The Mystery of Future Mai's Youth in Dragon Ball Super: Exploring Her Origins and Tragic Fate

In the elaborate and vast universe of Dragon Ball Super (DBS), many plot points are left unexplained in the anime, leaving fans to piece together the intricate web of the DBS storyline. One such mystery involves Future Mai, a central character in the series, who is notably younger than her counterparts. Though the anime does not delve into the specifics, a detailed manga chapter provides crucial information that helps unravel the enigma of Future Mai’s youth.

The Underlying Reason for Future Mai's Youth

The fundamental reason for Future Mai's youth is rooted in the actions of the Pilaf Gang, a notorious trio of villains in the Dragon Ball series. In a manga chapter that explores these events, it is revealed that the Pilaf Gang attempted to use the Dragon Balls to grant them eternal youth. This is not the first time they attempted such a wish; a previous attempt, documented in the manga, ended in a disastrous outcome.

On this occasion, the Dragon Balls were used to reverse aging, turning the Pilaf Gang into babies, setting back time to a point just before Future Trunks was born. This wish was not only the final one made before the legendary creature Shenron perished but also occurred at a critical time. During these three years, Future Mai and Future Trunks were siblings, with Future Mai being two years older than Bulma. Thus, when she was transformed into a baby, she effectively became younger than her counterpart from the original timeline.

The Timeline and Tragic Aftermath

The specific timeline for when the Pilaf Gang’s wish was granted is not explicitly stated in the anime. However, it can be reasonably inferred that it occurred sometime within the three-year period between the arrival of Frieza on Earth and the first attack by the Androids. It is highly probable that the wish was made before the Androids attacked South Island, as this event serves as a significant timeline marker in the series.

According to the manga, Toyotaro, the creator of Dragon Ball Super, illustrated a bonus chapter that detailed this moment. In this chapter, the transformation of the Pilaf Gang into babies is shown, along with the tragic consequences that followed. The irony of the situation is that this wish, intended to preserve the group, ultimately led to their demise, and by extension, the downfall of the timeline they were trying to protect.

Future Mai's Journey

While Future Mai became a baby for the same reasons as Future Trunks, there is a significant difference in their fates. Unlike Future Trunks, who returned to his original state, Future Mai’s life was forever altered. The bonus chapter suggests that Mai and her companions' wish to be younger was the very last one made before the events that killed Kami and Piccolo. The tragic outcome of this wish contributes to the darkness that pervades Future Trunks' timeline.

Interestingly, it is unclear whether Mai joined the fight after her transformation, or if she remained a passive participant. Some theories suggest that she did eventually join the battle and fell in love with Trunks in a similar manner to her counterpart in the main timeline, due to the emotional bonds formed in their past lives. Alternatively, the absence of any detailed mention of this engagement in the series has led some to speculate that this was simply a lazy handling of the plot by the creators.

In conclusion, the origins of Future Mai's youth in Dragon Ball Super are intricate and deeply intertwined with the complex web of events in the series. The actions of the Pilaf Gang, driven by their desire for eternal youth, ultimately led to a tragic chain of events that would forever change the course of the timeline. Fans of DBS have much to explore through the manga and supplemental materials to discover the full story behind this enigmatic character.

Conclusion

Future Mai's youth in Dragon Ball Super is a fascinating and mysterious aspect of the series. Her origins and the tragic fate that befell her and the Pilaf Gang provide a deeper understanding of the complex events that define the future timeline. By examining the manga, fans can delve into the intricacies of DBS and appreciate the rich narrative nuances provided by the supplementary materials.