Hello everyone! It's my newest fic! Heheh, yeah, I know, I'm always starting fics but never finishing them *sweatdrop * Gomennasai, I just have to write something down every time I get an idea. But I'll finish my other fics… someday ^_^
Nyway, I'm think I'm gonna focus on this fic and Wonderful Journey from now, at least I hope so.
Ok, so this is an AU fic, you know, the usual kind. Prince Trunks, Vegeta-sei, Princess Bra… etc, nothing new, but I hope yah read ^_^
Disclaimer: Don't own dragonball, Akira-sama is the man!
~~* The Dark Side of the Moon *~~
Fair as the blue sky, gentle as the soft wind
Beneath the shadows cast, diamonds shall glow in glory
He who carries the heart of the dragon
Shall find the mystery on the other side of the moon
On the eve of the hundredth darkness
The dark skies shall rain of fire and blood
But when the chosen ones become one
The sun shall come down from the heavens
And only then
Can the fate of all Saiyans be fulfilled…
Trunks sighed, staring at the writings on the outer walls of the palace. Shaking his head, he motioned for a nearby servant to clean up the inelegant scripts that were ungracefully printed in dark ink on the concrete walls.
There certainly was no need to write those words, on paper, on the wall, nor anywhere else. It was a well-known saying in Vegeta-sei that even small children were well versed about. Even he himself knew those words by heart. When you've been hearing it all your life, who wouldn't? Others called it a legend, others called it a prophecy, but to him, it could never be anything else except some silly superstition passed down through the generations probably made up by some overly romantic ancestors in the past.
But he knew why someone had painstakingly written those verses even though doing so would certainly require impressive courage given that the King of Vegeta-sei was known to be short-tempered and stern. It was because people were afraid…
Taking one last derisive look at the writings, he shoved his hands on his pockets and walked inside the gates.
"What day is it today?" a young servant girl nervously asked a passing guard.
The guard stopped on his tracks.
"57 days before the hundredth darkness," the guard answered in a voice wrought with dread, as if fearing that saying it any louder would just make the days go faster.
Trunks almost burst out in mock laughter hearing the exchange. Really, they were SUPPOSED to be a warrior race, feared in the whole universe for their strength and ruthlessness, and to believe, let alone fear, such an outlandish superstition was just a shame to the Saiyan honor. And outlandish it is… The sun shall come down from the heavens? Feh, Vegeta-sei doesn't even have a sun, Trunks mentally snorted.
Just then, one of his court attendants approached and gave a low bow.
"Your highness, the King wishes for your presence in the main hall."
Trunks nodded curtly.
"I will be on my way," he told the middle-aged servant.
The man bowed deeply again before stepping aside to let him pass.
His father better not be pressuring him for an official consort to bear his heirs again, Trunks thought. True, he was well into the age for marriage by Saiyan standards, but so far, there had been no lady in the whole planet who had been able to spark his interest beyond meaningless gratification.
He walked across the courtyard and veered towards the main hall where his father usually received his guests. But it didn't surprise him at all. His father had always been formal him and everyone else, perhaps except towards his mother and his sister. In fact, he probably wouldn't be surprised at all if he had to sign up for an appointment to talk to his own father.
Two dark haired Saiyans guarded the massive double doors that led to the main hall, not so much for the King's safety, but more like for formality's sake. Everyone knows that King Vegeta never needed a guard in the first place. Recognizing their Prince, the guards bowed and stepped aside to open the heavy wooden doors.
Inside, the usual sight of his father standing close to his throne greeted Trunks. Yes, standing. His father was never fond of sitting on his throne, especially when it was well known that the King wasn't very impressive when it comes to height, but never mention that in public, or you'd find yourself thrown into the dungeon and maimed for life… and that's only if you get lucky, of course.
Trunks bowed formally, but as expected, Vegeta's expression didn't waver from the scowl that was always present on his features.
"Greetings, Prince Trunks," a familiar voice floated from the other side of the hall. Trunks turned to see a tall man with dark spiky hair bound by a red band around his head.
"Konnichiwa Bardock-sensei," he greeted, holding back a smile. It wasn't customary for a Prince to smile to lower level Saiyans, even if that commoner is a highly respected one like Bardock.
"We have business to discuss," Vegeta said briskly.
Trunks did an about face, as usual, greetings and such are not very high on the King's lists of priorities.
"You need to find a mate," Vegeta announced with a final note.
Trunks mentally sighed. I knew it, but if it's really that necessary, I guess I can marry someone. Doesn't really matter, after all, marriage for the royalty has always been duty –
"In Chikyuu."
Trunks stopped his musings and gaped. "In Chikyuu? Mother's birth planet?"
"Yes, your highness" it was Bardock who answered.
"But why Chikyuu?" Trunks asked, furrowing his brows in confusion. He waited for his father to talk, but Vegeta only continued to wear that stoic mask. It was Bardock who stood and bowed lightly in front of the King.
"If I may speak freely, your highness?"
Vegeta nodded.
Bardock cleared his throat and turned to Trunks.
"'Fair as the blue sky, gentle as the soft wind', we have good reason to believe that this indeed is the planet Chikyuu."
Trunks stood dumbfounded at the man he had admired to be his sensei.
"You're not telling me that you believe that myth, do you?" Trunks asked incredulously.
Bardock smiled. "Most legends are not supposed to be taken seriously, your highness, but they are not supposed to be ignored either."
Trunks turned to his father. "You're not taking that prophecy seriously too, are you father?" he asked, but Vegeta still wasn't inclined to answer but motioned for Bardock to explain.
"His highness' reasons are far more practical than mine, I suppose. The people of Vegeta-sei have become very concerned about the coming of the 'hundredth darkness'. And in a planet like ours where strength is highly valued, loyalty is of essence. We need to reassure these people that we understand their agitation."
Trunks cocked his head to the side curiously.
"I see. And what are your reasons?"
Bardock bowed his head apologetically.
"I am ashamed to admit that I highly believe that the old legend has some merit, my lord."
Trunks frowned. Bardock is a wise man, in fact, he is considered to be his father's primary advisor. It was even widely rumored that he could see 'visions' of the future, but Trunks had always thought those were just accurate predictions based on logic and inductive reasoning.
"If you can see the future, then why don't you just tell us if this legend indeed has some truth or not?" he asked with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, slightly disappointed to find that the man he had admired for being wise and logical, could believe such a ridiculous legend.
Bardock only smiled.
"If we are to see the dark side of the moon, then it wouldn't be so mysterious anymore, would it, your highness?" Bardock then bowed deeply and excused himself out of the hall.
"Bardock," Trunks called before the older man could reach the main entrance of the hall. "But why me?"
Bardock turned to bow penitently.
"Search your heart, my lord, and you will find the answer. But please do remember that legends are not always the truth, and the truth doesn't always become legends."
There was a small creak as the massive double doors were opened, the sound echoing through the hall, just as Bardock's last words echoed through Trunks' mind.
Search your heart...Legends are not always the truth… yet why does he insist that I go?
Trunks shrugged. Truth or not, he is a prince. And along with the privilege that had been unquestioningly handed to him at birth, comes something that he cannot possibly ignore…
... duty.
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a/n: first chap. i know, i would have included something about pan in this
chapter, but the Trunks part came out longer than I expected. so yeah, pan will
have to wait till next chap coz.... tada... lazy butt blush gomen.
nyway, i hope you review! pweassssssseeeeeeeeeeee?!!!! puppy-dog eyes
laterz....
~~spawnie-chan