Prolouge: A dark future and a different time machine
A/N- The main differences in this timeline are Gohan dies, and the time machine is different ala a Stein's Gate time machine, where a character ends up leaping back and going into his past body. Just an idea I had, I hope you like it and find it enjoyable.
In the aftermath of a once vibrant world, a shadow of despair had fallen upon the Earth. The air hung heavy with an oppressive darkness, a poignant reminder of the void left behind by a fallen hero. Goku, the indomitable Super Saiyan, had succumbed to a ruthless adversary - not in a battle of might, but to an insidious and cruel heart virus. The Z warriors, once a beacon of hope and strength, had been systematically snuffed out by an unstoppable force.
Yamcha, the charismatic desert bandit turned courageous fighter, was the first to fall. His valiant spirit extinguished by the merciless hands of Android 17 and 18. Tien, the disciplined warrior with an unyielding determination, met a similar fate - his Tri-Beam attack no match for the ruthless onslaught of the androids.
Gohan, the prodigious son of Goku, fought fiercely but even his Super Saiyan power proved insufficient against the relentless androids' onslaught. Piccolo, the Namekian sage, known for his wisdom and strategic brilliance, was outwitted and outmatched, leaving the world without one of its most strategic minds.
Chiaotzu, the loyal and telekinetically gifted friend, fought with all his might but was ultimately overcome. Krillin, Goku's closest friend and companion, met a tragic end, his energy extinguished by a merciless strike. Even Vegeta, the prideful prince of the Saiyans, who had achieved the coveted Super Saiyan form, could not escape the androids' wrath.
The world was left defenseless, a wasteland of broken dreams and shattered hopes. The androids, fueled by a twisted desire for destruction, held dominion over a once-proud civilization. The Earth's cries for salvation echoed through the desolation, unheard and unanswered.
Amidst this bleak tableau of despair, a lone figure toiled tirelessly in the depths of a dimly lit laboratory. Bulma Briefs, brilliant scientist and widow of Goku, had not given up on the world. With a heart burdened by grief and a mind consumed by a singular purpose, she worked relentlessly on a machine that could alter the course of time itself.
Unlike the time machines of old, her creation bore a striking resemblance to the one from a different realm - Steins;Gate. A design inspired by another reality, a reality where hope could be rekindled and tragedy averted. Bulma's determination burned like a solitary flame in the encroaching darkness, a glimmer of light in the midst of despair.
As the machine hummed with energy, its intricate gears and circuits intertwining in a delicate dance, Bulma knew that her task was not just to change the past, but to rewrite destiny itself. With every keystroke and every adjustment, she held onto the belief that the world could be restored, that the Z warriors could be saved, and that Goku's sacrifice would not be in vain.
Bulma stood before her creation, a masterpiece of technology and ingenuity, humming softly with potential. The time machine was complete, its intricate mechanisms ready to breach the boundaries of time and space. As she gazed at her creation, a mixture of hope and trepidation filled her heart. This machine held the key to altering the course of history, to undoing the devastation that had befallen the world.
Lost in her thoughts, Bulma's mind raced through a list of potential candidates who could embark on this perilous journey. She weighed the skills, the courage, and the determination of those who remained. But the list grew shorter with every name she considered, and desperation began to claw at the edges of her resolve. The once-mighty Z warriors had been systematically defeated, leaving the world devoid of heroes.
And then, almost as if a glimmer of inspiration had pierced through the darkness, an unlikely figure materialized in Bulma's mind. Yajirobe, the portly samurai with a penchant for cowardice, an insatiable appetite, and a sword that had once struck down the formidable Vegeta. It seemed ludicrous, almost comical, to even consider him as a potential savior of the world.
But desperate times call for desperate measures, and Bulma couldn't deny the logic that her mind was putting forth. Yajirobe possessed a unique set of skills, a surprising degree of resilience, and an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time. Though his cowardly nature was well-documented, his actions in the past had demonstrated that there was more to him than met the eye.
With a sigh and a reluctant acceptance of the situation, Bulma turned away from the machine and set out to find Yajirobe. She tracked him down to a remote mountainous region where he had taken refuge, far from the androids' reign of terror. She found him lounging lazily under a makeshift shelter, feasting on a pile of food that would put even Goku's appetite to shame.
"Yajirobe," Bulma began, her voice laced with a mixture of urgency and determination. "I need your help. The world is on the brink of destruction, and I have a way to send someone back in time to change the course of events. I believe you could be that someone."
Yajirobe blinked in surprise, a half-chewed piece of food hanging from his mouth. "Me? Are you serious? I'm just a guy who likes to eat and avoid trouble. I'm not cut out for hero stuff."
Bulma's gaze bore into his, unyielding. "Yajirobe, you may not see yourself as a hero, but you have qualities that are desperately needed right now. You've faced down powerful foes before, and you've proven that you can rise to the occasion when it truly matters. We need someone who can fight, someone who can make a difference."
Yajirobe stared back at her, a conflicted expression crossing his face. For a moment, the weight of the world seemed to rest on his broad shoulders. And then, with a resigned sigh, he set aside his food and slowly rose to his feet.
"Fine," he muttered, his voice tinged with a mix of reluctance and determination. "I don't know if I can do this hero thing, but I guess I can't just sit here stuffing my face while everyone else is suffering. Let's do it."
Bulma's heart swelled with a renewed sense of hope. She had found her unlikely hero, a man whose actions had often defied expectations. Together, they would harness the power of the time machine and send Yajirobe back to a pivotal moment in history, armed with the memories of the grim future that awaited if he failed.
As the time machine hummed to life once more, its energy crackling with potential, Bulma and Yajirobe exchanged a determined glance. The fate of the world now rested in the hands of an unexpected champion, a portly samurai who had never sought glory but was now thrust into a role that would define the course of time itself.