54- New Riders

Midsummer

Pan sighed as she leaned against Trunks. They were on earth, and in their clearing. In front of them, the small dragons roamed curiously. It had been a long night, but Pan couldn't find it within herself to sleep.

Trunks turned his head and kissed her temple. She could feel the relief radiating off of him. Vegeta was awake and as healthy as ever. And Pan, too, was just fine.

"What did that little one do earlier?" Trunks asked softly. He motioned to Crescent, who was following behind Kalamity closely.

"She was healing your Appa," Pan said gently. "All four of them have special abilities regarding the elements. Crescent's is water. It represents light and healing. Her power brings life to things; she is a creator."

"Amazing," Trunks awed. "And the others?"

"You've already seen a bit of Tremor's," Pan smiled as she looked at the brown dragon that was nestled into the dirt. "His element is the ground. He represents loyalty and strength. Once he gets older, he'll be able to shake small planets.

"Whirlwind's element is air," she said as she watched the little blue dragon laying down by Tremor. "Her element represents wisdom and determination. Although all of them will be able to produce strong winds once full-grown, Whirlwind will be able to create tornados and even hurricanes."

"And this guy?" Trunks held up his hand that Kalamity was nibbling.

"Chaos and destruction," Pan's lips twitched. "His element is fire. While Crescent is light, he is dark. They balance each other out. He'll be my problem child; I just know it," she sighed.

Trunks chuckled and sat Kalamity down. He scampered off to the others who were nestled together.

"I still can't believe they were inside of you this whole time," Trunks sighed. "You're incredible, Panna."

Pan caught his gaze, and she felt herself shaking. She thought back to her vision of what would happen if she had died. Trunks had been a hollow shell, and Pan couldn't even blame him. If something happened to him, she would be the same way.

"Panna?" Trunks reached out and wiped her cheeks. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Pan reached up and held his hand as she shook her head. "I'm okay," she promised. "I just love you so much, Trunks."

Trunks grinned as Pan wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you too," he said before he leaned down and kissed her.

Pan had lost count of how many times she and Trunks had kissed. It had to have been in the thousands, and yet, each time still caused her stomach to flutter and her heart to grow wild. Her body was growing warm as the kiss deepened, and at that moment, it was just them. Pan tightened her arms around Trunks as she started to take him back with her. She wanted to be melted together with him.

"Wait," Trunks broke the kiss. He reached between them and quickly untied his cape from around Pan before he spread it out behind her. "There," he smirked as he laid her down on top of it. "Now you won't get dirty," he kissed her cheek.

Pan's lips twitched. "Always the gentlemen."

"Only for you," he said. "Apparently, I can be an asshole to others."

Pan pursed her lips in thought. "Only to those who deserve it," she grinned.

Trunks let out a content sigh. "This is why you're the perfect one for me."

Trunks leaned down to kiss Pan, and her hands were already working on unbuttoning his shirt. Their clothes were discarded quickly, and soon nothing was between them. Pan was warm as she wrapped her legs around Trunks and held him tight. She would never let anything take her away from him.

Trunks watched Pan with a fond smile. She was leaning over the twins' crib as she watched them sleep. He had gotten a few hours of sleep in the clearing, but Pan hadn't slept at all. By the time they arrived back at the castle, it was nearly sunrise. Trunks tried to get her to sleep some, but she wouldn't. She wanted to be awake when the twins woke up.

Takehiko and Takara would be waking up soon. Trunks let out a small sigh as he watched them sleep with Pan. On the carpet not far away, the four tiny dragons laid, all bundled up together. Trunks reached out and gently stroked Pan's hair. He had been terrified that he would lose her earlier, and he was so glad that things turned out okay.

"Trunks," she whispered.

"Hm?" He replied softly.

Pan let out a heavy sigh. "I can't have any more children."

Trunks' eyes widened slightly as he looked at her. "What?"

She looked up at him, her expression troubled and sad. "Because of where the dragons were located, they scarred and burned me pretty bad. My chances of ever getting pregnant again are slim. I'm sorry, Trunks."

"Panna-" Trunks wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. "I have you. I have Takehiko and Takara. I even have dragons-" his lips twitched as he looked at the pile. He placed his hands on Pan's shoulders and brought her back so he could look at her. "I'm more than content," he told her honestly as he smiled.

Pan's lips twitched, and she nodded her head. "Yeah, me too. Plus, I think we'll have our hands full these next few years."

Trunks laughed and nodded his head. He didn't doubt that in the slightest.

Pan was exhausted. She hadn't slept since the night before, and even then, it hadn't been a peaceful, well-rested sleep since her stomach had been burning. She knew that if she got still long enough, she would pass out. So she kept herself moving by playing with Takehiko, Takara, and the dragons.

They were on the floor in one of the castle studies. Her and Trunks' families were all in there with them. They were curious about the dragons, and Pan didn't blame them. They were showing their personalities.

Tremor was goofy. He liked to drag his head against the carpet as a way to scratch himself. He ran haphazardly from Takehiko to Takara to Trunks to Pan. He loved scratches under the chin, where his scales weren't as thick.

Whirlwind had scooped the twins out curiously. She sniffed and licked them before she concluded that they were a bit too rowdy for her. She had gone off to a quiet corner of the carpet to nap.

Crescent was cautious. She had slowly made her way over to the twins and nuzzled them for a few short seconds before scampering away. She spent most of her time hiding behind Trunks and peeking around him to watch the others.

Kalamity was ten times rowdier than Tremor and the twins combined. He wasn't just running around the floor. He was running everywhere, like across the tables and couches. His favorite thing to do was to scale up the fireplace and glide over to his favorite perching spot- Pan's head. He bleeped his tongue out frequently, which had Takehiko and Takara in fits of giggles.

"So now that we know the legends are true, what do we do?" Bulma asked quietly. "Do we keep them a secret?"

"They won't be little forever," Trunks said as he helped Crescent onto his lap. "It'll be impossible to keep them hidden."

Pan nodded her head in agreement. "They shouldn't have to hide. Plus, we want our new alliances to continue to trust us. Lying to them wouldn't be wise."

Goten let out a snort. "I can't wait to be able to walk up to someone and say, 'yeah, this is my little sister, Pan. Queen of the Saiyans. Mother of Dragons.'"

"Class A Badass," Gohan added.

"Speaking of Badass," Endou piped up. "Last night when you were in that fire orb thing- how did that feel?"

"Uh- hot?" Pan blinked.

"It was made from fire, you dummy," Radtiz commented. "How else would it feel?"

"I don't know- that's why I asked!" Endou huffed.

"It wasn't a bad hot," Pan continued. "I don't know-" she shrugged. "It's weird to explain. When Shenron went through me, I felt it, though. It burned the worse then, but it was only for a few seconds. When I opened my eyes, these guys were in my arms."

She reached down and grabbed Tremor, who was scampering by. He wiggled at first until he realized who had him, and then he relaxed.

"I still can't believe they've been inside of you," Chi-Chi sighed.

Goku nodded from beside her. "I knew Shenron had saved you, but I didn't know he did that."

"He was just protecting them," Pan said gently.

Pan reached up and untangled Kalamity from her hair. He wiggled like crazy until she let him go, and he wasted no time going up to her arm and back into her hair.

A gentle nudge on Pan's side made her turn, and she saw Whirlwind looking up at her. She smiled and held out her free hand, and Whirlwind climbed into it. She held up her hands and looked at Whirlwind and Tremor. They were looking at her eagerly.

"You two are ready, huh?" Pan asked them softly.

"Ready for what?" Trunks asked curiously.

"It was fate that I inherited the power of the dragons," Pan said softly. "It's because of that, that Shenron trusted me enough to protect these little ones, and he gave me the responsibility of handing them to their riders."

"Their riders?" Goten asked with wide eyes.

"Well, there are four dragons," Pan grinned. "I can't possibly ride all four of them. Because they were with me for so long, they do have an attachment of sorts with me, like I'm their parent. Once they bond with their rider, it'll be a new relationship."

"Amazing," Marron said gently. "I'm guessing them two aren't your dragons?"

"No," Pan said softly. She leaned forward and gave Whirlwind and Tremor's heads gentle kisses. "Okay," she told them. "Go ahead-" she held them up.

The room was silent as Tremor and Whirlwind turned and jumped out of Pan's hands. They didn't have to flutter very far. Bulla and Goten were sitting nearby.

"Us?!" Goten nearly shrieked as Tremor landed in his hands. He was practically shaking with excitement. "I have my own dragon!"

Pan could picture Goten and Tremor head butting each other as a greeting now.

"You picked us?" Bulla whispered as she caught Whirlwind.

"I didn't pick you," Pan shook her head. "They did-" she motioned to the little dragons. "Just like someone has already picked their person too-" she eyed Crescent, who was still nuzzled on Trunks' lap. She admitted she was slightly jealous.

"I'm not the only one-" Trunks laughed as he pointed to Kalamity, who was now gnawing Pan's hair.

"I told you he's my problem child," Pan let out a heavy sigh. "He's a direct descendent from Shenron, and since I'm the one with the power of the Dragons, I'll be the only one that can tame him. But if you ever need him, or any of the other dragons, they'll listen to you, Trunks."

He blinked at her in surprise. "Really?" He asked softly as he raised an eyebrow. "Why me?"

Pan smiled at him. "You're the King they've waited for."

Trunks let out a sigh as he watched Kalamity and Crescent sleep in the drawer he and Pan had turned into a nest for them. Takehiko and Takara had fallen asleep not too long ago, and Pan had jumped in the shower. She was exhausted. Trunks could see it in the dark circles under her eyes, and he had tried to get her to just go to bed, but she refused. She wanted a shower first.

Two slender arms wrapped around Trunks' waist and held him tightly. Pan rested her head against his back and let out a small sigh as she nuzzled her nose against him.

Trunks placed his hands over hers and squeezed them. "It was fate for you to become the next Dragon Queen," he told her softly. "Am I their king just because of that?" He wondered curiously. That had to be it, right? If not for Pan, then he never would be worthy enough to see the legend of the dragons come true.

"It was just as much fate for you to be their King as it was for me to be their Queen." Pan's voice was slow and soft. "Time and destiny knew what they were doing when they put us in this universe at the same time. They knew you were the only one for me.

"My powers are not what make you worthy, Trunks," Pan squeezed him tighter. "You, yourself are the reason. The dragons knew what a great King you would be, which is why they waited for so long. I know what a great King you already are. Just look at what you've accomplished so far. You led our people to fight for the most important thing in their lives- their freedom. You truly care about them, and it shows. You also set up the summit, and Vegeta-Sei has more alliances than it's ever had because of you."

Trunks turned around in her arms and stroked her hair. "You see me a lot better than what I am," he murmured to her.

"Just as you see me," she sighed against him. "That's why we're so good for each other."

Trunks' lips twitched. Her words were starting to slur together. He scooped Pan up in his arms easily, and she was already asleep by the time he got her adjusted. He walked over to their bed slowly.

Pan had had a long day, and it was time for her to rest finally. He laid down beside her before he tucked the blankets around her. He wrapped his arm around her and let out a peaceful sigh.

Trunks guessed that Pan was right. Time and destiny knew what they were doing all along. It had been planned for the very beginning.

"How glad I am that I followed your voice that day, Panna," Trunks whispered to her. He leaned over, and he kissed her gently before he laid down beside her.

"I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend."

-Faramir, Lord of the Rings