Hi there,
Hope you are all doing well! Here is the next chapter of WaHD2.
A special thank you for SuperKamehameha (AO3) and Vonigner (FF & AO3) for beta reading this chapter! Both have recently uploaded their own fic, so if you don't know what to do, please give them a read ;)
Lots of Love and enjoy!
Kipke
Edit: Sorry something went wrong with uploading and a lot of breaks were gone, making it harder to read. I hope I fixed it all.
Also, I forgot to mention that I'm really grateful to everyone that had placed a like and comment on my previous chapter! Thanks to you this story still exist.
Chapter 14: Foes and Allies
Videl squinted her eyes as she observed the strange individual before her. His wrinkled face featured a prominent white bushy mustache, which was strangely dwarfed by his long wild hair, equally in color. His clothes made her think of something that might have fitted into a historical documentary of a far away foreign land, but that were more suitable for a much colder climate. If it were any other place or circumstances, she would've thought that his poofy orange shoulders, wide brown knickerbockers and tiny black waistcoat, accompanied with a prominent ushanka, would've represented a Russian clown. But seeing the old guy's expression, this was far from satire.
Out of reflex, Videl fell in a fighting stance, squinting her eyes at said figure, "Sorry to disappoint you, but you are dead wrong." Videl almost snickered sarcastically; She? The strongest human on this planet? Ha, far from it! And even though this person probably didn't know Gohan, her father was still around - and everyone knew her father was the World Champion. So why didn't he go looking for him instead?
Videl didn't trust this guy one bit and swallowed as nerves crept over her. She just hoped he wasn't looking for a fight; her condition was already as bad as it was.
"Nice try," the man snorted, his smug grin grew wider, "But my radar says otherwise."
"Ever heard of suppressing Ki?" Videl mirrored his smirk, suppressing her Ki as much as possible while she kept staring intently at the individual. She saw his smug grin disappear from his face that very instant. Her self-righteous feeling didn't hold long as - even though she was hoping for this reaction - it also confused her. This guy looked as if he meant business, but at the same time didn't radiate any Ki himself. He should know about suppressing Ki, right? As he obviously did so himself.
"Alright," Videl had enough, "Let's get this over with; what do you want?"
"I need to power up my battery, but doing so on mere humans is taking forever," the old man said coldly, "Though, I was hoping to find something more." He reached out his hand, his palm now facing Videl as he continued, "How disappointing…"
Videl raised a brow, "Batt-?"
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!"
The sudden voice startled her and while she wanted to react, her body was paralyzed. She couldn't move nor speak; she was nothing but a plaything of time. And with every second that passed, she felt herself becoming weaker and weaker. Her senses became blurry, barely registering the new figure that rushed between them, nor the flash that followed.
Just out of nowhere, her vision popped back in; suddenly able to witness the old man she was talking to moments ago scream at his now stump hands - hands that were plumbing to the earth.
And so did she.
Videl fell out of the sky. She tried to straighten her body and fly back up - or at least stop herself from falling - but nothing happened. Panic rose in her stomach as she realized she couldn't retain her control over her Ki. She was losing significant height every passing second, causing the Earth's surface to come closer and closer. She was moments away from impact and this time… there was no Gohan to catch her.
Or was he?
A firm grip had her suddenly pressed against their warm muscular - yet soft - body. She now headed to the ground in a controlled manner. In utter surprise she looked up with her big opal eyes, but as she tilted her head to the side to look at the man, she noticed to her disappointment it wasn't Gohan. The man however kept quiet, looking in anger at the old man hovering above them. After being gently put on the ground, Videl watched the newcomer's actions as he flew back up, observing them as they exchanged words; the elder one seemed scared as the newcomer dominated their conversation. Unfortunately, Videl couldn't make out what they were talking about - much to her frustration.
And then it happened out of nowhere; her eyes shot wide as she spectated the newcomer grabbing his sword and - with a smooth swing - cut the old man in half, followed by yet another couple of cuts. His long lavender strands suddenly turned into glowing blond spikes while screaming loudly, throwing the remains a powerful blast until nothing was left. The old man was gone - vanished from this world.
Videl could only watch in horror. Did that- Did that guy just kill that defenseless old man?
The newcomer landed in front of her and kneeled, "You alright?"
Videl tried to speak up, but no words came out. She had little to no energy left in her body and knew she was at the mercy of this man; whatever his intentions were, it was going to happen. She just looked at him, hoping he wouldn't pick up his sword on her. But - albeit being on high guard as she did not know if he was friend or foe - he didn't seem to be hostile towards her, making her subconsciously release some tension.
"Here, let me help," the guy said softly, as if he meant what he said. Videl wanted to protest regardless, but it didn't make a difference. She felt his hand being placed on her back and suddenly a familiar sensation rushed through her body. Just as Gohan once did, he's shared his Ki with her. "Better?"
"W-Who are you," she asked, finally feeling strong enough to talk. She opted to play her cards safe and side with this man, at least until she got some information. As Gohan once said: never judge a book by its cover.
The guy blushed and shyly said, "My name is Trunks. What about yours?"
Videl didn't answer his question and got straight to the point, "Who was that man and why did you kill him?" She needed to know this answer.
"That was no man," the guy said while looking in the direction of where the subject of their conversation once was, squinting his eyes deeply, "That was a machine…"
"He looked pretty human to me…" Videl gave this 'Trunks' a look of distrust.
He sighed and stood up, walking a few steps away from her. He picked up something and returned, only to hand over one of the old man's hands. On the cutline's edge nothing but electronic wires, leaking oil and metal was visible.
Videl raised a brow, "I-I don't understand…"
"Neither do I…" the lavender-haired man replied, "I thought…" He fell quiet, as if he was dealing with some inner struggle. After a moment of silence he shook his head violently, and continued, "Never mind, let's get you to somewhere safe first. Where were you going? This is kind of a remote area to be in."
"I was heading to West City," Videl replied, still looking in disbelief at the hand she was holding; Damn, she could have sworn that the old man was real… how is that even possible?
Trunks nodded, "Alright, I'll accompany you. I need to head there as well." Videl took his strong hand he'd offered to help her up. Her legs were a little wobbly and Trunks kept supporting her. "Maybe you should rest first," he suggested, "You don't look so good."
"I-I had a couple of rough days, that's all." Videl didn't want to go into detail about it, she didn't even know if she could trust this guy or not. But for now he seemed like a friendly folk and somehow there was something familiar about him… as if she had seen him before, yet she couldn't recall. "I really need to get going."
She threw the robot hand back into the sand and turned her heels away from Trunks, only to find herself stuck on the ground. Her body was worn, too exhausted to take off. Videl let her shoulders slump as she sighed, "I'm sorry to ask, but have you got a bit more Ki to spare? I-I can't even fly anymore, and I sure cannot walk all the way to West City."
"That's not really how it works," Trunks replied, standing next to her, "I can give all my Ki to you, but in the end it's your body that has exceeded its limits. You first need to heal and rest..."
"I can heal and rest afterwards," Videl's tone was resolute and determined, frowning in irritation. She hated feeling helpless.
"How do you know about Ki anyway?"
Videl looked up to Trunks' studying look and replied curtly, "A friend taught me, why?"
"There aren't many Ki users around anymore," Trunks shrugged, deciding this wasn't the best time and place to talk about it. Then he started to blush profusely, realizing what he had to do, "I-I can give you a lift, if that helps? We'll be in West City in no time."
"I guess I've no choice," Videl sighed tiredly. She noticed the deep red blush on his face while he was pounding on how he should carry her, and couldn't help but smile. It reminded her of Gohan somehow, and suddenly she felt much more at ease. "Don't overthink it," she almost giggled and threw her arm around his neck, "Just lift me up and go." He nodded and lifted her up, holding her bridal style, still blushing as they took off. For a moment they flew through the sky in silence. The heavy weight, the fatigue, the loss of sleep and all other experiences of the past few days were taking its toll on her. Videl finally was going to West City and more quickly than she probably would have done on her own in her condition.
The arms that held her were strong, yet gentle. Again, it reminded her of Gohan, how he carried her whenever she fell from the sky during her flight lessons. It felt so familiar and safe; a beacon of trust and hope that she'd definitely needed in this moment. She was so tired and fragile, something she wasn't used to, but she had reached a point where she had no choice but to accept and resign herself to it. And for the first time in forever, Videl felt it was okay to do so; accepting that she couldn't carry the world on her own. Slowly, as the warmth of the man holding her enveloped her, she subconsciously tucked her head under his chin and muttered a "thank you" before dozing off.
###
As the dim light was creeping through her eyelids, Videl let out an irritated groan; she wasn't ready to wake up. Turning to her side as she tried to continue her nap, her body started to hurt - a stark contrast to her peaceful slumber. The quiet sounds made way for annoying beeping noises and a faint "-m, I think she's waking up."
Hearing the familiar voice of the lavender-haired man she had met, she opened her eyes and looked in his direction, seeing him rise from his chair in the corner. As she tried to sit up, she saw the tubes and patches attached to her arm, which in turn were attached to machines. Whatever was happening, Videl resolutely told herself that this was not the time and, with one swift movement, she pulled out all the needles before jumping out of bed - albeit a little wobbly. There was simply no time to waste; she really needed to get going and find Bulma as quickly as possible. She could rest and heal another day!
Suddenly a realization struck. She looked down and was clothed in a shirt that wasn't hers, and neither were the pink with pineapple print panties. Pulling the shirt down to cover herself as much as possible, she blushed profusely as she looked almost in shock at Trunks, "Please, don't tell me you've undressed me!"
Mirroring her red blush he uttered equally in shock, "What?! No way I didn't!"
"Don't worry, that would be me. I couldn't treat your wounds otherwise. You had some nasty sunburns."
Videl jerked her head to the other, even more familiar voice and forgot in an instant her current situation. Tears filled the corner of her eyes as she rushed into the blue-haired scientist's body, only to hold her closely. She couldn't fight her emotions anymore and bursted out into tears, her legs giving in. In reaction, the woman who had entered the room held the sobbing teen and - as she couldn't support her weight for long - also kneeled, still hugging her. She looked confused to Trunks, who shrugged.
After a couple of moments, Videl's tears died out and she finally looked up, still sniffing, "I-I finally found you…" She couldn't believe her eyes; the woman she was holding was definitely Bulma, but she looked older. Her short blue hair had grown long and she had put them into a low ponytail. Regardless of the time passed, she was as beautiful as always.
Videl knew in this instant that it was true: she had skipped fifteen years. But how?
"It's okay, kiddo. Tell me, why were you looking for me?"
The raven-haired teen looked up and met her in the eye, "I-It's me, Videl…"
Bulma's face turned apologetically, "I'm sorry, that doesn't ring a bell."
"G-Gohan's girlfriend?" Videl sniffed.
"Gohan?" Bulma was confused hearing his name and she shared a knowing look with Trunks, who was equally surprised. He wanted to say something, but the scientists motioned him to be quiet and decided to play along, "Aren't you a bit too young to be Gohan's girlfriend?"
Videl pulled away and wiped her eyes dry, her hands still trembling, "I-I don't know what happened. There was this beam and I-I think I skipped time somehow."
"This…" another look was shared between mother and son, "-might need a bit more explaining. You are here in safe hands, so why don't we go downstairs so you can eat some? Your body can use some fuel. Then, when you have calmed down a bit, you can tell us everything, okay? We'll figure this out."
Videl nodded, wiping the last silent tears from her face. She still felt that her body was weak, but manned up as much as she could. After wrapping herself in a bathrobe that Bulma had given her, she followed the blue-haired scientist downstairs, Trunks following in their footsteps. She was motioned to sit at a table, while Bulma continued her route to the kitchen. But before Videl sat down, something caught her eye. She slowly walked over the dresser, reaching out to grab the photo frame with her trembling hands, staring in shock at it.
"Gohan..." her voice was almost silent.
How could this be? The muscular man in the orange getup was definitely him, but he looked so much older. His usual carefree smile had given way to an empty one, as if his cheerful aura had been washed away. His eyes were hollow and he looked tired - so damn tired. Time really has worn him down. And was that...
Before she could ask herself that one question, Bulma had entered the room. She held two bowls of soup and smiled at Videl - a smile that faded away when she saw her holding that picture. Their eyes crossed and Bulma gestured halfheartedly to the table. Videl followed, but sat down with slumped shoulders, staring at her bowl of soup, mumbling, "He is dead, isn't he?"
Videl could read the answer right off their faces as both Bulma and Trunks shared an uncomfortable look. Her shoulders slumped even more and she felt numb and beaten. The teenage crime-fighter had shed so many tears the last few days and had lost so much energy that she couldn't properly digest this information; How could he be dead? Gohan was the strongest person she knew. He even had beaten Cell. Cell, that unforgivable monster nobody could defeat. Not even her own father…
"Yes, hunny, he is no longer with us." Bulma sat down and folded her hands together as she looked compassionately at the broken girl, cautiously continuing, "He has been gone for a long while now. How much time do you think you've skipped?"
"Probably about fifteen years…" Videl just answered the question, too emotionally drained and numb to even feel anything anymore; she was emotionally drained, "H-How did he die?"
"He perished in the war," Bulma answered reluctantly, "I'm sorry."
"What war?" Videl finally looked up, really confused. Her father also had mentioned a war, one that he thought she had perished in too. But it was just Carmine and a bunch of secondary criminals, right? Right?
Videl shook her head in protest, mumbling in disbelief, "The Gohan I know would never perish under anyone or anything. He is the strongest guy I know. Even poison strong enough to kill 100 men can't even bring him down, how… How could he be…" Suddenly her words got stuck in her throat. She couldn't say it; She couldn't hear herself admitting the ugly truth…
"He was simply not strong enough," Trunks said with a broken voice, though trying to hide his sorrow. After an uncomfortable silence he continued, "Tell me, how did you two meet? Gohan never mentioned a woman in his life before."
"Well, Gohan may not have mentioned it to you before," the blue-haired scientist took over the conversation, "There are some things you don't know about. You were simply too young. Gohan, however, did mention a girl once. When he was recovering from losing his arm he mentioned one that bravely stood her ground and occasionally crossed paths with him on the battlefield." Bulma started studying Videl, "A short and fierce girl with raven black hair, beautiful opal eyes - a true fighter too. Would that be you?"
"Sounds like me…" Videl nodded unsurely, getting shy all of a sudden, "We did fight a lot of crime together."
"The thing that confuses me though, is that he told me he'd lost her to one of the androids."
"Well, I skipped time somehow and disappeared unexpectedly…" Was Carmine an Android, though? She looked so human to her; but then again, so did that old man…
Bulma shook her head, "I mean, they killed her. Right in front of him."
"Gohan was there when it happened," Videl started to explain, but Bulma interrupted her.
"He buried her body."
"I…" Videl became silent, utterly confused. If that girl was her, how could they have buried a body? As far as she knew, she still had hers; she certainly wasn't a ghost of some sort. Then a sudden mixture of jealousy and insecurity rose; what if Gohan just moved on with another girl? Didn't she even matter to him?
Resolutely shaking her head, she tried to stop the negative thoughts. Of course she mattered to him! They'd shared so much! And even if it were another girl, she had been gone for years. Could she even blame him for moving on? But still…
"Hey Kiddo," Videl heard Bulma say with a soft comforting voice, "I know this all is hard on you, but we'll figure this thing out, okay?" After Videl nodded in acknowledgement, the scientist continued, "So, how did you two come to meet?"
Videl looked up, "Me and Gohan?"
"Hmhmm"
"We met at Orange Star High, when he enrolled in my class."
"Hold your horses," Trunks came from the wall where he'd been standing eversince the conversation started, "Gohan never enrolled in any school."
Videl couldn't help but chuckle, "Yes, he has. He is - or was - practically the biggest nerd I know. In a positive way, of course."
Bulma looked intently at the raven-haired girl, "No, he never has…"
"Yes, he has," Videl promptly stood up and slammed her hands on the table, "You even made him his superhero outfit to help him fight crime and when he got poisoned, you helped him back up. We had contact back then, you even invited me over to Capsule Corp. when he and your husband fought out their differences and -"
"I need to stop you there," Bulma said, studying Videl's face as she tried to figure out what was happening, "You see, I've never been married. Trunks grew up without his father. And the only thing Gohan fought were the androids, dying doing so."
"The androids?" Videl echoed confused, "You mean those with numbers as names?" Videl suddenly thought back to when Gohan was finally opening up to her. He too had mentioned androids, who at first seemed to pose a threat. He and his friends had to fight them, until Cell became their mutual enemy. Eventually they came to an understanding, realizing neither side was that bad and eventually they decided to live in harmony - one even becoming the wife of one of Gohan's family friends. Now she was at it, didn't that female android help her as Saiyawoman's substitute, to defuse those tabloid rumors?
"Gohan told me he fought them when he was younger, but then Cell came and-"
Trunks' eyes shot wide, "Cell?!"
"Yes, Cell," Videl looked at him and frowned, "Don't tell me you also haven't heard from him."
"Oh, we have heard of him," Trunks admitted, "Tell me, who defeated him?"
"Gohan did."
"I see," Trunks looked at his mother across the table, "Mom, she's obviously from another timeline."
###
Sitting on the roof, Trunks' eyes darted pointlessly over the blackened sky while he was collecting his thoughts. This girl surely had turned his day upside down and had stirred up quite a few emotions. He had never been able to come to terms with the loss of Gohan. He simply shoved his emotions aside instead of facing them. His trip to the past's timeline did help him to overcome his daddy-issues and in some regard had found some peace knowing there was a timeline where Gohan was alive and lived a happy and carefree life. But now, knowing his girlfriend had been taken away from him by some sort of lowlife criminal, his restless feeling took over once more. Why was the universe against him? Gohan deserved all the best, regarding the timeline.
"Hey," Videl's unsure but soft voice spoke from behind him, "Do you mind if I-?"
Shaking away his train of thoughts, Trunks looked around, "No, not at all." He quickly scooped over to make room for Videl, studying her new look as she came sitting beside him, "Your hair-"
"Bulma helped me cut it," Videl replied with a sigh. "She couldn't do more for me than this," Videl grabbed one of her very short strands and pulled it upwards.
Trunks let out a small chuckle, "Why the long face? It looks good on you. It makes you fierce!" Suddenly the slight smile he carried across his face vanished and made way for a slight blush on his cheeks, looking back in front of him, "I can see what Gohan sees in you."
An awkward silence fell, both feeling a bit uncomfortable after that comment. Videl knew Trunks tried his best to let her feel at ease, and it sure was meant as a compliment, but the fact that she was reminded of Gohan was simply enough to drag her mood down. She tried to suppress the sigh that almost left her lips and forced a smile, wobbling her legs up and down over the edge. "Nice shoes you have there."
Confused by her remark, Trunks looked at his own. The ochre suede safety boots he was wearing, framed with rubber gray tips and heels, weren't exactly what he'd call 'nice' anymore. He had them for a long time now, and fought some great battles with them too. But after all those years, they began to look worn albeit their wear-resistance. When he figured her comment was probably sarcastic, he gazed at hers. He couldn't hold a snicker when his eyes fell on her feet - feet covered with a very familiar pair of ochre yellow boots; "I see you have a great taste in footwear yourself."
Videl's smile grew wider, "I guess you are quite out of fashion, though, since they were a thing fifteen years ago - apparently."
"Hm," Trunks hummed a bit more seriously, "fashion isn't really a thing anymore I suppose. We all focus more on what we still have and getting this world built up again after the war we've been through. There isn't much room for luxurious nonsense like worrying about what to wear or not."
"I can't comprehend that just two individuals could almost bring down all humanity. Although, Cell was just one individual too I suppose."
"Yes, but Cell was stopped in time. Thanks to Gohan. I just wish he could've done the same for us - with the androids I mean." Leaning backwards, his body resting on his arms, Trunks' eyes darted over the black sky again, as if he was looking for something, but eventually turned his head towards the girl beside him, a soft melancholic smile featuring his face, "I haven't come up here for a long time. It feels good to take a step back once in a while."
"How come?"
"What do you mean?" Trunks looked confused.
"Is it because of Gohan that you haven't been here in a while?"
"Nothing goes past you, does it?" Trunks flashed her a sad smile, before looking back up, "Gohan took me up here whenever he came to visit. It is one of my fond memories of him."
Videl mirrored Trunks' position, "You know, when I feel alone, I always pretend that my mother looks down upon me from there. I don't know what the other side looks like, or if it even exists, but it gives me comfort to think so. In a sense, you are never alone."
"That's," Trunks started, sitting back up, "a very reassuring thought." He beamed her a smile, "Maybe Gohan is looking down on us right now."
Videl hummed, but stayed quiet. She knew he meant well, but a sudden emptiness washed over her; a feeling she just had managed to shrug off. Her Gohan would never watch over her, nor her mom; they simply didn't exist in this timeline. Neither should she, but here she was. Such a surrealistic thought to think of it; everything was so confusing.
A hand pulled her out of her thoughts and she looked up to Trunks' halfhearted smile, "I'm going to bed, I would advise you to do the same. It has been a very long and exhausting day for you." Videl nodded, but stayed quiet, staring blankly to the horizon. Trunks sighed, not knowing how to deal with such a situation. It's not like he had much experience with social interactions, certainly if it were a woman - his mother being the only exception. He decided to leave, climbing back through the window that gave access to the roof, but a thought came to mind. Peeking his head back through the window, he unsurely began, "Uhm, I'm going to one of the construction sites tomorrow. If you want, you can come with me; see how we are building back up this land?"
"That sounds great, thank you," Videl replied without looking his way - a soft sadness still featuring her voice.
Trunks sighed, running a hand through his half-long lavendel-coloured hair, "Alright, I leave at nine. See you tomorrow."
That night Videl had a restless and shallow sleep, waking up way earlier than planned. First she tried to turn around and fetch some more, but in the end it felt useless. Not sure what to do, she dressed herself with the same clothes as the day before - she didn't have much else to wear - and went downstairs. To her surprise, however, there was a light burning at the end of the hall. Looking through the already open door, she saw the blue-haired scientist bent over her desk.
"Do come in," Bulma's voice sounded tired, but she beamed Videl a smile nonetheless.
Coming standing beside her, Videl took in the scene a bit worried, "Have you been up all night?"
"Oh, nothing that I haven't done before; I can think more clearly at night," Bulma chuckled, motioning Videl to take a stool, "I made an overview of what you said. I do have some questions, though. Do you, by any chance, know how that woman - Carmine if I remember correctly - got in the possession of such a device? The one that hit you?"
"Uhm, I don't know for sure, but what I do know is that she'd gathered the Dragon Balls and kidnapped me by using one of the wishes. Her hideout was brand new, suggesting she wished for that too. So-"
"- she used the last wish on such a device," Bulma finished her sentence. "What I find puzzling is that I didn't think Shenron would know how to create such a thing. He could do almost everything, but only in the timeline he is in. Otherwise he could've helped us too," she swallowed thickly and turned her head towards Videl, beaming her a sad smile, "Anyway, do you know that perhaps she or someone in her organisation has connections to Capsule Corp.?"
Videl placed her hand on her chin to think deeply, "She somehow used me as an outlet - yelling and bragging - to relieve stress I suppose. She once hinted that Capsule Corp.'s security was - and I quote - 'shit' and that she wouldn't trash around very important blueprints if she were you. The smirk on her face betrayed her that she probably had profited from it somehow."
Videl jumped as Bulma abruptly grabbed her pen and crossed some things off of a piece of paper. She looked at it thoughtfully for a couple of seconds and eventually lifted her head with a triumphantly smile. "I think I got it! And of all the possibilities I've taken into account, this is one of the best case scenarios."
Videl's face lit up, "Really?!"
"I said 'best case scenario', hunny, so don't get your hopes up too high, okay?" the blue-haired scientist replied quickly, a serious tone featuring her voice, "There are still many pitfalls to overcome. See, you weren't only sent through time, but also to another timeline - as you already know. This makes it a very complicated situation, but - as far as I see it - it isn't impossible to get you back to your own.
The thing I tried to figure out was: what timeline? But then I realized there weren't many timelines to begin with that fit our criteria. And since you mentioned there was probably a blueprint - a blueprint which I think was used to help make that device that had sent you here; a device that has been set to our timeline specifically. The thing is, your Bulma is a lot younger than when I invented my time machine, so I'm guessing that she was in the possession of some pre-knowledge when making her blueprint; an old machine that I know was stranded in your timeline. That also explains why it was specifically set to us."
"Did you have more than one time machine?" Videl tried to understand what Bulma was saying.
"Not quite. You see, Trunks has traveled back in time to stop the monsters that destroyed our world in their most vulnerable moment, coming across a new one you know as Cell." Bulma looked intently at the girl, who's puzzled face grew even stronger, "I see you beginning to see where I'm going?"
"I-I don't understand, how can Cell be new to Trunks? He went back in time, right? Meaning that moment has already taken place."
"An oversight at our future's side. You see, 'your' Cell came from the future too; 'our' future. He used 'our' time machine to travel to yours. Our own Cell wasn't even active when Trunks traveled to your timeline, so Trunks didn't know of its existence." Bulma sighed, "It's complicated. Anyway, the time machine Cell hijacked to go to your timeline was stranded. I know your Bulma has found it and knowing younger self, I would research the hell out of it to make my own." A slight smile crept upon her lips, "So I think that the blueprints that were used were made of that exact time machine, including the settings - and thus the connection - to our timeline. It is safe to say that you were from the timeline Trunks went to."
"Well, I guess that's some sort of a relief," Videl crossed her arms, frowning, "But I feel that there is more to it, right?" She threaded the answer that would come.
"Preparing the time machine takes time," Bulma replied, "a lot of time."
"How much time are we talking about?"
"At least a year."
"WHAT?!" Videl's eyes grew wide, shocked at what she heard. "A-A year?"
"Sorry, kiddo, it is what it is. I'm not gonna sugarcoat it" Bulma got up and placed her hand on Videl's shoulder, pinching it slightly in sympathy. "I know this must be hard on you, and a lot to digest too. But you are sort of family, being Gohan's girlfriend and all, so you are very welcome to stay here in the meantime."
"Thank you." She meant those words, but the crack in Videl's voice betrayed that she was anything but comforted.
The sound of footsteps came from the hallway, which the scientist's took as her cue to leave. But before she went through the door, she turned and added, "Knowing Gohan and my younger self, I know they'll do everything in their power to get you back. I wouldn't be surprised if Gohan would land somewhere this week, looking for you." As Trunks entered the room, she turned towards her son, "Good morning, sweetheart! If you keep our guest company during breakfast, I'm off to bed. I've been pulling an all-nighter."
Trunks, still sleepy with his hair in all directions, yawned, "Goodnight mom." It didn't even surprise him anymore, this was something his mother did at times and he was used to it. He shrugged it off and faced the girl in the room, "I was planning to make some pancakes, do you want some?"
Videl just nodded, feeling numb because of all that she'd learned this morning, and followed him without another word. She sat down at the table, looking how Trunks maneuvered his way through the kitchen. They stayed quiet for a while, welcoming this moment to collecting her thoughts a bit. At least she knew there was a great chance of her going back to her own timeline. That it might take a full year was of secondary importance - at least she tried to tell herself. A mixture of emotions washed over her, making her somewhat nauseous - although it could have been her growing hunger.
"Here you go," Trunks pulled her out of her thoughts, placing a plate with way too many pancakes in front of her. He sat down on the other side of the table, devouring his even bigger stack of pancakes in a blink of an eye. She recognized Gohan in the way he did that, making her smile slightly. It unconsciously made Trunks uneasy, "Hm, you don't like your pancakes?"
Shaking off her stare, she averted her gaze back to her plate, "Sorry, my thoughts distracted me, they are really nice." After a couple more bites she looked back up, wondering, "You are a Saiyan too, right? Gohan has told me about his background and all, so I was wondering…"
"Yes," Trunks admitted reluctantly, a bit taken aback by the subject, "Yes, I'm a Saiyan. Or better said, a half-Saiyan, just like Gohan was. The last one of the bunch; everyone else has been killed."
"I see."
"But hey, today is about the new chance we're given," Trunks tried to turn the conversation on a more positive note, "So you can see what we've managed to achieve! Are you ready to go?"
Videl nodded and stood up. She followed Trunks through a door and some corridors; they eventually stepped outside. To her surprise, she only now saw that Capsule Corp. was badly damaged, with some parts even being completely destroyed. Trunks noticed her shocked face and explained, "The East wing we currently live in is more than enough for me and my mom. Resources are very scarce nowadays so we are prioritizing the reconstruction of the rest of the city." He looked at Videl, studying her intently, "Are you fit enough to fly?"
"Of course!" Even if she wasn't, she wouldn't let him know just yet. Videl Satan wasn't the person to show her vulnerable side, and even though this guy already had seen her at her most fragile state, le from now on. She barely knew him. That soft and brittle side was only for those who she trusted; privileged to a few select people in her life like Erasa, and, more recently, Gohan. And even Gohan hadn't seen her like this before. No, she would live up and restore her old self; build her reputation equally in one timeline or another.
Huffing in irritation, she flew up. As expected, Trunks did the same and began to fly in a certain direction. Seizing the moment, Videl spoke up above the winds, "So, your mother mentioned that preparing the time machine would take about a year or so. She forgot to mention what this 'preparation' meant."
"Large proportion of time is consumed by making fuel," Trunks replied, "But the search for enough diamonds is also a limiting factor. As I mentioned, resources are scarce, and to make Blue No. 15 Electro-Fluid you need a lot of diamonds."
"Diamonds?" Videl caught off guard, "Why do you need diamonds to make fuel?"
"If you want the details, you'll have to ask my mother," Trunks brushed off, suddenly stopping mid-air. Videl realized they were hovering above newly built houses as far as her eyes could see. Without a word they traveled a bit further, and the completed homes made way for less finished ones, to the point where there was yet only foundations. They traveled a little further into the construction site and Trunks landed on the border where the rubble was still present.
Landing beside him, Videl looked around. "This whole rebuilding project… it's massive," she said in awe, impressed by what she'd witnessed.
"Well, the androids had their fun for years and almost all buildings ended up being damaged beyond repair. Most of the survivors had retreated into the sewer system or bunkers to protect themselves. But it's time to live in the open air again; to start a new life. West City is redesigned and will be the metropolis of the world once more."
Trunks waved to a stout man with toned skin and a graying bushy mustache, dressed in a light blue sleeveless shirt and dark pants, a yellow helmet featuring his head, "Hey there, Mr. Wrench, you needed me?"
"Ah, Mr. Briefs! I'm glad you could make it!" the man greeted. When he noticed Videl, he jokingly elbowed Trunks, whispering a bit too loud, "So that's why I haven't seen you much lately, obviously distracted by this sight for sore eyes."
Blushing profusely, Trunks swallowed, "She is just a family friend. You mentioned you were out of dynamite and needed a builder to be removed?"
"Ah yes."
Videl followed the men in silence, a bit irritated about the remark the foreman had made, but chose to let it slide as the rest of their conversation was mainly professional. The mentioned boulder was quickly removed, but the longer they stayed, the more Videl understood how involved Trunks was within this project.
The more things he resolved, the more questions and tasks he gained. In the beginning Videl took a marvel at it, but it slowly turned into irritation. She had more important things to do than stand in the way on some random construction site. She couldn't help but feel useful, and after the umpteenth remark for being an attractive woman on a construction site, she had enough.
"Look Trunks," she pulled at his sleeve, trying to get his attention, "I need some fresh air. Can you point me in the direction of where to find those diamonds you mentioned?"
A bit taken by surprise, almost forgotten that she was there, "Uh, it's a bit of a flight. Are you sure you want to do that on your own?"
"I know my limits. If it turns out to be too much, I'll return to Capsule Corp.."
"Alright," Trunks nodded, pulling something out of his pocket and handing her a round device with a green display, "This radar is set on the location you need. The spot is near a round lake somewhere west of East City, near where Natade Village once was. Sadly enough, the radar doesn't locate the individual diamonds, so you have to look for those yourself." He gave her a concerned look, "I'll meet you as soon as I'm done here, so do me a favor and keep your Ki up. That way I can find you."
"Thank you and I will." Videl took the device from his hands and flew off eastwards. She knew she couldn't make it to that destination; it was way too far for her to fly - let alone in the weakened condition she was in. She was pretty sure Trunks knew this too, but guessed he knew he needed to let her go - even if it was just to give her some space to collect her thoughts. In the meantime she could just take in her surroundings; witnessing for herself what damage had been done to this world.
Half an hour into her flight, Videl landed next to an apple orchard. She told herself that the farmer wouldn't miss one little apple, so she quickly picked a spare one off the ground and ate it. She then rested her body in the shadows of a large sycamore tree growing on a hill and suddenly felt really tired. For a moment she shut her eyes, only to get interrupted by a sharp sound of someone's throat.
Opening her eyes, she was met with a slim, curvaceous, yet tall woman who was frowning at her. Her body language radiated disgust, yet tried well to hide it; her bushy auburn hair dancing on a slight breeze. Videl sat up straight, confused. She was not bothering anyone here; for all she knew these plains were deserted. The only one that might have something to say something about her was that farmer, but judging this woman's clothes, this wasn't her.
Videl decided to play it safe, "Can I help you?"
"No," she replied curtly, "You did more than enough. I'm just trying to figure out how you did it. You don't seem like someone that couldn't be dealt with."
Feeling cornered, the raven-haired crime fighter stood up, mirroring her pose, "Look, I'm sorry about the apple if that's what this is about. But don't worry, I'm out of your hair." She waved the woman goodbye in a sarcastic manner and flew up. She assumed it was best to leave quickly before her attitude got her in trouble. She wasn't in the mood for any of this, whatever this woman wanted.
Suddenly, the direction of light changed behind her. Shocked, she threw her body sideways, only to see a large Ki ball passing her, scorching her sloppy white shirt. In pure horror, she looked behind her, seeing the woman was charging another attack. Staring bitterly at the airborne late teen, her cold words reached Videl, "An eye for an eye."
Videl cursed at herself; how could she let her guard down? What was it with these people that tried to kill her in this world?
Dodging her next attack, Videl flew as fast as she could to distance herself from this crazy woman. However, to her shock she noticed this woman could fly too. Dammit! Why did Trunks say there weren't many Ki users in this world? To her it almost seemed that everyone she met was one!
Another blast came for her and again Videl was able to dodge it, but was too late for the next one that came right after. She crossed her arms to protect her body, putting up a Ki-shield as Gohan had taught her. The attack burned her arms, but somehow she managed to redirect it and change its course slightly.
At least, that's what she thought.
When she looked up, her view was obscured by none other than Trunks' back. Moving aside slightly, she could see the tenseness featuring this woman's face, collecting her thoughts. Then she suddenly smirked, dropping her fighting stances, "Ah, now I understand why: the damsel in distress.""Who are you, and what do you want from her," Trunks almost yelled, trying to contain his growing anger.
The woman dusted off her lab coat, and straightened her dress, "I know when I'm outnumbered. But don't worry, we'll have our fight." A loud bang echoed through the sky, immediately followed by a thick wall of smoke. A faint "-but not today" could be distinguished among the coughing and sneezing that Videl and Trunks were experiencing.
But when the smoke cleared, the strange woman was already gone…
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Kipke