The next day, Gogito and Tights got up early, packed their things, and prepared to set out.
Bulma was ready too. The three of them boarded a plane and headed for Chi-Chi's house on Mount Paozu.
Chi-Chi's House
Chi-Chi was making breakfast for Gohan, who was studying in his room.
Just then, the sound of a plane came from outside the window. A moment later, someone knocked. Chi-Chi opened the door and saw Bulma.
"Bulma? What brings you here so early?"
"I'm here because I have something to do."
Gogito stepped out from behind Bulma. Chi-Chi's expression turned a little displeased when she saw him, but she still let them inside.
"If you came to talk me into it, don't bother. I won't let Gohan train with you."
Chi-Chi spoke bluntly.
"I'll take you to meet someone. After you meet that person, if you still feel the same way, I won't bother you again."
Gogito replied.
"Fine. Let's go now."
Chi-Chi didn't want to put it off. The sooner this was settled, the better. For the past few days, it had felt like a huge stone was weighing on her heart. She was afraid Gogito might do what Piccolo had and simply take Gohan away.
"Let's go after you've had breakfast. Gohan can come too."
With that, Gogito sat down in a chair and waited for Chi-Chi and Gohan to finish eating.
Chi-Chi called Gohan out to eat.
When Gohan came out of his room and saw everyone in the living room, he froze for a moment.
"Aunt Bulma, Uncle Gogito."
Gohan didn't know Tights, so he looked at Bulma in confusion.
"This is my older sister, Tights. She's also Gogito's girlfriend," Bulma introduced her to Gohan.
"Aunt Tights."
Gohan greeted her politely.
Chi-Chi came out of the kitchen just then, carrying dozens of steamed buns.
"Gohan eats a lot for such a little boy?"
"Just like a Saiyan, eating so much at such a young age," Tights remarked.
"Would you like to eat with us?"
Chi-Chi asked.
"No, thanks. We already ate before we came."
After Gohan and Chi-Chi finished eating, they prepared to set out.
"System, open the time-space passage."
Gogito said silently.
A colorful door appeared before them. Gogito looked at the passage and sensed a mysterious aura within.
"Once we walk through this passage, we'll be there," Gogito told them.
"When did you learn to do something like this?" Tights asked.
"I learned it on Planet Yardrat."
Gogito made up an excuse. He had spent a long time there learning, so it was a convenient explanation.
"Let's go."
Gogito went in first, followed by the others.
The passage was filled with colorful light, and they could see the exit not far ahead.
It didn't take long to reach the exit.
Looking at the ruins all around them, Gogito sighed.
"How tragic! This world..."
"Where are we?"
Tights asked Gogito.
"The future. Probably more than ten years after our time."
Gogito couldn't remember exactly when this was.
"I know you have a lot of questions. You'll understand once we meet someone."
Gogito struck the pose for Instant Transmission and took Tights's hand.
"You just need to touch either me or Tights."
Bulma held Chi-Chi's hand with one hand and Tights's with the other, while Chi-Chi held Gohan's hand.
After a blur, they vanished.
Among the ruins, Future Gohan was sparring with Trunks.
Their movements were so fast that they left afterimages; an ordinary person couldn't have seen them at all.
After practicing for a while, they stopped. Future Gohan said,
"Trunks, your power is already at the level needed to transform into a Super Saiyan. Today, we'll give it a try."
"Okay, Big Brother Gohan."
Trunks sounded excited. If he could transform into a Super Saiyan, he would be able to fight the Androids and stop being a burden.
"The key to transforming into a Super Saiyan is anger. Turn your anger into strength and unleash the potential inside your body."
Anger. Trunks thought of the Androids killing people everywhere, the terrified screams filling his mind. He also remembered how the Androids had broken one of Gohan's arms when he tried to save him. His heart filled with rage.
"Raaaah!"
Trunks roared and powered up. The aura around him flickered between white and gold.
Gohan continued to push him.
"Imagine me dying right in front of you. Release all that anger—all that power."
Trunks imagined Big Brother Gohan dying before his eyes and heard the two Androids mocking him.
"That useless guy's finally dead."
"Yeah, now there's no one left who can stop us."
"Hahaha!"
"Hahaha!"
At the thought, Trunks threw his head back and roared.
"Haah!"
Trunks's hair and eyebrows turned golden, and his emerald-green eyes radiated a cold intensity. Terrifying killing intent shone in his gaze. Trunks had successfully transformed into a Super Saiyan.
"That's it. Hold back your excitement and maintain your Super Saiyan form. Remember how this feels."
Gohan coached him from the side.
Trunks furrowed his brow and struggled to control the power inside him, but he only managed to hold the form for a short while before reverting to normal.
"Ha... ha... ha..."
Trunks braced his hands on his knees and panted heavily.
"That was great. You've managed to become a Super Saiyan. Keep practicing, and you'll learn to control the transformation."
Gohan encouraged Trunks.
After resting for a while, the two of them prepared to head back to the basement.
Suddenly, several people appeared before them. It was Gogito and the others.
Gohan immediately took a fighting stance, but when he recognized the newcomers, his eyes instantly grew misty.
Chi-Chi looked at Gohan and recognized him at once. He was her and Goku's son, Son Gohan.
The empty sleeve fluttering in the wind was unmistakable. Tears immediately filled Chi-Chi's eyes. She rushed over and embraced Future Gohan, touching his empty sleeve as tears streamed down her face.
"My Gohan... What happened to you?"
Only then did Bulma, Tights, and Kid Gohan realize that the one standing before them, missing an arm, was Gohan.
Future Gohan was moved to tears too. Seeing the mother he remembered standing before him, he couldn't hold back. After all, he was only in his early twenties, a young man still full of fire. Yet he had shouldered the responsibility of protecting Earth, and it was almost crushing him.
Trunks had also seen his young mother. Bulma had been so beautiful and youthful back then, but now she was old, with wrinkles all over her face. The Androids had left her frowning with worry every day.
But he didn't dare go up and reveal who he was. He was afraid that if he did, Bulma wouldn't be able to accept it—and he would disappear.
Gogito saw Trunks's concern and quietly said to Bulma,
"The blue-haired one over there is your son."
Bulma froze. Her son? She hadn't been mentally prepared for that.
Trunks noticed the person beside Bulma whispering something to her. Bulma immediately looked over at him, stunned. He understood what she'd been told, walked straight over, and asked,
"Are you my younger self's mother?"
Trunks was still a little confused about how this group had gotten here.
"I can't believe my son is so handsome. He really takes after me!"
Bulma's train of thought was just as clear as ever; her attention was on something else entirely.
Before you continue