17- Free
Pan's eyes fluttered open to the sight of the ceiling in her childhood bedroom. Plastic stars were stuck on the ceiling, and they glowed softly.
"Panna?" Trunks was in her vision immediately. He let out a sigh, his arms reaching her and drawing her to his chest. He held her tightly as his nose buried into her hair. "Oh, Panna."
Pan hadn't realized she had been so tense, but she relaxed in Trunks' arms instantly. She sighed his name as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "I did it, Trunks."
Trunks pulled away from her. "Did what, Panna?" He asked gently as he brushed some of her hair away from her face. "You've been asleep for hours. I was so worried," he whispered.
Pan's eyes widened. Had she really been asleep that long? It hadn't felt long at all. She shook her head slowly. "I freed myself from my nightmare," she said. "The dream version of myself, I freed her! And I faced Axel head-on, and -" she stopped, noticing the way Trunks' blue eyes shined with worry.
"What is it?" She asked softly. "Did something happen while I was asleep?" She glanced around quickly, "where's Mama? And Kesai?"
"They're in the living room with everyone. We've been waiting for you to wake up," Trunks answered. He let out a sigh, "Panna, the place you went to - it wasn't a dream."
"What do you mean?" Pan asked with a blink. "It's the same dream - the same nightmare I always have."
Trunks let out a sigh and raked his hands through his hair. "The way Kesai explained it was that what you have nightmares about is actually another Pan, from another timeline's memories. Somehow, you two are subconsciously contacting each other in dreams. At least, you are glimpsing at her memories."
Pan's eyes widened. "Another Pan? Like, a different timeline? The nightmares are her memories?" She repeated the information as her eyebrows furrowed.
Trunks nodded, "and earlier when Kesai performed the ritual- you jumped. Since it wasn't just nightmares but rather memories, you jumped to the past. You time-traveled, Panna. Whatever you saw, it was real."
Pan felt as if the air had been sucked out of her. Her chest felt tight as she sat rigid on the bed. Wasn't it a dream? Had it been real?
A choking breath escaped Pan as she leaned over and clutched her old bedsheets. Trunks had his arm around her worriedly, his hand trying to soothe her by rubbing her back. His touch felt just as real as Young Pan's had and just as real as Axel's grip had been.
Pan gasped and sat up, her arms circling her as she shook. "It was real," she whispered. "Then that means-" Axel had almost - he could have -
She felt herself gagging, and Trunks quickly got up to grab the small trash can near the bed for her. Nothing come up, but heaves and Pan felt her eyes burn. Axel had done that because she had taken the other Pan away. She had thought it was just a dream, and she just sent her away without knowing where!
Pan jumped up, and the empty trash can fell to the floor. She was a little wobbly on her feet, and Trunks quickly steadied her for a few seconds.
"Panna," he began. "You need to be careful. Kesai said-"
"I need to speak with her," Pan shook her head quickly. "I need to speak with Kesai!" She ran towards the door and yanked it open. She heard Trunks yell for her, but she didn't stop as she bolted down the stairs and into her parent's living room and kitchen.
"Panny!" Bulla jumped up from the table where she was sitting with Seventeen and Marron."You're okay!"
Pan scanned the room, her eyes falling on Kesai, who was sitting on the couch with Chi-Chi. Both women had their eyes wide and full of alert as they started to stand. "Kesai, you have to help me!"
"Panny, what's wrong?" Chi-Chi asked worriedly as Pan ran up to them. "What happened?"
"I-" Pan could feel her throat growing tight as she shook. She blinked her eyes and grabbed Kesai's hand. "You have to help me! I thought it was a dream! I thought she was a dream version of myself; I had no idea that it was real! Or that I time traveled! He - Axel, that is, he was right behind us! I was just trying to free myself-" Pan sobbed. "I sent her away! I used my magic and sent her away, and I don't know where she went!"
"Panna," Trunks was wrapping his arms around her shoulder, and Pan dropped Kesai's hand as she leaned into him. Her body was shaking with sobs. Just what had she done to her counterpart?
Pan sat on the loveseat next to Trunks. Her knees were pulled up to her chest as she stared in front of her bleakly. She had finally stopped crying, and now, nothing but little sniffs escaped her. Trunks held her hand, his thumb rubbing over her knuckles slowly. He wished he could take all of the negative emotions she was feeling away.
Their mothers sat on the couch with Eighteen. Gohan and Marron stood behind it. Tsu had been laid down in the guest bedroom to sleep for the night. Their fathers were with Krillin, against the wall. Seventeen sat on the recliner with Bulla in his lap, and Goten and Eijiro sat on the floor. All of them were waiting for the same thing - for Pan to explain what it was she saw in the other timeline.
"Here," Kesai walked into the living room and handed Pan a mug of tea. "It will help calm you." He could only imagine what she had put in it for it to do that.
Kesai let out a sigh and sat down on the coffee table in front of him and Pan. "Little One, I know it must be a shock to you to find out that you've been having nightmares of memories that really happened to another Pan. I need you to try and recall, though, everything that you saw and everything that happened when you jumped. Any little thing could help us understand what happened in the other timeline."
Pan sipped on her tea for a minute before she straightened up. Her legs came down from her chest, and she crossed them. The mug rested in the middle of her lap.
"When I first arrived, it was daytime," she began. "The skies were blue and clear. The sun was shining. It seemed like a typical day. If I had to guess, it was afternoon, soon to be evening. The path that I always see in my dreams was off to the side, but instead of going to it, I looked around. I never paid much attention to the other scenery in my nightmares. I was always too busy running.
"A tall mansion was behind the path. It looked almost like a palace, but the grounds were empty. I didn't see any caretakers as I slipped towards the back of the mansion. Acres of fields were behind it, and if I had to guess, it was probably secluded from any nearby towns or cities.
"The backdoor was open, and thinking that it was nothing but a dream, I stepped inside," Pan sighed. "It was just as big on the inside as it was on the outside, and just like the outside, there weren't any maids or butlers around. It seemed empty, which I thought was strange. I only explored a few rooms before I felt an invisible tug towards the upper level. I made it to the grand staircase, and at the middle part of it, in the center, was a huge portrait. It was of Axel and the other Pan. Axel looked young, maybe twenty or so, and the other Pan had no emotion on her face.
"I followed the invisible tug up the stairs and to a bedroom. When I opened it up, she was in there - the other Pan, and she was just as surprised to see me. She had a sword in her hands and pointed straight at me; I guess she thought I was Axel. Neither one of us had time to speak before the walls started to shake-" Pan's voice grew quick, anxiety clear in it. "She grabbed my hand, and we ran down the stairs. The back doors were closed, but she used her magic and flung them open, and then - then we were running on the path I always saw in my dreams, and just like my dreams, everything was dying, and Axel was right behind us.
"We made it to a dead-end," Pan tightened her grip on her mug. "I tried to assure the other Pan that it was just a dream because that's what I thought - I thought it was just a dream," she choked out as her eyes shined with tears. "She told me she wanted to wake up, that she wanted out, and I don't know what I did! I don't know how I did it, but I used my magic, and I sent her away somewhere Axel couldn't find her. I sent her away, and I don't know where!"
Trunks grabbed the mug from Pan and handed it to Kesai before it got spilled. He wrapped his arm around her, his hand gently rubbing her back. It seemed to calm her a bit, and she was able to speak the last part of her dream.
"He found me then," her voice was nothing but a whisper. "And for the first time, I faced him." She swallowed hard. "He was mad at me because I sent her away, but his anger quickly faded as he realized that I was her - that we were the same person. I don't know what happened to everyone in that timeline-" her breath hitched, "but if my old nightmares are correct, then he killed everyone. He killed everyone but that Pan, and that's because - because he wanted her to have his children."
Trunks' hand stopped moving on Pan's back. Kesai had mentioned that procreation was probably Axel's goal, but to actually know it was true sent sickness and anger through Trunks. He felt sorry for the other Pan, his heart felt like it had been torn out for her, but the thought of Axel doing unspeakable things to his Pan sent a wave of red over his vision.
"He said that she was his key to domination. They were the last two that could create a weapon to take over the galaxy. I thought it was a dream, that I could do anything, and I overpowered him before waking up. I thought I had freed myself," she whispered.
"Panny, you did," Chi-Chi said. There was a tear rolling down her cheek that she quickly wiped away. "You freed the other Pan, and you woke up. You came back."
"But I don't know where I sent her," Pan said worriedly. She looked at Kesai, "I need your help," she said. "Help me find her, please."
Kesai let out a deep sigh. "I can't," she said simply. "What you did- time traveling between dimensions, I have never seen anyone else do it before."
"But-" Pan began to protest.
"Pan," Kesai reached out and grabbed her hands. "When you used your magic to send the other Pan away, what were you thinking?"
"I just wanted her to be somewhere safe," Pan whispered. "Somewhere, Axel couldn't find her."
"Then there's no doubt in my mind that you sent her somewhere safe. As enchanters, our magic is a powerful thing that is heavily influenced based on our emotions. Even though you have no experience, it flowed through you naturally because your emotions were so high. You freed both of you, Pan."
The room rose in quiet chatter, about Pan's dream, about the other Pan and the timeline she was from, and about Axel. There was a possibility that he could time travel like Pan, but Kesai didn't believe he could - at least not yet. If he had that power, he would have already made a move. Until then, she would begin training Pan on how to handle her powers.
Amid the chatter, a slight tug on Trunks' arm caught his attention. It was Pan, and her face turned down in sadness and exhaustion. Trunks didn't have to be told to know what she was wanting. They bid everyone goodbye before using Instant Transmission to take themselves home.
Trunks followed Pan as she walked to their bedroom slowly. She fell onto their bed with a long sigh and laid back.
Slowly, Trunks sat down next to her and picked up her hand. "It must have been scary," he said. Her hand tightened in his. "You were so brave, Panna."
"I thought it was a dream," she whispered. "If I had known it was real, I don't know if I could have done it."
He laid down beside her so their eyes were level. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "You're the strongest person I know and the bravest. Dream or no dream, you faced your nightmare head-on." He let go of her hand so he could sweep her hair out of her face. "And you freed yourself from them."
Pan's eyes lit up, a smile spreading across her face. "Yeah," she sighed. "No more nightmares for me."
"Nope," Trunks smirked. "Though I am going to miss singing to you."
She laughed as she scooted closer to him. "Don't you worry. I'm still going to make you sing me Vegeta's lullaby."
Trunks just smiled and wrapped his arms around her to hold her against him. She sighed in his arms, her nose nuzzling against his chest. He wouldn't think about what could have happened if Pan hadn't gotten away or woken up. She was back, here with him where she belonged and out of that wicked man's clutches. Pan had freed herself, and Trunks couldn't have been more proud of her.
Pan stared at the painting of wildflowers with a fond smile. The museum near Capsule Corp had just reopened up from remodeling. It was bustling with life as families came to see the new exhibits. Many Capsule Corp employees were there to show their support since the company had funded the remodel.
An arm slid around Pan's waist, and she grinned. "Let's get out of here."
She looked up at Trunks and raised an eyebrow. "But shouldn't you be here to show support?"
"We've already been here for hours. Plus, my mom's here," he shrugged. His arms moved to her hand. "C'mon, Panna. I'm using my last date today," he grinned.
Pan smiled and followed him. It had taken him a little over a year to use his five dates, but each one had been wonderful and memorable. They passed Goten and Eijiro, who smiled at them brightly, and Goten gave Trunks a big thumbs up.
"What was that about?" Pan laughed.
"Who knows," Trunks smirked. "Goten's just being Goten."
They made it to the parking lot, and Trunks opened up the convertible passenger side door he had driven for the day. Pan slid into the car and buckled up before she watched Trunks walk around to the driver's side. He buckled up and then turned the car on. Soon, they were speeding down the highway, the warm autumn wind blowing through their hair. Pan laughed in delight.
Trunks drove until the city started winding down into long roads surrounded by thick woods. Pan didn't ask where they were going since she knew he wouldn't tell. He pulled into a hidden dirt road and drove slowly until they reached the end of the road. Pan brightened at the sight of a walking trail, and she and Trunks got out.
The path with lined with beautiful trees that were transiting due to the seasons. Only a little bit of green from summer remained, and golden brown and purple leaves covered most of the trees. Some were already shedding, the leaves drifting in the wind slowly before reaching the ground. Pan could hear the beautiful melody of the trees as she walked hand-in-hand with Trunks.
It had been three months since Pan had found out she was an enchanter and three months since she had freed herself from those horrible nightmares. She hadn't had a single one since then, and she continued to grow in her magic training.
The walk uphill wasn't very long, and the Pan knew it when they had reached their destination. A blanket was laid out across the grass with a picnic basket resting on it.
Pan let out a little gasp and glanced up at Trunks. "You planned this."
"Of course I did," he smiled.
The blanket was placed just close enough to the edge that they could enjoy the scenery from the other side of the cliff. Tall mountains were in the distance, directly below a lake snaked its way through the valley. It was a beautiful sight.
By the time Trunks and Pan finished what was in the basket, the sun was beginning to set, and the temperature was dropping. Trunks grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around their shoulders as they sat at the edge of the cliff, watching the sun fall low into the horizon, and the blues in the sky darken.
Trunks had an arm resting behind Pan's back as they nestled together. "Look-" he pointed towards the sky.
"Ah!" Pan smiled gleefully. "The first star! Make your wish, Trunks!"
Finding the first star in the sky in the evening had become something special for them. If they were outside or happened to see it, they would always make ridiculous wishes, like hoping it would rain ice cream. Trunks had even wished once to breathe fire. Pan was grateful most of their wishes never came true.
"What's your wish, Panna?" He asked softly.
"Hm," Pan furrowed her brows together, but it didn't take her long to think of what she wanted. She closed her eyes and smiled. "I wish for everything to stay like it is," she sighed.
"What if I told you it could be better?" Trunks asked softly.
Pan opened her eyes and looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"My wish," he said, as he pulled something out of his pocket, and it took Pan's brain a few seconds to realize that it was a little black box. She could feel her heart pounding as Trunks opened the box, and Pan could see the round diamond ring glowing. "My wish is for you to marry me," Trunks pulled out the ring and looked at her. "What do you say? Do you want to grant my wish tonight?"
Pan blinked several times as her eyes blurred with tears. She had dreamed of this moment happening so many times that she couldn't believe that it was real.
"Are you serious?" Pan managed to find her voice. "You really want to marry me?"
"Of course I do," he said without hesitation. "I want to marry you, Panna, and one day, whenever you're ready, I want children with you too. I want it all."
Pan could feel herself growing warm, and she held up her left hand to him. He slipped the diamond ring on his finger, which was the perfect fit. "I want it all, too," she confessed. "With you, Trunks, I want it all. That's my true wish."
"Then I'll make sure to grant it every day," he promised before he leaned over to press his lips against hers.
NOTE: THE NEXT CHAPTER WE WILL BE DIVING INTO THE OTHER TIMELINE!