**Revised March 9th, 2021**

Vol. 1 – Sparks of the Beginning

- 1 –

An Uneventful Reunion

Lady Time is such a fickle, fragile creature. She flows in one direction, a rippling, endless stream that cascades around all of us. From the tiniest microbe - to planets and stars, where only massive black holes that gobble all light near their turbulent bodies can dare to escape her delicate but decaying touch. Yet, it is known among few that events that were once the deemed path for her can be drastically changed. Those paths can and have been altered beyond recognition by choices made by those who had a seemingly minor part to play in this tale of history and life.

A single choice.

That is all it takes to twist Lady Time's path into a multitude of other unknown paths—spiraling off and mirroring the Great Tree of Life - a white tree, with each branch containing another version of reality within the fleshy rings beneath hard white bark. Who knows where each one leads? Can even the fates say? Who knows what will happen when the old known events that once followed this worn story in the great rings of truth disappear and fade, lost and forgotten in the expanse of time and space.

What was known is replaced with what is unknown. Each new branched universe could be slightly askew, or things can be radically different. With new faces, places and events. Yet, if you look into each story, you will find the resemblances of familiarity. The same people and actions. A pattern in the chaos. A chosen few who will always be. Or events fated to be.

This. This and the events that lie herein are only one such branch in Lady Time's glorious White Tree. A story of how two souls and the people around them were altered by one choice. A choice made by a man the fates deemed for death at the hand of a monstrous Tyrant. This is a story of how no matter what separated them, these people together would conquer all the odds that were stacked against them to find each other and fulfill their destinies.

.~-~.

In the vastness of space, a small sphere, a silvery one-manned ship, slips silently through the barrage of stars. Stars streak past, the specks of light reflected on the darkened window. The ship's course was unplanned. A mere fluke of a bloody disfigured hand as it smashed against the control keys. The single inhabitant, unconscious. Not from the drugs meant to keep him asleep in stasis, but for a darker reason.

A faint grunt escapes his dry, blood-encrusted cracked lips. His head sways from the weight, unable to keep it up. His eyes open a crack. Vision blurry as he takes in the swirling stars and the crimson-stained prints on the white control panel. Closing his eyes, he drifts in-and-out of his mind, unable to comprehend what lay before him or how his life would come to change from this. His body is battered and broken. Memories of a high-pitched laugh and searing white-hot pain flash in his head. Haunting horrors of what he left behind refusing to leave him even as he gives in to a troubled, restless slumber.

.~-~.

"I want change. Adventure. Action. Something more than… this."

Bulma heaved a hefty sigh as she tucked a strand of her silky shoulder-length blue hair behind her ear. Her teal eyes searched out into the rolling sea before her. The water licked her thighs. Her pale fingers greeting each wave. A small smile tugged at her lips as she recalled her childhood fondly.

"It started with the dragon balls, right? Searching for them so I could wish for the perfect boyfriend." She laughed. A harsh, biting sound that mocked her naïve foolishness. "I really should have just wished for strawberries."

Stepping back with her left foot, Bulma turned sideways. Her eyes searched the small island. Master Roshi's pink house looked monstrous. It didn't fit the picturesque surroundings one bit. Just like she didn't fit this structured world. It was chaffing. Why didn't anyone tell her how the grown-up world was a pile of steaming crap. Money impediments, project issues, governmental people to please, and strained relationships.

More like failed relationships and shattered dreams. Was that all being an adult amounted to?

The child who dreamed of the stars and adventure was slowly dying. Crushed under responsibilities. The mountains of endless paperwork. The countless board meetings. The tabloids - where it was 'watch what you say, Bulma' and 'got to look your best, Bulma'.

Growing up sucks, she thought with a frown. Sucks more when others refuse to do it with you.

Closing her eyes, she tilted her head to face the sun. She stood in the sunlight but felt nothing from the blinding light. No peace of mind. No calm. Just numb emptiness. Above gulls cried, swooping down to attack an unfortunate crab. The tiny island's lone palm tree swayed back and forth, lightly tapping the roof of the pink house.

It's so calm here. And what am I doing? Wasting it being a miserable grump.

She knew she should try harder. Let all her thoughts and worries go and give in to the bliss of this fleeting peace. But that was a difficult task to ask from her, a girl in the throes of heartbreak. Not even the prospect of seeing Goku was helping her turbulent thoughts. She couldn't stop thinking. And that was the problem, wasn't it? Thinking. She never stopped thinking. Not even when she slept. Her mind was always running and running. If she could just stop.

The equation on her mind this time wasn't even a mathematical one -or remotely scientific- but with the way her mind was grinding over it, one would think it was. Men. Or rather one particular man - Yamcha. Shaking her head, she opened her eyes and looked out at the crystal blue expanse. He started it. But in truth, it was more of an awakening. A realization that she was far from the dreams she wished as a child.

Exploring the unknown. The thrill and adventure of it all. Space and the stars.

Somewhere along the way, she let herself fall into the trap of what others wanted and expected of her. For these ten years, she was Ms. Briefs, the richest heiress who set the latest freshest fashion fads and the hottest trends. The on-again, off-again girlfriend to the biggest baseball star. His staunchest supporter, even as he diddled around with any pretty girl that caught his eye. She was the perfect girlfriend. Understanding. Forgiving. Beautiful.

No one cared that each time she learned of a new affair, something broke inside her. Or that she was the world's most outstanding scientist, having long surpassed her father as she churned out one weapon after another for the military. She was always Yamcha's girl first and foremost. And second, the daughter of Dr. Briefs and the ex-supermodel, Bunny.

Frowning, she curled her fingers into fists. Holding grudges was childish, right? Mostly when he hadn't exactly done anything wrong with that blonde reporter woman. It had been only a harmless dinner at West City's most famous bachelors' pick-up restaurant, Scarlet's. Or so he said -yeah, right!- Bulma was not born yesterday, and while she had never caught him in the physical activity, she knew better than anyone how he could get, letting his hormones get the best of him.

Sure, she was not so innocent either. There had been a time or two when she sought solace in the arms of another. Secretly, of course, heaven forbid the tabloids find out. She and Yamcha were so inconsistent that sometimes it was difficult to know when they were supposed to be in a "committed" relationship or not, and she may or may not have cheated on him once. With how hectic and busy her life was these days - any free time she got off was rare, and she sometimes didn't want to deal with him, so she too would make up little white lies to get out of seeing him.

But never did she only seek him out to gain something from him. She wanted to be with him because he was her friend and did want his company. The fact of the matter was: Bulma was trying to grow up. She was trying to think about her future and starting the process of settling down, and Yamcha was only getting wilder.

When they were younger, they had talked about their future and perhaps marriage. Who didn't? But both had been perfectly happy experimenting and enjoying life in the moment that such ideas were like shooting stars, too distant and hard to grasp that they didn't matter. At twenty-six (and a lot of pressure from her mother), Bulma was starting to realize that she was not getting any younger, and life did come with a time limit. She didn't want to settle down this second with a man and start popping out kids, but she also didn't want to end up like her Aunt Lilly, old, hiding her wrinkles with plastic surgery, and so very alone.

At least that's what she had thought before this latest heartbreak. The awakening as it were. The cheating. The lying. The gaslighting. Her saintly image. All of it was second to her broken dreams.

Bulma's thoughts paused as she watched a rainbow fish daringly swim close to her legs only to dart away. Something about the fish only served to remind her, yet again, of Yamcha. He would come around her needing something, but any other time he was nowhere to be found, and she was left alone trying to fill this emptiness she felt without him.

Biting her lip, she rubbed her arms, practically hugging herself. No, it wasn't just that she was lonely. Or that she was trying to settle down, and Yamcha wasn't willing to. No, it was so much more than that. And maybe that was why she was so mad this time. Why she was so hurt.

More and more these days, she only got his answering machine, which by itself was an issue in-it-self. But the real pain came when she only saw him publically at high-end restaurants or celebrity events he needed her to gain access to... He was using her.

Her eyes started to water, threatening to spill, and she blinked, horrified where her thoughts had taken her as her stomach sank. But it was hard to ignore the truth that was slapping her in the face. And if there was one thing she disliked most in this world, it was being used.

Taking a shaky breath in and out, she tried to calm her wayward thoughts and emotions. The last thing she wanted or needed was to break down and cry here with the others inside. But the ache persisted, festering in her chest and her mind. She was torn. On one side, the thoughts society deemed she should be concerned about – being the perfect girlfriend and wife, and creating the next generation. Why couldn't she find a man who treated her with respect and decency? One who didn't use her and liked her for who she was? On the other side - her shattered dreams.

She should have just wished for strawberries.

With a pitiful sigh, Bulma turned from the ocean and started back for the tiny golden beach and the pink house and that one palm tree lightly tapping the roof. She ran a hand through her damp cerulean hair.

Her feet sunk into the sand as she neared the plastic forest green chair and snatched the pink towel from it to dab her face. She dried the rest of her body before wrapping it around her thin waist. With a huff, she blew a few strands of hair from her face and sat down, elbows propped up on her knees and chin in her hands as she thought bitterly, Look how well that turned out, Bulma. Sighing again, her lower lip protruded out as she began to pout. I really want strawberries now.

"Hey... Are you okay, Bulma?" Krillin asked suddenly, startling her from her chaotic thoughts.

She turned to find the short bald monk in his orange gi standing on the house's porch. His round face and normally open gray eyes were pinched with concern as he started stepping down the stairs to the beach.

Bulma turned back to the ocean view and snapped, "Yes."

He cringed at the tone but said nothing as he walked over to her, even as she did her best to ignore him. The sand shifted beneath his bare feet. It was warm but thankfully not scorching. Krillin came to a stop next to her. Bulma glanced sideways at him as his gaze remained out over the surf and seagulls flying above, a slight smile on his lips. Looking down, she buried her toes within the golden sanctuary of warm rocky particles, and together they remained like this. For a few long minutes, in the island's silence as gulls cried and waves washed onto the shores. Neither saying a word and yet, it wasn't an awkward silence. It was oddly peaceful and reassuring.

Suddenly he nudged her gently, breaking the tranquility that surrounded them. "Don't worry, Bulma. I'm sure he will call you by the end of this week groveling, saying how much a fool he is... for doing whatever he did this time. And if not, then it's not the end of the world. I'm sure Kami is looking out for you..." he hesitated and then chuckled, "You know, since we kind of know Kami."

She had been frowning until the joke about Kami and with it gave her own light-hearted chuckle. Feeling herself relax, she tilted her head to look again at the short man. He was right, of course. She did know the Guardian of Earth - or at least knew him through Goku. Maybe he was looking out for her?

I wonder if I could ask him for help? She pushed the thought from her head, knowing it was a silly thought. But it helped nonetheless.

"Thanks, Krillin."

He beamed back at her. "What are friends for?"

She smiled softly. Something red moved in her peripheral vision, and she looked, finding a crab as it crawled in the sand, pinchers held high in the air and spit bubbling from its mouth. She couldn't help but smile at it before looking back out over the water. What would she do without Krillin? She glanced sideways at her friend, this time with an appraising glint in her teal eyes. While he was shy more often than not, when it came down to it, he always knew the right thing to say to make her feel better.

Maybe I should date him instead. Wrinkling her nose, she shook her head and looked away. No, that's ridiculous. I don't need a man.

Krillin caught the look and motion on her face and gave her a wide-eyed puzzled look. "What?"

Bulma kicked up sand as she pulled her feet from it, leaning back on her arms as she looked up at the big puffy clouds above. "Oh, nothing."

Unsure of what to do, Krillin frowned as he studied her. Luckily for her, a few seconds later, he felt a familiar ki signature flash across his mind. His head snapped to the left, and he stared intently at the sky.

Seeing it, she sat up and asked, "What is it?"

What if it's Yamcha? What was she going to do? She was an emotional wreck and didn't want to see him yet. What was he doing coming so soon? As a general rule, it took him at least three days for him to come to his senses. Not that I can forgive him this time. He isn't even the actual problem here.

Before her thoughts could go back to those darker paths, a huge goofy grin appeared on Krillin's lips. "It's Goku."

Following his gaze towards the sky, all her thoughts and worries flew away from her mind as excitement at seeing her oldest friend, her best friend and brother, surged forward, and she brought her hand up to block the sun, trying to get a better look. After a few seconds, she found the small speck. Sure enough, there he was, flying on Nimbus. Smiling, she jumped to her feet and took a few steps forward before she began to wave her hands above her head.

It is Goku! She was going to see him in -how long had it been? Five Years?- and nothing else mattered at that point. She started waving her arms more frantically as he got closer, calling out to him. She knew she must have looked like a crazy person screaming and jumping as she was, but she didn't care. She was too happy to let appearances get in the way. She was here anyway to see her friends, especially Goku, her first real friend. He was practically her little brother, for Kami's sake! Not having seen him at least once these past years had been hard on her and honestly troubled her considering how much time they spent together growing up.

"GOKU!" she screeched with joy, her voice echoing out across the water, and he laughed, waving back.

No. Instead of gaining the perfect boyfriend, I gained friends. Good friends. And a little brother that I wouldn't trade anything for. I can always work on my dreams later. As she let that thought settle over her and warm the place that had been cold and hollow just seconds before, Roshi and Oolong called out from the front porch before making their way down to her and Krillin.

.~-~.

After her tall spiky-haired friend wearing that familiar old orange, gi landed, and they shared greetings as well as introductions to his son, Gohan. The gang headed into the pink house with Turtle carrying the child on his back. The conversation inside ranged from ChiChi and how the married life was treating Goku - to Bulma's new projects and Master Roshi's dirty magazines. They ate a meal of steaming fish and crab, and drank beer and wine, slipping into recounts of all the good times they had and friends not there. Minutes and then hours trickled by, and before they knew it, the sun was starting to set on their little island.

All Bulma knew was that she didn't want it to end. She hadn't been this happy in... She wasn't sure how long! And that was significant. Just to have Goku, Krillin -and yes Master Roshi and Oolong- all there chatting and laughing like old times. It felt good. Real good. Those dark thoughts long forgotten, chased away by their presence. So it startled her when she glanced out the window to find the sun was sinking over the waves lighting the sky in rays of rosy pink, and most of all saddening. Their time had come to an end, and she knew that Goku and his young son would have to leave soon, made all the more apparent when she noticed Gohan had fallen asleep on top of Turtle's shell.

Why did it always feel like she was saying goodbye these days?

Goku sighed, getting a look out the window himself, and set his empty beer bottle down. "Sorry guys, we need to get going. ChiChi will be fuming if I get home with Gohan too late."

The mood in the room instantly flattened. Krillin glanced at Gohan. "Yeah, I guess it is getting late. Sorry if we get you into trouble, Goku."

Shrugging his shoulders, he scratched the back of his head and laughed. "It's okay. I was glad I came."

Bulma rose to her feet, refusing to let her disappointment show as she walked over to Gohan. She gently picked up the sleeping child, being careful not to wake him. It seemed to be a moot point because the child slept like he was dead to the world as she passed him over to his father.

Goku smiled fondly at her, and her heart squeezed. Gohan looked so much like his father that it was bringing back memories all over again. Smiling back, she went for the door and continued the small talk with the others as they stepped out of the house.

Standing in a circle around Goku, they all fell silent. He sighed. "Well, I guess this is goodbye until next time we meet."

"Let's not make it too long, Goku," Bulma muttered softly, trying not to cry. She didn't want to wait another five years to see this man who had become family in so many ways.

"Yeah, too many years have passed," Krillin agreed, nodding. "Let's have some kind of get-together every year, in the least. I want to see that son of yours grow up." He smiled as he patted his friend on his lower back, unable to reach higher.

"Sure!" Goku replied happily, "And if you guys ever need anything, give me a call or something."

"You bet!" Bulma punched him lightly in the arm. "Goodbye, Goku."

"See ya. Krillin. Master Roshi. Oolong. Bulma..." With one last look at her and a squeeze of her upper arm, he took off into the night sky.

"Bye, Goku!" she called out after him.

Watching Goku leave with his sleeping son - was hard. Her snot nose, naive little friend who she had practically raised, was now a father. And another painful reminder of the fact that she would probably never find the perfect guy -because if she was at all honest with herself, no one could really beat Goku. She shook her head. What a ridiculous thought. Goku was too much like her brother to count, right?

Sighing, she ran her fingers through her hair. It didn't matter. It was a hopeless cause, to find a man who loved her for her, and to have a family with... ChiChi didn't know how good she had it.

But was a perfect man the real issue? If she wanted kids, she didn't have to be married. Society norms be damned! She'd raise a kid and follow her dreams.

After a few seconds, Bulma crossed her arms and looked at the others. "Well, I guess I better get going too."

Krillin whined slightly, "Oh, do you?"

"You can sleep here if you want, Bulma," Roshi said in his 'fake' grandfatherly tone as he straightened his back and leaned lightly on his cane. It didn't fool her for a second. She could see those lecherous eyes ogling her even under those tinted glasses of his.

"Kami, no! Not with you, you old pervert!"

He gave her an innocent look as she walked over to the beach chair to collect her things. It didn't matter what either said. She was not staying. She had long lost count of how many times the old buffoon had tried to pull something with her. He always had. He always would. It was him, and nothing was going to change the disgusting old goat.

Groaning with understanding, Krillin shook his head as he gave Master Roshi a displeased look. "Okay, Bulma. Keep in touch, will you? You're just as bad as Goku too, sometimes, you know?"

Sliding the white sundress over her head, she chuckled lightly. "Fine. I'll call you every week, Krillin. I'll call you so much you will grow tired of my voice."

After putting her towel in her bag and throwing the bag's strap over her shoulder, she turned back to them, hugging Krillin. She snorted as Roshi and Oolong offered their open arms, turning up her nose as she passed by, going straight to her yellow aircraft. Really, the pig could be just as bad as that old man most days.

Opening the door, she threw her bag in the front passenger seat before grabbing the handle and hauling herself up. Sitting in the pilot seat, she proceeded to push buttons and flick switches, starting the engines before waving back at them. The old man, her short friend, and the pig stood waiting by the door of the little pink house.

"Goodbye, guys."

"Bye, Bulma!"

Bulma took hold of the controls, piloting the aircraft and shooting straight up into the air before streaking across the sky, moving quickly towards her home in West City. The vast blue ocean sped past underneath, giving way to land and the blurs of greens and browns. All the while, she plotted and planned. She was going to cancel her military projects. All of them. She was done being a weapon maker for pointless wars and death. Then firmly dump Yamcha on his worthless, cheating ass – damn what the tabloids said.

No, wait. She would hire her own writers and spin her story. That was much better. She set the public opinion and latest trends. It was about time she set it.

Grinning like a fool, Bulma placed the aircraft on autopilot before reaching over towards her bad. She dug through it, searching for her tablet, when something large and white zoomed past the windshield.

"AHHHH" a startled scream escaped her. Her eyes opened wider as she grabbed the controls and jerked her aircraft to the side, taking it automatically off autopilot.

Seconds after the initial start, she slowed the aircraft to a dead stop. It hung there in the night sky, unmoving as she panted heavily, mind frozen and face pale as her heart raced, thumping wildly in her chest. Gradually her mental capacity returned, and with it the realization that she almost died. It was interesting how nothing had flashed before her eyes. No images of her life or even a sudden comprehension of something important. All there had been was the shock. Nothing more. She was breathing heavily when her body started to loosen up, breaking free from her frozen position in the seat as she shook her head.

Hands shaking, she ran a hand through her blue hair, trying to get a hold of herself as she wondered out loud, "What in the name of Kami was that?"

All she knew was that it had been big, far bigger than any ordinary meteorite that usually crashed on Earth. And that it had been white. She was also reasonably certain meteorites weren't white. Did another plane almost crash into her?

Oh, Kami... they were crashing, right?

Without a second thought, she flipped her aircraft around and headed back. Turning on the searchlights, her eyes scanned the ground for the plane. Only, what she found in the vast crater below her wasn't a plane. No, what remained in the crater was the debris of what looked to be a spaceship of sorts that had once been a sphere, littered everywhere. It was clear from the wreckage that no one would be surviving it, not with the twisted white metal jammed into the rocky ground with fallen trees.

The crash site was made more haunting with the ghostly pale moon's glow. Broken trees. Twisted metal that glinted in that ethereal pale light. Her eyes widened with disbelief. She was still concerned for whoever had been piloting the thing. And more than a little curious. She started to ease her aircraft into a landing, touching down a few yards from the beginning of the crater. Being sure to grab her emergency capsule case from the center storage console, she got out of her yellow aircraft and rushed to the huge indent. She came to a stop just before, taking the damage in from ground level.

Holy smokes, what a crash. Bulma licked her lips. And I almost was part of it!

With a shake of her head, she cleared those thoughts away before starting down the incline of the crater, sliding ever-so-often on the rocky debris and trees that littered the ground. The further she came towards the center, the more and more she started to believe no one lived.

She had also come to realize that the ship hadn't been as big as she had initially thought it to be. In fact, it looked like it could have only held one person. Nor was this ship made out of any material that she knew of. While there was a lot of debris, she was surprised by how whole and intact some of them were.

Who owned this model? It had to be a prototype. It was nothing she had seen before.

There is always the possibility that it came from outer space, her inner child whispered excitedly.

Bulma came to a stop just before the main wreckage. Unable to quell the excitement at the thought that what she was seeing was extraterrestrial in nature. What would she give to have this be a moment of blind luck and have her wildest fantasies of obtaining space travel come true?

Anything. Absolutely anything. Just when Bulma decided she was going to follow her dreams and this happens. It had to be a sign.

Giddily, she skipped forward, but she stopped that just as quickly as she started, nearly tripping and falling flat on her face. Taking a deep breath, Bulma pushed down her excitement and continued making her way towards the center, carefully picking her way through the white and silver pieces of ship that were burnt and charred in some places as they jetted out from the ground. She ignored the pieces that interested her, strange objects that had wires and were still blinking. There would be time later to examine them.

Finally she reached the heart of the wreckage. She climbed on top of the pile and bent down, starting to clear some of the pieces and dirt away. Her hands sized a laptop sized piece of what looked to be the outer shell of the craft - when a hand shot out, grabbing her wrist weakly.

Startled, she screamed. The high-pitched wail echoing around her as she yanked her hand away and fell backwards, landing roughly on her ass. After the shock wore off, her eyes widened with the realization that her thoughts of no one living were wrong. Her hand came up to her pounding heart, trying to get a hold of her frantic breaths.

"Oh Kami!"

**Author Notes**

Blessed be, everyone!

So here is the edited/revised chapter one. Wow, was I wordy back then! For those who recall the past renditions of this chapter, you should notice the changes. I cut a bunch that was… well crap. Bulma sounded really vain and whiny. I'm perfect, bla bla bla, rich and smart, bla bla bla. Why I ever thought that was good, I don't know. I also found her problems to be off. Bulma's dramatic, yes, but not to the extent I had her written here. She's head strong, follows her own beat sort of girl. Having her so upset about finding the perfect husband and having kids, felt really out of character. So I altered that a little. Maybe it's the wisdom of being older?

Also, I changed the name from Choices to Twisted Fates. I believe there is another longish, well-known fanfic out there using Choices, and while that title still fits, I think Twisted Fates fits a little better.

Thanks for reading!

Kattsumia ~ Lilpumpkingirl