Author's note:

Hello everyone!

Just a short reminder of what I announced in chapter 5- a mysterious character called Sindor is mentioned, or introduced vaguely in this chapter, he is my original, made-up character whom I forgot to mention in the disclaimer in chapter 1 the first time I uploaded this story. I've added info about Sindor in the first chapter, so if you find him particularly intriguing to the plot, please go back to chapter 1 and read my added disclaimer! You might find the information I present there very interesting :)

By the way, all of you do know Marty's past, don't you? I'm not really meant to tell but you should have picked up clues from the things the characters (especially the villains) have been saying throughout the story… some of them are really obvious (reread the previous chapters if you didn't pick them up). Remember all that you've learnt while you are reading this chapter.

Remember to keep up those reviews!

Luv always, Fëaruin

P.S. In this chapter I also introduce my third original character. Can anyone guess who the blond girl in Marty's visions is?

Power, Deception, Lies

Part VII

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Videl swung her head around, her slightly unkempt black hair falling upon her cheeks. "Dragon Fields, eh?" She licked her lips in satisfaction. "I don't seem to see Chi chi here or anyone else, for that matter."

Marty stared in awe at the dark giant looming before him. It seemed to dislike him, yet it called out to him, drawing him in. In a faint memory he seemed to remember this cave… although this is the first time he'd ever been here… he longed to see what was inside… and he felt safe from the darkness, and although his heart was honestly afraid, he seemed like this darkness was not going to betray him… he almost sensed a spark of belonging that he did not understand from whence it came. Indeed in his soul he sensed he was different to the others, and as humble as he was unaware of being reared to be, he could not deny to his own question that he was in some way exalted to the rest of the humans in his foster family. That made him powerful as the heavens, and yet weak as the mortals… beautiful as the sun-kissed sea and the sky, and yet frightening as the night. Why he felt this way, he did not know, and his soul ached for the knowledge of his past… although he knew that with his amnesia, the darkness and the light within his heart would not be answered.

He closed his eyes, holding a hand to his chest, gripping the warm jacket he wore. He heard a distant voice calling his name, although he did not know whether it was real or his imagination. Immediately, a faint vision gripped his mind again, as he found himself in a majestic field of flowers, the whispers growing louder as a beautiful blond girl wearing a white dress approached him. So beautiful was she, it shocked Marty. Her face and arms were white, without a single blemish, and her long blond hair fell upon her back, like a waterfall of golden honey. He seemed to know her… and yet he didn't. Knowing that such a vision could be the key to his past, he tried to speak to this girl, although he found out immediately that he could not control the vision. It seemed to be a re-enactment of something, like a movie, except Marty was involved, and in a read-only type mode. It was like virtual reality, except in the mind and not of sight.

The blond girl, with hair flowing behind her like water from a stream, smiled as she lovingly stroked Marty's cheeks. I fear what will happen to us… I can feel the darkness coming, she seemed to say, taking Marty's hand. Marty found himself giving that smooth, white hand in his a kiss, gazing deep into the blue eyes that shone sadness back at him.

'Sweet one,' he found himself saying in the vision. 'We must be strong. The army has fallen- Mother is lost, and Father is wounded. We only have ourselves, and each other. Remember all the training that Sindor has given us since we were but young children…'

I do not trust Sindor, she seemed to whisper. He is hiding behind a mask, and I can feel it. If we ever find out if his teachings are pretense… her blue eyes shone with faint tears, piercing Marty's gaze. Marty looked back at her with confusion.

'Sindor is all we can trust, besides each other,' he said. 'What chance is there that I am wrong? He has been teaching us since we were children, he has brought us from birth to where we are today, and we have loved him for as long as my memory will allow.'

The blond girl's facial expression turned into visible despair, her blemish-free beauty changed into lines of frustration as she took Marty's cheeks in her hands, cupping his face, forcing Marty to look at her and pay her words heed. Sweet Martius, she mouthed, her whispers becoming so much softer now that they were hardly audible. I will not force you to believe what you will not. But trust is now very priceless, for half the island is deceased, others are hiding in fear, others are being destroyed this minute… maybe as sadistic as the massacre of your army and mine. Will you not listen to what I feel? If one of us feels that Sindor is not to be trusted, then we should both beware…

Marty looked at her, her tears now more visible, and found himself releasing a deep sigh. 'Alright,' he answered. 'I always believe what my heart tells me, but now, at the time of fear and despair… something tells me I should trust you.'

The beautiful girl smiled, her long white gown flying behind her in the long grass and yellow roses. She wrapped her arms around him, resting a head on his shoulder, Marty finding himself returning the warm embrace as he brought her closer to him, gently kissing the white forehead on his cheek. You will not regret this, Martius, and I will never betray your trust. Thank you, sweet, sweet Marty… Marty…

"Marty!" A voice yelled, jolting Marty from his vision. Opening his eyes, the first thing in sight was the horrible giant cave, and he yelled in shock, falling back onto the grass. Gohan and Videl ran to him straight away, helping him up.

"…Marty?" Gohan gently asked, seeing Marty's eyes fill with bewilderment. "Are you okay?"

Marty unintentionally walked away from the hands that helped pull him up, as he brushed the grass and dirt off his trousers. "Yes, I'm fine… sorry, my mind was wandering. What were we doing, before I trailed away into the land of dreams?"

Eighteen began to speak, except Marty hadn't heard a single word. His eyes turned completely blank as he thought about the vision he'd just had, wondering about its significance. Was it just a daydream? Or was it a vision of the past, or a precognitive sight into the future? Who was the beautiful girl in his vision that seemed to know him, and who was Sindor, that seemed to be the center of the imaginary conversation he'd just had? Where was this endless garden or field of flowers on which they were standing, and where was this island that was seemingly under threat of massacre? Each question passed his mind, not realizing that Eighteen had stopped talking and she and the other Z warriors were gazing curiously and with extreme worry at him being so consistently expressionless and blank in recent minutes.

And all of an unexpected sudden, as he thought of each of the questions, another vision began to form, pulling him back into the realm of a trance while wide awake. And as the screams in his mind grew louder and the imaginary rope of visions pulled him deeper, his blank eyes flickered with rapid movement as a blurred picture of what looked like a tall man in a garden formed before his mind.

* * * * *

Garlic and Pilaf continued to hide behind their large boulder on the way down from the top of the mountain, looking back and making sure that their ship was on invisible mode lest the Z warriors below were to see it. Each raised their non-existent eyebrow simultaneously as they watched what was happening in the clearing below.

"What on earth is happening to that kid? We must have drugged him too much," Garlic stared. Pilaf smirked at his equal-sized friend in reply.

"No way. We only gave him half dosage," Pilaf answered. "He'll only have outbreaks of serving the Dark Side as the Prince of Waterville. Other days he's a tomcat who can't remember a thing."

"Unlike the girl, who I'm guessing has turned from as gentle as Marty to this ravenous demon?" Garlic laughed, although careful to keep it down into a low whisper.

"Yes, we fully gave it to her, she took the full dose. Now, down to business. Do you want to take on Gohan first? Or would you give me the honor of victimizing young Videl?"

"Oh, after you, good friend," Garlic held out his hand, beckoning the way to the warriors below. "I think I will better enjoy slaying that boy when he's almost dying of grief from his girlfriend's death."

"Well, you stay here then, and DON'T YOU DARE interfere. If I'm about to die, that's my own responsibility. I don't need backup, I don't need you or Cell, and I certainly don't need stupid metalhead Frieza. You can take on that boy of yours after I'M finished."

"Slow down, Tiger," Garlic smirked. "Alright. Go ahead, and I'll stay here and be a spectator."

"What should my first move be?" Pilaf frowned suddenly, becoming a little nervous. "It has to be PERFECT. They should not catch me, and I should be able to defeat that girl with a good surprise and without losing. I need a tactical opening…"

"Hey, Pilaf," Garlic interrupted, "Look. We'd forgotten about Piccolo. Not only that, but we'd never even set out on what to do to attack him, like we'd planned on doing with the rest of them. Why don't you attack him first? Knock yourself out. Turn into some kind of big ugly creature and shove one of those capsules in his mouth. Wouldn't that green goon look so much better when he's made of stone?"

Pilaf raised his non-existent eyebrow again, and flicking his cape behind him, continued to trek down the mountain alone, as silent as the dead.

* * * * *

'Sindor,' Marty complained in a whining tone that was almost shrill, 'Why is it that I must dress like this? This is the 21st century. I look like Master Shakespeare! Goodness, I'm hardly nine years old, and I'm going around dressed like some kind of fairytale knight.'

Come now, my sweet child, the blurred figure towered over Marty, smiling. Remember what your Father says; it's always good to try the ways of the old. And we are an island, and no intruder from the other lands could ever see you and tease you. Where do you think I get my teachings before I became a teacher myself?

'I know,' Marty mumbled in defeat, sulking childishly. 'I am Lord, my love is my Lady. But indeed! I don't see the need to look like the Earl of Southampton when all the boys my age wear clothes so differently on television.'

Sindor frowned a little, but it was meant to tease the child before him. Since when did I let you go anywhere near that boxful of poison? And besides, my child, look at the life you lead. You will fall in love soon enough, and you and she will follow in the footsteps of your Father and Mother. Do you realize just how lucky you are, and what you would lose had you been born one of those boys on television?

'I'm still young,' Marty smirked, 'I do not believe I will fall in love just yet. And just for a day, if it could come true, I really do wish I could lead the life of one of those foreign boys on television… it seems like the island is slightly too dead for my liking.'

…And you would not be able to say any sentence in the world like the one you'd just said, if you were one of those foreign boys at the same age, Sindor smirked back, old age and wisdom shining through his eyes. My teachings are strict and they have done you good. You are far more intelligent and obedient than any foreign boy you see who does not receive the same teachings. You are privileged, and must be grateful for it. Do you understand?

Marty sighed, turning his gaze to the ground stubbornly. 'Yes, Sindor…'

Sindor glanced down at the young boy, and sighed as well. Marty, have me let you know…

'What?' Marty asked, a little worried.

The years that follow will not be easy, Sindor turned his gaze away, his eyes filled with subtle anxiety. I am old, and if anything happens to me… I want you to study hard today, tomorrow and for the next few years. If something happens to me, I want you to have the ability to look after yourself, remember all the preaches I have given you, and defend yourself against your foes. Maintain peace, make your soul wise, and defend without attack. That is the way of the days of old, and it is the influence of the olden days that we follow.

'That's always the way,' Marty smiled. 'It's unlikely I will forget.'

All of a sudden, Marty heard the sounds of a little girl calling his name. He flung his head around, forming a large grin at the sight of the little girl, barely eight years old, in her new gown, her blond hair in beautiful dreadlocks falling below her shoulders.

'Come for a visit?' Marty continued his grin as the little girl took his hand.

Yes… she seemed to say, with a soft, tiny smile. I hope I am not intruding Master Sindor's teachings…

Sindor raised an eyebrow and finally grinned, making a swatting gesture as to tell them to go off and play. It is with that gesture that Marty and the girl grinned back at him, running away on the grass with their shrill laughter echoing behind them…

"Marty!" Goku's voice came into the vision, distorting it and suddenly making it vanish. Marty shook his head, and focused his eyes onto Goku, letting out a slightly muffled apology.

"What's wrong?" Marty asked, seeing the worried faces that he had left behind while he'd indulged in the second vision he'd had in fifteen minutes.

"While you were in one of your daydreams, and we were trying to snap you out of your trance," Videl swallowed, her face flushed with despair, "Piccolo disappeared…"

To be continued…

Author's note:

Just to remind you that all names from Waterville Island are aristocratic and therefore the full name of Marty that was mentioned by the girl in Marty's visions, Martius, is pronounced Mar-tee-uhs, not as Marshes.

So, anyone have any guesses as to who this aristocratic blond girl is? Review me with your guesses!

Luv, Fëaruin