26- A Warning

Pan let out a heavy sigh before she opened her eyes. The night sky was clear. Stars sparkled across the sky, winking at her. Pan felt herself smiling up at them as she stood up from her spot on the balcony. She stretched her muscles and breathed in the fresh autumn air.

Every night for the last several months, she would come out to the balcony and mediate. She focused her senses to see if she felt anything from Axel, and thankfully she hadn't. That night months ago during the storm had been the only time Pan had heard Axel, and it sounded so far away now.

Pan smiled to herself. Her world was peaceful, and it was time she realized that and stopped fretting over something that would never happen. Still, mediating every night gave her peace of mind. She enjoyed listening to the chirps of nature when the weather allowed it.

Pan walked inside her and Trunks' bedroom, and she shut the doors behind her. After they had started sharing a room, they had moved into this room, which was bigger than both of theirs had been.

Trunks was sitting on the bed, his back facing Pan as he took off his boots. Pan rushed to the bed and crawled across it until she reached Trunks. She wrapped her arms around him from behind, and she could feel him laughing.

"Everything okay in nature?" He asked as he continued to take off his boots.

"Mhm," Pan hummed. "Everything's perfect and safe."

"Good," Trunks smiled as he turned around.

Trunks' hands were finally free, and he tangled his fingers into Pan's hair as he leaned her down for a kiss. Pan smiled into the kiss as he pulled her towards the bed, and she crawled over him. Everything was peaceful and perfect. She had nothing to worry about.

The manor in front of Pan looked strangely familiar. It was grand. The front yard opened up to a circular driveway. Rows of willow trees ran down the driveway. It reminded her of the mansion she had stayed in with Axel, but this house had a more homey feel. She could tell by just glancing at it that an actual family lived there.

"What are you doing?" A voice asked near Pan's ear.

She gasped and turned around to see Goten behind her, an amused look on his face. He was bent down slightly from whispering in her ear. Pan's eyes widened as she looked at him. He was older - the boyish lines that had been on his face when she had last seen him were gone. He was a handsome young man now.

"Goten," Pan felt her eyes watering.

"Hey, are you okay?" Goten asked as he straightened up. His dark brows furrowed together with worry, "Is everything okay with -"

Pan flung her arm around his waist and hugged him tightly. "I've missed you."

Goten froze for a few seconds before he laughed and hugged her back. "Sheesh, they said hormones got crazy when women were expecting, but-" he chuckled and gave her a gentle squeeze. "Yeah, Baby Sister, I've missed you too." He patted her head as Pan leaned back with a sniff.

"Hey, what's going on?"

Pan turned to see Gohan walking up to them. He was older, too. His black hair was still short and pointed up, but he wore a pair of dark glasses now. He frowned as he spotted Pan's face.

"Gohan!" Pan hugged him next.

"Wha-?" He gasped in surprise.

"She's being hormonal," Pan hearted Goten whisper to Gohan, but she ignored it.

Gently, Gohan hugged her and rubbed her back. "There, there. It's okay, Panny."

"You know, you could tell Trunks not to make his business trips so long," Goten said.

"You talking shit, Ten?"

Pan glanced up to see Trunks walking up now. Her eyes widened at the sight of him. It was Trunks, without a doubt, but he didn't seem like her Trunks. His hair was cut short, resting just above his ears. His blue eyes were filled with amusement, and when they spotted her, love. He had a smirk on his face.

"I told her she should stay home," Trunks said. "She didn't want to."

Gohan chuckled, "that's Panny for you," he patted her head affectionately.

"Gohan, Tsu is asking for you!" Came a feminine voice from the side of the house.

"Oh!" Gohan's eyes widened. "Tell her Daddy's coming, Marron!" He said as he dashed away.

Pan blinked slowly. Marron? Gohan had married Marron? She had only met her a handful of times whenever Krillin and Eighteen came to visit, but she had seemed like a sweet girl. And it seems like Gohan and Marron had had a daughter as well!

"He's so whipped," Trunks shook his head slowly.

"Oh, I think you're time is coming very soon, Buddy," Goten snickered. "I better go to the back too and make sure Eijiro's not overworking himself." He gave Pan and Trunks a grin before he dashed away as well.

"Panna?"

Pan turned towards Trunks and raised an eyebrow. "Are you calling me?" She asked. He had never called her that name before.

He furrowed his brows and raised his hand to her forehead. "Are you okay?" He asked softly.

Honestly, Pan didn't know. Everything felt so strange, but she didn't want to worry Trunks. Perhaps she was dreaming of the world that could have been if Axel hadn't arrived.

"Yeah," she nodded her head with a smile. "I'm just a little tired," she admitted because she was.

The side of Trunks' lip twitched as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Well, don't worry," he said. "As soon as the party is over with, I'll take us home so you can rest. I wish we could be doing that now, but you know, Bulla, there's no way she'd miss an opportunity to throw you a 21st birthday party."

Pan's brows furrowed as Trunks led her to the backyard. 21? She wasn't 21 - she had just turned 19!

The backyard was filled with people Pan knew and loved. Friends and family were scattered around. Bulla, who was older now, and looking so much more like Bulma, ran up to them. She threw her arm around Pan and hugged her.

"Happy birthday," she said with a slight squeal. "I know you can't drink this year, but next year we'll definitely go out!" She promised with a wink.

Pan glanced around the backyard in awe as she looked at everyone. People who she hadn't seen in years were there now. It made her chest feel tight and warm. The wind rustled behind Pan, and she turned around quickly, expecting to see someone else she hadn't seen in a while. No one was there, though, and she frowned slightly. She turned back around to everyone else and gasped in surprise - they were gone!

"Finally," a dark voice hissed, and Pan felt chills rise on her arms. She knew that voice. She had to swallow the bile that raised into her throat. "I found you!"

Pan woke up with a strangled gasp. She could feel the sweat rolling down her neck as her body shook. Trunks was up and leaning over her, and his blue eyes were wide and fearful.

"Angel," he called, and she felt herself relax slightly. That was his nickname for her. "Did you have a nightmare?" He asked.

Pan let out a breath as she sat up slowly. "Axel," she gasped. Her chest was painfully tight. "It was a warning," she said, not knowing how she knew that. "He'll arrive when I turn 21."

Trunks tensed beside her. He let out a small breath, "well, at least we have two years to prepare. He's not -"

"Trunks," Pan glanced up at him through tears. "Not my 21st birthday, the other me. The one that saved me from him. He's going after her, and I have a sick feeling that her 21st birthday is a lot sooner than we think."

Trunks was silent beside her. His brows were furrowed as he frowned.

"Trunks," Pan let out a breath as she reached over and grabbed his hand. "The only reason I survived Axel was because of her. She saved me, and now I have to save her. I have to go to that timeline."

"You'll see him again if you do that," Trunks spoke softly. He held her hand tightly. "Are you ready to face him?"

"For years, he controlled me," she whispered. "I was his puppet and toy, but he can't harm me anymore. He has no power over me, and I'm not about to let him kill my family and destroy another timeline."

"Okay," Trunks nodded. "How do we get there?"

"Magic," Pan said. Magic got her to this timeline, and it could get her to the other one.

NORMAL TIMELINE:

Pan stared out the window as she watched lightning flash across the night sky. Rain danced across the windows, and she let out a sigh as she looked down at West City. Most people were asleep, and she had been as well until a nightmare had woke her up.

The nightmare surprised Pan more than anything. It had been almost a year since she had had one. In this dream, she wasn't sure if it was her or the other Pan, but they were running, and Axel was screaming at them. Pan was convinced that he was still in the timeline they had left him in, alone and no doubt angry. She didn't care. She hoped Axel rotted in that place alone and bitter.

"Here," Trunks said as he walked up and handed her a cup of tea.

"Thanks," Pan smiled at him sweetly. She hadn't meant to wake him up, but she wasn't surprised that it did.

"Was your nightmare bad?" Trunks asked as he stood beside her.

Pan shook her head. "Not really. I was surprised that I had one more than anything. It was just Axel chasing either the other Pan or me. He was mad," she snickered.

"Him being mad amuses you?" Trunks raised an eyebrow with a small smirk.

"Yes," she looked at him with a smile. "After everything he did to the other Pan, I want him to get what's coming to him. I'm sure he's still trying to find her, and even though I don't know where I sent her, I'm confident that he won't be able to find her."

Trunks looked at her softly. "I'm just glad you're not scared of him anymore."

"Papa told me once that being scared of someone gives that person power over you," Pan said softly. "Mama and Kesai told me to remember that the power he has wasn't something he was born with. It was something that was given to him and it's something that can taken away just as easily. And, I have you," she smiled at him.

Trunks beamed, and he leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Damn right. I won't let anything happen to you," he promised.