Thank you to the reviewers!
Shall we continue?
Chapter 2: Bulma's Machine
Gohan's eyes fluttered open as the medication kicked into his system.
"You're awake!" Bulma said excitedly, her colorful eyes widening. She moved to his side, her hair all disheveled. She had been working all night frantically waiting impatiently for him to wake. She collapsed in the chair next to him.
"How long was I out?" Gohan asked as he sat up, grunting in pain.
Bulma said, "Only about a few hours. But, Gohan," she waved a finger at him, "You really need to be getting some rest."
Gohan ignored her and stood up. "You said you knew how to fix this. What were you talking about?"
Bulma stood up, excitedly, and started talking, "Oh, Gohan, it will be great! You and Trunks can go to the past and save everyone! Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, everyone! I built a machine for that sole purpose!"
Gohan stared at her. Dad, and Piccolo! They can come back! For the first time in a long time, a feeling washed over him: hope.
For the first time in a long time, he actually smiled. "When can we leave?"
Bulma gently made Gohan sit down, "As soon as you're fully rested, Gohan. Will you please stay in bed?"
Gohan finally sat back, and closed his eyes for sleep. Bulma smiled and went to check on her own son.
"Trunks? Are you awake?" she asked as she quietly opened the door to his room.
"I am now," was the muffled reply.
"Oh, sweety, I'm sorry. I just wanted to run an idea by you." She sat on the edge of his bed as he scooted himself back to allow his mother some room. "What is it, mother?"
"Well, let's see. How to start? You remember what I told you, right?"
"Yeah, mom, why?"
Bulma threw her hands in the air, "Because I know how to change it!"
Trunks looked at his mother in excitement. "You mean I can really meet my father?!" Trunks jumped up. "YES! Mother, this is great!" Trunks hugged his mother and Bulma embraced him in return.
"I'm glad that you think so. Now, go to sleep. We will discuss this more in the morning."
DBZ
THE NEXT MORNING
Gohan yawned and stretched. His feet landed softly on the floor as he tried to remember what Bulma had told him. He looked up at a picture of his mother, his father, and himself. That was so long ago. He shook his head. Walking out of his room, he saw a picture of Piccolo. Piccolo…Gohan reminisced in sadness. From the time he was dumped in the water as a rude wake up call, to their last few days of training together. He missed his sensei and best friend.
"Gohan, breakfast!" Shaken out of his thoughts, he went to sit with Trunks and Bulma.
AFTER BREAKFAST
Gohan sat on the edge of his bed, fully ready. They had discussed the plans during breakfast. No one was to know who Trunks was, but it was fine for them to know who Gohan was. Trunks was too young back then, was the reason he remembered. He supposed it was all right. Gohan shook his head and leaned back. He could still hear Trunks and Bulma talking excitedly in the other room. He sighed and closed his eyes.
Without meaning to, he fell asleep.
Gohan ran faster across the lake, hopping on different pieces of land, trying to get home. Tears were starting to sting his eyes, but he was determined. He was younger. It was a memory. Stopping outside the house, he caught his breath. He looked at Krillin, who looked away. Piccolo was looking at the ground, and his mother lay crying inside his father's room. That's when he knew. Without another word, he turned away and ran, to try to get away from the pain of losing his father, again. Only this time, he may never see or hear from him again. He shut his eyes as the tears flowed freely.
Then, he was a little older and facing the androids. Powering up, he flew towards one. He sent a flying kick towards the head but missed, and gasped in pain, as the android punched him in the stomach. He flipped and yelled, "Masenko-HA!!" and throwing his hands in front of him. The attack didn't even faze the androids. The android wore an evil smile that sent cold chills down his spine, but he wouldn't show any fear. Piccolo taught him that. Never show fear. Courage renewed, he went to face them again, but they had thrown an energy ball he couldn't block. Instead, a different energy blast reflected it back towards them. "Gohan, RUN!" he heard Piccolo yell. He flew a few feet, and then turned in time to see the two androids blasting energy balls left and right, and Piccolo on the floor. "No, PICCOLO!!" Gohan's eyes flooded with tears as he saw his sensei's motionless body on the ground.
"No!" Gohan shot up in bed, panting. If he keeps this up, the whole town will stay up with him, he thought. "Man, I didn't even realize that I fell asleep."
"That was obvious," Trunks jokingly said, while leaning against the door frame. "Are you coming or what?"
Gohan smirked and said, "Wouldn't miss it. Let's go."
IN BULMA'S LAB
The two walked in while Bulma was rewiring the time machine to the correct date. "Well," she asked over her shoulder, "What do you think?"
Gohan took it all in, the Capsule Corp. logo on the side, the landing legs slightly bent. Two seats were nicely made in leather, one behind the other, and a small fridge next to each of them that would fill up with enough food to feed four saiyans. It didn't seem like it would hold that much, but when Bulma's behind it, she knows what to do.
"Wow, Bulma, it looks great. Are you sure it will take us there in one piece?" Gohan asked as he walked around, surveying it.
"Gohan, this is my mother you're talking about," Trunks glared at him for a second then returned to looking at the machine as well.
"Glad you boys like it. Now, it's time to go, and remember," Bulma said as she started brushing off Trunks' jacket, "You can't tell anyone who you are, Trunks. I wasn't settled on a name when Goku came back." She smiled sadly. "You sometimes remind me of your father, Trunks. I think he would have been proud."
Trunks returned the smile. "I hope so."
Bulma turned her attention to Gohan. "You will take care of him and yourself, won't you, Gohan? You'll bring them back? It will affect our timeline, too, you know. Not the same way as the other timeline it will make because the androids are still here, but…oh, what the heck, go guys. No use staying here any longer." Bulma smiled and hugged Gohan and then her son. "And tell Goku that he HAS to take that medicine!" she yelled at them as they jumped in.
And so their journey began…
DBZ
What do you think? For the next chapter, should I put some humor in it, or should I go straight to when they arrive?? Please put it in your review.