A/N - Hope this isn't too convoluted or without action for you guys, next chapter is REALLY going to heat things up.

Luna's Meow - Hehe, I was wondering if anyone would be confused on how Videl knew Gohan's name and heritage. In one of the video games and manga, Videl eventually figures out that a guy named Goku won the World Martial Arts Tournament before Hercule and made the connection. In my story, she knew this and also found out that he had a son named Gohan and again, made the connection. She's not just a pretty face, she does research. ^_^

Cherry-Wolf - Thank you for being my friend, and remember, I'm your biggest fan lol! Thank you for the review.

Chapter 3 - Recollections

FLASH

A halo of energy, and two blurs collided and bounced off each-other at high speeds, loudly shaking the air around.

FLASH

A blinding cascade of light, and one of the figures had punched the other figure across the face.

FLASH

The earth trembled, and the previously attacked man struck back with a devastating drop kick to the gut, sending a shower of golden light burning the grass around. The sun seemed dull compared to the brilliant auras the fighters were giving off, and not a cloud loomed in the sky. The trees wavered with the battle. Two light thuds resonated and an exhausted Gohan and Trunks, both Super Saiyans, with golden hair and auras to boot, stood facing each-other with equal damage and determination. They panted heavily.

"Gohan..." Trunks said, labored, with a smirk, "You've missed out on quite a bit. In the past everyone got much stronger..." Trunks balled his fists and powered up, his body shining and cut, and his aura flew high as his hair turned white. "Super Saiyan Ascended..." He said with a groan..."and...this...is...what happens...when I go for raw...power!"

The world seemed to collapse under Trunks and a crater slowly formed under him, he now levitated off the ground. Rocks rose from the ground itself, floating, and then collapsed as some invisible hand crushed them like dirt clods. A burst of power and Trunks's muscles had bulged to a grotesque point, his hair standing on end looking like some ancient star. He clenched his fists and fell, settled into the same form he had used to fight Perfect Cell, however flawed it was.

"You've improved." Gohan said, a smirk lifting the bruised creases of his face. "But so have I..." Gohan's lungs rattled along with the very planet below as he let out a blood-chilling scream of power. His hair stood on end, and static electricity began to coarse around his body. Gohan's eyes narrowed and everything about him started flashing white, his muscles becoming amazingly defined. "You've ascended Trunks...without me..." He said in a deeper, serious voice obviously tainted and fueled by anger at the same time, "But I have ascended past Super Saiyan altogether in Otherworld."

Trunks was pale with awe.

"You've become...a Super Saiyan 2???" He staggered as memories flooded through his head, of a younger Gohan taking the same form the destroy Cell, and of Cell shooting a beam right through his own heart. He decided he'd save the irony of Gohan becoming the first Super Saiyan 2 in both dimensions for a later story.

Gohan nodded, his body coursing with power but slowly being drained. He seemed to disappear altogether, reappearing in front of Trunks with a heavy blow to the face, from which Trunks hit the ground. The bulked-up Trunks lifted a heavy arm to swing at Gohan, but his mentor was far too fast in his new form and countered with a knee to the stomach, sending Trunks reeling.

From a distant window, Bulma peered through her binoculars.

"Saiyans...typical." She rolled her eyes from behind the lenses, "Just a few hours home and they're already beating the snot out of each other."

Gohan was suddenly overcome with the energy drain of Super Saiyan 2, and reverted back to normal, his hair black once more and waving in the wind, his eyes stupified from the fatigue. Trunks saw his opportunity and once again swung his massive arm at Gohan, and this time the punch connected, containing all of Trunks's collected power, but not enough to kill his rival. Gohan was sent skidding along the rocks and hit the ground with a heavy thud and an explosion of dust that showered the landscape. Trunks's eyelids fell down along with his entire body, just as badly wounded as Gohan. Bulma sighed, approaching the two fallen boys.

Miles away, in a vast desert, something had bore deep into the ground. From deep within this mysterious structure, a small, short wizard sat looking deep into the depths of a crystal ball. A larger, demonic form stood over him, looking at his master.

"Amazing Dabura!" The smaller one said in a high pitched, excited voice. "These Super Saiyans have just the power we need to put our plans into effect! Go at once and plant the Energy Siphons! We won't even have to get near them!"

The aged, red demon smiled and closed his eyes, bowing.

"As you command, Master Babidi."

Gohan sat at the kitchen table, his hair still slightly wet from the Rejuvenation Tank Bulma had built for Trunks, who was currently in it.

"Gohan," Bulma asked curiously, "Have any other of the Z Warriors been brought back to life? The Namekian Dragon grants three wishes, obviously your revival was one, but what of the other two?"

Gohan sighed into his coffee, his eyes glazed with preturbed thought.

"Trunks asked Porunga to revive the others but...it couldn't be done. The new Porunga that Moori created isn't as powerful as the one we encountered during the Frieza crisis. Because Krillin. Yamcha, Piccolo, and all of the others have died at least once if not twice now and they couldn't be revived. Mr. Popo was actually a Kai, so he decided to stay in Otherworld with his kin. Even my father...because he died of natural causes."

Gohan suddenly looked distant, and Bulma understood the reason he had become so rebellious was his father's death along with everyone he knew and loved. According to Trunks, Gohan was totally different in the alternate timeline. She decided to let him talk, brushing her azure hair out of her eyes.

"So the other wish was used to bring back the people of Earth, killed by Androids, except for the bad-hearted ones. The third was to reconstruct the Lookout Tower."

Bulma cast her eyes at him curiously.

"But what's the good in that if both Mr. Popo and Kami are gone? There aren't any Dragon Balls and that place must be totally useless without a Guardian of Earth."

Gohan smirked. "Wrong, in both ways. First of all, the Lookout has many secrets, most of which not a soul other than Kami knows. Trunks told me there's even a room in there where you can spend an entire year in training in the time one day passes outside. Secondly, we do have a Guardian. Dende returned with Trunks."

Bulma's memories nostalgically turned to her early womanhood, on Namek. She had met the small Namekian boy Dende who Gohan had rescued from Dodoria. He always was a sweet kid and Bulma was happy he was on Earth with them. She would have to visit him someday. She smiled at her son's ingenuity.

"Well when Trunks gets out of the tank you tell him that he did a good job. I'm so happy that I raised him right. I'm so proud...goodnight Gohan." The woman said, waving and walking upstairs to bed.

"Night." Gohan mildly waved. He got up, walked down the hall and left, closing the door behind him gently and departing into the cold night sky. He felt relaxed there among the stars.

Soon enough his destination came into view, a small clearing on the outskirts of the woods near the remains of West City, which had been renamed Satan City. The daughter of the capital's namesake was standing alone wearing her school outfit and pigtails leaning against a tree, looking pretty lonely. Gohan landed with a gentle plop and walked the rest of the distance.

Videl's eyes lit up when she saw him, although she tried to hide it. Gohan smiled and thought to himself how pretty they were.

"Thanks for coming Gohan." She said, contentedly.

"No problem Videl..." He said, although he was a bit irritated...why spend time training the daughter of a man who brought shame to his family when he could be doing better things? After all he had just been brought back to life.

"So...I can sense that you're already stronger than your father, Videl." He smiled, because he noticed she looked shocked.

"Well...even if I was" She said, hiding a blush, "I think you're a lot stronger than you put on Gohan. Besides, you're a hero. That's more than I can say about myself."

Gohan looked at her shyly, suddenly lost for words.

"It's nothing Videl." He said casually. "So..."

Videl smiled and touched Gohan's face, just below his scar.

"Gohan...you say I'm strong but...there are some things I could never do alone. I need you. Please...could you show me how to fly?"

Taken aback, Gohan looked at her with a confused smirk.

"Flying...it's a bit advanced Videl, you don't even know how to harness your energy yet." Gohan's mind suddenly changed when he saw how disappointed she looked. There was something about her he couldn't resist.

Gohan walked behind Videl, who was patient, althought she wondered about his intentions. He wrapped his arms around her. Videl shuddered, the warmth of Gohan's body was so comforting. How could someone who looked so rugged and stone cold be so...gentle? She was glad that she was wearing modest clothing, because on that cold night he would've been able to see her sudden rush of feelings for him.

"Now..." He said, "Reach deep inside yourself...we're going to bring out some of your energy..."

Gohan took Videl's hands in his, and the rest of the night was a blur to her.

To Videl, time just slipped away and before she knew it, Gohan had shown her how to bring out her Ki, and even levitate a little bit. Of course, she couldn't do either without him there. His presence soothed her soul and seemed to set her energy free. She lost herself in his coal black eyes. Suddenly she looked down.

"Ah!" She cried out, realizing that both she and Gohan were a good 40 feet in the air, still holding hands. Gohan didn't lose eye contact with her, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Don't be afraid Videl." And suddenly she wasn't.

Videl slowly moved closer to Gohan, originally just to hold on to him, but without realizing it she had put herself in a position where they could feel each other's warm breath. The cold air seemed to drop away, just like the boundaries they had personally set toward each other, and their lips met.

The silence that enshrouded the two was suddenly shattered by the low hum of a skycar rapidly approaching. They parted mouths, still holding each other, and both looked shocked, apparently toward the kiss more than the intruder.

"My father!" Videl said with fear in her voice, and Gohan swiftly lowered her to the ground.

"Goodnight Videl." Gohan said calmly to the younger woman, and kissed her on the cheek quickly before disappearing into thin air. Videl looked suprised, and then waved to Hercule, who had landed before her, stepping out of his car and yelling at her, about how worried he was. She only smiled, her heart and mind on a special young man.

NEXT The world tournament begins, but Gohan, Trunks, and their new friend Videl are up for more of a challenge than they could ever have imagined. Mysterious warriors with an evil power behind them have appeared, and on planet Namek something of horrific power threatens to wipe out the entire Universe!