What If Android 17 Trained Goten, Trunks, and Maron as Rangers?
Exploring a Hypothetical Scenario Where Dragon Ball’s Young Warriors Learn the Art of Protecting Nature
In a story arc where Android 17 steps into the role of a mentor—not for a fight, but to teach Goten, Trunks, and Maron the importance of protecting the natural world. While 17’s peaceful life as a wildlife ranger may seem worlds apart from the battlefields of Dragon Ball, this scenario offers a unique blend of action, strategy, and character growth.
This hypothetical situation would explore what the trio could learn under 17’s guidance, what challenges they’d face, and how this experience could transform them. Let’s break it down.
The Setup: A Chance to Learn Something New
In this scenario, Goten and Trunks are sent to Android 17’s island sanctuary by Chi-Chi and Bulma, who believe the boys could benefit from learning responsibility outside of combat training. Maron, 17’s niece, eagerly tags along, intrigued by her uncle’s work. Android 17, though initially reluctant, sees this as an opportunity to instill valuable life lessons while sharing his passion for wildlife conservation.
The stage is set: an island teeming with exotic creatures, pristine beaches, and the constant threat of poachers. Here, 17 introduces his young charges to the life of a ranger, which involves far more than just protecting animals.
Ranger 101: What It Means to Protect Nature
As the trio adjusts to island life, 17 starts with the basics. He explains the three pillars of his work:
Animal Protection: Guarding the island’s rare species from external threats like poachers and predators.
Ecosystem Maintenance: Preserving the environment to ensure the animals’ habitats remain healthy.
Rescue and Rehabilitation: Caring for injured or orphaned creatures, with the goal of returning them to the wild.
Each aspect of the job challenges the young warriors in different ways. Goten and Trunks, eager to jump into action, initially struggle with tasks that require patience and attention to detail. Maron, however, quickly picks up on the intricacies, demonstrating a natural curiosity for the animals’ behaviors and needs.
Daily Life on the Island: Challenges and Lessons
The trio’s first tasks are deceptively simple. Cleaning the beach of harmful debris teaches them the real-world impact of human carelessness. While Goten and Trunks turn it into a contest, 17 emphasizes the importance of every piece of trash they remove, explaining how it could save the lives of sea turtles nesting nearby. This moment sets the tone for their training: every action, no matter how small, contributes to the greater good.
Next, 17 takes them deeper into the island to repair fences that protect a rare species of flightless bird. Here, they learn about tracking signs of predators, such as broken branches and claw marks. Goten and Trunks are amazed at how 17 interprets these subtle clues, while Maron eagerly takes notes, proving to be a quick learner.
The most intense lesson comes when an illegal fishing vessel encroaches on the sanctuary’s waters. Rather than confront the poachers directly, 17 teaches the group how to document evidence and notify the proper authorities. This strategy frustrates Trunks, who prefers action, but 17 explains the importance of working within the system to ensure long-term protection. This lesson in restraint and strategy proves to be one of the most valuable for the boys.
What They Learn from 17
Through these experiences, Goten, Trunks, and Maron grow in ways that extend beyond their typical training. From 17, they learn:
Respect for All Life: Strength isn’t just about fighting; it’s about protecting those who can’t protect themselves.
Patience and Observation: The ability to wait, watch, and understand a situation is as important as physical power.
The Importance of Teamwork: Every role matters, whether it’s cleaning a beach or documenting poachers.
For Goten, the experience reveals how his strength can serve a greater purpose. Trunks learns to temper his impulsiveness, realizing that not every situation calls for brute force. Maron discovers a passion for wildlife, sparking an interest in learning more about the natural world.
What 17 Gains from the Trio
While 17 is the teacher, this hypothetical scenario also highlights what he might gain from mentoring the group. Their youthful enthusiasm reminds him of the joy in his work, while their fresh perspectives challenge him to rethink certain approaches. Trunks’ boldness, for example, pushes 17 to consider when direct action might be more effective, while Maron’s curiosity inspires him to deepen his connection with the animals he protects.
Why This Hypothetical Story Works
This scenario offers more than just a diversion from traditional Dragon Ball battles—it’s a chance to explore character development in a unique setting. Goten and Trunks, often relegated to comic relief, would gain depth as they tackle challenges outside their comfort zones. Maron, often overlooked, could shine as a thoughtful and capable character. And Android 17, a hero in his own right, would get the spotlight he deserves, showing how his strength of character extends beyond combat.
Planting the Seeds for the Future
In this hypothetical arc, Android 17 doesn’t just teach the next generation of warriors how to protect his island—he shows them the value of protecting life itself. By the end of their training, Goten, Trunks, and Maron leave the sanctuary with new skills, a deeper appreciation for nature, and a broader understanding of heroism. Meanwhile, 17, having shared his passion and knowledge, feels a renewed sense of purpose.
This storyline would be a breath of fresh air for the Dragon Ball franchise, blending action with environmental themes and delivering meaningful lessons about responsibility, teamwork, and compassion. And who knows? Perhaps this experience would inspire the trio to apply these lessons in their future battles, becoming true guardians of not just Earth, but the universe.
This is a really great what if Android 17 as a mentor to trunks goten and maron I would love to see this as an animated side story watching each character grow and learning something new