"Okaasan…"

As soon as she heard the anguished call, Videl felt like a stake was just driven into her heart. She wiped her tearstained face with an arm and turned around, back to the room she just left.

What she saw next she wasn't prepared for.

Gohan…Gohan is crying. The words echoed inside her head.

That boy, who stayed as cold as stone for seven years, who did not respond to anything she offered him: may it be words or nourishment, was now weeping over this woman he saw on the television.

Okaasan…

She took a step towards him.

He continued to stare blankly at the set, tears flowing down his cheeks.

"Gohan…I'm so sorry…"

She started, when her face crumpled and she stumbled onto him, her sobs wracking her whole body plus his.

"I'm sorry Gohan! I'm so sorry! It's all my fault! It's my fault you're like this! It's my fault that your mother is going to…going to…" She buried her face onto his chest, shuddering. Her fists grasped at the shirt he had been wearing for weeks now. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"

When suddenly, just as they first met, a miracle happened.

His arms, which were just hanging limply beside him, began to rise. Almost hesitantly, they wrapped around her, gently at first, then tighter.

She gasped. Gohan whispered to her, for the first time, his voice cracking:

"It's alright Videl. I know it's not your fault at all."

***

Goten arrived at the gates of Satan City twenty minutes after he had left the house. It was fun seeing all the hustle and bustle of the city, on top of the Kintoun which, without it, he could never have reached the parade in time. He didn't know where the yellow cloud was from, because he had found it – or rather, it had found him one day in the mountains. It seemed to beckon him to ride on top of it. And when he did, Goten experienced the most breathtaking ride of his life.

When he showed it to his mother though, she just broke down and asked Goten, in tears, never to ride on it again.

He was disappointed that Chi-Chi didn't share the enthusisasm. But the Kintoun was not something to leave, his instincts told him, and he began to ride it secretly.

Little did he know that Chi-Chi already knew he would do that.

How else would Goten arrive at Satan City, in time for the parade?

***

Videl looks at me, and turns away to dry her face.

"Gohan," she calls me again, her voice trying hard to be calm. "What are you going to do?"

I look back at her, but this time my eyes give me away. The coldness I had once seems to have disappeared.

When I saw her on screen, being led away by soldiers, with taunts and glares thrown at every step she took, the wall of ice had been melted.

A raging fire burned inside me, awakening my spirit. The spirit that was strong enough to defeat – no, kill Cell. It was only a flicker at first, but I know it will grow soon.

To kill everyone who dared to do that to her.

I take a deep breath before answering. "I don't know." Videl's body twitches at the sound of my voice.

"But I know I must get away from here. And save her. Save Okaasan…"

Silence.

Then suddenly…

Her head, which was bowed when I spoke up, slowly rises again. Her blue eyes turn hauntingly dark.

I hear Videl say, "I'll go with you."

She stands up from the chair, and offers her hand to me. My heart beats faster. I feel alive again.

I take her hand and clutch it firmly.

***

Bulma was typing furiosly when a voice behind her said, "Kuso."

She froze. "Trunks!" she scolded sharply.

"Sorry." The boy sank deeper into the couch, before turning the TV off. "What's with this parade-shit anyway?"

"Trunks!" she reprimanded him again. At only eight years old, her son was already learning to throw curses whenever he wanted to.

"Sorry, sorry." But at least he was quick to apologize.

So…it was futile, Bulma thought as she reverted to typing. This Trunks – her Trunks didn't grow up with a father as well. She remembered the time when another Trunks, a quiet young man who had a dark past, came to this timeline, to warn them of a horror that were the androids.

He was wrong. They weren't the horror – it was Cell.

Bulma never knew what became of her son from the future. She had this distinct feeling though, that he was dead. Just like his father.

Vejiita.

Son-kun, Kuririn, Yamcha, Tenshinhan…and little Gohan…all dead too.

And this Mr. Satan, to whom the parade was held for, got all the credit. Just one look at his ugly face told Bulma that it was bullshit.

She realized that Trunks was right all the same.

Thanks to Ms. Dot who started this whole idea. This altiverse was a product of her mind, not mine. I merely continued it.

Please take note that I do not hate Mr. Satan, but I'm not denying that he's not one of my favorite characters either. Apologies for any harsh comments to him.