Disclaimer- I do not own Dragonball, DragonballZ, or DragonballGT.
Chapter 1: The Past, Present, and Future
In a light blue dress with sequences on the top and ballerina lace on the bottom, Bulla stood with her hands folded in front of her. She looked like royalty. Technically she was. Her makeup was done lightly, due to her overbearing father, but he did have good advice. It was just enough and she was already a very beautiful girl without it. Her hair was drawn up with a tiara and she wore long white princess gloves and a cute pair of silver high heels. With a healthy ego and a slender body, Bulla had grown into a little teen. She wore her first prom dress and her date stood a good distance away from her.
"Darling, move a little closer so I can take a picture of you TOGETHER!" Bulma shot Vegeta a nasty look. He stood beside his mate with his arms crossed and he rolled his eyes. With Bulla and her date finally close together, Bulma managed to capture the moment with her camera so that they could add it to the photo book that grew in size every day. Vegeta hated all the pictures and all the sentimental moments that Bulma found necessary to highlight. His past dwelled on nothing of the sort. It was a matter of survival and to see Bulma fuss over such trivial things as a prom day, it made him sick to his stomach. But at the core of things, he also didn't want his children to live the life that he did. In other words, he had mixed feelings. He wanted them to lead normal lives, but at the same time, not get too soft in times of peace. Of course, he would never experience a happy medium with his stubborn children. Therefore, he left most of the parenting up to Bulma.
Sometimes Vegeta considered his self unlucky to have had a daughter, but she truly was a fighter. He became overjoyed with the fact that he had had a son first to prepare him for the real challenge of evening having a daughter. She knew how to argue and as she grew up, since she became a daddy's girl, she and Vegeta argued a lot. This only fortified their relationship though. The day Bulla stopped yelling at him would be the day that she stopped loving him. Despite all the harsh words back and forth and the bossy attitude that she had acquired from her mother, Vegeta also knew she was fragile. He aimed to protect her, not just from evil, or boys, but from the cruelty of female politics and peer pressure. Although he knew she had his ego, and was thus able to defend herself against such mental assaults, he knew she wasn't completely armed due to her desire to wear makeup and sassy clothing. If she were above the influence she would wear whatever she liked and certainly would feel comfortable enough in her own skin to not wear such skimpy clothing just to accumulate a bunch of Earthling friends.
"I hope you have fun tonight!" Bulma told them as she waved them out the door. "You better go before you're late!" She continued to shoo them out the door with haste. Vegeta could sense the boy's fear as he exited their front door with relief. He was a little taller than Bulla and had dark brown hair. It was spiked. He also wore a black suit. As soon as they were gone Vegeta spoke up freely in the house that he now claimed as his own.
"Why can't she be more like her mother?" Vegeta looked at Bulma.
"What are you talking about Vegeta! She is like me! Her hair, her eyes…"
"I'm talking about her sense of character. If she was anything like her mother she wouldn't be running around with weaklings like that!" He closed his eyes and leaned back against the wall. He placed his hands in his pockets. He wore a dark blue pair of jeans and a red tank top. His ego filled the Capsule Corporation so much that it made it difficult for Bulma to breathe, since she was trying to stifle her own laugher of course…
"Well Vegeta, this is planet Earth. But maybe her prince will fall out of the sky someday too." Bulma smiled at him and reminded him of the one in a million chance that even led to their knowing each other. Bulla would never find the right man according to Vegeta's expectations, even if the perfect man rained down from the sky. As her father, he had set the bar extremely high. It didn't help that he was jealous and protective, although he would never admit it. He didn't want boys taking her time or making her upset. It wasn't only her tears that angered him, but the fact that she let such trivial matters get to her at all. Bulla was born with a tail just like her brother. She had Saiyan powers as well. However, she didn't use them. She was too concerned with her 'self image' to turn into a 'freak'.
"If she finds prince charming though, we'll know for sure she is nothing like her mother!" Bulma cracked up with laugher. Vegeta didn't find her insult funny though. He was used to it however. In their later years, their little playful jabs back and forth kept them young.
"If I wasn't prince charming, then why were you trying to get them out of the house so quickly?" He said matter-of-factly. He had a grin on his face as he approached Bulma. Not another soul was in the house, for if there was he wouldn't have spoke in such a way. As if they were playing a game of checkers, he felt like he had become a king. Standing in front of her, he placed a hand on her hip. She wore a dark blue summer dress that came up to her thigh. It had spaghetti straps and it reflected her desired youth and young heart, although the years were catching up to her. Faint lines were around her mouth, evidence that she smiled so often. Together, he and Bulma had been through so much, even though they had started their relationship in what felt like the middle of their lives, considering she met Goku when she was around Bulla's current age. Although Goku and his talented family of Saiyans were often the epicenter of action, Vegeta and his family were comfortably in the background. They were still relevant to all the events that took place. Vegeta had once been so tormented with the fact that he and Kakorot's lives were destined to intertwine, but now he had accepted it. He and Bulma were both happy with the way their lives had turned out thus far.
With his hand on her hip, he drew her body close to his. Due to his callous character, that was all she ever received from him, either a touch or an insult. Rarely, she got lonely, but his scarce affection challenged her to be loyal. She was expecting him to move away from her, but he remained, looking in her blue eyes. It was as if he were giving her extra recognition today, for all her womanly duties. Through the years, she had cooked for him, cleaned for him, washed his clothes, bared his offspring, and even housed him, and supplied him with technologies. Even greater, she had supported him and his offspring in times of sickness and in health. What Bulma did was far greater than what any typical female Saiyan would've done. Sometimes, he forgot that they weren't even the same race or that they weren't even from the same planet. They were so in sync and she understood him at times when he felt he wasn't even sure of himself.
On another note, though it was not typical for Saiyans to know their offspring, since they were a race that separated their children from their parents at birth, Vegeta ignored tradition and gave into the ways of Earthlings. He wasn't on planet Vegeta anymore. This was his new home, one that he was fond of even with all its unorthodox and bizarre traditions and cultures. He should've left Bulma and his 'children' behind just as his father did and Bardock the father of Goku, but he saw no harm in staying. Who was going to tell him he was wrong? Although Belia had gotten her insults in when they first met, she was no longer about. Speaking of which, he drew his brows together as he asked Bulma a question, "Where is Trunks?"
Trunks had become the president of Capsule Corporation a couple of weeks ago. Bulma had played her part in the corporation so much that she felt it was time to withdraw and relax. From all her hard work and nifty inventions, she was such a success that her grandchildren's grandchildren wouldn't have to worry about money. Therefore, she felt like she deserved an early break from paperwork and office life. It was too boring for her anyway. She wanted to be out, enjoying the excitement of life. She imagined Trunks would've too, but when she asked him weeks ago, he said he didn't mind. Back then he was still slightly distraught though. Bulma wasn't entirely sure what had happened between him and Belia, but she knew enough to realize that may have been his only significant other. Bulma didn't see him with other girls, he didn't look at other girls, nor did he even have friends that were girls. Perhaps he had learned his callous ways from his father, but she was certain that her assumption was right. His soul had been changed from him encounter with Belia.
Bulma remembered Belia as having a fiery personality. She was just as arrogant as Vegeta too. If anything, Trunks was more like his mother as opposed to Bulla. "He's getting along just… fine at the office." Bulma finally responded to her mate's question. Now he was sure that no one was in the compound. Its round shape reminded him of a bee hive, which in turn reminded him of the Saiyan race. All Saiyans were considered worker bees contributing to the hive as a whole, while the king and queen orchestrated the masses.
Gingerly, he slid his hand up her side, until a sudden energy struck him. His hands froze where they were and he relinquished his grasp from her sides. "I'm going to train." He told her. She knew from his sudden actions that someone or something had ruined the moment and he didn't want to deal with them. The gravity room was his escape. Bulma watched as Yamcha appeared in the door way. All he saw of the moment just before he walked in was Vegeta walking away and Bulma looking as if she had been ignored. It was the only reason Yamcha came around, to keep her company in her appearing to be a lonely life. What other type of ex-boyfriend would stick around a girl who dumped him? One who felt sorry for her… one who still cared. Some days it was easy to forget Bulma, other days it was hard. He had known her since they were teenagers. They practically grew up together and at one point she cheered him on in fights. Not Vegeta, who she had known for a shorter amount of time. He didn't understand it, the very thing that drove them together. How could it have been loneliness? Now he was lonely. Sure he hung out with girls occasionally, but none of them were as smart and pretty as Bulma. What saddened him even more was the fact that even Krillin had a special someone.
Quickly, he disciplined his mind to switch subjects in thinking matter to avoid the pangs of depression. "Hey Bulma! How are you today?"
"I'm doing great. What about you?" She smiled sweetly. Her short hair shimmered in the living room light. He remembered it was once long. For some odd reason he was so obsessed with the past. Again, it came and went. Some days he felt as if he could live with it, other days it haunted him. Some say it's better to have loved and lost that it is to have never loved at all… But he couldn't disagree more.
"I'm fine…" He scratched the back of his head and sunk into his goofball mannerisms to avoid being taken too seriously.
"Hey, did you get the chance to see Bulla in her prom dress?" Bulma asked Yamcha. She had taken their pictures on a camera that had a screen. She grabbed it off the counter and walked over to him to show a picture of Bulla and her date. He looked at the screen. She was the spitting image of her mother of course and it depressed him even more to also see a hint of Vegeta in Bulla. That should've been his life, his wife, his daughter, and his son. He pushed the negative thoughts from his mind again and hid behind his 'wall of Yamcha'.
"She definitely gets her good looks from you!" He faked an incredibly believable smile and nothing more was said.
Lying out in the sun, Goten was in nothing but a pair of swim trunks. He was trying to get a tan so that way he could impress the ladies. Although he had been hanging out with plenty of them, he was missing his bro time too. Lately Trunks was at work a lot and he didn't want to hang out. Goten missed the days when they were able to act like rambunctious little boys, running from dinosaurs, peeing in bushes, trying to find wizards, and getting involved with kicking butt with their amazingly strong fathers that they idolized. Over the years though, Goten and Trunks accepted the fact that they would never be able to fill their father's shoes or… boots for that matter.
"Hey you lazy bum! You don't have a job, you aren't fighting villains, get in here and help your mother!" Chichi yelled for Goten. He shot up from his place in the yard right away and headed for their home. Perhaps this was why he couldn't keep a relationship? He had a crazy mother. He wasn't sure how Gohan's Videl put up with Chichi, but he was sure it was because she had her own crazy father, Mr. Satan.
Once Goten reached the door of their house, he saw his mother cooking over the stove. She had been extra crazy lately because Goku still hadn't returned from his training with Uub. As soon as the whole Belia fiasco was over, he went right back to the lookout tower with Uub . While thinking of the lookout tower… Goten remembered that it had been blown up by Hemofear a while back ago. It had been restored by the Namekian's from planet Namek thanks to Porunga. Vegeta and the others never even thought to ask how it even came to be again. They were all so worried about Trunks it was such an absent thought. Either way, Goten shrugged and asked his mother what she needed.
"I need help with house chores today Goten." She told him. What this usually meant was that while she vacuumed he was going to have to lift the couch, the entertainment center, and dressers, and other such household furniture. He didn't mind living with his mother. Someone had to do it while his father was away. Chichi complained about him not having a job or not working out as much, but if he did then she would be distraught. After she was done at the stove, they walked into the living room and he went to picking up furniture for her so she could vacuum.
It was crazy how everything had turned out. It was such an abstract concept to grasp, but Goten was living in the future now. He didn't consider it the present, but they were riding the future, breathing it, feeling it, tasting it, seeing it. Their house wasn't even the same as it used to be. Their furniture had become so futuristic. New technologies came out every day and when he looked in the photo books, he could see how strange the setting around them had finally become. They were living in a time where the dinosaurs were going extinct… Again!
He set the couch down and took to questioning the other effects of the future. Who else had lived on to make it to the current future, known also as the present?
With long blonde hair and a straw hat, Marron sat on the bench next to her mother. They were wearing matching dresses that had a floral design on them. While they sat on a bench, quite comfortably in the shade, Krillin sat in the grass in the Sun. Regardless, he didn't complain. He was propped up against their shopping bags that were sitting behind him in a huge pile. "So girls, what else did you want to do today?" He asked them. They always looked bored, no matter how much he tried to please them. This was what he got for being such a pushover, but he was also happy with his life. His wife may have been harsh with him, but he knew she really did love him. The prize money she had won from Mr. Satan years ago had been such a healthy amount of money, that none of them had to worry about finding work. Therefore, the three of them were spending plenty of time together on a daily bases. And if they weren't, Krillin was sad and Eighteen was bored because she had no one to boss around. She kept picturing the days when Cell walked the Earth. She remembered her and Krillin's first kiss and the great thing he did for her the day he spared her life. She liked Earth and the way that he spoiled her.
With Marron sitting beside them, she also thanked Krillin for another gift. "What do you want to do today dear?" Eighteen asked her beautiful daughter. She looked a lot like her mother. She acted like her too. However, Marron had Krillin's fearful character. She was very afraid of heights, which prevented her from flying. It was a shame to because Eighteen enjoyed it so much.
With soft pink lips and cheeks, Marron smiled. "Why don't we go to the water fountain and make some wishes?"
The only wishes Eighteen believed in were the one's made on the Dragonballs. Krillin had a far lighter spirit about the matter of course. He was down for whatever and supported whatever they believed in. He stood up and began to pack up all their shopping bags and boxes in his arms. He lived to please them and keep his daughter and wife happy and they did the same for him.
Out in the woods, Gohan stood with Videl. They were watching their daughter Pan in her moment of shine. "Watch this!" She told them. She was staring a tree down. She was a little show off and desired much attention. "YA!" With a spinning kick her foot hit the large tree and it fell in the opposite direction. It landed with a large boom and dust flew into the air. Not even her mother could do that!
"Wow Pan! Your grandpa would be so proud! Should we invite him for dinner so he can see?" Videl looked up at Gohan. He wore his glasses and a large grin. Pan reminded him a lot of his father Goku. He was so proud of her and couldn't believe her amazing strength.
"Sure!" Gohan told her. "I bet Pan is super hungry. She's been training all day to show us this." Videl reached for Pan's hand and together they walked towards their house. It was a nice quiet place that reminded him of his home when he lived with Chichi and Goku in his parent's house when he was just a little boy. Some days he missed his home, but he was happy that he had started one of his own. He tucked his hands in his pockets and walked towards the tree. Its roots were dangling at its end and it was lying flat on its side. With his strength, he flew into the air and pulled the tree back to standing position. "Sorry old fella." Gohan apologized on his daughter's behalf. He then piled dirt around it once more. There was no reason to leave it out of the soil to let it die.
"She certainly is strong." Piccolo's voice boomed from behind him. Gohan turned around. Sure enough, with his cape and Namekian wardrobe, Piccolo stood. He was his introverted, quiet friend.
"Hey Piccolo, so you saw that uh?"
Piccolo nodded with a smile. It was almost as if Pan were his granddaughter too. Piccolo was much older now. He barely sparred with Gohan anymore in his old age. Occasionally they would just for fun, but it was a rare privilege. He was proud of both Gohan and Pan.
"Would you like to come over for dinner?" Gohan asked. It was a silly question because he knew Piccolo would object, but it was the thought that mattered.
"That's alright Gohan. I've got other things I should be doing. Being the guardian of Earth should be one of them." Piccolo looked up to the sky just before he took to the air. He then smiled and went his separate way.
Gohan missed his old friend more often than not. When he was younger Piccolo used to push him to his limits, testing his strength and endurance, but only because he knew he could handle it. He never would've done it if he didn't think Gohan could survive it. For that, Gohan thanked him. It was a great feeling to know that even though his father was gone with Uub, Piccolo was guarding him and the rest of planet Earth. It must have been lonely, but Piccolo appreciated his dear friend who provided him with company on his rare visits.