The Capsule Corp ship's engines hummed softly, slipping into Earth's atmosphere with practiced ease after four long years away. The planet's blue-and-green curve filled the windows, framed by the soft glow of re-entry. Launch, currently in her gentle purple-haired self, guided the craft from the copilot seat, her eyes flicking over instrument readouts. Gojo stood behind her, Infinity alive in the air around his hands, ready for any surprises. Broly lingered at a side console, tail coiled at his waist, equal parts excitement and nerves twisting in his stomach.
It had been four years since Gojo, Launch, and Broly left Earth behind to roam the stars. Much had changed in that time—countless battles fought on distant worlds, alliances forged with strangers in need.
But Earth was the place where Gojo had once stepped in to finish off the bio-android Cell, where originally the young Gohan, then only eleven, would have delivered the crucial blow in a hard-won victory that costed Goku his life. Since then, with Goku's decision to stay gone, the planet had known an uneasy peace. Now, four years after that day, Gohan was fifteen, and the Z Fighters carried on the Earth's defense without their beloved hero.
"Almost there," Launch murmured, her voice subdued as she eased off the throttle and angled the ship toward West City. "Feels weird to be back, doesn't it?"
Gojo gazed at the shrinking distance on the navigation screen. "It does. Hard to believe four years flew by. Wonder how everyone's doing."
The ship began its final descent, the skyline of West City looming large. Capsule Corporation's distinctive dome soon came into view—a place that had once buzzed with tension when Cell threatened Earth. Now it stood calm, unassuming, welcoming. Broly, never having set foot on this planet before, tried to calm the flutter in his chest.
They touched down on a wide lawn at the Capsule Corp compound. As the ramp lowered, warm afternoon air rolled in, so different from the star-chilled environments and harsh worlds they'd grown used to. Launch led the way out, stepping onto grass that felt oddly soft beneath her boots. Gojo followed, Infinity drifting around him in subtle waves. Broly emerged last, tail twitching at the hush of this new environment.
A small welcoming party waited on the lawn. Bulma stood at the forefront, waving them closer, phone in hand as if she'd hurriedly ended a call. Vegeta stood beside her, arms crossed, wearing his perpetual scowl. A short distance away, Gohan—now fifteen, taller but still bearing traces of the boyish face he had at eleven—smiled tentatively. Piccolo lingered near a tree, his expression neutral. Krillin and Yamcha jogged up, eyes bright with curiosity.
Launch lifted a hand in greeting. "Hey, guys… it's been a while."
Bulma's eyes gleamed. "Four years is an understatement! You three took off without so much as a goodbye. It's about time you showed your faces again." Despite her words, her relief was obvious.
Vegeta cast a speculative glance at Broly. "So that's the Saiyan you mentioned," he muttered to Gojo, voice low. "I sense a massive ki."
Broly offered an awkward nod. "Um… hello," he managed, uncertain how to react to these veteran warriors.
Gohan approached, his gaze flicking to Broly, then to Gojo and Launch. "Welcome back. I'd almost started to think you were never coming home." He paused, expression softening. "Things have been quiet since Cell—no real threats. But it's good to see you."
Gojo inclined his head. "Likewise, Gohan. You've grown."
Gohan rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess so. I'm fifteen now." He tried a friendly smile at Broly, measuring the imposing Saiyan with a mix of caution and curiosity.
Broly returned a small smile of his own. "I've heard a lot about you… and your father." He caught himself, realizing how Goku's absence might be a sore spot, but Gohan simply nodded, sadness and acceptance mingling in his eyes.
Krillin gave Broly a friendly wave, then turned to Gojo. "So you guys have been off saving the galaxy?"
"We got tangled up in a lot," Gojo replied with a shrug. "But we realized we needed to stop in and check how Earth's been faring."
Piccolo stepped forward, cape shifting in the breeze. "We've held down the fort just fine," he said. "No major threats in four years. Gohan's been training, Vegeta too. And we keep watch, just in case."
Launch, flipping to her blonde self after a sudden sneeze, nodded at the mention of Gohan's training. "Kid looks taller," she teased, "and hopefully stronger. Maybe we'll see how you stack up to big Broly here if you want a spar."
Gohan's grin was tentative but eager. "I'd be curious, sure."
Bulma cleared her throat, motioning them toward the building. "Don't just stand out here. Come inside. I'm sure you're hungry for Earth food after so many off-world meals."
Gojo's gaze drifted across the capsule grounds, memories surfacing of that day Cell fell. Four years, and the planet felt different, calmer. A half-smile tugged at his lips. "Lead the way."
They gathered in a spacious lounge, the walls lined with Bulma's newest inventions. Cupboards and refrigerators promised a feast of Earth delicacies, a welcome change from cosmic rations. The group settled, though Vegeta stood off to one side, arms still crossed. Broly, careful not to bump anything with his considerable build, found a seat in a corner.
While a modest spread of food was laid out, Gohan shared how he'd split his time between school and training with Piccolo. Krillin mentioned short tournaments here and there, and Yamcha recounted small local crises—nothing that required the planet's defenders at full power. Gohan's voice carried a tinge of wistfulness whenever Goku's name came up, yet he spoke matter-of-factly about picking up where his father left off. At fifteen, he held a quiet resolve that impressed Broly.
"So these four years in space," Gohan asked, glancing between Gojo and Launch, "did you… find anything major out there?"
Launch described a few near-wars defused, while Gojo recounted the synergy they had honed: Infinity and Domain Armor at a level that let him protect entire regions if needed. Broly chimed in, explaining how he'd gained tighter control over his Legendary Super Saiyan power, preventing meltdown more reliably.
Vegeta listened in stony silence but eventually stepped forward, addressing Broly. "Good. Then maybe you're not a liability if you can rein yourself in."
Broly merely nodded, meeting Vegeta's scrutiny with a calm that took years to cultivate.
As the evening wore on, small talk and hearty bites of Earth cooking filled the lounge with a relaxed warmth. For Broly, who had never known the easy camaraderie of Earth's heroes, it was an eye-opening experience. Gohan, not much younger than him, teased that they might compare Saiyan transformations sometime soon. Krillin tossed in jokes about space pirates. Piccolo watched, arms folded but expression less guarded than usual.
Gojo, Infinity resting under his skin, felt a wave of nostalgia. Four years might not have drastically changed Earth itself, but it had changed them all. The cell-shaped hole left behind still lingered, and Goku's absence remained a reminder that peace could be fleeting. For now, though, the planet was quiet, and they had returned in time to feel its calm.
Bulma insisted on them staying in the compound's guest rooms. Broly, still shy, accepted gratefully. Vegeta tossed a remark about wanting to see how strong the "space-wanderers" had become, scheduling an unofficial spar for the following day if they dared. Broly nodded, sensing a test of his mettle—but now, at least, he had confidence to hold back or unleash power without going berserk.
Later that night, the lights dimmed across the Capsule Corp campus, and the group dispersed. Launch led Broly to a spare bunk, while Gojo lingered in a hallway overlooking the city's glow. Gohan joined him there for a moment, arms resting on a banister.
"You're different," Gohan observed quietly, remembering how Gojo had once fought Cell with that strange Infinity, singlehandedly matching the bio-android's brutality. "I can't quite place it, but you feel… more at ease."
Gojo considered. "Probably am. Traveling the stars changes a person. Fighting cosmic threats puts things in perspective. And, ironically, I learned how to better integrate Infinity without constantly bracing for disaster. Same with Domain Armor. It's just… part of me now."
Gohan gave a small smile. At fifteen, his aura carried glimpses of the warrior who once vanquished Cell, tempered by a teenager's uncertainties. "I'm glad. Earth's quiet, but we can still learn from each other if you stay a while."
Gojo inclined his head. "I wouldn't mind that. Let's see how tomorrow unfolds."
They parted ways, Gohan returning to his family home, while Gojo headed to the guest suite. In a corridor, he passed Vegeta, who merely nodded in acknowledgment before continuing on, as though curious but too proud to show it openly.
Inside the guest quarters, Broly sat near a window, gazing at the city lights with quiet wonder, tail swishing in lazy arcs. Launch rummaged through a small stack of supplies. Both looked up when Gojo entered, Infinity shimmering faintly in the low light.
"Well," Launch said, "tomorrow might be interesting. A lot of old friends and new rivalries." She cast a grin toward Broly. "You ready to spar with Gohan or Vegeta if they push it?"
Broly rolled a shoulder, exhaling a measured breath. "As ready as I'll ever be. This planet… it's different from anywhere else we've been. But I like how everyone's so close, even if Goku's gone."
Gojo let his Infinity calm. "We'll see what the morning brings, but it's good to be back—even if just for a while."
Outside, night draped the city in gentle hums of traffic and distant lights. Four years had passed since Earth's greatest threat fell to Gohan's rage, since Goku's choice to remain dead. Now, in this lull, it welcomed its wandering defenders home, brimming with the quiet hope that sometimes, peace could last longer than expected.
For Broly, it was a chance to meet Earth's champions and prove he could stand among them without losing himself. For Launch, it offered respite from the eternal hustle of cosmic battles. For Gojo, Infinity and Domain Armor settled into a tranquil hum, reminding him that for all the Universe's wonders, Earth's simpler warmth was a gift worth returning to.
In the stillness of that moment, the trio allowed themselves the comfort of home. Tomorrow, there might be tests of strength or new surprises, but tonight, Earth's calm was enough—and it felt good to be back.