Trunks and his mother settled on a plane overlooking North City. A blanket was laid out over the grass and many different foods were sitting on top of it. The two passed plates between each other, sitting underneath the shade of a willow tree. It had been forever since they were last able to just relax and be in each other's presence. They didn't have to worry about work or training or the androids - they could just relax together like they used to.

He bit into a rice ball. As he swallowed, he wiped away the stray grains of rice stuck to his mouth. "So… what now?"

She glanced at him, before she kept eating her sandwich. "Now? We need to find out how to stop the androids. I'm really close to finishing the plans for the time machine. I'll need to find parts, but I might be able to get it up and running in a few months."

They wouldn't need to do that. Trunks was so close to becoming a Super Saiyan he could almost taste it. When he powered up as much as he could, he could feel himself hit a barrier. He just needed a push and he'd finally be able to break through. If only he knew what that push would entail. He just nodded, keeping his thoughts to himself.

Instead, he thought of something else. "Hey mom?"

"Yes, Trunks?

"What made dad get so strong?"

She scoffed. "Training like a mad man, for one. Every second of every day, he was locked away doing nothing but that. Though if you ask me, that might have done him more harm than good. You need time to relax and wind down, in order to get stronger."

Trunks tried not to roll his eyes. Piccolo had given him that lecture a hundred times. "There's gotta be more than that. Do you know?"

She blinked, before she set down her plate. She leaned her cheek against her hand. "Actually, yeah. He once told me that the greatest trigger for a Saiyan's power was anger. If that's the case, then it doesn't surprise me that your father was able to get as strong as he is."

So that was it: he needed to get really, really mad. That wouldn't be hard - there were plenty of things out there to be upset over. But he got frustrated over that all the time, and he still hadn't become a Super Saiyan. Maybe it was a certain kind of anger that pushed one over the edge. Whatever it was, he needed to figure it out.

Right then, the ground shook violently. When they looked up, a large cloud of fire and smoke was billowing from the middle of North City. Screams filled the air, as more explosions shook the rest of the city.

Trunks shot up, throwing his plate to the ground. "Damn those androids," he shouted. "Those people didn't have a chance!" He threw his fists at his sides, as his energy flared around him. His heart was racing with fury, as he looked on at the scene. "I've gotta stop them!"

"Wait," his mother shouted. He glanced back to see her standing up. "I'm coming with you."

His eyes widened. "R-really?!"

She rolled up her sleeves as she walked up beside him. "We'll take on those bastards together. What do you say?"

He had never seen his mom like this before. Piccolo told him that she used to fight more, and now he was going to get to see it. In spite of the situation he grinned and nodded at her. "Right. Let's do this!"

17 fired into the city, destroying building after building. 18 sat nearby, watching with a bored look on her face. After only a few minutes, they managed to decimate half of the city, and now there was no one else to mess with.

"I don't know how you enjoy that," she said. "It isn't as fun with all of the humans gone."

He stopped firing and looked over his shoulder. "18, I don't think you appreciate the art of destruction enough. Besides, you got to mess with a lot of them already."

"I did, until you got out of hand and most of them escaped."

He put his hands on his hips. "Then how about a game - whoever kills the most wins."

"Sounds fun." She pointed behind her and fired at a poor man climbing out of the rubble. A large cloud of smoke and ash and she smiled. "One for me."

Suddenly, 17 was knocked into a pile of rubble. 18 soon followed, knocked into the opposite direction. When they emerged, hair disheveled and clothes ruined, Bulma and Trunks were standing in the middle of the ruined street.

"Oh great," 18 said, glaring at Trunks. She looked less angry and more annoyed. "It's you. And you brought 16 with you."

Bulma crouched down into a fighting stance, with one hand in front and the other behind. "If you call me that again, you'll be sorry."

"Not as sorry as you're going to be for messing up my clothes," said 17. "I only have four more pairs left, and that doesn't make me very happy."

"17, how about a new game - whoever kills the kid wins. And whoever kills 16 gets to pick the next thing we do."

"It's a deal."

Trunks took a guarded stance, his back against his mother's.

"Trunks," she said in a whisper, "Listen to me carefully. This fight might be too much for us to handle. If I tell you to run, you run. Don't ask questions or hesitate - just do it."

"But what about you?"

"I'll be fine. Just do what I say. Please."

Reluctantly, he nodded.

17 and 18 lept out towards them. Bulma and Trunks glanced at each other, before jumping backwards, drawing them away from each other. They might have been too much for them to handle in pairs, but maybe they could take them down individually. He dealt with 17, while she dealt with 18.

Trunks raised his hand in the air and fired right at 17. He knocked it out of the way with one arm, sending it crashing into a building. The android phased in front of him, punching him right in the cheek. While he was stunned, he kicked Trunks into a building, where his back hit the brick and cement hard. He cringed in pain, but pushed himself off of the wall to propel himself back towards him. He was not going to let this android best him.

He threw every punch and kick he had towards him, to which the android dodged each of them. Trunks fired at him once more, which he dodged. But it left him distracted, allowing him to uppercut 17 in his chin. As they exchanged blows, while ducking and blocking each other's attacks, Trunks couldn't help but notice his demeanor during the fight. 17's usual android coldness had begun to melt away. He had a crazed look in his eyes, as if the fight was making him excited. Maybe this was just how he got his sick kicks.

Trunks kicked his knee into his stomach, making him gasp in surprise. While he was distracted, he glanced at the other fight. His mom was fighting 18 head on. And she was holding her own against her. He grinned. His mom really was the best.

Right as 17 tried to hit him, he blocked him with his forearm. Then, he punched him back, sending him flying. He raised his hands above his head. A bright yellow ball of energy formed in his palm. "MASENKO, HA!" He threw his hands forward, directed right at 17.

But before his energy could be released, 18 suddenly phased next to him, hitting him in the face. Trunks went flying, crashing through an abandoned skyscraper. 17 and 18 followed in hot pursuit, firing back at him. He saw the bright balls of light hurtling towards him and shut his eyes tightly, bracing himself for impact.

However, his mom grabbed him and flew out of the way just in time. The energy hit the building, making it collapse in on itself. They landed several feet away.

"Go, Trunks," she said in a panicked voice. "Get back to the Lookout."

"What," he yelled. "Why?! I can do this! I can win this!"

She shook her head, constantly glancing over her shoulder. "Please, Trunks. You can't risk fighting them now. If they do something like that, again, you'll get killed. And you need to stay alive."

Trunks couldn't believe he was hearing this. If she thought they were too strong, fine, but he didn't want to leave without his mother. She needed to stay alive, too. "What about you?!"

She pushed his hair back, straining a smile. "I'll be fine, sweetie. I'll hold them off for as long as I can. Just… just get back to the Lookout. Find Piccolo and tell him everything that's happened."

Just then, another beam of energy came hurtling towards them. Bulma grabbed Trunks and jumped out of the way. But right as they got in the air, another one came from the opposite direction. She turned around, letting it hit her right in the back. The impact made her cry out and let go of him.

Trunks landed on the ground below. When he looked up, his mom was fighting 17 and 18 by herself. They had her against the ropes. He couldn't let her take them on, alone. Even if that's what she told him, he had to help. He powered up, ready to head back into the fray.

But right at that moment, 17 and 18 lifted their hands up. The air around him seemed to explode. Bright light flashed in every direction and a loud booming sound ringed in his ears. In the chaos, he felt himself suddenly fall. And before he could process what was happening, everything went black.

Trunks came back into consciousness, feeling rain pounding against his back. He slowly lifted his head, his temples beating incessantly. He sat up and looked around, as his vision began to clear. A flash of lightning and a crash of thunder fully woke him up.

He looked around the ruins of North City. He was completely alone. The only sounds he could hear was the sound of rain cascading on the rubble. There was no sign of the androids anywhere. He brought his hand to his forehead, wincing. He remembered hitting his head against the rubble, right before he blacked out - it must have been hard.

As he sat alone, his eyes suddenly widened and his heart started pounding. Where was his mother?

"Mom," he called out.

No response.

"Mom!"

Still no response.

He staggered back onto his feet, his knees nearly buckling beneath him. He kept calling out for his mother, as he traversed the rubble. And yet no matter how loud he cried, he still got no response. With every passing second, he grew more anxious. His mother was one of the strongest people alive. Surely, she'd be okay.

His heart was racing, as he looked over the surrounding area. He started running, as his eyes frantically scanned over everything. He silently prayed that this was all a trick. That soon, she'd pop up and say that it was some kind of prank to catch him off guard. He would take anything as long as it wasn't what he feared the most.

He tripped and fell onto his stomach. When he opened his eyes, his heart stopped. Laying on the ground in front of him was a lifeless body. He slowly crawled forward, his shaking hand reaching out for it. The face was covered in dirt and ashes, and he carefully wiped it away. His breath caught in his throat, as he realized who it was.

"Mom…"

Her eyes were completely white, with no sign of life. Her skin was cold and slick from the rainfall. Her hair had turned to a shade of grey, from the ash and mud sticking to it. And she lay completely motionless against the asphalt of the broken street.

Trunks shut his eyes tightly. He leaned forward, burying his face in his hands. Hot tears went down his cheeks, contrasting against the cold drops of rain. His body shook, as he sobbed and sobbed. He felt more despair in that moment than he ever had in his entire life.

He threw his head back and screamed, digging his fingers into his hair. As he cried out into the sky, he was overcome with another emotion - rage. His heart pounded, as he kept screaming. His hands tightened into fists, his nails digging so hard into his palm that they began to bleed. Lightning flashed on the ground around him and thunder boomed in the air. His energy suddenly flared up around his body, making his hair stand up on end. A flash went off behind his eyes, and a new energy overcame him.

He screamed until his voice gave out. He lurched forward, putting his hands on the ground in front of him, his eyes shut tightly. His body was trembling, as he heaved breaths in and out. When he finally opened his eyes, he gasped. He could see his reflection in a puddle below him. His aura had changed to a bright yellow. His eyes were now blue, glistening like gemstones from tears. And his hair had turned a brilliant golden hue, standing up perfectly straight.

He had become a Super Saiyan.