Returning to the Future Timeline

That evening, Mount Paozu.

Son Gohan lay on the sofa, clicking the remote in his hand over and over as the television screen flickered through channels before suddenly landing on a live news broadcast.

Mr. Satan stood in the ruined wasteland that had once been Cell's battlefield, hands on his hips and cape billowing behind him as he delivered a righteous speech to the cameras.

"...After my, Mr. Satan's, arduous battle as the world champion, I finally wiped out the evil monster Cell completely!"

"Although the process was extremely dangerous, for the sake of protecting Earth's peace, I would never retreat..."

The camera panned across the craters and fissures covering the ground. Combined with Mr. Satan's impassioned tone, it really did look convincing.

Watching his father-in-law spit with enthusiasm on television, Son Gohan shook his head and chuckled. His father-in-law really was something else. Still, he did not mind. It made no difference who got the credit, and it was better for Mr. Satan to bear that title than for people to come knocking on his door every day.

Before long, the door opened.

Chi-Chi and Lazuli came in carrying piles of shopping bags, laden with large and small packages. They had both changed into new outfits as well.

Chi-Chi wore a fitted dress, while Lazuli had on a simple white shirt with black trousers. Standing together, they looked every bit like stylish city women.

"Hungry, Gohan? We got back late from shopping. I'll go make dinner right—"

Chi-Chi set the shopping bags on the sofa and turned toward the kitchen.

"Mom, wait." Son Gohan stood up. "It's too late. You just changed into new clothes, so don't get them greasy. I'll go into town and bring back a big meal."

Chi-Chi's lips curved upward, warmth filling her heart. This child really was becoming more and more considerate.

Son Gohan did not waste any time. He went outside, powered up, and shot toward the city in a streak of light.

The night wind howled past his ears, while the lights below merged into a sprawling sea of homes amid the darkness. He made a round through town, found a Western-style restaurant that looked decent, and pushed open the door.

The owner was a middle-aged man with glasses and a slight belly, bent over behind the counter doing the accounts. Seeing someone enter, he looked up and habitually asked, "What would you like?"

After Son Gohan finished ordering, the owner's glasses nearly slid off his nose.

"Twenty burgers—ten beef and ten pork—twenty buckets of fried chicken wings, twenty orders each of fries and cola, and ten pizzas of every flavor—"

The owner straightened up and looked uncertainly at the child in front of him. "Kid, are you sure you want that much? How many people are you feeding?"

"Let's start with that. I'm afraid it won't be enough, so make the portions bigger."

The owner confirmed it several times. When he saw Son Gohan nod with a firm expression, clearly not joking, he scratched his head, headed into the kitchen, and called all the cooks to work. The oil pans sizzled in the back as they bustled about for quite some time before everything was finally ready.

After paying, Son Gohan carried several huge, overstuffed bags in both hands. The bags bulged with food, their handles stretched taut under the weight.

He stepped outside and turned into an alley where no one would notice him, then activated Instant Transmission.

Whoosh—!

His body vanished from the spot and appeared directly outside the house on Mount Paozu.

When he pushed the door open, Chi-Chi hurriedly took the bags from him, set them on the floor, and unpacked them one by one. The aroma of burgers burst from their paper wrappers, the fried chicken wings were still steaming, and there were pizzas of all kinds, fresh and hot.

Mr. Satan's interview was still playing on the television, the glory-stealing guy wearing a look of righteous dignity as he faced the camera.

Chi-Chi picked up a burger, glanced at the television, and could not help complaining, "What is this? Gohan was obviously the one who defeated him, yet this man just took all the credit."

Son Gohan took a bite of his burger. The patty was tender and juicy, sauce running down it, rich with flavor. As he chewed, he softly said, "It's fine, Mom."

"If everyone knew I was the one who defeated Cell, people would be trampling down the doorstep at Mount Paozu every day. I'd draw attention everywhere I went and never get any peace. This is pretty good."

Hearing her son say that, Chi-Chi relaxed. She picked up a slice of pizza and took a bite. Lazuli sat beside them, entirely unconcerned about such matters, nibbling on fried chicken as she enjoyed the food and the warm atmosphere of family.

Mr. Satan's speech continued on television. Outside, insects chirped in waves. Inside, the three sat around together amid the rising steam of their food. Night on Mount Paozu was quiet and comforting.

A day and a half later.

The space of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber was blasted open from within.

Their auras tore through the dimensional barrier, ripping a crack through the void as several figures passed through it.

Piccolo landed first, followed by Son Goku, Vegeta, and finally Future Trunks.

They had entered through that door a day and a half ago. Now that they emerged, every one of their auras felt weighty, utterly different from before they went in.

Future Trunks steadied himself and clenched his fist, feeling the power within him—the foundation of his strength had been tempered into something even more solid.

The foundation of Super Saiyan 2 had been completely stabilized. His aura no longer leaked out weakly like it had when he had first broken through. Instead, it remained contained within him, calm and powerful.

After taking beatings from Vegeta and Son Goku for more than a full year, not a single punch had been for nothing.

Son Goku had improved considerably as well. He had advanced another step down the path of Super Saiyan 2 and was not far from full power now. Still, the memories of being beaten down by Piccolo made him grimace.

"Let's go say goodbye to Gohan first," Trunks said. "Then I'll take the time machine back to the future and deal with the androids."

It was on Son Goku's way anyway. The two transformed into twin white streaks and flew toward Mount Paozu.

Son Gohan was sitting outside the door playing with Dragonite when he suddenly sensed two familiar auras approaching.

He stood and walked to the entrance. Son Goku and Future Trunks had already landed in the yard, their auras restrained with no excess energy leaking from their bodies.

Son Gohan glanced at Trunks and nodded.

"Finished training? The results look pretty good."

"Gohan," Trunks said as he stepped forward. "I came to say goodbye. We've finished training in the Time Chamber. When I return now, I'll be able to resolve the crisis over there easily."

Son Gohan looked at him in silence for a moment, then spoke in a clear, gentle tone.

"Alright. But I still need to remind you of a few things."

"Go ahead, Gohan."

"The most painful thing in life is knowing you're going to lose something, yet it hasn't happened yet."

Son Gohan paused, his gaze calm. "When you return to the future, don't fool around. Deal with the enemies cleanly and decisively. Don't give them even the slightest chance to make a comeback."

Trunks nodded solemnly. "I understand, Gohan. Then I'll be going."

"Alright. Safe travels."

It was hard to tell whether Son Goku had taken those words to heart. Standing nearby, he scratched the back of his head and flashed Trunks a grin. "Take care, Trunks!"

Trunks took a capsule from his waist, pressed the switch, and tossed it onto the ground.

With a bang, the white time machine appeared out of thin air in the courtyard. Its streamlined body was filled with the futuristic feel of advanced technology. He climbed into the cockpit, closed the hatch, and waved at Son Gohan through the transparent canopy.

Son Gohan and Son Goku raised their hands at the same time and waved back.

"Goodbye, Trunks. Take care!"

Inside the cockpit, Trunks watched the two figures gradually shrink into the distance. His lips moved as he silently said to himself—Take care, Gohan!

The air above the time machine trembled slightly. With a whoosh, the entire machine vanished from where it stood.

The sky returned to calm, leaving behind only a faint, barely perceptible ripple of spatial energy, which the evening breeze gently dispersed.

The courtyard fell silent. Son Gohan withdrew his gaze and turned to walk inside. Son Goku stood at the doorway, looking in the direction where the time machine had disappeared, before returning indoors as well.