31- The Power of Four

"Yeah. We're going to help our mothers kick your ass!"

Pan had already known it before he spoke just who he was. He was her son from the future. He was the same baby that was currently nestled inside her stomach. She couldn't stop staring at him. He was so handsome. He favored Trunks in looks, but he had her dark eyes.

"Hoshi," Pan whispered. She and Trunks hadn't decided on a name yet, but somehow, she knew that was it.

He turned to look at her, and a grin lit up his face. Pan's hands itched to reach out and hold him.

"You two heard me," LP said, her shoulders visibly relaxing with relief. "Akua," she smiled at the young girl, who favored Chi-Chi in looks.

"Of course we did!" Akua nodded. "We heard you from 17 years in the future, both of us, from different timelines."

"And with both of us here, we can call on the four corners," Hoshi said.

Axel roared from inside the circle. His magic was spiraling around him in a dark tornado. His face was twisted in an evil snarl.

"It's okay," LP assured them. "He's inside the binding circle, and he can't harm us. We have to move fast, though."

Pan wanted to ask how exactly they would call on the four corners, but somehow she already knew. Her chest was growing warm with her magic. She could feel it buzzing around her. The grass beneath her feet fluttered, and she could feel the ground shaking.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" Axel demanded.

Pan held out her hands and placed her palms up. Words from her ancestors filled her mind, and she spoke them. "I call upon the Watchtowers of the West, Guardians of the earth and trees. Hear me!"

In Pan's palms, the magic began to swirl. It was a cloud of vibrant greens and rich browns that twisted and turned together. She could feel it running through her veins, and she stared at it in awe. She never knew that her magic had been so beautiful.

Axel was roaring inside of the circle. He stumbled across it frantically. His magic was thrashing about, attempting to break free, but the golden circle continued to glow.

Akua held out her palms next. "I call upon the Watchtowers of the North, Guardians of the water and the seas. Hear me!" Her magic was a mixture of blues, ranging from the lightest sky blue to the darkest sea blue. It swirled above her palms like Pan's magic did. Faintly, Pan could smell and feel the salt and mist of the sea.

Hoshi held out his palms. "I call upon the Watchtowers of the South, Guardians of the fire and the stars. Hear me!" His magic blazed up in front of him with a whoosh. It was all yellows and oranges that crackled and popped like actual fire. Pan could feel the heat from it, but it didn't bother Hoshi. He was holding it confidently.

Axel let out a laugh that shook the air. "You're pathetic! All of you! She doesn't even have an element -" he pointed towards LP. "I tried to get her to find one, but they never came to her! Your corners will be incomplete!" He snarled, "and I will break free! I'll -"

"You're wrong," LP narrowed her eyes at him.

There was a buzz in the air. One that made the hairs on the back of Pan's neck stand.

"What?" Axel stopped his laughter as he looked at her with wide eyes. "YOU HAVE NO ELEMENT!"

LP lifted her arms above her as her palms facing towards the sky. "I call upon the Watchtowers of the East, Guardians of the air and the skies. Hear me!" The wind howled as it swept through the terrain. Lightning streaked down around them. LP's magic was a mixture of silver and white. It looked like a storm waiting to unfurl.

"No -" Axel stuttered as he took a step back from LP. "NO!" He screamed as he grabbed his head. "I HAVE THE POWER - ME!"

LP continued as if Axel hadn't spoken. "Guardians of the watchtowers, hear us! May the corners judge him accordingly," she said with a glare towards Axel.

Pan's magic swirled forward, as did the others.
They surrounded Axel, who arched his back and screamed. Pan watched with wide eyes as the magic changed Axel. He was growing thinner - his skin losing its youthful appearance. His dark hair lost its volume as it slowly began to disappear. His body was turning into what looked like ash, his skin turning a musty grey color. His eyes were wide and void of any emotion as they turned solid black.

There was a blinding flash of light from their magic that caused Pan to shield her eyes with her arms. Once it was over, their magic and the circle were gone. Pan could still feel her body buzzing with adrenaline.

Axel stood, his back arched and his face tilted up towards the sky. He looked nothing like he had. His body was charred, his black eyes fathomless. Little moans were escaping his lips. Pan swallowed hard. She had wanted him to suffer, but this was almost sickening.

"What happened to him?" Akua asked as she took a step closer towards LP.

"He abused the power he had been granted, so it was stripped from him," LP answered softly. "He had corrupted himself and the power, and it made him into something inhumane. What you're looking at is what he's turned himself into."

Axel made a hiss between his teeth, and suddenly, he turned towards Pan and rushed straight at her!

Hoshi grabbed her, his arms wrapping around her shoulders as he pressed her against his chest. He raised his leg and kicked Axel. "Stay away from my Mom!" He yelled.

Axel stumbled forward and fell onto his knees on the ground. LP let out a gasp at the sight of MT and Trunks. The boundary wall must have disappeared once the corners had disappeared. Trunks rushed over towards Pan and Hoshi, his hand wrapping around Pan's waist, so she was squished between the two boys.

MT was still frozen where he had been, and he glared at the spot in front of him where Axel had fallen. His blue eyes were cold and dangerous.

Axel let out a groan, his charred hand reaching out towards MT. In one swift movement, Mt withdrew his sword and swiped Axel's head right off his shoulders. There was no blood or sound from Axel. The wind breezed by, and with it, Axel's body slowly crumpled onto nothing but ash and dust.

LP let out a breath as she stumbled back. Akua was quick to grab her to steady her. MT, who had put his sword up quickly, was on LP's other side in a flash.

"Panna," Trunks' voice was soft as he called her. "Are you okay?"

"I am," Pan nodded with a small smile.

Trunks glanced up at Hoshi, and Pan could see the questions swirling around in his blue eyes. "Are you okay?" He asked.

Hoshi smiled brightly and nodded his head. "I'm great!"

Trunks' lips twitched, and he raised his hand to ruffle Hoshi's hair. "You were fast at protecting her. You beat me to it."

Hoshi was beaming at the compliment, and Pan couldn't take it any longer. She cupped his face, and his eyes widened in surprise.

"Look at you," she said with a grin. "You're so handsome!"

Hoshi's cheeks were growing pink, but he was smiling pleasantly.

"Tell me that's your kid," Goten said as the group walked up. "He looks just like Trunks."

"I am their kid," Hoshi nodded with a proud smile. "I'm from 17 years in the future. That's me now -" he pointed to Pan's swollen stomach.

"And you?" Bulla glanced towards Akua, who was still beside LP.

"Ah," her eyes widened slightly. "I'm from 17 years in the future as well. At the moment, I'm also -" her eyes drifted towards LP's stomach.

MT followed Akua's gaze before looking up at LP quickly, then Akua, and then LP again. "What?" He asked as his eyes grew wide.

LP smiled slowly. "Surprise," she said. "I didn't find out myself until this morning when I was meditating. That's why I sent that doppelgänger first."

MT looked as if he were in a daze. "Wow," he whispered.

"So, what happened to Axel?" Goku raised an eyebrow. Pan wasn't surprised that he and Vegeta were the only ones unfazed by the appearance of their future grandchildren.

"Ashes to ashes; dust to dust," LP spoke softly. "He returned to and is, nothing."

Goten visibly shuddered, "you guys are scary as hell."

"It wasn't us that did that," Pan told him. "It was our magic. It judged Axel's heart and saw him as guilty. So as long as you don't ever turn evil on us, Ten, you're good," she smiled at her brother.

He let out a grin and ran his thumb and pointer finger over the top of his lip. "I think I'd look very handsome with a villain mustache, don't you?" He glanced at Hoshi, "tell me I have a mustache."

"Not a chance," Hoshi laughed.

Suddenly, two pops sounded through the air. The group turned to see two portals several yards away. Both of them were swirling colors of gold and white.

"That's our cue," Akua said softly.

Hoshi nodded slowly. "Yeah, we were allowed to come help, but we can't stay long. Something about messing up the space-time continuum," he shrugged. "But-" he looked at Trunks and Pan with a smile. "I'll see you two soon?"

Pan smiled brightly and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. "Of course," she said as she squeezed him.

Trunks joined their hug, "we can't wait to meet you," he said.

Hoshi pulled back with a bright grin. He stepped towards the portal before he stopped and turned towards Akua. She was hugging LP and Trunks.

"I'll see you two soon," she was saying.

MT still looked as if he were in awe, but he smiled slowly and wrapped his arm around Akua to hug her back. "Yeah, in what, eight or nine months?" He asked softly. "We'll be waiting.

"Mhm," LP agreed with a warm smile.

Akua stepped away from them and ran towards Hoshi. They smiled at each other before they walked towards the portals. "I can't wait to tell Mama and Daddy about everything!" Akua had a skip to her step.

"Me too," Hoshi agreed. "See you tomorrow?" He asked as they stopped in front of their portals.

"Tomorrow," Akua promised. "Tell Aunt Panny I need help with my plants again."

"Oh, she's going to be mad if you've killed them again!" Hoshi snickered.

"I haven't!" Akua promised with a laugh.

Hoshi and Akua walked through their separate portals, and then, in a blink, they were gone, back to the timelines they belonged in.

Brief Manor's backyard was buzzing with chatter and laughter. With Axel defeated, a sense of calmness was over the air. Pan hadn't had a chance to celebrate her birthday the day before, too much had been going on, and by the time everyone arrived back, Bulma and Chi-Chi had demanded answers.

So, the party was scheduled for the day after, and Pan was excited to be sharing it with LP. She and MT would be leaving the next morning, and Pan felt sad at the thought of being away from her. It was strange, but she had bonded with her counterpart. LP didn't feel like another her; she felt like a sister.

"You too."

Pan turned to see LP standing behind her. Her smile was radiating off of her. She was completely free now.

"You feel like a sister to me as well," LP said. "Like a twin," she grinned.

Pan smiled, "at least we don't have to worry about each other. According to the way Hoshi and Akua talk, we have many play dates," she said.

"I would have been hurt if we didn't," LP said. She let out a sigh before she hugged Pan. "Thank you," she said. "For everything."

Pan hugged LP back, and for several moments, they stood like that until they pulled back. LP gave Pan one last grin before turning and walking over towards MT, who was chatting with Krillin and Yamcha. Bulma had invited some of the older Z-Fighters over to see him.

"Trunks!" LP called him.

MT turned and met her before she got to him. "Be careful," he said as he wrapped an arm around her waist protectively.

LP let out a small giggle. "I'm okay," she promised him.

Fingers roamed down Pan's back before she felt a hand resting on her hip. She looked over and smiled at Trunks, whose blue eyes were shining down at her. They had spent hours the day before talking about their son. How handsome he was, the power he possessed, and how they couldn't wait to meet him.

"How are you feeling?" Trunks asked softly.

"Good," she answered honestly.

Trunks reached over and kissed her temple. "After this, I'm taking a week off."

"A week?" Pan bit back her laugh.

Trunks grinned as he stepped in front of her. His hand rubbed her belly lovingly. "You should take a week off too and spend it with me. We need it."

"That does sound really tempting," she agreed. She couldn't stop smiling at him. Everything in her life was too perfect.

"This next week, Panna, it's going to me and you," and he told her softly. From inside Pan's stomach, Hoshi gave Trunks' hand a gentle kick, and Trunks laughed. "Okay, me, you, and Hoshi. Better?" He asked the bump.

Pan placed her hand over Trunks' and smiled up at him. "I wouldn't want it any other way," she told him as she leaned up to kiss him.

THE END

Hi everyone!

Thanks so much for reading this story! Those who are reading it again - I know a lot has changed. I still hope you enjoyed it! Those who are reading for the first time - I hope you enjoyed it as well!

Thanks always for all the love and support you show me! I appreciate it so much!

Pannabee