Videl's breakdown was a catalyst for a meeting of all the adults. Hercule gave Videl the day off to rest and he asked everyone to meet up today. The Bulmas, Goku, Roshi, Baba, and Hercule all met to discuss the situation. The biggest flaw in this entire scenario was more blatantly obvious than ever before. The fate of the world was hinging on children. Children too young and inexperienced to have such responsibility hinge on them. Unfortunately, there was not anyone else that could help. These kids didn't just need to get stronger, they needed to grow up and mature. The Bulmas then recognized that if they could change how space and gravity work in this chamber, there was a possibility that it could also change how time worked. If the hyperbolic time chamber could fit a year in a day, perhaps they could do that or even more here.
There were no recent reports of android activity. The more time that went by the more the tension built up. After all, it was only a matter of time before the next strike. This left Gohan in a perpetual state of anxiety. With discussions of turning this into a new kind of hyperbolic time chamber, possibly without the limits of the one on the lookout, this was starting to ease Gohan's mind but developing that kind of technology would take time. Time that neither he nor Videl felt like they had. He decided that he would take Videl to the hyperbolic time chamber for 2 days. They would never be able to enter again, but with the possibility of the training chamber becoming even more powerful by dilating time, this might be what Videl needed to start building some real power. If it didn't kill her.
Gohan and Videl sat with Goku in the training room as Goku described his experiences in the chamber. The heavy gravity, the high atmospheric pressure, the nothingness of the place. Her heart sank as she realized she would go from 9 years old to 11 years old without her father. Without anyone but Gohan. She felt a panic remarkably like when she saw the androids blowing up the city and she began to tremble. Her heart was in her throat and breathing became difficult. Realizing this, Goku stopped speaking and Gohan held her. He then said "Videl, you saved my life. You're already a hero. You don't have to go in if you don't want to." Something about the way Gohan held her made her stop shaking. She realized in those moments that she felt as safe with Gohan as she did her father. She looked up at him and then returned his embrace. She then softly said "As long as you're with me I'll be ok".
At first, Hercule was not happy about the thought of losing 2 years of her life. As she reassured her father she would be ok with Gohan, she could feel her own remaining trepidation go away. Gohan had to admit to himself there was something special about this girl. What was it? He didn't know. Hercule finally relented and made her promise that she would come out if it got to be too hard on her. She promised and the two began heading to the chamber of spirit and time. Upon arrival at the lookout they saw Mr. Popo standing there. Almost as if he was expecting their arrival. There was a wisdom in the eyes of this odd little man that was both comforting and frightening. Gohan had been here before during the fight against Garlic Junior. Popo then greeted them saying "I was wondering when you would arrive".
Gohan looked at Videl and then back at Popo saying, "You knew we were coming?" Popo nodded and said, "It was only a matter of time. I'm no guardian, but I still see the events below. I knew you would need the room of Spirit and Time." He then looks at Videl and says "You, on the other hand, who are you?" Videl blushed a little and looked down saying, "My name is Videl. Nice to meet you." Popo gently lifted her head and peered into her eyes. "The chamber will be extremely hard on you. Are you sure you want to go in?" She nodded and said, "I have Gohan. I'll be ok". Mr. Popo nodded and explained the room, how food worked and what to expect, just as Goku did. This time she wasn't frightened. She and Gohan listened attentively. They would spend two years in there. When all was said and done, the two entered the chamber and would not emerge for 2 days. Or for their perspective, 2 years.