In a deserted wasteland not too far away...

...

Yes... I can feel it... Vegeta thought, staring out over the rocky landscape as he frowned. I know it can be done... I can ascend beyond a Super Saiyan... He realized, knowing he would have to push himself harder than he ever had before. The only question is... How...

Trunks frowned as he continued to watch his father stare off into space, completely absorbed in his own problems as he failed to notice everything wrong going on around them...

I just don't understand it... Trunks sighed, thinking about everything that had happened so far. Even Cell knows it... The timeline in this world is playing out very differently than the one we know in the future... The Saiyan realized, frowning as he thought about what that meant. Nothing is happening as I expected it to... And I can't figure out what it was that threw things so far off course! He growled, shaking his head as he tried to calm himself down.

By traveling back and forth in time, have I unwillingly had a negative effect on this world? Am I responsible for everything that's happened up until this point? Maybe I've had no effect at all... Trunks mused, glancing back at his father who still hadn't moved from his spot on the cliff in front of him. Either way, there's no way of stopping what's been set in motion... My father's right... Now I must follow his lead and find some way to push myself to the next level! That may be the only hope we have of beating the androids and saving this world... Trunks realized, his mother's face flashing in the front of his mind as he narrowed his eyes.

And mine...

The lavender haired Saiyan jumped, sensing two new energies pop up as Gohan and Goku appeared a few feet away.

"Goku...?"

"Hey, how's the training going Trunks?" The dark haired Saiyan asked happily, apparently oblivious to the other Saiyan's problems.

"Not well..." Trunks admitted, standing up as he was sad to report they hadn't really accomplished anything so far. "I guess my father really doesn't want me to train with him... He thinks I'll slow him down and every time I get close, he tells me to get lost... Look at him! He's not doing anything!" Trunks sighed, slightly annoyed with the other man's stubborn attitude. "He's been standing in the same spot for hours now... He hasn't moved!"

"Yeah, that is strange..." Goku replied, "Maybe he's just waiting for a sign or something to show him the way..." The orange clad fighter reasoned, knowing that wasn't completely out of the question. "I'll go have a word with him..." He finished, smirking at the younger Saiyan as he flew towards the cliff where Vegeta was standing, Trunks and Gohan watching with curious expressions...

"Hey! Vegeta!" Goku called out, flying over to the other fighter as he watched the smaller man glare back.

"Kakarot, leave me alone..." The Prince of all Saiyans growled, tired of always being bothered.

"Hey... Hold on! I just wanna help you out Vegeta..." Goku replied, his tone warm as he tried his best to keep things positive. "I know what you're trying to do..." He went on, his voice becoming more serious as he knew he had to get straight to the point. "There's a room at Kami's place where you can get a year of training done in one day."

"Hmm... I could ascend to the next level very quickly..." Vegeta mumbled, nodding his head once before turning around. "Take me there." He ordered, swearing to himself that he would make that fool suffer if this 'training' wasn't worth it...

"Sure... But here's the problem..." Goku said, trying to hold back his grin as he knew this would benefit more than just Vegeta. "Only two people can go in the room at once. I'm going in with Gohan... So you'll have to go with Trunks."

"Hmpf... This better not be another one of your tricks..."

"Hey, would I lie to you?" Goku asked seriously, knowing they didn't really have time to just stand around and talk. "We're all in this together now, remember? This is on the level, I promise!"

"Alright, I'll go! As long as I get to go first." Vegeta demanded, crossing his arms as he narrowed his eyes at the idiot across from him.

"Sure!" Goku said with a smile, happy he had finally gotten the other man on his side. "You know this is a great way for a father and son to get to know each other..." The Saiyan chuckled, ignoring Vegeta's angry glares as they all made their way towards The Lookout.

It didn't take long before all four Saiyans arrived at the floating palace above the Earth, Trunks and Vegeta looking around curiously as Goku and Gohan walked forward towards the center of the platform.

As if right on cue, a door opened up, revealing a strangely dressed man who Goku and Gohan seemed to recognize...

"Oh hey Mr. Popo!" Goku said happily, waving at the shorter man as he grinned."It's good to see you again Goku... How are things down there?"

"Not that great..." The Saiyan admitted, frowning as he knew they didn't have much time... "That's why I'm here... We need to use the Hyperbolic Time Chamber to train to become strong enough to defeat the androids and this Cell..." Goku said, looking down at Kami's attendant as everyone remained silent.

"I see... Please follow me..." Mr. Popo said seriously, gesturing for them to come forward as he turned to lead the way towards the chamber. "Inside is everything you'll need... Food, beds... A bath..." Mr. Popo explained, everyone following behind him as they continued to listen. "It's not very luxurious I'm afraid but, here it is..." He finished, all of them coming to a stop in front of a room at the end of the hallway.

"Wow... So that's the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, huh?" Gohan asked, staring at the large wooden door as Mr. Popo nodded.

"Yes. But I'm afraid you'll have to wait a few hours before anyone can enter, as two people are already inside."

"HUH?!" Goku stammered, nearly falling over as he wondered who else could possibly be that strong. He said two people were inside... Who would even-

"What! You didn't say anything about having to wait Kakarot!" Vegeta shouted, making Gohan and Trunks jump as he glared at Mr. Popo. "Now I demand that you tell me who is currently wasting my precious training time!" The arrogant Saiyan spat, making Goku chuckle as he tried his best to defuse the situation.

"Ignore him Mr. Popo..." Goku said casually, "He's just eager to complete his training..."

"Rrgh... Yes, so then I can take care of you..." Vegeta hissed, glaring at the other Saiyan as Trunks sighed, wondering why his father had to be so difficult...

"I apologize for the inconvenience..." Mr. Popo said lightly, "But maybe someone else can explain things better than I could..." The shorter man smirked, looking behind them all as two other people could be seen approaching.

Goku raised an eyebrow, staring at both people in confusion as he realized he didn't recognize either of them. One was a clearly older man, probably about the same age or close to Master Roshi, with short white hair and a neatly trimmed beard to match. The other person walking next to him was a pretty blonde woman with the strangest crimson eyes... The only thing that was familiar to Goku, was that they both seemed to have the same type of ears as Luna...

He kind of looks like that guy I saw earlier... Gohan thought, remembering the white haired fighter Luna had been talking to before they all left for Kame House. I wonder if they're related at all...

"Ryuuto... This is Goku, his son Gohan, Prince Vegeta and his son Trunks..." Mr. Popo explained, introducing them all as the older Acaiian nodded. "They're here to use the Hyperbolic Time Chamber as well..."

"Ah, I see..." Ryuuto sighed, gripping his walking stick as he sent them all a smile. "Nice to meet you all... This is Akari..." The old man added, gesturing the woman next to him as she waved before finally speaking up.

"I've heard a lot about all of you... Nice to finally meet you." The blonde Acaiian said warmly, surprising them all as Goku tilted his head in confusion.

"But... How?"

"I'm sure by now you may have guessed that the ones inside the chamber are none other than Princess Luna and my grandson Kaito..." Ryuuto explained, everyone's eyes going wide as Gohan smirked. "They should be finishing up any time now, so I'm sure you won't have to wait long..."

"Princess Luna?" Vegeta mumbled, scoffing to himself as he glared at the older Acaiian. "Since when does that whelp think she's royalty?!" Vegeta snapped, still clearly irritated as Trunks facepalmed.

Akari narrowed her red eyes at the shorter man as Ryuuto just sighed, chuckling to himself as Goku attempted to keep things calm.

"Vegeta..."

"It's quite alright," Ryuuto commented, smiling at them all before continuing. "Perhaps for you to understand, it would be best to see it for yourselves..." The old man said seriously, handing his walking stick to Akari as he held both hands in front of himself for a moment.

Everyone watched him curiously as he gathered a large amount of ki, reshaping the glowing mass into a small, crystal clear orb. Slowly, images began to appear in the ball, everyone stepping a bit closer as they leaned forward to see...

"Many thousands of years ago, our people were quite different than anything Luna, or anyone younger than myself for that matter, can remember... Our race was blessed with amazing abilities... From healing magic to incredible strength and speed..." Ryuuto explained, the ball of ki in his hands depicting multiple Acaiians battling amoungst each other intensely, some of them using attacks that were similar to the ones they had seen Luna using as well.

"Unfortunately, with these gifts came a great period of violence, greed and war..." The older Acaiian said, his tone growing somber as he remembered those dark days... "Many lives were lost amidst the senseless bloodshed... Until a greater evil united us all..." Ryuuto explained, the crystal ball-like orb turning dark red for a moment before slowly becoming lighter. Everyone continued to watch as the ball was slowly enveloped in a black mist, terrible images flashing before their eyes as Gohan shuddered.

"Zetsubo no Kiri... The black mist, or as it's better known, The Mist of Despair..." Ryuuto sighed, knowing it was time they all knew what else they were up against. "No one knows how or why this dark entity arrived on our planet, but when it did... Our already divided forces fell apart in a matter of days..."

"That's terrible..." Gohan mumbled, eager to hear and see the rest of his story as everyone remained silent. "Then what happened?"

"Our world was nearly lost..." Ryuuto answered, the ball of energy in his hands depicting what had saved them all... "In our greatest hour of need, our Goddess appeared... An ascended warrior of our race who used her powers to seal the Zetsubo no Kiri inside an amulet, ending his reign of terror for good... Or so I thought..."

"Wait... 'Or so you thought'?" Goku questioned, not liking where this was going. "What do you mean?!"

The older Acaiian sighed, the ball of ki in his hands disappearing as he took his walking stick back from Akari before looking at them all seriously.

"There is a chance, that this great evil may be released once again..." Ryuuto said with a frown, narrowing his eyes as he hoped Luna and Kaito were both training hard right now... "That's why I've sent my grandson and our princess into the Time Chamber... We cannot chance having such an evil force break free once more..."

"Wow... So this black mist is really dangerous, huh?" Goku commented, putting one hand underneath his chin as he went on. "How come?"

"What truly makes up the Zetsubo no Kiri is still a mystery..." Ryuuto admitted, sighing as he thought about what he did know. "However... What makes it so deadly is it's ability to possess the heart's of damaged individuals, feeding off their sorrows and negative energy while growing stronger..." The Acaiian said darkly, looking at the ground for a moment before frowning.

"If it were to possess someone of great strength or evil intent, it could mean the end of this world as well..."

...

A/N: Ohhh snap! Things are unfolding in the Acaiians storyline :O Hope you guys are enjoying the story still^^