Dreams and Secrets

~§~

18 YEARS LATER

~§~

The birds stopped singing…

"Dammit, dammit, DAMMIT!!!"

Mr. Popo poked his head over the rosebush, gazing quizzically at the Namek. "Lord Dende…" he said, baffled by his lord's sudden display of cursing. "Why, whatever is the matter?"

Dende huffed and growled in reply, and then pounded his fist on his worktable. "Fuck! Shit! He's in the neighborhood!"

"What??" Mr. Popo swallowed, even more shocked than before. "Lord Dende…"

The crickets stopped chirping…

"Stupid gangark!" Dende roared. "He even has a name. Can you believe that? That worthless creature has a name!"

Mr. Popo clutched at his bush cutters. He's never seen his lord act like this before. "W-what's his name?"

"Hendra."

The hush was deafening…

"He's in the neighborhood?"

"No… Well, sort of. He's in the galaxy, more like." Dende stood up and began pacing.

Silence…

"My lord," Mr. Popo said timidly, an apprehensive sensation overwhelming him, "is there…something…else?"

Dende stopped dead in his tracks, nearly toppling over. He shot a frightened, yet serious, look at Mr. Popo. "Yes."

Hush, my little baby, go to sleep… Sleep in your bed and dream of me…

The two spiritual beings swallowed, feeling the ever so slight disturbance in the atmosphere.

~§~

"WOOOOOHHHHOOOO!!!!! YEAH!!!" Marron yelled at the top of her lungs. Her belly did flip-flops as she accomplished a double turnover on her hoverboard. She landed swiftly on the platform.

"Uhh, Marron, I really don't think you should be doing that," Uub warned worriedly. Damn, this girl's too active. "D-don't you have college to go to or work or something?"

Marron hopped off the platform, letting out a breath of triumph. She glanced at her dark-skinned friend and patted his back rather fiercely. "Aww c'mon, Uubie, lighten up a bit. Besides, I graduated from college four years ago, and as for work, I don't need to worry too much on it."

"But, Marron, you're twenty-six years old," Uub pointed out. After taking note of his friend's confused gaze, he added, "Umm, don't you think you should act your age?"

Marron stared at him, blinked, then laughed. Does he think I'm that old? "Well, Uub, it's been quite a long time since I've done this. I just wanted to get the old feeling back, ya know?" She emphasized 'old' by crouching low in a boxer stance and then throwing a couple of boxing punches in the air.

Uub sighed. "Fine. Whatever." He smiled and then backed away, as if preparing himself for an onslaught. "Just don't go telling people that we know each other, okay? It's an embarrassing enough fact that we do." A teasing chuckle escaped his lips.

Laughing like a maniac at his silly antics, Marron playfully punched his arm. "You tease, you!" she said, not realizing what she had just done.

Uub flinched. "Yow! Marron, that hurt." He shot his friend a look of surprise and rubbed the offending spot. What he felt from her hands was no ordinary punch from a mere human girl. It was weird.

Marron choked back a gasp, gazing at the place she hit, and then quickly disguised her fear. "Whoops, heh-heh, guess I don't know my own strength." Shit, I shouldn't have done that.

Uub glanced at her wryly. "Uh, your knuckles must've hit a bone or something," he said slowly, trying to cover up his suspicion.

"Yeah, yeah, that's it!" Marron said quickly. "I hit a bone. Sorry 'bout that."

"Sure, whatever." Whatever, indeed…

~§~

"What else could be wrong?" Mr. Popo asked worriedly, standing up from his place.

Dende fiddled with his work pencil and then started nibbling on it. "He's not supposed to be this close to us."

"What? What do you mean?"

"I mean…I mean he doesn't need to be."

"Huh?" Mr. Popo blinked.

Dende growled in frustration. "Marron's on her last dream." He held onto his head to think. "Hendra could easily have her dreaming again and run to Oblivion."

"Oh? So why's he here?"

"I don't know, Mr. Popo, I don't know." Dende shook his head solemnly. "But I need to get Marron on her way now."

"You mean, it's time?"

"Yes…"

~§~

Marron entered her house, dropping her gym bag on the floor and walking into the living room. Clad in her jogging clothes and shoes, she jogged into the kitchen but then stopped immediately.

At the table were her parents and with them was a certain lavender-haired man she knew all too well. Fear and awkwardness invaded her internal system as she stared at the back of his head. She knew he was there for her.

Slowly, she turned around and tried to creep back out, taking advantage of the man's failure to sense her presence. Unfortunately, that was in vain.

"MARRON, HONEY, WHERE'VE YOU BEEN??" Juuhachigou practically yelled across the kitchen, jumping up from her seat.

Marron flinched and rooted herself to the spot as she felt her mom's loving arms instantly wrap around her. "Um, at the rink with Uub," she almost groaned, not bothering to turn around.

"Honestly, hun, those stunts of yours are reckless," Krillin said from his place at the table, knowing too well about her activities. "Don't you have work to do?"

This time, Marron did turn. In fact, she spun on her heel to face her father, nearly knocking her mom out of the way. "You know what?" she almost spat. "I'm tired of people telling and asking me that. Why don't people just--" Suddenly she became aware of the lavender-haired man's gaze. She stopped herself and pointed a rather nice hatred-filled glare at him.

Taking her bitterness rather lightly, he smiled in amusement.

Juuhachigou, noticing the building tension, decided at once to introduce their new guest. "Marron, sweetie," she said, walking over to the man, "this is Mr. Trunks Briefs of Capsule Corporation. He's the pres--"

"The president," Marron filled in nonchalantly. "I know." She pointedly tried to avoid looking at him as she walked over to fix herself a cup of tea. That man was up to something and she knew it. "So what does he want, a business deal?"

"Well, sweetheart, you yourself own a company, so why not?" Krillin offered, smiling.

Trunks held his hand up and stood, following Marron with his gaze as she began to pace around the room. He hoped to accomplish what he came for. And, judging from the look Marron had, it wasn't going to be an easy task. "Actually, I was thinking more of a merger," he confessed.

Marron stopped dead in her tracks and spat out quite a mouthful of tea. "A MERGER?!" she yelled, slightly coughing. "With MY company??" This time her full attention was on the man and she looked ready to explode. Who does he think he is?!

Trunks held his ground. "Yes. Is there something wrong?" He very well knew that there was. He knew that Marron was a proud woman who never admitted to any fault she might have. And he knew that her company was on the brink of an economic depression, but she wasn't about to mention that. This was why he offered. She was in trouble and he wanted to help.

Marron choked back a sinister laugh. "Wrong? WRONG?" she seethed. "Everything's wrong." How dare he? How dare he march into my home unexpectedly and suggest this?! Angrily, she stalked towards him and stopped just inches away from his muscular frame. Even through his suit, she could see how extremely fit he was. "Listen, Trunks, I'm glad you're concerned, but I don't need your fucking merger to lift me back up." Her tone was deathly low and her eyes aflame. "I need nothing from anyone and especially from you. Ya hear?" You're a fucking bastard and you know it! She clenched her fists, taking in barely collected breaths.

Trunks resisted the urge to go weak in the knees at her closeness. He swallowed a longing lump in his throat as he tore his gaze away from her heaving breasts. Steadily, he spoke, "You and I both know that you do." He seemed so confident of himself, so sure, he moved closer to her to whisper in her ear. "If you don't accept me--" quickly, he stopped himself and amended his sentence. "--I mean, this merger, your business will plunge into the worst depression this economy will ever have the pleasure of seeing." He paused to let his words sink in. "And I assure you, Miss Chestnut, you will sincerely regret it if you refuse to cooperate with me." A slow smirk danced its way across his lips and he blew ever so slightly on her ear.

Marron felt her face heating up and her heart racing. Oh, my lord, I'm blushing! She realized. Marron, why the hell are you blushing? Stop it right now! Oh, great, my whole body's on fire now. I made it worse! Ugh.

Trunks straightened his posture and looked down at the blonde, his smirk still evident. "I have given you an opportunity that no one can possibly refuse, ma'am. I trust you will make the right decision." His gaze lingered on her breasts once more and Marron blushed even deeper, realizing she was only wearing the sports bra she went jogging in. After a while, he looked up and nodded to both Krillin and Juuhachigou. "Good day." Then he walked out, giving a little wink towards Marron.

Marron clenched her fists, fuming with rage and frustration, directed mostly at herself. Without thinking, she yelled towards the door, "You just want to get me in your bed, you arrogant bastard!" She had no idea what overcame her and she didn't know why in the world she said it, but she sure hope he didn't hear it. Otherwise, he might get ideas… She hmphed.

~§~

My child…

She tossed and turned in her bed as sweat trickled down the sides of her face.

Tell me where it is…

The troubled blonde cried out. She grasped at her bed sheets.

Dream, my child, dream…

~§~

Marron found herself in a forest. It was beautiful and serene. She looked down at her clothes and realized she was wearing a strange outfit. Her long, wavy blonde hair, which was usually tied into pigtails, was loose and flowing with the wind. She walked through the forest, taking note that the place was lacking thickets, unlike any forest she'd ever been to or seen. A sigh escaped her lips as she breathed in the air. The atmosphere was filled with so much…magic. It was wonderful.

Yes, my darling, breathe.

She stopped and glanced around her. What was that voice? Suddenly, chills ran down her spine and she picked up her pace.

Do not be afraid, child. I am your master!

She ran faster, her bare feet pressing against the soft, moist soil. No, he's coming! Someone, help me!

Hush…no one is here.

Her leg muscles ached and she realized she was slowing. Ultimately, she tripped over a rock and scraped her knee on a tree root. She forced herself back up, but before she could start running again, a hand grabbed her.

No more tears, my child. 'Tis time…

Marron trembled with fear as she looked into two hollow holes, which she assumed were his eyes. But even so, she could clearly see the evil they held. She whimpered at the pressure his hold on her caused. But he was indifferent to her cries.

Marron…

He tightened his grip and dragged her to the darker part of the forest. Marron's eyes widened when she saw a huge black portal open up. No! Someone help me, please!! He ignored her and leaped into the void, taking her with him.

~§~

Marron woke up screaming. "NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" she yelled. Her breath suddenly caught in her throat, forcing her to shut up.

She instantly recognized the familiar features of her room and a wave of relief washed over her. Never before had she ever felt more comforted in her life.

Timidly, she brought her legs to the side of her bed and sat up. She brought a hand to her head, trying to calm the throbbing she felt. But, as she did so, a sharp pain engulfed her right arm and she looked down at it in shock and dread.

Slowly, ever so slowly, she lifted her sleeve and gasped when she saw a huge handprint on her skin. Fear, alarm, astonishment overwhelmed her. It was the exact same place where that monster had grabbed her.

"But it was just…a dream," she murmured to herself. Her eyes widened. "Wasn't it?"

~§~

The next day, as the sun was rising, Dende arrived at the Kame house and knocked profusely on the door. Juuhachigou came to answer it and frowned when she saw the 45-year-old Namek standing on her porch.

"What do you want?" she growled.

Dende tried to smile reassuringly but failed. "Your daughter," he said.

"Fuck you!" Juuhachigou slammed the door shut.

"Honey, who was that?" Krillin asked, coming out of the kitchen.

"Nobody." She glared at the door when the knockings refused to stop. Krillin reached over to open it.

"Sir," Dende said, "I came to talk to Marron."

Krillin smiled and gently pushed his wife out of the way. "Well, come right in."

Still glaring, Juuhachigou sat on a sofa in the living room. She folded her arms and watched warily as the green man entered their home.

Dende nervously fiddled with his fingers, looking around and taking note that not much had changed since the last time he'd been there. He took a seat in the armchair across Juuhachigou and avoided looking at her. The lady always made him uneasy. In fact, she was quite frightening to him.

Krillin, still smiling, sat beside his wife. "Well, Dende, I believe Marron will be down any minute."

Dende nodded. "Thank you, sir."

~§~

Marron gazed into her mirror and sighed. That dream she had really shook her. She didn't know what to do or who to talk to about it. It was the same kind of dream she's been having since childhood. But the settings were always different. Yet, it always portrayed the same event: a huge monster chasing after her and then grabbing her and leaping into a big black portal. She didn't know what they mean, but they sure scare her to death.

Voices from downstairs flowed into her bedroom and she knew her parents had another guest. Her stomach growled. She sighed again and left the room to get herself some breakfast.

Once downstairs, though, Marron instantly recognized that one of the voices belonged to her Master Dende. She peeked into the living room and, true to her ears, there he was sitting on the lounger.

Dende, immediately seeing the blond tuft of hair flash before his eyes, cocked his head up. He greeted Marron with a smile and signaled her in. Hesitantly, she entered, wondering what her master was doing at her home. She noticed the somber looks her parents had and knew it wasn't anything good.

"Marron, so good to see you again, how've you been?" Dende asked, somewhat merrily.

"Oh, cut the crappy polite talk, and get with the point," Juuhachigou snapped. "This is my daughter's life we're talking about and she has every right to know."

Marron paused, midway across the room, and met with everyone's gaze one by one. Confusion crossed her features and curiosity took its toll. What was going on?

Seeing the questioning look she had, Dende said simply, "You're going to Oblivion."

PRIVIEW OF NEXT CHAPTER:

Preview unavailable, mainly because I'm still working on it and I still have to make amends and figure out how the hell it's gonna go. Sorry 'bout that, though.

A/N:

Well, well. Guess I'm a naughty girl, eh? No preview, dammit. Guess I didn't do my homework. *sighs* I'll work harder for the next chapter. But, in the meantime, check out An Angel's Tears by summerdragonfly. I swear, this story is great. If you can't find it, look under my Favorite Stories section. Read and review it. And don't forget to read and review this story as well. Ta, ta!