I do not own dbz. Only the characters I made up.
Bra glared hatefully at her father. What the hell is his problem? She thought as she watched him stalk out of her room. All she wanted to do was go into town to watch the festival. His overprotective act was getting old, had been old, actually, for about two years now. Bra was eighteen now and one of the strongest on the planet. What was he so afraid of?
Even as she asked herself the question, she knew the answer. She watched as her father stopped to give Pan a deadly glare as she entered the room. It was no secret that Vegeta hated Pan. Pan in a nutshell was the answer to her question. Vegeta had not been right since her mother's death almost thirteen years ago. And Vegeta blamed Pan for it all. It was in essence, her fault.
Bra put her head in her hands and rubbed her temples as the memory of the gruesome story came back to her, the one she had been told since she was old enough to comprehend . . .
It all started with Videl, Pan's mother. Videl was an elite guard, Bulma's personal guard and best friend. They had known each other since they were children and so when Bulma became Queen, she had the honor of protecting her.
Then it happened. Videl fell in love with an underclassman, something prohibited on Vegetsei. Not just any underclassman, but a third class warrior. That was just where the problems began. Videl was also betrothed to a nobleman of a very powerful house. Videl hadn't even liked the man she was to be mated with and with Bulma's help had managed to put it off.
When she found out she was pregnant, her betrothed Kudro, went into a rampage, asking the King for the right to kill the three of them. Videl pleaded with Bulma to be let off, sighting her years of loyalty and friendship in her favor. Bulma knew that Videl loved Gohan and didn't want her friend to die because of something she saw as trivial. So, Bulma in turn begged her husband for her friend's life. Vegeta could not deny his Queen anything and granted Videl, Gohan and their unborn child the right to live. He stripped Videl of her title and rank and they were left to live peacefully as third class citizens.
Kudro was not at all happy about it, though. For three years, he brooded and plotted on how to get her back for his disgrace. Then one night while Videl and Gohan were in bed, he struck, slaying them both in cold blood.
The Queen had taken immediate action, having Kudro and his men killed, and brought Pan to live in the palace, to be raised as an elite, and become the new princess' personal guard. To forget the short life she had led as a third class.
The Queen raised Pan as if she were one of her own. For five years, everything was perfect, but Bulma had underestimated Kudro's family. They were very angry, and they already had a grave dislike of the Queen. They certainly did not like Pan living in the palace as she was. They caught her unaware and killed her.
Bra had been there that day, at her mother's side when she died. She would never forget that day for as long as she lived.
Pan had left Bra's room and went into her own after seeing the look on Bra's face. Pan knew her enough to know she did not like to talk after fighting with her father. They seemed to be doing that so much more lately. She could remember a time not too long ago that Bra was "Daddy's Little Girl" and always got her way. Not too much has changed in the past ten years, except, that her brother is getting married soon.
To Me.
Pan smiled at the thought. She couldn't help but to be happy when she thought about Trunks. She had been in love with him for so long, and now they are finally going to be together. Ruling the planet didn't sound too bad either. All the changes she could make . . .
She only hoped to be as good of a Queen as Bulma had been. The people had loved her. Everyone had thought highly of the royal couple. It had been a peaceful and prosperous time for everyone. Of course there were a few families that didn't like her, something about a scandal of how she became Queen, but she didn't know what exactly. It didn't matter anyway; anyone who opposed the Queen has long since been gone.
Pan was going through her own little scandal. Nobody liked her. The entire planet seemed to think the way Vegeta did.
"Oh well," she said to herself. "Trunks will make it all better. He makes everything better. He makes it all worth it."
No one knew of Pan and Prince Trunks' engagement yet. They had been mates for some time now, but wanted to wait until Bra was a little older. When things were calm, he would make the announcement and prepare for the ceremony. Pan had a feeling it was going to be sometime soon.
Pan finished getting ready for bed by pulling her short hair away from her face. She walked over to the door that join her room with Bra's to see if she was still awake, but as she suspected, Bra's light was off. She sighed, wondering what could have upset Bra so much tonight. It could be anything with the way she has been acting lately.
Pan shook her head to clear it from such brooding thoughts. There are much more happier things to think about, she thought as she climbed into her own bed. She was asleep in minutes.
The morning found Bra in her usual routine. Training with Father in the morning, tutors in the afternoon, spar with Pan, then training with Trunks sometime in the evening.
It was while she was waiting for Trunks to come and spar that was the best time. This time was all to herself. Tonight though, Trunks was not going to be training her. He had something planned with Pan.
She took the opportunity to go into her mother's lab. Her father had never closed it up, though people usually didn't go in there. This was Bra's favorite place to be and spent as much time as she could in there. It brought back happy memories of her mother and she was always afraid she'd forget.
Tonight she planned on getting into her mother's personal files, in hopes to learn more about the woman she was. She figured the passwords and encryption codes couldn't be too hard. Bra had been frustrated all day and was up to the challenge.
She reached her mother's lab and sat at her old computer. Technology hadn't changed much since she left. She was the technology for the planet. Bra was hoping to find the blueprints and ideas of her mother's unfinished projects. She wanted to start bringing Vegetsei back up to pace. She believed she could do it. She had her mother's intelligence after all.
Pan was in Trunks' rooms having a dinner by candlelight. Everything was cast in darkness and shadow except the two of them.
Trunks can be so romantic when he wants to, Pan thought as he poured her another glass of wine. She blushed a little and smiled when he looked up at her. His eyes a dark blue, looking at her with such intensity it made a chill go up her spine. He gave her a teasing smirk and sipped his own wine, his eyes never leaving hers.
The room was silent as they gazed at each other, nothing daring to make a sound. The silence was getting to Pan. Even after all the time spent so intimately with Trunks she could never get used to how he liked everything deathly quiet. He was much like his father in that respect.
"So," Pan started wanting to break the silence before it consumed her, "how did the meetings go today? Anything new?"
"No," Trunks answered simply. Pan fidgeted a little. The look he was giving her was so intense. It felt like he was burning holes through her. Why was he looking at her so? She took a sip of her wine, trying to relax.
Trunks knew he made her uncomfortable with the way he was looking at her. For some sick reason he liked it. Too much of his father in him, he supposed. He was studying her tonight. Not so much looking for flaws than to just burn her image into his mind. He was thinking about the decision he was about to make. Something he should have done a long time ago, but had been too afraid to do so. Too afraid of what his Father would say. Too afraid of what the public would say. Now he knew he could wait no longer. Damn what anyone said.
Suddenly Trunks got up from his seat and kneeled in front of Pan's chair. His sudden movement startled Pan. He laid his head in her lap and she instinctively started stroking his hair in a comforting fashion.
"Trunks, what is it?" Pan said worriedly.
"I'm going to tell my father and prepare for the ceremony." There he told her. He lifted his head to see her reaction and was well rewarded. Pan's jaw was completely hanging open and her eyes were wide. She had thought he would be doing it sometime soon but was still caught by surprise.
"Really, Trunks? Are we finally going to let everyone know? Be together without sneaking around?" Pan was excited by the thought of being with Trunks and not caring who knew.
"Yes, Pan. I'm going to tell him tomorrow. I don't care what he or anyone else says. You are my mate and will be my Queen. No one will stand in our way. Not even my father. I will kill him before he even has a chance."
Pan smiled as she listened to his heart felt words. No, she didn't like Vegeta but didn't know if she wanted to see him dead. Bra seemed to have some connection with him.
Pan's thoughts trailed off as Trunks pulled her into a kiss; they broke a few moments later for him to look into her eyes. He brushed some hair out of her face so he could see her better. He looked into her deep brown eyes seeing his love matched by hers.
He pulled her in for another kiss, this one passionate and hungry. Pan returned the kiss equally, her need for him rising. Trunks pulled her down onto the floor with him, and then pulled her tight against his body. She sighed when their bodies met sending chills throughout her.
Trunks tilted her head back to deepen the kiss, his tongue now fully exploring her mouth. His hands caressed her body, eliciting pleasured gasps and moans from her. Pan's own hands were rubbing up and down Trunks' back, feeling the firm muscles under his smooth skin. She worked her hands down his back until she came to the base of his tail. Trunks gasped as she began to massage the sensitive area. He moved his mouth from hers and began nipping at her neck.
Time slipped past them as they busied themselves in each other's arms. Neither could deny their desire for each other and didn't bother trying to make it to the bed. The night was about them and their private celebration of things to come.
Wrapped in each other arms still on the floor, Pan laid her head on Trunks' chest, trying to catch her breath. It's always so incredible, Pan thought still in a daze from their lovemaking.
Trunks smiled slightly as Pan drifted off to sleep. "Soon my princess, we will be together forever." He ran a hand through her hair; lying there enjoying, the feeling of their bodies pressed so closely together. He wished they could stay that way forever. He often wondered how she managed to cast such a spell on him, making him need her, the way he did. He did not fight the feelings nor did he want to.
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, Trunks thought as he scooped Pan up into his arms and carried her to his bed. They would spend the night together, damn what anyone thought. He needed this, an entire night to be wrapped in her arms.
Pan stirred from her light sleep as she felt herself being place gently in bed. She opened her eyes to see Trunks' body slide into bed next to hers.
"Trunks, what are you doing?" It was not often that she slept next to him.
"I will have you all night tonight." He said smirking playfully. "You had not thought I was through with you, did you?"
He rolled on top of her, cutting off her reply. He found her mouth and locked in for a searing kiss. He took her again and again that night; it was only her and him locked in their own cozy little world.
Bra sat back from the computer. She had just finished cracking the encryption code over what appeared to be her mother's journal. Oh, the things she could learn from this. The file was huge, by far the largest on her computer. There must be years stored in there. Bra opened the first page to begin reading and got the shock of her life.
Vegeta sat back on his throne. The entire place was empty, everything having calmed down for the night. There was not a soul in the entire room except him. Vegeta enjoyed the silence, the loud noises and obnoxious people always managing to give him a headache.
Bulma had always liked the crowds, the noises, and the people. She used to love to sit in the throne room and listen to the people drone on with their petty problems. Even more, she loved the challenge of helping them. His job had been much easier with her around to take care of all the political bullshit. His life was to have been so different from the way things had turned out.
First off, he was not supposed to have had a wife in the first place. That changed the first day he met Bulma. The girl taking everything he knew and shaking it to its very foundation. Showing him things could be different, that life could be a pleasant existence.
He had been a fool to buy into it. He had known from the very beginning that she was a weakness, a liability, but what had come from that knowledge? Nothing. He found himself challenging everything for her, and he had come out on top with her by his side.
Life had been good for that short amount of time. He found himself with a strong heir, a smart mate, and his kingdom flourishing. He had done it all with her by his side. He had done everything for her. Anything that would get her to smile. That was why he had taken in that misfit, Pan. The reason he gave her the little princess. Because that was what she wanted, and how had she repaid him? She left him alone to raise the brats.
He growled in displeasure as he remembered. She had left him to raise two . . . no, three brats by himself. His frown deepened as he thought of his children, his legacy.
Trunks had been simple enough. The boy practically raised himself, becoming everything Vegeta deemed to be a good ruler. He had taught his son well. He was not the least bit worried in handing over the empire to his son.
Bra was another story. She had been the youngest at the time of Bulma's death and therefore the neediest. Vegeta would never forgive himself for what he had done so soon after Bulma's death. He left, disappearing into the black oblivion of space, looking for some way to bring his mate back to him. When he returned empty handed, he had been surprised at what he found.
Trunks had grown into a man and his little girl was quickly growing up. He never left the planet again after seeing the haunted look in Bra's eyes of losing both parents so soon. He quickly reestablished the relationship they had before and she once again became "Daddy's Little Girl".
That was up until about two or three years ago. Shortly after his wife died, he put a lock down on the palace, locking his princess up in the process. He had not worried about Trunks. The boy was a SuperSayian and could handle himself. Bra was young and defenseless in his eyes, just like her mother had been.
Bra paid no mind at first; loving all the time she got to spend with her father. Then one day, as if over night, she changed. It was as if she went to bed as his little princess and woke up a woman. She was suddenly sporting a new body and a new attitude. Suddenly none of her clothes looked appropriate on her. He noticed the appreciative looks his guards were giving her and he lost it. He was not ready to deal with that and closed off the private sector of the palace. He banned her from meetings and leaving the palace grounds alone. She was not to have any unnecessary contact with anyone. He even went so far as to build her, her own personal training grounds, to keep her away from the eyes of male guards.
He did all of this for her safety and his peace of mind. She complied at first, but had just as quickly become tired with it. She wanted to go out and explore, meet people and experience new things. He assumed she wanted to meet boys. He would NOT be having any of that. No one was good enough for his Princess.
It all started around the time he believed Pan and Trunks to have become mates. Yes, he knew and they were stupid to think he didn't. That they could hide something like that going on in his own palace was absurd. He had only suspected at first. It was the little things, like Trunks always turning up with Pan in his free time, which made him suspicious. He had bribed it out of Bra about a year ago.
He had done nothing. As much as it pissed him off and as much as he hated Pan, he knew resistance was futile. He long ago lost any control he might have had over Trunks. The boy would have his way no matter what. That didn't mean he was going to go easy on the boy for his poor choice in mates.
Pan. In the end, it always came down to her. His misery began and ended with that misfit. Oh, how much he wanted to see her dead. How many times he had come so close to doing just that, but Trunks or Bra always stepped in for her defense. If it hadn't been for Bra's attachment, he would have killed her in the beginning when he took out Kudro's family.
Bra was all he had left now. She was a perfect copy of her mother and all he really had left of her. He would do anything to keep her safe. He didn't want anything like what happened to Videl or Bulma to happen to her. Not while he still had a breath left in his body. Bra would not feel that pain and weakness.
He wondered what his little princess was doing right then. He felt out for her ki, finding it in Bulma's lab. He smirked. Anytime he had wanted to find her mother she would be in the exact same place. He felt Trunks and Pan's ki's together in Trunks' room and growled. He did not like that one bit. He decided to check on his daughter, having not talked to her in a day, since their last fight.
He got up and made his way down to the lab. When he got there, he stood in the doorway waiting for his daughter to notice him. He got impatient after a few moments and Bra didn't recognize him. She was completely engrossed in what she was reading. His curiosity got the best of him and he stepped forward while asking what it was that had her attention.
Bra jumped, the sound of her father's voice shattering the silence. She hadn't even noticed him come in. She turned and looked at him, her wide, blue eyes filled with confusion, shock and disbelief.
"F-father, what exactly is this?" She asked softly, turning briefly back to the screen.
Vegeta looked over her shoulder to see what she was reading. His eyes widen a little as they were drawn to one word on the page. Earth.
"How did you get into this?" He asked, regarding his daughter warily. He did not want to get into this now. He had hoped to not have to tell her about any of that.
"This is mom's personal journal. It seems to start when she was fifteen. A time she claims that she had just come to Vegetsei. Dad, what does this mean?" Bra's voice was low, letting her father know he would not be getting out of this until it was explained.
Vegeta sat down, already defeated but not entirely ready to give in. "There is a reason that it is call a 'personal journal'. It is because you are not supposed to be in it."
"Come off it, dad. Mom talks about you in here too. But what's most confusing is that she talks about a life she had on some planet I've never even heard of." She crossed her arms over her chest, imitating her father. She fixed him with a deadly glare, telling him to get on with it.
He did not like drudging up old painful memories, but knew he would not be getting off with some half-assed answer tonight. He frowned in frustration of the situation and to keep his emotions in check. He just didn't know how to start something like this off.
"Your mother," he started then stopped. He should just be blunt and to the point. Then he could simply answer any question she had. As long as he saw them as appropriate.
"Your mother had not always been Sayain. She was originally from a distant planet called Earth. Her planet was purged and because of her and her family's intelligence, they were spared to work for the empire. That was when she came here and I met her." There that wasn't so bad.
Bra sat with her jaw hanging open. Her father did not just say what she thought he had just said. That made no sense what so ever. It was so far fetched she was sure he was joking. So, she started to laugh, uncontrollably, until her sides hurt. She stopped when she saw the un-amused look on her father's face.
"You are kidding aren't you?" Bra asked a little uncertainly. "There is no way mom could be some weird alien. That doesn't make any sense."
Vegeta frowned angrily. He did not like being laughed at by anyone. "Of course it makes perfect sense." He snapped harshly. "How do you think you and your brother have such odd coloring? No other Sayain on this planet has coloring like that. No Sayain has until your mother, because she wasn't Sayain."
"That's what I don't understand. I'm pretty sure I remember mom having a tail. And unless these 'humans' had tails too, I'd say she was a Sayain. And what do you mean 'before' and 'wasn't a Sayain'?" Her voice was just as cold as her father's.
Vegeta growled. This was the last thing he wanted to talk about. Bra would pester him until he went insane if he didn't tell her the truth.
"So," Bra prodded. He was stalling, almost as if he didn't want to talk about it. "How did you guys meet?"
"Your mother lived on the grounds, a few miles away, near the woods. I met her there. A place I used to go to meditate. She was there; doing something I suppose was a form of working out.
I made her leave, but she came back every other day demanding that I train her. She was weak with absolutely no reasonable ki, but she provided some amusement so I indulged her. Over the years we became to know each other."
"Wow," Bra breathed. All of this was so new and unexpected. She never thought before to ask how her parents had met. She had never realized how different her and Trunks were from others. "But I thought mom was a Sayain. If she was this lowly slave then how did she get to become Queen? Your father didn't approve."
"I am getting to that." Vegeta said angrily. He hated being interrupted. "All your stupid question will be answered in time."
Bra looked coldly at her father but kept quiet, wanting to hear the rest of this amazing story. Vegeta sat back, letting the memories he had tried so hard to forget overtake him.
He remembered the first time he had seen her. Working out next to his private pond, sweat covering her young body, he had been held captive, unable to look away or shoe her away. The musical sound of her voice when she laughed or talked, the excitement of sneaking around, the fear of being caught had fueled their desire for one another, the way she felt in his arms the first night they made love. Having never been with a man before, she trembled with fear and desire underneath him. He too had been trembling with the fear of the unknown and desire as she explored his body. They spent many nights learning each other. Oh God, he didn't want to remember that . . .
"My father was not happy." He started again, banishing away those painful thoughts, he focused on what Bra needed to hear. "When I told him I was taking Bulma as my mate he had been furious. The rules prohibited it she was not a Sayian. Our relationship was a forbidden one.
He threatened to kill her. While away training, she was dragged into the palace and faced her death before my father. I found out in time and saved her from him. We left after that, into space. We drifted for months until we came to planet Namek. We took shelter there, knowing it was only a matter of time before my father caught up to us. While there she discovered something called dragonballs. Seven balls that when brought together a dragon would appear and grant three wishes. We began to collect them immediately knowing it was our only chance.
We found them all but couldn't figure out the damn password. By this time, my father and Freeza had landed and I took off to face them, leaving her alone with the balls. Sometime during my fight, she figured out how to summon the dragon. Freeza flew straight there of course. He wanted Bulma's mind for his sick empire." He clinched his fist with the fury of the memory. How Freeza had used Bulma to taunt him. How he had pushed him over the edge.
"The dragon was gone by the time we got there and Freeza went after your mother. That I was the day I became the Legendary. I achieved a plateau of power not seen in almost 2oo years and I killed that tyrant lizard. Afterwards, we went back to Vegetsei and I made her Queen. The rest you know."
Bra sat back, shocked. 2oo years? Her father had been a SuperSayian her entire life. And her brother was one too. She thought that the royal family had always had such power. She hadn't known they had gone so long without one. Or what the rush of achieving such power would be like. She had never given much thought to her father truly being the most powerful being in the universe, or what it took to get there. Bra had just been sitting around waiting for herself to just grow into her power. That it was her birthright, not something she would have to work for. No wonder her father was always hounding her to train. She really needed to pay attention to her history tutors.
"But, how did mom become a Sayian?" Bra asked. He hadn't clearly answered it.
"She wished for it." Vegeta answered back. "I don't know what happened to the other two wishes. She never told me."
Bra sighed and laid her head in her hands. "I never knew you were so romantic, daddy." She really couldn't believe that her heartless father had done something like that. It was truly amazing. She knew her father was leaving a lot out but knew she'd get that from her mother's journal. It was still amazing that her mother was an alien.
Vegeta snorted at his daughter. "It was not romantic. I was young, idealistic and stupid. Your mother was more trouble than she was worth. A weakness I could have done without. You'd do well to remember that."
Bra was shocked at her father's harsh tone. Things must have been completely different when her mother was alive. "Well, whatever you say. I can't wait to meet the man that would do something like that for me."
Vegeta stood up angrily. "You will not need to worry about mates," He said low, voice full malice. "When I deem the time right, I will find your mate."
"What!" Bra screamed, outraged.
"There will be no discussion on the matter. You have no choice. Get used to it." Vegeta walk out of the room, striking his point home.
Bra slumped against her chair. What was that all about? He is completely out of his mind if he thinks I will be mated to anyone he has in mind. Bra sighed dejectedly. That's if he even lets me have a mate.