Thirty Minutes to Heartbreak

by PanHopeNvs

Pan and Bra use fusion to get revenge on Trunks and Goten for breaking their hearts. Para is born. Things get out of control. Lots of training, identity crises, and steamy moments. Para nearly gets discovered, but she's too smart. She tells way too many lies. Bad guys notice Para's massive power. Para tells more lies. Revenge is complicated.

21. The Safest Place

Chapter Twenty-One: The Safest Place

I was initially intending to make Zvarin only a combination of twenty people, but I changed my mind literally at the last second. The main reason I changed my mind was because of the song "Africa" by Toto. I wanted to be able to think of Para whenever I hear the lyrics:

It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

Hehe. If you want the full experience reading this chapter, I recommend that you go back and read a little bit of the last one to refresh you a bit on what happened and get into the dark mood. (I know it's been a little while.)

Enjoy!

~PanHopeNvs (Nadia Scrieva)

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Para returned to Earth, finding herself on the destroyed stairs not far away from Vegeta and Gohan; they were the most conspicuous energy signals on the planet. Everything was still blurry through her tearful and dizzied vision.

She quickly turned away from her fathers and collapsed into a seated position on the stairs. She drew several deep shuddering breaths, and pulled her knees up to her chest. She hugged her knees tightly as she rested her head on her knees, trying to forget the sensation of Zvarin's hands all over her body.

She had never felt so small.

I'm home, she told herself. I'm home. That ordeal is over. And I came out of it with knowledge of the enemy. I need to look on the bright side of things. So many positive aspects. Many, many positive aspects.Through her daze of pain and humiliation, Para heard voices speaking to her. They were familiar voices; some were kind and some were gruff, but she could not seem to understand what any of them were saying. She only knew that none of them were Zvarin's voice, and this was massively comforting.

The Z-fighters had all changed out of their tuxedos and into their battle garb. Vegeta wore Saiyan armor while the others all wore fighting gis. The women had also changed out of their evening clothes and into more comfortable garments. It was early in the wee hours of the morning, and everyone was tired, but kept awake by their concern about the identity and purpose of the strange girl from the future.

Only Para looked out of place, still wearing her tattered ball gown. Her hair had completely fallen out of its up-do and fanned out across her back and around her shoulders in loose curls. She was still barefoot. She hugged her knees tightly, oblivious to the world around her except for the fact that she was on Earth and in the Capsule Corp. compound; one of the places she loved most in the entire Universe. What more did she need to know?

"Medea, are you alright?" Gohan asked with concern. Having a daughter made him sensitive to the signs of female distress. Curling up into a ball was never a good one.

"Girl, quit your blubbering. I know you're scared of me, but I promised Trunks not to attack you for five minutes," Vegeta said haughtily, his arms crossed across his chest. "You and I need to discuss certain vital matters."

Para did not hear any of it. She just concentrated on taking deep breaths to calm her anger and wayward emotions. She just concentrated on being thankful that she could fully expand her lungs, now that she was out of the confines of the force field. Breathing in and out slowly and deliberately, she hugged her knees even tighter.

"Medea?" Trunks asked kindly, approaching her, "I'm really sorry that we all attacked you earlier. I'm really sorry that I attacked you. I was just so shocked to see that you were concealing so much strength. I'd like to have a word with you in private if you don't mind."

Para did not move or respond to any of the questions.

"I'm really curious about what the future is like!" Goten added. "What's wrong? Are you mad at us? Look, I know I overreacted about the pickles. I'm really sorry too…"

Their voices washed over her like soothing warm breezes. Female voices mixed in as well—mothers and grandmothers and things like that, and even curious little girls. Para dug her forehead into her knees, feeling bone against bone. Her kneecaps dug into her eyebrows, providing what would have felt like a rather nice massage if the lower part of her face had not been fractured.

"Medea, dear? We need to know why you came back from the future," Bulma said. "Also, why did you lie to us?"

"It is time to talk about things," Videl demanded.

"Stop it, all of you!" Chi-Chi yelled suddenly. "Can't you see that she's trembling? Back off. Let the poor girl have some space!"

Everyone did as Chi-Chi had commanded in her shrill but effective screech. Only Marron, after turning to her husband and handing him their baby, ventured forward, disturbed by the fact that Para was indeed shaking.

"Sweetie," she spoke in a soft voice. "I brought those shoes you asked for."

When there was no response, Marron fished into the purse on her shoulder and pulled out the shoes. She carefully laid them down on the stairs close to Para's bare feet. She stood above her friend, looking down on her in concern. Para was completely unresponsive. Glancing back at the Z-fighters, Marron fought between the need to comfort her friend and the need to maintain appearances of innocence. Screw it, she thought, something is really wrong and I need to find out if she's OK. Marron carefully sat down beside Para on the stairs, and gently touched one of her arms—her arms were strained with how tightly they hugged her knees. Long indigo hair fell forward around the saiyan woman's bowed head, creating a protective curtain around her huddled form. Marron tenderly reached out to comb back the curtain, trying to remove the barrier between herself and her friend. She brushed the hair over Para's shoulders.

What she saw immediately made Marron gasp and bring her hands to her face.

"Oh, god! Oh my god!" Marron moaned. After the initial shock of seeing the bluish bruises in the shapes of giant handprints on her friend's shoulders, Marron felt tears gather in her eyes, and her own hands begin to quiver. She shook her head in disbelief. She didn't think she had ever seen such a bruise on tough saiyan skin. She instinctively knew that no one in the room was the cause of those bruises

"Kami, Para… uh, Para-medic! She needs a paramedic!" Marron fumbled, clumsily covering up her slip, and running her unsteady hands over the fused girl's shoulder to inspect her bruises. "There are broken bones."

"Are you OK, Marron?" Uub asked in concern and confusion at his wife's strange behaviour. "We have an infirmary right here if she needs it."

Marron swallowed. "Of course… how silly of me. I'm just freaking out. She looks pretty beat up…"

Para however, had lifted her head a few inches off her knees. Hearing her true name spoken and feeling a tender caress had startled her out of her meditative state. She lifted her eyes to look to the person who had spoken her name. Marron? Para asked telepathically, trying to sit up. She would have spoken, but her throat felt too sore.

Marron gasped again, putting a hand on her chest. "Dende!" She reached out and pulled Para into an embrace. The bruises on her friend's jaw and neck were even more horrible than the ones on her shoulders. Marron knew that Para could hardly feel her hug, and that it would not cause her any additional pain. The blonde woman's detective intuition filled her imagination with all the gaps in the story. It could only be left to imagine who could harm Para like this.

Marron vaguely remembered Gotenks returning from a premature fight with Buu with a giant black eye. This was a million times worse than that. Para was not a foolish child who was unaware of her limitations and rushing off into battle. And the Buu monster—well, part of him had ended up being reincarnated as her husband, and the other part had ended up fusing with her husband. So in effect, she had married that monster. He was now part of their team.

And she didn't think Uub was strong enough to hurt Para like this. She didn't think Uub was strong enough to hurt the person who had hurt Para like this. This was bad.

Para gratefully accepted her friend's embrace. Marron was stroking her hair, and she drew strength from this small show of compassion. Para took a few more deep trembling breaths, before pulling away and giving Marron a reassuring smile. She looked into Marron's sky-blue innocent eyes, and her heart broke at the thought of losing her along with everyone else. I will never let Zvarin harm a hair on your head, Marron. Your hair is way too pretty. Zvarin has pretty hair too, of course, but I think I would sell my soul for the opportunity to rip it all directly out of his revolting head…

"Talk to me," Marron said softly. "Unless… Kami. I saw your neck. Are you… unable to speak?"

Para swallowed, and was suddenly aware of the painfulness of swallowing. There was definitely some damage in her larynx.

"I can speak. It's good to see you," she said, hoarsely. She could hear and feel the difference in her voice, but she just ignored it and hugged Marron harder. "Thank Dende you're here."

Marron and Para did not know that the affectionate display really was causing everyone around to consider the possibility that Para was one of Marron's daughters from the future. Everyone was eyeing Nyssa and Olive suspiciously, and comparing their appearances to Para.

"Sweetie, what happened to you?" Marron asked softly, giving her a knowing, understanding look. The blonde woman was the only one who knew Para's true identity. This was somehow exactly what Para needed at the moment. She glanced around at all of the people who did not know who she was, and decided to try to play it off as nothing for now. She did not want to cause a scene or get anyone worried. She just wanted to get to bed. She wanted to sleep. She wanted to forget.

"My instant transmission sucks," she croaked. She gave a small self-deprecating smile, "That's all."

"What happened here?" Marron asked, reaching out and touching Para's jaw gingerly. "As far as I heard, everyone in this room had a go at you and no one left a scratch."

Para nodded, again trying to force a smile. "The strongest man in the universe just wiped the floor with me."

"What?" Trunks asked in concern, moving forward. "What happened?"

"I just had a bit of a squabble with this guy," Para said, hating the sound of her cracking voice. She waved her hand in dismissal. "He kind of… uh, crushed my shoulders, and strangled me a tiny bit. Just a tiny bit. Nothing too serious, I'm perfectly fine. These things happen."

Marron studied her friend's face carefully with a frown, as though she could read that there was more Para was hiding. She had never seen Para lie or conceal information, but she knew Pan and Bra well enough to figure Para out easily enough. She studied the bruises a bit more, and swallowed. She could see from the imprint on Para's neck that Zvarin had only used one hand to strangle her. She noticed Para was rubbing her bruised right hand with her left.

"And your hand?" she asked.

Para grimaced, looking down shamefully. "I broke it on his face."

"You fought with him?" Goten asked, with worry in his voice. "Did he attack you?"

Para winced at the memories. She answered in a grating voice, "No. Not really. These bruises are just from him grabbing me… I don't think he actually even meant to hurt me. It was... an accident."

"Oh, sweetie. Your lips are bleeding, too…"

Para moved her hand up to touch her lips. She withdrew her fingers and saw a single drop of blood. She stared at it. She closed her eyes, trying to forget. She just wanted to go to bed and curl up under the blankets for days and days. She needed to just sleep and forget about Zvarin.

"What did he say to you?" Marron asked, as quietly as possible. She yearned to carry on a private conversation with Para, but she knew that saiyan ears could hear every word. It was pointless. "Can you tell us what he wants?"

That's when Para broke. She looked around the room at her friends and family and saw their concerned, confused, and puzzled looks. But mostly she saw the faces of those she loved more than anything. More than life itself. She looked up at Trunks' concerned face, and her insides just shattered.

Then I could murder them right before your eyes, one by one, starting with that little pretty boyfriend of yours, and you wouldn't even care because you wouldn't even remember who he was! Then I would finish with those fathers of yours who are supposedly so strong, but we'll see about that, won't we?

She began to tremble again, and she felt wetness on her cheeks as tears slid from her eyes. Daddy. Trunks... Para found herself wishing she could go to them, and hug them tightly until she felt strong again. But they did not even know her.

Gohan was puzzled by the large watering sapphire eyes which stared at him heartbrokenly. He glanced at Videl who shared a look of confusion with him before he looked back at the distraught young girl on the stairs.

"Is there something I can do to help?" Gohan asked, gently.

Para shook her head before lowering it, and wrapping her arms around herself tightly. She felt tears trickle into her lips, and they brought with them the taste of salt and Zvarin. The metallic alien taste of Zvarin which had lingered on her lips invaded her mouth again, catching a ride with her tears, and the revulsion caused her body to be wracked with a sob. Her shoulders moved jerkily with the sob, and she could hear and feel the crushed bones in them actually cracking. The saiyans in the room could also hear the noises her bones made and glanced at each other, grimacing. She moved both of her hands across her chest to grasp her shoulders as if it would somehow ease the pains or help to keep them together.

Although her body was a mess of pains, nothing bothered her more than the fresh taste of Zvarin on her lips and tongue. He did not taste like a human or saiyan man. His taste was unique, memorable. It was not a bad taste, but because it was his, it was nauseating to her. It tastes a bit coppery… a bit sour and bitter, like tomatoes. The feeling of his lips and body pressed against hers came rushing back.

Para suddenly turned away from Marron and placed a hand on the stairs to brace herself as she felt bile rise in her throat. She felt her body heave with nausea and she placed a hand over her mouth.

"Oh, goodness..." said Chi-Chi softly, raising a hand to her cheek and looking on with sympathy.

Para's crushed shoulders shook with a combination of retching and sobbing, but she managed to just barely control her stomach enough so that she did not actually vomit. The hand that had covered her mouth wiped cold sweat off her forehead before moving to clutch her turbulent, mutinous stomach.

Marron's blood ran cold. She shuddered, watching Para combat her nausea. As far as she knew, fear of an enemy, even the most dreadful fear of the vilest enemy, did not normally result in the urge to vomit. She shut her eyes tightly as her woman's intuition told her what type of encounter Para had just teleported in from. This man must be a special type of enemy…

"Shhh," Marron said, rubbing Para's back. "It's going to be OK, sweetie. You're safe now."

"None of us are safe!" Para whispered, her voice coming out in a ugly rasp. She turned to look at her friend in the eyes, her deep blue pained irises meeting Marron's clear pale ones.

"Can you tell me what he said to you?" Marron asked softly.

Para shook her head violently, and she placed her hands over her ears as though she could still hear Zvarin's speaking, "No. No!"

Marron sighed, and reached out to hug her friend again. Para buried her face into Marron's shoulder and sobbed against her.

"Sweetie," Marron said, rubbing Para's bruised shoulder. She was careful not to use her real name again although she wanted to in order to properly console her. In truth, Marron was terrified to see her friend—her two powerful friends crying like this. She could feel the hopelessness that Para felt. This wasn't petty—this wasn't about Trunks or Goten. The girls didn't cry over the boys, they got even.

This was about war. This was about the enemy that Uub had been worrying about so much that he had been unable to sleep. This was Z-team business. Marron's daughters, Nyssa and Olive, moved closer curiously, watching their mother hold this strange woman they had never seen before.

"How bad is it?" Marron asked softly. She knew everyone could hear her. It was impossible, trying to have a private conversation like this—every word would have to have a double meaning.

"It's horrible. It's so horrible. I can't defeat him. I can't defeat him! No one can..."

"Defeat who? What do you know? How strong is he?" Uub asked aggressively. "Who is…"

Marron held up a finger and shot a firm look at her husband, silencing him. She returned the hand to its previous occupation of soothing Para, and asserted, "There's always a way. We'll get through this. We always have. Uub's been training..."

"It won't be enough! Kami, it won't be enough," Para pulled away from her friend and smashed her fist into the staircase, feeling it crumble beneath her hand. "I'm useless! I trained so hard and I couldn't even move. He has this... mind technique. It puts a force field around me... I couldn't even move."

"Mommy?" Nyssa asked, sucking on her thumb. "Why is the Cinderella princess crying?"

Marron and Para looked at Nyssa in surprise. Para looked down at her ruined ball-gown and thought about how ridiculous she looked. And I nearly vomited in my Cinderella dress. Real classy!

"I read them that story last night," Marron explained with a small smile.

"And she still didn't try on the glass slippers," Olive pointed out.

Para noticed the silver shoes beside her feet for the first time. It felt so ridiculous now, to care about footwear. She forced herself to smile at Nyssa and Olive, and obediently slipped her feet into the silver shoes that Marron had brought for her.

"See, girls? They're a perfect fit!"

"Yaaaayyy!" shouted Nyssa cheerfully, "That means you get to marry the prince!"

Para's smile disappeared. She shivered. She slowly looked around the room, making eye contact with everyone. Her face became deathly serious.

"So why were you crying, Cinderelly?" Nyssa asked again.

"There's a really big monster out there, Nyssa."

"Is he very strong?"

"Very."

"Can my daddy beat him?"

Para looked up at Uub, who was nervously holding Oren and watching her. She didn't have the heart to tell Nyssa that her father wouldn't stand a snowball's chance in hell. Para swallowed, and restraining herself from being overpowered by another onslaught of agony, she simply nodded.

"Sure. If your daddy trains a lot, he should be able to beat him."

"I'll train too," Nyssa said enthusiastically. "I'll train with my sister and my Grandma and we'll be ready to fight the monster too!"

Para glanced at Android 18. The woman's face was expressionless. It snapped Para back to full awareness of the situation. This was a war council, and she was the only one with information. And she was crying and whimpering like a little girl, probably not because Zvarin was impossibly powerful and intended to kill everyone she loved, but because her pride had been damaged from being almost-raped.

Get it together, Para. Get it together. She realized that it had almost been lucky that she had accidentally teleported to Metamora. Now she did have information she could tell the Z-fighters, and she could pretend that it came from knowledge of the future.

"OK. I'm going to be the first to state the obvious," Trunks said, a little bit angrily. "Marron, you know who she is?"

Marron looked up at him. "Yeah. I know who she is. If you want to know the truth, your mother hired me to investigate Medea when you began dating her."

"She did wha—," Trunks began to speak, but he just shook his head and decided to keep quiet.

"I found a few things that didn't add up—for example, Medea had no past at all up until a few weeks ago. I confronted her personally, and she came clean with me."

Marron sent Para a private look that said "I've got your back!" before turning to the others and continuing. "She told me she was from the future, and that she was here to monitor a potential threat to Earth. She said she didn't want to alarm anyone before it was absolutely necessary. I helped her to fake a current driver's license that gave her a more reasonable birth date, and helped her to get a place to stay. She's one of us, and she's here to help us."

Everyone around seemed to be processing this information. Everyone seemed to be accepting and believing it for the first time.

Para looked at her friend appreciatively for corroborating the ridiculous story and conspiring with her as always. The lies seemed so small and foolish now that there was real danger at hand, but she could not exactly back out of them.

Marron glanced at the time, a little bit confused about how long was left in Para's fusion and how much time had passed.

"Let me get this straight," Vegeta spoke, very carefully and angrily as he glared at Para. He held out an accusing finger, pointing at Marron. "You went to HER? You needed to confide in someone about this omnipotent threat to the Universe, and you went to this weakling blonde HUMAN? What can she do? What on Earth does she know about fighting? You're SUPPOSED to go to the head of the Z-team! Someone with power, seniority, and a BRAIN!"

Para slowly rose to her feet then, facing Vegeta squarely in the face and crossing her own arms. She'd had enough. She loved her father, but he had struck one nerve too many.

"Oh, I would have, Vegeta. That was my first thought," she said in her raw, scratchy voice. "I'm travelling back in time because there's danger afoot that we can't face and I need to tell the head of the Z-team immediately! Then it occurred to me that in this time period both Goku and Piccolo are dead."

"Ohhhhhhhhohohoho!" Krillen exclaimed. "BUUUUURRRRRRNNNNNN!"

"Put a sock in it, shrimp-dumpling!" Vegeta spat, as he advanced on Para. He stopped when he stood directly in front of her and crossed his arms. "I told Trunks I would wait at least five minutes after you returned before attacking you and finding out your true strength. It has been far longer than that, and I need my information. Show me your maximum power."

"Is that really important?" she asked tiredly. "Wouldn't you rather know about the enemy? Don't you want to know what he wants?"

"I want to know everything. Starting with your strength. Show it to me."

Para yawned, although it hurt her throat. She yearned for sleep. "I don't think this is the right time for that, Vegeta." She thought about bed; wonderful, peaceful bed. Her three beds. Two beds at Bra's house, and one at Para's own house. All beds were comfy. Any bed would do. Dark curtains. Warm blankets. Safety.

"Then I'll just have to beat it out of you. Let's go. You and me, girl."

"Didn't we do that already?" she groaned, looking up from her position on the stairs. "Didn't it end with you face first in the floor?"

"No, it ended with you running away."

"Oh, that's right. Fine then. Hit me. I'm not running anymore."

"It would be my pleasure. You don't have to invite me twice." Vegeta said this before launching his fist directly into Para's already broken jaw.

Marron gasped, feeling the wind and heat of the impact from sitting so close to Para. "Vegeta, please don't!" The older man growled at her, and Marron moved away from him in a hurry, rushing to stand near Uub and her father.

Bulma winced, having watched the girl go flying up the staircase. She had seen plenty of people fall down the stairs, (usually women trying to induce miscarriages in soap operas) but she had never seen someone fly up the stairs.

"Really, Vegeta," Bulma said angrily, "she's already hurt!"

"And do you think I care about that, woman?" Vegeta said, turning Super Saiyan 2 mid-flight as he pursued his prey. Para was lying limply at the top of the staircase, staring blankly at the ceiling. Vegeta grabbed the girl who was partly his daughter and lifted her limp body up into the air before slamming her down hard onto his knee. Her spine connected with his knee and a loud noise was heard.

"Vegeta, stop hurting her," Goten said angrily, "She's not even fighting back!"

Para turned her head at the sound of Goten's voice, and stared at him through tired, blurry vision. Goten, she thought, as Vegeta yanked her upright and held her by her bruised neck. My Goten. Vegeta proceeded to repeatedly punch Para in the face as he held her firmly in place. Each punch made her head swing until it was at over a 90 degree angle from its natural position. Still, she stared at Goten, with a bittersweet kind of contentment. I thought I would never see you again. I thought I would never hear your voice again. Goten.

Goten could only take so much of watching Para get pummelled. He flew at Vegeta, grabbing his elbow. "Stop it, Vegeta!"

"Get off me, boy!" Vegeta shouted, slamming his elbow into Goten and sending the younger saiyan flying across the room. Growling, he tossed the limp Para back down the stairs.

She went sliding and rolling down half of the staircase before Trunks intervened to catch her. He was angry with her for lying, sure, but he couldn't watch his father abuse her either. He held her gently against him, surprised at how limp she felt and how pained her eyes were.

"Are you alright, Medea?" he asked. "Dammit. I shouldn't have let my dad touch you."

"You are too weak to have any say in the matter, son," Vegeta said before materializing in front of Trunks and ripping Para out of his grasp by her hair. Para felt the pain in her scalp before she felt the heat of a ki ball forming at point blank range with her chest. The ki ball exploded and sent Para hurtling across the ballroom. She crashed into a wall and slid down it, lying in a defeated heap. Sleepy-time, she thought to herself. Daddy's tucked me in and the bed bugs won't bite. So much for war council. No one wants to know about the bad guy. They just want to know about me. I am the bad guy.

"Vegeta, you really need to stop," Gohan said firmly. "You know that this isn't getting us anywhere. She's obviously been through some kind of traumatic…"

"Bullshit," Vegeta said harshly. "Whether she thinks it or not, I am the leader of our team. I think this is helping quite a bit! At least it's helping me let off some steam, anyway."

As he flew after Para, Videl rolled her eyes before addressing Bulma sarcastically. "Does that man of yours ever run out of 'steam?'"

"Only when I want him to get steamy," Bulma muttered in annoyance, earning curious looks from the other women. Android 18 even let out a little snicker which she quickly covered up by acting extra-indifferent.

Krillen cleared his throat as everyone watched Vegeta kicking the girl who was lying motionlessly on the floor. "Guys, this is getting pretty messed up. Someone needs to stop him."

Meanwhile, Para had closed her eyes and just allowed Vegeta to kick the stuffing out of her. I deserve this, she thought to herself while his boot sunk itself into her stomach again and again. I deserve this for lying to them all. We're in the middle of something real, something important, and I chose now to act like a child and make this whole fusion-revenge plan… they need a warrior, not a child. Why am I such a fucking infant?

Opening her eyes a tiny bit, she looked past Vegeta's bulging calves and took in the concerned faces of her families. Her gaze floated specifically to Trunks and Goten. I did it for them, she remembered, allowing a small smile to come to her lips, and a pang of real emotional pain to touch her insides. Because those idiots make me crazy and I love them so! And I'd do it again. Anything to be close to them. Anything to hurt them, and love them and… oh, Kami, I'm so confused. What do I want again?

I want us all to stay alive. But mostly I just want to sleep. I can take a nap right here, can't I? The floor is comfy. A boot connected with her ribcage, forcing the air out of her. More broken bones? This is a bad day. And yet, if Zvarin gets his way—I may look back and consider this a good day. The best of days. I'm in a room filled with my family and friends, and we're spending quality time together. They're even giving me all this attention. I should feel special. But all I want to do is get away from them and find a bed.

"Dad, stop. I mean it," Trunks said angrily. "You've gone too far."

Vegeta did stop kicking then, prompted by Trunks' words and a growing sense of boredom at Para's lack of reaction. Para was drifting off to sleep as she lay there listlessly. In her half-asleep state she saw Zvarin in her mind. She could see his angry face, contorted in rage. She felt his hand on her neck again. Vegeta's yelling confused her mind, and his voice jumbled together with Zvarin's, creating one awful, dominating voice. The images of a nightmare danced across her mind, and although she had forced herself to sleep to forget the experience with Zvarin, it seemed that sleep would not liberate her anytime soon.

"Why aren't you fighting back, girl?" Vegeta growled at the corpse-like body on the floor.

"I think she's just not in the mood to play," Android 18 offered with a shrug.

"Momma," Nyssa exclaimed, "Uncle Veggie killed the Cinderella princess!"

"She's not dead, stupid," Olive told her younger sister with an air of superiority. "Feel her energy. It's exactly the same as before. He barely even hurt her."

"Out of the mouths of babes," Krillen said in surprise. "I hadn't even noticed that she was unhurt!"

"Not on the outside," Marron said softly.

"You're a very clever girl, Olive," Gohan remarked in surprise. "You can sense ki very well."

"My daddy taught me," Olive answered proudly.

"Idiots!" Vegeta yelled. "Stop your babbling! Can't you see how she's toying with me! I'm trying to fight with her and she just goes to sleep. The insolence! I will not tolerate this. I am the Prince of Saiyans, and I deserve respect! You will fight back and show me your true power, girl!"

Vegeta yelled out and transformed to Super Saiyan 4. He didn't stop there, but continued to power up until white energy swirled around him. Para was blown back several meters by the energy, and snapped out of her nightmares by the feel of his power. Although she had only been half-asleep for a few seconds, the seconds had felt like hours. Everything inside of her mind was confusion and din. Sharp pains pierced her brain.

Para sighed, still lying motionlessly. "I'm too tired to do this now, Vegeta. Phooey. I think I might need a drink."

"Uh, we still have plenty of champagne left over from the party, dear," Bulma said. "Would you like some?"

"Yes, please," Para said, turning her head to look at her mother. "I would love a bottle of the good stuff."

"I could use a drink myself, but I've already had too many," Bulma admitted as she headed to one of the various makeshift bars erected throughout the ballroom. As Vegeta continued powering up, Bulma grabbed a bottle and a glass, and walked over to where Para lay on the ground. Her skirts were rustled by the wind of Vegeta's energy, but she ignored it. "Here you go dear… would you like me to pour for you?"

"No, thank you," Para said, groaning and pulling herself off the ground to a seated position, "I'll just drink straight from the bottle."

Using her finger to break the bottleneck instead of undoing the cork, Para allowed the liquid to explode and fizzle out before putting the broken bottle directly to her lips and pouring its contents down her throat.

"Imbecile!" Vegeta shouted, as flames of white energy radiated off him, "How dare you mock me by enjoying a celebratory beverage before our battle has concluded. I'm going to crush you!"

"You're the one 'battling' Vegeta. I didn't ask for this. All I want is sleep." Para finished chugging the contents of the bottle and placed it aside in disappointment. "Alcohol doesn't do much for me, but it was worth a shot. Thanks, Bulma."

"You're welc…" Bulma began, but was interrupted by her own gasp as she watched Vegeta fly towards the girl at full power. "You wouldn't! Vegeta, don't! How can you…"

Vegeta's knee connected with her face, slamming Para back into the wall. She groaned, lifting a hand to her face and wiping the blood away from her probably-broken nose. She cricked her neck from side to side, feeling a tad bit dizzy. First Zvarin, now my daddy. I've really been a bad girl to deserve all this, haven't I? Well, yes, I have, but it's still not fair. It's still not nice to hit a girl. I didn't hurt anyone…

That's right. I lied, but I haven't hurt anyone. Not yet. Trunks and Goten both hurt me emotionally, and I haven't even gotten a chance to strike out at them yet in the same way. Nothing that leaves the kind of lasting impression their hurts did on me. Now I'm getting physically beat on by Zvarin and Vegeta and I didn't make the first strike or even ask for it. But at least… at least right now, if I chose to, I could fight back.

The realization hit Para like a ton of bricks. No, it hit her like several tons of boulders. Or perhaps it hit her with the force of dozens of small asteroids.

The point is that it only just occurred to her that she was no longer neutralized by Zvarin's force field. Her power was no longer inhibited. She didn't have to lie there and take Vegeta's onslaught like a rag doll. She was free from captivity. She had the option of defending herself. And she knew Vegeta's power and skill like the back of her hand: there were no mystical surprises. She knew. She knew who he was, and he did not know who she was. She had a whole arsenal of special attacks she had birthed in the Time Chamber which would catch Vegeta by surprise.

She had the advantage. Her skeletal structure might have been a radiologist's worst nightmare at the moment, but her power did not only originate in her body. Her power was deep inside, in her soul. Her body was just a vehicle, and she could drive it any way she wanted. She did not have to suffer any more physical pain—no! She could instead be the bringer of the pain. She would dish out pain in buckets, in waterfalls, in blinding explosions. She would take the humiliation and helplessness that Zvarin had made her feel, and cast it out of her mind and body—and into Vegeta's. Since he was volunteering, and all. She would let off some of her own steam on him.

And she had a hell of a lot of steam to let off.

"I think I can take you," Para said softly. "Today, I can. Sure, I'm gravely injured already, but today is just one of those days. Here I am, bordering on the cusp of insanity. Probably couldn't do it any other day, but I might be able to today. So why not?"

"What on earth are you rambling about?" Vegeta asked scornfully, "Shut up and fight me."

Vegeta launched an attack aimed directly at her chest, but at the last second she reflexively tried to dodge it. Instead, his fist connected with her already-crushed shoulder. Para screamed, and clutched the shoulder in real pain. Everyone in the room was shocked into speechlessness by Vegeta's brutality.

Para began to laugh. She raised herself to her feet, clutching the shoulder. She laughed harder. She was on the verge of being hysterical.

"Wow, Vegeta," she said, smiling derisively. "Cheap shot, but OK. I'm awake. You've gotten my attention. Of course, you're just an ant compared to the man who just beat the shit out of me a few minutes ago, so don't expect me to be too terrified."

"An ant? You're calling me an ant?" Vegeta roared.

"Yeah," Para said, moving her feet apart into a battle stance. She used her ki to lift her injured arms into form, ignoring the ache in the no-longer functional joints. She was far past the point of caring about her pain. "Compared to Zvarin, we are all little ants. But you don't want to know about him, do you? You want to ignore the real enemy and hurt your already injured ally, right? Cool. Whatever. Happy to oblige."

Vegeta's face broke out into a grin of pleasure. "Finally ready to stand up to me, are you, girl? I'm powered up to full-fledged Super Saiyan 4 and I won't hold back."

"You're going to kill her!" Trunks shouted. "She may be strong, but she can't handle the level you're taking it to. What do you expect her to do?"

Vegeta's head snapped towards his son. "Don't you want to know what she is, boy? What she's made of?"

"I just want her to be alive and unhurt!" Trunks shouted.

"Too late for that," Marron mumbled. "If I was in as much pain as she is, I would be alternating between screaming, passing out, and begging for morphine. She needs to go to the infirmary."

"She's a warrior," Uub said softly, slipping his hand around Marron's waist. Oren was sleeping blissfully nestled against his chest, supported by his other arm. "I am actually with Vegeta on this—I kind of want to know how strong she is."

"You men are just horrible," Chi-Chi said sadly. "That poor girl! She is so tired that she can barely stand on her feet. Let her rest for Kami's sake!"

Para had passed the place where she could fully process or believe any words of kindness or love. She felt like the whole world—the whole universe was against her, and beating her black and blue. She was kind of right. She only knew one thing; she wouldn't allow herself to be destroyed without a hell of a fight. She wouldn't be a scared and broken child anymore. She was, as Uub had pointed out, a warrior.

She was not locked inside a force field any longer. She could move. She could fight.

And she had just gotten her second wind.

"So you want to know, Vegeta?" Para asked gruffly. "Let me show you what I'm made of."

I'm made of you. I'm made of the very best and worst of you. Para turned to the side and spat out a mouthful of blood. "Let's do this. I don't care anymore."

"No! Medea, listen! Don't let him rile you up," Trunks said desperately. "You can barely move your arms! You're half-dead!"

"A little op… opt… optimism please," she said hoarsely, rubbing her sore throat. Her voice had begun to falter in the middle of her speech. "If I'm half-dead that means I'm still half-alive. That's the part that I'm focusing on."

"Please stop this, Vegeta," said Goten firmly, "She's just an innocent girl. She needs to rest."

"Do you doubt my warrior's intuition?" Vegeta asked, growling. "This is serious. She is from the future, and she won't reveal her identity, but I intend to find out how strong she is!"

"And you will," Para said, with a bloody smile. "How delightful. I've always wanted the chance again to match my unrestrained power against the mighty, full-blooded, King of Saiyans."

If he knew who I was he'd take it easy on me. This is actually a pretty great opportunity to really fight him. To fight him and take him down. Not to get myself beaten like I did on Rudeeze. Not to get myself almost-raped like I did on Metamora. To achieve victory over my own dad, on my own planet.

"So are you going to stop talking and staring and start fighting?" Vegeta prompted with an animalistic snarl. He clenched his hands into fists at his sides.

"Yes. It is an honor, Vegeta."

"Hmph," said Vegeta as he dusted off his red fur. The girl was far too respectful and polite—he was trying to be angry with her, but she seemed like a noble fighter. He had contemplated accidentally killing her, but he couldn't bring himself to do so if she behaved so honorably. Like goddamned Kakkarot.

Para's eyes narrowed as she focused on Vegeta's wavelengths of thought. She heard him compare her to her grandfather, and her smile grew. She knew that she would hear every single thought of his, and anticipate his every attack. The gifts passed down from his own bloodline would help her to defeat him.

"Power up to your maximum," demanded Vegeta, "Do it now."

"My maximum?" she asked huskily as a thrill when through her. She could not resist the opportunity. The future was her alibi. She had the fusion-holding jewellery on. She was invincible. She reached up and ran her hands through her hair, dislodging any stray pins that remained from her former up-do. A few more strands of hair tumbled down her back and cascaded to her knees.

"Stop stalling. I'll give you ten minutes to power up," said Vegeta, crossing his arms impatiently. "I won't wait any longer."

"How generous," responded Para, "But I only need three seconds."

She held up her hand and walked forward to him slowly, counting on her fingers.

"One..."

She raised her index finger and transformed to Super Saiyan as she took a step forward, causing gasps from around the room.

"Two..."

She took another step forward, raising a second finger, and transforming to Super Saiyan 2 instantly. Exclamations of disbelief were heard. She thought she might die from rush it gave her, the natural high.

"Three!"

She held up a third finger before clenching her fist and exhaling evenly as her hair grew out and pooled around itself on the ground. Parts of her dress ripped open as her muscles bulged, but it held together just enough to stay on. Her power level exploded as she laughed ecstatically.

She had finally gotten to show her family her Super Saiyan 3 achievement. And their expressions were priceless. Three seconds before the transformation occurred they had thought she was a normal human. It was rich! In Uub's arms, the little baby Oren woke up from where he had been peacefully sleeping through the fight. Oren began to scream and bawl. Uub rocked his son gently, knowing that Oren had sensed the unfamiliar girl's power.

"Shit," said Gohan.

Para blinked in surprise to hear her father swear, and wagged one of her fingers, "Tsk, tsk. Gohan I thought you never swore."

"Medea, you're a saiyan!" exclaimed Goten, "But I thought you said your family was from England!"

"Good Dende," Trunks was saying softly, "good Dende."

"Her new pair of shoes just disintegrated," Chi-Chi pointed out.

"Marron," remarked Uub with a chuckle, "If she's one of YOUR kids from the future then you've been cheating on me. Because she just went Super Saiyan."

"Oh, shut up," mumbled Marron. Great job, girls. Way to go and ruin the alibi I carefully constructed for you!

"Either that or Eighteen cheated on me," suggested Krillen thoughtfully, "And maybe Marron has been a saiyan all along! How could we really know if she doesn't train?"

"Now, there's an idea," said Android 18. "My girl a closet Super Saiyan. Her hair could turn from blonde to, er… blonder."

"I shouldn't have gotten myself involved in this," Marron muttered.

Vegeta, however, had been rendered speechless. He was flabbergasted. He had expected power, but this girl... this young girl had achieved the transformation it had taken him a lifetime to achieve, and she had transformed in seconds! Without seeming to be affected by the energy output! He had never seen a female turn Super Saiyan 3 before, and he was thunderstruck.

"Impossible," he said simply.

"And yet here I am," she answered, walking up to him and standing before him brazenly. The power rushed through her veins, and she wanted to scream. She needed to unleash it. "Fight me, Vegeta! Isn't that what you wanted?"

Vegeta studied the dark blazes in her eyes. He had not expected her to be a saiyan, much less such an advanced saiyan. There was no special way that he could have gathered this— no special scent or any other distinctive attribute to distinguish human from saiyan. When he had first laid eyes on Mirai Trunks, he had had no clue in hell what the boy was, and had thought him to be an enemy more formidable than Frieza. He had not been able to recognize his own son, his own flesh and blood—back then, the concept that he would ever have a child was even more foreign than the boy looked. He had had no clue how it was that the stranger could go Super Saiyan. He didn't know why anything should surprise him any longer.

Having spent several minutes sensing the depths of her energy, he lowered his head. He ran a hand through his spiky black hair. "Girl, from how far in the future are you?"

"I can't tell."

"You are saiyan. Are you my descendant or Kakkarot's?"

"I can't tell you that!" she said with a frown. "I could be neither of yours. Random surviving saiyans have been known to occasionally pop up everywhere."

"No, you're too powerful to be anything but one of our descendants," Vegeta said, shaking his head. "Your level three power level is immense! You're nearly as powerful as I am at Super Saiyan 4 at level three! And level three is a very difficult stage to maintain, I hardly ever fight in it."

"Why are we talking so much?" Para asked, almost sneering. "I powered up because you requested it. You wanted a fight. I have a whole lot of energy I would like to use for the divine purpose of kicking your ass. Work with me here, Prince."

"If you're this powerful you must be the daughter of Trunks and Pan," asserted Vegeta.

"Ah…" Para felt her face instantly flush with heat at the thought of having a child with Trunks. She twitched and stuttered, "Uh... I..."

Everyone in the room misunderstood her stutter, and took it for fact.

"Shit," said Gohan again.

"Dende," said Videl quietly.

"YES!" shouted Bulma, dancing around cheerfully. "Who wants some champagne?"

"NO," Trunks shouted, "NO WAY! That's disgusting, I've been dating her! I couldn't possibly be her father! Tell them, Medea! Besides, I plan to give my kids saiyan names, not Greek names!"

Para was still flushed at the accusation, "Nice try, Vegeta. I'm not revealing any more information about myself."

She flicked her hair behind her impatiently, hitting the ground like a massive stone whip, and causing a dent in the ballroom floor, "Are we going to fight or not?"

Her anger was mounting. Her energy was causing her whole body to shake. I need this fight, Para thought. I need something I can control.

"No," said Vegeta then, powering down to his regular state abruptly, "I have seen what I needed to see."

"WHAT? Do not do this to me!" Para shouted desperately. Energy cackled around her in tiny lightning bolts. "You asked me to power up to fight with you! I can't stop now. I have to fight. I need to fight. Please!"

Vegeta stared at her then, for the first time actually seeing the condition that she was in. He saw the bruises on her skin—although her skin was now stretched over her engorged Super Saiyan 3 muscles. He saw the horrible handprint-shaped bruise on her neck. He realized that none of his attacks had done much damage to her, other than giving her a bloody nose. Most of her injuries had occurred before this battle. In the hours that she had been gone from the planet, she had been through some kind of horrible mutilation. The others had tried to tell him this, but he had been so absorbed in his own curiosity that he had been unable to listen. The girl had encountered the most powerful man in the whole universe, someone far stronger than Vegeta, and he had evidently been extremely abusive to her. She had just returned from hell. He remembered what that was like.

And now she wanted to take it out on him. If she fought with him now, she would not be fighting for sport—it would be for vengeance on the one who had wronged her. She would be imagining someone other than Vegeta at the end of her attacks. It would be the energy of pure emotion driving her, not her physical skill. She would be unable to fully exercise her physical skill. Although she was being respectful, he could see the fire of hurt in her eyes. Controlled hurt and channelled rage.

"No." He shook his head. "I cannot engage in battle with you while you are in this condition."

"Why the hell not, Vegeta? Do not deny me this! You started it! What kind of unfair and unusual torture are you trying to put me through?"

"If we were to fight now, you would win this battle. Consider my withdrawal as surrender."

"Surrender?" she whispered.

"Something very malignant has just happened to you, and you are in a heightened state of… emotional disturbance," Vegeta explained. He wanted to say psychosis, or lunacy, but he did not think he should venture that far. "You are in the prime condition for battle. You would destroy me, unless you made any kind of foolish mistake. I might have to wait hours, or even days for that to happen. I don't think it would."

"Please," she said brokenly. "No… I'm fine—very calm, really." She urged herself to just fly at him and begin the fight, but she felt somehow rooted to her position. The experience with Zvarin had sucked the aggression out of her. She had power within her, but she was too afraid to use it. She knew that she could use it in self-defence now that she had decided to do so, but she needed to be attacked more in order to bring out her ferocity.

"It is no longer important for us to fight," Vegeta admitted. "You're more powerful than I imagined. We would be deadlocked in combat for far too long, and that is not essential right now. You have given me the information that I needed about your capacities. I know how difficult it would be to hurt you. I have a vague idea of how strong the being who hurt you like this must have been. Now, it is important that you tell me everything you can about the man who fought you tonight. Tell me about him, and tell me about what he does in the future."

"I can't," Para said, struggling to hold on to her composure. "I can't think about that right now. I prepared myself for the fight you requested. I think I deserve for you to finish what you started. This isn't fair to me, Vegeta. Please…"

"No."

"We could make it interesting… I could only use my hair," Para suggested. She used her snakelike coil of hair to whip out at the floor just in front of Vegeta, causing a large crack to form in the ground between his legs. She saw that Vegeta was surprised by her control of her spiky long golden hair, and she smiled. "I have many more cool tricks to show you. Aren't you tempted to continue the fight?"

"No. Power down, girl," he commanded.

Para suddenly realized that Vegeta was ordering her around in much the same manner that Zvarin had. The kind undertone of his voice completely slipped past her. She had obeyed his instruction to power up because he had goaded her into it with a beating and taunting. Now she had been issued another order. She was his puppet.

It didn't matter how powerful she was. She was helpless. Vegeta had pretty much stated that she was almost just as strong as he was, and yet she did not feel satisfied to have his respect or recognition—the things she had sought from this man for both of her entire lives. What did it matter how powerful she was? She was still his subject to order around, just as Zvarin had done. Forcefield or no forcefield, she did not belong to herself. She was a minion. A pathetic little girl; the pawn of these men of royalty. She had achieved Super Saiyan 3, pushed herself to the limit to do it, and it meant nothing.

Para had not realized that she had powered down with these thoughts, and fallen to her knees. As the ancestral energy of Super Saiyan 3 slipped away, the otherworldly glow of her soul disappeared, and along with it, several significant morsels of her sanity.

"Yes, King Vegeta. I have dutifully obeyed you," she said scathingly from her position on the ground. Her body began to shake again. When the power had drained from her, it had taken everything in her along with it. Including her purpose. Including the glue which had been holding the fragile pieces of her heart together.

Para learned that even as a single, unified being, it was still possible to feel fragmented and torn apart. Even as a superpowered alliance, she could still feel defeated and helpless. She looked up at her father through tearful eyes. "What else would you like me to do? Would you like me to dance for you? Sing a song? I must warn you, I have trouble staying on key."

Vegeta sighed, seeing the state that she was in. He could see her losing her grip on reality because of whatever trauma she had experienced. He had known trauma, and he knew exactly what kind of dark place she was in. As he stared at her small hunched form, he felt pity rise in him. The girl had treated him with respect, and he had hurt her. No one showed him so much respect unless they were family. Or related to Goku, and by extension, a sort of family. He knew by instinct that whatever his relationship in the future was to this girl, they had some connection. She was something to him. He decided that she deserved something of an apology.

"Girl, forgive me for hounding you. I just needed to know," Vegeta said, almost gently. Gently for him.

"Wonderful. Now you know. Do I get a fucking cookie?" Para's voice box was so crushed from Zvarin's strangling that she was beginning to lose her voice altogether. Parts of her sentences were completely inaudible, and her curse word was even naturally censored by her damaged larynx.

"Little ears can hear you," Marron reminded her from across the room quietly. Seeing that the statement went directly over her head, Marron frowned. She turned to Trunks with an angry glare. "Are you going to get over there and console your girlfriend?"

"My girlfr…" Trunks sucked in a breath, his chest expanding. The whole situation had just been one shock after another. He couldn't believe that the woman he had been intimate with—the kind sweet woman he had grown to care for—was a Super Saiyan with more power than he himself had. He had had sex with a woman and he hadn't even known that she was a saiyan. Not just any saiyan, but one that could achieve level three.

"Trunks," Bulma said softly, snapping him out of his daze. He nodded, and following Marron and his mother's urging, moved over to the shaking girl with the gruesome bruises.

Trunks crouched down beside her, and placed his hand on her back gently. He tried to think of something to say. "Gee, Medea… I think I probably should have taken out insurance on that dress or something. I guess there are just some days that you oughtta wear armor instead of a crystal-encrusted ball gown, but who can tell these things in advance, right?"

Para turned to stare blankly at Trunks, hardly registering who he was. She blinked at him for several moments before looking down at herself.

"Oh, no," she whispered. "No, no no. The crystals are all gone. My beautiful dress is ruined."

"It's not a big deal. Don't worry... we'll just get you a new one," Trunks assured her.

Para had begun to claw at her dress desperately, her nails raking at the shards of fabric stretched across her stomach. She began to mumble in a low voice that no one could hear. Even Trunks could barely pick up pieces of her soft speech, with her failing voice box.

"No... there are holes everywhere. Bullet holes... fire holes. It's all destroyed. The dress... everything in it. All that I can do... isn't anything. Trunks... why did you... why did you ever... I need to sleep. Trunks... just... bury me... in this dress. Bury me... so I can sleep."

"Medea?" he asked, in confusion and concern.

Para placed her head in her hands.

She remembered that the gown was supposed to have been her wedding dress to Goten. It was another stab in the heart of the feeble remains of their relationship. She had lost Goten forever. She had lost Trunks forever. She felt even further away from her family now that she was in the same room as them. The universe had wedged itself directly between her and her loved ones. That same universe was expanding at a rate of millions of miles per second, and she could feel it. She could feel the dark expanses building.

She felt so far away from herself. The truth was that the vast vacuum had cleaved her in half somehow. Even though she was made up of two merged girls who cared for each other deeply, she felt like she couldn't grasp the ghosts of who she used to be. She was disappearing.

Trunks stared at her, knowing that she was in pain. He didn't quite understand why, or what had happened to her, but he could see that her body was extremely injured. He wanted to comfort her, but he felt hesitant doing so in front of all of his family and friends. He felt hesitant doing so at all, not knowing who she was, or why she had lied to him. He decided to take a chance on his heart and his intuition.

Slipping his arms around her, he pulled her head against his chest and held her. He rested his chin on her head and just held her close for a moment.

Para didn't quite notice at first, but eventually his scent worked its way into her senses. She was inhaling the scent of the man she loved, and she could feel his arms around her, infusing her with his strength. She heard the beat of his heart through his chest. A normal saiyan heartbeat, she thought to herself, filling with elation. I'm home. I'm really at home. I'm in his arms. This is my favourite place in the universe. She turned into his chest and buried her face into his warmth. This is where I belong… the safest place…

Her eyes snapped open, and she pulled away from Trunks abruptly. No, not safe at all. He cheated on me. I loved him and he cheated on me. I'm not safe anywhere. Men are there for hurting and pain. Fathers, brothers, lovers, kings—they're all there just to hurt me. It's OK. I can deal with it. I can just run away from here. I can go to sleep.

Just then a thought belonging to Trunks seeped into her mind through her telepathy: Who is she? She looks at me with such passion… but how can I trust her or love her if I don't know who she is?

Who am I? she thought to herself. Good question. I hardly know yet. I guess we'll find out.

"Thanks," she said, suddenly using a professional tone as she pulled herself off the ground. "I was just a bit sore, that's all. Your dad beat me up pretty good."

Trunks looked at her doubtfully as she tried to sound chipper and cool after obviously having gone through a very emotional experience.

Vegeta grunted. "Sure, girl. Who do you think you are fooling?"

"You may have broken a few of my ribs," Para said with forced cheerfulness, "along with my nose. Like seriously, ouch."

"I can only hope that you are my descendant," Vegeta grumbled, "And I hope that the kids will stop their petty squabbles and get around to creating you. I'm not getting any younger."

Vegeta moved closer to Para, staring into her eyes curiously, "Tell me, are you Bra's child? Come to think of it, you do remind me of my daughter. Are you my daughter's daughter?"

Para frowned and abruptly turned around. She began walking away to avoid scrutiny, "Stop asking questions, Veg..."

"YOU!" Vegeta had turned to Goten and pointed at him angrily, "RETARD! If this is my Super Saiyan 3 grandkid, you had better go and find Bra IMMEDIATELY and apologize for whatever dickhead thing you did to her. I command you to beg on your knees for her forgiveness, and then have LOTS of unprotected sex with her so you can make me some DAMNED SUPER SAIYAN 3 GRANDCHILDREN."

A funny noise escaped Para's throat before she stumbled over her own feet and fell over.

Goten began to twitch violently, "Medea... you're not my daughter are you? I mean... that would be great but it's just..."

"NO!" Para pulled herself off the ground angrily, "Look, I have some important information about a potential enemy, but if you guys are all going to just stand there and gossip about who my potential parents are then I'M LEAVING and the EARTH CAN ROT for all I care."

She took to the air and tried to blast through the door indignantly, but Gohan materialized in front of her.

He spoke softly, "Will you at least tell me what you know, privately? When Trunks came back to us from the future he only spoke to one person: that was my father. He couldn't tell any of us that he was the son of Bulma and Vegeta, because who would have believed him? Only my dad and Piccolo knew, and they told us about the Android attack and that we would need to train hard for several years. Do you think today I can be the one that you trust?"

Gohan's eyes were hot chocolate on a cold winter's day.

With little marshmallows floating in them, and a sprinkle of chocolate flakes. Para remembered her father making hot chocolate for her when she was younger. It was a strange memory to have at a moment like this, but it softened her hard expression.

"Yes, Gohan," Para said, softly. "I would like to tell you about Zvarin."

"Zvarin, is that his name?" Gohan asked.

"Yes," Para answered, nodding. "Can we go somewhere private to discuss this? This room is giving me a headache."

"Hey, sister. You aren't going anywhere private with my husband!" screamed Videl. The human woman powered up, ready for a fight regardless of the fact that she'd just seen Para reach Super Saiyan 3. "I don't care if at some point in the future Gohan and I split up, or I die and you have a thing with my husband… right now he's MINE, got it?"

"No!" said Para in shock, moving away from Gohan and lifting her hands up in innocence. "That will NEVER happen, Videl! You two are the happiest couple I know, even in the future! Forever!"

"Oh," said Videl, slightly reassured. She placed her hands on her lips and cocked her head to the side. "Well, that's nice. So why are you so eager to kidnap my husband away into a dark candlelit room with soft music playing in it and massage oils and chocolate sauce and whipped cream and edible underwear?"

"VIDEL!" Gohan shouted, becoming very red in the face. "Gosh darn it, Videl! Why do you have to mention the edible underwear?"

Various giggles erupted throughout the room, although Nyssa and Olive looked at each other in confusion.

"Erghhhhh," Para groaned, covering her ears in horror at the secrets from her parents' bedroom. "I think this really has been the worst day of my life."

"So you agree to speak to him about the dangers we are going to face and not me?" Vegeta asked, obviously insulted.

"In the future, Gohan is my teacher," Para lied. "He taught me most of what I know about fighting."

"Really, that bookworm?" scoffed Vegeta. "He's so lazy that I train his daughter more than he does. Who are you that Gohan trains you? You must be his granddaughter. Or maybe he has another child? Can Videl still get pregnant?"

It was Videl's turn to have her face turn beet red, "Shut the fuck up, Vegeta! That's none of your business."

"Little ears," Marron reminded her with a sigh.

"But it doesn't make sense that a younger sister of Pan's would be stronger than her," Vegeta continued, "In saiyan families the first child is always the strongest. Well, except for Raditz..."

"Forget this," said Para in exasperation, turning to leave again. Gohan stopped her once more.

"I don't care who you," he said gently. "Whether we're related or not, I want to know what's bothering you, and how I can help you."

Her face softened at Gohan's gentleness. She turned back to see everyone advancing on her, and standing by, patiently waiting for her to speak. She remembered that she actually loved these people, and cared about more than just concealing her identity.

"There's a reason that Gohan trained me," she began to fabricate. "You see, Vegeta dies very early in the upcoming battle. Isn't that classic? He just rushes in and gets himself killed. You have no idea what it did to his family. Bra was never the same again. So don't do that, Vegeta! I'm begging you. Don't rush into battle recklessly."

Vegeta seemed to take this seriously into consideration. He swallowed and nodded. Bulma moved to his side and slipped her hands around his arm, laying her head on his shoulder.

"This seems very familiar," Bulma said softly. "I guess it's good to know. We can change the future now, like we did the last time we heard those words."

Para bit her lip, feeling horrible about the lies. But if she could somehow help her family stay alive, then the lies were worth it.

"King Zvarin has extraordinary mental powers. They're his mainstay, but he has great physical strength too," she explained, bringing a hand up to rub her neck subconsciously.

"What does he want?" Krillen asked. "What's his shtick? Global domination, destruction, or a vendetta against saiyans?"

"He, uh…" Para moved a hand to her stomach, feeling bile rise in her throat again. He wants me. He wants me to be his bride. "All of the above. He called himself a conqueror. King of the Seven Galaxies, and he's going to be coming here in two or three years to fight and conquer us."

"Over my dead body!" Vegeta said vehemently. Everyone immediately turned to look at him reproachfully.

"See, Vegeta? That's the kind of talk that gets you…"

"It was figurative!" he stammered. "It was goddamned figurative."

"Uh huh," said Para. She suddenly found she was enjoying creating this future of warnings. She turned to Uub. "You need to train your mystical powers, Uub. You fused with Majin Buu, so you should have some of his magic—maybe you could learn to bring that out a little more."

"What, turn people into candy?" Uub asked in confusion.

"It's just a suggestion. You cannot rely on your physical strength alone in this upcoming battle," Para said cryptically.

Marron rolled her eyes. She was the only one that knew that Para was talking out of her ass. Well—mostly. She knew that Para had seen Zvarin up close and personal, and that was certainly something.

"What does this bad guy look like?" Goten asked.

"He's like… seven feet tall," Para said, holding her hands straight up to indicate Zvarin's size. "I might be exaggerating, because his presence makes him seem taller. He has this suave, sophisticated manner about him… but he is just…"

She shuddered, "He is just awful! Not awful looking—he's rather handsome. Shiny forest green hair…"

"Oooh, like Zarbon!" Bulma exclaimed. "Now wasn't Zarbon a cutie? I wouldn't mind another hottie villain for a change."

Vegeta cleared his throat and Bulma quickly corrected herself, "Uhm, of course Zarbon was not nearly as hot as Vegeta-possessed-by-Baby, wow! Now that was a handsome villain."

"This is serious," Para said softly, "Zvarin is extremely intelligent. He already knows all about us. Hhh… hhe…ee…"

"Are you alright?" Goten asked her with concern.

She tried to talk, but her voice would no longer work. She brought a hand up to her throat and rubbed it angrily. "Zva…rr…"

Zvarin wasn't always this powerful, she communicated telepathically into the minds of everyone around her all at once, bypassing the fact that she had lost her voice. He only recently began to use… uh, mystical forces… to augment his strength.

"What kind of mystical forces?" Trunks asked.

Para considered telling them about fusion, but she found she could not say (or think) the word to them. She did not want them to be even considering the idea of fusion. I'm not sure. Some religious ceremonial thing or something of the sort. He mentioned monks.

"You need to rest, maybe spend some time in the rejuvenation chamber," Bulma suggested. "Once you get your voice back you can tell us everything. (Including what kind of spaceship you used to travel here.) Three years is plenty of time to prepare for this guy! Together we'll find a way to defeat your evil king—even if I have to build a machine that takes everyone to Super Saiyan 5 in order to do it! Let's take you to the infirmary, dear."

Thank you, Bulma, but don't worry about the rejuvenation tank. I have a better idea, Para communicated to her mother, and into everyone else's minds as well. There's someone I need to see and talk to. I am going to go and try to find him. I think you should all just go home and get some rest. Marron, your girls look exhausted.

"Am not!" Nyssa argued while yawning loudly. "I'm wide awake!"

Para smiled. Sorry I ruined the party. If anyone needs me, just call or buzz me telepathically or come by my place. Trunks, Goten, and Marron know where it is. Para turned to leave.

"Medea, dear, don't forget your earrings!" Chi-Chi exclaimed. "You said they were rentals, you'll have to return them."

Para turned to Chi-Chi in surprise. She moved her hands up to her ears self-consciously. How would she explain the new jewellery?

Thank you, Chi-Chi. I had almost forgotten, she admitted, as she retrieved them. A thought suddenly struck her. Para removed the new katchin earrings she wore and stared at them in her palm.

I picked up some new ones while I was on Zvarin's planet, she explained, holding them out. Would you like to have them, Chi-Chi?

Great. She's a thief too! Krillen thought to himself. I knew she was bad news! Anyone with that much hair is bad news!

Chi-Chi, however was peering very closely at the earrings. "They're beautiful, Medea. What are they made of?"

A metal that isn't found anywhere on Earth, Para answered.

Gohan was significantly intrigued, and he adjusted his glasses. "No… that can't be…"

Yes, Gohan, Para answered. It's katchin. The same metal that you broke the Z-sword on.

"But it can't be cut!" Gohan exclaimed.

Apparently it can be, Para answered, but I don't know how. Maybe you can figure it out. I'll see you all later.

"Are you sure you don't want to spend some time in the infirmary?" Trunks asked. "It won't take long to heal your injuries."

No, I'll be fine. We'll catch up later, Trunks… if you still feel like seeing me.

"I do. I might need some time to think, but I do," Trunks said to her. "Take care of yourself."

She smiled and turned to fly out the window. As she left, Goten shouted after her, "Hey Medea! About those free weekly training sessions I've been giving you... well, I QUIT!"

---

Is that all you can remember, child?

She nodded, her eyes closed blissfully. The warmth and love in the hands which tenderly rested upon her shoulders so sharply contrasted with the Zvarin's touch that she wanted to cry, kneel, and pray in gratitude, while begging for forgiveness.

But her God wasn't that type of God.

Is it my fault, Dende? she asked him with her mind.

No, child, it is not, he answered firmly.

Is it some kind of punishment for my wanting revenge? she asked, with worry. Is this karma kicking my ass?

That is not exactly the way the world works, Para, he answered.

She felt deeply pleased to be called by her true name. To be known for who she truly was. The young saiyan woman sat cross legged opposite her deep green-skinned Namekian guardian. They were in the garden of the Lookout.

Revenge is a natural yearning, as natural as love itself, he explained. You were only being yourself, and living your life in the way you chose. It is a valid pursuit. A valid purpose.

Para sighed. I have begun to wonder about my purpose. All I seem to be made for is fighting and causing harm. I only feel alive when I'm about to enter into combat of some sort. I really wanted to hurt Zvarin and Vegeta. It made me feel so empty when Vegeta decided not to fight. But most of all... I still really want to hurt Trunks and Goten. When Trunks held me today, I felt such a rush of love and safety, but then when I quickly remembered that it was all just an illusion, all of my anger returned in full force... even more than before. I wish I could let go and move on, but I can't. I need to be... avenged. What does that make of me?

I know you are concerned with being a good person. Dende moved one of his healing hands to rest on her cheek briefly. Do not be so ashamed of yourself and of your desires. Trust that every feeling you have is truth, and the way you react to the world around you is natural. We can all be no more than natural. I know you want to cause harm to those you love; do not worry. Inflicting negative emotion is quite different from inflicting negative bodily harm, or wanting to take a person's life.

I did take a person's life, Dende. Para looked down at the floor in embarrassment. I killed that woman that I saw Trunks with, remember?

There is darkness in all of us. You were so angry that you blacked out and let the rage take over. You stepped outside yourself for a moment. However, you regained control and reason. You should forgive yourself.

I don't know if I can. What happened today—there were moments when I just didn't have the will to fight back, and I just felt like I deserved the beating I was getting as punishment for my lies and transgressions.

If you feel so much guilt about your actions, why don't you stop them, Para?

I can't stop now. It's too late to not follow through with this. I only just found what I've been looking for all along: a way to stay fused!

About this fusion-keeping jewellery of yours… well, I'm sure you remember my earlier warning. Dende looked at her with concern. Are you sure you want to be Para, and not Pan and Bra? If you wear the jewellery too long, you may not be able to go back…

It's really difficult to be Pan and Bra. I don't feel as strong when I'm separate. Life is not as easy.

I just want you to be happy, child.

Today it was even hard to be Para. I cried like a baby in front of everyone. She sighed at the memory. I don't want to stay fused FOREVER… just for a little while longer. I can't let go of it yet.

As she spoke, she found herself clenching her hands into fists and rubbing her thumbs over the katchin rings on her index fingers. She had never worn rings on her index fingers, and it was a strange sensation.

Your throat and jaw should be healed, now, Para. You should be able to speak again, Dende told her, removing his glowing hands from her throat.

"Thank you," she said, testing her voice, and smiling. "I rather liked talking in telepathy—it was nice and quiet. Gosh, Dende. I really wish I could have accidentally teleported to a safe planet. Namek would have been nice. I could have hung out with your friends and family and get caught up on the news… but no."

"It was a great boon for the Earth that you made the mistake that you did, Para. It almost seems like it might have been a sort of destiny. A gift of divine origin. This could be our advantage, the very thing to tip the scales in our favor and help us to save the world. This knowledge you have presented me with will prove invaluable in the dark days to come."

"Yes, but I'll be wondering all the while if I invited the dark days over for the all-you-can-eat-holiday-dinner-buffet-of-misery at my place."

"Don't be silly," Dende said with a grin. "The greatest evils always find the Earth somehow. It's always an Earthling who must extinguish them. And even if you kill or almost kill someone out in space, chances are he'll be reconstructed as a robot with cybernetic enhancements, or brought back to life through the raising of hell, and find his way to party on Earth somehow. It's not your fault. We're just important like that."

"Or cursed like that!" Para said with a small laugh. "This time, maybe cursed by me."

Dende took Para's broken hand in his, and began to heal the bones there. "It is not wrong to be a less than perfect person. My child, I am not a perfect guardian. Try as I may, I cannot love you as much as I love all the other Earthlings under my care."

Para looked up in surprise.

Dende smiled, "I love you much, much more. Your father was my childhood friend, and he helped to save my people. Your other father killed many of my people, but I watched him slowly change over the years. I love him more than I probably should as well. You can deny who you are as much as Vegeta can deny who he is. And you know there is a great deal of Vegeta in you. And a great deal of Gohan. You are a magnificent little culmination of the best of life forms."

"Gee, thanks!" she said, unable to keep from smiling. "I just… I really hate the thought that I might be disappointing you, Dende."

"Disappointing me? You have been entertaining me, child. I've even tried to help a little," he said, giving her a sly wink.

"Help? How?"

"In my own little way, I have tried to keep your loved ones from learning the truth of who you are."

"Really?" she gasped.

"I shouldn't meddle, but it's really far too delightful not to!"

Para could not restrain herself from a full bodied laugh. She clutched at her broken ribs as she shook from humor at Dende's confession.

Dende moved his hands to her ribcage to heal the wounds. "I told you, Trunks and Goten were the worst rascals possible when they were boys. They destroyed the Lookout I can't tell you how many times—and drove poor Mr. Popo up the wall. It's rather nice to see them getting the short end of the stick for a change, and having to deal with cleaning up their own messes."

"Dende…" Para said softly. "I forgot to mention that Zvarin has a mental power that allows him to look in on any one of us for up to five minutes. Do you think that there's any… any way we can erect a psychic firewall of sorts to block him from doing this? If he can see everything that happens on Earth for the next three years then we have no chance of defeating him."

"That's a very good point and interesting idea, Para. I will see what I can do—it might be easier to block specific people from Zvarin's access than to block the whole planet. That way if you went to train on other planets, he still couldn't see you…"

"If you need my help… if I can help at all, I would be happy to try. I don't have too much in the way of mystic power, but I suppose I have some. The mind reading and the dreams and such…"

"You have much more potential than you even realize," he told her. "I will call on you if I need your assistance. You are fully healed Para. "

"Thank you, Dende."

"No, thank you—for giving me a good laugh earlier when you declared you were from the future." He chuckled in remembrance.

"They probably would have figured it out if it wasn't for you leading them away from the truth," she said thankfully.

"No, by no means! You're quite the skilful liar," he said.

"A noble trait I'm sure," she said. "I should probably get back home… in addition to jonesing for my bed, I'm dying to change out of this tattered dress and into something clean and… not tattered."

"Oh, I can help with that too," Dende offered. He reached out and a glow surrounded her for a moment before her dress was returned to its original glory.

She squealed, and launched herself forward to throw her arms around the guardian. "Oh my god! You fixed my dress!"

"Yep," he said cheerfully hugging her back, "I'm your god and I fixed your dress!"

She laughed, running her fingers over the Swarovski crystals. "You're a darling! I still think I should change out of this, though. So far it seriously seems like it only has given me the worst of luck."

"You humans and your little superstitions about luck," Dende said, curiously. "So interesting. I'm pushing five decades here and I still don't understand it."

Para and Dende said their goodbyes and hugged again before Para flew off the Lookout. She had been up all night, and the sun was now rising on the horizon. She flew towards it, making joyful loops in the air.

She had been healed. Her broken bones had all been healed, but more importantly, she also felt that her soul had been healed from the trauma of feeling violated by Zvarin.

She had known that Dende would be able to give that to her.

And best of all, Dende had healed her dress.

She flew through the open sky, tilting her face to allow the first rays of sunlight to wash over it. The crisp breeze from her flight rustled her long indigo locks. She felt like laughing and shouting, so she did. She had looked the devil in the face, spat on him, and lived to talk about it.

And she was one person. A new, whole person.

"I'm alive!" she shouted into the empty sky jubilantly. The regular sunrise of a common earth morning had never seemed so glorious to her. She felt euphoria wash over her with unrestrained laughter. She threw her head back and shouted, "I am born!"

---

I had a bit more I wanted to squeeze into this chapter, but I just had to end it there. It was such a positive note (even if there might have been a hint of insanity in it) that I couldn't add more to bring you guys back down. I mean, how often do I end on a positive note? (Like, never.)

Thanks to Maggie for helping me look over this chapter. =)

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Mucho thankies to the following folks:

Zi-Dawg: Your review was the first one I received on the last chapter, and it really reassured me that I hadn't screwed up too much. I was really on the fence on whether I should include the almost rape, but your review made me feel like I made a good decision. Lol, I am so glad you think the idea of using katchin makes sense. Also, I love your comments on Zvarin probably being mega fucked-up considering Para's personality. Thanks a bunch, and I hope you continue to enjoy it!

Marie Fortune: I'm so glad that you like the OC! I know, I normally hate them too. It's really tough to get them just right.

Anmylica: I'm really sorry that it took so long! I know you wanted this sooner, but this was the best I could manage. Thanks for all your support as always, and for recommending me to a friend. I can't wait to hear what you think of this chappy! Oh—there was a part that I've been telling you about forever which was supposed to be in this chapter which I unfortunately had to push to the next chapter. Ugh, it's taking forever to get to all the things I have planned. This story is going to be so super epic by the time I'm done with it!

LNCrow: Thanks for your review! Regarding her ripping of the jewellery and killing him, hehe, I couldn't! Zvarin can't be disposed of so easily. For one thing, it took me way too long to think of his name to kill him off so quickly. Lol. =)

kitty: Good point, I guess it is technically rape by most standards. I was really worried that the experience wasn't bad enough to warrant her over-emotional and somewhat crazy state in this chapter… but at least I can fall back on fusion rings to explain that if anything!

ArialChaos: You're right of course, he's a Zarbon prototype. I just wanted a DBZ-looking character and figured I could make his personality original from there. Your clone idea is really original and I actually hadn't thought of that at all. The idea of making Zvarin more powerful is pretty scary. I honestly don't exactly know how I'm going to have them defeat him. I mean, if they're going to defeat him! There's still the option of Zvarin winning and killing everyone, right? *cough* Sure, like anyone believes I'll do that!

You're right about the galaxy thing— that there are supposed to only be four. I've changed the normal "galaxy" to "quadrant" and basically made it so Zvarin is talking about sections of his quadrant when he talks about galaxies. It just makes their universe seem bigger. =)

Thanks for wishing me well with my goals! I love your reviews, they're so well-thought out and encouraging.

SSJ-Pan-chan: Thanks for your review! Hope you liked this chapter as well. =)

KayuraK: Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Your review literally makes me jump up and down with glee, and do a little victory dance. Every time I read it! "Zvarin is a very malevolent villain and well written with a great balance of intelligence, wit, arrogance, with a very healthy dose of tyrannical God complex. In short a better and more believable villain than most you'll find in canon." This is extremely high praise, and I can't thank you enough for the motivation it gives me, and the confidence. I especially take it to heart because I feel like Zvarin is actually my baby—anyone can write an already created character well, but creating one from scratch is a bit tougher. I'm so glad I didn't do a terrible job of it!

famoso: Your words are so very kind and motivating. I can't tell you how much they mean to me! You said, "I really don't see why you don't have any books published." Reading that made me so happy. The reason I don't have any books published is because I've been insecure, scared, and lazy. But just reading all these positive, encouraging reviews is changing that and making me feel more confident. So thank you soooo much for leaving such thoughtful feedback! I did spend a lot of time working on my original fiction in the past month since I published the last chapter, and I hope that I will have a book published very soon. =) I only hope people like my original fiction as much as my fanfiction.

faggismcgorpis: Thank you, thank you! Hope you liked it.

hot4dbz: Looolll, your review was hilarious! "Uub scared that an enemy is here and she thinks he wants SEX?" Lolololol. I think you were the only one to mention that. When I imagine Uub and Marron and their married life, I remember this old English teacher of mine from high school—she was a little old white lady, and she used to talk ALL the time about her sex life with her husband (who was this huge black guy, lol.) They were SO much in love, and it was adorable—she made us read Othello and said it reminded her of her life and her parents. Yet when she started talking about her sex life it was a bit too much detail, lol. She even told us her favourite position was doggy-style. What kind of teacher says that? Oh, right. An English teacher.

You're right about Para losing her mind, lol. I actually wanted her to be more attracted to Zvarin, but I changed my mind as I wrote it. I didn't intend for him to almost-rape her, that just happened by accident. She was supposed to be kind-of seduced initially!

Omg, you made me laugh: "I bet if he was unfused and his normal self I could kick his ass myself." Yeah, I think you could definitely kick normal Zvarin's ass! Hehehe.

Your reviews are all so memorable and wonderful! Thank you! Hmmm, in answer to your question on when everyone will realize who Para is… you just have to wait and see! Now we know Dende is helping the girls to cover up! I promise that it will be REALLY AMAZING AND INTENSE when it happens! It better be, I've been planning this moment like all year, lol. Hope you enjoyed this chappy!

KarinKurosakiHitsugaya913: Thanks for your review! Hehe, it was really far away and she was in a rush to get away, so I thought it was best for her to transport to Gohan and Vegeta who are the strongest signals on earth. =D Hope you like it!

kickstartmyhart: Thank you for the lovely review! Your guesses about Chi-Chi are pretty good. You're figuring me out completely here! Yes, Pan and Bra definitely need to do the best they can with regard to training in three years. And I have to cover a huge amount of time in the story, lol. A Para/Gotenks fusion would be unstoppable, but you're right—I see both Para and Gotenks as being too arrogant to consider that option. Both of them are way more arrogant than Vegeta when he didn't want to fuse with Goku. Vegeta was like a shy teenage girl who was trying to pretend she didn't want to have sex with her boyfriend in the car at the make-out spot every time Goku mentioned fusion. "NO WAY KAKKAROT! I'M NOT THAT KIND OF GAL! Oh… really, it'll make me super strong and feel really nice? Well... ok… but please be gentle, it's my first time."

Sorry, that's probably the meanest thing I've ever said about Vegeta. I hope it makes someone laugh, at least. I like what you said about Pan and Bra being unafraid of death when it comes to protecting their family. I tried to be consistent with their characters that way when they lied about Vegeta dying early in the battle to scare him into being careful. =)

Anyway, I really hope you like this one! Thanks for the AWESOME review!

Talk Smith Kid: Hey you! I'm so glad you like the idea of the longer fuse! ^-^ Man, I had to do it—there are so many great opportunities for things that can happen now between Para and the boys. Sorry for the long delay. The reason I'm taking time to work on my original work in between chapters is because a full novel is only 50K words. This story is already the size of five whole novels, lol! While I think that we're slightly past the halfway point in this story, I know that it's probably going to be months and months before I finish it. Also, I'm not looking to rush it, because I REALLY enjoy writing it. So I figure I can write a couple novels in between chapters, and begin to make some money from writing while I continue to work on TMTH in my spare time. =) I'm sorry if it's selfish, I really wish I could just work on this until the end too, but I really need to be a big girl and manage my time so that some of it is profitable! I hope you understand. This story is still VERY near to my heart and I won't abandon it for years like I did to Loud Silence unless some unforeseen disaster happens. But I live in Canada, so we're pretty safe from terrorism and violence or any danger conceivable, so I should remain alive to work on it. =) Thanks for your review as always, hope you liked this one!

PaintedinAllColors: Awwwww! I LOVE your enthusiasm! Hehehe, you're so silly. You wrote: "Anywayz, ya know what would be really funny? If Zvarin landed on Earth, and Yamcha was there, and then Yamcha jumps him cuz Zvarin's the hottest thing he's ever seen, and cuz Yamcha ain't getting any. And I can imagine the look on Zvarin's face, and Vegeta would be all 'I so knew he was gay.' Just wanted to share that thought~!" LOOOOLLLL! I've gotta say, the Zvarin/Yamcha coupling hadn't exactly crossed my mind, but now that you've mentioned it, I might give it some consideration. Lol, I'm smiling so huge that my cheeks hurt. I think that Zvarin would probably dust Yamcha in some creative way before Yamcha could touch him… but the idea is still wicked, lol. Thanks for the awesome, HILARIOUS review!

Aeolus07: Thanks for your review! And thanks for mentioning the "ONE. OF. EACH." ice-cream situation! I was really fond of that moment because I swear, I spent forever trying to get something that sounded similar enough to make that work (the Peach/Each thingy) and I thought it was brilliant but no one commented on it! Lol. I am so glad you're enjoying the story, hope you keep reading! I'd love it if you kept letting me know what you think of it!

Leecassi: Hi you! Thanks for reviewing. I'm so glad you liked the last chapter! I really appreciate your feedback on the B/V because they aren't my strongest couple. I think I tend to go WAY overboard on Vegeta, but I really try to get it right. God! Vegeta and Bulma are like the most amazing couple ever. There are a million ways to imagine their private lives. THANK YOU for your comments on Marron! I really like her to be a "supporting actress" type figure to the girls instead of an extra enemy. Omg, I'm so glad you find Zvarin terrifying. I really worked hard on developing his character, so I'm really happy that it's turning out well.

I love your reviews, thank you so much for taking the time to write one! I hope that you are feeling better now from whatever ails you. =) Sickness sucks. Wishing you all the best!

mali86: Hehehe. You said, "ZVARIN IS A REALLY AWESOME CHARACTER BUT I REALLY HOPE HE GETS KNOCKED AROUND A BIT LOL" and I am here to assure you that he certainly will! =D

Silver Shiko: I loved your commentary on Zvarin! You said he was "drunk with power" and had "way too much testosterone in there to be stable." I really like it! Hehe, it's great to get feedback on the character I made up, I feel so proud. ^-^ Hmmm, I find it interesting that you think the girls are even! I don't think they are yet, because they haven't really caused the guys to feel the same way they did. Maybe you're right. Basically, Zvarin interrupted their whole scheme… I wonder if they will lose finesse or motivation for revenge now that they have other larger things to worry about? Why am I asking questions when I am supposed to know what's going to happen? Lol! Or do I? Hehehe. I change so many things as I go along, but I hope they're for the better. Thanks for your awesome feedback!

Suzki: You're totally right about Marron. I hope you liked what I did with her here! Also, you're right that Para was way too stubborn with Zvarin and if she had been more submissive she might have gotten away without injuries and such… but that's just not who she is. Don't worry, I won't lose motivation for this story! I have to do other things at the same time, but I'm still as excited about it as the day I begun it. =)

panny-chan731: Haha, I'm glad you like the story! Thanks for sharing your favourite parts, lol! Para spanking Goten! I had completely forgotten about that. XD And Vegeta thinking about Para's boobs… hehe, those are really random situations! Thanks for your feedback!

nite-fire: Thanks for your review! I'm so glad you are enjoying the story! Hope you keep reading. ^-

PannyChanBriefs: You are wonderful. Thank you for your amazing feedback! I'm glad you found the "doctor" parts suspenseful, because I wasn't too sure about that and didn't get much feedback on it. I am not scared of needles either! But the thought of someone being able to snap his fingers and make me unconscious… ERGH, CREEPY!

I really understand your need for more Trunks. He has this whole damned soliloquy with a spotlight on him that was supposed to be in this chapter but unfortunately I had to push it to the next chapter, along with the Para/Trunks action. Please forgive meeee! I have moments too where I'm reading or watching something, and I'm just like—goddammit! Get back to the main couple, I want to see them kiss and makeup and have intimate awesome moments! But the truth is, if the whole book/show was all about that, it would eventually get boring. As a writer I can exercise the discipline needed to anticipate the romance, but as a reader or watcher I find it difficult not to flip ahead or just search for those specific couple-y parts, which I feel terrible for. This is why I try so hard to keep the in-between parts interesting too.

Thank you again for your super mood and ego-boosting review, and also for your Facebook messages! I really, really love knowing how you feel about the story so far and where you'd like it to go. =)

Xxsnow-pixiexX: I can't believe you skipped classes to read my story! Lol, very naughty. It is rare that people skip school to do reading—I am extremely honoured that it was my writing you chose to read while you were being delinquent, hehe. Thanks for the lovely review and I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy! Can't wait to hear what you think of this one!

gina31486: Hi, thanks for your feedback! You're right; it does seen bad on Pan and Bra to not be there for the perceived threat. That's why I had someone suggest that maybe whatever they were using to hide their ki also hid everyone else's ki from them. Also, that's why I included Dende's little role in this chapter. I hope it seems believable that they wouldn't have been found out.

I really like what you said about putting up with crap from family—you're right, I'm going to have to count on that big time in the end if I want to achieve any sort of forgiveness. It's going to be a toughie. I might even have to pull out all the stops, for example an "I saved the world therefore please forgive me for being annoying" type thing. We'll see how it goes! Thanks again for reviewing, and I hope you liked this one too!

lisa3000: Thank you for your review! Glad you like it so far!

panny-chan731: Aww, I hope you enjoyed this chappy! Let me know what you think! Hehe, best wishes.

Arian: Congrats on your promotion! It sounds like your life is super busy and hectic, hope you're hanging in there. I'm so happy you got a chance to leave me a review! I always enjoy hearing what you think; I do not have a lot of male readers, so I really value your perspective. I loved how you described the "inner struggle of Para between her love for Goten and Trunks and her saiyan attraction to power"—that's way better than even I could have phrased it. I can almost PROMISE you Para/Gotenks action will happen, lol. I am wayyyyy wayyyy too excited about that, hahaha. Don't worry, I will never give up on this fic! I'm invested in it 100%, even while I'm doing other things I still think of it. I am so so so grateful for your support and feedback—thanks for staying with me! I hope that my writing continues to give you all kinds of emotions. =)

Ann: Thanks for your review! I hope you enjoy the chappy. Let me know what you think!

Anonymous: Thanks for your review! I am really glad you liked Zvarin. Hope you enjoyed this chappy!

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Let's see... when shall I update?

I should be able to publish by the end of November. The Christmas season is coming up and I tend to get all sentimental and want to hang out with my friends more and sing songs... but I'm going to stick with my rhythm of publishing once a month, mandatory. Besides, who needs friends when you can have readers? Awesome, awesome readers!

Love you all! Feel free to talk to me on FB!