Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Timelines Collide ❯ Anniversary ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball. Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT and all of their characters belong to Akira Toriyama and Toei Animation.

 

 

Timelines Collide

 

 

Chapter 1: Anniversary

 

Trunks looked with special attention at the photo frame he held in his hand. At first sight one would say there's nothing wrong with it. A happy family composed of a mother, a father, and two sons, him being one of them. But he knew better. He didn't belong in it.

The only souvenir he kept from his last travel to the past was a photo taken by his now deceased grandmother. A young Bulma holding her baby, a scowling Vegeta to her left, and Trunks barely behind him. He sighed.

He missed them dearly. It had been over a year since he last saw them, and he wasn't supposed to see them either. By no means could he encounter his baby self again, for the child would develop in a slightly different way if he had any memories of the boy from the future.

 

He got up from his bed and put the portrait back on the bedside table before exiting his room. He found his mother in the kitchen drinking some tea while watching TV and sat next to her.

 

“Hey, mom. What are you watching?”

Bulma turned the TV off. “Nothing really. There was a special program about the androids and how everything has changed since then, but it's nothing I don't already know.”

“Hmph... things have really changed, huh?”

“Yeah, I can finally sleep through the night...”

Seconds passed and Bulma took a couple more sips from her tea before speaking again. “Ok, Trunks. You're worrying me,” she said looking at him with a surprised expression.

“And why's that?”

“Where has your sense of smell gone?”

He looked at her confused. “What do you mean...? Oh, no you didn't!” Bulma grinned. “Please tell me it's not fresh paint what I smell.”

“I would be lying, honey. Go see for yourself.”

 

Trunks walked out of the house to the front yard. During the last months Bulma had hired some architects to arrange the building. Capsule Corporation would soon be back to business. He looked at the shiny yellow wall that seemed to be recently painted from the bottom up to the first set of windows.

 

“Oh, come on.” He entered the kitchen again, this time realizing he hadn't had breakfast yet. “Mom! I told you I'd take care of it.”

“You have the rest of the wall to get you entertained. I just wanted to do something different for a change.”

“You could have just painted a picture on paper, if you wanted a change.”

“Oh, quit it. You know I'm really bored these days. I can't keep quiet anymore.”

Trunks opened the fridge to grab a milk bottle and poured it into a glass. “Well... how about inventing something? You haven't done anything of great significance since the time machine.”

“Trunks, you say it as if it wasn't important. You have no idea all the effort it took to make it. Besides, the time machine can't be of public knowledge, and I refuse to work on something below its difficulty standards. I just can't think of anything better yet.”

“Yeah, I know, but--”

“But...” She interrupted him. “It's not like I won't come up with something eventually. I am the most intelligent woman in the world after all.” She chuckled. “Right?”

Trunks smiled. “Yes, mom. Of course.”

Bulma stood up from her chair, her grin suddenly dissipating as her happy face changed into a serious one. “Trunks, I'm gonna take a shower. Make sure to be ready when I'm done. I don't want to be late.”

“...Alright.”

 

--

 

An hour and a half later, Bulma and Trunks arrived at Mt. Paoz, landing in front of the Sons' home. Chi-Chi got out of the house to greet them.

 

“Hello, Bulma, Trunks. I'm glad to see you again. Thanks for coming.”

“Hi, Chi-Chi. How have you been?” Bulma asked.

“Well, as fine as I can be...”

 

There was a short silence. Chi-Chi was specially lonely since Gohan's death, and she didn't have anyone else besides her father, who unfortunately wouldn't be there for much longer. Now Bulma and Trunks were more likely the only people she could talk to.

 

“Look, we brought flowers,” Bulma said, “Can you grab them for me, Trunks?”

“Fine.” Trunks went to the plane and came back with two bouquets of roses.

Chi-Chi gasped. “Oh, they're beautiful!” Then she looked back at the young adult. “Trunks, my gosh, you're even taller than the last time I saw you.”

“You mean two weeks ago? I don't think so.”

“Yes, you sure are... You remind me so much of my Gohan...”

“Uh... How about we get going?” Bulma suggested.

“Um, Ok...” Chi-Chi agreed.

 

They walked silently to a nearby hill, upon which the sun shone brightly. A few meters away from the edge, there lay two gravestones, Goku's and Gohan's. As Chi-Chi knelt down in front of Goku's tomb, she felt a bitter sadness quickly growing inside her.

 

“Hello, my Goku...” she started to say, but then she remained speechless.

 

Bulma put a hand on her shoulder to comfort her, not uttering a word. Trunks stood in front of Gohan's grave, recalling the times he spent with his master.

 

“An other year without you...” Chi-Chi continued.

“Chi-Chi, I know he's always watching over you...” Bulma whispered, but her words abruptly trailed off.

 

She was going to tell her that Goku was always there with her, even if she couldn't see him. But she didn't feel it would be right to say something she didn't actually believe. After all, she felt lonely too. She'd tried to fight her emotions several times, she repeated to herself that Trunks was all she ever needed. But she still felt incomplete.

The emptiness in her heart could not be filled by her son, or anyone else but Vegeta himself. As much as Bulma wished he was there, she knew he was nowhere near. And her will didn't allow her to close her eyes and pretend he wasn't gone. She couldn't lie to herself.

Sometimes she felt him beside her, watching her sleep, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, his warm fingers against her face. But she would then wake up to discover it was just a false illusion.

She stared down at Chi-Chi. Over the last few years they've become quite closer. They weren't the best of friends until after Goku passed away. And during the androids' attacks, they held onto each other to help ease their pain. Now Trunks and her would often visit her. Unfortunately, they didn't have much in common except for one absolute truth. They both were widows.

 

“Trunks, the roses.”

 

He startled at his mother's voice, lost in his thoughts, but he soon regained composure and put one of the bunches of flowers on Gohan's tomb. He gave the other to Bulma. She took a deep, slow breath and leaned to place it on Goku's side after separating a single rose from the group.

Chi-Chi struggled upward and stood next to Trunks. The three people prayed soundlessly for a long moment. For Goku, who died of a heart disease that exact same day so many years ago. For Gohan, who died honorably at the hands of Number 17 and 18. For everyone who suffered the misfortune of being killed by the androids. For the rest of the Z fighters, who rested in peace underground at different locations of the planet.

Bulma forcefully suppressed her tears, Chi-Chi didn't. She sobbed for some minutes, sank in her sorrow. Bulma didn't ask her to calm down, it was best to free the anguish in order to feel relieved. She knew the black haired lady was also crying in replacement for Trunks and her, who tried their best to keep strong spirits.

When she thought it was enough, Bulma called Chi-Chi's attention softly wavering the rosebud before her, offering it to her.

 

“Chi-Chi...”

 

The younger woman stared at the red petals on top of the stem she now held in her hand.

 

“Thank you,” she murmured. She flashed a smile toward Bulma letting her know she was fine. Then her gaze went back to the graves. “What I'd give to see them again, if only for once...”

“Uh... shall we go back now?”

“...Yes.” She smiled again and started to walk, Bulma and Trunks following her.

 

--

 

They didn't talk much during the trek, but before they had expected, they were in the warmth of Chi-Chi's home having a cup of sweet coffee.

 

“So... what have you been doing these last days?”

“Do you want to know what my mother did this morning, Chi-Chi? Just ask,” Trunks said. Bulma sighed heavily in irritation.

“What? Something bad?”

“I just painted the walls a little...” she answered.

“You what? I'd thought Trunks would.”

“I thought so too,” Trunks said. “She wanted to do something different, to quote her words.”

“Bulma, you're too restless for own own good.”

 

It was true Bulma looked much healthier after the artificial humans were defeated. She was calmer and could finally sleep peacefully through the night, knowing her son was fine and there was no danger threatening them. But she hadn't given herself a break since then. The house, the company, everything needed to be fixed in order to be as it used to be many years ago. It was what she felt she had to do.

 

“It's no big deal, Chi-Chi. I just have to keep myself active, I can't stand the sedentarism. Trunks is overreacting.”

“I'm not,” he said. “I really think you should take some time to relax.”

“Forget it, I don't need it.”

“Yeah, right...”

“You know...” Chi-Chi interrupted. “You two are so lucky...” She noticed the confused expressions of her guests. “You have each other...” she explained.

 

Of course, they were not the luckiest people on Earth. But Bulma and Trunks did have someone to care about, unlike Chi-Chi. They wouldn't often mention Goku or Gohan when in her presence, just not to make her go sad. But it seemed like she was always the one bringing the subject, as if talking about them, or even thinking about them, actually made her feel much better.

 

Bulma grinned. “Yeah... I thank for him everyday.” Trunks turned his face away with a shy smile.

“A child is the best gift you could be given...” She paused for an instant, sipping from her cup. “Sometimes... I wish I could go back in time, just to be with my Goku and Gohan again, for at least one moment...”

 

Mother and son exchanged looks. Chi-Chi didn't know about Trunks' little journey to the past. But she made them think it would be possible to make her wish come true by the simple use of a machine.

 

“There are so many things I've never told them...”

 

Bulma and Trunks read each other's minds and immediately shrugged their thoughts off. No. The timelines were not something to mess with.

 

“Well, as Trunks was saying...” Chi-Chi continued. “I also think you could do with a vacation, Bulma.”

“You agree with him?” She sighed. “I hope you're not conspiring against me,” she joked. “Well... where could I go?”

 

--

 

As their conversation went on, the sky grew darker, and eventually the Briefs went back to their house. It wasn't until late that night, when Bulma was lying on her bed, that some of Chi-Chi's words started to play in her head.

 

I wish I could go back in time...

 

She knew it was possible. The time machine actually existed and it was only a few meters away from her. But to use it was forbidden. No risks could be taken. The past and her present were safe, and she couldn't change destiny because of a childish whim.

 

Just to be with my Goku and Gohan again...

 

There was one person she missed as much as Chi-Chi missed her husband and son. If she could go back in time, just to be with Vegeta again...

 

For at least one moment...

 

She shouldn't. She mustn't. But she wanted to. She hadn't seen him since Trunks was a baby, and she had accepted the fact that she would never see him again. There was nothing to excuse her from traveling through time, but still...

 

There are so many things I've never told them...

 

She remembered all those things she wished she had told Vegeta before he died. Whispers of love that were eating her alive, knowing they would never escape her lips. The fact that she wouldn't be able to tell him the words she kept in her heart made her fear that she might not rest in peace when her time comes. But not only her words were unspoken, she had made a promise to herself to one glorious day make him say the things she had always dreamed of hearing. If only that nightmare hadn't became a reality... May she be forgiven, but she had unfinished business.

 

--

 

A thick ray of light was caressing Trunks' cheeks, hurting his eyes, making him turn to his side. When he was fully awake, aware of his surroundings, he acknowledged the presence of his mother standing right beside him, studying the same photograph he'd hold the day before.

 

“Mom?”

She smiled. “Good morning, Trunks.”

“Good morning. Uh... what are you doing here?”

“Do you remember what you said yesterday? That if I decided to go on vacation we'd go wherever I want?”

“Yes...”

“Well, get ready. We're leaving today.”

“What? Where...?”

Her eyes were unreadable, but her smile said it all. “We are going to the past.”