> Dragon Ball Z: Equius Arc > by EndertheDark_0326 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1: The Arrival > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Promise me you won’t tell them Goku, or I might not be born!” “Hey, not a problem.” Trunks took a step back from Goku as he realized it was time for him to go back to his time period, “Well look, I better be off. My mom’s worried sick about me. She needs to know that everything went okay.” “Yeah, please tell her that I send my love,” Goku then tosses the capsule that contains the medicine for his upcoming heart virus into the air momentarily before catching it in his hand again, “And thanks for this, you’re great!” Trunks turned around, “Hey, you’ve helped me in a lot of ways, I should be thanking you.” “So is this goodbye?” “For now, I’ll be back in 3 years time.” Goku nods his head, “Okay, 3 years time.” “See ya then,” With that, Trunks sets into the sky and flies off to a place that cannot be seen by Goku’s friends and pulls out the capsule that contained his time machine. He pressed the top and tossed it to the ground. The capsule explodes into a large poof of smoke. The smoke quickly clears to reveal the large time machine that his mother had made for him. He opens the lid and hops in. After he finishes the engine check up to make sure nothing has malfunctioned, he closes the lid and punches in a time 20 years in the future. The machine hums to life as it lifts off the ground and into the air. As he lifts into the air, he sees the Z warriors and gives them all a wave goodbye. He flies a little higher into the air and suddenly vanishes from view as he is sent forward in time. Little did he know, there was a malfunction within the time machine, one that hadn’t been anticipated by his mother, Bulma. So, it was not detected. This was not going to end well for Trunks. Or was it? (Equestria: Unknown Location) “HELLO?! Is someone there?!” Twilight called out, but nobody answered. She recalled her brother, Shining Armor, who had told her off not too long ago, and all of her friends, too. Even Princess Celestia was very disappointed in her. Why had she been so boneheaded? Why did she say those things about her old foalsitter? Shining Armor might not ever forgive her for ruining his and Princess Cadence’s wedding. Twilight slumped down to a sitting position and began to cry softly into her arms for a minute or two. That was until she heard laughter echoing around her. This caused her to stand up quickly and flare her horn. “WHO’S THERE? Where am I?!” Twilight called out. She was met by maniacal laughter again along with an answer. “The caves beneath Canterlot, once home to greedy ponies who wanted to claim the gems that are inside. It’s now your prison.” Princess Cadence said with a manic gleam in her eyes. “Help! HELP!” Twilight continued to call out, but it was in vain. Cadance began to laugh again. “It’s no use. No one can hear you. And no one will ever think to look for you, either. Most ponies have forgotten that these caves even exist, which is why they are the ideal place to keep the ones who try to interfere with my plans.” Cadence stated, before cackling once again. “Plans? What plans? What are you going to do?!” Twilight was shouting now, visibly afraid. “The plans I have for your brother, of course.” The evil mare said; looking innocent for whatever reason. Twilight did a double take, and then instantly knew what that meant. An indescribable rage filled her mind. It was almost as if the free will had been removed from her mind and replaced by a single objective; She must make the evil mare pay. “DON’T YOU DARE DO ANYTHING TO MY BROTHER, YOU MONSTER!!!” Twilight screamed at the top of her lungs. This caused Cadance to recoil for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. “Only way to stop me is to catch me! Over here! Nope, over here!” Cadance taunted Twilight while cackling as evil as ever. Twilight was blasting all of the images of Cadance on the crystals with her magic, with next to no hesitation. It was then when she had blasted the wall of the cave, revealing Cadance in a tattered and beaten state. Twilight gave her glare of death, causing Cadance to recoil in fear. “No! Wait!” Cadance begged, but Twilight didn’t listen. She tackled Cadance to the ground, while she was shivering in fear under her. “Please! Don’t hurt me! Twilight, it’s me! Please, you have to believe me. I’ve been imprisoned like you. The Cadance who brought you down here was an imposter.” Cadance once again tried to get Twilight to listen but to no avail. “Likely story!” Twilight shouted. Cadance needed to think of something to make Twilight believe her. But what? Suddenly it came to her. “Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake. Clap your hooves…” Cadance started. “ ...and do a little shake!” Twilight continued with her. Twilight smiled as tears of joy streamed down her face. “You remember me!” Twilight spoke. “Of course I do. How could I forget the filly I loved to sit for the most?” Cadance said as they hugged. However, their moment was interrupted by the laughter of Cadance’s evil impersonator. “We have to get out of here. We have to stop her!” Twilight said as Cadance followed. But they stopped when there was, somehow, a wind pushing towards a single point in Twilight’s cave. A moment later tiny, glowing, yellow particles were drawn in with the wind as it got stronger. Twilight and Cadance had no idea what was going to happen, but assumed it was something really dangerous, and did the only logical thing. “CADANCE, GET DOWN!” Twilight screamed as she tackled Cadance behind a large rock, big enough to conceal them from whatever was happening. A blinding flash filled the cave, while Cadance and Twilight covered their eyes from the brightness. When the light died down, there was a strange craft sitting in the middle of the cave Twilight was trapped in. She and Cadance could only wait with baited breath for what was going to happen next. Trunks’ time machine had risen high into the air, hovered for a minute or two, and then disappeared as it traveled to the future. Since it took a few minutes for the time machine to travel through the time rift, Trunks was thinking to himself: I did say I would be back in 3 years, but what am I actually going to do until then? I can’t exactly fight those android bastards. As powerful as Super Saiyans are, I just can’t beat them on my own. Maybe I should have stayed behind with the others. I could have trained and become stronger. *sigh* But I guess there’s no going back now. Trunks’ time machine began to leave the time rift, and when it did, Trunks was very confused. He was not where he expected to be at all. Instead of emerging hovering over a wrecked and nearly abandoned city, his time machine was in the middle of some kind of cave. Trunks thought that it was just a small malfunction, and he had just ended up somewhere else than where he was supposed to. After climbing out of the time machine and putting it back into it’s capsule, Trunks started to look for a way out. Then Trunks heard a sound behind him. It sounded like a rock falling. He quickly turned his head toward the sound, but didn’t see anybody there. “Hello? Is someone there?” Trunks called out in the direction of the sound, as he exited his time machine. No one answered, which made him feel uneasy. He started to walk towards a large hole which leads to a much larger cave. But Trunks just couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being... observed... Okay, this is really starting creep me out. Is someone watching me? Let me check. Trunks thought to himself as he sensed behind him for anyone or anything. He felt two power levels behind him. This meant that they couldn’t possibly be Androids 17 and 18, simply because he could sense them. Each one was only about the equivalent of Piccolo, so he decided to just leave whoever those were, be. He continued to walk towards the opening and hoped whoever that was would leave him alone. Then he heard ANOTHER sound behind him. It was hard for him to make it out, but it sounded somewhat like... someone whispering. He whipped around even faster than last time and grabbed the hilt of his sword. Trunks swore he saw a small purple... thing dart out of sight almost exactly at the same time he turned. He decided that enough was enough. Whoever those two were, they were clearly following him, possibly even going to stalk him. So, Trunks decided to confront whoever was watching him. He used high-speed movement to move over and behind the rock, and what he saw he couldn’t really believe what he was seeing. What in the heck...? What is this...? > Chapter 2: First Contact > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “CADANCE! GET DOWN!” Twilight screamed as she tackled Cadance behind a large rock, big enough to conceal them from whatever was happening. A blinding flash filled the cave, forcing Cadance and Twilight covered their eyes from the brightness. When the light died down, there was a strange craft sitting in the middle of the cave. "W-What the...? What is that thing?" Cadance squeaked. Twilight didn't say anything. She was utterly flabbergasted by what was in front of her. The craft in front of her was unlike any mode of transportation she had ever seen. Then the glass hatch on top opened, prompting Twilight and Cadance to duck behind their hiding place. After Twilight mustered the courage to peek over the rock, she saw yet another jaw-dropping sight. She saw what appeared to be a tall, muscular, hairless monkey. Well, hairless, save for the light purple hair on its head, and the matching eyebrows. It was wearing a blue jacket, black, baggy pants, and it had a sword sheathed around it's back. Then it spoke. “What the heck...? How did the time machine bring me here? ...Maybe I just... ended up in a different place? Whatever. Either way, I need to get moving. Those heartless monsters are probably up to no good.” Twilight and Cadance were amazed by what they had just seen and heard. The being had apparently used a time machine to travel from a different time, with the purpose of stopping some “heartless menaces,” as he called them. Twilight was about to stand up to get a closer look, but she accidentally knocked a loose rock off of the one she and Cadance were hiding behind. It hit the ground with a loud clack. Twilight and Cadance instinctively ducked behind their hiding place, since the being immediately turned his head in their direction. “Did he see us?!” Cadance whispered. “I don’t think so...” Twilight answered quietly, shaking her head. “Hello?” The “creature” called in the mares’ direction, causing them to freeze up, “Is someone over there?” No! There’s nopony over here! Please just go away! Twilight screamed in her head. “Hmm...” Murmured the being, before continuing toward the exit to the cave. After Twilight and Cadance had a moment to calm down a little, they peered around the rock once again, “Okay, so here’s what we do,” Twilight started explaining, “It’s very straightforward. As soon as that thing leaves, we make a run for it, as QUIETLY as possible, got it?” Cadance looked a little skeptical, but she decided that there was little else to do. Unfortunately for them, the creature managed to hear Twilight whispering. The mares quickly ducked back, thinking they were safe... but after Twilight looked over the rock a final time, he was gone. “W-Where’d he go...?” Twilight asked, quivering, “Did you see him leave?” Cadance shook her head. “What the?! What... are you two?!“ asked the voice of the being from behind Cadance and Twilight. Twilight and Cadance felt as though their insides had turned to ice. Shaking from head to toe, they slowly rotated to face Trunks, who was looking at the mares with an expression of shock. They continued to stare at each other for what felt like hours before the half-saiyan remembered why he confronted them in the first place, "Would you two mind telling me why you were watching me?" Trunks asked, now wearing a look of suspicion. Twilight gulped and explained that she and Cadance were watching him so they could see make sure he left since they were afraid Trunks might see them. Trunks nodded, replying, "...Alright, I think I can understand that. Especially considering how surprised I was... So... who exactly are you two...? I've... never seen anyone like you before." "Well, my name is Cadance, and this is my sister-in-law, Twilight Sparkle!" "Sister-in-law? So you're married, then?" Trunks asked though the question was rhetorical. Cadance opened her mouth to answer, but she had a sudden realization that caused her eyes to widen in shock, "OH NO!" She screamed out. "What?! What is it?!" Trunks and Twilight shouted simultaneously. "Don't you remember, Twilight?! We need to get back the surface so we can stop her!" "Her? 'Her' who?" Trunks questioned. "We'll explain on the way! Right now we need to hurry!" Twilight answered. Trunks understood that it was more important to confront this new enemy, so he complied. "By the way," Twilight asked, catching the half-blood's attention, "What's your name? What should we call you?" "...My name is Trunks." A little later, in Canterlot... Twilight planned the wedding rather well, which was what Princess Celestia had expected. Unfortunately for the young unicorn, her hyperactive imagination and possessiveness over her brother may have gotten the better of her not too long ago. As a result, Shining Armor had told her off, essentially forbidding her from attending the wedding, and leaving all of her friends thoroughly disappointed in her. But Princess Celestia had no time to dwell on that. She had a wedding to preside over. "Mares and gentlecolts, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Shining Armor," Princess Celestia announced, "Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, do you take Shining Armor as your lawfully wedded husband?" "I do." "And Shining Armor, do you take Princess Mi Amore Cadenza as your lawfully wedded wife?" "Mm-hmm." Shining Armor replied in a seemingly... trance-like state. But that thought was quickly pushed aside. "Well then, it is my distinct honor to pronounce you-" "STOOOOP!" Twilight yelled out, causing everypony in the room to turn in her direction. Her friends were apparently sick of her accusations towards Cadance, telegraphing their annoyance, rolling their eyes and facepalming. "Ugh! Why does she have to be so possessive of her brother?!" shouted "Cadance," eliciting a few confused glances from some of the ponies. She tried to take that back by saying, "Oh, why does she have to ruin my special day?" Before starting to cry, which was very clearly fake. "Because it's not your special day! It's mine!" Shouted the real Cadance, causing every patron of the wedding to gasp in shock. "What?! But how did you escape my bridesmaids?" "Well, we did have some help..." Twilight answered as she and the real Cadance glanced back at the entrance to the great hall. Everypony waited with baited breath as they waited for who would enter. After a few seconds, a being with purple hair, blue eyes, wearing a blue jacket, black pants, and a sword sheathed around his back. "I took care of them," he said. Everyone in the great hall stared at Trunks as he stood with Twilight and Cadance. He just stood there, glaring at Cadance's imposter with a fierce intensity. Then false Cadance started laughing. "HA HA HA HA HA! Oh, this is too much! You mean to tell me that this-" She started before Trunks cut her off. "Let me guess. You were about to call me a 'hairless monkey' or 'hairless ape' or something like that, right?" False Cadance was taken aback by his quick deduction, but tried to regain her control over the situation by growling and saying, "Just tell me how you got past my bridesmaids!" "It was pretty easy. All I had to do was hit them on the back of the neck, and they were out cold." Trunks answered never dropping his glare. False Cadance looked a little surprised, but she quickly regained her composure, "Hmph. A little impressive. But you're still too late!" At this point, Applejack decided to speak what was on everyone's minds. Well, the thing that didn't involve Trunks, "Ah'm sorry ta interrupt y'all, but Ah still don't understand how there are two Princess Cadance's.” "She's a changeling! She takes the form of somepony you love and then gains power by feeding off your love for them!" Real Cadance shouted as False Cadance started to transform. The force of it caused everyone in the wedding room to recoil. Except for Trunks. He just continued to stand in his position as the wind blew his hair back. After a few seconds, False Cadance was revealed to be... Queen Chrysalis. "*evil laughter* Right you are, Princess. And as Queen of the Changelings, it is up to me to find food for my subjects. Equestria has more love than any place I've ever encountered. My fellow changelings will be able to devour so much of it, that we will gain more power than we have ever dreamed of!" "Your fellow changelings? What exactly are you planning then?" Trunks asked though it sounded more like a demand. Chrysalis scowled at Trunks but still answered his question, "Well, if you must know, ever since I took Princess Cadance's place, I've been feeding off Shining Armor's love for her. Every moment he grows weaker and so does his spell. Even now, my minions are chipping away at it." All of the ponies look terrified as a few look out the window to see that she was correct. Thousands of changelings had surrounded the city and were beating away at the shield. "As you can see, my changeling army will soon break through. First, we take Canterlot. And then, all of Equestria!" Chrysalis proclaimed, before laughing maniacally. "So they're gonna break through soon, huh? Better take you down before they do." Trunks said calmly. Chrysalis stopped laughing for a moment before resuming. "Trunks! What are you saying?! Didn't you hear me ?! I said that she gains power from feeding off of love, so she's just getting more and more powerful from feeding off of Shining Armor!" "It doesn't matter how strong she thinks she is. I'll take her down. Trust me; it'll be no problem." Trunks replied, now wearing a cocky smirk. Chrysalis was immensely amused at this “Trunks's” arrogance. "Ha Ha Ha! Do you truly believe that you can defeat me? The Queen of the Changeling-" Suddenly, she was cut off from her rant as Trunks flickered out of sight and reappeared right in front of her faster than anypony could blink. Chrysalis yelped out in surprise before Trunks punched her in the stomach and launched her into the air. Chrysalis stopped herself by using her wings to slow her movement and become airborne. She was clutching her stomach in pain and had an expression of rage directed and Trunks. "How... dare you...! HOW DARE YOU!! YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!!!" Chrysalis screamed, having completely lost her composure. Trunks was unfazed by her rant, considering that he kept up his cocky expression. That only served to anger Chrysalis further, and she tried to destroy him by blasting him with a beam spell launched from her hand. Trunks didn't move from his spot, and even the ponies' protests didn't make him decide to run. The beam appeared to impact Trunks and drew up a massive cloud of dust. "TRUNKS!" Twilight screamed. But the damage had already been done. Or had it? While Chrysalis was gloating, Twilight looked up and saw Trunks behind Chrysalis... floating a few meters behind her. Before she could say anything, Trunks started to perform a series of rapid arm movement for a couple of seconds, before placing his palms forward, with the thumbs and index fingers touching each other to form a diamond shape. "HEY, CHRYSALIS!!" He called out. Chrysalis whirled around in shock, "What?! How?!" But she was cut off when Trunks launched his Buster Cannon from his palms. The changeling queen tried to put up a shield, but it didn't work. The Buster Cannon broke through her barrier, and the blast engulfed her. Chrysalis is dead.