Benefit of the Doubt

Disclaimer: I do not own Dbz or anything related to it.

Summary: Princess Pan is fed up with an ongoing war which has lasted hundreds of years. Pan decides it's time to end it and comes up with a plan to enter the opposing kingdom with a peace offering.. Will Trunks and his kingdom accept it? Or will it cause an uproar between the 2 kingdoms?

Chapter One

I furrow my brows as I stare at my mother, listening to her lecture once again.

"Pan, you haven't much time yet.. You must choose your mate before your 20th birthday. I cannot run this kingdom forever and your audacity is wearing me out." She looked at the painting behind me. "I chose your father when I was 14 at heart. I knew he was the one for me.. However you cannot seem to make up your mind and this worries me".

I sighed, lightly patting my palms on my maroon colored pajama pants. Brushing a bit of my ebony hair free from my eyes, I looked up to my mother. "I just don't find any man in the Royal guards suitable for me. Sure there is Marcus, but I just don't think I could be happy with him like that. Why can't I find someone outside of the Royal guard? It would make my options so much easier.. Besides, most of the men in the leadership are much older than I".

My mother cupper her palm under my chin and lifted my head slightly to look at me. She was getting older, I could see the creases under her eyes and atop her forehead heavily showing. I knew she was worried about me choosing my mate within the next 2 months, but if I were to pick anyone now it wouldn't be for love.. It would just pretty much be for business.

"Honey, I know. But you know it's the royalty rules. If you chose someone outside of the castle or outside of the Royal guards, they would have no idea of how to run a kingdom. The rules are set for a reason" .

With a last sigh, I whipped my hair into a pony tail and stood up from my bed. I paced around a bit contemplating on what to do. "I hate this war. If it didn't exist, I would have more time to find a mate, not be pressured and have time to just be happy". A crazy idea ran across my mind and I looked to my mother who was staring hopelessly at me. "What if we just end the war? Not surrender but make a peace treaty. Something where we can just all live at peace!"

I heard a sarcastic laugh spill out of my mothers lips. "If it were that easy, it would have been done so hundreds of years ago. The Outlaws aren't so easy to convince".

She was right.. But in my opinion, I don't think anyone has actually tried hard enough to convince the Outlaws. I just think our people are too stubborn and proud to stoop to the level of making peace.

"Pan, get some rest. Please, dear.. Consider your options. You haven't much time left before you are queen." With that said, the queen walked to me giving me a light kiss on the cheek. She then embraced me in a hug and whispered "I'm sorry".

"Don't be sorry, it wasn't you who started this petty war in the first place." That sparked another journey of thoughts into my mind.

I wonder who even began this war and for what reason.. I've only heard that the Outlaws were the cause of the conflict yet was never given a true explanation..

As I lay in bed under the silk sheets, my mind wouldn't stop its race of thought. My dreams were of victory and of failure about the war. For too long I've been trying to think of ways to just end it already.

There just has to be an option.

I was awaken the next morning to a knock ay my bedroom door.

"Miss Pan.. Your mother called you for breakfast" I recognized the voice.

"Oh Marcus, I told you to quit calling me Miss Pan. Just call me Pan as you did when we were children". I sat up, stretching my arms up and over my head. "You can come in."

As the door opened, Marcus smiled slightly. "But that would be improper of me to do so"

I like the way his dark hair slighty covered his green eyes. He was handsome, no doubt. I just couldn't picture myself ever actually loving him.

"How was your sleep?" He asked, sitting down on the end of the bed.

"Full of nightmares and restless, as usual.." I looked down to my hands and closed my palms. "I'm starting to wonder if I will ever sleep normally again. It's been almost a month now where I haven't gotten good sleep."

"You worry too much.. Just relax. You're safe so you shouldn't waste time worrying of the Outlaws." He placed his hand over my closed palm and stared me directly in the eyes. I knew he liked me a lot, possibly even loved me. Because of that, I felt a bit sad for him because I just didn't see him like that.

"I'm not worried of being harmed. I just want this nightmare to end." He nodded.

"We all do.." A few minutes of silence followed, both of us lost in thought. "Well get dressed, you wouldn't want to be tardy for breakfast."

Agreeing, he left the room and I went to change.

Walking down the corridor, Marcus assisted me as usual. Walking down the flight of stairs in the castle, we arrived to the dining room. Seated was my mother and a few of the Royal Guard members. I took the seat next to my mother and Marcus the one next to me.

"You smell lovely" he whispered with his white smile.

"Thank you" I smiled back but thought of it kind of strange at the same time. I reached for my damp hair and gave it a sniff. I had just showered before coming down and the scent of my shampoo was still strong.

"Good morning, Pan." My mother greeted me in a much happier mood.

"Good morning, mother." I replied, just as happy.

As the food was carried out, my mother began to speak amongst us. "Marcus reported to me that yesterday there was an Outlaw in our forests spying on our land."

I frowned a bit at her comment.

"They're always trying to be sneaky, Lady Videl. And each time we catch them, we are always the nice ones to release them! What do they do? Come back! I suggest we just invade their territory and let them know first hand that we are not to be toyed with!" One of the upper ranks of the Royal Guard, Kenneth, bursted to my mother.

I kind of smiled as I brushed my long hair behind my ear, knowing my mother wouldn't agree to it. Like as if invasion would solve or make anything better...

"I actually agree with you." My mother replied calmly. I dropped my fork which held a slice of my omelet. I stared at her, my dark eyes peering at her face absolutely bewildered.

"Mother! You can't be serious. What would an invasion accomplish? Nothing! We will have casualties and the war will be even more dangerous than before!" I balled my fists and stared, not blinking.

Mom stared back at me, slightly confused by my comment to her. She then casually went along eating.

Kenneth cut in before my mom could say anything more.

"Milday Pan, if we are not the ones to make the move first they will continue to pry and spy then sneak attack us." I adverted my attention and eyes to Kenneth.

The fat man whom I disliked for the moment stared right back at me, a bacon half hung from his mouth. No manners at all. I have no idea how he was allowed into the Royal Guard in the first place.

"He's right, Pan. After our breakfast, we will discuss this matter. That is my final decision." My mother spat out a bit angered at my disapproval.

My anger heightened and I put my fork onto my half eaten plate of food and stood up.

"Excuse me" I snarled, leaving the table and heading into the court yard in much of a rush.

As I opened the doors and stepped outside, I stared around the garden and inhaled a deep breath of crisp, cool air.

How can they be so ignorant.. What will this invading prove? Or even better, what will it benefit?

"Pan.." Startled, I turned around to see Marcus a few feet away. "It's okay to be angry.. But you don't think Kenneth's idea was the least bit reasonable? What if they really are planning a sneak attack.. We need to always be a step ahead."

"I'm sick and tired of everyone fighting" I raised my voice. I looked up to Marcus, whom was quite a few inches taller than I. "Because of this, we can never be at rest or be happy."

"I know" The strong man cooed softly. "Unfortunately there's really nothing we can do. The Outlaws are stubborn. Their Queen 'Bulma' or prince 'Trunks' would never agree to a peace offering.."

An idea struck me. I concentrated my gaze to his eyes and a small smirk came from the corner of my lips. "Has anyone ever tried to make a peace offering with them? I bet not. I can assure you I have never once heard of one of their people or mine go to each others kingdoms and make that suggestion"

My heart started to pace in my chest. I was getting high hopes on my new idea. It was brilliant!

"Pan" His emerald eyes widened and worry struck his face. "Don't even think about going there".

I smiled. "I'll do anything to end this war.. Even if it means I risk my own life".

A/n: First chapter comes to a closure! Pan has a crazy idea of going into the territory of Trunks' kingdom to make a peace offering.. Does she know the danger of trespassing? Yet more.. Does she understand that if she if caught and is not welcome, that she may never return?