Loud Silence ch.14

You'll see this: ! to indicate parts that get intense that you might want to skip over if you have a weak stomach for violence.

This chapter marks the beginning of the end.

~PanHopeNvs~

"You're…joking…"

"No."

"Well…I…I…NO! You must be mad!"

"Please… Marron…"

Marron took several deep breaths then stood up shakily, "But…I haven't ridden horseback in at least ten years."

"It's one of those things you never forget," Juunanagou said with a slight smile, "You're not… scared… are you Marron?"

The blonde woman looked at her uncle and was about to tell him just how scared she was… but when she saw that smile on his face, she felt anger stirring deep within her. What would Pan do in a situation like this?

"Of course I'm not scared," Marron lied, and turning to her mother and father, "I'll saddle up a horse and ride over to Vegeta right away. May I take the dragonballs? They may be of assistance to King Pan."

"That's a good idea," said Krillen, standing up, "I'll see if I can recall how to get them out of the treasury… it'll be difficult. It's been a long time since Goku showed me, but I think I can remember. "

Juuhachigou nodded, "It's settled then. Marron, you'll leave for Vegeta as soon as possible."

"Yes, mother."

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

Sun Tzu (6th–5th century B.C.), Chinese general.

"NO! DON'T!" Trunks grabbed his tunic and began tearing it into strips, "You shouldn't have done that! I would've taken care of it."

"It's just a little blood, sheesh."

He was referring to the way Pan had ripped the arrow out of her neck. After inspection, Trunks was relieved to find that it had struck in her muscle and had not damaged any arteries or nerves. He tied a strip of cloth tightly around her neck and began to clean the blood off her back.

Pan sat with her arms crossed in a silent frustration. She thought for a while before speaking, "Trunks, you're a warrior and you must understand the way I feel. You're my only living enemy. If someone other than you wants me dead, I don't know who it is."

"Well there's only one thing to do then. I'm placing you under my protection until you find out… what's so funny?"

Pan's laughing hurt the wounded muscles in her neck, "Under your protection? I'm your enemy in case you've forgotten."

"Don't use that word… not right now," he said as he started bandaging her neck with the strips of his shirt. The bleeding had yet to stop.

"What word?"

"Enemy. It makes me feel responsible for doing this to you."

"So?" Pan shrugged his hand off her shoulder and finished off the bandaging, "Maybe you are responsible. You could've gotten one of your men to do this. I wouldn't put it past you."

Trunks moved to face her, "Look at me. I want you to look at me! I'm not responsible for this. I swear it. You have to believe you. I hate your guts and I wouldn't mind killing you sometime in the near future but I DIDN'T DO THIS, ok?"

Pan knew he was telling the truth, but she didn't want to believe it. Looking away, she thought to herself, this is so confusing. If Trunks didn't do this then who did? I almost wish that he DID do it so I could at least know… but now someone wants me dead, and I have no clue who it is…

"Hey," Trunks gently lifted her chin so that he could reassure her with his sapphire eyes, "Let's go home."

Pan looked away from him, nodded, and got up and pulled on her pants. She turned and held out her tunic.

"Do you want to wear mine since yours is…" she gestured up to where his shirt was bandaged around her neck.

He shook his head, "Nah, you wear it."

She pulled on her tunic and followed him back to the horses. To her surprise he extended an arm to her after mounting his own horse.

"You're in no condition to ride on your own," he said, causing her to frown.

"I can ride. It's not like I've been drinking. It's only a small injury…"

"My ass. Get up here; it's not a request."

"Who do you think you are?" she asked angrily, going towards her own horse, but Trunks dismounted and beat her to it.

He stood blocking her path to her horse and looked at her square in the face.

"What are you doing?" she demanded.

He didn't answer but jerked his head to the side as if something has caught his attention. Pan followed his gaze and Trunks used her moment of distraction to conk her on the head with excess force. He caught her as she fell and tossed her up onto his horse. He mounted and pulled her into an upright position against his chest, and with one arm supporting her around her waist and the other controlling the reins, he rode back towards the castle.

She's going to be pissed at me when she wakes up, he thought grimly, but maybe her wound will have healed up a little by then. I hit her pretty hard she should be out for days. The longer she's out for the better, because I can keep an eye on her if she's unconscious. If someone's out to kill her then it's best if she's under my protection for a while. I can't risk anything happening to her, not until she's gotten me the dragonballs. I have to keep her safe until then. I won't allow anyone to hurt her.

Besides… I want the privilege of killing her all to myself.

Emerging through an underground tunnel at the stables, Marron brought a hand up to fan herself at the heat in the room. She was wearing a heavy woolen gray cloak thrown over her riding habit (she's not stupid enough to wear a dress in the situation) and she pushed the large hood off her head and let it hang around her shoulders, secured only by a button in the front. It's rather warm for this time of year, she thought to herself as she made her way to the horses stalls. Hearing the scared braying of the horses, she ran to see what was the matter with them.

She gasped as a large beam fell in front of her, blocking her path. What made her eyes widen was the fact that the beam was on fire. She ran even faster to the stalls and noted the burning haystacks. Marron unlatched and swung open all the stalls, and was practically trampled by the scared animals, but she managed to keep herself together and go into the stall of Pan's horse. She tried to calm the animal down as she attempted to saddle it. Marron was too scared to realize that she was scared, so as soon as the animal stopped rearing she flung on the saddle and harnessed the horse as quickly as she could.

She swung herself up onto it's back, and didn't even have to urge the animal onward before it bolted to get out of the burning building. Marron pulled the hood of the cloak back over her head as they made their way into the cold night air, holding onto the animal with all her strength. It was going so fast that her pack bounced against her side. It contained a change of clothes, nourishment, senzu beans, and four dragonballs.

Marron had a dagger strapped to her other side, because she had neglected to mention to her uncle that she knew not how to use it. Marron kept the horse to the woods so that the Vegetans would not spot her as she rode by where they were camped out around the castle. She had to force herself to breathe every now and then because they were so close that it was scaring the shit out of her. She continued to ride through the forest, knowing that soon she'd be out in the open and would have to hope against hope that she wasn't spotted, and that if she was, she was taken for one of their own.

"HALT!" shouted a man's voice, and Marron pulled her horse to a stop, causing it to rear up dangerously. She pulled the hood of her cloak further down over her eyes to be sure that it covered her striking blonde hair and she tried to breathe slower to calm her pounding heart. The man was blocking the way and he had a gun in his hand.

He walked up to her and studied her with a smirk, "A Chikyuu-jin, eh? Trying to get away?"

Marron would've urged the horse onwards and escaped but the man took her reins and commanded her, "Dismount!"

So she got off the horse shakily and stood before him. He used the nozzle of the gun to push off her hood and as his smirk grew, Marron's fear grew.

!

"Well, what do we have here?" he asked grabbing a handful of her blonde hair and forcing her face close to his so that Marron could smell his drunken breath. She felt like she was going to be sick and her nausea increased as she felt the man squeeze her ass.

"How would you like to keep me company little maiden?" he slurred out, as he moved his hand to feel up her breasts.

Marron pushed him away in disgust and tried to use the opportunity to get onto the horse but he yanked her back and pinned her to the ground, holding the gun to her head.

"Feisty. I wouldn't try to escape if I were you. Unless you value your virtue over your life," he said snorting with laughter, "But I'm going to have my way with you no matter what and I'd much rather fuck you alive than dead."

She wanted to scream but knew that it wouldn't do any good. If she screamed it would be an invitation for a couple dozen more men to try and rape her. Kami what do I do? I must fight, but if he pulls the trigger then I won't be able to get to Pan. I won't be able to warn her about the siege or give her the Dragonballs and all is lost… what should I do?

"Now where was I?" Marron cringed in distaste as the man fondled her breasts and she began to sob as he shoved his hand down her pants to finger her. When he released the gun and occupied both of his hands with tugging his pants down, Marron unsheathed the dagger from her side and plunged it into his chest.

! (it's safe now)

There was a sickening sound and Marron drew in her breath sharply as the man collapsed on top of her. Dead. She didn't move for a second as tears ran down her cheeks and mixed with the mud on the ground. Then she began to sob quietly…with relief. She struggled to push the dead man off of her, and when he finally rolled to the side, she pulled the dagger out of him and stuck it back in its sheath at her side.

She seemed to vaguely recall someone saying that the blood should always be wiped off the sword… had Goten said that? It did not matter, she just had to get away, now, and she stumbled against the horse, still sobbing, she mounted it and rode away from the dead man as fast as she could.

Bulma made her way up the dusty winding tower stairs, slowly climbing towards the summit. What she was about to do wouldn't be easy, she knew. Yet she knew that it was the right thing to do. She didn't know how she knew, she just knew… and ignoring the burning in her thigh muscles, she continued to scale the tower.

When she finally saw the door, Bulma paused and breathed in a few times. She didn't bother knocking, but as she approached she placed her hand on the knob and turned, not at all surprised to find it open.

The room was large and bright, sunlight streaming in all the windows. A man sat in the middle of the room, and Bulma looked at him intensely. He would be able to help. This solitary person that looked on observing everyone's actions and never interfered would be able to help. Only one person ever came up to this room, and that was Gohan, and he always came away with a clear head.

Bulma approached the man unafraid, and spoke out so that he would acknowledge her presence, although she knew he already knew of it.

"Piccolo-sama," she said in a steady voice, "I have come to seek your advice."

He didn't turn around, didn't move at all, just said, "Sit down, Bulma."

She knew that he would know.

Trunks stared out his window thoughtfully while the castle physician gave Pan a few stitches. He hadn't allowed use of leeches because he doubted the arrow had been dipped in poison and his mother had always said leeches were good for nothing.

When the castle physician cleared his throat to indicate that he was finished, Trunks turned around and flashed him a glare that sent him running. He looked at Pan and wondered to himself about how boring it would be around the castle while she was out. He had really gotten used to her over the past few days and he could hardly remember what life was like before she attacked the castle in the golden armor…

Walking over to his armoire, Trunks opened it to look at the suit of armor he had 'confiscated' from her. It was quite a work of art, made of solid gold, and engraved with the Son family crest on it. The sword she had been using lay beside the armor. He had really thought that she had stolen them both, but now that he knew her a little more, and knew of her ethics, he wasn't so sure.

Closing the armoire, he sat at his mahogany desk and began to scribble a layout of the Chikyuu-jin castle grounds with his quill. The attack would be full fledged right about now. A smile tugged at the corners of the king's mouth as he leaned back in his chair imagining the sight of the panic-stricken castle-folk scurrying around trying to find some sort of refuge or sanctuary. Too bad he had arranged the burning of the castle's beautiful Shinto Shrine. There would be no escape, because all the prized Chikyuu-jin racehorses had probably burned to death by now. The explosions had already probably wiped out the fields of crops. Pity. So close to harvest too.

Trunks smiled and crumpled up his drawing, tossing it into the wastebasket. Perhaps he could make it to Chikyuu to kill King Pan and get back before the Chikyuu-jin girl awakened. He looked to his bed where she lay asleep on his pillow. His evil smile faded without him noticing.

He almost felt guilty. The girl's whole life had been shaped by war and hatred. In this world you had to have been born strong, or there was no place for you. She was one of the unlucky ones to have been born strong. Depending on how you looked at it, some probably thought her lucky. Trunks didn't… not when he saw how similar the two of them were. He didn't consider himself lucky. Not when he still had his father's legacy to continue. Not when he was thrust into a position of monarchy in the throes of a war. Not when all he really wanted was…

Frowning, Trunks felt something slide from his reach. What? What is it I want? Why don't I know? How is it that I know what my deceased father wants, but I don't know what I want? Damn it, what is my purpose in life? Avenging a dead cause? What about me? Where do I fit into this? Me, Trunks Briefs-Vegeta. Not the king of Vegeta…. Just me… Trunks…what's in it for me?

Trunks looked out at the sky as the signs of daybreak became visible. He looked down at the sleeping Chikyuu-jin girl then frowned back out at the sky. Vegeta's laughter, evil bloodcurdling laughter rang through his head. He placed his hands on his ears, willing it away, but it wouldn't leave. It hurt…it stung right through him, ripping at his lungs until his breath was ragged and he didn't understand why these ghosts wouldn't leave him in peace….

"FATHER!" he yelled bursting out onto his balcony. His hands gripped the rail as his head spun as a twisted void of confusion and darkness threatened to consume him forever. Suddenly it ceased…leaving only the lingering pain to remind him of his personal hell.

He looked out onto the land that was his country. A dead land, drained of all life and love. Just the way Chikyuu would become when he had finished wreaking havoc on it…. But was that what he really wanted? Trunks returned to Pan's bedside, closing the balcony doors behind him. Looking down at the sleeping girl he closed his eyes briefly. Sometimes… Sometimes he just wished that… that…

The dagger was clean.

Marron saw the sun rising reflected on her dagger. It sent a pain through her eyes to her already throbbing head. She had killed a man.

Now the war seemed real. Now she was a part of it. She understood why it was so difficult to smile. So difficult to live…to love. She finally understood. She'd had to kill a man to get it, but she did.

It didn't even seem important to wash the remnants of the bloodstain off her cloak… all that seemed important was getting the dragonballs to Pan… getting to see Pan… if she could see Pan one last time she'd know that there was still hope.

Marron splashed her face with water, Pan's horse drinking from the same source just a little upstream. After quickly braiding her hair, Marron placed her dagger back in its sheath at her side, silently thanking her obnoxious uncle for giving it to her. She waited for the horse to finish drinking and then she mounted shakily. She looked back at the sunrise, daring it to follow her and set off in a wild gallop in the direction of west, vowing to herself not to stop or slow until she reached Vegeta.

Seated on the veranda, Vegeta sharpened his blades with no great haste, whilst he watched his plan unfurl. His plan was flawless. Drive them together, fill the empty spaces, and place adhesive bandages on all the wounds. Then rip them apart, rip the bandages off, brutally, leaving the wounds uncovered to bleed and become infected once again, this time fatally. What could hurt more?

It was already dawn and Trunks knew he wouldn't be getting any sleep. He could, however, start out finishing off the siege, if he could get someone to watch the sleeping Chikyuu-jin. His regular sentries would not cut it, since he supposed whatever was after her was big. Moving out of his room, and down the central hallway he knocked briskly on Uub's door. Uub answered almost instantly, as he had been up already performing his kata, and looked at his king questioningly.

"What may I do for your majesty?"

Trunks gestured for Uub to follow him and started back towards his room. Uub followed, and was surprised when Trunks led him straight into the room. When Uub spotted Pan lying on the bed with a bandage around her neck, he felt a pang of fear pass over him, but he was quick to conceal it.

"Take care of her," Trunks was saying, "Until I get back. I think someone is out to kill her."

Uub recovered himself from this information and managed to look hesitant, "But is she not the one who injured me in order to gain possession of my weapons?"

"She can't hurt you, she's asleep," said Trunks, pleased that someone was afraid of someone other than him for once, "And don't worry, I don't think it was personal. She only wanted the weapons. If you had just given them to her I don't think she would have hurt you."

Trunks wondered to himself for a second why he was defending the enemy's actions, then shrugged and left.

Uub smiled in silent victory and turned to where Pan slept. FINALLY! He thought to himself, I can warn her, perfect! Placing his hand on her shoulder, he shook her gently.

"Pan! Pan! Wake up!"

She did not budge, and a little too late he realized that she wasn't merely sleeping. Uub sighed and plopped down in a chair beside the bed, his hopes smashed.. Great. What did I think, that she would be the kind of girl to be taking a nap in King's bed? If she's in here, she has either been drugged, drunk, dead, or unconscious. I can assume it is the latter. Uub groaned. The perfect chance to tell her… ruined. How long would it be until the king returned? How much longer would Pan be unconscious? How much time did he have…

Trunks set out with 9 of the best warriors that were not already occupied with fighting in Chikyuu. He did not need a big entourage, because the job had already practically been completed. He was only really needed for finishing touches. He had to make sure that he got back before Pan woke up, so they rode at a good speed. The thundering of hooves really woke up the warrior's spirit within him as he led the party forward, his men struggling to keep up.

His saiyan ears picked up an inconsistency in the sound of the hooves, something like a far off echo, and upon the horses' ascent of a hill, he scanned the area. Sure enough, a rider was to be seen, riding towards the direction in which he was coming from. Towards his castle. Trunks smiled and studied the rider. Not terrible, but he could see that he was inexperienced. Perhaps a young boy. Before his men could catch their breath, Trunks had called out his strategy.

"Circle formation, boys."

They rode forward.

Marron's grip on the reins tightened when she heard the sound of hooves. When she saw the ten warriors mounted upon steeds that were to cross her path, Marron urged her horse forward until every sing muscle in her body throbbed from exertion. She was not used to this sort of thing, and her hair clung to her face, damp with sweat. She rode forward as fast as she could, hoping against hope that there would be no confrontation.

They approached nearer and nearer. To Marron's surprise and utter relief, they formed a single file and began to pass her. Her relief was short-lived though, as a horse approached from the opposite side, blocking her path and causing her horse to rear up.

Marron clutched the reins, but could not hold on as the animal bucked, and she screamed as she was painfully thrown to the ground. She looked up at the warrior that stood in her path. Lavender locks. It could only be one man. She pulled herself to her feet and turned to run in the opposite direction…

And ran smack into another horse. Marron's eyes widened. I am surrounded.

Krillen watched as the moat went up in flames. He had filled it with oil himself. From his vantage point on a tower, he could see the whole battle. They were not doing terribly. Juunanagou was warding off the bulk of the attack. He fought like a madman, swinging his katana skillfully and never missing a target, laughing at his handiwork like an ecstatic child. Krillen could not watch his maniacal brother-in-law devastate so he turned his glance to his wife.

Juuhachigou defended the Shinto Shrine; the hope of the people. They would go there to pray when this was all over, undoubtedly, and they needed that at least. If their homes were destroyed, if they had lost love ones, if the crop suffered… they would need the shrine. Though none of this had happened yet, and Krillen was doing a great job of protecting the castle, their stronghold, things could get worse at any given time. All it would take was some firepower to get at the people hidden deep within the belly of the castle. Therefore, Krillen was using fire to fight fire, and as the smoke from the flaming moat filled the skies with the darkness of the anger that had incited the battle, Krillen peered through it to the direction in which his daughter had ventured.

"Kami be with you, Marron," and though the cackling flames overpowered his words, and his heart sank at the thought of his only daughter alone out there, he descended the tower with his fighting spirit aching for combat.

The laughter of the warriors made Marron tremble, and she tried to calm down Pan's frightened horse. She knew that if Pan had been riding the animal she never would have been outmaneuvered. When the animal calmed a bit, Marron bowed her head, unable to look at the King.

"Remove your hood, stranger, so that we may look upon you and greet you cordially."

Marron, her hands shaking, pulled back the hood of the cloak and stared up at the king in fear.

Trunks let out a burst of laughter, "Why, hello there, young lady. I'm sorry to have given you such a fright. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm the King of Vegeta, Trunks… you may have heard of me…"

He dismounted, and Marron took an involuntary step backwards. He smiled and held out his hand. Marron put hers in it, still trembling, but trying to show some grace, as a lady of the court must. He kissed her hand, those cynical blue eyes never leaving hers. Marron shivered.

He's hot.

She felt herself stricken with horror at the thought and she pulled her hand away a bit too hastily. His smile only grew.

"Well I've introduced myself, who might you be?" he asked.

"I'm… I'm… Lady Marron of… of…" Marron caught herself from this disclosure, "It's a pleasure to meet you, your majesty."

"Likewise, Lady Marron. Where were you headed?"
"To…to… your castle, your highness," she did not know what to do. What if he asked why?

"Ah, well, excellent, allow me to escort you."

Marron nodded and mounted Pan's horse. She didn't care, once she got to see the princess, alive. Oh, Pan, help…

Trunks mounted his own horse again and looked at the girl, beckoning her to follow astride his horse. His men surrounded them; there was no escape for her. Trunks studied her. She was nothing like Pan. There was fear written all over her face, and her eyes were scared to death of him. He figured that it would be easy to get any information out of her. He'd just put on the old charm.

She was undoubtedly a Chikyuu-jin. Perhaps the only one who had escaped? Out to bring back one of Chikyuu's elite warriors? Maybe that was her purpose. Trunks glanced sidelong at her. She was pretty. Blonde and blue-eyed. Oh, he had seen countless of those come and go. He knew the type. She had most likely been sent as a messenger. Perhaps he could get out of her some information about the girl he called Pan.

"I'm here to see someone!" Marron breathed out quickly, saving Trunks the trouble of asking. He looked at her surprised. She looked at him desperately. Please let her be alive.

"There are a lot of people in my castle… might you have any details?"

"She's… uh… he's… I mean, it's a Chikyuu-jin…" Marron fumbled, not knowing how to ask.

"I think I know who you mean." Aha! She has been sent for Pan. Perfect. Simply perfect. "Would this person have a name, Lady Marron?"

"I… don't know…" stumbled Marron, not wanting to reveal any identities that had yet to be revealed perhaps, "Just…can you… tell me… where…how… I…"

Trunks smiled, feasting on the girl's uncomfort, "Worry not, Lady Marron. I shall lead you to the person you seek."

"Will you?" She's alive! Marron breathed a sigh of relief and her tense muscles relaxed, "Oh thank you, your highness!"

Trunks observed her reaction, smirking to himself. What a dumb bitch. She believes me.

"He's captured a girl," said the boy hesitantly, digging his toe into the beautifully woven carpet. Uub stood up straight and fished a coin out of his trousers. A golden coin. The boy's eyes widened.

Uub flicked the coin in the air and caught it. The boy licked his lips and watched Uub repeat the motion a few times. He could not hold in anymore. Forget loyalty. That coin would feed his family for a week.

"A blonde girl. Real pretty lass. Saw her bein' 'scorted here. She was on a horse. Big strong-lookin' fella. Not from 'round here. I know all the horses in this kingdom. That there's a well-fed well-bred warrior horse. Not the girl's horse. Didn't ride it too well. Girl ain't from 'round here neither. I know all the girls…"

"That's enough, boy," said Uub, flicking the coin at him. The boy caught it and stared at it with big eyes. He looked back at Uub.

"I reckon king's gonna take her to the slammer," said the boy shrugging, then he turned to run out the door with the coin clutched tightly in his hand.

Uub frowned and stalked to the door, speaking to the guards, "You didn't see that boy come in here did you?"

"What boy?" asked one of the guards not even skipping a beat. Uub stood still for a minute and surveyed the situation. There were signs of an uprising everywhere. Anyone would betray the king for a few dollars. Even his own personal bedroom guards…

So why did he care? Wasn't a rebellion long overdue? Maybe Pan could stop it… maybe she could protect the tyrant from his mistreated people…Uub went back into the room and spoke to the unconscious Pan in a worried voice.

"Now's not the best time to be getting beauty sleep princess," he said enjoying that he could never have said that to her if she had been awake. He shook off his smile and replaced it with a serious tone. He grasped her hand and squeezed it imploringly, "The king's attacking your castle, your home, your friends. You're not there to protect any of it. Pan… please wake up… we all need you… so very much…"

Under the spreading chestnut tree
I sold you and you sold me:
There lie they, and here lie we
Under the spreading chestnut tree.

George Orwell (1903–50)

"She's down here? In the dungeons?" asked Marron in horror. In her exclamation she had even forgotten to use the pronoun 'he' but the King did not seen to mind so Marron supposed that Pan had revealed herself as a girl.

"Perhaps she is," said the king, and turning to Marron, "You know, Lady Marron, you're very attractive. Are you committed?"

Marron paused in surprise and perhaps disgust for a second before answering, "Was that a compliment your majesty?"

"Indeed it was."

"Thank you…" Marron felt the slightest of blushes tint her cheek, and she mentally scolded herself for being distracted from her purpose, "Can you show me to her your Majesty? Please?"

"Anything for a pretty lady such as yourself," the king winked and led Marron down the dungeon hall. Moans escaping the lips of the captured men from either side caused Marron to inch closer to Trunks unconsciously, just for the security of his body. When he stopped, she walked into him, but he turned around and steadied her. With a rather pleasant expression on his face for a man walking through a dungeon, he opened a cell with the master key.

Marron peered into the dark cell, "Is she in there?"

"I won't answer that question until you've answered mine."

She looked at him confused, and he repeated:

"Are you committed?"

Surprise washed over her, "No… I'm not… why do you want to know?"

"Because…" murmured Trunks softly, placing a hand on her shoulder and leaning in to whisper against her ear, "I just couldn't take it… if there was anyone… who had to bear the pain of missing you…"

Marron was torn between his foreboding words and the delicious sensation of his breath against her skin. Just before she could sort out his meaning and just after a hint of fear had set in, she found herself flung against a cold stone wall and heard the click of metal behind her. Marron had not the strength to pull herself up from the ground, but she turned to look upon the shadowed face of the king as he chuckled softly and twirled the key on its ring around his finger.

He stalked off without even a backward glance and Marron felt a sob wrack her shoulders.

A man from another cell cried out in a broken mocking voice, "Stupid girl. Stupid girl!"

Marron stared at the ground, refusing to believe it was over. Her gaze drifted to the pouch of useless dragonballs at her belt. I have failed you princess… please forgive me… I told them I could not do it… I just want to go home… I know nothing of war… I have failed you…

She sank onto the dank floor and stared off into the darkness of the dungeon, trying to block out the insane laughter of the man in the adjacent cell.

"I've returned," said Trunks entering his bedroom, "Thanks for watching her for me, Uub."

"No problem," said Uub, with a backward glance at Pan, the perfect chance wasted… His eyes suddenly widened as he watched Pan's arm move to rub her head.

Trunks, following Uub's gaze, muttered, "Holy shit."

Groaning Pan opened her eyes and sat up. When her vision cleared she took in the situation.

Frowning, she glared at Trunks, "MORON! What did you knock me out for?"

Uub breathed out, not believing. As soon as Trunks returned she regained consciousness… what absurd timing… If only she could have woken up seconds before… or Trunks had arrived seconds later…he would have gotten the chance to warn her…

The king was fuming, "What the hell are you doing awake? I knocked you out good enough for a few days not a few hours!"

"Fuck you!" yelled Pan getting up and stalking towards him, "I probably slept through breakfast!"

Uub sweatdropped and took a few backward steps away from the violent saiyans, "I'm just… going to go…"

He turned and ran, headed in the direction of the dungeons. Who was the girl that the stable boy had told him about? It had to be important. How ever would he find her? The dungeons were endless. A true labyrinth of miserable hopeless souls. It smelled of death down there. He had to get the girl out of there. Who could it be?

His curiosity consuming his fear, Uub rushed past the prison guards and stood still, looking around for an arrow to point him in the right direction. The dungeons were quiet. What dying captive had energy enough to moan out in diseased pain? Uub walked through the halls, trying not to look at the people in their cells. Some hung their bony hands through the bars, some just stared with large blank eyes in sunken faces. Uub could hardly take it…and the smell…

In the distance he heard sobbing. A new captive. Anyone in the dungeons for long enough would find tears useless. Uub followed the sound. Soon he stood in front of the cell that was the source of the noise. The girl was saying Pan's name. Uub crouched down in front of the cell.

"Excuse me, miss?"

"Go away!" Marron sobbed, "Go away…"

"Miss, please…"

"GO AWAY!"

"SHE'S OKAY!"

Marron stopped sobbing and looked up, "What?"

"The Princess…she's okay…"

"SHE IS!" Marron crawled towards the bars and looked closely at Uub. He had a kind, worried face, dark and sad eyes, and she immediately wanted to trust him, although she had never seen him before in her life, "Are you certain?"

Uub nodded, "The last thing I heard her say was "fuck you" to the king about two minutes ago."

Marron let out a sound that was half sob-half laugh. She grasped the bars and leaned against them, sighing, allowing all her fear to escape in that thankful breath, "Who are you?"

"I'm Sir Uub… I am a traitor to the King and a friend of Pan's. What about you?"

"I'm Lady Marron," she answered, "I was sent here to give a message and…something else to Princess Pan…"

"I can do that for you if you'd like…"

"It's very important…" Marron hesitated, "I trusted the king and look where I ended up."

"Pan trusts me," Uub said, trying to convince her, "I have been trying to tell her about the attack on her home, but the king keeps interfering… "

"She's perfectly safe?" asked Marron again, "What's going on between them? It's been so long…"

"To tell the truth Lady Marron, I have no clue what's up. I heard from a maid that they were seen kissing… but Pan just doesn't seem like someone to do something like that, you know? King Trunks has changed a bit in the time she's been here… but…"

"Sir Uub?"

"What is it, Lady Marron? You may trust me."

"I have the dragonballs," whispered Marron.

Uub stared at her in shock, and when he finally found his voice spoke, "We have to get them to Pan."

"But can I really trust you?" asked Marron softly, not strong enough to be betrayed again, "There's no time to spare… I need to get these to her, soon…but how can I trust you?"

"I don't know…" Uub bit his lip, "But I have to get to breakfast, ok? The king will suspect something if I'm missing."

Marron nodded, and when Uub stood up and turned to leave she grabbed his wrist through the bars, "Just please… come back, okay? Don't leave me… don't betray me…"

Uub nodded, and placed his hand over hers comfortingly, "Just trust me, Marron. You can trust me. And also… I'll find away to get you out of here. I promise."

Marron reluctantly removed her hand and Uub left. She sat with her back against the bars, waiting… hoping.

When Vegeta returned to his room he sensed something strange. He looked around and it seemed… vaguely different. He checked his weapons chest first, and found nothing missing. Then he looked in the closet… the closet seemed emptier…and darker… in fact, half of it was gone…all that remained were battling clothes… his eyes widened and he stumbled backward.

The dresser. There was no makeup on the dresser. Several drawers were empty. That annoying alarm clock was gone. The fuzzy slippers… the stupid hairbrush that was always lying around… that dumb picture frame around the family photograph that he woke up to every morning and had gotten so used to…

Even the sheets were changed. They weren't the same flowered ones he'd always cursed. They were plain. Blank. Worst of all, they didn't hold even a hint of her scent. She was gone.

He ripped apart the freshly laundered sheet.

He knew that he deserved this.

He didn't care.

She was his.

"Alright already, I forgive you!" yelled Pan, "Just let me eat in peace!"

Trunks smiled victoriously and had a piece of bacon halfway to his mouth when Uub arrived. He frowned, "Where the heck were you?"

"Finishing off my kata," Uub said. Pan looked up questioningly at his lie and observed as Uub loaded his plate with various foods then removed it from the table.

"I'm going off to train in the woods," he announced, another obvious lie.

"Can I come?" asked Pan.

Uub turned around hopefully. If only Pan could come with him…

"No, I don't want you killing my best warrior," said the King chomping down on an omelet.

Pan growled but went back to eating.

Uub's shoulders sagged and he turned and ran towards the dungeons.

When he finally arrived at Marron's cell he held out the plate, "I got you some food…"

"Thank you…" she said, but it was too large to be passed through the bars. At that moment a prison guard walked by.

"Sir Uub?" said the man in surprise.

Uub looked up, scared for a second then shoved his hand into his pocket and fished out another gold coin, "This for your silence and the key."

The man studied the food and the girl and then shook his head, "You don't have to pay me to do what's right, Sir Uub. That girl does not belong here."

Uub nodded and took the key, "Thank you."

he unlocked the door and went inside Marron's cell. The guard left them in privacy. Uub placed the food in front of Marron and sat against the cell wall. Marron began to eat, and offered Uub some. So they sat, eating and thinking.

Uub then spoke, "I've been having people eavesdrop on the king and Pan. They have three of the dragonballs. They want to wish back their families… but it's way to soon to give the dragonballs to Pan, because she wants her family back so badly that she will give them to the king."

"You know… and now, so do I, that the king can't be trusted," added Marron.

"Yes… so what do we do? It's way too soon… their relationship isn't strong enough yet for the king to not betray her…"

"Think that's possible? That they could get so close that King Trunks would actually allow Pan…to… wish back… King Goten…" Marron trailed off. Uub didn't seem to notice as he was absorbed in his own thought.

"It's possible. Also…King Trunks would get… to wish back… Princess Bra," he added, joining Marron's silence.

Marron was the first to speak, "Princess Bra and King Goten are great together."

"Oh, I completely agree," said Uub, in a flat voice.

The two of them suddenly looked at each other. Marron saw the surprised look on Uub's face and her hand flew up to cover her mouth when she couldn't stop a knowing grin. Uub looked at her for a few seconds and a small smile flashed across his face for a second. Marron turned away, shivering because of the cold dungeon. Uub bowed his head in deep thought, and then took Marron's hands suddenly.

"How do you feel about a little foul play?"

"I beg your pardon?" Marron questioned.

"You have the four remaining dragonballs, but if we only give Pan three, and we send them looking for the last one, their journey together should be enough to… well, you know, make them better friends…"

"Yes… "friends"…" said Marron with air quotes and a sly smile.

"Hey, we're not setting them up here," defended Uub.

"Yes, we are," said Marron, already detaching the dragonballs from her belt.

"Trust a woman to think like that," muttered Uub.

"Do you want the dragonballs or not?" said Marron tossing the sac at him.

He caught it smiling, and put a hand on her shoulder, "Thanks Marron, I'll visit you again soon. If the 'royal monarchs' up there leave to search for the dragonballs, I'll come down and let you out and give you a tour of the castle."

"Thanks, I'd like that," said Marron, and before Uub left she gave him a quick hug, "You be careful now."

He nodded and gave her a salute before leaving. Marron sighed and sunk back against the wall. It was hard to make light out of this whole situation. It felt so wrong to be smiling with Uub when her parents were back home fighting for their lives and their country… And wasn't Uub afraid he'd get caught? What would happen to him if he did? Would he end up like Goten? Marron bit her lip, silently wishing him luck.

Uub waited in Pan's room, which was technically Bra's room. He needed to get rid of one of the dragonballs… but how? An idea occurred to him. Going out onto the balcony he raised his arms, and careful not to be too loud, he called:

"Flying Nimbus! Please, take this dragonball from me…It's for Pan… I don't know if my heart is pure… but hers is, so please do it for her…"

The cloud shot out of the sky and made a few circles around him before coming to a stop directly in front of him. Uub smiled and took the four star dragonball out of the sac and placed it on the cloud's fluffy surface.

"Please take care of it, Nimbus. Take it somewhere so that Pan will have to go find it… somewhere that no one else can get it, ok?"

Uub stood back as the cloud sped off and ran back into the room just in time to see Pan enter… with Trunks. He dived under Bra's bed, sweating like a bastard, and just in time.

"So when are we going to get the dragonballs?" Pan was asking.

"Soon," said Trunks, "I just have something to take care of here first…"

"Yes, your marriage, correct?"

"As you said, I'm not getting any younger," he answered, "Besides, won't my family be pleased if when they come back I've already chosen myself a wife? My mom and sister would enjoy planning a wedding and…whatever it is women get all excited about."

Pan cringed, "Okay, good for you and great for them. But I'm not going to wait any longer. I'm not getting any younger either, and my family won't be pleased if when they come back I've got gray hair and more wrinkles than muscle. So can you hurry it up a little? How hard can it be to find the right heir-bearing machine?"

"How insulting!" he said, feigning a hurt look, "What kind of a king do you think I am? I want more than that in a wife. I need…"

"No! No! Let me guess," Pan made it look as if she was deep in thought, "Okay, here goes. Someone who looks good in your arm, has no genetic defects or madness running in her family to pass on to your kids, compliments you to no end, and is great in bed?"

Trunks nodded, "EXACTLY! Do you have any idea how hard that is to find?"

"Put out a wanted poster or something!" Pan scoffed, "Just stop wasting my time."

"Me wasting your time?" the king snorted, "You're the one with so-called amnesia who won't tell me anything I want to know. Do you know that I'm being nice keeping you here? I really am breaking the rules of hospitality, because if a guest doesn't tell you who she is you're supposed to throw her out on her ass! Especially if she's your enemy, killed half your guard, and…"

"Stop, alright?" Pan said, rolling her eyes, "Just get the hell out so that I can change!"

"Yes, your highness," he said curtseying to her before stalking out of her room.

Pan sank down into a chair and crossed her arms, "You can come out now Uub."

Uub rolled out from under the bed, "That was close."

"Yeah. What were you doing under there any… way…" her eyes widened and she jumped out of her chair and threw herself to her knees at Uub's side, seeing the glistening orange in the sac he held. She grabbed it from him and ripped open the bag. The dragonballs fell out and she scooped them up into her hands and stared at them, amazed.

"Uub…"

There you go, for all of those who were about to hunt me down and murder me. I might've rushed through this a bit, because I'm just so damned busy, but believe me, I have every intention of finishing this story, so don't give up on me. The next chapters will be better, I promise, I just had to get this done because it was long overdue. So, hope you liked it, but expect a MUCH better update sometime in the near future. Don't forget to review now, all constructive criticism welcome.