I do not own DB\Z\GT\Kai or anything related. I just own my ideas and characters that are not from DB\Z\GT\Kai. There are several direct quotes from D.B.Z. used here; some are rephrased too.
I hope you like Chapter 3! Enjoy!
The Mysterious Youths
Chapter 3
Bulla's Lonesome Detour
"What do you mean we have to go back?!" Bulla snapped at her brother as the time machine landed. As the door opened, she was the first to jump down. Once her feet touched down on ground again, she folded her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow. Trunks glanced at her as he assisted Alisha down. He rolled his eyes.
"Come on, Bulla. I told you. Our work in the past isn't done yet."
"But, the risks are too great!"
"Yes, I know, but we have to help the Z-Fighters against the androids. No matter how much they train, they will never be fully prepared."
Bulla clicked her tongue angrily. "Grr! I don't want to go back and expose myself again! I mean, our appearance may cause a chain reaction or something!"
Alisha and Trunks walked over to her. "I agree," Alisha said. "But, I agree with Trunks as well."
"Make up your mind, Alisha!" Bulla muttered, irritably.
Alisha sighed. "We can't just leave them there to die again."
"But, we could die too!" Bulla replied. "If we die, we're screwed! Think, Alisha! We've done enough! We've done our part! Goku has his medicine. With him fighting, the androids won't stand a chance!"
"We don't know that for sure!" Trunks said. His gaze darted back and forth between both girls. "Look, you both can stay. I'll just go alone."
"Nuh-uh, Trunks! Don't even think about it!" Alisha snapped, glaring at him; making him flinch. "I'll be damned to let you go by yourself and face the androids alone! We're in this together! If you die, I will too..."
Trunks stared deep into her eyes and slowly nodded. "Alright, honey."
Alisha's expression warmed and her usual smile returned to her face. Her smile slowly faded seconds later. "In all seriousness, Trunks, you shouldn't go by yourself for your own sake."
"And there is no way you're leaving me here!" Bulla said, shooting a deadly look at her brother.
Trunks sighed and gritted his teeth. "Fine. But, I don't want to be hearing any complaints."
He mocked a fake cough as he eyed his sister. Bulla's eyes formed into slits. "I get the hint, bro." She placed her hands on her hips. "So, when do we leave?"
"Soon. Maybe in a few days." Trunks answered.
"Yeah, we need to re-cooperate. Maybe some extra training may come in handy." Alisha added. Trunks agreed. They all walked into the Capsule Corp. building were Bulma was eagerly waiting for them.
A few days had passed when the threesome decided they will go back to the past. The trio woke up early that morning. To their surprise, Trunks and Alisha saw that Bulla was the first one to arrive at the time machine.
"It's about time!" She grumbled at them.
Alisha raised an eyebrow as she threw a jean vest over her white t-shirt. "Bulla...it's only seven in the morning..."
"Early bird gets the worm, Alisha." Bulla responded.
Trunks smirked. "Look who isn't excited to go."
"Yeah, yeah, Trunks. You look like a mess by the way." Bulla said, smirking back.
Trunks blushed and scowled. "Funny, smart-aleck. Come on, go inside."
Bulla opened the way inside the time machine and seated herself comfortably in the front seat. She placed her arms behind her head and sighed. Trunks and Alisha lounged in the back. Bulla glanced at them. "Uh, guys?"
Trunks yawned. "I think...we're going to take a nap before we go."
"What?!" Bulla exclaimed, startled. "Are...you serious?"
Alisha smiled. "I'm up for that." She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. "Thanks, Trunks."
As Trunks kissed her cheek, Bulla said, "Oh come on! Why is it nap time?! We have to go!"
"No rush..." Trunks said through another yawn. "We're saving energy. You can nap too. No one's stopping you."
Bulla rolled her eyes. "No thanks. I'm fine."
"Okay," Trunks' voice firmed. "Now Bulla, while we sleep, don't touch anything. I repeat: Don't. Touch. Anything."
"Alright, alright! Sheesh, I'm not a little kid!"
"Still," Trunks said. "...Okay, I trust you. 'Night Bulla."
"It's daytime, Trunks."
"Whatever."
Bulla leaned back and sighed. She stared at the clear roof of the time machine for a while, daydreaming about the past. Memories of Goku and her mother flashed in her mind several times. As she remembered her father, a ball of light, similar to a ki blast, shot by in the sky. She gasped.
"The androids!" She yelled in fright. She immediately glanced down at the control panel. "No!" She gasped. "Not the androids! Not now! No!" On instinct, she pressed a button, hoping it will lead the machine away from the potential threat. But, just as Bulla realized what she did, it was too late.
"Oh-no! Go back!"
Her efforts weren't working and, in a flash, the surroundings disappeared and formed into another.
The time machine landed with a jolt. Bulla gripped to her seat, panicked. She caught glimpses of the new surroundings before she closed her eyes.
This can't be happening. Aw man, Trunks is going to kill me! He's going to be so pissed.
She opened one eyelid and braced herself for what she was about to face. The location was now a rocky landscape. Bulla sighed and groaned in frustration.
"Great," She muttered. "Just great." She face-palmed herself and stood up. Bulla quickly jerked around to Trunks and Alisha. Surprisingly, they were still asleep, completely unaware of what just happened. Bulla smiled and shook her head. "They're really knocked out."
Suddenly, an echo of blast reverberated around the time machine. Bulla ran to the front window, worrying someone attacked the time machine. It actually was the sound of a blast being shot a distance away.
"Where in time is this?"
Curious to find out, Bulla pressed the button opening the way out. She winced and looekd at the other two through the corner of her eye. They still were deep in slumber. With a sigh and a temptation to go, Bulla readied herself to fly. She hesitated.
Should I go? Who knows...it may be-
"The androids!" She half-whispered to herself. Once more, she glanced back at Trunks.
He'll die if I get killed out there...She pondered for a moment. Well, I'll keep my distance. If I don't get involved, I'll be fine. Besides...I might as well get a head start.
With that, Bulla flew out of the time machine, suppressing her ki.
The blasts came from an ongoing fight between Goku and the strangest person Bulla ever saw. As she hovered over the battlefield, her eyes widened in terror. What is that thing? It looks like a doll! Wait...Goku's energy!
Rapidly, Goku's energy was decreasing by the minute. Bulla pulled at hair's tips. How is this possible?!
Bulla studied Goku's movements. She noticed that he kept clutching at his chest. One reason came into her mind. She gasped. "No! It can't be!"
The heart virus! So soon?! How? This shouldn't be! What is happening?! Who is this guy fight Goku? He bears the Red Ribbon Army symbol...! Wait...no!
Detail after detail, Bulla started noticing how much history has changed.
With fear and guilt, Bulla watched the fight and how Super Sayian Goku was getting beaten to a pulp by this strange menace.
How can it be an android?! There's only 17, 18, and Alisha! That's it! Wait...whose this other guy?
She eyed Dr. Gero suspiciously. Could he be another android?! Bulla gawked at Gero and Android 19. Her gaze quickly snapped back to Goku as he fell to the ground after the final blow. Panic flooded her as she saw 19 place his hands on Goku's neck, looking as though placing him in a chokehold, when in reality he was absorbing his energy.
"Don't die, Goku! Please!" Bulla whispered. Her fists clenched tightly as they fell to her sides, away from her hair. "Damn, I have to do something about this! I can't take it!"
As she formed a spherical, yellow blast in her left palm, someone else stepped into the battle. Instantly, Bulla noticed who was the intruder.
"Father?"
Yes, Vegeta had finally stepped into the fray. He smirked at 19, confidence in his eyes. Bulla raised her eyebrows down at her dad. What is he planning to do?
Suddenly, without warning, she and the Z-Fighters below were stunned by the display of golden light that glowed around Vegeta like an aura as he transformed...into a Super Sayain. Disbelief flashed on multiple faces, including Bulla's.
"Father's a Super Sayian too?! Since when? What is happening?!"
Then, 19 launched an attack at Vegeta, hitting him directly in the face quite too easily. Bulla gasped.
Father!
19 wasted no time charging at Vegeta with multiple hits. Vegeta was inflicted by each one, not even attempting to dodge them.
What are you doing?!
Once the fists stopped flying, Vegeta smirked at Android 19. "Just as I thought," he said. "Nothing."
Bulla shook her head. Cocky. Why am I not surprised? She couldn't make out what Vegeta spoke to 19 next, but she did see a fierce, brutal attack to him following prior. Bulla watched as her father landed several punches and hits to 19 with ease; eventually hitting him hard to the ground, forming a crater. All the spectators gazed in awe and were stunned at the fight before them.
Vegeta landed down to where 19 laid spread-eagled in the crater. "Despicable," He muttered. "What a useless machine..." At those words, 19 sat up with a jolt and grasped at Vegeta's wrists.
Bulla stammered a shriek. Dad!
"I have you now!" Android 19 told Vegeta. "I will have all your energy!"
"Energy?" Bulla said. "It can absorb energy?! Oh no! Dad!"
The blast in her hand had started to fade, but she quickly reformed it and created another in her right hand. Just as Vegeta was placing his feet against the android's face, pushing it back, Bulla launched her blasts at the android's arms. As the blast came in contact with the arms, they broke apart. Stunned, Vegeta jumped back to the ground, looking around for whoever through the blasts as Android 19 staggered backwards. Bulla smiled.
"Yes! Direct hit!"
The android was too slow in reacting any other way. It could of absorbed the blasts, but I'm too sly for it.
Minutes later, Bulla saw the android jump from the crater. She prepared another blast, but decided not to launch it.
The other guy-I think is an android too-may step in and absorb it, if it can. I'll leave it to Father.
Vegeta fired an enormous blast at 19, engulfing the android in it. Vegeta then turned his attention to Android 20. Bulla was surprised when she saw him power down.
How much energy did he lose?
She saw how the android studied his opponent. Bulla glared at him. Suddenly, the android flew away toward a rocky canyon.
"What?! That coward!" Bulla yelled. She glanced down at the Z-Fighters then back at the android.
"Should I follow...?"
She pondered over the thought for a few moments before deciding to fly down to the remaining Z-Fighters as Vegeta left. Bulla heard the last phrases of their conversation.
"He's reached a new level. It's radical." Piccolo was saying.
"Do you think he's stronger than my Dad now?" Gohan asked.
Piccolo nodded.
"Really? You think?" Bulla asked.
They all turned to her as she landed beside them. Bulla managed to smirk. "Remember me, old friends?"
"Aren't you that girl that came-?"
"Yeah, three years ago." Bulla nodded. "There's no time for explanations. We need to follow D-uh, I mean Vegeta-now." She rose into the air and sped off. "Come on!" She called over her shoulder.
One by one, the warriors followed her. She smiled and told them, "Spread out! If one of you finds the android, say so! Okay?!"
A few nodded. Bulla glanced at Piccolo. "Make sure Gohan lays low."
She then split ways with them and headed off in the opposite direction.
The mountains were easy hiding spots as Android 20 had proven. Bulla heard a yell come from her right. She stopped and listened, wondering if someone found the android or was hurt. She soon heard that it was actually Vegeta, taunting Android 20. Bulla shook her head and headed toward that way, figuring 20 may be close by. But, she stopped again as she heard her Father yell, "Fine! I'll blast you out!"
"No!"
Bulla headed for the giant sphere of energy being produced nearby. As the blast was thrown, she saw Android 20 running toward it, his hands up. Bulla stood a few feet from him and raised her own hands, preparing to push away the blast. As the blast collided with her hands, Bulla struggled to force it back. She summoned all her power, but it was no use.
"I-I can't hold it!" She yelled. Bulla let go of the blasts and flew to the opposite side, allowing Android 20 to absorb the energy.
"Damn it!" Bulla cursed. She flew to the top of a rocky steep, panting.
"It...didn't...work...Ugh!" She panted. She pounded her fists into the surface. She glanced up, searching for Android 20.
"Where'd the android go?" Her eyes frantically searched for him. "I have to watch my back. He may be on the prowl for more energy. I've got to find the others and protect them!"
But as she started to stand up, she felt a cold hand clasp at her mouth. Bulla screamed and grasped at the hand. She turned to look into the android's dark eyes.
"You can't save them now." He said.
Bulla screeched and thrashed around, kicking at him. She slowly started feeling the remaining energy she had slip away.
"Who's going to save you?" The android cackled with laughter.
Bulla glared at him and continued to move around.
TRUNKS!
Trunks' eyes snapped open and he stood up quickly.
"Bulla!"
Alisha opened her eyes too and stood up beside him. "Trunks, where'd she go? Wait, where are we?!"
"Oh-no! She sent us to the past! She's out there all by herself!" Trunks grabbed for his sword and rushed outside. Alisha followed him.
"Hold on, Bulla! We're coming!"
I hope you liked the chapter. Sorry it was shorted than the previous one.
Thanks for reading!