It had been a little over a month since Trunks had destroyed the Cyborgs, and the population slowly started to rebuild their world, coming out of a decades long nightmare, spring of 784 starting out to be rejuvenating.

Trunks took the time to check on Karin and Yajirobe, and their Senzu tree had already begun to flourish as the first free Spring washed over the blue planet. Korin allowed Trunks to keep her sprout, to benefit humanity and keep her ready to defend their world, should another threat arrive. After all, she was the sole defender now.

The world being rebuilt would never be like before, when their population was a tenth to a hundredth of what it once was, but still, it was something. Hope drove them, and the Golden Warrior having shown no desire to take over in any way was reassuring to the likes of Videl. With good reason, they didn't leave a reign of terror to be ruled by some freak of nature, as thankful as they were.

.

Speaking of which, it took a solid ten days after defeating the Cyborgs for Trunks to go as 'Tora' to Central City and meet 'Devil'. As her older counterpart had done with his version of Gohan. Videl still called for him to show up, so they could properly thank him, every now and then through the radio, and that got on Trunks' nerves more than she was willing to admit.

"I am in no mood to negotiate nor to play games," she glared at the militiamen. "Let me through."

It took Mai's intervention to ease things through, in a similar way another version of her had done for another version of Trunks, unbeknownst to this world's Golden Warrior.

"Tora, your hair.."

"It grew, yes, it does that," Trunks cut in with an irritated sigh. "Look, Mai, thank you, but please," she pleaded with a tired, exhausted look even. "I don't want to be more aggressive than usual, but I'm tense and I'd rather not lash out..."

"Alright, Tiger." Mai understood her former errand-friend (colleague?) was in a foul mood, and gave her a gentle pat on the arm through the light windbreaker, while walking her to Devil's office. "You owe me, though."

The young woman had been taller than her for most of Trunks' life, but now that Trunks was almost nineteen, Mai was now slightly shorter. If Trunks remembered correctly, she was a little older than her when she left for her second trip to the past. Like Videl, Mai had chosen to keep her hair long. Black, straight, silky, with bangs. Her black eyes contrasted with her fair skin.

Mai, like most errand-kids, shared that air of determination, that confidence and that ability to defend herself if needed. She could drive anything, and use all sorts of weapons to cover herself and flee. She was braver than Trunks was in a way, as Mai never hid she was a girl, and a beautiful one too. While Trunks knew a little about handguns and other weaponry, thanks to her mother's knowledge and teaching her how to shoot and how to maintain guns of all sorts, Mai was a true expert.

"I do, and I'll make it up, somehow, someday," Trunks admitted she owed Mai for her understanding and patience, and stepped in Videl's office.

The discussion was short. While 'Tora' wore a dog tag, it wasn't the one Videl had given the errand-kid, and all came crashing when Trunks announced she came to 'talk about Gohan'.

"Tora..nks.." Videl realized, and a glance down, and the new dog tag confirmed. "You're Trunks Brief, Bulma's daughter.."

Trunks nodded. "Gohan-san told you about me, about us, then.. Keep using male language about me to your men, I'm not ready to stop being 'Tora' yet."

Videl accepted with an easy shrug, which reassured Trunks. It wasn't that big of an ask, even if she was still in shock about finding out the resourceful and ruthless errand-boy and the teenage girl her lover had been talking about were the same person.

"You're.. not asking for him just because he's the Golden Warrior, right?"

Trunks wanted to confirm whether there was something else going on, especially from what the people in 787 had said. She hadn't witnessed it all, but her older counterpart had given her a slight rundown, to prepare her. It was a matter of checking whether his Gohan and hers had a similar relationship to 'Devil'.

Videl confirmed, a little pale, especially as Trunks was visibly in a foul mood. She couldn't sense energy, as Gohan had told her it was possible with training, but she could read someone's quiet desire to lash out and kill something easily, despite how Trunks kept her hands on her own elbows as a way of restraining herself.

"The Cyborgs killed Gohan-san a little over four years ago. Here, in Central City."

"The February 780 massacre.." Videl remembered, tears forming in her eyes. She knew, but confirmation still hurt.

It was when their city finally fell, when she had started to lose hope, until the Golden Warrior was back. All saw the same flames and colors, they didn't even notice that during his last fight, the Golden Warrior was missing his left arm. Videl doubted it was the same person, because Gohan never went back to her. She never said anything, though.

"I took over after him," Trunks confirmed the realization she could read in Videl's blue eyes.

"Why are you telling me this?" Eventually, Videl's inquisitive mind went to ask the right questions. Why was she given that information? There had to be a reason.

"You deserve the truth, nothing more, nothing less."

"Show me."

Trunks raised an eyebrow and stared into the woman's eyes, trying to understand what she meant.

"Show me the Golden Warrior."

Trunks sighed in annoyance, then shook her head. She uncrossed her arms, clenched her fists, and briefly flashed super Saiyan in Videl's office, her eyes losing their pupils and turning teal-green, her hair flickering and rising briefly in gold.

Videl watched with awe what she knew was the Golden Warrior, as she'd seen Gohan gain and lose the transformation prior. She had taken a step back as the power summoned filled the office with warmth. Trunks promptly took back control of her power, returned to normal and turned her back to leave.

"I have no desire to be in any sort of leadership position, Videl-san. No gratitude, no recognition. The Cyborgs are gone, and so is the Golden Warrior. Earthlings need to move forward now. So long."

She had deliberately excluded herself, and left Videl with a sense of emptiness. Gohan was truly gone, and the person who took over the mantle wanted to disappear from everyone's memories and move on.

.

Bulma kept working on the data her older self had given her, studying the land and nature, comparing to what happened in 787, but nothing matched. That other Trunks had killed the Cyborgs almost a year after her own version, had it been enough to change the course of the planet's decay? That was good news all in all, and yet, Bulma doubted.

The gods had truly forsaken them, despite Trunks telling her about New Namek and 787's Dende agreeing to become Earth's Guardian, clearly their 784 had other obstacles. In the different capsules 767-Bulma gave her, Bulma found the blueprints for a new improved Gravity Room as well as a good amount of raw materials. Making a new Gravity Room would be good for her daughter to train in and challenge herself, it was worth having a spaceship ready, in case they ended up finding New Namek… But that wasn't a priority, at least not as the resources of the planet needed time to recover and Earthlings needed more.

The spaceship could wait, even if Bulma wanted to give Trunks a safe way to blow up steam. She was worried about her daughter. After her first trip, she became incredibly clingy. After her second one, she became glue. A ball of nerves that wanted constant touch, attention and care. Bulma had been understanding and indulged her daughter's needs without reserve, reassuring, motherly and accessible, hoping all of this would calm down after the Cyborgs were defeated. But that hadn't been the case. Arguably things became even worse after the Cyborgs were finally disposed of.

Trunks had grown to be moody and intense. Even by Bulma's standards, considering who Vegeta had been and who she herself was, it was becoming alarmingly worrying. The girl refused to socialize with anyone, went out to get supplies and run occasional errands to get rid of the chore as fast as possible, and refused elaborating about her flings. Lighter conversations and relaxing were out of reach, the girl was ready to lash out at any annoyance.

The young adult mostly stayed at home, binder free, at least she wasn't on the quivive, ready for battle at all times anymore, but she was tense. Bulma couldn't help but compare to the photos she had of that older, male Trunks and his mother, after the defeat of the Cyborgs. From 787-Bulma's telling of things, 787-Trunks had soon relaxed and while he didn't socialize much with other Earthlings (and didn't bring home any girlfriend, much to his mother's disappointment), he had none of the behaviors her Trunks was displaying.

Sure, that Trunks had died to Cell, so he didn't know another danger was lurking, but her Trunks knew about it (and disposed of the monster and the lab almost as soon as she was back). Was it paranoia? Perhaps, but Trunks' sleeping schedule was more relaxed, she even had longer sleep periods, resting alone sometimes too, so she couldn't really put it all on the fear of another attack. She was tense, but not constantly on her guard. It was as if she needed an excuse to fight something, but couldn't indulge.

Something was happening to her daughter, and Bulma watched her lose herself as the weeks went by. And the more she observed, the more she saw how Trunks paced and her aggressiveness grew. Exactly like it had when she was frustrated and ready to destroy everything.. When Tapion died. A tiger in a cage.

Trunks had no Gohan to let out steam with, no one to fully understand what she was going through, and her mother couldn't really give her any outlet. And deep down, she believed Trunks refused to socialize precisely because she was dangerous.

The Time Machine finished charging in May 784, and as she put it away, considering her options and mulling over her worries, Bulma decided to pack.

"We're going to that universe, Trunks."

"Uh?" Trunks swallowed her mouthful of curry and took a second to understand what her mother was telling her.

"To the world you helped. I need to.. test some theories."

".. I don't want you to see Father with another you." The young adult frowned. Her worries went back to the whole mating business Vegeta had explained, and her first priority was her mother's happiness and well-being.

"Push come to shove, he ends up with two beautiful but temporary mates."

"Mother!" The mental image struck Trunks, she loathed it and tried chasing those away with a painful groan.

"Hey, you went there, blame yourself," Bulma teased with a smile, and shook her head to continue. "787-me was sick, but Porunga healed her and all other Earthlings. The letter was about that. I am not sick, but we lack the medical equipment for a full checkup."

The half-breed got serious, she frowned, the idea of losing her mother to sickness didn't please her, and most importantly, she didn't know that other Bulma was sick. The Senzu healed injuries, but not illness, and her mother was sound and logical. And yet.. she felt deception.

"Are you sick?" She had to ask, her voice full of worry.

"No, every test came out negative. Our world isn't in the same state as theirs, Trunksie, I compared all I could, but her illness wasn't caused by just Cyborg destruction. I'd rather waste a trip rather than not catching it on time."

"We're bringing back advanced medical supplies, then."

"And I want to see the world you helped build," Bulma added with a bright smile.

Trunks feared jealousy would take her mother, or even herself, but she also felt restless. She wanted to go back, and loathed that part of her.

".. Is it fair for us to see and experience the world that could have been?"

"Perhaps not, but we have to think of it as a nice holiday," the older woman shrugged, carefree. "And I'm honestly getting a little tired of having you glued to me like a needy toddler, I want you to go out and have fun, and here, you're unable to do that."

"I don't want to," Trunks huffed, stubborn, childish.

"Sucks to be you," Bulma shrugged, unwilling to budge. She needed her daughter to experience normal life for a little while and socialize in a healthy environment, so she could reproduce those patterns in their world. "Also, I'm driving. We leave tomorrow."

Despite it all, Trunks was obedient, and she had to admit she left a part of herself in that world. She wanted to make the most out of it, for her mother's health, and somewhat, she wanted to see them all again, tell them all herself how it all went, and perhaps.. just perhaps, be able to tell her father exactly who she was. She feared telling him the truth, as she touched the pendant she hadn't removed in four months since he gifted it to her.

Deep down she knew, looking at her mother, that she was doing it for her and not for her own health. It was a good excuse, and while she wasn't exactly sure what was wrong with her, she knew something was up, and perhaps she hadn't properly cleared things.

Trunks packed her things, put her sword on her back, and put the microband on. Capsule Corp was locked, and the pair departed towards a suitable take-off place in the desert, daughter driving her mother in her car. One last little loop over the city being rebuilt, and over Central City, and Bulma had another taste of the future that looked bright for her planet.

After two months of peace, Earthlings had truly begun their transition to peaceful cooperation, when fighting for survival and resources wasn't that necessary anymore. Strong leaders such as Videl ensured things remained safe for everyone, and the likes of Tora and Mai were still a looming threat over armed bandits who tried continuing taking advantage of the communities.

There was something strangely satisfying for Trunks, seeing her mother stand in her car and look over the world of peace her invention had created. She hadn't had time to show her the world after the defeat of the Cyborgs, as the scientist was still working on her older counterparts' data, and only exited their house for some samples. Bulma was finally free, fearless, she could enjoy the skies, the clouds, the bright sun and the views, without worrying about being attacked out of nowhere. Sure, Trunks had been the one to kill the Cyborgs, but all was possible because of Bulma, and despite her initial reluctance, she couldn't wait to see the joy and pride on her mother's face when she would see the result of her actions, in that other timeline, that was always Cyborg-free.

Bulma deserved to see it all, and say 'it was worth it'.

"We're going to 774."

Bulma announced to the tiny version of her daughter as she went through the motions to pilot her greatest invention. Trunks was holding onto her overalls' chest pocket, she couldn't ask why 774 and not another year, but she remembered that it was more or less when the cure for Goku's heart virus was discovered, as her mother had told her 'ten years ago we discovered it' when she went to the past for the first time. Reading scientific and medical journals hadn't been her priority, and if her mother was truly going to become sick, going into a closer 'past' made sense…

There was something else about 774, but Trunks couldn't quite piece it together.

The Time Machine disappeared to its destination: a little over ten years in the past.

.

.

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The scene before departing is greatly inspired by the lovely fanart Lidoshka made on tumblr! Future Bulma being free and Trunks appreciating how she finally gave her back her world.. My heart!

You can find it as /post/687397811033079808

On another note, MightyDragoon (also on tumblr) decided to MEME THE FUCK Out of the fic XD

/post/696201792517783552 to find it too.

Look at all these memes about the Trunks arc, they're so accurate it hurts :') Thank you so, SO much! Made my day 3

You can find them both on my own tumblr with the #my%20trunks

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As for timeframes:

Trunks went back to January 784, destroyed Cell and the Lab just afterwards, destroyed the Cyborgs mid March 784, and in May 784, she and Bulma travel back to April 774.