I didn't realize I had passed out until I found myself floating in an empty, dark space. Suddenly, a voice—eerily similar to mine—echoed around me. Out of the void, someone stepped forward. She looked exactly like me… except she wore a lab coat.
"I thought we were an inventor," I muttered. "A technology type of girl."
"We are," she answered calmly. "We've built so many things to help us get stronger."
"Then why are you here?" I asked.
The other me tilted her head. "Why do you fight when you know Goku is there? We can always depend on him when times get tough—just like before."
I clenched my fists. "I do depend on him. But I need to do more as well. I can't just let everyone else do the heavy lifting while I stand by. That's not who I am."
"You create devices to make others stronger. Don't you think that's enough? You're just a normal human. You're not a Saiyan. Sooner or later, even Gohan will surpass you."
I looked her straight in the eye. "I don't care. Just because someone else is better doesn't mean I should give up. Even in my original timeline, I didn't drown in self-pity—I kept building, I created the time machine. I won't stop now."
The other me studied me for a long moment, then her expression softened.
"You're changing… I don't know what you'll become. But your body isn't the same anymore. You heal faster now—even before Dende starts, your body is already beginning to recover. It's almost like a Saiyan's Zenkai boost, though not nearly as potent. You're not one of them… but you're not the same human either. You're still changing, but to what end… that isn't certain yet."
Her words lingered as the darkness around me began to fade.
---
When I opened my eyes, Goku was up there, fighting Frieza one-on-one while everyone else watched. In my original timeline, Goku only became a Super Saiyan after Krillin died at Frieza's hand. But this time… things were different. We'd grown closer. I'd built the training device. I'd sparred with Chi-Chi. We'd become more of a family than before. I even helped him reconcile with his older brother.
I sat up slowly, testing my body—it was stronger, like my dream had revealed. Almost as if I'd been given a Zenkai of my own.
Vegeta stood nearby, watching me from the corner of his eye. He didn't say anything—pride kept his mouth shut—but for just a flicker of a moment, I thought I saw… concern. Then he turned his gaze back to the battlefield.
Frieza was being pushed back, and I knew what would come next. Sure enough, he tried to destroy the planet with a massive energy sphere. But this time, I was ready. I flew up, throwing all of my power into blocking the attack, even pushing my energy generator to its very limits.
"Bulma!" Goku shouted, about to rush to my aid.
But Frieza cut him off, forcing him back.
Then, Krillin and Chiaotzu appeared at my side, straining with me to push back the sphere. Piccolo and Raditz soon joined, their combined strength adding to the desperate defense. Just as it seemed we'd falter, Vegeta stepped in at last. Together, the six of us forced the massive sphere away, launching it into space where it exploded harmlessly.
My generator cracked and sparked from the overload, but at least it hadn't exploded. I collapsed, breathing hard, but alive.
The battle raged on. Goku grew sharper, more vigilant, refusing to give Frieza a second chance to destroy the planet. Their clash grew fiercer and fiercer until Frieza, pride wounded, demanded to fight at full power. Goku agreed.
At first, Frieza's power seemed overwhelming, tilting the battle in his favor. But little by little, his stamina began to wane. His strikes lost their sharpness, his ki output flickered.
And then, with one final clash, Goku's Kamehameha overwhelmed him, hurling him into space. The explosion lit up the void, and when it cleared, Frieza was gone.
Victory was ours.
But deep down, I knew this wasn't the last we'd see of him. Frieza would return. And he wouldn't come alone.