*!*!* Disclaimer- First and most important, I own nothing. DBZ and all related characters are property of Akira Toriyama.
*** Secondly, this is my first story, ever. Feel free to leave any kind of review, even a nasty one. The only way I can grow as a writer is if I get all types of feedback.
***I will update at a regular pace, and I will compete this story. I hate to start getting attached to a story and plot only to have it never continue, so I won't do it to you guys.
***Also I have the most awesome, helpful Beta in the world, so a giant THANK YOU to SSJ2LUKE! Without you, I would have never gotten even this far.
-I do believe all my extra yapping is done, so I hope you enjoy the first chapter, the second is already underway.
CHAPTER 1
"I don't understand why you have to act like such an idiot Trunks!" The fiery young Saiyan burst through the backdoor of Capsule's main house and into the kitchen.
"Pan, I swear if you don't chill out and calm down-" Trunks retort was cut short.
"You'll what? Tell me off? Send me to my room?" Her indignation was palpable.
Vegeta's eyes perked momentarily, "Boy, you'd better have a damn good reason for disturbing my lunch..."
Trunks took note of his fathers harsh glare. Shrinking back slightly, he gave a small shrug. "...Sorry father, Pan is throwing a temper tantrum." He explained briefly before easing out of the kitchen and running up the stairs to corner the girl in her makeshift bedroom.
Vegeta rolled his eyes. Gohan's spawn rarely devolved into these 'Temper Tantrums...' Normally a situation had to transpire for her to become so volatile.
Shaking his head, Vegeta thought more about his own brats. Those two were a couple of spoiled, whiney, silver spooned, Saiyan brats. They spent more time at those earthling malls than they did training. When the two actually did manage to fit in a sparring session, they lazily produced the same results they had as teens. Vegeta realized just how disappointing it was; watching his children squander their birthrights, natural ability, and talent.
It was at that point Vegeta realized how wasted those gifts were. Where his children never fought for growth and betterment, Gohans' brat struggled daily with those aspects and more.
Vegeta heaved himself up from the table. With an inaudible sigh, the older male stalked back toward the gravity chamber, to resume his daily training.
Pan rummaged through her plain wooden dresser, tossing clothes haphazardly into the duffel bag left lying open at her feet. She stood in front of the mirror, recalling what had set her off in the first place.
She had been taking a break in between her exercises... nothing abnormal there. It was now around noon and she had been training alone in the woods since around 6 o'clock that morning. Finally having worn herself down to the point of exhaustion, she had found a place close to where she'd felt Trunks and Goten training. For some reason the constant feel of their kis' rising and falling lulled her into a restful sleep.
Pan awoke to the myriad of pebbles, rocks, and dust, pelting her now conscious self. Curling into a ball, she twisted and rolled behind a tree for cover. Just as the rocks stopped flying, she came around from behind the tree.
Searching for the obvious sources of destruction, Pan's gaze rose to the sky. Trunks and Goten were no longer sparring above her, instead the men came to settle directly in front of her.
"Hey guys, what's going on?" Pan assumed they were probably just really into their fight and didn't take notice her sleeping below. Hindsight only just telling her a nap within range of any attack probably wasn't the best of ideas. She was just so tired.
Goten stood, eyes buldging, surveying Pan from head to toe. "Pan, are you crazy! What're you doing down here! You could've gotten hurt. Or worse!"
Pan quirked one eyebrow, looking from side to side in confusion. Completely unsure of why he was freaking out on her at all.
"Gohan is going to kill me!" As Gotens' panic was escalating, Pan's frustration rose alongside it.
"You're joking, right Uncle? It was just a bit of dirt, I'm perfectly fine. I was just resting before I started up again. I just happened to be a bad judge of distance this time. I thought I was far enough back to not be in the way." Pan felt the need to explain herself.
It's not like she was hurt, or even could've been injured, in her opinion. She wasn't fragile by any means. The incredulous look on her face, seemed to spur Trunks into making some harsh statements.
"Pan you're always in the way and underfoot. We had to actually stop what we were doing, just to come and check on you. When we train, we shouldn't have to watch you. You're a big girl now, aren't you? You should know better than to sit so close, especially when we aren't paying attention to you." Trunks may not have meant to come across so condescending, but that was how Pan had heard it.
"Guys, I never asked you to watch out for me. I don't need baby sitters. I train on my own... Everyday! Don't act so high and mighty because you've found time to train once or twice a week!" Pan snorted and turned to walk away. Trunks, however, wasn't done validating his point.
"Stop acting childish Pan... Walking off to pout, after getting in trouble for your own bad decisions. There's no reason for you to even bother with training, it's not like you can or will ever be able to catch up."
Trunks could tell he had finally struck a nerve, but kept pushing. "You were caught in one small, stray blast; you couldn't even defend yourself from a few small rocks." Trunks was only slightly kidding, there were no visible scratch on her. He was just frustrated from feeling the need to stop what he was doing to make sure she was okay. He was angry with himself for being worried about her at all. She should have never been out there.
Pan's jaw nearly hit the floor, "You're kidding right...?" She looked spitefully towards Goten; he of all people knew what she put into her training, and how much it meant to her.
Being to caught up in seeing Trunks joking around, Goten added insult to injury. "Well Pan, it does get tiring having to watch you all the time. You should probably just hang out with Bra at the house and do something other girls your age do."
Pan didn't understand, what had she done to ever be thought of as a joke and a nuisance to anyone.
Trunks took a step towards her, inspecting the young girl for any other injuries. Even the small nicks and scraps that might have been overlooked.
"Back off, Trunks!" Pan scrambled back, finally registering their insensitive words. She kicked off the ground in haste. Flying back towards Capsule corporation, she could feel her blood boiling. Her anger made her ki flare around her erratically.
Trunks and Goten watched as she blasted off. "Hey, I think we actually hurt her for real that time." Goten watched her trail disappear in the distance.
Trunks nodded, "Yeah, let me go talk to her. I mean... She still shouldn't be out here, you saw what could've happened to her."
Pan froze as she heard movement on the other side of her bedroom door. Her glared hardened as the offenders shadow settled on the floor in front of her.
"Trunks Vegeta Briefs! I said,"Back off!" Go back out to train with uncle Goten!" She was seething. Every hair on her small frame prickled with the agitation of having to defend herself from her supposed friend and mentor.
"Pan, honestly, can't we talk? I didn't mean to say it like that, okay? I thought... well, I didn't really thi-" Before he had even finished trying to defend himself, the door flew open and into the wall behind it. Sheet rock and wood splinters crumbled down onto the floor.
"No! You didn't think at all, did you!" She continued in one breath, "You humiliated me, and then thought making a joke out of all my hard work, wouldn't blow up in your smug face!" She finally paused for a moment, attempting to reign herself in.
Trunks took a step forward into the doorway, intending to block her escape. Pan's hard stare only darkened.
"I said, get out of my face Trunks!" With a sharp inhale, she jammed her heel down into the toe of Trunks' boot. He was momentarily stunned as the cracking sound registered in his ears.
Shocked and in pain, Trunks stumbled back into the hallway, displacing the weight off his injured toes. Gritting his teeth and seething under his breath, he tried once more.
"Panny, I'm trying to apologize. Why can't you just grow up a little and understand. I didn't mean to make light of the work you do..." He took a slow steadying breath, attempting to gauge her reaction.
"I meant what I said though, there is no place for you on the battlefield, you just can't hack it. You don't have the ability to protect yourself, let alone anyone else." He rattled on long enough that he felt his point was made. The look on her face said otherwise.
"When I said, "Go away." I wasn't giving you permission to stand here and keep running your mouth. I meant I was done. Don't tell me I need to grow up, I'm not a child for you and Uncle to scold. I am not some little girl who needs protecting anymore Trunks!" She stood her ground trying to convey why she was so hurt and angry over his thoughtless words.
"I train and I fight everyday. Where are you? You're too busy with work. Uncle Goten? He's too busy chasing girls... Even Papa, with all of the hidden potential in the universe; he is more focused on work than he is about fighting for anyone!" She was visibly shaking at this point. "Don't you ever say that all my hard work and effort, is worth any less than the bare minimum, that all of you put in."
Trunks shook his head as he leveled his gaze at her." Pan you still don't get it... You will never be able to reach what we have. You aren't capable of what we are able to do. You just can't. Nothing can change the fact that you clearly aren't enough of a Saiyan." He finished softy.
Pan could feel her insides boiling at his words. She debated the reality of them, and how he wasn't saying anything she didn't already think herself. Her strength and her determination to be better, just weren't his to discuss and belittle.
"I wonder how you show our human friends, the Z fighters, how their abilities and strength matter so little. How insignificant they must seem compared to you..." Shouldering her duffel bag, she felt her hand twitch slightly. Taking a step forward, she thrust a palm full of ki directly into his face.
"Stay out of my way." With that she strode passed him, down the stairs and out through the back door of the home.
Vegeta hadn't missed the yelling from outside. He doubted they knew the window was left open, or how loud the doors' impact was against the now shattered wall. He had stood and listened to their exchange.
He listened as the young female not ony defended herself, but the other fighters as well. She was much like her predecessors in that way. The girls' heart was pure, no doubt of that. She smothered anyones attempt to put down others for what they strive to attain.
He felt a rise in Trunks' ki and then the last bit of yelling. Afterwards, there was nothing but deafening silence.
That girl and silence are normally a deadly combination. All he felt was her ki signature shifting. A persons ki never twists inside the body like that. He'd never felt that kind of change in any of the fighters he'd encountered, even before he had come to reside on earth. Most changes, like that, happened over time and with cause; like his own gradual shift into the light, to help fight for others instead of against them.
The dramatic change radiating from the girl, was one that was similar to a Saiyans' reason for transformation. A quick and searing burst of emotion. Instead of turning that outward to use, she bottled and dispersed it. He could feel something teetering within her... Odd.
Pan lowered her eyes as she walked past Vegeta. She was planning to get to the edge of the compound and then to take off and fly around. Maybe she would stay out and train, maybe she needed some place to be alone for a while.
Vegeta could feel the darkening anger rolling off of her petite frame, it was crashing down like waves with her fluctuating energy levels. He eyed her carefully, trying to discern her state of mind.
"Yes Prince Vegeta?" Pan wasn't in the mood for anymore harsh words or realizations, but she felt his eyes boring into her. Few people deserved respect, but to her, Vegeta was one of those few.
"Girl, I do not know of what has transpired between you and my own brat... However, you are aware that respect is earned, not given. Considering the female population of planet Vegeta, you've far surpassed what you were stationed for." She nodded but didn't respond.
"My apologies Vegeta, I have to be somewhere. Thank you... For your words..." she took a couple of steps back then turned to take her leave.
Vegeta stalled her one last time." You aren't wrong... strength is not as simple as a high power level."
Pan felt her eyes beginning to sting, before she made a weakling of herself, she took to the sky.
She flew south, passed the rest of West City. Past the edges of South City, then even further south, towards the arctic. She needed some time to herself, she needed to sort out her thoughts and sort what she felt. The cold air of the mountains and the snow seemed like as good a place as any to start over, to build herself back up.
Trunks stood motionless in the hallway, fresh cuts and ash marks littered his face. He was still in disbelief, she'd never pulled a point-blank shot like that when she was upset before. Then again he'd never voiced his opinions to her either.
Pan would have normally retaliated by scheming or getting mad and stomping off. He made his way out into the yard, set to resume his training with Goten. Thinking idly about her last statements.
"...Boy." Vegeta noted his slight favoring of the other foot and his disheveled appearance.
"Not right now father." Trunks sent a slight glare at his father and shook is head.
"You will stop when you are addressed." Trunks noted the militant tone his father had taken. Trunks knew something wasn't quite right. Upon turning and facing Vegeta, Trunks let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"Yes father." he murmured not wishing to draw too much ire from the older male.
Vegeta eyed his heir skeptically, " That conversation just now, between yourself and Gohan's spawn, was a valid point made?"
Trunks was leery of the direction this was heading. "Father, I didn't tell her anything she didn't already know." He was defensive in his response.
Vegeta nodded for a moment and then spoke again. " So dismissing the fact that the girl trains daily, that she is wholly a subject of the Saiyan people, and she strives for constant growth as a fighter, is something that is so simple to dismiss?"
Trunks could feel himself wanting to shrink back from his father. "But those things aren't going to keep her safe in a fight father. The amount she trains is irrelevant, even with all her efforts, her ki's increase is gradual under the best of circumstances. She is a liability. Someone we always have to keep an eye on. Should worse come to worse, she wouldn't be of help to anyone. I am done playing baby sitter."
After Trunks trailed off, Vegeta shook his head in disappointment.
"Because she is a youngling? Or is it that she has less of our bloodline? Those traits do not make her an invalid. That female, and any other fighter offering their lives for this planet, deserve nothing but respect." Turning back toward his gravity machine, Vegeta offered one last piece of advise to his son.
"As one of your future subjects, maybe you should contribute to her strengths and not delay her progress because you're worried for her safety." With that the door to the Gravity room slid shut behind him. Vegeta had his fill of the hybrids for the day.
Trunks thought about what Vegeta had said on his short flight to meet back up with Goten. Pan wasn't weak, she just wasn't one of the strongest. Were his reasons for shutting her down really because she wasn't meant to be a fighter? He had some thinking to do.
As for her being underfoot, she normally kept to herself. Trunks thought about when he had started taking note of her wondering more around the grounds of Capsule sorporation. Thinking back, Trunks realized that since the age of twelve, it seemed as though Pan had moved in down the hall; that was about four years ago now.
Gohan and Videl worked abroad a lot of the time. Between Gohans' lectures and Videls' appearances with her father, Mr. Satan, Trunks couldn't recall the last time Pan had actually spent time around her parents. She was always training around Capsule Corp. Pan still seemed so childish. She had grown, he had just never taken notice.
She had gotten a little taller but her build favored her mothers, compact and lethal. Her dark hair had grown, cascading down the middle of her back. She had only barely changed her choice in clothing. She wore the soft cotton training pants that Goku had left as well as a black tank top with her same little fingerless gloves. That bright orange bandana was now tied around her wrist, instead of holding her hair back from her face.
In comparison she was a completely different person than before, but she still seemed the same, he had just overlooked her. Trunks had never noticed all the subtle changes that took place. He had always seen her as a child to protect, someone he had to watch out for. He shook his head feeling some slight pangs of guilt.
Seeing Goten waiting ahead of him, Trunks resolved to talk to Pan once she returned; she was never gone for more than a couple of days, maybe a week if she was angry enough.