18- A Deadly Wish
The small shack was loud with the clanging of metal against metal. An older man stood at the sink, his arm stirring the pot of ingredients quickly. His mouth was dry and aching for a sip of water, but he couldn't abandon this spell- not yet. He was so close.
The man watched as the murky brown water in the pot turned a vivid purple, and his lips parted to reveal a brown-toothed grin. His tongue rolled over his bottom lip to moisten it, and he stared at the contents in the pot. A scent of sage and cotton filled his nostrils.
With shaking fingers, the man grabbed the pot and pulled it close to his chest near his heart. He had made this spell before. In fact, this would be his seventh and hopefully final time making it. The first time he had made the summing spell, he had been afraid that he had done it wrong because there were supposed to be seven pieces to what he wanted, and he had only gotten one. Soon, he realized that what he desired could only be obtained one at a time through the spell. It had taken years to complete since one ingredient of the spell called for lilies that bloomed at night near water on the fifth full moon of the year.
The man knew his patience would pay off, though. He could already taste the victory in his mouth.
His breath caught, and his heart pounded in excitement. "I summon the seventh Dragon Ball."
The spell buzzed in his palms, as it always did, and he could feel the shift in the air. A blinding light filled the small shack, and the man closed his eyes and braced the pot against him tightly.
When the light finally faded, the pot was lighter and the man caught his breath as he pulled it away from him. The pot full of the purple spell was now empty except for the orange orb in the bottom.
The man pulled the orb out and dropped the pot. It clanged to the ground loudly, but the man ignored it as he turned around and shuffled to his bedroom - if it could even be called that. It was more like a closet where a worn-out mattress laid.
The floorboards creaked as the man fell onto them and clawed them apart. Nestled in the hidden compartment under the floorboards were six orbs, and they were all nearly identical other than the number of stars on them.
It had been eight years ago when he had found out about the Dragon Balls. His discovery had been by absolute chance. His search for the power that was rightfully owed to him had led him to the most incredible thing- a chance to get that said power and more.
The man scooped up the orbs, and with all seven of them in his arms, he could feel them humming with power. His breath was catching on the excitement as he ran out of his shack.
Gently, he placed the Dragon Balls down on the ground. "Eternal Dragon," he forced his voice steady, "I summon you!"
The was a whoosh of wind that stumbled him back and blinding light. By the time the man regained his senses, the sky surrounding the small southern area he had lived in had grown dark, except for the green shining dragon in the sky. His body was long as it twisted around itself. His red eyes bore into the man, making him shake, and the power radiating off the dragon left him in awe.
"My name is Shenron, the Eternal Dragon!" The voice boomed across the sky, making the man's ears ring. "Mere mortal man who had summoned me, state your wish!"
The man swallowed thickly, forcing himself to remain calm. He had to state his wish correctly, or else the Dragon would disappear for six months, and of course, it would most likely take him another seven years to gather all the Dragon Balls.
"My name is Axel," he began. "I am from the Ox Clan on the Fire Mountains. My only wish is that I am granted the full power of the stars like my ancestors before me had!"
Shenron's red eyes glowed brightly. "It has been done!"
With a mighty swoosh, Shenron's body unraveled and shot towards the sky. The seven Dragon Balls shot up next, all of them going in opposite directions.
Axel was left standing in stunned silence for a few seconds until something twisted inside of him. It sucked all air out of him, and he hunched over as he fell to his knees. He could feel his body changing. His back was becoming straighter, the constant pain in his joints was easing. His face was burning, and by the time the pain stopped, Axel looked at his hands and gasped. His fingers were long, calloused, and free of wrinkles. He jumped up quickly, not feeling any pain as he ran to the small creek and looked at his reflection.
The youthful face staring back at Axel was one he hadn't seen in decades. He was young again, and he could feel the power flowing through him. He smirked as he stood up straight, and with a flex of his hands, black sparks came from him.
He laughed loudly, wildly, as the power soared through him. Finally, it was all his, and he would make get what he deserved.
Chi-Chi walked outside and glanced around her backyard with a pleasing smile. She had spent hours making it look nice for their guest. The garden was blooming, and the picnic table was lined with food. Chi-Chi had to keep an eye on Goku to make sure he didn't eat half of it before anyone else had a chance to.
A hovercar landed in the driveway, and Chi-Chi smiled brightly. "They're here!" She called to her family.
Goku and Gohan were out of the house almost immediately.
"Hey, Guys!" Bulma yelled as she got out of the car. Her blue hair was cut into a pixie cut that framed her face. She ran over before the rest of her family even got out of the car.
"It's been so long!" Bulma said as she hugged Chi-Chi.
Chi-Chi nodded her agreement. Goten had been six the last time they had seen each other, and that had been during the tournament that Buu returned. Pan had been just a baby!
"It's so good to see you," Chi-Chi said.
"You too!" Bulma smiled. "Gohan! Look at you!" She gushed, "you're all grown up and so handsome!"
"Thanks," Gohan smiled with pink cheeks.
The backdoor closed suddenly, and Chi-Chi turned to see Goten running up to them just as the rest of Bulma's family walked up.
"Wow," Gohan's eyes were wide as he looked at Trunks. "I thought I was seeing Mirai again for a second."
"I know! He's gotten so handsome! Just like Goten," Bulma grinned at the youngest male Son.
"Mom," Trunks muttered with pink cheeks.
"Thanks, Bulma," Goten smiled.
"And this must be Bulla," Chi-Chi smiled at the young girl that was halfway hiding between Bulma and Vegeta. "Pan's been so excited to meet you." She turned towards Goten, "where's your sister?"
Goten let out a nervous laugh and scratched the back of his head. Chi-Chi knew right away that it wasn't good. "She left this morning."
Chi-Chi let out a sigh. "Where did she go?"
Goten shrugged, "you know Pan. She goes wherever her feet take her. She said she would be back in time for this meal, but we all know she's not good at time-keeping."
Chi-Chi sighed as Goku chuckled. "I'll go get her," he said before disappearing.
"She's like Goku, huh?" Bulma grinned.
Chi-Chi's lips twitched, "only a little. Come, let's go sit down while we wait," she said as she motioned towards the tables.
Pan closed her eyes as she placed the seashell up to her ear. She could hear the song of the sea, the beautiful melody that spoke of high-tides and mysterious depths.
The hair on the back of Pan's neck rose, and she opened her eyes as a shift ran through the air. "Hi, Papa."
"Panny."
Pan smiled and glanced up to see her tall Papa standing in front of her. He was smiling at her warmly as she stood up from her crouch.
"Papa, listen," she handed him the seashell.
He tilted his head and smiled as he pressed it against his ear. "Ah, the waves," he said. "I can hear them."
Pan frowned, "can't you hear the song too?"
Goku furrowed his brows. "I can't. I guess it only wants to be heard by you," he smiled as he handed the seashell back to Pan. "The Briefs have arrived."
Pan gasped as she placed the seashell inside her backpack. "Is it that time already?!" She had completely lost track of time!
Goku chuckled and held out his hand. "Come on; I'll take you home."
Pan smiled as she took her Papa's hand. She squeezed it, and he squeezed it back before a tingling sensation ran through Pan. She knew this feeling - right before jumping.
In seconds, her world changed from the sandy beach she had been on to her backyard. Pan smiled as she ran up to her Mama.
"There you are," Chi-Chi smiled. "Were you off exploring?"
Pan nodded and dug the shell out of her bag. "Listen," she handed it to her Mama, who placed it against her ear.
"Ah," Chi-Chi's eyes widened. "What a beautiful song! You've found a special one, Panny."
Pan smiled brightly. She knew her Mama would be able to hear the song. She could always hear things like Pan. "Papa couldn't hear it," Pan said as she placed the seashell back in her bag.
"I just heard waves," Goku chuckled.
"Your Papa just doesn't have the magic touch like us," Chi-Chi winked. "Panny, meet Bulma and Vegeta. You haven't seen them since you were a baby."
Pan looked across the picnic table and smiled at the man and woman. She knew of Bulma and Vegeta, of course. Bulma had searched for the Dragon Balls years ago with Goku, and Vegeta was a Saiyan, like them. Bulma was smiling brightly, and Pan was in awe of how beautiful she was. Vegeta grunted his acknowledgment. He looked just as grumpy as everyone said he was.
Bulma smiled. "You've grown so much, Panny. You're such a beautiful young lady. These are my children, Bulla and Trunks."
Bulla sat next to Bulma, and she looked like a miniature version of her mother. She was just as beautiful too! Bulla gave Pan a shy smile, which she returned. Her Mama had said Bulma had a daughter around her age, and Pan hoped they could be friends. It would be nice to have a girl around her age to talk to.
Trunks was sitting on Bulla's other side. He was busy talking to Goten and Gohan, but it was as if he sensed her eyes in him because he turned to look at her. Pan froze, and she could feel herself growing warm. He was gorgeous. His blue eyes, which were a lighter shade of blue than his mother and sister's, shined as he smiled at Pan. She forgot how to breathe. In all her twelve years, she had never seen a man as beautiful as Trunks.
"Sit down, Panny," Chi-Chi patted the spot beside her.
Pan sat down, feeling as if she were in a daze. She was sitting across from Bulla. Goten was beside her, and Gohan sat at the end of the table between Goten and Trunks.
"Hey, Trunks, you remember Pan, right?" Goten laughed as he patted Pan's head. She huffed and threw his hand off of her head. "She was just starting to walk during the time of the tournament, and she followed you around everywhere."
Pan gasped as her cheeks grew hot. She wanted to deny that, but she had been too young to remember.
Trunks' chuckle caused Pan's chest to tighten. "Yeah, I remember." He had such a lovely voice too! "It's nice to see you again, Pan."
Pan swallowed hard and forced her voice not to shake. "Yeah, you too."
The meal was delicious, and Pan focused her attention on Bulla. Bulla was more of a girlie-girl, while Pan was more tomboyish, but they got along well. Bulla listened while Pan talked about her walks and everything she finds. In turn, Pan listened when Bulla explained the differences in nail polishes. She even agreed to let Bulla paint her nails - something Pan never did.
The afternoon air was growing warm, and the group was getting up to stretch when a shift rolled through the air. Pan felt her stomach drop. The feeling was similar to Instant Transmission, but there was something off about it.
Almost instantly, Goku, Vegeta, and the boys dropped into protective stances. A heavy thud landed on the ground, and Pan watched as a man straightened up.
He looked young, maybe twenty or so. He was handsome - though not as handsome as Trunks. His features were sharp, his eyes dark, and his dark hair looked as if it had been gelled up into spikes.
Chi-Chi screamed and pushed Pan behind her. Pan blinked in confusion, but she gripped her Mama's dress tightly. Through the crack between Chi-Chi's arm and side, she could see the man smirking.
"Who are you?!" Goku demanded.
"Didn't your wife tell you?" The man raised an eyebrow. "Can't you see the resemblance? I'm family."
"No-" Chi-Chi's voice was shaking. "You're weak- how?!"
The man snarled, and his pretty face turned ugly. "DOES THIS LOOK WEAK TO YOU?!"
Power radiated off of him, and the air grew blistering hot and thick. Pan gasped, her arms wrapped around her Mama quickly.
"It's all thanks to the Dragon Balls," the man laughed wildly. "One wish was all it took for me to get the power I desired - the power I deserve!"
"You found the Dragon Balls?" Goku asked, shock in his voice.
"Oh, yes," the man smirked. "You know them well, don't you, Son Goku? You see, once I got this power, it didn't take me long to track down Kesai," he glared at Chi-Chi.
She sucked in a breath. "Kesai- she-"
"Oh, she's dead," the man stated simply. "I killed her," he commented offhandedly and Pan felt a shudder run through her. How could he be so calm saying that?
"Of course, I got everything out of her first," he continued. "Like the fact that you've been hiding all these years with your alien husband and your half-breed children."
"Do not talk about my children that way!" Goku yelled, and in a flash, he went Super Saiyan.
Pan stared in awe as she felt chills rise on her arms. There was always something amazing about watching her Papa go Super. Vegeta and the others soon followed Goku's lead, and five Super Saiyans were staring down the man.
Goku straightened up- "I don't know why you came here, but - "
"It's simple. I came here for her-" the man said, and through the tiny crack Pan was peeking out of, his eyes met hers.
Chi-Chi pushed Pan back suddenly, knocking the air out of her. Before she had time to think, Gohan had grabbed Pan and pushed her behind him, then Goten grabbed her and did the same, and then there was Trunks, who was just behind Goten, as he moved Pan behind him as well.
Pan could hear her heart pounding in her ears. She didn't understand what was going on. Why was that man after her? Why did he want her?
"I saw it in Kesai's memories, you know," the man continued. "She was born with the gift. She'll be powerful one day."
Gift? What gift? Pan wasn't born with anything special!
Chi-Chi threw out her arms. "It'll be a cold day in hell before I let you kill my daughter!" She screamed.
"Oh, sweet, Chi," the man smirked. "I have no intentions of killing her."
The man raised his hand, and an exploding light flickered throughout the area. Hot wind swept Pan back as she screamed. She hit the back of her head hard against something, and everything went black.
Pan wasn't sure how long she had been out when she came to, coughing violently. Smoke filled her vision, and she let out a strangled gasp - her home! It was nothing but ruins! Her back yard had been torn up as a tornado had swept through, the ground cracked.
Pan's head was throbbing as she sat up, and she winced as she stood up. Her right ankle felt as if it had twisted. The smoke was heavy, and Pan squinted her eyes and raised her shirt to cover her mouth and nose. She couldn't hear anything other than a high-pitched ringing in her ears. She couldn't feel anyone - her Papa, brothers, or her Mama.
Something heavy hit Pan's foot, and she screamed as she stumbled down. She caught herself with her palms, and her knees cut on the grass. She turned around to see what she tripped over, and a dry scream shook her body.
"PAPA!" She grabbed his shirt that was smeared with blood. He wasn't a Super Saiyan anymore. His dark eyes were open and staring at the sky, but they were lifeless.
Pan felt something twist in her chest as she sobbed. "PAPA, WAKE UP!" She shook him roughly.
She glanced around, her horror growing as she spotted Bulma, Bulla, and Trunks laying on the ground, motionless. Vegeta wasn't too far from them. His arm stretched out as if trying to reach them. Pan stopped breathing as she saw Goten and Gohan, both of them on their stomachs, red covering their backs.
She turned quickly, already knowing what she'd see, and she screamed. "MAMA!" She sobbed as she crawled over to her body. Her dress was soaked with blood. Her face was slack, and her eyes were closed. She looked like she was sleeping.
"MAMA!" Pan cried as she clutched Chi-Chi. She laid on her chest, sobbing.
"There you are, Precious," came a dark voice.
Pan gasped and sat up straight. The man from earlier stood on the other side of Chi-Chi, and Pan leaned back away from him with wide eyes.
"Don't worry," he said, his voice gentle and calm. "I won't hurt you."
Pan could taste the blood in her mouth as she barred her teeth. "I'd rather be dead than go with you!"
The man clicked his tongue and shook his head. "That won't do." He raised his hand, and Pan braced herself for another impact, but nothing but darkness surrounded her.