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The Nexus Of Time – Alternate Ending
by Petiteneko
More by this Writer
Alternate ending. Changes from Chapter 40 onward
Allured by a mysterious stranger, Gohan let curiosity get the better of him, and as a result, harshly learned a lesson that would shape the rest of his life: Actions and inactions all have consequences.
Of course, trapped in a time that wasn't his, far too many questions than answers, a seven year old Gohan had other, more pressing matters on his mind, and Trunks was none-the-wiser... Just how will this unintended trip through time change the both of them?
Allured by a mysterious stranger, Gohan let curiosity get the better of him, and as a result, harshly learned a lesson that would shape the rest of his life: Actions and inactions all have consequences.
Of course, trapped in a time that wasn't his, far too many questions than answers, a seven year old Gohan had other, more pressing matters on his mind, and Trunks was none-the-wiser... Just how will this unintended trip through time change the both of them?
Male Pregnancy
Deathfic
Chapter 40
Chapter 40“...But, really,” Trunks said as he lay next to Gohan in their bed, “don’t take what Father said to heart.” Of course, Trunks really didn’t believe Gohan really minded and knew that it was the transformation that had influenced his initial reaction, Trunks still wanted to assure his lover. “Besides— even given the fact that Chibi was the one to first unlock the state, there’s actually something else to consider…” Thus, Trunks summarised Chibi’s hypothesis about their human halves lending some assistance to their capabilities with the transformation and even brought in the fact that Gohan, himself, has also come to a similar and related conclusion. “Super Saiyajin is much easier to handle because of our human halves, so it only makes sense that having an easier time managing – and therefore mastering – the state also makes it easier to go beyond. Honestly, the only reason I had achieved it first in this time was because I had known to do so. If you guys had known about it in the afterlife, I’m certain you would have learned to do so long ago and would have been first…”
“This power beyond…” Gohan stared at his own hands, as if in disbelief at the power that he now held within his own two hands, “was it this, then, that allowed you to overcome the androids…?”
“Not… quite.” Trunks began. For he had been confident that the power he had gained whilst training with his father, and also on his own in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, was more than sufficient enough to defeat the androids, thus he had challenged them. Trunks had not been intending on ascending during that battle, but he had been so close to doing so that the slightest push had been enough— “After my time in the past, I had gained a lot of power. Father had pushed me far – farther than I ever thought possible – utilising our Saiyajin trait of becoming more powerful when we sustain substantial injuries. When I had returned, despite not yet being successful in ascending, I knew that my strength alone was more than enough to defeat the androids and defend myself against the next threat. I… hadn’t bargained on ascending during that very battle but—”
Ah—
Ahah—
This was—
Well—
“But?”
Trunks found himself laughing awkwardly. Just how could he even begin to explain—
“Ah, Trunks. You know, I’ve been thinking: maybe it’s time to kill you, too. I mean, Chibi’s out there and he’s been getting stronger. We can’t let him get toostrong after all… and speaking of that brat— Where is Gohan’s progeny?”
Dark laughter left Seventeen.
“...Perhaps, did he follow in his father’s footsteps? Abandoning you because you weren’t good enough? I mean, why else would Gohan have—”
As Trunks recalled the memory of just what had triggered his ascension he tried not to cringe. Embarrassing, it was so embarrassing to admit just what had been the catalyst for him. And just how could he even simply retell the story without—
“Seventeen… he had…said something… and it—”
Wrath. That was the next thing Trunks had felt. Fury. “Gohan didn’t— Gohan would never—” And with every word, every syllable, Trunks beat it into the shocked android who was unable to fight back—
And, really, Trunks had been so stupid to even let the comment get to him, considering that everything the android assumed had just been a lie. A lie they let him believe, if only to ensure Chibi’s well-being in those six months he was stuck here. But— it had been the way Seventeen had phrased it and it hit just a little too close to home— Thoughts that Trunks had feared, especially when he first learned of Chibi’s existence in his time—
“I—well—” More awkward laughter. “It pushed me beyond, and the battle became significantly easier—”
“Trunks?” Gohan was looking at him with concern and worry in his eyes. “What did Seventeen say?”
It… really wasn’t something easy to explain. And Trunks did feel so ashamed for letting it get to him. It had been a topic that had remained unspoken for so long. He hadn’t even told his mother the whole truth of the matter, letting her believe he had ascended during his training in the past rather than admit that which had happened on the battlefield. Even if his mother would understand because she had been there for the circumstances leading up to it. Just how was he even supposed to explain to Gohan without the other thinking that Trunks actually doubted Gohan? It had been such a convoluted scenario—
And, yet, Gohan was looking at him, concern in those deep, dark eyes, and just how could Trunks deny him?
Trunks exhaled, and supposed he should, at the very least, try. He supposed he should start with just why Seventeen said what he did— “You see… Seventeen was under the impression that you had a kid and—”
Gohan was staring at him like Trunks had grown two heads. “Why would he even—”
Trunks laughed awkwardly. “Well— This isn’t the first time Chibi has been here…” Thus, Trunks explained the circumstances surrounding Chibi’s time spent in the future and the necessity behind Chib’s charade of being his own son. “...and the androids took notice of Chibi’s absence going forward. After I had returned from the past for a final time and the subsequent battle… well Seventeen made a comment regarding Chibi likening him to you and tried to say that you had… abandoned me and I— snapped—”
Trunks found himself pulled into a tight embrace, words of reassurance being whispered into his hair. It was only then did Trunks realise just how much he needed that.
~xxx~
The days continued as they always had: training, helping the word to rebuild… Gohan struggling with his alternating emotions. Bulma’s words continued to echo in his mind— It had only been when they were repairing a city that a thought had occurred to him.
“Chibi?”
“Trunks… do you remember the first month that I spent here in the future?”
“You had mentioned an elderly woman took you in, if I recall correctly?”
“Yeah, she shouldn’t be far from here and I was thinking that I’d pay her a visit…”
They had found Lodi foraging at some of the wild growth that had sprouted up in the city.
“I— Oh…” Lodi looked at all of them. “You boys… do my eyes deceive me? There are two of you…”
Gohan smiled. “Hello Grandmother Lodi.”
Those wizened features twisted. “Why— it has been a long time since anybody has called me that. But, certainly it hasn’t been that long. I don’t think I’ve lost my wits yet.”
Gohan chuckled softly. “No, no you haven’t. Here, let me explain…”
So, Gohan explained to the old woman about the time travel, about why there were two of him in front of her, and why he had no recollection of what had happened to the world because he had just arrived here.
“If you were any other men, I would think you would think me a senile old woman!” She laughed heartily. “But, I have seen enough of the world to truly understand the vastness it contains. I am glad to see you well, my boy. Now, what brings you all to visit this old woman?”
Trunks spoke up next. “Well, I would like to thank you for looking after Gohan when he first arrived.”
“It was nothing, dear. Say, why don’t the lot of you come on over? I was just gathering supplies for some soup?
“We couldn’t—”
“Nonsense, it is the least I can do for our saviours. Really, you should take a lesson or two from your younger self, Gohan. He was such a polite boy when I first met him…”
~+++~
Despite himself. Gohan found that he was spending quite a bit of time with Lodi. Her demeanour had not changed over the years. If anything, she became a bit more positive. (Not that she was negative back then. Passive, perhaps, would describe her best while the androids still ran loose.) Her presence was calming, and she became an escape for Gohan when he felt like his feelings would overwhelm him. Thankfully, nobody had commented on it, knowing that Gohan did feel somewhat indebted to the elderly woman.
Even Lodi had detected that something was off with him, but she only smiled at him and greeted him as always and let him know that her door was always open. She did not pry nor did she try to get him to open up with what was bothering him. Instead, she told him stories of her past and the world around him. The people she met, and even what had happened to the town in the last few years.
Yet, inasmuch as Gohan enjoyed his time with her, he could not help but feel that he was wasting his time here, that he was not spending it wisely. For, had that not been one of the reasons behind Gohan’s wishes? That Gohan had been hesitant to change his initial plans, to shorten his trip, because that would result in less time that he could spend with Trunks— (Of course, it had not been the only reason: having access to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber did have its uses and importance to make his trip more effective which was important for more reasons than one—) And, yet, that time was slipping through his fingers, those precious grains of sand forever lost. But Gohan had underestimated just how affected he would be from reviving his counterpart, from seeing Trunks be with somebody else (who just happened to be an alternate version of himself—), from being denied—
Gohan had thought that he would be strong enough, had thought that his desire to spend time with Trunks would trump the more negative reactions he would feel, had thought that seeing Trunks happy would be enough—
Obviously, he was wrong. And yet— yet—
If Gohan didn’t cherish this time, it would run out on him. The time he had to spend with Trunks was limited. For this trip through time would be the last one. The likelihood of seeing Trunks once Gohan returned to his time was slim-to-none—
Desperate, Gohan had been desperate and he had been determined to milk this trip for as long as he could, so he had chosen not to revive Krillian. And, Gohan would admit that he had relished in the few days he had spent with Trunks while the others had trained in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Relished it more than anything thus far on this trip. And just how Gohan had wished that their remaining time would continue to be spent thus, or, perhaps, the two of them could enter the Hyperbolic Time Chamber themselves— (Of course, Gohan knew that those particular wishes would go unfulfilled—)
And, yet—
Yet—
Whenever Gohan was in the same room as his counterpart and Trunks—
It burned. It burned and Gohan couldn’t—
(Why? Why couldn’t it be him that Trunks—)
Gohan pressed his eyes into his knees and hugged them tightly. Why? Why, why, why—
“Child,” Lodi said, sitting next to him, which startled Gohan. “I would like to give you something.”
Gohan turned to face her, blinking.
“It had been in my possession for almost as long as I can remember.” She said softly and held out a coin. “My mother gave it to me, and I was planning on handing it down through my family, but, alas, I have nobody to give it to.”
“Grandmother Lodi—” Gohan gasped, looking down at her outstretched palm, holding a coin. “But—”
“Nonsense, child.” Lodi said, a wry smile on her face. “My children and their children are gone. When it is my turn to pass on, there is nobody to take on my possessions. Not that there is much to inherit.” She added with a dry laugh. “The only thing of any value to me is this old, beat up coin. If there was anything that I would like to pass on, this would be it. Humour this old woman, will you? Give me the peace of mind that I know it is in a good place.”
Gohan reached out to wrap her frail hands in his. “I’ll… take care of it.”
Lodi smiled at him.
“I know you will.”
When her hands slipped from his, she offered hers to help him up. “Come now, the soup is almost ready.”
Gohan gave her a weak smile and nodded, following her inside.
