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Everything was dark.
Goten stood in a void of nothingness.
Bells were loudly ringing in a melodic tone from above him.
He seemed to be in a chapel of some sort, from what he could tell.
Those were wedding bells.
"I can't believe it! My baby boy is getting married!"
Goten heard the sweet voice of his mother.
“...Married? I'm getting married?” Goten called out, but got no answer.
He turned around to see nobody there.
That was strange, he thought.
"Goten, you lucky dog. Have fun on the wedding night!"
This time it was the voice of Trunks.
“What the heck are you talking about?” Goten said again, crossing his arms.
Again, nobody was there. Just a voice.
"It's time to kiss the bride, Goten~"
That came from none other than his adorable girlfriend. He couldn’t help but smile at the sound of Marron's cute voice.
“Kiss the bride? Mar, what are you—huh…?” Goten stopped, the words getting caught in his throat when he saw her standing beside him.
Wait...
She wasn't there a second ago...
Marron was dressed in a beautiful white wedding gown, with matching white stockings and high-heels. Her blonde hair was styled in long waves, draping down over her shoulders. In her hands was a large bouquet of white roses, which she held to her chest as she stepped closer to him, waiting for that special kiss.
Goten gulped and slowly removed the veil as if his body moved on it's own. He'd kiss her, and they'd become husband and wife. He'd be lying if he said he didn’t like the idea. But they were still just teenagers!
However, any doubts he had instantly vanished when he saw the blonde beaming at him with that smile of hers that could light up a room. She was absolutely gorgeous. He leaned in to kiss his new blushing bride when everything went to black.
Marron disappeared.
"...Huh?"
Goten was left alone in the empty void once again. No more voices.
Until the blackness slowly turned to a pinkish color. He then started to hear someone laughing. Softly at first. But slowly grew louder and louder. It was mocking him.
Goten recognized that laugh. He could never forget it.
The laughter continued as a pink cyclone of energy appeared. Soon it formed into a being Goten knew all too well.
The monster was muscular and very tall, almost eight feet! It wore white baggy pants with a black M on his belt.
Majin Buu.
In a flash of pink, there was an egg at Buu's feet. "Mom..." He choked, his voice cracking.
Yet again, the young Super Saiyan watched helplessly as the egg that was once his mother was crushed under Buu's foot.
Ever since he was a small child, Son Goten had constant nightmares of that day. The day he lost his whole family in the span of an hour.
Goten's burning eyes flashed green, lightning violently sparking around his fists. "I'll kill you!!"
Just as he was about to blast forward and strike, the scenery suddenly changed to that day ten years ago.
The young Saiyan appeared in a barren wasteland, terror flooding his body at the scene before him.
He saw himself, as a young child. Next to him stood a younger Trunks.
It was as if he was watching a movie of his own life.
Majin Buu was across from the boys, standing over them on a large rock, smirking and goading them to fuse.
Goten desperately tried to stop his younger self from what was coming, but he wasn't even slightly heard or seen.
Young Goten and Trunks flawlessly preformed the fusion technique. Gotenks appeared as a fully powered Super Saiyan 3, ready for the rematch when that wall of Buu goo suddenly jumped him from behind. The fused fighter didn't even see it coming...
Goten felt his stomach churn, as if he had to throw up. Helplessly watching the goo absorb Gotenks.
Absorb him.
'Hey! Get this nasty goo offa me!'
It was overpowering. Gotenks tried to fight back with everything he had but nothing worked. It was consuming him whole.
Goten was frozen. He wanted with every cell in his body to help his younger self, but couldn't move an inch. He was shaking. Shaking at the awful memory long since locked away.
'S-Stop it!'
Soon the goo covered Gotenks completely. His cries for help were slowly muffled until the goo combined with Majin Buu, and Gotenks was no more.
Goten went to scream but no sound came.
The scenery changed again after that.
Goten appeared inside a plasma membrane-like area.
He was inside Buu this time.
Goten once again saw his younger self.
Contained.
In that pod.
That damn pod.
It felt like an eternity he was trapped in that cursed thing. Being unable to see, talk, or even move, but still subconsciously aware of Buu using his power against his own family, and being helpless to do anything about it. He felt sick to his stomach at the mere thought.
Goten tried to cut himself free. But nothing he did worked.
That's when he heard Buu. Laughing. Laughing at him.
Goten tightly closed his eyes and covered his ears, wishing it would stop. "Shut up! Shut up!!!"
His energy exploded, and the laughter stopped.
When he opened them again, he was back in the void.
Marron was there!
She was in wearing casual clothes this time.
The outfit from their last date. A long, pink-colored sundress that reached a little above her ankles. Her long blonde hair blowing gently in the wind. She was staring off into the void, smiling at something with her hands folded behind her back. She looked peaceful, so pretty, he thought.
Goten took a step forward and reached out to her. "Mar!"
He took a step towards her, but she got further away. He started running, and she moved faster. Goten flew as fast as he could, but the visage of Marron outsped him. He called her name again, and finally, she stopped.
Marron turned to him, smiling. She mouthed something he couldn't understand and then dissolved into thin air.
In her place, Majin Buu appeared yet again. This time, the Majin wore Gotenks’ signature fusion vest; his wicked sneer even wider than before.
"Bastard! I'll destroy you!" Goten growled. He exploded into a fully-powered Super Saiyan 2 and blasted forward to attack. But to his horror, he phased right through the Majin.
Almost as if Buu wasn't even there.
"Dammit!" He growled and rushed Buu again, swinging a punch at the monster's face.
But that too proven fruitless as he completely went through Majin Buu yet again.
Again and again he tried to attack, but was met the same result every time. Buu's incessant laughter continued, growing louder and louder.
Buu appeared in front of Goten in the blink of an eye, wrapping his long head antenna around Goten's neck and squeezed tight.
Goten kicked and fought to break free as Majin Buu's laughter continued without end, but the grip only grew tighter. He felt the air leaving his lungs as if it was being physically sucked out of his body.
The Majin slammed Goten over his back, and then forwards, back and forth repeatedly.
Goten coughed and hacked, still unable to free himself.
Majin Buu pulled Goten up by his antenna, sneering at him from eye level with those soulless black-and-red eyes.
Goten gritted his teeth, and fired a blast at point-blank. This time, it was a direct hit!
Buu's head exploded into a million pieces, freeing Goten from his clutches.
The Super Saiyan landed on his feet, desperately trying to catch his breath while Buu’s body dropped lifelessly to the ground.
Yet he could still hear the laughter.
It was in his head.
It... it wouldn't stop.
Goten blinked and Buu was gone again.
He looked around frantically, enhancing his aura and ready to strike again, until he heard a soft whimper.
He turned to see Majin Buu with his antenna glowing. Pointing at someone. At Buu's feet, was his girlfriend, his darling Mar.
She looked so scared. So pale. She just stared blankly ahead, mumbling something he couldn’t make out.
"Marron!!! Get away!!"
He called out to her.
Nothing.
Marron didn't seem to notice him no matter how many times Goten called her name, as the young boy's pleas grew more desperate with each attempt.
"I'm right in front of her, how can she not see me?!"
Just when it seemed useless, her blue eyes locked onto his. She smiled at him.
Goten reached out to grab Marron's hand when there was a bright flash of pink.
Too late.
He heard her scream. A horrible, bone-chilling scream that made his blood run cold.
Goten's whole body felt numb.
Smirking, Majin Buu picked up the chocolate bar where Marron once stood and tossed it into his mouth, swallowing it whole.
He stared blankly for a moment, unable to comprehend what just happened, until his legs gave out on him and he dropped to the ground.
Tears burned the boy's face, cursing himself for failing her yet again. He pounded the ground over and over while he screamed into the void until his voice went hoarse.
There was that laughter again...
Majin Buu's voice came from over him. “Welcome home…”
Those were the last words Goten heard, before that same wall of pink goo came from behind, engulfing him completely in one leap.
Goten shot up, drenched in a cold sweat and harshly gasping for air.His heart was pounding so fast it felt like it was about to burst. He wiped his glossy eyes and looked around at his surroundings, almost unable to believe where he was. He was in his room. In bed, back on Mount Paozu. Alive.He couldn't stop shaking. And when he looked at his hands, Goten soon realized he had transformed in his sleep. He buried his head into his hands as he powered down to normal, letting out a long sigh.
"Just a dream - no, that was just a nightmare. A horrific nightmare."
The intense ringing in his ears started to calm down, a chill running down his spine.
"Was it always this cold in the middle of summer?"
“Goten…?” A soft feminine voice suddenly said from beside him.Goten practically jumped. His senses struggled to focus on just who-or what— just said that.The anxiety from earlier started rushing back to him for a moment, until he finally could breath a sigh of relief at who it was. "...Mar?" He asked hopefully, not being able to believe that she was really sitting next to him.The blonde was wearing pink pajamas, and her long blonde hair was tied into a loose ponytail. She stared worriedly at him with light tears in her eyes, having been woken up by her boyfriend's tossing and turning, her heart breaking each time he cried out her name in his sleep.Goten was frozen. Things started coming back to him. "I invited Mar over yesterday and she stayed the night, but... that dream…”He blinked, then blinked again. Goten stared intently at the blonde as if he took a moment to re-register every detail of her--and that she was really alive. In that moment she appeared more beautiful to him than ever before."...Goten, it's me." She said again, softer this time. Just a tender whisper. Marron. Mar. The love of his life. It was really her this time.He could tell just by her scent--her signature shampoo. Her ki signature that felt the same as it always did. Warm. Soft. Comforting. Like the sunlight.Goten reached out to her for a second but pulled his hand back, terrified. The vision of what happened last time still very fresh. Without another word, Marron practically lunged at him, bringing him into a tender hug. He took a second, but hesitantly wrapped his strong arms around her tiny frame. As a child, Goten had actually believed his dreams--that Buu had won. He’d come running into his parents room, sobbing, that Majin Buu had come back and gotten them all again. But at seventeen, even knowing the truth didn't do much to relieve the pain in his heart.She could hear his heart pounding against her chest like a drum.Marron didn't say anything at first, just embracing him. She heard her boyfriend choke back a sob, and knew well enough that he didn’t have to tell her. They stayed like that for a long while until Marron slowly felt his tense muscles start to relax."He… he got you, Mar. Mom too. I tried… I really tried, but… when I... I heard you scream, I…” He said, his voice barely audible. "Sshhh, It’s okay, Goten." Marron hugged him tighter and soothingly rubbed his back. He was still shaking..."I... I'm sorry..." Marron fought off a sob at that. She had never seen him look so scared. "For what? You don’t have anything to be sorry for, sweetheart.""...I couldn't save you. O-Or Mom. I failed. Again. It's... it's my fault you got eaten last time and... I did it again. If only... If only I killed Majin Buu when I had the chance, you would—“"Stop it, Son Goten." Marron choked back tears and gently shook her head, her bright blue eyes staring deep into his darker ones.She only said his full name like that when she was very serious."What Majin Buu did... was not your fault, do you understand me? I never once considered that a possibility." She said as tenderly as she could, holding his face in her hands. “You were seven years old. Practically still a baby. You weren’t supposed to be in that scenario to begin with. You tried your best. You did nothing wrong. Okay?”The teenaged Saiyan slowly nodded, but he didn’t look too convinced of himself.Marron brushed hair away from Goten's face and gently kissed his lips for a moment. Resting her forehead on his, and she held his hand in hers while touching his cheek with her other hand. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here, okay? I love you, Goten. I love you. So so much." Goten slowly nodded, smiling a bit. “I love you too, Mar...” Goten said and buried his face in her blonde hair and let out a sigh. She always smelled so nice...“There’s that smile.” Marron kissed him again. ”Hey, wanna get some breakfast? I think your mom's making pancakes.""That sounds great." Goten's stomach growled at the mention of his favorite breakfast food. "But can we... can we just stay here for a bit longer?""Of course we can. Just don't whine when all the food's gone~" Marron said and plopped backwards onto her futon pillow.Goten laid back down next to her, smirking slightly. “Are you making fun of me?” “Mm-hmm~” Marron gave her Goten another long kiss, as he reciprocated.When she pulled back, Marron gazed lovingly back at him with that sunshine smile of hers.
He felt as if the burden of the world had been lifted off his shoulders.
It was times like these that Goten knew that with Marron by his side, everything would be okay.