Loud Silence ch.4

Well, here's chapter four! I finished it as soon as I could. Thanks for the reviews! The T/P will heat up soon, don't worry. They just have to take their time in warming up to each other. Woohoo!

~PanHopeNvs~

"It's not impossible."

Pan opened her eyes and sat up in bed. She looked around the room and her eyes widened as she noticed a hazy figure standing in the center of her room. She looked closer and gasped.

"Daddy!" she whispered. She slowly got off the bed and walked towards the apparition.

"Panny," Gohan smiled, "Don't be frightened. I'm not a ghost… well, perhaps, technically, I am… but that's not the point…"

"Oh, daddy!" Pan looked at him with tears in her eyes, "I miss you so much! And everyone else… how are they? Mommy, Grandma, Grandpa….what about Goten…and Bra?"

"They're all fine," said Gohan, "They send their love."

"Why have you come here?" asked Pan, "Is there something you need to tell me?"

"Yes," Gohan looked at her with understanding eyes, "There is doubt in your mind."

"What?" Pan frowned, "Doubt?"

"Yes," Gohan said, "You believe that it is impossible to soften the cold heart of the Vegetan King. You want to believe it… but you can't. Yet still you will try, because you want to fulfill the last wish of your uncle, and attempt to make peace between the two Kingdoms. Am I right, daughter?"

"Yes," Pan looked at him in wonder, "How do you know this?"

"That does not matter," Gohan's ghostly figure floated nearer to Pan, but she did not feel afraid as he spoke, "All the King needs is a little love in his life. He needs to have his eyes opened so that he can see what's happening around him… he needs to notice things other than how strong people seem to be… he needs to notice how kind hearted and loving the people around him are…"

"You don't mean me…" Pan said in a whisper.

Gohan nodded, "Panny, dear, you are the only one who can get through to him. And believe me, it is possible… he is not the beast that he seems to be… do you think he looks like a beast?"

"A beast?" Pan remembered the King's finely chiseled face… and his cold blue eyes… no… he was quite handsome… or he would be, if he ever smiled, "No daddy. He does not look like a beast. Even though he certainly does act like one."

Pan had the queasy feeling that he could see her thoughts, as Gohan smiled, "Well, do you think you can handle your mission, my little saiyan? You do not have to try too hard… just be yourself."

Pan nodded, "I promise… I'll try… try to soften his heart…"

Reaching his hand out, Gohan touched the pendant around Pan's neck, and it glowed. He looked up at her, and said in a whisper, "Do not give up hope… we all have faith in you…"

"Oh, daddy…" Pan felt tears come into her eyes again, knowing that her father would soon leave her, "I miss you all so much… Please tell everyone how much I love them… I wish I could be with them…"

"Pan, I know how much you miss us, and we miss you just as much…" Gohan lifted a hand to touch Pan's cheek, and looked at her with the courage in his eyes, "Be brave, my daughter."

Pan nodded and bit her lip, "I will."

"Goodbye, Panny, and remember…it is not impossible…" Gohan's ghost vanished…

And then she woke up.

Pan jumped out of bed and looked at the place where her father had been in her dream… Or had it been a dream? It had been so real… She could still remember anything, and when she reached up a hand to touch the pendant around her neck she could feel it glowing… with hope.

Smiling Pan turned around and looked out her window. The sun hadn't risen yet… it was still early morning. The King was probably sleeping… then Pan frowned, remembering what Uub had said the night before about the King having 'company'. Trunks is such an idiot!

Recalling her father's face in the dream, she decided that she would try to refrain from calling the King names, even internally… if she were to gain his trust, she would have to see the best in him, she would have to be nice to him…Pan sighed. This isn't going to be easy…

But it probably will be easier after breakfast…I'm starving!

A few hours later, everyone was present in the great hall for breakfast. Pan focused on eating for the most part of the meal, but as soon as it was over, her eyes drifted towards the King, who, as she suspected, was looking straight at her.

Be nice to him, be nice to him…..Pan managed to force a smile, "Uh… Good morning?"

"No, it's a terrible morning."

So much for being nice! Pan sighed, "Well, breakfast was fine, was it not?"

"No, it was lacking in both taste and quantity."

"Well, you're the king. Why not do something about it instead of complaining?" said Pan trying not to get annoyed, "Do you not possess a mass of jewels and gold which you could spend on some decent food?"

"I spend my money on decent weapons!" the King frowned, "and I spend it how I want, not how some peasant girl tells me to."

"Peasant girl?" Pan gasped. Had he considered all the possible ranks and titles she might have and decided that she must be a peasant? Was it her language, her manners, her posture? No! It was purely an insult. She kept her fists under the table, "I am not a peasant girl!"

The King polished off some dessert, "I know; you're too skilled at fighting."

Pan checked her temper, and just nodded.

"What do you plan to do today?" asked the King.

"What I plan to do today?" Pan thought for a second, that is not really the kind of question you ask a prisoner… he's giving me remarkable freedom.

"Well, you said you wanted to fight me again when I was healed. So could we spar perhaps?"

"I said when you were healed, and you are not healed."

"Oh, but I am healed," Pan stood up and walked around, "See? I'm all better."

"I would bet that broken leg of yours is hurting like the fires of hell."

"It is not!" Pan sighed, "Fine then. Have your way. We'll fight some other day."

"Good."

"I'm going to kick your ass anyway," muttered Pan quietly under her breath.

The King raised an eyebrow.

Pan turned around and walked up the stairs to her room, cursing softly.

The King smiled. She certainly has some spunk.

Meanwhile in her room, Pan sat on the window seat and looked out onto the courtyard. The courtyard was quite beautiful Pan admitted reluctantly. Almost as beautiful as her own courtyard.

The huge oak trees were made for climbing; the apple trees were great for archery target practice (or a snack). Pan tried to concentrate on the beauty of the courtyard, but her mind kept wondering to the task of gaining the king's trust… would she ever make any progress with him?

Pan sighed and stood up. Just sitting there would accomplish nothing; she had to do something… Pan suddenly smiled. The courtyard.

Turning and walking out of her room, she walked downstairs, and turned into a certain room, opened the door and let herself into the courtyard. Pan thought it was odd for her to remember the castle halls so distinctly after not being there for so many years. But it didn't matter.

Out in the fresh air, Pan smiled as the sun hit her face. She walked around curiously looking at everything. When she looked at the tree, she felt a familiar childlike urge to climb it… but decided against it. Her broken leg would heal faster if she rested it.

Looking around she spotted a sparkle in the grass… assuming that it was jewelry she bent over to examine it. Pan gasped in delight. It was even better than jewelry… it was a bow and a few arrows!

She picked it up and held the front with her left hand, positioning an arrow between her thumb and forefinger. With her right hand she straightened the arrow against the string. Looking around she noticed a nice red shiny apple on the apple tree… she couldn't resist. Moving the arrow up to eye level, she aimed, pulled back, and let go of the string.

The arrow soared through the air and neatly pierced the apple, causing it to shake and fall. Pan walked beneath the apple and held out one hand, catching it. She removed the arrow and took a bite out of the apple, grinning.

"Lucky shot."

Pan turned around to see the King of Vegeta standing there with his arms crossed.

"That was not luck," she responded, "That came from years of practice."

"Years?" The King raised an eyebrow, "Years of shooting apples off other people's trees?"

"Yes… that and training in the Chikyuu-jin army," Pan smiled smugly, "Would to like to have a shooting contest?"

"Why not?" King Trunks picked up the bow and arrow and looked at Pan, "What target?"

"Um…" Pan looked around and grinned, "How about that ripe apple way up there?"

It was at the top of the tree, and looked like a cherry from their position.

The King pulled back the string and hit the target easily. Pan caught the falling apple, pulled out the arrow, and tossed it at the Trunks. He caught the apple, and tossed her the bow.

"What's my target?" she asked.

Trunks smiled evilly, and pointed to a man in armor, "I dare you to shoot that guard's ass."

Pan sighed, "No really, what's my target?"

"I'm serious," the king smiled, "Or are you a chicken?"

"Chicken!" Pan was chilled by a sudden memory of Goten. That was something he would say when he wanted to challenge her… she shook her head, "I'm not afraid to, it's just that…"

"You know you're not a good shot? You know that you'll probably miss?" the king had a way of annoying Pan.

"Fine then!" Pan studied the guard's armour and looked for a spot that would take the blow. She raised the bow to eye level, and with a grin at the King, pulled back the string and shot it. The arrow flew threw the air and hit the guard on the behind. The arrow bounced off his armor, and he turned around in surprise.

King Trunks pointed behind him, "She did it."

At the guard's confused expression, King Trunks turned around to see no one there… Where did she go?

King Trunks looked back at the guard and frowned. The guard looked at the King with fear in his eyes before turning and sprinting away at top speed. The King's frown grew larger as he heard laughter. He looked up to see Pan sitting in the apple tree. She grinned.

"Why, you little…" The King drew his sword and sliced off the branch of the tree that Pan was sitting on.

"Hey!" Pan felt the branch give way beneath her, so she pushed off the tree and landed on her feet. She crossed her arms and looked at the king, "You don't play fair."

"And you do?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I only did what you told me to!" Pan smoothed her dress, glad that she had wore Uub's pants on beneath it—and glad she had found a reason to climb the tree after all, "And quite well, don't you think? I did, after all, hit my target…"

The King suddenly smiled when he remembered the guard's frightened expression after being shot in the rear end by an arrow. He couldn't help it anymore, he laughed.

Pan smiled. He's laughing! Step one to gaining his trust…laughter! I wonder if he's every laughed before in his life? Oh… yes… he laughed when he sliced my arm open when we were younger… Pan's smile disappeared, no…I mustn't think of that now…I must forget the past … I will try to gain his friendship… he does have a nice laugh… oh, that poor guard…

Pan looked up at him. His eyes were still cold. Not even laughter took that hatred out of his eyes. Maybe the laughter had been cruel laughter… he would be one to laugh at something like that… No! I can't think like that! I have to try to believe that there is good somewhere deep down in his heart! I can't think like that about him anymore if I am to believe that it is possible…

"Well, then…Pan…"

She shivered at the way he said her name. It felt so wrong… he didn't even know it was her real name… but he would know sooner or later.

"Yes?" she said.

"I guess you won the archery competition," The King looked at her strangely, "I can't believe I was beaten by a girl. Men run for their lives at the sight of me, yet I, the Vegetan King, am beaten by a girl. Well, congratulations…I guess."

"Oh I feel so special! I won an archery competition against the King of Vegeta!" Pan rolled her eyes, "You have such a low opinion of me. I will prove to you that I'm just as strong as you in every way…I will! You are not as invincible as you think."

"Is this a challenge I'm sensing?" he asked.

"You bet your castle it is!" Pan looked him in the eye, not allowing herself to be intimidated by his icy glare, "I challenge you to…uh… everything!"

"You're on!" The King seethed, "Women today. They think they're all that. Prepare to be beaten in… what was it again? Oh, yeah… everything!"

"What do we start with?" asked Pan.

"Anything…" said Trunks, "but not anything that requires use of your broken leg. I do not want you to lose when you are handicapped. I want you to lose when you are at full health. Then my victory will be sweeter."

"Do not underestimate me," Pan looked at him confidently, "It's my victory that will be sweet. And I am not handicapped. Do you have horses?"

"The best in the land," said Trunks proudly, "Would you like to have a jumping competition, or a race?"

"Yes, I would," Pan hid her smile, I don't have to wear a dress to ride! Yes!, "Have you riding clothes for me to borrow?"

"I will send you some of mine with a maid," Trunks grinned at her, "Prepare to lose."

"I would say the same to you," Pan turned to leave, but then turned back, "And your horses are not the best in the land! Mine are."

She stuck her tongue out at him then left to change into riding clothes.

King Trunks shook his head in amazement. That girl bugs me. She really does.

When Pan got to her room, she noticed riding clothes already laid out on the bed. Whoa! His maids are pretty fast! Probably because he scares them to death… Pan changed into her riding clothes happily. She went downstairs to where the king was waiting.

"Where are your stables?" she asked.

"Stables? We are not going to the stables."

"Then how are we going to get the horses?" Pan's question was answered when some servants appeared at the door to the castle, leading two horses by the reins, "Oh, I assume the big black one is yours?"

"Yes, his name is Invincible, but we call him Vince," he smiled at his horse then looked at the other one, "That's yours. You can call her… Horse. We didn't bother about finding a name for a mare. Everyone knows that girls aren't strong, so why bother?"

He said the last part while looking at Pan, and she growled, "I'll bet that horse is faster than yours! And I'll prove it too… first we need a good name for her… I'll name her….Saila!"

"Saila?" Trunks looked at her curiously, "Why?"

"Unassailable," Pan smiled, "But then again, what's in a name really?"

King Trunks frowned as Pan mounted her horse. With the new, more challenging name, the horse seemed a little bigger, faster, and maybe, just maybe could be surprisingly strong. Just like the girl riding it.

He shook that thought from his head as he mounted his own horse. But he couldn't help wondering about the girl temporarily known as Pan… she was so mysterious… and she was up to something… but what? Who was she? Was she a Chikyuu-jin spy?

The King looked at her again and frowned. Whoever she was he would find out… and as soon as she got her memory back, he would know her real identity. But for now, she was the only person around who he could get a good challenge out of. She was, even though she didn't know it, his prisoner. And he wasn't going to let her go back to Chikyuu for a while… dead or alive.

Next time… a little bit of friendly competition? This can only mean trouble. What are Goten and Bra up to in heaven? And can Uub help Pan to find one of the King's weaknesses?

Don't forget to click that review button, be nice!

First Published 25/07/2001, Edited 06/05/2010