Hope

"Have you given up on life, Bulma?"

A voice jolted Bulma awake, just as she was about to reach heaven.

"Goku?"

"Are you here to take me to heaven?"

Through her haze, Bulma thought she saw Goku.

She lay weakly in bed, but the light in her eyes grew brighter.

Goku had come to take her to heaven!

"I'm sorry, but I'm not Son Goku."

The light in Bulma's eyes quickly faded, and her vacant, lifeless stare returned.

"Allow me to introduce myself."

"I'm Gogito, Tights' husband."

"From another world, of course."

Bulma remained exactly as she was, without a hint of change.

"I can help you get rid of the two guys wreaking havoc on Earth."

A little light returned to Bulma's eyes, but she still didn't reply.

"I can bring Trunks back to life."

"Really?"

Bulma immediately sat up and grabbed Gogito's arm.

"Of course. But first, let me deal with those two nuisances."

"Do you want to come with me?"

"I'm coming."

Bulma didn't want the hope before her to disappear, so she chose to go with him. Like someone drowning, she clung tightly to a lifeline.

Gogito raised a hand and cast a healing spell. Bulma visibly perked up. Then he used Instant Transmission, and they arrived where Babidi and Majin Buu were.

Majin Buu was wreaking havoc, while Babidi laughed wickedly.

"Ha ha ha!"

"Huh?"

Suddenly, Babidi's grin froze. His heart had been pierced. He struggled to call out to Majin Buu, but the next instant—

"Boom!"

He was blasted to pieces.

Gogito was responsible. He and Bulma stood atop the ruins of a building, Gogito's hand still raised.

Seeing Babidi dead, Majin Buu shouted gleefully,

"Whoo! Whoo!"

"That annoying guy is finally dead!!"

"Yeah! Yeah!"

"Don't celebrate too soon. I'll send you to join him in a moment."

Gogito said coldly.

He attacked at full force, instantly appearing in front of Majin Buu and punching him in the face. Buu plowed a long furrow through the ground.

"I'll kill you, you bastard!"

The punch had twisted Majin Buu's head sideways. Once it had regenerated, he flew into a rage. Smoke poured from the holes in his head and arms. Then he raised one hand over his head and began gathering energy into a sphere.

"Big Bang—"

"Attack!"

Gogito unleashed his ultimate move. With a single flash, he appeared right in front of Majin Buu. As Buu stared in terror, Gogito beat him to pieces, leaving nothing behind.

"All done."

Gogito lowered his stance, then teleported to Bulma's side and rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Found it. Let's go."

The two vanished from the city ruins. The desolate city stood empty, with only smoke drifting through the air.

On a verdant planet, the Namekians were drawing water and tending their fields when Gogito suddenly appeared, startling them.

"Who are you?"

The Namekians eyed Gogito and Bulma warily. Were they invaders again?

After Gogito explained why they had come, the Namekians escorted them to the Grand Elder's house.

"Long time no see, Bulma."

The Grand Elder before her was the same one who had stayed at Bulma's home when Namek was destroyed.

"G-Grand Elder!"

Seeing a familiar face made Bulma feel as if she'd traveled back through time. Back then, she had been young, beautiful, and full of life. Memories of those days came flooding back. Her happy life had been shattered by the merciless Androids, beginning a struggle that lasted more than ten years. At last, after she had managed to defeat the Androids, Trunks was killed. Bulma felt as if the sky had fallen. But as she watched Earth slowly return to peace, she forced herself to carry on and tried to live her life. Her good fortune didn't last. New enemies appeared on Earth, and this time, there was no one left to stand against them. Bulma had lost all hope and wanted only to die.

How tragic!!!

"Grand Elder, we came here to borrow the Dragon Balls."

Bulma spoke excitedly. There was hope! There was hope!!

"Of course."

The Grand Elder agreed without hesitation.

"Dende, tell the villages to bring the Dragon Balls here."

"Yes, sir." Dende, now grown, hurried off.

Before long, Dende returned with seven people, each carrying a Dragon Ball.

"Let's begin."

The Grand Elder gave the order.

"Bala bala! Bala bala!"

Dende recited a series of incomprehensible words and summoned the dragon.

"Those who summoned me, you may make three wishes."

Porunga, the Namekian dragon, addressed them.

"Please bring my son, Trunks, back to life."

Bulma made her wish, and Dende translated for her.

"That wish is very simple."

Porunga gave an OK sign and blinked. Far away on Earth, Trunks came back to life.

"Please state your second wish."

Bulma hesitated. She didn't know if Earth's warriors would want to be brought back after all these years.

"Bulma."

"It's Goku."

In the Otherworld, Goku rested a hand on King Kai's back and spoke to Bulma from afar.

"Goku!"

Bulma looked up at the sky. After all these years, she was hearing Goku's voice again.

"We don't need to be brought back. We've been dead for so many years, and Vegeta has already atoned for his sins and been reincarnated."

After hearing Goku's words, Bulma fell silent. He was right. So much time had passed. Even if they came back to life, Bulma didn't know how she could face them in her old, gray-haired state.

Having Trunks was enough. She had managed all these years, hadn't she?

Once she'd thought it through, Bulma no longer felt any regret. A smile blossomed on her face again.

"I understand, Goku."

"I'm counting on you to take care of Earth, Bulma."

Goku said one last thing, then cut off the connection.

"Then let's bring back the people killed by Babidi, Dabura, and Majin Buu,"

Gogito suggested.

Dende glanced at the Grand Elder, who nodded. Dende then made the wish to the dragon. With a flash, it was granted.

"Those are the only two wishes. Thank you so much, Grand Elder."

Bulma thanked the Grand Elder.

"You're welcome."

The Grand Elder nodded in satisfaction.

Then Gogito took Bulma back to Earth.

On Earth, Trunks stared at himself in shock.

"Wasn't I killed by a monster?"

"Could it be...?"

As Trunks stood there, still stunned, Gogito and Bulma appeared before him.

"Trunks!"

Bulma threw her arms around Trunks, tears already filling her eyes. Even a powerful woman who had held up half a world on her own couldn't hold back her tears at a moment like this!

"Mom!"

Trunks held the person in his arms tightly. He couldn't even imagine how devastated Bulma must have been after he died. A mother had lost her son!

They held each other for a while before Bulma finally composed herself.

"Thank you, Gogito."

Bulma looked at the man before her, who looked so much like Goku and claimed to be her brother-in-law, and thanked him from the bottom of her heart.