you told me your name and I didn't even respond. Goten was it?" She asked, raising a hoof in greeting.
Goten kneeled down and took the hoof in his hand, shaking it. "That's right; and you're Applejack, I guess!"
Applejack laughed and nodded. "How could ya tell?"
"Goten's been training with me down on Earth." Apple Bloom said, nuzzling against his waist. "He's a really nice person."
Applejack's eyebrow went up as she smiled knowingly at that little nuzzle her sister had given Goten. She'd seen that look on Apple Bloom only once before, and she knew what it meant. She also knew that she could ask about it later; King Kai stood waiting for introductions to end, patiently.
The three lined up in front of him, ready to begin.
"Well, now that all three of you are here, it's time to get started." He said; his pupils nodding in response.
"But first, there's a special thing we have to do. The training will be difficult and grueling; you may find yourself thinking it's impossible at some points even. But know one thing; I don't train anyone who doesn't have a sense of humor, so...your first test.."
The three leaned forward a bit, ready to hear whatever epic, difficult task they had to fulfill to show him they had a sense of humor.
"Make me laugh!" He said, a wide smile on his round, blue face.
Goten, Apple Bloom, and Applejack all dropped their jaws slightly, not expecting something like that.
* * *
"Alright," Goku stated loudly to Vegeta and Trunks. "we've got two Dragon Balls so far, and only have five left to go. I say we can cover more ground if we split up and look for the balls individually."
Vegeta raised an eyebrow; arms crossed over his chest. "So that's why you told me to grab two extra dragon radars from the house."
Goku nodded to his friend in confirmation. "That's right. We can cover more ground, much more quickly this way."
"What if we run into more of these guys who seem to think Dragon Balls are a fashion choice?" Trunks asked.
Vegeta looked darkly at his son; the act he had seen in the ice museum not forgotten.
"Oh, I'm sure you're 'genius' mind will come up with something." He scowled.
Trunks smirked wickedly. "Maybe I will."
The father and son seemed to stare at each other for what felt to Goku like an eternity. When the saiyan raised on Earth breathed in to speak, Vegeta suddenly did so.
"What happened to you, son?" He asked, a small hint of real concern in his tone. "You were always brash and tough, but you were never a ruthless murderer. Where did I go wrong with you?"
When Trunks didn't answer, Vegeta got a little more tense. He took one step closer to his purple-haired son, fists shaking.
"Is it because you are trying to live up to my name? My past? Please, do not turn out like the old me, Trunks! I wanted to set a better example for you than that! I tried to raise you to be honorable! Why have you turned out this way?!"
Trunks didn't change the seemingly evil grin on his lips when he answered.
"Well, you know what they say," he said. "the sins of the father are the sins of the son. Guess I was just destined to be just like you were."
Vegeta motioned to speak again, but Goku put a hand on his shoulder to silence him. The saiyans looked at each other, and Vegeta relaxed a bit.
"Now's not the time for this, guys." He spoke somberly. "Trunks' behavior has been pretty awful lately, but we can deal with that later. Right now our mission is to gather the Dragon Balls, not to fight amongst ourselves. But on the other note, if you guys do run into anymore weird guys with Dragon Ball insignias on their clothes, try to avoid fighting them. They have powers the likes of which I've never seen before. First fire, then ice...who knows what the others, if there are others, have."
Vegeta nodded. It was true; these beings were much stronger than most others, at least in terms of ability. They weren't the best fighters, but with powers like theirs, all it would take is one slip up, and they would be able to win. He grimaced at the memory of Izotz freezing him where he stood with but a touch. That was not going to happen again.
Goku handed the extra Dragon Radars to the other two, and gave the final farewell, and orders to meet up here with any Dragon Balls. With that, they all flew off in opposite directions; each one following the blips on their radars.
Trunks smiled to himself and laughed inwardly. The fools truly had no idea...