The Taming of the Saiyan
By Romania Black
Ah, another chapter! Hooray! School started for me today...it was alright...a little what I expected of college, and a little not! LOL!
Anyway, this is another long chapter! How are you liking the long chapters? If you want them shorter, tell me and I'll shorten em! It's your guy's suggestions that inspire me the most! Seriously! Well, I guess I'll let you all get on with the story then!
Reviews:
Witch of Erie Knoll: Ha ha ha...I always love funny reviews, and this is no exception! It's good to know that I'm not the only one that gets writer's block! I DO blame the end of summer for that one! LOL, thanks! Wow, I've never painted a wall an awkward color like that before...but it sounded like something those two would do! Ha ha ha, Vegeta is awesome to write about, and his attitude is so easy for me to nail! I love it! LOL, I gotta read some of your fics, it sounds like! Thanks for the review, and hope this chapter is great too!
Sinful Sakura: Vegeta cute when he screams? LOL, better not tell him that! 00 Bra did get what she had coming to her, and she gets some more of it in this chapter too! We'll see more about Marron in this chapter as well, and those dreams would creep me out too! Thanks so much for the review! Enjoy the chapter!
Kumori Ookami: Yay! I'm glad everyone's loving how Vegeta was in the last Chapter! Yayness! Of course Bulma is the only one who can control him! LOL, how ironic is that? I'm so happy last chapter was one of your favorites! That's awesome! I hope you like this one just as much if not more! Thanks SO much for the review too! I'll try and update as soon as I can!
I love you guys so much! I look forward to every review and comment each time I submit a chapter (don't we all?) I'm eternally grateful for all the support you guys have given me and I hope you've been enjoying the story thus far! Thanks A MILLION you guys! YOU ROCK! ALL OF YOU!
Enjoy the Story!
Romania Black
Chapter Twenty-One: Day Five, Obstacles
Why do I feel guilty about this? It's not like I did anything bad...she was going to find out anyway...What am I saying? I blabbed our secret and that's all there is to it! Geez...I'm so STUPID...
Pan paced back and forth in her room, her hand on her forehead, looking half nauseous, half enraged. She hadn't been able to fall asleep yet, and it was already one O' Clock in the morning. She couldn't do it. The guilt of telling her and Trunks' secret to his mother made her feel so much guilt, she couldn't get it off her. She ran a clammy hand through her dark raven hair, I'm so stupid...what a childish--
"Panny?" The voice from the doorway scared the young Demi-Saiyan half to death. It was Videl. "What on earth are you doing up still?"
The young girl felt suddenly embarassed, "Uh, can't sleep."
Videl yawned, tugging at her light blue nightgown, "Why not?"
Pan felt her cheeks burning, "I...I don't know," She lied. Videl cocked her head to the side, obviously knowing she was lying.
"Well," Videl paused, yawning again, "Try to sleep will you? I can hear you pacing down the hall..." Her voice trailed off.
"Okay, mom," Pan finally nodded, seeing the tired look in her mother's eyes, "I'll try to go to sleep." For you and dad's sake anyway...
Her mother nodded, starting down the hall, half asleep already, "Thanks, hun. I appreciate--" Her voice disappeared as the door to their room shut.
Pan finally willed herself to climb into her bed. Pulling the lavender covers up to her shoulders, she draped her arms over the tops of them and promised to herself that she'd apologize to Trunks in the morning. She only hoped he'd forgive her for telling his secret.
Trunks opened his eyes and immediately felt the pounding of his head smash a wave of pain across him. He hated waking up with a headache; it was almost more torturous than his father beating him to a pulp in the training chamber, which at this moment he would have preferred greatly.
Stumbling out of bed, one hand on the banister of the bed, the other on his throbbing temples, he slowly crept to the kitchen.
As he walked into the kitchen, squinting in the sharp harsh lighting of the room, he noticed his mother scooping eggs onto three plates; the fourth was empty. Trunks figured that Bra was hiding in her room and refusing to eat. Not that he could blame her; he'd had to tell her last night she couldn't talk to Uub anymore. She had practically crumpled to the ground, he'd never seen her so weak before. He was going to ask his mother if Bra was going to eat with them, but thought better of it. If he said something, she'd probably send him to go get her, and he was sure if she saw him again within the next few days, she'd most likely try and kill him.
After placing a slice of toast on the plates she set them on the table. Vegeta was already at the table, looking impatient and in no mood for talking. Trunks, already in pain and in no way wanting to tick off his father, sat beside the Saiyan and picked up the morning paper, hoping to take his mind off the current pain it was in.
Vegeta didn't say anything to his son, merely glanced at him, but his mother saw him and spoke up.
"Morning," She said almost vaguely. She sat on the other side of Vegeta, staring blankly at her plate. Trunks had never seen his mother like this.
"Uh...good morning," Trunks replied, in slight shock of his mother's unexpressive attitude. What's up with her?
Vegeta looked down at his plate and a unsatisfied look cast over his face, "Is this it?" He nudged the plate. It was obvious he'd expected more.
Bulma didn't answer him though, and a sudden stern look replaced her vague stare. Trunks suddenly realized she was upset with Vegeta. Rather than answer him, she turned her attention to her plate and scarfed down a bite of eggs. Vegeta stared wide-eyed in anger. Trunks decided that this was going to be a bad morning from the start.
"Well, woman?" Vegeta now held the plate next to his wife's face, "Is this all we're eating? Toasted bread and some crushed poultry offspring--"
"Vegeta," Bulma said in such a harsh whisper that Trunks nearly dropped his newspaper in surprise. Vegeta stopped talking in an instant, "If you want something else to eat, you can fix it yourself! I'm not your servant!" Her tone had a large bit of grouchiness to it. Her husband raised his eyebrows in disbelief.
"What did you say?" His voice was suddenly cold, but in a whisper. Trunks tried to raise the newspaper so only his eyes peeked over the top of it, trying not to be noticed.
"Don't try and play dumb with me, Vegeta!" Bulma burst out, her eyes on fire, egg crumbles spilling across the table. She banged her fist on the table and pointed a long finger at her husband, who stared at her as if she'd gone insane. Trunks had a similar look on his face as well. "You know what this is about!" She pointed to the egg pieces that were scattered across the table.
"Have you gone mad, woman?" Vegeta said, and to Trunks' surprise there was a hint of what could pass as fear for Vegeta...more nervousness than anything, but there was still an ounce of fear in his voice. The young Demi-Saiyan usually didn't understand how his father could be so obedient and scared at all of a woman like Bulma, but at moments like this, he seemed to comprehend his father's feelings a little bit better.
"Why are you keeping them apart?" Bulma snapped, her eyes boring straight at Vegeta, "Do you like making people feel miserable?"
Suddenly Vegeta's fear vanished; he realized she was referring to him keeping Uub and Bra separated. Trunks calmed down a little as well, though he wasn't sure why. The Saiyan Prince smirked,
"Oh, is that what this is about?" He playfully, or as playfully as Vegeta could, placed the weight of his head on his wrist.
"Of course it is," Bulma replied angrily, "Bra has every right to date whoever she wishes--"
"So you say," The Saiyan snorted, "That trash isn't nearly good enough for my daughter--"
"She thinks so," Bulma interrupted, "It's obvious that she loves hi--"
"Don't even suggest it," Vegeta growled, "She's obviously playing with him to get something out of him--"
"Well then let her play with him!" The desperation in Bulma's voice was becoming more apparent. "Please, just long enough so I can have myself at least one grandchild--" She broke off and seemed to see that her son was in the room with them for the first time. Trunks figured she'd obviously forgotten he was there during her huge rant. Bulma gave Trunks a sharp glare, "No thanks to you, son!"
Figures, Trunks thought as he slowly lowered the newspaper, I always get drug into this somehow... "What does this have to do with me?"
"If you'd just settle down with someone--" Bulma started, fully geared up for a head on lecture on how the boy should be moved out and with someone, preferably a woman, having kids and raising a family, but was interrupted by a well known sound in the Briefs household.
RINGGGGGGG!
RINGGGGGGG!
"Good Lord, who is it this time in the morning?" Bulma asked herself out loud, frustration laced in her voice. She ran to go get the phone, leaving her husband and son at the egg covered table.
Trunks let out a relieved sigh, glad someone had saved him from the lecture his mother was about to have unleashed upon him. He looked over to his father, who was scooping up the eggs on his plate. Vegeta had decided he might as well eat his wife's cooking, because he sure as Hell wasn't making his own breakfast.
Imagine it, Vegeta thought in slight humiliation, The Saiyan Prince cooking his own meal...and breakfast at that? It's plain embarrassing to even think of! He gobbled down the plate of food, wondering why he put up with this. He glanced over at his son, who was trying not to stare, his focus back on his paper. Oh...I guess that's why...The Saiyan thought as his eyes narrowed.
"Yes?" Bulma answered the phone, her voice suddenly more hospitable and friendly. "Oh, hi Videl!" She said cheerfully, turning her back to Trunks and Vegeta.
"I swear she talks to that woman too much," Vegeta murmured, mostly to himself, but loud enough for Trunks to hear him.
"Sure she can come over," Bulma's face lit up and a sly grin formed on it, "No, no, we weren't doing anything--"
"When do we ever?" Vegeta mumbled a little louder than before. Trunks smiled from behind his newspaper.
"Yes, she can come over! Has she ate anything yet? Uh huh...yeah...That's not a problem! We were just having breakfast--"
"If you call this crap a meal," Vegeta said louder, no longer a mumble. Trunks let out a chuckle as he saw Bulma give him a dirty look, pressing her hand over the phone and giving him the shut-the-heck-up look. The Prince simply smirked.
"Don't worry about it," Bulma said to the phone, lifting her hand off of it, "I'll whip up some bacon and cinnamon rolls and she can have some of those--"
"WHAT?" Vegeta exclaimed, twisting around to see his wife, disbelief etched onto his face, "YOU DON'T FIX US A DAMN THING TO EAT, BUT SHE GETS A WHOLE F-----!"
WHAM!
Vegeta was silenced in a second by the thrashing of the frying pan that was in Bulma's hand. She had whacked it across his head and shut him up in a split moment. The Saiyan Prince clutched his head in rage and pain, but didn't dare say anything, lest she take the demonic household appliance and slam it against his skull again.
"What? Oh, it was Vegeta," She shot him a triumphantly evil look as she set the frying pan back by the stove, "He's such a grouch in the morning..." She said, the sweetness and friendly tone returning to her voice as she carried on her conversation.
Vegeta saw his wife's triumphant look out of the corner of his eye, his had buried in his hands, as if they alone could stop the pounding the pain was submitting onto his head. Damn stupid frying pan, Vegeta stared at it as if it was the most evil thing he'd ever seen, Why I even let that stupid wife of Kakarot bring that thing over is beyond me...Curse you, woman...
Trunks watched his father sit in his chair in slight pain, as he slowly turned a page in his newspaper. He knew that the frying pan that Bulma used now and again on the two of them was a gift from Chi Chi. He'd never seen Chi Chi use it on Goten, but the stories he'd heard about it from the young Demi-Saiyan himself made the wife of Goku seem like a formidable foe to be sure. His mother had used it on him before, and he knew that despite it's small irrelevant appearance, the cooking utensil was certainly a force to reckon with in the Brief's household.
"Alright, send her on over whenever she's ready. That's fine, thanks for calling, Videl! Okay, bye!" Bulma hung up the phone and rested it on the counter, giving the frying pan one last satisfying look.
She walked back to the table and took her seat again, cleaning up the bits of egg scattered across the table. She gave her son a sharp stare,
"That was Videl. Pan's coming over shortly," She said bluntly. It was obvious she was still upset with him.
Trunks cocked his head to the side; this was unexpected. "What's she coming over for?"
"I don't know," Bulma said with a small frown, "Just go upstairs and at least put a shirt on." She stared at Trunks' bare chest and then pointed toward the stairs. "At least an everyday shirt or something."
"Okay," Trunks did not feel like getting whacked with an iron frying pan this morning. He dropped his paper and walked up the stairs slightly faster than usual. Bulma turned and stared at her husband.
"Now, Pan's going to eat breakfast here with us this morning, and I want you to at least try and be civilized," She gave him a stern stare.
"I am civilized!" Vegeta objected. Usually...
"Well, your highness, last time Pan was here you ended up giving her a black eye and a busted nose, and I had to explain to Videl and Gohan that it was just an accident!" Bulma glared at Vegeta, her voice seething.
"It was an accident!" Vegeta retorted, then a twisted smile lit up his face, "Her face accidentally collided with my fist."
"Could you at least try not to hurt her this time?" Bulma asked desperately, "No sparring." She added quickly.
Vegeta let out a big huff, he couldn't believe she'd actually told him 'no sparring.' He was about to object when he saw the frying pan out of the corner of his eye. He also saw that Bulma was looking at it too. Deciding not to get another knot on his head, he simply nodded his head with slight defiance and finished his toast.
"Okay," Goten said yawning, "Today is the day we learn to fly," He couldn't believe he was actually a little tired still. He'd fell asleep fairly early, but of course, Goten had figured out that whenever he went to sleep earlier than usual, he often felt more tired in the morning after. How odd...the Demi-Saiyan thought, gazing at Marron.
The young blonde didn't say any reply to Goten's statement; in fact, she wasn't even looking at him. She hadn't slept a wink the night before, her mind constantly filling with images of her drowing in the darkness of the ocean everytime she closed her eyes. It showed that she hadn't slept either; there were slightly darkened circles under her eyes. She looked up soberly to Goten,
"What did you say?" She asked with slight confusion.
"Uh, I said that today is the day we're going to learn to fly," Goten couldn't believe she hadn't heard him. "Is that right?"
"Oh!" Marron realized what he was saying, "Yeah, that's right," She pulled back her blonde hair, which was hanging down onto her shoulders, "I'm sorry, Goten...I'm just tired still..."
"Couldn't sleep?" Goten asked with a smile, seeing the circles under her eyes.
Marron nodded, "Is it that obvious?"
"A little," Goten patted her on the shoulder and smiled, "It's alright. This will wake you up!"
"Wha--?" Before she could finish Goten lifted her up off her feet and carried her bridal style into the air. Marron shut her eyes tightly and whimpered, "Goten, what are you doing?"
"We're going to our practice area," The Demi-Saiyan smiled slyly. To this Marron opened her eyes but forced them to stare only at Goten's face.
"What?" She didn't like the way that sounded.
Goten didn't answer immediately, but held her closer, her light blue sweater rubbing against his yellow and green shirt bearing the logo SON GOTEN on it. He finally looked down at her and grinned, "You need to practice flying somewhere with a little more room..."
"Are you sure?" Marron looked queasy, "Because I thought the island was perfectly fine--"
"No, we need to practice somewhere...higher," Goten looked off into the distance.
"Higher?" Marron squeaked. She did NOT like this idea at all. Images from her dream started to come into her mind, but she pushed them back. It's alright...I'm alright...you can do this, girl...it's probably just a little clearing with a nice ledge...a small plateau...maybe he's just joking around...
But as the clouds parted, Marron saw that Goten was doing anything but joking. She gazed in horror as they started to descend towards the small mountain island. It was just a spit of land with a small volcano-looking mountain on it. The mountain had a small formation of rock that jutted out of it's top and looked like a plank on a pirate's ship overlooking the ocean that had to have been a thousand feet below it. Marron felt her intestines twist into a pretzel.
"Goten, is that...is that where we're practicing?" She stammered.
The Demi-Saiyan nodded with a slight smile, "Perfect, isn't it?"
"Uhhhh," Marron couldn't think of any reply. PERFECT! Is he insane? That's not a small plateau! That's a volcano mountain that's a thousand feet high! "So are we going to practice flying up to the mountain?" She said, a little anxiousness in her voice.
"Actually, I was thinking of flying from the top of the mountain to the ground," Goten admitted, blushing slightly.
"WHAT?" Marron burst out, causing Goten to stumble in midair, but he held on to her tightly, "Are you insane?" That's it! He's officially crazy! There's no way I'm going to do that! NO WAY!
"Aww, come on," Goten said in a slightly childish tone, as they descended towards the top of the mountain. "It's perfectly safe up here--"
"Safe? It's a VOLCANO, Goten!" She exploded. She couldn't believe they weren't on the island at this second.
"Oh, it's been inactive forever," He replied calmly, as they landed on the dark grayish brown soil of the top of the mountain. "Trust me, it's safe."
But Marron did not look convinced at all. Since when did he become a volcano expert anyway? She thought angrily as she moved from him. Goten gave a small sigh; he'd been afraid this would happen.
"Goten, I...I can't practice up here," Images from her dream were starting to make their way back into her brain as she struggled to drive them out.
"Why not?" Goten's face suddenly became sterner, "You're the one that wanted to learn to fly, right?"
"Well, yes," Marron admitted.
"You're the one that was all for it, and have gone through every step prior to this, right?"
"Yes, Goten, but--"
"No 'buts', Marron!" Goten gripped her shoulder and squeezed it firmly, causing Marron to look directly at him. "You wanted to learn to fly and you're so close," His dark eyes met with her blue eyes and he smiled, "You're so close, why quit now?"
As she looked into his eyes, her fear seemed to subside, "You're right Goten," She said softly, "I was being stupid--"
"It's okay that you're afraid of heights, Marron," Goten smiled sweetly, "There's nothing stupid about it."
"Goten," She wanted to do something, kiss him, hug him, hold him, something. Instead she nodded her head and smiled, "I want to learn to fly."
"Alright, great!" Goten smiled and his face lit up and he grabbed her hand and ushered her beside him. "Then let's start, okay?" He let her have her space and then pointed to his feet. "Now, we're going to use that energy that we have been learning to control and center it under us, okay?"
"You mean push it underneath me?" Marron asked curiosly.
"That's the idea," Goten smiled, "If it works, you should be able to push yourself off the ground using it."
Marron nodded, amazed at the concept. That doesn't sound too hard...
She closed her eyes and felt the energy bright and blue inside her, burning brilliantly in her mind. She took her hands and held them straight down, fingers spread apart wide. Drawing the engery towards her hands, she used all of her will to make it circulate from her palm to her legs. She could feel the energy straining to get to her feet. Then, it started to flow easier. Marron could taste the sweat in her mouth as she forced her energy to her feet. Every particle of her willing the power to lift her up off the groung. Come on...you can do it...come on...
Goten watched her with anticipation and slight anxiety. Your so close, Marron...a little further...
Marron's mind seemed to be almost blinded by the blue light that was careening through her. She didn't dare open her eyes though, lest she lose concentration. She sat in the light for a moment longer, still trying to force the energy to lift her up, but she didn't feel any different. After a moment, however, she did feel one thing: lighter.
Goten smiled broadly as the wind picked up a little and the dust flew across him. He saw out of the blurred vision from the dust a small pair of blue shoes rising off the ground. He couldn't help but laugh; You did it Marron!
She heard laughter, and for a second her heart fell. I knew I couldn't do it... but then she heard a distant voice that was calling out to her,
"Don't stop now, Marron! You're doing it! You're off the ground!"
It was Goten's voice. Involuntarily, she opened her eyes and saw why she'd barely heard him.
Goten wasn't next to her anymore. In fact, Marron wasn't next to anyone or anything anymore. She had levitated herself over Goten's head and was now floating higher into the sky, her feet dangling under her, a cool wind blowing through her hair.
I can't believe this! Marron screamed in her mind"GOTEN! I DID IT! I'M FLYING!"
Goten decided to not remind Marron she was actually just levitating at the moment. He laughed and squinted his eyes to see her in the rising morning sun, "That's amazing Marron! I've never seen someone learn so fast!"
"Except you of course!" Marron shouted back, looking around her. She was level with the tops of the scarce trees that were growing on the Volcano's rim. This is amazing! I have to be--what?--two, maybe three hundred feet up?
It was at this moment that she realized she was starting to rise higher, and wasn't stopping. A slight wave of nervousness broke onto her face as she tried to will herself to stop where she was. While she was trying to do so, her eyes managed to sneak a glance out towards the ocean. That's when it happened.
She suddenly felt her stomach drop to her feet. There were the waves. The black, crushing, terrifying waves from her dream, and she was directly above them now. Terror seized her, and she felt her limbs shaking in the wind, which now seemed a lot colder. The images from her nightmare filled her mind, and subconsciously she felt her lungs weighing down, as if they were full of water. She choked on the wind and lost her concentration entirely.
"OH NO! GOTEN!" She screamed as the energy that had lifted her up left her. She felt the weightlessness of her body, as a horrible wave of nausea swept over her, and she felt like she was going down the first hill of a roller coaster, only without any restraints and the sight of the ground speeding towards her so fast...
She was instantly stopped by Goten's arms, who caught her and held her firmly in his grasp. He held her in his arms, her feet draped over his left arm in the bridal style he'd brought her there in. He gently caressed his cheek against hers,
"It's alright, Marron. You just fell...it's all right," He whispered gently, as he felt tears rolling off her cheek and staining his. He lifted his head up as she sobbed into his chest. You're with me now, Marron...it's going to be okay, was what he wanted to say, but it wouldn't come out right.
"Oh--oh Goten," She cried, tears freely falling from her face, "I couldn't stop...and then the ocean...I had a nightmare...drowning..."
"It's all right, you're on the ground now. You're safe," Goten suddenly made the connection as to why she hadn't gotten any sleep the night before. "Did you have these nightmares recently?"
"Y--yes," She stammered, "They were awful," She said with teary eyes as she tried not to remember too much of them, "They were real though, they really happened!" She sobbed loudly again. Goten sighed sadly, as he sat down, with her still in his arms.
"The only way to get this off your chest is to tell me your dreams. What happened in them?" He figured the sooner she told him, the better for her.
"We were on the beach," She choked, "I was four, maybe five? Dad flew me up into the air with him...and...then this plane zoomed by," Her voice got angrier for a moment, then sadder, "The only thing I really remember was falling...towards the ocean...Oh, Goten, I would have drowned!" She bawled into his chest.
Goten had no idea this had ever happened. He stroked her soft blonde hair gently with the hand that was holding her head.
"But Krillin saved you, right?" He had hoped that's what happened anyway.
"Yes," She said somberly, "But I remember as we were leaving the beach that day...mom said something..." Her voice trailed off.
"What did she say?" Goten lifted her head up so that her nose was almost touching his chin. She stared at him with tear streaked cheeks.
Marron's eyes watered, "She said I would never be able to fly...I'd be too weak to!" She let out a small sob. Goten stared at her and then a smile burst onto his face. Marron gave him a confused glance, "What is it?"
"Don't you see?" He said softly, "You've already proved her wrong!"
"What?" Marron blinked.
"You were floating in the air, Marron! That's the closest thing to flying there is! If you'd known how to stop rising," He paused and blushed, "Which I probably should have taught you to begin with," His eyes strayed away for a moment, then returned to her face, "You would have been flying!"
"But--but--"
"You can fly, Marron!" Goten gripped her shoulders as they rose to their feet. "You just need to overcome your fear of heights and that dream."
"But it really happened--"
"You said you were four or five, right? Well, you're a lot older than that and a lot stronger now! You can do this Marron!" He stopped and stared into her eyes, "I know you can do this."
She stared at his dark brown eyes and saw the truth they held in them, "You do?"
"One-hundred-percent," He replied, smiling that Goku-like smile.
Marron and Goten stared at each other for a moment, and it was obvious what Marron wanted to do. She leaned forward and wrapped her hand across the back of his neck and planted a soft loving kiss on his cheek. She smiled, her face blushing slightly. "Thanks, Goten."
Goten smiled, his face a little redder, "Not a problem. Now," He looked around, "Today, you," He pointed to Marron, "Are going to fly. Understand?"
"Yes," She smiled back, ready to try again, her tears dried and her heart now filled with an emotion it had been lacking of in particular earlier.
"All right, let's try this again, and this time," He smirked, looking slightly embarrassed, "I'll teach you how to stop in the air."
Trunks managed to find a decent looking teal shirt and came back downstairs, quickly moving to avoid Bra's room, where the door was shut and probably locked. He passed the living room where Vegeta was parked on the sofa, a tight look of disappointment and aggivation cast over his face. Turning to his mother in the kitchen, who was taking a batch of cinnamon rolls out of the oven, he gave her a confused glance.
"What's his problem?" He pointed to his father, who was flipping angrily through a TV Traveler magazine.
"Oh, he's just mad because I told him that he couldn't have any cinnamon rolls until Pan had some," Bulma said, lifting the tray of cinnamon rolls and setting it onto the counter top.
"Ah," Trunks smiled in understanding as he stood beside his mother. "Why's Pan coming over anyway?"
Bulma straightened up, "I'm not sure, son," She said with a nonchalant look.
"Bet she's bored or something," Trunks mused. Bulma frowned,
"With all she's got at home, how on earth could she get bored?" She was topping the rolls with white icing.
"I didn't mean bored as she didn't have enough stuff to do," Trunks said with a grim look, "I meant bored, meaning she doesn't have anyone to talk to." He frowned; Pan didn't have a lot of family at home to chat with.
"What are you talking about?" Bulma objected sternly. "She has a nice family to socialize with!"
"She has a nice family, but when are they around? Gohan and Hercule anymore are always on outings of some kind, or Gohan's in his office working and Hercule's out promoting--" Trunks paused and had to smile, "--Whatever he promotes. Chi Chi is at the other house, and whenever she goes over there, all Chi Chi does is bug her about becoming more lady-like or something like that. She usually hangs out with Goten, but he's gone with Marron for the week, and all she has at home is Videl, which while I'm sure Pan and Videl get along great...after a while, I'm sure that she wants someone else to talk to."
"I see your point," Bulma replied, then raised an eyebrow, "You sure know a lot about Pan."
"She tells me all this whenever I see her," Trunks said bluntly, pouring himself a glass of milk from the refridgerator, "Trust me, I could have opened a whole case of information about the Son family..." Trunks knew somethings about that family that he really wished he hadn't. He wasn't sure he could look at Hercule anymore without laughing, from all the incidents Pan had shared with him.
"Well, you'll have to tell me about them sometime," Bulma said with a curious smile as there came a knock at the door. "Oh, that's probably her!" Bulma smiled as she walked over to the door.
Trunks drank his glass of milk as Pan walked into the kitchen. She was wearing black shorts, which were typical for her anymore, and a red long T-Shirt bearing the words SON PAN across them. She had tugged at a lock of her ebony hair as she walked towards Trunks, casually avoiding Bulma and he saw her give his mother a nervous look. What's up with her?
"Hey Trunks! Hi, Ms. Briefs," She said hastily. "Cinnamon rolls? Wow," It was obvious she was hungry.
"Want one?" Bulma asked her, "Did you have breakfast?"
"I had a little bit," Pan said slowly, her eyes on the rolls, "But our cook is on vacation for the week, and mom's cooking is...sure I want one!" She smiled, and Bulma had to let out a laugh; she'd have to ask Videl about her cooking sometime.
Pan grabbed three cinnamon rolls and asked Trunks if he'd pour her a glass of milk, to which he obliged. Vegeta slowly crept into the room from the living room. Pan saw him and smiled, her hands full with her plate and cup.
"Hi, Vegeta!" Pan said with a large smile, having not seen the Saiyan in a while. She figured she could at least try and be friendly.
The Saiyan gave her a sharp glare and then looking at the about-to-nag look on his wife's face, forced a slight sneer,
"Hello...Pan," He hated saying the name. It was so...ridiculous to him. Honestly, who names their brat after BREAD?
"Vegeta, if you want some cinnamon rolls, you can have them now," Bulma said in a stern motherly voice. Vegeta gave her a death-like glare and snatched two cinnamon rolls and moped angrily back into the living room without a word. Pan giggled,
"Did he wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something?"
"Or something," Was all Trunks could manage through a mouthful of cinnamon roll. Pan laughed as the two walked out of the kitchen. Bulma sighed, wishing the girl could have been about six years older. Then maybe he'd have a chance with her...she's the only girl 'friend' that boy has...Bulma let out another sigh and started to pour herself a glass of milk.
Vegeta raised an eyebrow as the two walked past him in the living room and headed towards the stairs, sitting down on them to talk. Vegeta growled, Why on earth did they have to sit right by me? It's always the same ANNOYING thing! He pulled the TV Traveler closer to his face, trying to block them out by reading what was going to be on tonight, as if he cared.
"Where's Bra?" Pan asked Trunks nervously, who was finishing his cinnamon roll. Vegeta listened carefully for his son's answer.
"She's upstairs...uh," He paused and saw that his father was beside them on the couch. Leaning over to Pan's ear he whispered, "Dad found out about her and Uub."
"WHAT?" Pan burst out, then ran a hand to her mouth, "Oh," She whispered.
"Yeah," Trunks whispered, then began to explain what had happened the night before.
Vegeta, despite what they thought, could hear every word his son was whispering. The boy had distorted some of the minor facts, which Vegeta would have been prone to correct, but thought better of it. He'd let this play out. God, I'm doing that a lot lately, The Saiyan thought and felt slightly depressed, longing for the time when he could have simply crushed their spines and have been done with it.
When Trunks was done telling his story, Pan stared at him with a hand to her mouth, looking as if she was about to hurl.
"You're joking!" She said in a hushed voice.
"Nope," Trunks replied wiping his hand on his pajama pants, "That's what happened."
"Well," Pan replied a little anxiously, "That makes me feel slightly better in a sense..."
"What do you mean?" Trunks raised an eyebrow.
"Trunks, I...I have a confession to make," Pan's face turned crimson, "The other day, your mom came over...and uhm...this is really hard to say...," She scratched the back of her head, her face still red.
"What is it?" The Demi-Saiyan was now more curious than anything. And so was Vegeta, looking over the top of the TV Traveler.
"Well...," Then Pan burst out, "She was going to blackmail me! I'm so sorry, Trunks!"
He stared at her for a moment wordless, "What's going on?"
"She made me tell her about you spying on Uub and Bra...If I hadn't have told her...Her and your dad," She lowered her voice a bit, "May never have found out and run in on you three..." She lowered her head in shame.
Trunks stared at her dumbfounded for words. Vegeta smirked from behind the magazine, So she's the one that told Bulma...heh, figures...
"What? My mom...," Then Trunks' eyes narrowed, "I can't believe she'd do that! I'll have a talk with her about it later--"
"Huh?" Pan looked up, confused. "You're not mad---I mean---I blabbed our secret!"
Trunks gave her a sympathetic smile and patted her shoulder, "Don't worry about it, Pan."
"WHAT?" Pan's eyes flashed red for a second, "I was all freaked out about you getting mad and everything, and you're not upset?"
"You couldn't help it I'm sure," Trunks replied calmly, "Besides, in your situation with my mother interrogating, I'm not so sure I could keep quiet either. What does it matter now? It's been found out...and surprisingly...It's probably for the better that way." He imagined what could have happened if his parents hadn't burst in. He really didn't want to think about it at the moment.
Pan smiled serenely, "So we're still friends?"
"Of course," Trunks replied and winked at her. Pan seemed to brighten up.
"Thanks, Trunks!" She gave him a quick hug. "I promise to keep all our future secrets...uhm, secret!" She grinned innocently.
The Demi-Saiyan laughed, "Sounds like a plan then," He looked out the window, "Looks nice out, want to go spar?"
"Spar? Now?" Pan's face suddenly lit up and a sly grin widened across her face, "Sounds like a plan."
"Alright then," Trunks stood up, "I'll meet you outside, then!"
"Okay!" Pan jumped up and ran through the kitchen stopping to say thanks to Bulma. "Thanks for the food, Mrs. Briefs!"
"You're welcome, Pan," Bulma said but Pan was already out the door.
Vegeta burst out of his seat, "What the HELL is this?" He stormed into the kitchen, "MY SON GETS TO SPAR WITH THAT BRAT, BUT I DON'T?" He fumed, stomping right towards Bulma.
"Darling, Pan isn't going to get thrashed to a bloody pulp by Trunks," Bulma said in an aggitated tone as Trunks ran out the kitchen door, eager to escape the arguement between the two.
Vegeta watched his son leave with a glare on his face, "You don't know that!" He spat, "For all you know maybe they're NOT sparring after all!"
Bulma actually gave her husband a disgusted look, "Oh my God, Vegeta, that is SICK!" She started to put the breakfast food up with a gross look on her face. Vegeta cocked his head with a sneer,
"What's sick about it? It could be true--"
"She's fifteen years old, Vegeta! Our son is in his late twenties!" Bulma looked absolutely beside herself.
"So? On our home planet, sometimes there could be up to twenty years difference between mates," Vegeta said matter-of-factly, "Isn't your mom a lot younger than your dad?" He smirked, seeing Bulma's face turn pink.
"That is not true, there's not THAT much difference!" She was still pink in the face, and Vegeta was still smirking.
"Still, I've seen you earthlings..sometimes older men have younger women with them," He remarked.
"That's besides the point...those men are not our son! She's just a little girl, Vegeta!" Bulma burst out in anger.
Vegeta smiled coldly, "She won't be a little girl forever."
Bulma suddenly stopped at his words. What was he saying?
"Vegeta--"
"Just forget about it," The Saiyan shrugged, "I was joking. That boy having any other connections with her other than being her...friend," Another word he hated to say, "Is slim to none. Forget I even mentioned it." With that he strolled out of the kitchen and back to the living room.
Bulma watched him go, but his words had struck her awkwardly. Before she knew it, she'd been standing there for twenty minutes just pondering the entirety of it all. She looked out the window towards the Capsule Training Chamber and sighed. Today has been too weird...
"Come on, Marron! A little higher now!"
Goten cheered Marron on as she rose higher into the air, pausing every now and then to practice stopping in midair. Goten had taught her how to hold onto her energy once she'd got it to her feet, and now she could stop herself failry easily while in the air. The blonde smiled down proudly at Goten,
"Was that alright?" She asked him, a grin on her face.
"Better than alright!" Goten beamed, giving her a thumbs-up. Marron giggled and allowed herself to float slowly back to the ground. Goten ran towards her and slapped her playfully on the shoulder,
"I'm not strong enough," He said in a sly mocked voice of her, "Yeah, right! That was great!"
The blonde blushed and ran a hand to her hair, "You think so?"
"Definately!" He smiled and pointed behind him, "Now you're ready for the final step. Flying solo."
Marron looked beside him to see what he was pointing at, and her stomach fell slightly. Goten was pointing at the plank-like ledge hanging over the mountain's edge. She didn't like the sound of this.
"What? Why are you pointing at the ledge?" But she already knew the answer in her heart.
"You're going to levitate from that ledge," Goten explained, still smiling, "And then you're going to thrust off and fly from the ledge."
"Where am I flying to once I get off the ledge?" Marron raised an eyebrow. Goten suddenly realized he hadn't really thought of that,
"Uhm, I guess you can just fly around over the ocean for a bit and then come back," He said nonchalantly.
Marron was close to yelling, "What? Goten, that's stupid! I'm not ready for that yet!" She clenched her fists.
"Don't give me that bull," Goten said, his brow furrowing slightly, "You have gone through every other necessary step; now this is it Marron! Sink or swim, you have to do this!"
"It's the sinking part I'm worried about! I can't swim that good, Goten, and look at those waves!" She pointed out to sea, where sure enough, the water was pretty rough. Goten sighed and gave her a somber look,
"Come on, Marron," He urged her, "You're so close it's not even funny! Can't you at least try? For me?" He looked at her with those dark eyes and she thought she'd possibly melt. She gave him a half-smile,
"I guess I could try," She said with little enthusiasm.
"That's the spirit! Now let's do this! You're going to fly by the end of today, Marron!" Goten jumped up into the air and practically drug her to the ledge. Marron could do nothing but get drug along, he was so strong compared to her.
Goten looked down at her as they reached the ledge, and Marron forced a smile. She wanted to learn to fly, but there was still this fear that clenched her heart and mind, despite the words Goten had told her earlier. It was a fear that wouldn't leave her, no matter how sweetened and truthful Goten's words may have been. She just couldn't shake the images of her drowning in the black empty waters.
"Okay, now do as we've done before in all our earlier lessons," Goten explained, standing behind her and holding her close to him, "Only this time when you get high enough, thrust your energy and force yourself to move, okay? Then, you'll fly."
"You make it sound so easy," She whispered to him, "What if I fall?"
Goten smiled and embraced her, pulling her towards him, "You won't because I'll be right with you. I won't let you fall." He held her close and his words rang truthfully in her ears. She smiled back at him as he let her go.
"Okay, I'll do it," She nodded her head.
"You can do it, I know you can," Goten reminded her for what seemed like the thousandth time.
She gave him a quick grin before closing her eyes. She levitated herself up like all the times before and felt the wind in her hair. She raised herself up into the air and opened her eyes, but forced herself to look outward, rather than down. She felt the energy in her feet, and forced it to thrust forward. To her surprise, she felt her body going forward...she was flying!
"I--I'm flying, Goten! I'm FLYING!" She screamed, but when she looked behind her, Goten wasn't there. She looked around her, Goten wasn't anywhere. Marron felt sweat rising to the surface of her skin. Wha--where is he? Goten, where'd you go?
"Goten?" She called out, "Goten, where are you?" Nothing. Just the sound of the wind around her. Just then a gust of wind picked up, and Marron felt her body tip a little in the wind. That's when she looked down.
There it was, the open sea, directly below her, the waves rocking back and forth so hard it looked like a small hurricane was taking place. The blonde felt her stomach fall to her feet again, and her insides twist into a thousand knots. Where was Goten? He's not here to help me...He's not here to save me! And Marron felt her power diminish as soon as it came. Don't panic..don't panic...you'll fall if you panic...don't panic...Marron, you're panicking! MARRON YOU'RE FALLING!
"GOTEN! HELP ME! I CAN'T STAY UP! HELP!"
Marron wailed as she fell from the sky, further and further, her screams echoing into the late morning sky. She was growing closer to the waves, she could hear the splashing of the ocean under her, and as she fell all she could think about was where Goten was and why he wasn't coming to rescue her. Just before she could hit the dark waves below, she lost consciousness and everything faded to black...
Uh, Oh! What now? This chapter was hard for me to write...lots of trouble getting it how I wanted, and I originally had a different ending to this chapter, but I think this one will work out better in the long run...you'll just have to tune in to find out what happens!
Next chapter...you'll just have to read to see! And I'll just say this...Goten gets one HUGE earful from more than one persons! heh heh, this is gonna get fun...
Well, you guys are just plain AWESOME, and I don't know what I'd do without all of you! I hope you've liked the story so far! Remember, don't hesitate to drop me a line or send me comments and suggestions! I'm open to all ideas and am grateful for them too! So keep on truckin! Peace out and ROCK ROCK ON!
Romania Black