41- The Reaper
Early Fall
Pan smiled as she watched her family laugh. They were huddled together in one of the libraries celebrating her birthday. She was nineteen years old, and she couldn't believe how much had changed in her life over the last year. Her and Trunks were married and expecting. Her father was back, and so was Trunks' uncle. Everything was how it should be.
"Are you okay?" Trunks asked Pan.
"Yes," she smiled at him. "I was just watching our family." She loved them all so much.
"Yeah, they're a mess," Trunks smiled fondly. "Just wait until the baby comes," he chuckled.
Pan laughed as she rubbed her stomach. A strange flutter went through her. Her stomach felt warm.
Dread filled Pan. Cold sweat was gathering on her back. She gasped loudly as she straightened her back.
"Panna?" Trunks called to her worriedly.
Pan's vision faded. Splotches of bright reds, oranges, and yellows covered her vision until there was nothing but images of ashes. Ruins of an army. Screams of agony and terror, and a ruthless smirk.
Pan was screaming as she came out of the trance. Trunks had her shoulders, and his eyes were wide and fearful. The room that had been lively minutes ago was now quiet.
"Panna, are you okay?" Trunks asked.
Pan was shaking, and Bulla quickly handed her a glass of water. She gulped it down, her mouth feeling as if it were a barren wasteland.
"What was that about?" Goten asked softly.
"A vision," Pan croaked. A voice that didn't sound like hers spoke- "Frieza is coming, beware. He knows what we have done, and he's coming to burn the planet down."
Pan shook as her eyes widened. "He'll be here within the half-hour!"
The room grew still and quiet. Vegeta was the first to stand, and he seemed ill, but calm.
"Radtiz, Endou- go warn the soldiers. Get everyone you can. We're fighting for our planet."
"On it," Radtiz nodded before him, and Endou took off.
"Trunks, get the women to earth, and they will be safe there," he said.
It happened quickly for Pan. Marron and Bulla refused to be left behind and declared they would be fighting as well. Soon, Pan, Chi-Chi, and Bulma were swept away and taken to earth.
"Trunks," Pan croaked as they appeared on Earth. Her grip on his hand was tight, and she didn't want to let go.
Was what she saw an actual vision or a warning? Would Vegeta-Sei become ruins? She wanted to sob at the thought. Trunks and the others would be right in the middle of it all. The thought made Pan sick.
Trunks swallowed hard and cupped her cheeks. "Stay safe," he told her. "If something happens- you and our mothers run."
"Don't talk like that!" Pan cried in horror.
Trunks stroked her cheek gently before he leaned down and kissed her. All too soon, he was pulling away, and then he just disappeared.
Pan covered her mouth as she started to sob. She could feel her mother and Bulma by her side, but she couldn't look at them. What were they going to do?
There was something restless growing inside of Pan. It was fluttering around ever since her vision. It was the same feeling she had when the northern rebels attacked on earth. Part of Pan was scared, but another part of her said that it was okay. That all would be okay by the end of the day.
Trunks had seen this day coming for years. He knew it would only be a matter of time before Frieza would decide to get rid of them. They would be too big of a threat.
When Trunks had rescued Goku and Tarble, he had expected Frieza to attack right away. But instead, a whole season had passed before he made his move.
Trunks glanced around with a deep frown. Most of the troops were away in raids. Raditz and Endou had only gathered a couple of hundred Saiyans to fight. They would be out-numbered, something Frieza had known and most likely planned.
It didn't mean anything, though. Outnumbered or not, Trunks was confident in his abilities and the abilities of his people.
Frieza's ship landed a mile from away from where they were on the outskirts of the capital. Trunks didn't want to show how nervous he was, but he felt as if he could throw up. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Bulla reach down and grab Goten's hand. His Appa stood up straighter, and there was silence across the land as Frieza's door opened.
Soldiers, one after another, ran out of Frieza's ship. There were a lot more of them than there were Saiyans. As Frieza's men started to march towards them, Trunks felt himself tensing. There was no sign of Frieza, but he was there on the ship.
Vegeta turned towards Trunks. "Want to say a few words?"
Trunks let out a breath and turned behind him to look at the Saiyans. They all looked as nervous as he felt.
"This is it," he told the crowd. "This is where e finally break free from Frieza. We might be outnumbered, but we are a warrior race. We will prove ourselves victorious. We will break free today!"
The Saiyans went wild, and Trunks felt himself smirking. They would have to get past the foot soldiers before they could get to Frieza. It was time to make it known that they were done with Frieza. It was time for them to protect their home.
Pan paced across the garden. Her eyes frequently glanced up at Vegeta-Sei, looming in the distance. Even when she squinted, she still couldn't see anything going on.
Pan honestly wasn't sure how long it had been since Trunks left, but it felt like a lifetime. She didn't stay in the study - it was too small for as big as her anxiety was growing. Chi-Chi and Bulma had followed her, but Pan didn't care.
A wild shift ran through the air, causing the trees to shake. The sky started to darken, and Pan glanced up just in time to see a strop cloud cover Vegeta-Sei. Her stomach twisted. Something was telling her that it wasn't a storm. Frieza was going to strike.
Pan gritted her teeth in frustration. Wasn't there something that could be done? Her family was in danger!
'I can help,' a voice whispered in the back of Pan's mind. 'Just let me take control, and I will make Frieza himself tremble.'
Pan swallowed hard. Was this the voice that was behind the other times she'd lost control? The voice was familiar, almost like her own, but it was a bit raspier.
"What about my baby?" Pan asked.
"Panny?" Chi-Chi glanced around her with a worried frown. "What about the baby?"
'I promise that all inside of you will not be harmed,' the voice said.
All? Pan wanted to question it. Did she mean the pearls as well? But Pan knew she didn't have time to question it.
"Okay," Pan said with a nod. To protect her child, her mate, and her family, she would do anything.
A jolt ran through Pan, one that made her gasp. Her body was growing warm and hot, and she could hear her mother and Bulma gasping. Pan knew that this time, she would remember it all.
Trunks was aggravated more than anything. No matter how many of Frieza's soldiers he took down, more always popped up! Just how many minions did that little bastard have? They were making some progress, though, for the ship was getting closer.
A loud screeching sound caused Trunks and the other Saiyans to come to a sudden stop. Frieza had finally arrived. He jumped onto the ground, and it was the first time in years. Trunks had seen him without that damn chair of his.
"You filthy creatures!" He shrieked. "I've spared you for years, and you repay me by sneaking onto my ship and plotting against me?!" He roared.
"Shut up, you sick fuck."
Trunks' eyes widened as he looked at his Appa in awe.
Frieza let out a little hiss, "speaking your mind now, are you, Vegeta?"
"Yeah, I am," he glared at Frieza. "So before you die, let me tell you this, Asshole, I hope you burn in hell."
"I'll see you there!" Frieza roared as he charged forward.
Vegeta and Goku charged forward and met Frieza halfway. Trunks was busy dealing with Frieza's army to be able to pay attention to them. Goten and Bulla stayed near him, and the three of them kept pushing forward. Gohan and Marron were somewhere on Trunks' left, and behind him were Tarble, Endou, and Radtiz.
A loud thud made the battle stop momentarily as Goku and Vegeta both came crashing down. Frieza floated in the sky, and although he seemed to have a few scrapes on him, he looked better than most.
"You all will pay!" He screamed as he pointed to the sky. On his pointer finger, a small yellow orb began to form. Within seconds, the sphere grew, and Trunks realized it was a Ki Bomb! Frieza was going to blow up the planet!
Frieza's army started to scream, and quickly they began to retreat towards the ship. The sky started to darken as a chilling wind swept through.
Trunks could feel nothing but dread and terror. It was seeping into his bones, making it impossible for him to move. He couldn't breathe or feel his heart pounding against his chest.
"RUN!" Vegeta yelled frantically as he crawled out of the pit with Goku. "GO!" He shouted, his eyes wide and fearful as he looked at Trunks and Bulla.
But it seemed that just like Trunks, everyone was just as frozen with fear. Pan- Trunks' heart ached at the thought of her and their child. He had to go to her, but he couldn't move!
Time seemed to stop as the bomb grew and grew. Frieza was laughing mechanically from his spot in the air. His army was still scrambling to get to the ship, but the Saiyans were still, unmoving.
Somehow, Trunks knew it wasn't just fear that was keeping him rooted to the ground. Something was telling him to stay because deliverance was coming.
"THIS IS IT FOR YOU FILTHY SAIYANS!" Frieza shrieked.
Trunks' heart stopped as Frieza threw the bomb.
But it never hit.
Thunder cracked across the sky as lightning flashed. Something faster than Trunks could see had flown in front of the Ki bomb and kicked it the other direction. The force of the kick sent a strong wind back, and Trunks and everyone else had to brace themselves from falling over as they covered their faces. Even Frieza was sent to the ground from the impact.
The wind stopped, and the Ki bomb was nowhere to be seen. Trunks heart thudded, and he was finally able to move as he saw a figure floating several inches off the ground in the battlefield between the Saiyans and Frieza's army.
"Panna!" He gasped in horror. No- no! It couldn't be her! Not again! He reached her, and his hands touched her shoulders with a gasp. She was hot!
Pan looked up at him, but just like the time on earth, there was something off about her eyes. It was her, but it wasn't.
"Who are you?" He whispered.
"I'm still her," whispered a voice from Pan's mouth. "She's here, awake and aware. Do not worry, Young Prince. I promise that your mate, and all that's inside-" her hand swept across Pan's swollen stomach- "will not be harmed."
Trunks could hear his heart thudding in his ears. He was aware of how all the Saiyans had their eyes on them. He was sure his and Pan's family was wanting to know what was going on.
"She wants me to tell you something," Pan's hands came up and cupped his cheeks. "It's time for my promise to come true. Today, I am protecting you."
Trunks swallowed hard. He always knew Pan wasn't lying when she said that, but he never imagined that it would be this.
"WHICH ONE OF YOU FILTHY CREATURES DID THAT?!" Frieza's voice screamed from behind Trunks.
Trunks knew he was blocking Frieza and his army's view of Pan, and he didn't want to move. What would happen then? He was half tempted to grab her and disappear, but he didn't think he would be able to do that.
"Trust me," came Pan's voice.
Trunks let out a shaky breath and closed his eyes. He nodded his head as he opened his eyes again, and Pan removed her hands as she smiled. Slowly, Trunks turned around and took a step away from Pan.
She was still floating about the ground. Truthfully, she didn't look that much different than she had that morning, but the sight of her made Frieza stumble back. His army seemed to suck in a hallow gasp.
"N-No," Frieza's voice was trembling as he shook. "It can't be-"
"IT'S THE REAPER!" Someone from Frieza's army shrieked.
They screamed in horror. Not everyone was on the ship, but it was starting to rise.
Pan let out a deep breath and raised her hand, and in one, fluid motion, she sent a Ki blast straight to the ship that exploded it. Trunks had to cover himself from the explosion, but Pan was utterly unfazed. Many of Frieza's men had died from the blast, but more of them were still left. Frieza was still standing near the front, his eyes wide as he stared at Pan.
"I warned you!" Pan's voice shrieked at Frieza. A look crossed her face that Trunks had never seen on her before. A snarl, filled with rage. Her eyes narrowed at Frieza. "I told you not to mess with my people!"
Pan raised her right hand to the sky, and a flash of lightning came down. Trunks couldn't stop staring at her. The simple pink dress she had been wearing earlier had changed into some sort of white-silk material that flowed off of her body, but that wasn't the most surprising thing. In her hand was now a scythe. It was taller than she was! Its body was a brilliant gold with large red rubies around its ring at the top. The blade was long and sinister-looking as it glowed a reflecting black metal made from a meteorite.
"YOU DIED!" Frieza shrieked as he pointed to Pan. He was panting as his body shook. "I KNOW YOU DID, YOU DRAGON!"
Pan smirked before she laughed. She still held the scythe above her head before her laughter came to a sudden stop, and she reached her other hand up to grab the scythe as well.
"It's just as you feared, Frezia," she hissed. "I've been reborn, and this one will be stronger and greater."
"PLEASE!" Cried one of Frieza's soldiers. "SPARE US!"
"I SPARE NO ONE WHO THREATENS MY HOME!" Pan's voice roared so loud that the air itself shook. A powerful Ki was shaking off of her as her dark hair started to rise around her. "YOU ALL WILL FACE THE CALAMITY AND CHAOS I AM BRINGING. IT WILL BE A CATACLYSMIC CASUALTY FOR THE KOLD EMPIRE. WE WILL BURN YOU DOWN UNTIL YOU ARE NOTHING BUT ASHES!"
Pan swung down her scythe, and a powerful light burst through it. Trunks was nearly knocked back from the force, and he could feel a heat covering his entire body. It wasn't bad, though. It was warm and gentle, and it reminded him of Pan. By the time Trunks could open his eyes again, the light had dimmed.
Pan was now standing on the ground, the bottom of the scythe was resting on the ground as well. Trunks glanced back quickly and saw that all of the Saiyans were still standing. The blast had harmed none of them. In front of them were nothing but ashes where Frieza's army had stood, and Trunks looked over at his mate to see she was smirking.
"The vision has come true," she mused.
She let out a gasp and glanced up just in time to see Frieza charging down. He must have jumped up right before Pan swung and avoided her blast. In a flash, Pan had jumped up. There was a blood-curdling scream before Frieza's body hit the ground. His arms had been chopped off, and purple blood was dripping from his sides. He screamed in rage as he rolled himself up to his knees. He stumbled with moans and shouts.
Pan landed in front of him, her scythe covered in his purple blood. Trunks had never seen anything like it. For so long, he had been fearful of Frieza, and Pan had chopped his arms off without breaking a sweat!
"He's not dead!" Frieza started to laugh hysterically. "You didn't kill him all those years ago, and he'll be back! Oh, he'll be back, and there will be-"
Pan grabbed Frieza's face. Her palm covered his mouth. Trunks watched as she squeezed Frieza's face painfully, and his eyes widened as he watched Pan lift Frieza off the ground effortlessly.
"Let him come, then," Pan's voice was a dark hiss. "She will be waiting for him. What's wrong, Frieza?" She asked as she tilted her head. "Didn't you want to burn this place to the ground?"
Pan's Ki started to rise, and Trunks watched as she shot a Ki blast right through Frieza's skull. He flew back, and she quickly swung her scythe towards him with another mighty blow. Frieza's body, just like all of his men's, turned to ashes.
And just like that, Frieza, the tyrant that had been feared by the galaxy, was dead.
"I am coming for all the monsters that ever touched him,
I am coming for all the ones that twisted his stars into shadows.
They turned him into a nightmare,
So I'm going to be theirs."
-K.S.
Pan's having a scythe was inspired by Sailor Saturn from Sailor Moon. She's my favorite!
The blast Pan used on Frieza's army was inspired by Fairy Law from Fairy Tail. It's a powerful spell that basically takes down the user's enemy but leaves their allies unharmed. It's a spell that reads the user's heart in order to do that.