Part Three- In Which the Dragon Awakens
52- Through the Fire
Midsummer
Goku had known as soon as he woke up how the day would end. Trunks would become King, and then Panny- he wasn't sure what would happen, honestly. He had tried speaking with her several times throughout the day, but her and Trunks were busy preparing for the coronation.
When Trunks and Pan had walked out, Goku couldn't believe how beautiful Pan looked. Of course, to him, she always looked beautiful, but today, she looked like the Queen she was soon becoming. As she passed them, he could see it in her eyes- she knew something was about to happen.
Goku kept his eyes focused on Pan. Her back was tense, and minutes ticked by slowly. Goku's stomach was whirling in nerves, and his hands were twitchy. He didn't know what would happen, but he wanted to be ready.
Trunks stood up from the spot he had been kneeling in. The royal crown was placed on the top of his head. He looked powerful, and Goku knew that if Vegeta had been there, he'd be proud.
Goku felt the shift in the air. He looked over at Pan just in time to see her hunch over. Trunks rushed over to her and caught her before she fell. Goku ran over quickly, as did everyone else. Pan's face was contorted in pain. She clutched her stomach as she screamed.
"She's burning up!" Trunks cried.
"What's wrong with her?!" Chi-Chi asked on the verge of sobbing.
"Trunks-" Goku grabbed his shoulder, and he could feel him shaking. "We have to take her to the Dragons Den."
"What?" Trunks whispered.
"Dad, we need to get her to a doctor," Gohan said quickly.
"It'll be too late by then," Goku shook his head. "I took Pan to those mountains when she was born."
"What?" Chi-Chi asked. "That's where you took her to save her?"
Goku nodded before he looked back at Trunks, who's gaze was fixed on Pan. She had frown quiet, other than her harsh panting. "I have to take her back, Trunks," he said. "He's waiting for her- I know you can feel it."
Trunks' eyes widened as he looked at Goku. He was the King now, and the one Pan had been waiting on. Trunks scooped Pan up into his arms firmly before he stood up. His blue eyes were set in determination. "Let's go."
Goku grabbed Chi-Chi's hand and placed it on his arm before placing his hand on Trunks' shoulder. He could see the others quickly reaching out to grab ahold of them as well before they all disappeared.
They reappeared at the base of the mountains. There was a small gasp in the air, and Goku assumed this was the closest any of them had ever gotten to the Dragons Den.
Goku turned to face Trunks and held out his arms. Trunks clutched Pan against him. He didn't want to let her go, and Goku didn't blame him.
"Trunks," Goku's voice was gentle. "I'm the one that brought her up here almost 20 years ago. It has to be me."
Trunks was trembling as he held Pan. He leaned down and kissed her.
Goku took Pan into his arms gently. She was burning up. Sweat was clinging to her. Her eyebrows were furrowed as she panted. She looked fragile, and Goku was taken back to the day she was born. She had been so little and helpless back then. He let out a breath before he jumped up and flew up the mountain.
The air was growing thicker the closer they got to the top. Pan's breathing was becoming more labored. Goku sped up his pace until he was finally at the top. He fell to his knees as he faced the opening. His arms shook as he held Pan out.
"Please!" He begged. "Save her!"
The mountains shook as a low rumble echoed through the air. It didn't speak, but it didn't need to for Goku to understand. His body shook as he gently laid Pan down on the ground.
"Panny," he choked as he moved some of her hair from her face. "What you're about to face may be painful. I'm so sorry-" his shoulders shook with a sob. "Please, Panny- please-" he begged. "Stay strong. You can do anything, especially this." He leaned down and kissed her forehead before he stood up shakily. He flew down the mountain quickly and landed in front of Chi-Chi.
"What the hell, Goku!" Trunks yelled. "How can you just leave her up there?!" He growled before he ran to go up the mountain. Something invisible stopped him, though, and shocked him to keep him back. "What the fuck?!" He cried. "LET ME GO TO HER!" He screamed as he tried again to go up the mountain, but it was useless. The invisible shield was keeping Trunks out, no matter how much he cussed and blasted it.
"Goku," Chi-Chi had tears rolling down her cheeks. "What's going on?"
"Panny has to pass a test before he'll help her," Goku whispered.
"What kind of test?" Bulma asked worriedly.
"I don't know," Goku admitted. He swallowed hard as he looked up the mountain. Pan's figure was small, but it was apparent she was in pain.
Bulla walked up to Trunks, who was standing as close as the barrier would let him. She took his hand and squeezed it. "Panny is strong. I know she'll pass."
Goten walked up on Trunks' other side and placed a hand on his shoulder. "We all know how stubborn she is."
From the corner of his eye, Goku saw Gohan wrap an arm around Marron to pull her close to him. Radtiz, Endou, Kimi, Tarble, and Yamcha, who had come along, were silent as they looked up the mountain. Chi-Chi and Bulma were huddled together, both with their hands folded together in front of them like they were silently praying.
Goku looked up at the mountain. Pan had grown still. The air was tense. Her test had begun.
Pan's body was screaming. A fire roared inside of her stomach. It's razor-sharp claws thrashed against her insides. The pain had blinded her and detached herself from the world. She didn't know where she was or who was nearby. She didn't care.
The pain was excruciating, and the heat was burning her alive. She choked as her body pulsated in painfully. Pan had known this day was coming, but why did it have to hurt so bad? Why her?
She just wanted it to stop! She wanted the pain to go away!
A cool breeze suddenly washed over Pan. It took her breath away as she gasped. It cooled her broiling body, and the pain was fading fast. Soon, it was gone entirely, and Pan sighed in relief. Finally, she could rest.
Pan realized she was lying on something soft. She breathed deeply, and her lips twitched as she inhaled Trunks' scent. Her eyes were heavy, and she struggled a few seconds before she managed to open them. Her vision was blurry at first as she looked around the familiar room.
She was in her and Trunks' room inside the castle. How did she get there? Had she passed out?
With heavy limbs, Pan managed to get out of the bed. Her mind felt foggy as she looked around the room. It was her and Trunks' room, but it felt different. It was cold and lacked the warm feeling it usually brought her.
Pan dragged her feet across the floor slowly. She felt like she had just spent hours training.
The bedroom door opened with a quiet hush. The castle hallways were barren, and Pan couldn't feel anyone's Ki. Where was everyone? Where was Trunks? He couldn't be far because he never went far when Pan was sick. But maybe he was visiting Vegeta. That would explain it.
Pan turned into a hallway and saw a man and woman standing towards the end of it.
"Excuse me-" Pan croaked. She cringed at her voice and cleared her throat several times as she walked closer to the two. "Excuse me," her voice was a hoarse whisper that they didn't seem to hear.
Pan was just a few feet away from them when she stopped suddenly. She knew the man and the woman. She knew them well. They were her children. Was she seeing another vision? She must have been!
Pan could feel heart pounding against her chest as her eyes grew warm. She couldn't believe she was getting a chance to see them grown-up again.
"Takehiko," she whispered as she looked at her son. He was tall and handsome, just like his Appa. His dark blue hair was messy, as always.
"Takara," she smiled as she looked at her daughter. She was beautiful, with dark hair that glowed purple in the right light.
Pan watched them for several seconds with a warm smile before she started to frown. Something was off. They were different than before. The first time she had seen them, they had been playful and smiling. Now, they seemed sad.
Takara's shoulders started to shake in a cry, and Takehiko reached out and wrapped an arm around her.
"What's wrong?" Pan asked as her stomach dropped. She rushed around so she was in front of them. She touched Takara's shoulder and Takehiko's arm, but they couldn't feel her, hear her, or see her. "Oh," her lips started to tremble as she watched tears roll down her daughter's face. "What's wrong?" Her heart began to feel heavy. "I'm here. Mama is here!" She cried. She wanted nothing more than to wrap them both in a tight hug and never let go.
"He hates us!" Takara sobbed as her shoulders shook.
"No," Takehiko's voice was gentle as he held his sister. "He doesn't. Appa loves us."
Pan's eyes widened as her hands fell from them. Her heart dropped to her stomach. Why would Takara think that?
"He can't even look at me!" Takara shook her head as she cried. "I look too much like Mama! It's been sixteen years, Takehiko! Let's face it. Our Appa died the same day our Mama did."
Pan fell to her knees as her body shook. She watched as her children walked away. She opened her mouth to call back to them, but nothing- not even a whimper would come out.
The world was shifting, and Pan stared at the carpet as her tears fell. Her chest was tight as she fought to catch her breath. She had died? Had those fears inside of her mind been right all along?
Pan glanced up just in time to see Takehiko and Takara disappear. She stood up quickly and nearly lost her balance before she took off in a run. No. Things couldn't end this way!
Pan threw open the doors to Trunks' study. He was at his desk, hunched over a paper, and he didn't even move at the sound.
"Trunks!" Pan screamed as she stormed over to him.
He couldn't hear her either. She felt herself sobbing as she looked at him. He looked so sad. This man was not her Trunks. He was just a shell of someone who used to be. Dark circles rested under his eyes. His lavender hair was dull and faded. His features were ghostly.
Pan walked over to him and saw he was looking at an old portrait of her. It was like she had been punched in the gut. All of the air inside of her left her body, and she trembled to the ground.
"Trunks-" her voice broke. "You can't do this!" She sobbed. "You promised me! If something ever happened to me, that you would love the twins for both of us! You promised-!" Pan gasped as her hand covered her mouth. He had never promised her that. He had refused as he promised not to let anything happen to Pan for that to happen.
None of this was fair. Pan didn't want to go! She didn't want to leave her family!
"Please!" She begged. "I want to live!" She screamed.
Heat engulfed Pan. She gasped in surprise and closed her eyes. She expected searing pain like earlier, but instead, she got something calmer.
She opened her eyes slowly and saw that she was standing in the middle of a barren field. She wasn't in the castle anymore. She let out a shaky breath of relief. That had been just an illusion. Her family was okay- it would be okay because she would live!
Thunder rolled overhead, and Pan jumped slightly. She still wasn't fond of the clashing noises from the sky, and she let out a breath as she closed her eyes for a few seconds. No. She wouldn't be scared anymore. That's what this was all about, wasn't it?
Pan had been fearful of what was lurking inside of her. The power she knew little to nothing about, and how dangerous it could be. She had thought it was destruction and that it would kill her, but she could feel it clearly now. It was warm and inviting. It tingled through her body in pleasurable trills.
She could feel them too. Heartbeats. Warm and steady. And very eager. It was their time.
Pan opened her eyes and saw that standing in front of her in the field was now a wall of fire. She used to be scared of the fire inside of her, but she wouldn't be. Not anymore.
She didn't walk through the fire. She ran.
Pan breathed deeply as she opened her eyes. The dark, star-speckled sky of Vegeta-Sei was blinking back up at her. The full moon was nearing the middle of the sky, and she smiled.
She was warm, but it was in a good way now. Her stomach was no longer hurting, but it fluttered eagerly as she sat up.
Pan knew where she was without even looking around. She stood up slowly and looked down at Vegeta-Sei from the peak of the mountain. The planet was beautiful. The lights of capital Vegeta were enchanting, and the barren lands that surrounded it were glowing in the moonlight.
At the base of the mountain, Pan could see her family waiting for them. Her eyes focused on Trunks for just a few short moments. Her King. She would never let him turn into that hallow man he had been in her vision.
With a small sigh, Pan turned towards the entrance of the mountain. It was quiet, but she could hear the breathing from inside the cave. She wasn't scared, though.
Pan smiled brightly. "I'm ready now," she promised. "Show yourself!" She ordered.
The mountains shook, and Pan dug her feet into the ground to keep herself steady. Dust started to fly as the cave began to bust open. Pan squinted her eyes so she could still see. A gust of wind rushed past her, pushing her back a few feet, and Pan threw her arms up to protect herself as there was a loud boom and several cracks.
Pan turned as the rocks fell from the right side of the mountain. Dust started to clear, and Pan gasped at what she saw waiting for her.
Hanging on the mountainside with his face leaning over the peak was a large creature. His red eyes were unblinking as he looked at Pan. His green scales shined in the moonlight. His wings stretched out for what seemed like miles.
"I have been waiting for you," his deep voice shook the air as he spoke.
Pan smiled as she walked over to him. She gently placed her palm on his large scaly snout. "Thank you," she told him sincerely. "I promise to do my best, and I promise to protect them-" she placed a hand over her stomach.
"Thank you," he told her. "My time has come to an end. A new era will be born from my ashes."
Pan let out a heavy sigh and nodded her head. She had known this was coming, but she still couldn't help but feel a little sad. He had been waiting for centuries, and he wouldn't even get to see the new generation. She took a few steps back from him. "Before you go, may I please know your name?" She asked.
He puffed up so he loomed over Pan. "I am Shenron. The Eternal Dragon," he declared before he opened his mouth and engulfed Pan with his flames.
"I am not the kind of Princess who needs saving. I am not a damsel in distress, and I am not a trapped girl. If anything at all, I am a dragon. And if you get too close, I will burn everything."
-Unknown