Wow, reviews, lol. I'm such a dork. Well thank you very much for reviewing my story. As you know, I'm a bastard and am using reviews as leverage, lol. So the more reviews, the faster I'll post stuff. Yes I know I'm a jerk for killing Chi-Chi. Just wanna say that she's one of my favorite characters, and I tend to put my favorite characters through hell. Anyway, here's another chapter. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball Z or any of the characters.
Chapter Six – A Moments Failure
Kame House : Present 2:10pm
The three were in deep discussion about the previous events that took place. From what they could tell, that awful power they felt seemed to have completely disappeared for a while now. Krillin only hoped that whoever it belonged to was gone for good, but things never turned out the way he wanted these days. His concentration however was broken when a figure appeared.
"Hey Goku! I figured I'd see you sooner or later." "Hey Krillin. I guess you're already aware huh?" "Yeah me, Eighteen, and Roshi were talking about it a while ago." "Where is Eighteen?" Goku asked. "Uh, she went to put Marron to sleep for a nap." "I can't explain much right now Krillin, but I need to take everyone to Kami's Lookout, just to be safe." "I hear ya man. I'll go get 'em." Krillin rushed inside to get everyone while Goku turned to the beach and stared out in the distance.
"Hey Roshi, Goku wants to take us to the Lookout tower." "Heh, I thought that was Goku I felt. Hmmm, I'm gonna go gather some survival material." "I hope you're not talking about what I think you are Roshi?" "Yep." Roshi pulled out numerous copies of dirty magazines beneath a hidden floor board in the living room. Krillin smacked his forehead and sighed, "Is Eighteen upstairs?" Roshi giggled for a moment, "Yep she's upstairs." Krillin turned away from his perverted Master and headed upstairs to find Eighteen.
A few minutes later, Master Roshi, Krillin and Eighteen carrying a sleeping Marron in arms, appeared from the house. They walked up to Goku, "Uh, we're ready Goku," Krillin announced. But the statement didn't register to Goku, his mind seemed elsewhere. "Uh, Goku?" Krillin tried again. But there still was no answer from the silent warrior. Krillin approached Goku and shook him out of his thoughts, and Goku finally realized his presence. "Oh sorry Krillin, was just thinking," Goku said quietly. "You, thinking? Now I 'know' something's wrong," Krillin teased. Goku smiled sheepishly, "It's nothing. We should get going." Krillin wasn't convinced but nodded anyway. With that they were off to collect everyone.
Kami's Lookout : Present 2:25pm
Mirai Trunks and the others waited patiently until the others arrived. Then, a large group of people appeared at the Lookout. There was Krillin, Eighteen with Marron, Master Roshi, Bulma, Trunks, Goten, Ox-King, Tien, Chao-tzu, Yamcha, Puar, Oolong, Videl, Mr. Satan, and Buu. A lot of commotion broke out as the entire group was united for the first time in a long time.
"Hey Trunks, look." Goten motioned to Trunks pointing out Mirai Trunks. "Wha…" was all Trunks could manage. "Is that, 'you'?" Goten asked. "I don't know Goten, it can't be 'me'…" Bulma hearing the boys understood the confusion, "Boys that's Mirai Trunks, he came here before to warn us about the android threat." "'He's' from the future?" Trunks asked in disbelief. "That's right Trunks," Bulma cajoled. Trunks could only stare at his future counterpart. "Well Trunks, at least you'll know how you look," Goten joked.
"Hey everyone!" Mirai Trunks was trying to call to order. "Well if it isn't Mirai Trunks," Yamcha noticed. "Hey guys, glad you all could make it. And to answer your questions before you ask them, no I'm not here to bring bad news. I simply came here to visit for a while." Tien spoke up, "So then, what was that energy I'm sure we all felt?" Piccolo stepped forward, "I'll explain that later. Right now Mirai Trunks, Goku, Gohan and Vegeta are going to go on a trip in the past to figure out what they can about who or what we're dealing with." "But isn't that dangerous," Videl asked in concern. "We should be fine Videl. Mirai Trunks already explained the risks involved," Gohan tried to reassure. "Well, you guys should be off," Piccolo pointed out.
"I'm surprised Chi-Chi is allowing them to do this," Videl whispered. Goten, standing right next to her wondered the same thing. In fact he began wondering where his mom was. Looking around the group, Goten couldn't manage to see his mom anywhere. Where could she be? Giving up his search, Goten ran over to Gohan before he and Goku got into the time machine. "Hey Gohan, where's mom?" Gohan was a bit caught off guard by Goten's question. He thought critically of how to break it to Goten that mom was missing, or even possibly dead. Before Gohan could say anything, Goku walked up to Goten and kneeled down to look him in the eyes. "Goten, Chi-Chi's missing…" Goku said softly. "Huh, what do you mean missing!" Goten mention a bit loudly. "Me, Gohan, Mirai Trunks and Vegeta are going to find out what happened to Chi-Chi in the past, that way we can help her here." Tears threatened to spill over in Goten's eyes. "Don't worry," Goku plead, "we'll find her. I need you to be brave and stay here in case she returns ok?" Goten sobbed and nodded. Goku stoop up, turned away and climbed inside of the time machine with Gohan close behind. Goten ran back to where Bulma and Trunks were standing and watched sadly as his family disappeared into thin air.
Unknown : Unknown
Gohan watched through the glass of the time machine to see various scenes masked in red of past events that had occurred. The images seemed endless to him. After a while of watching the scenes past, there was a break in the images that Gohan had noticed. "Where did all the images go?" Gohan wondered aloud. "That happens when you travel through time," Mirai Trunks explained. "I have no clue what it could be though." It seemed that the images were replaced by streaks of gold against a black background. Or perhaps they were passing through space Gohan wondered. Not long afterwards, the images returned this time being different. Hmmm, I didn't think there would actually be much to see when you travel through time. I guess this all seems normal to Mirai Trunks. After what seemed like 10 minutes of time travel, they came to a stop.
Son Household : Past 11:50am
The glass lifted on the time machine and the group was released. "About time," Vegeta complained. Goku looked around to see if he could find Chi-Chi, but she was no where to be found. Honing in on her Ki he found that she was a short distance away in the forest. He further sensed that there was someone else's Ki with her. Goku grew worried at first, but relaxed when he realized that the Ki belonged to Goten. "I don't recall Goten being home when the attack happened." "Well we do still have time dad, it's only 11:52am right now, maybe Goten hadn't left for Capsule Corp. yet," although Gohan was doubting his judgment. "Kakkarot's brat was at our house by 11 this morning." "So then, what should we do?" Gohan asked. "Let's go see Chi-Chi and Goten," Goku informed.
They teleported to the area where Chi-Chi and Goten appeared to be training. The group was hiding a short distance away in the row of hedges. Goku was shocked to see that Chi-Chi was training Goten by herself. "She's training him…" Goku started. "Yeah dad, Goten informed me while I was studying that mom would train him everyday." Goku couldn't help but smile at this fact. Heh, every member of the Son family trains. "So dad I guess we're staying here until that energy appears?" "Yeah," Goku answered. "Psh, this is so stupid," Vegeta complained. But Vegeta knew that he didn't mind, he would want to do the same thing if he were in Goku's position.
Kami's Lookout : Present 2:36pm
Piccolo had just finished explaining to everyone about Chi-Chi's disappearance and the emergence of a new enemy. Goten, like Goku and Gohan, was very saddened by the news still. The fact that she didn't check in with King Yama either wasn't helping at the moment. Trunks did his best to assure his friend that his mom was fine and that Goku and the others would rescue her. Goten listened half heartedly and hoped his mom is alive and well.
"So, do we just stay here with nothing to do?" Yamcha complained. "Heh, heh you can stand there doing nothing. It's a good thing I brought reading material." Piccolo turned in disgust at the old man and walked away. I think I'm going to keep an eye on things… "Hey old man," came from Trunks "can I see too?" "Oh no you don't!" "But mom…" "I'm not gonna have my son turn into a pervert before he's even a teenager!" "But it's no fun up here." "Trunks, why don't you and Goten do some training or something. It'll keep Goten busy 'til Goku gets back." Catching his mom's hint Trunks went over to Goten to force him to train with him.
"Say Goten, we should train so we'll be ready for that new enemy." Goten agreed wanting to be ready in case his mom needed him. The two began their training regime which inspired a number of the group to follow their lead.
Son Household : Past 12:50pm
Vegeta grew impatient now, he was sure that this person wasn't going to show. "Kakkarot, they aren't coming." Goku also recognized that it was way past the time of the attack. "I think I'm going to ask Chi-Chi if she's seen anything," Goku stated. Gohan agreed silently and followed his father from behind the bushes. "Wait, Goku…" Mirai Trunks started but Goku and Gohan were already in plain sight. "It would be best if she doesn't see us…"
Chi-Chi and Goten were taking a break from training when they noticed that someone was heading their way. Chi-Chi's eyes were shocked at the person approaching them. "Goku!" she said incredulously. Goku was a bit taken a back by her reaction, "Of course it's me Chi-Chi." Chi-Chi stood from her seated position and ran full force into Goku's arms almost knocking him over. Goten however was standing there unsure of what to make of this person. Gohan noticed this, "Hey little bro." "Gohan, who is that guy mom's hugging," Goten asked. "Huh? What do you mean, that's dad," Gohan pointed out. "That's my father," Goten said in disbelief. Gohan took a moment to study his brother. Surely he's met dad before right? Wait, what if this time line is nothing like ours? What if the events in our time never happened here? "Hey Goten, who did you compete against in the World Martial Arts Tournament?" "What, me compete? Do you really think I'm strong enough?" Goten asked surprised. Now Gohan was sure that their time line was different. Gohan and Goten began walking over to Goku.
After a rather long hug from Chi-Chi the two parted. Goku smiled sheepishly, "Hey Chi-Chi." "Oh Goku, I can't believe that you're back," Chi-Chi said through watery eyes. "Back? I've only been gone for an hour or so." Gohan was trying to get his father's attention, luckily Goku noticed his son's efforts. "Hang on a sec Chi-Chi." Goku joined Gohan and the two walked away a short distance. "Dad, the tournament never even took place in this time line. And Goten doesn't even recognize you." "So then this is an alternate time line…" Goku said sadly. "I'm afraid so dad. So what do we do? I don't think that that person is gonna show here." Goku looked over his shoulder at Chi-Chi and Goten, then turned back to Gohan. "I'm sure Chi-Chi wants an explanation." "Do you think that's a good idea dad?" "Don't know Gohan, but if you're right then I don't think Chi-Chi will let us leave without a word." "So then, what should we do?" Goku sighed then turned away and began walking towards Chi-Chi. Goku and Gohan made their way back to Chi-Chi and Goten. Goten seemed a bit scared of Goku, he was peering from behind Chi-Chi at him.
"Goku, how were you brought back?" Chi-Chi asked. "Well, with the dragonballs of course," Gohan blurted out. "The dragonballs? But there are no dragonballs," Chi-Chi explained. Goku frowned, "What do you mean no dragonballs?" Chi-Chi seemed confuse at first, "Piccolo died in the battle against Cell. After you took Cell to King Kai's planet and…died, Cell came back and killed Piccolo." Goku started thinking hard, but Cell returned and killed Mirai Trunks… "What else happened Chi?" Goku asked. Chi-Chi smiled, she had almost forgotten the nickname he would often call her, how much she missed him. "Umm…then if I remember correctly, Gohan and Cell were both using the Kamehameha wave on each other. Then Vegeta blasted Cell with an attack and Gohan finished him." "But what happened to Dende? And I thought Mirai Trunks was killed instead of Piccolo?" Gohan wondered. "Well, Dende died before the Cell Games started. When Cell was going about killing people he found the Lookout and killed Dende. And what do you mean by Trunks? The only Trunks I know of is Bulma's eight year old son. Gohan you of all people should know all of this. Goku, what's going on here?" Goku knew that Chi-Chi would catch on and that he had some explaining to do.
"Chi-Chi, we're from the future. We came here in a time machine that Bulma made." Gohan looked at Goku a little shocked he just told her that piece of information. "What…" Chi-Chi remarked. "We thought that maybe you would be in danger so we came back in time to help. But, our time lines are completely different. So I guess there's no need for us to be here…" Goku realized finally that their trip here was a waste being that nothing was the same. "So, what you're saying is…" Chi-Chi sighed, "So I guess you'll be leaving then?" "Yeah Chi, I'm needed back home." Chi-Chi became very depressed now, she thought she had gained her Goku back. Goku bent down to meet Goten's face. "Hi son!" Goku said cheerfully. "H..hello," Goten answered back timidly. "How 'bout a hug?" Goten brightened up and looked to his mom for assurance. Chi-Chi smiled and nodded and Goten ran into Goku's arms for a big bear hug. Chi-Chi watched as father and son bonded for the first time and just wished that it were permanent.
"Well Gohan, I take it you're from the future as well?" Chi-Chi asked. "Umm…yes I am." Chi-Chi smiled, "Have you met any nice girls?" Gohan was blushing, "Uh yeah actually, her name is Videl and I'm gonna propose to her soon." Chi-Chi's smiled broadened, "Well I'm very happy to hear that son. Please take care of Goku for me and my other self." Gohan nodded, "Yes ma'am." Chi-Chi thought to herself, the other me is in trouble. It would be selfish of me to keep him here any longer. After about 10 minutes of laughter and playing Chi-Chi called to Goku. Goku abided and walked back to unite with Gohan and Chi-Chi. Chi-Chi's eyes began to water, "Goku, I think you should be going now." Goku bent down, "I have to go now son. I really wish I could stay but your mom is in trouble in my time." "I understand." Goten hugged Goku then ran towards Gohan. Gohan led his brother away while Goku said goodbye. Goku looked Chi-Chi over and wrapped his muscular arms around her. "I'm sorry Chi, I wish I could stay." "If you stay Goku then the other me would be lost forever." Goku smiled slightly and kissed Chi-Chi on the forehead. "I love you Chi-Chi." "I know. Now go on." Regretfully Goku let go and called to Gohan to leave. Gohan too bid them farewell and joined the others at the time machine.
After Gohan had explained to Vegeta and Mirai Trunks what happened, they decided to leave. "Kakkarot this was a fucking waste of time! I hope you're happy," Vegeta ranted. He was about to say more but decided against it once he saw the look in Goku's eyes. Still peeved he grunted, "Arg, let's get the hell out of here." Goku couldn't help but feel defeated, "We came all this way and Chi-Chi's still going to be missing…" Gohan refusing to be crushed had a thought, "What if we go back to our time before mom was attacked? That way we could stop her from being attacked and find out who that person is." Mirai Trunks had to interject, "We can go back at an earlier time but there's still nothing you can do to save Chi-Chi." "Why not?" Gohan objected. Mirai Trunks sighed, "I've tried it once before in my time, to go back and stop the androids from killing you Gohan. But when I arrived at that time there was nothing I could do about anything. I was invisible to you and the androids and all I could do was watch." Now it was Goku's turn to speak up, "So if we go back to before Chi-Chi is attacked we won't be able to interact in any way?" "That's right Goku." "Tch, isn't that why the hell we came back here in the first place? We weren't expecting to help Kakkarot's mate in the first place. If we go back to an earlier time we could at least get a look at whoever attacked her." Vegeta had a good point, "Then it's settled, we go back to an earlier time in our time line and get a look at this new enemy," Goku confirmed. They all agreed to this new plan and boarded the time machine. "Say Mirai Trunks, when will we become visible again?" "Oh right. Either we wait until our other selves leave to go on this mission or we travel back in time to after we leave on this mission." "So regardless, we have to return after we leave. Fine. Now start the blasted machine and lets get going." "Yes father…" Mirai Trunks entered the coordinates and the time machine vanished.