Author's Note:
Oh my gosh I can't believe it! I've gotten a good amount of reviews and I'm really glad that most of you like the story so far (and it was only the first chapter...eh heh) Thanks for the wonderful feedback! Saiyan Serpent, Tom, Pan2k, etc. Hugs and Kisses to all of you! I really appreciate it ^_^ I feel so loved...
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Revenge of the Saiyan Heart - Chapter Two
Pan sighed at herself in utter disgust, slinging a small pack of capsules on her right shoulder. She had flown for two days straight across space and realized that she hadn't even left her galaxy yet.
*You ARE pathetic Pan! First you go and just blurt to him that you love him and then you blow up in front of everyone. Okay, maybe they DID hurt you but you didn't have to actually tell them. Good job Pan, you big crybaby, what do you think Vegeta thinks of you now? Weak minded and stupid. And you weren't supposed to reveal your power! Duh! There goes your pride. Ha!* she cursed at herself for being too self-impulsive. *And plus, you're going nowhere...you're just wasting energy.*
*Where am I supposed to go?* she wondered. That thought hadn't occurred to her until just now. Yes, she was running away because she couldn't bear staying on Earth anymore but where could she go?
*Not like I fit in with anybody. Maybe I can find a new race of people and they can make me their queen! Right, wishful thinking. Hmm...I'm hungry, I better land soon, but there's nothing in sight. Can't eat in space...Hey what's that?*
She spotted a small planet a couple of hundred miles ahead of her. It was only a speck however.
*Well, might as well land and get a small rest, maybe I'll train there for awhile. Who knows, maybe there are actually people living there...This is really strange though, I don't remember seeing a planet here on my star charts and my space adventure with Grandpa Goku...Hmm and it usually takes millions of years for planets to form. Unless of course, it has crossed through time, no that can't be possible at all! Entire planets do not cross over timelines. Only people can. I mean, only if they had a time machine...Oh well, I just didn't notice it. Yeah, that's probably it.*
She landed lightly on the surface. The planet was much like Earth, but the sky and atmostphere were different. And it was empty and desolate. Cold.
Pan shivered slightly as a small gust of wind blew some dust around her. It was the perfect training grounds.
"I knew space travel would be a good idea," she said to herself. Tossing her pack roughly on the ground, she began to power up. She could now go into SSJ2 almost effortlessly now. The satisfaction of this made her forget her troubles. She knew it wasn't the right thing to do, letting her fighting skills hide her emotional turmoil...
"Control your power and control your pride. It can make you do foolish things. Because, Panny-chan, they might be triggered unexpectedly and you wouldn't be able to control your power then. You might do something you'll regret later," she remembered Goku's words of wisdom.
"Control your power and control your pride. It can make you do foolish things," she repeated slowly. She face scrunched up in sadness as she remembered her childish, loving Grandpa.
Pride. Something she held close to her, the thing that helped her carry on for four years. She was proud of herself, proud of her saiya-jin side, even though she was only a quarter. She was proud that she was a girl, and maybe even a tomboyish one at that. She never knew it would affect her. Day by day she had watched her pride stripped and torn, but from it she became stronger.
Her friends always said that her pride would be her downfall.
"Or is it? What the hell do they know, they haven't got one ounce of pride to spar against me, much less win," she said icily. "Who needs friends anyway? I'm alone, I'm a loner. I don't NEED to belong anywhere."
She punched a large boulder. It disintegrated at her feet. Sparring always had healed her troubles, even if only momentarily.
"So, who's my next opponent?" she joked aloud to five other boulders around her, smashing two with her hands, two with her legs and one with a swirling smash with her head. She dusted her hands and smiled triumphantly at the pile of granulated rock at her feet.
"Quite an impressive show, Pan. But then again, saiya-jins always are surprises aren't they?" a voice spoke up.
Pan was instantly on her guard, her ki flaring and she surveyed the area around her. She couldn't detect any sign of a ki though, but she felt the hairs on her neck stand up.
*Maybe I'm starting to hear voices...* she thought. *This gravity up here must be doing something to my head.*
"Up here..." the voice taunted again, although not unkindly.
She looked up.
A young woman, perhaps ten or so years older than her was dressed in a traditional fighting gi much like her father Gohan's but with a green design. Her cape was a dark velvety black but what caught Pan's eyes first was the woman's eyes, framed with long wavy locks of chestnut brown hair. Piercing eyes of the deepest jade green. Eyes that could see into her very soul, eyes that could observe any movement.
Pan narrowed her eyes.
"Who are you and how do you know my name?" she growled, lowering into a fighting stance.
The woman laughed slightly and landed in front of her.
"Oh, I know all about you Son Pan. I mean no harm to you whatsoever, do not worry. Relax, please." She paused. "But perhaps I should introduce myself. I'm Jikuya Megami. This is my first name. You may call me simply Megami if you wish." She stuck out her hand amiably.
Pan hesitated.
*Don't trust strangers. For all you know she's probably going to flip you and then kill you. I wish I could sense her energy level but she doesn't have one. Either that, or she's HIDING it. Hiding very well...* she reminded herself.
Megami laughed. "Pan, the last thing I want to do is hurt you. And yes, I can hide my ki, that's what you were wondering. You get pretty good at it if you have trained yourself to do so for two years."
Pan gasped. "You mean, you can hear my thoughts?"
Megami nodded. "You really ought to learn how to shield your thoughts. But then again, you have done a rather nice job of shielding your emotions from others, although it was a crude process which involves a great deal of self-inflicted pain..."
"What do you know about me? Are you some sort of a stalker or something? And how is it that you know so much about me, and my name?" Pan asked. Something about this woman made her strangely calm. She didn't want to, but she relaxed totally from her position and stood there.
"One at a time Pan. First of all, I know just about everything there is to know about you. You might say that I have been RESEARCHING you, stalking is a harsh word. I have been looking for you for a decade. Listen Pan, this may come as a surprise to you, but you are in grave danger, do you know that?" Megami said, her friendly expression hardened for a minute.
Pan shook her head no.
"You must listen to me Son Pan. What I'm about to tell you may be hard to digest all at once but it is imperative that you believe me, or I'm afraid it will be too late. Do you understand?" Without waiting for a response, she continued.
"I am the last direct descendant from a dying race of female saiya-jin warriors. Yes, I know what you are thinking; there are none left of the original saiya-jin race, let alone women. Well, I'm afraid this fact is not true. Before Vegeta-sei was destroyed, there was an elite band of women trained in the skills of fighting and they were just as good as the men that escaped. They weren't strong enough to retaliate so we had nothing left to do but to bide our time by training. We thought we had hid ourselves well, but *they* found us out. THEY killed all of the remaining female saiya-jins and I escaped only by a slim thread...to find you Pan."
"Why me? And who's they?" Pan asked. She was incredibly confused.
"THEY are a band of rogue rebels, called the Isagi-jin. Originally descendants of the Saiyan population, they had political problems with the government and broke away thousands of years ago. They began to resist the power. Their sole purpose is to destroy the saiya-jin...why? We don't know for sure exactly...Pan, have you ever wondered about the descendent of your grandmother from your mother's side? Videl Satan's mother, I have reason to believe, is of Isagi-jin descent. That's why she faked her own death and disappeared. Videl is half human, so Isagi type abilities cannot be awakened in her. Human cells cancel out the cells of the Isagi. The genetical code do not compliment each other. Which is why they want you, Pan. You have the potential to be THE strongest warrior in the world, even stronger than your father or your grandfather because of your mix of Saiyan, Isagi and human blood. The combination of Saiyan and Isagi is strong enough to bring entire galaxies down, but the human mix strengthens the Saiyan. You do know that the combination of demi Saiyans and human blood is even stronger than pure saiya-jin blood, right?"
"Yes, my father could have been even stronger than my grandfather, but he gave up fighting," Pan replied.
"This combination is deadly. They NEED you Pan and they will do anything to get you. And THAT is exactly why I'm here. I'm here to take you under my wing, to train you in the ways of a traditional female saiya-jin warrior so when the time comes you will be able to resist the temptation. I hate to say this, but the entire fate may be hinging on the edge of your very shoulders."
"Train me? What, I'm not powerful enough to fight?" Pan put her hands on her hips defiantly.
Megami held up her hand.
"Your fighting skills are remarkable, yes, but I'm afraid they're nowhere near enough. They not only deal with physical threat, Pan, they are talented in the art of persuasion. They know your weaknesses and they will pinpoint them. If you don't have a strong mind, you will fall under their control. They will get you eventually Pan. They need you that much. You are the only thing that stand in their way of total domination. Either you join forces with them, or you die."
Pan tilted her head awkwardly. This was happening way too fast altogether.
"Just one quick question Megami...if they want to get rid of me so badly, or whatever, how come they didn't KILL me when I was younger? Wouldn't it have been much easier?"
"Oh yes, how they wish they could have. But you see, I'm not the only one who knows about you. Your grandfather and Vegeta knew the second you were born.
Pan's head snapped up.
"You mean, Vegeta knows about me?"
"Right. He, along with Goku, has known since the beginning. Why do you think he is just as cautious about you as his own children? He was surprised about how strong you are, even he did not suspect it to be so quick. They have been protecting you. Vegeta was especially worried when Goku had left with you and Trunks on the quest for the black star dragonballs. They could've gotten you then, but even with Chibi Goku there, they couldn't lay a hand on you because of a curse. No pure saiya-jin may lay a hand on an Isagi-jin or vice versa, or they fight to the death. It's a longstanding rivalry Pan. Vegeta now is the only one pure saiya-jin left to protect you. And now that you've left the safety of this particular protective barrier it is only a matter of time that they could have found you. But while I'm here, they will not approach us. It comes down to this. Either you come with me or you risk the fate of the universe.
*What? Me? No way, she has GOT to have the wrong person...me? Yeah, I know I'm pretty strong compared to many people, but I had no idea about any of this. Whoa, wait a minute. I DIE? This isn't funny anymore. I'm actually kinda scared. Holy shit! What if...*
Megami interrupted her thoughts abruptly.
"And you have every right to be scared. I know you have a lot of questions, which I will answer eventually, but for right now, you're going to need to trust me. No time to think. You must act quickly."
Pan arched an eyebrow daringly.
"How do I know that I can trust you? If you're indeed a saiya-jin, how come I can't feel your ki? And HOW can you read my mind?"
She laughed. "I'm afraid that's a risk you're going to have to take Pan...but I promise you on my saiya-jin honor that I am not deceiving you. And the only reason you can't feel my ki is because it's too detectable and I must keep it lowered at all times. And the mind thing..well...it's a technique that is only passed on through my family. I know this sounds dramatic and sudden, but I'm not fooling you. So, will you allow me to train you?"
Pan shook Megami's outstretched hand cautiously, but firmly. For the few seconds their hands touched, Pan felt a huge wave of energy wash over her.
"Yes," she whispered.
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{dream sequence}
Almost everyone was there. Gohan, Goten, Videl, Vegeta, Present Trunks, Krillin, the human 18...Bulma, Bra, Marron...there were just standing there, worn, bloody, bruised. Some may have been dead. He couldn't tell.
The sky was a blood red. A cold, mirthless laughter filled the air as the shadowy figure in front of him appeared within the enveloping fog that surrounded him. He was too weak to move, his eyes were halfway shut, it was too hard for him to see anything. He could barely make out a figure dressed and cloaked entirely in black silky material, raising a ball of dark energy to be directed towards him. He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for the end of life as he knew it. He trembled with fear of what was to happen...he wanted to let everyone know that he loved them so much and that he'd never take them for granted again.
But his fate took too long. He heard an agonizing scream that wasn't emitted from his own mouth and he opened one eye cautiously, dreading what he would see. Suddenly, a flash of orange and blue blocked his view for a spur of a second as two energy blasts were matched together, letting him escape death. A person had stepped in front of him, blocking the attack with one of their own. He tried to see the figure who had saved his life but the person had an orange face mask covering the entire head except for the eyes, which were deathly calm.
The next thing he knew was the black energy against one of the purest, unfiltered white. He could see that the cloaked figure was taking all his strength into overpowering it. Inch by inch, slowly the black began to take over. The masked shape began to slowly be pushed back and hard as it tried, it couldn't stop. The winds were beginning to fight too, whipping the orange cloth off the face, revealing a complexion that was pale and framed with dark, raven black tresses. It was a girl. No, a woman.
"I'm sorry..." he heard her faintly whisper. Although he couldn't see the face clearly, he thought he saw a single tear flowing down its way from her rich brown eyes to her cheek and finally off her chin.
And then everything was black. It seemed for a minute all hope was lost.
With a spine-curdling scream, the bright light surged through as everything around him seemed to disappear into an oblivion of white. He couldn't see anything.
Then all was quiet and still.
{end dream}
Mirai Trunks woke up in a flash. He sat up on his bed, drenched in sweat. Panting hard.
*That same dream again! I've had it every night for two weeks now!* Mirai Trunks thought, wiping his sweat on his brow. He fell on his back, laying there. *What does it mean?*
He tried to fall back asleep but he couldn't. Tossing and turning, he finally decided to get up. It was still nighttime, it couldn't have been more than 4 AM. He got up anyway, throwing on his clothes. He wore a black shirt, black pants, and his Capsule Corp jacket. Taking his sword with him, he set off to his favorite training grounds, the patch of woods about ten miles or so from his house.
The Androids from this timeline were gone. After destroying Androids 17 and 18, it seemed the world was healing after the aftermath of the massacre. Mirai Trunks frequently helped out by running food drives and fundraisers to help the many victims, but it seemed like it wasn't enough. There was something missing in this world, but he didn't know what. Yes, it was not like the warm and happy timeline he had visited during the Cell Games. He was sure all was well in that alternate timeline. But yet, he couldn't relax at all. It was unusually calm and he couldn't stand it. Something just wasn't right, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
He flew towards the clearing and reached it in less than two minutes. He landed gracefully, and inhaled the fresh, bitter scent of pine trees. Powering up to Super Saiyan, he began to train while his thoughts began to wander. He wondered what it was like back in the past. He dearly wanted to go visit them, but he couldn't bear to leave his mother alone again, even though all danger was gone and the earth was peaceful once again...
*Or is it?* he wondered, throwing a set of punches and kicks in a combination kata. His thoughts drifted to the disturbing dream. *I wonder what it's trying to say...I think it's some sort of warning, but I could be wrong. But how odd is it to have the same dream for two weeks in a row? It's more than a mere coincidence, I can feel it. The strange thing is, I can't exactly remember what happened in the dream, but when I'm actually asleep, I can see it vividly. Great, I can't concentrate when I have these thoughts in my head...maybe I should take a walk instead. Maybe that'll clear my mind.*
He turned around and walked back to the house. The night air gently brushed past his silky lavendar hair as he strode through the pine grove. Mirai Trunks was always more of a thinker and he was quiet, reserved. It bothered him when he couldn't figure out something and this was bothering him more than anything.
*I wonder if it's some sort of warning...maybe there is some danger out there. ARGH! This is so incredibly frustrating! I can't remember a thing...All I remember is someone saving me, although I can't remember who. It shows the face, but I've never seen that person before. And then two ki blasts are being pushed together and then everything becomes white. Still. Emptiness...*
He was still tossing these ideas through his head as he approached his home. The sun was beginning to rise and when he opened the door, the smell of bacon, toast, pancakes and eggs enticed him to go the kitchen. Mirai Bulma was already up and making breakfast. (Author's Note: So what? Mirai Bulma can cook...)
"Good morning Mother," he said, giving her a small kiss on the cheek. He loved his mother, she was the only thing he had left and she had missed him dearly when he was gone.
"Good morning Trunks, I made breakfast for you...it's your favorite, I made your eggs sunny side up!" she said cheerfully, greeting her son with a smile.
Mirai Trunks sat down on the small table. It was made only for two; his mother and him. And occasionally a few guests. He started wolfing down his breakfast. His walk had made his voracious appetite even more ferocious than usual. After finished ten stacks of waffles, five plates of eggs and bacon, two bowls of hot, steamy oatmeal, he put them in the dishwasher.
"Going anywhere today?" she asked. "Another food drive?"
"No, mother, I think I'm going to take the day off," he replied. "Don't worry, I'll be back for lunch."
He looked up at his mother who was loading the dishwasher with a small smile on her face as she glanced at him.
*Yes...* he thought as he took off into the sky. *Even when she smiles, she is sad...*
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"The first lesson," Megami began as she and Pan began sparring. Pan kicked Megami in the stomach but Megami dealt a square blow on her cheekbones, which threw her back into a cave crevice. Enraged, Pan staggered up and threw a whole bunch of misfired ki blasts.
"...is to control your mind and heart. The first step into becoming a female warrior is to lose all your emotions. Discard them. Learn to fight without emotion. Feel no hate, no anger, no jealousy, no greed...emotions are burdens which will eventually corrupt your true power. It will cloud your mind and you will not be able to fight at your maximum potential," she finished while expertly dodging each and every ki blast.
"What do you mean no emotions? You're supposed to fight with emotions! That's how you get stronger!" Pan exclaimed, stopping her attack.
Megami chuckled. "Emotions bring you down and that is the simple fact. Look at Gohan for example. Sure, his emotions led him to be the very first saiya-jin to become SSJ2, but look what happened in the most crucial point of the battle! He let his emotions cause the death of your grandfather, although unintentionally, in the fight with Cell because he felt that Cell didn't deserve an easy death. He got too cocky for his own good. Vegeta could have fulfilled his rightful destiny if he had not bonded with Bulma. Rational thinking is the only way to win Pan."
*She has a point,* Pan thought. *But didn't my anger at everybody make me stronger? I mean, I trained myself for four years because I was angry and frustrated.*
"Your anger was only holding you back from your true power," Megami said, tossing her hair back casually.
"Um, can you stop reading my thoughts? It's making me feel very uncomfortable," Pan said, shifting her foot in an embarrassed manner. "And I really don't understand what you mean Megami. I'm trying, but I don't get it. All my life I was brought up to love fighting and to love my family and my friends. How can I give that all up?"
Megami paused.
"Well, take Trunks for example. You love him, don't you?"
Pan stopped, her eyes began filling with tears and anger. *Stupid Trunks...I've been TRYING to forget him. Please don't bring it up...* Her ki began to rise rapidly.
"Just as I thought. You see, you've become weak already. You let your love for this...pathetic excuse for a saiyan get in your way. Forget him Pan. Let go of your love, let go of your hate. Love is only hate reversed. It can easily be reversed either way. Better to not have any emotions at all. Emotions are weaknesses, and nothing else. Emotions blind you. They will use your weaknesses to get to you. You must NOT let them and to do so, you must detach yourself from these worthless emotions."
*I get it.* Pan nodded. "Easier said than done..."
"Yes, but you will get used to it. I never said that a female saiya-jin's life was easy. It's a trial, a constant challenge. Pan, take it from me, it's best not to feel emotions, especially love... at all. I suggest you work on it a little bit. Sit down and let me get you something more...suitable...to wear."
Megami looked critically at the sloppy attire Pan was wearing with a raised eyebrow. Everything from the bandanna to her baggy loose jeans.
"Huh? What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" Pan crossed her arms. She hated being told what to do, especially when it came to clothes.
"If you're going to be a true female saiya-jin, you might as well look like one," Megami replied nonchalantly, tossing Pan an orange and blue ki just like Goku's, but smaller.
"Well, at least can I keep my bandanna?" she pleaded. "Pretty please?"
"Why? Does it have sentimental value?" Megami asked.
"No, it's just really special...please..." she faltered. Yes it did have special meaning to her. It was a scrap of cloth made from an old gi of Goku's.
"That's alright then, I suppose..." Megami replied.
"Have you ever loved, Megami?" Pan asked suddenly. It was a random question and took Megami by surprise.
There was a slight void of silence. Megami's expression became unreadable.
"No," she said finally. "It is forbidden for me to love or to feel any emotion, as it is for you now."
She abruptly stood up and turned. "That will be enough for the first day of training Pan. Get some rest."
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Meanwhile that same afternoon where we left off in Chapter One...
A spark hit Vegeta. It was like as if someone had sudden stabbed a knife in his back. With that instant, he felt the whole universe shook. The energy was pulsating through his body.
"Pan's awakened..." he said aloud. He immediately sat up. He had been dreading this for a long time.
Everyone's head snapped in his direction.
"Pan's awakened," he repeated. He stood up and looked at Gohan. "There's something I need to tell you about Pan. She's in deep shit."
Chi Chi growled. "You dense moron! What do you think we've been worried sick about for the past forty eight hours? DUH! She's out there all alone, and probably thin and starving!" She pulled out her capsulated frying pan. (Author's Note: No pun there!)
Bulma eyed Chi Chi warily. "You actually carry one of those around?"
"Hey, you never know when one could come in handy!" Chi Chi replied, and lifted her hand to whap Vegeta.
"Mom, calm down! Maybe Vegeta can tell us something about Pan!" Gohan grabbed her wrist. Not like a frying pan could've hurt Vegeta anyway, but hey, Chi Chi isn't exactly the most rational person ne? Chi Chi squirmed in his grasp but calmed down, resigned.
Vegeta took a deep breath.
"You were right Bulma. I was hiding something from you and everyone else here. Kakarot and I have been shielding a secret about Pan which you had every right to know." He gestured to Gohan apologetically and proceded to give them an explanation similar to what Megami had told Pan.
"Whoa..." was all Goten could manage out. "Intense..."
"But if Pan's all this...powerful...then why...how?" Trunks sputtered.
"They've gotten to her before I could've done anything. Kakarot and I were planning never to reveal her because it wasn't necessary as long as I was around and by that time she would be powerful enough to defend herself. It was all carefully planned but with one miscalculation...one MINOR miscalculation. And I think Trunks, Goten, Bra and Marron may know what that slight miscalculation was..." Vegeta answered.
"Well, even if she's strong, can you give us some sort of indication?" Krillin was confused.
"I only got a small glimpse of her power when I sparred with her two days ago. She can turn SSJ2 as easily as she can fly."
Trunks, Goten, Marron and Bra nodded in affirmation.
This piece of information caused Gohan to gasp.
"I didn't even know she could turn Saiyan!" Gohan exclaimed. "Exactly how are they going to get Pan to do anything for them? Pan is stubborn you know..."
"We, Kakarot and I, were afraid that once her power was released, her anger will be easily bent to the will of the Isagi. They're like that, the Isagi-jin. And then, we can only wait for the destruction of the universe. Majin Buu is nothing compared to this. The only way to prevent all this from happening is to hope that she won't fall under mind control, which is highly unlikely. Otherwise I'm afraid there is nothing we can do. She is vulnerable right now and she will believe any bullshit anyone tells her. She will get revenge on everyone who's hurt her under the influence of the Isagi-jin. The deepest, darkest revenge will always come from the heart."
"But we're her friends and family! She wouldn't hurt us!" Marron exclaimed.
Vegeta raised an eyebrow. *Damn that blonde sure is ditzy...* he thought, exasperated. *I hope that one of these goddamn days someone will break it to her that life isn't always made of rainbows and those pathetic annoying bunnies...*
An uncomfortable silence followed. Even Chi Chi couldn't think of anything to say.
"So...how do we find Pan?" Bra asked finally, breaking the silence. She fiddled with her fingers nervously.
"We don't. Someone's already gotten to her," Vegeta replied. "Let's just say that she won't be the same the next time you see her. It's only a matter of time now."
Trunks felt helpless. Helplessness was something he hated feeling. "Isn't there anything we can do?" he asked.
Vegeta shot him a dark look. "You've done enough."
"Who's she with?" Gohan asked. His ki was rising. *If Pan's with any sleazeball Isagi-whatchamacallits I'll personally rip his head off and kill him and cut him bit by bit.*
"I don't know. But what I do know is that all of us better start training. I've got a feeling that the peace is coming to an end and a grand war will start soon. There's no knowing when they'll strike. There's no knowing how powerful they are. This is meant to happen..." He paused.
"And there's nothing we can do to change it," he finished.
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Author's Note:
Okay, that's the end of chapter two! I know it sounds really confusing, and it may be kinda weird when you think "Hey, when's Mirai coming into all of this? I want the romance!" and be patient please, it's gonna come soon! I hope you enjoy, please review this story! I'd love ya forever *winks*
Oh my gosh I can't believe it! I've gotten a good amount of reviews and I'm really glad that most of you like the story so far (and it was only the first chapter...eh heh) Thanks for the wonderful feedback! Saiyan Serpent, Tom, Pan2k, etc. Hugs and Kisses to all of you! I really appreciate it ^_^ I feel so loved...
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Revenge of the Saiyan Heart - Chapter Two
Pan sighed at herself in utter disgust, slinging a small pack of capsules on her right shoulder. She had flown for two days straight across space and realized that she hadn't even left her galaxy yet.
*You ARE pathetic Pan! First you go and just blurt to him that you love him and then you blow up in front of everyone. Okay, maybe they DID hurt you but you didn't have to actually tell them. Good job Pan, you big crybaby, what do you think Vegeta thinks of you now? Weak minded and stupid. And you weren't supposed to reveal your power! Duh! There goes your pride. Ha!* she cursed at herself for being too self-impulsive. *And plus, you're going nowhere...you're just wasting energy.*
*Where am I supposed to go?* she wondered. That thought hadn't occurred to her until just now. Yes, she was running away because she couldn't bear staying on Earth anymore but where could she go?
*Not like I fit in with anybody. Maybe I can find a new race of people and they can make me their queen! Right, wishful thinking. Hmm...I'm hungry, I better land soon, but there's nothing in sight. Can't eat in space...Hey what's that?*
She spotted a small planet a couple of hundred miles ahead of her. It was only a speck however.
*Well, might as well land and get a small rest, maybe I'll train there for awhile. Who knows, maybe there are actually people living there...This is really strange though, I don't remember seeing a planet here on my star charts and my space adventure with Grandpa Goku...Hmm and it usually takes millions of years for planets to form. Unless of course, it has crossed through time, no that can't be possible at all! Entire planets do not cross over timelines. Only people can. I mean, only if they had a time machine...Oh well, I just didn't notice it. Yeah, that's probably it.*
She landed lightly on the surface. The planet was much like Earth, but the sky and atmostphere were different. And it was empty and desolate. Cold.
Pan shivered slightly as a small gust of wind blew some dust around her. It was the perfect training grounds.
"I knew space travel would be a good idea," she said to herself. Tossing her pack roughly on the ground, she began to power up. She could now go into SSJ2 almost effortlessly now. The satisfaction of this made her forget her troubles. She knew it wasn't the right thing to do, letting her fighting skills hide her emotional turmoil...
"Control your power and control your pride. It can make you do foolish things. Because, Panny-chan, they might be triggered unexpectedly and you wouldn't be able to control your power then. You might do something you'll regret later," she remembered Goku's words of wisdom.
"Control your power and control your pride. It can make you do foolish things," she repeated slowly. She face scrunched up in sadness as she remembered her childish, loving Grandpa.
Pride. Something she held close to her, the thing that helped her carry on for four years. She was proud of herself, proud of her saiya-jin side, even though she was only a quarter. She was proud that she was a girl, and maybe even a tomboyish one at that. She never knew it would affect her. Day by day she had watched her pride stripped and torn, but from it she became stronger.
Her friends always said that her pride would be her downfall.
"Or is it? What the hell do they know, they haven't got one ounce of pride to spar against me, much less win," she said icily. "Who needs friends anyway? I'm alone, I'm a loner. I don't NEED to belong anywhere."
She punched a large boulder. It disintegrated at her feet. Sparring always had healed her troubles, even if only momentarily.
"So, who's my next opponent?" she joked aloud to five other boulders around her, smashing two with her hands, two with her legs and one with a swirling smash with her head. She dusted her hands and smiled triumphantly at the pile of granulated rock at her feet.
"Quite an impressive show, Pan. But then again, saiya-jins always are surprises aren't they?" a voice spoke up.
Pan was instantly on her guard, her ki flaring and she surveyed the area around her. She couldn't detect any sign of a ki though, but she felt the hairs on her neck stand up.
*Maybe I'm starting to hear voices...* she thought. *This gravity up here must be doing something to my head.*
"Up here..." the voice taunted again, although not unkindly.
She looked up.
A young woman, perhaps ten or so years older than her was dressed in a traditional fighting gi much like her father Gohan's but with a green design. Her cape was a dark velvety black but what caught Pan's eyes first was the woman's eyes, framed with long wavy locks of chestnut brown hair. Piercing eyes of the deepest jade green. Eyes that could see into her very soul, eyes that could observe any movement.
Pan narrowed her eyes.
"Who are you and how do you know my name?" she growled, lowering into a fighting stance.
The woman laughed slightly and landed in front of her.
"Oh, I know all about you Son Pan. I mean no harm to you whatsoever, do not worry. Relax, please." She paused. "But perhaps I should introduce myself. I'm Jikuya Megami. This is my first name. You may call me simply Megami if you wish." She stuck out her hand amiably.
Pan hesitated.
*Don't trust strangers. For all you know she's probably going to flip you and then kill you. I wish I could sense her energy level but she doesn't have one. Either that, or she's HIDING it. Hiding very well...* she reminded herself.
Megami laughed. "Pan, the last thing I want to do is hurt you. And yes, I can hide my ki, that's what you were wondering. You get pretty good at it if you have trained yourself to do so for two years."
Pan gasped. "You mean, you can hear my thoughts?"
Megami nodded. "You really ought to learn how to shield your thoughts. But then again, you have done a rather nice job of shielding your emotions from others, although it was a crude process which involves a great deal of self-inflicted pain..."
"What do you know about me? Are you some sort of a stalker or something? And how is it that you know so much about me, and my name?" Pan asked. Something about this woman made her strangely calm. She didn't want to, but she relaxed totally from her position and stood there.
"One at a time Pan. First of all, I know just about everything there is to know about you. You might say that I have been RESEARCHING you, stalking is a harsh word. I have been looking for you for a decade. Listen Pan, this may come as a surprise to you, but you are in grave danger, do you know that?" Megami said, her friendly expression hardened for a minute.
Pan shook her head no.
"You must listen to me Son Pan. What I'm about to tell you may be hard to digest all at once but it is imperative that you believe me, or I'm afraid it will be too late. Do you understand?" Without waiting for a response, she continued.
"I am the last direct descendant from a dying race of female saiya-jin warriors. Yes, I know what you are thinking; there are none left of the original saiya-jin race, let alone women. Well, I'm afraid this fact is not true. Before Vegeta-sei was destroyed, there was an elite band of women trained in the skills of fighting and they were just as good as the men that escaped. They weren't strong enough to retaliate so we had nothing left to do but to bide our time by training. We thought we had hid ourselves well, but *they* found us out. THEY killed all of the remaining female saiya-jins and I escaped only by a slim thread...to find you Pan."
"Why me? And who's they?" Pan asked. She was incredibly confused.
"THEY are a band of rogue rebels, called the Isagi-jin. Originally descendants of the Saiyan population, they had political problems with the government and broke away thousands of years ago. They began to resist the power. Their sole purpose is to destroy the saiya-jin...why? We don't know for sure exactly...Pan, have you ever wondered about the descendent of your grandmother from your mother's side? Videl Satan's mother, I have reason to believe, is of Isagi-jin descent. That's why she faked her own death and disappeared. Videl is half human, so Isagi type abilities cannot be awakened in her. Human cells cancel out the cells of the Isagi. The genetical code do not compliment each other. Which is why they want you, Pan. You have the potential to be THE strongest warrior in the world, even stronger than your father or your grandfather because of your mix of Saiyan, Isagi and human blood. The combination of Saiyan and Isagi is strong enough to bring entire galaxies down, but the human mix strengthens the Saiyan. You do know that the combination of demi Saiyans and human blood is even stronger than pure saiya-jin blood, right?"
"Yes, my father could have been even stronger than my grandfather, but he gave up fighting," Pan replied.
"This combination is deadly. They NEED you Pan and they will do anything to get you. And THAT is exactly why I'm here. I'm here to take you under my wing, to train you in the ways of a traditional female saiya-jin warrior so when the time comes you will be able to resist the temptation. I hate to say this, but the entire fate may be hinging on the edge of your very shoulders."
"Train me? What, I'm not powerful enough to fight?" Pan put her hands on her hips defiantly.
Megami held up her hand.
"Your fighting skills are remarkable, yes, but I'm afraid they're nowhere near enough. They not only deal with physical threat, Pan, they are talented in the art of persuasion. They know your weaknesses and they will pinpoint them. If you don't have a strong mind, you will fall under their control. They will get you eventually Pan. They need you that much. You are the only thing that stand in their way of total domination. Either you join forces with them, or you die."
Pan tilted her head awkwardly. This was happening way too fast altogether.
"Just one quick question Megami...if they want to get rid of me so badly, or whatever, how come they didn't KILL me when I was younger? Wouldn't it have been much easier?"
"Oh yes, how they wish they could have. But you see, I'm not the only one who knows about you. Your grandfather and Vegeta knew the second you were born.
Pan's head snapped up.
"You mean, Vegeta knows about me?"
"Right. He, along with Goku, has known since the beginning. Why do you think he is just as cautious about you as his own children? He was surprised about how strong you are, even he did not suspect it to be so quick. They have been protecting you. Vegeta was especially worried when Goku had left with you and Trunks on the quest for the black star dragonballs. They could've gotten you then, but even with Chibi Goku there, they couldn't lay a hand on you because of a curse. No pure saiya-jin may lay a hand on an Isagi-jin or vice versa, or they fight to the death. It's a longstanding rivalry Pan. Vegeta now is the only one pure saiya-jin left to protect you. And now that you've left the safety of this particular protective barrier it is only a matter of time that they could have found you. But while I'm here, they will not approach us. It comes down to this. Either you come with me or you risk the fate of the universe.
*What? Me? No way, she has GOT to have the wrong person...me? Yeah, I know I'm pretty strong compared to many people, but I had no idea about any of this. Whoa, wait a minute. I DIE? This isn't funny anymore. I'm actually kinda scared. Holy shit! What if...*
Megami interrupted her thoughts abruptly.
"And you have every right to be scared. I know you have a lot of questions, which I will answer eventually, but for right now, you're going to need to trust me. No time to think. You must act quickly."
Pan arched an eyebrow daringly.
"How do I know that I can trust you? If you're indeed a saiya-jin, how come I can't feel your ki? And HOW can you read my mind?"
She laughed. "I'm afraid that's a risk you're going to have to take Pan...but I promise you on my saiya-jin honor that I am not deceiving you. And the only reason you can't feel my ki is because it's too detectable and I must keep it lowered at all times. And the mind thing..well...it's a technique that is only passed on through my family. I know this sounds dramatic and sudden, but I'm not fooling you. So, will you allow me to train you?"
Pan shook Megami's outstretched hand cautiously, but firmly. For the few seconds their hands touched, Pan felt a huge wave of energy wash over her.
"Yes," she whispered.
************************************************************
{dream sequence}
Almost everyone was there. Gohan, Goten, Videl, Vegeta, Present Trunks, Krillin, the human 18...Bulma, Bra, Marron...there were just standing there, worn, bloody, bruised. Some may have been dead. He couldn't tell.
The sky was a blood red. A cold, mirthless laughter filled the air as the shadowy figure in front of him appeared within the enveloping fog that surrounded him. He was too weak to move, his eyes were halfway shut, it was too hard for him to see anything. He could barely make out a figure dressed and cloaked entirely in black silky material, raising a ball of dark energy to be directed towards him. He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for the end of life as he knew it. He trembled with fear of what was to happen...he wanted to let everyone know that he loved them so much and that he'd never take them for granted again.
But his fate took too long. He heard an agonizing scream that wasn't emitted from his own mouth and he opened one eye cautiously, dreading what he would see. Suddenly, a flash of orange and blue blocked his view for a spur of a second as two energy blasts were matched together, letting him escape death. A person had stepped in front of him, blocking the attack with one of their own. He tried to see the figure who had saved his life but the person had an orange face mask covering the entire head except for the eyes, which were deathly calm.
The next thing he knew was the black energy against one of the purest, unfiltered white. He could see that the cloaked figure was taking all his strength into overpowering it. Inch by inch, slowly the black began to take over. The masked shape began to slowly be pushed back and hard as it tried, it couldn't stop. The winds were beginning to fight too, whipping the orange cloth off the face, revealing a complexion that was pale and framed with dark, raven black tresses. It was a girl. No, a woman.
"I'm sorry..." he heard her faintly whisper. Although he couldn't see the face clearly, he thought he saw a single tear flowing down its way from her rich brown eyes to her cheek and finally off her chin.
And then everything was black. It seemed for a minute all hope was lost.
With a spine-curdling scream, the bright light surged through as everything around him seemed to disappear into an oblivion of white. He couldn't see anything.
Then all was quiet and still.
{end dream}
Mirai Trunks woke up in a flash. He sat up on his bed, drenched in sweat. Panting hard.
*That same dream again! I've had it every night for two weeks now!* Mirai Trunks thought, wiping his sweat on his brow. He fell on his back, laying there. *What does it mean?*
He tried to fall back asleep but he couldn't. Tossing and turning, he finally decided to get up. It was still nighttime, it couldn't have been more than 4 AM. He got up anyway, throwing on his clothes. He wore a black shirt, black pants, and his Capsule Corp jacket. Taking his sword with him, he set off to his favorite training grounds, the patch of woods about ten miles or so from his house.
The Androids from this timeline were gone. After destroying Androids 17 and 18, it seemed the world was healing after the aftermath of the massacre. Mirai Trunks frequently helped out by running food drives and fundraisers to help the many victims, but it seemed like it wasn't enough. There was something missing in this world, but he didn't know what. Yes, it was not like the warm and happy timeline he had visited during the Cell Games. He was sure all was well in that alternate timeline. But yet, he couldn't relax at all. It was unusually calm and he couldn't stand it. Something just wasn't right, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
He flew towards the clearing and reached it in less than two minutes. He landed gracefully, and inhaled the fresh, bitter scent of pine trees. Powering up to Super Saiyan, he began to train while his thoughts began to wander. He wondered what it was like back in the past. He dearly wanted to go visit them, but he couldn't bear to leave his mother alone again, even though all danger was gone and the earth was peaceful once again...
*Or is it?* he wondered, throwing a set of punches and kicks in a combination kata. His thoughts drifted to the disturbing dream. *I wonder what it's trying to say...I think it's some sort of warning, but I could be wrong. But how odd is it to have the same dream for two weeks in a row? It's more than a mere coincidence, I can feel it. The strange thing is, I can't exactly remember what happened in the dream, but when I'm actually asleep, I can see it vividly. Great, I can't concentrate when I have these thoughts in my head...maybe I should take a walk instead. Maybe that'll clear my mind.*
He turned around and walked back to the house. The night air gently brushed past his silky lavendar hair as he strode through the pine grove. Mirai Trunks was always more of a thinker and he was quiet, reserved. It bothered him when he couldn't figure out something and this was bothering him more than anything.
*I wonder if it's some sort of warning...maybe there is some danger out there. ARGH! This is so incredibly frustrating! I can't remember a thing...All I remember is someone saving me, although I can't remember who. It shows the face, but I've never seen that person before. And then two ki blasts are being pushed together and then everything becomes white. Still. Emptiness...*
He was still tossing these ideas through his head as he approached his home. The sun was beginning to rise and when he opened the door, the smell of bacon, toast, pancakes and eggs enticed him to go the kitchen. Mirai Bulma was already up and making breakfast. (Author's Note: So what? Mirai Bulma can cook...)
"Good morning Mother," he said, giving her a small kiss on the cheek. He loved his mother, she was the only thing he had left and she had missed him dearly when he was gone.
"Good morning Trunks, I made breakfast for you...it's your favorite, I made your eggs sunny side up!" she said cheerfully, greeting her son with a smile.
Mirai Trunks sat down on the small table. It was made only for two; his mother and him. And occasionally a few guests. He started wolfing down his breakfast. His walk had made his voracious appetite even more ferocious than usual. After finished ten stacks of waffles, five plates of eggs and bacon, two bowls of hot, steamy oatmeal, he put them in the dishwasher.
"Going anywhere today?" she asked. "Another food drive?"
"No, mother, I think I'm going to take the day off," he replied. "Don't worry, I'll be back for lunch."
He looked up at his mother who was loading the dishwasher with a small smile on her face as she glanced at him.
*Yes...* he thought as he took off into the sky. *Even when she smiles, she is sad...*
************************************************************
"The first lesson," Megami began as she and Pan began sparring. Pan kicked Megami in the stomach but Megami dealt a square blow on her cheekbones, which threw her back into a cave crevice. Enraged, Pan staggered up and threw a whole bunch of misfired ki blasts.
"...is to control your mind and heart. The first step into becoming a female warrior is to lose all your emotions. Discard them. Learn to fight without emotion. Feel no hate, no anger, no jealousy, no greed...emotions are burdens which will eventually corrupt your true power. It will cloud your mind and you will not be able to fight at your maximum potential," she finished while expertly dodging each and every ki blast.
"What do you mean no emotions? You're supposed to fight with emotions! That's how you get stronger!" Pan exclaimed, stopping her attack.
Megami chuckled. "Emotions bring you down and that is the simple fact. Look at Gohan for example. Sure, his emotions led him to be the very first saiya-jin to become SSJ2, but look what happened in the most crucial point of the battle! He let his emotions cause the death of your grandfather, although unintentionally, in the fight with Cell because he felt that Cell didn't deserve an easy death. He got too cocky for his own good. Vegeta could have fulfilled his rightful destiny if he had not bonded with Bulma. Rational thinking is the only way to win Pan."
*She has a point,* Pan thought. *But didn't my anger at everybody make me stronger? I mean, I trained myself for four years because I was angry and frustrated.*
"Your anger was only holding you back from your true power," Megami said, tossing her hair back casually.
"Um, can you stop reading my thoughts? It's making me feel very uncomfortable," Pan said, shifting her foot in an embarrassed manner. "And I really don't understand what you mean Megami. I'm trying, but I don't get it. All my life I was brought up to love fighting and to love my family and my friends. How can I give that all up?"
Megami paused.
"Well, take Trunks for example. You love him, don't you?"
Pan stopped, her eyes began filling with tears and anger. *Stupid Trunks...I've been TRYING to forget him. Please don't bring it up...* Her ki began to rise rapidly.
"Just as I thought. You see, you've become weak already. You let your love for this...pathetic excuse for a saiyan get in your way. Forget him Pan. Let go of your love, let go of your hate. Love is only hate reversed. It can easily be reversed either way. Better to not have any emotions at all. Emotions are weaknesses, and nothing else. Emotions blind you. They will use your weaknesses to get to you. You must NOT let them and to do so, you must detach yourself from these worthless emotions."
*I get it.* Pan nodded. "Easier said than done..."
"Yes, but you will get used to it. I never said that a female saiya-jin's life was easy. It's a trial, a constant challenge. Pan, take it from me, it's best not to feel emotions, especially love... at all. I suggest you work on it a little bit. Sit down and let me get you something more...suitable...to wear."
Megami looked critically at the sloppy attire Pan was wearing with a raised eyebrow. Everything from the bandanna to her baggy loose jeans.
"Huh? What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" Pan crossed her arms. She hated being told what to do, especially when it came to clothes.
"If you're going to be a true female saiya-jin, you might as well look like one," Megami replied nonchalantly, tossing Pan an orange and blue ki just like Goku's, but smaller.
"Well, at least can I keep my bandanna?" she pleaded. "Pretty please?"
"Why? Does it have sentimental value?" Megami asked.
"No, it's just really special...please..." she faltered. Yes it did have special meaning to her. It was a scrap of cloth made from an old gi of Goku's.
"That's alright then, I suppose..." Megami replied.
"Have you ever loved, Megami?" Pan asked suddenly. It was a random question and took Megami by surprise.
There was a slight void of silence. Megami's expression became unreadable.
"No," she said finally. "It is forbidden for me to love or to feel any emotion, as it is for you now."
She abruptly stood up and turned. "That will be enough for the first day of training Pan. Get some rest."
************************************************************
Meanwhile that same afternoon where we left off in Chapter One...
A spark hit Vegeta. It was like as if someone had sudden stabbed a knife in his back. With that instant, he felt the whole universe shook. The energy was pulsating through his body.
"Pan's awakened..." he said aloud. He immediately sat up. He had been dreading this for a long time.
Everyone's head snapped in his direction.
"Pan's awakened," he repeated. He stood up and looked at Gohan. "There's something I need to tell you about Pan. She's in deep shit."
Chi Chi growled. "You dense moron! What do you think we've been worried sick about for the past forty eight hours? DUH! She's out there all alone, and probably thin and starving!" She pulled out her capsulated frying pan. (Author's Note: No pun there!)
Bulma eyed Chi Chi warily. "You actually carry one of those around?"
"Hey, you never know when one could come in handy!" Chi Chi replied, and lifted her hand to whap Vegeta.
"Mom, calm down! Maybe Vegeta can tell us something about Pan!" Gohan grabbed her wrist. Not like a frying pan could've hurt Vegeta anyway, but hey, Chi Chi isn't exactly the most rational person ne? Chi Chi squirmed in his grasp but calmed down, resigned.
Vegeta took a deep breath.
"You were right Bulma. I was hiding something from you and everyone else here. Kakarot and I have been shielding a secret about Pan which you had every right to know." He gestured to Gohan apologetically and proceded to give them an explanation similar to what Megami had told Pan.
"Whoa..." was all Goten could manage out. "Intense..."
"But if Pan's all this...powerful...then why...how?" Trunks sputtered.
"They've gotten to her before I could've done anything. Kakarot and I were planning never to reveal her because it wasn't necessary as long as I was around and by that time she would be powerful enough to defend herself. It was all carefully planned but with one miscalculation...one MINOR miscalculation. And I think Trunks, Goten, Bra and Marron may know what that slight miscalculation was..." Vegeta answered.
"Well, even if she's strong, can you give us some sort of indication?" Krillin was confused.
"I only got a small glimpse of her power when I sparred with her two days ago. She can turn SSJ2 as easily as she can fly."
Trunks, Goten, Marron and Bra nodded in affirmation.
This piece of information caused Gohan to gasp.
"I didn't even know she could turn Saiyan!" Gohan exclaimed. "Exactly how are they going to get Pan to do anything for them? Pan is stubborn you know..."
"We, Kakarot and I, were afraid that once her power was released, her anger will be easily bent to the will of the Isagi. They're like that, the Isagi-jin. And then, we can only wait for the destruction of the universe. Majin Buu is nothing compared to this. The only way to prevent all this from happening is to hope that she won't fall under mind control, which is highly unlikely. Otherwise I'm afraid there is nothing we can do. She is vulnerable right now and she will believe any bullshit anyone tells her. She will get revenge on everyone who's hurt her under the influence of the Isagi-jin. The deepest, darkest revenge will always come from the heart."
"But we're her friends and family! She wouldn't hurt us!" Marron exclaimed.
Vegeta raised an eyebrow. *Damn that blonde sure is ditzy...* he thought, exasperated. *I hope that one of these goddamn days someone will break it to her that life isn't always made of rainbows and those pathetic annoying bunnies...*
An uncomfortable silence followed. Even Chi Chi couldn't think of anything to say.
"So...how do we find Pan?" Bra asked finally, breaking the silence. She fiddled with her fingers nervously.
"We don't. Someone's already gotten to her," Vegeta replied. "Let's just say that she won't be the same the next time you see her. It's only a matter of time now."
Trunks felt helpless. Helplessness was something he hated feeling. "Isn't there anything we can do?" he asked.
Vegeta shot him a dark look. "You've done enough."
"Who's she with?" Gohan asked. His ki was rising. *If Pan's with any sleazeball Isagi-whatchamacallits I'll personally rip his head off and kill him and cut him bit by bit.*
"I don't know. But what I do know is that all of us better start training. I've got a feeling that the peace is coming to an end and a grand war will start soon. There's no knowing when they'll strike. There's no knowing how powerful they are. This is meant to happen..." He paused.
"And there's nothing we can do to change it," he finished.
************************************************************
Author's Note:
Okay, that's the end of chapter two! I know it sounds really confusing, and it may be kinda weird when you think "Hey, when's Mirai coming into all of this? I want the romance!" and be patient please, it's gonna come soon! I hope you enjoy, please review this story! I'd love ya forever *winks*