Prologue

"Son Pan."

Pan straightened her shoulders, took a deep breath and stood up from her seat with her head held high and back straight. She took small even steps mindful of the three inch heels and the dress she wore to the special event. Camera flashes went off in the dark auditorium during her climb up the stairs and across the stage. Remembering what she read in the instruction booklet several weeks ago, Pan stopped in front of the speaker and extended her left hand. The speaker smiled and handed a scroll tied with a red ribbon to Pan's open palm.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you," Pan replied with a small smile. She remained patiently in the same position while she exchanged a handshake with her other hand. The speaker proceeded to move the tassel on her cap from the left side to the right, and more camera flashes went off in the large crowd and applauses broke the silence.

With a nod, Pan continued across the stage to the other side. She stopped momentarily at the top of the stairs to have her portrait taken in front of a set of three flags; one representing Japan, one representing Satan City, and the last one representing Satan University. After descending the stairs, Pan walked back to reclaim her assigned seat. It was a half hour later when the closing speech was delivered announcing the end of the long ceremony.

Pan stood up with the rest of the crowd and followed the person in front of her along the lighted pathways to the rear exits. When she reached the other side of the exit doors, Pan ignored the people around her who rushed off in all directions to find their family and friends and the rising volume of excitement, and walked off to the side. She stood still for a few moments with her head turned up to the sky and her eyes closed while the sunlight washed over her fair skin. She inhaled and exhaled slowly as one coherent thought ran through her mind.

Freedom.

When Pan felt warm fingers tucking the flyaway strands of hair behind her right ear, she opened her eyes to stare into kind and warm azure eyes. Eyes that saw and understood emotions and thoughts buried too deep in her mind and heart. The intruder kept his fingers on her cheek and smiled.

"You were beautiful up there on that stage," Trunks complimented. "Goku would be so proud."

Tears instantly sprang to Pan's eyes as she swallowed the lump that formed at the base of her throat. She slowly returned the smile and nodded.

Pan and Trunks both turned around at the same time when they heard the excited shouts of a large crowd heading their way. Every member of the crowd was grinning and talking simultaneously as they hurried over.

Pan turned her attention back to Trunks to notice he still had the same smile gracing his lips and his left hand held out, palm up between the two of them. Almost instinctively, Pan gripped the hand that was offered as the two of them walked hand in hand to meet up with her family, together.