Forgotten Guardians
~ Disclaimer: I own nothing off of DBZ or anything like that. I do claim original characters though. This takes place during the Buu Saga, which in my story, never happened. Sorry peeps but I never saw how it ended. But in any case Goku is back with his family and among the living. ~
Note: I changed the rating in this mainly because of what's in Destiny's past. Before it was pretty downplayed but to get you to try and understand her character better I'm going to bring it in. (Which I was going to do anyway so this is just a delayed thing).
May your honor stay firm and your word be true.
Give mercy and accept help when it's freely offered.
Turn down no requests for help unless they are false.
Remember who you are and keep your head up, even if all stand against you.
Trust your instincts and feelings to tell you what is right and what is wrong.
- The Twentieth
Chapter 11"Oh, how pretty." Destiny said a bit dryly as she looked out over the docking area for the ships. While it was clean and well run, it was full of men and women who were either nude or very close to it.
"Wha. What is this place?" Gohan asked in shock as he also looked around.
"Skyvorn. Also known as the planet of ultimate pleasures and love." She answered in a bored tone, even though she was watching the area around them carefully.
"What! Did you know that when you brought us here?"
"No. But I still would have come." She looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. "I might have left you behind though." She added teasingly and he barely kept himself from snarling at her.
He'd been shocked to see her wearing such a provocative dress, but it was nothing compared to these people. They wore nothing or clothes so reveling that it made him blush just to look at any of them; and it wasn't even fazing her a bit!
Destiny must have felt some of his emotions because she placed her hand on his arm and said, "we were raised differently Gohan, nudity isn't something I'm unfamiliar with." Such a simple statement, yet it wasn't, not really. Gohan noticed the looks that Destiny was receiving from the men and was stunned by the open huger and lust in their eyes.
Try looking at the women who are watching you. Destiny suggested in mind-speech. The women were watching Gohan the same way the men were watching Destiny. Believe it or not it's the clothes that make one desirable. If everyone went around nude, or nearly nude you'd consider people like us as exotic. She continued in an amused tone.
Gohan cocked his head slightly as he considered what she said. "Yeah, I guess. Still…" He agreed and wrapped his arm around her waist. It might make him sound like a wimp but he was hoping that if the women here thought he was with Destiny they'd leave him alone; and if they men thought Destiny was with him, they'd leave her alone. Perfect solution. He thought smugly.
Come on, there's Larex now. She said and very subtly jerked her head towards a large group of people heading towards them. At their head was the man who had been talking with Destiny on the ship.
"Why are you using mind-speech?" He asked her quietly as they made their way towards Larex.
Because some things are better if they are kept private between us. There is something about this place that makes me uneasy. She answered honestly.
By that time Larex had reached them and smiled warmly at them both. "Welcome to Skyvorn! The grandest place in all the universe!" He greeted them enthusiastically.
Place your right fist over your heart and bow. Destiny said to Gohan as she preformed a graceful curtsy. Gohan executed the bow perfectly and was pleased to see Destiny smile at him.
"So what brings you to Skyvorn, Princess?" Larex asked graciously as he offered her his arm. Destiny placed her hand lightly upon his arm and allowed him to lead the way.
"Business." She answered.
"How utterly boring. You and your brother work much too hard." He teased.
"And you play entirely too much." She countered smoothly.
"My dear princess, you wound me to the heart!" Larex exclaimed dramatically.
Destiny looked up at him, raised one delicate eyebrow, and grinned. "You're such a liar."
Larex chuckled and nodded. "Very true, but then, a man will say whatever he must to win your heart."
Destiny snorted and rolled her eyes.
Laying it on a bit thick isn't he? She sent to Gohan and felt his agreement through their link.
"It's lucky you arrived when you did. Our midnight festival, celebrating the old gods and goddesses, is all week and has just begun a short time ago."
I don't think so Larex. It's also called the week of free lovers on other planets. She thought and shook her head slightly. "Thank you, but not tonight Larex. I'm exhausted and I believe Gohan is too." She said apologetically.
"Of course. Forgive my rudeness. I'll have two chambers prepared-"
"One chamber Larex, the Ambassador is also serving as my guard and will share my room." She interrupted and felt Gohan's shock keenly. Larex had jerked his head to look at her sharply but after a moment he nodded in agreement.
"As you wish." He agreed before summoning four servants to him and told them to go to Destiny's ship and place the princess and ambassador's things in their room.
Unfortunately, it was nearly an hour before they were allowed to retire and by then Gohan was more than a little willing to strangle Destiny. Or, failing that, get her alone for about fifteen minutes so that he could yell at her to his hearts content.
"Are you crazy!" He yelled at her when the door slid shut.
Destiny jumped in surprise and had to fight to keep the amusement from her face. "I've been accused of being crazy." She answered and took out the ties holding her hair back.
"Ha ha. Don't you know what they'll be thinking if we stay in the same room together and share a bed?!" He growled.
"Gohan, who really cares what they think?" She countered, took off her shoes, turned her back to Gohan and slipped off the dress.
"What are you doing?!" He yelled and turned his back to her.
"I'm tired, Gohan. I've not slept at all since we heard that Shad and Matt were taken. I'm not in the mood to celebrate, and I don't think you would be either if you knew what that festival is really all about." She muttered while pulling on a pair of soft pajama pants and a large black t-shirt.
"Oh really? At least Videl wouldn't think that I'm cheating on her if we went to the festival."
"Don't count on it. Look around you Gohan, while you and I take sex seriously these people don't. The early stages of the festival are said to be okay to go to if you don't want a bed partner for the night. When midnight rolls around however, you pick someone to partner with, and it doesn't have to be your husband or wife either, and celebrate the old gods." She said the last with a sarcastically and rolled her eyes. "Oh, you can turn back around." She added absently and looked around their room.
The walls were a pale green that seemed a very soothing color with dark green and cream-colored carpets on the floor. A set of closed glass doors led to a large balcony and gauzy green curtains covered every window. The bed was very large and had dark green covers with matching pillows. There was a painted mural on the ceiling that seemed vaguely familiar. Too tired to worry about any of that now, Destiny walked over to the bed and placed two pillows down the middle before she climbed under the covers and closed her eyes.
Good night. She mumbled sleepily to Gohan before she slid into oblivion.
Gohan shook his head and glared at her for a long moment before smiling slightly. She looked like a little girl curled up in her parent's bed. Gohan quickly changed into a black pair of pants to sleep in and left his shirt off. After he turned out all the lights he lay down on his side of the bed and quickly fell asleep.
Sand was everywhere and the heat from the sun made the air nearly impossible to breathe. Destiny narrowed her eyes at her opponent in hatred. The man was tall, very bulky, and would kill her if he got the chance. Her chances of defeating him were slim considering that she was only seven and very delicate in stature, but she had the advantage in speed and intelligence.
"Come here girl. I might let you live if you please me in my bed." He said and rubbed his hand over his lower body.
Destiny shot him a disgusted look and felt her anger grow even hotter. Disgusting, murderous, would be rapist, kidnappers, and a hundred other things she could name that no child should know. But she wasn't a child any longer, nor had she been for a long time. What am I? She wondered and barely dodged the blow that was meant to knock her out.
"Oooh, so the girl can move. What are you like in bed sweetie?" He taunted.
I am your death. She thought but didn't say a word as she began her own assault.
This was why she was feared. When she attacked, there was no warning; it was just a deathly silent onslaught that never seemed to end. Quiet as soft wind blowing she leapt high into the air and slashed her sword across his throat. It was a swift death, much more than what he would have given to her.
"You idiot! You were supposed to fight longer!" Yin yelled at her and motioned for the guards to come and take hold of her. Good as she was, Destiny knew that she could not beat eight warriors at one time. Yin stalked over to her and ripped her shirt off and backhanded her across the face until blood trailed down from her cut lips. Then he ordered her chained to the wall as he pulled out his whip.
"If you won't give them a show, you little bitch, then I sure as hell will." He screamed and she heard the hiss of the whip just before it cracked and pain wracked her small frame. Again, and again, and again, she was struck. Blood ran down her back and legs and dripped into the thirsty sand.
Inside, Destiny was screaming and crying but she never made a sound. The only sign that she was in pain was the terrible shaking of her body and the tears that fell from her eyes and down her cheeks. So many whippings but they had never killed her. Not for the first time she prayed that this would be the one to end her life. Living hurt too much, and her only companion in this world was her heart-brother Shadow. He, like her, was beat often because these mortals saw him as a scraggly wolf pup that could be beaten. Although they both prayed for death it was never granted to them, had God turned His back on them? Why wouldn't he just let them die? Why? Destiny screamed out in her mind.
Destiny.
Destiny.
"Destiny!"
"Destiny!" Gohan said loudly and shook her roughly. He had been woken up by her quiet sobs and was about to shake her lightly when she screamed out 'why'. Tears were poring down her face and he sat up and shook her again. "Destiny, wake up!" He yelled and her eyes suddenly opened and she cried out softly while trying to scramble away from him. Recognizing that she was still reacting from her dream he pulled her into his lap and held her.
"Shh… You're safe. It's alright." He said soothingly, tucking her head under his chin and stroked her back lightly.
Destiny shook her head and buried her head in his chest as shudders continued to wrack her body while her tears continued to flow.
Gohan could felt her emotions as clearly as a punch in the gut. There was so much pain and sorrow but even worse, there was a feeling of hopelessness.
I never cry anymore. Destiny whispered in mind-speech, but she still couldn't keep her emotions out of her voice.
"Well now you can. Just let it out Destiny. I promise I won't let you fall." He swore and held her tighter.
In perhaps her greatest act of trust towards anyone but Shadow, Destiny clung to Gohan as she finally allowed herself to cry for the capture of her brothers, for the lost of her childish innocence, for her past, and for all the other things that she had never mourned nor cried for. Through it all Gohan continued to hold and soothe her. Whoever said that crying makes you weak was wrong. It was a way to heal the soul and to lay the things to rest.
After Destiny quieted down she continued to hold onto Gohan. She was exhausted in every sense of the word; heart, mind, body, and soul, had been spent and her only anchor was the demi-saiyan that had held her the whole time during her breakdown.
"I'm sorry." She said hoarsely.
"Why? You needed to cry." He said gently.
Destiny tilted her head up a little and kissed Gohan's cheek lightly before laying her head back against his chest.
"Thank you." She whispered softly.
"You're welcome." Gohan answered just as quietly and they fell back asleep like that, both feeling safe and oddly enough, whole.
~ Well what do you think? Me really, really want reviews for this. I'm sorry for changing the rating but it makes me feel better. So please, please, please, tell me what you think! ~