"Rebels of the Revolution"
By Akira
Disclaimer: For the most thorough disclaimer, read the one in the last chapter. Everyone, every place, everything belongs to their rightful owners – ideas and plot are mine. Most likely, everything else you recognize is purely coincidental.
Summary: "Saiyans have no king; Saiyans need no king." The heir to the throne returned long from exile – a choice he made long ago. He took the throne, and within months, rumors of a rebellion emerged. The entire planet turned against him… all except one girl.
Thanks go out to… T/Ptears, caryn, Kutie-Pan, Juuanagou4ever, pan, chibigoten124/SSJ3MysticPan, Videl17, Butterfly Monkey Babe of (x2)… for reviewing! Special thanks go out to Videl17 and pan for trying to guess how old Trunks was… the answer is at the Author's Note at the end of the chapter!
Chapter VII
The Fall festival snuck up on everyone without any precautions or warnings. The few months that had passed since Trunks's arrival did not prepare him at all for what the Saiya-jins considered their most festive time of the year. It is in his study, where he is trying to prepare, which one finds him today.
A large sigh was heard escaping the mouth of the young prince… well, King. It had been only a few months he's been called King as opposed to the years he had been called prince. His stomach was running wild with butterflies, and his nerves were on end. He was to take first pick at the selection of warrior-in-training, and he, as well as nearly the entire Saiya-jin population, had a pretty good idea of whom he was to pick. Some approved of his decision; however, most did not.
A knock was heard rapped upon his study chamber doors. "Come in," Trunks answered, hurriedly trying to fasten his cloak. No doubt it was Gohan, the Steward, trying to get him to hurry. He turned to look out the window; he didn't want Gohan to know he was struggling with his cloak of all things.
"My Lord, you called?" Pan swept a curtsey, which looked quite awkward in her full training gear.
In his anxiety and nervousness, he had forgotten he had called on Pan. "Oh, yes. Do you wish to train under me, Pan, daughter of the Steward?" Trunks kept his back turned as he continued to struggle with his cloak. In the months that had preceded this day, and the few talks with Pan that had ensued during them, she had asked him not to address her full title… he was trying to break the habit… trying.
A silence ensued as Pan pondered. A timid controlled voice answered in an almost monotone, "If it is my Lord – my King – 's will then I shall not protest… even if it is against my father's wishes."
"Do you have an opinion on your own behalf?" Trunks inquired, turning around, one hand rested on the fastening of his cloak.
"I do, my king, but it is inferior to those under whom I serve such as you ad my father." Pan kept her usually laughing eyes downcast.
"I am asking for your opinion, or do you not have one?" Trunks's gaze remained on the young girl. He had never asked for her opinion on things before.
"I have an opinion, my King, but it is not my place to say it." Pan's voice was taut as if strung tightly on a bow. It was pressed. Trunks recognized the strained tone in it. He had heard it numerous times, warning him about him crossing the line.
He couldn't understand why Pan was so uptight. Regardless of her tone, Trunks pressed on. He knew he was King and with it came the power invested in the throne. "It is if I say so. Now, Pan, daughter of Gohan, Steward of Vegeta-sei, would you want to train under me officially? I don't' want to press you to do anything you don't want to do." Trunks fought back a chuckle. He was already doing so by forcing her opinion out of her.
Pan's face flushed at the thought of having a say in something for once… but her face didn't reflect any of the appreciation she felt. This King might be nice, but he had a way of making her riled up… by openly forcing her to say something when she had openly objected to doing so. Eyes blazing, Pan kept her voice low, "My King, being able to train under you officially would be my greatest pleasure, and it's been my dream to serve under a truly qualified warrior other than my father and uncle. Even if it is against my father's will, I would defy him to my death to serve under you!" Pan stopped for a breath. At first, she looked as if she would continue but then stopped in compliance with her better judgement. With a bet red face, pan curtsied again, "May I have permission to leave, my King?"
Trunks knew he was wrong to push her to her limit. He should have already known she wouldn't object to training under him – she had been doing so, though not officially, twice a month – but he had gone egotistical and wanted to hear it from her mouth. Nodding his apologies, he looked at her with a raised eyebrow. In an incredulous voice, he asked hesitantly, "Will you help me with my cloak first?"
Pan walked over with a feminine grace in her warrior garb and fastened his cloak with her nimble fingers. She turned and went out of the King's study chambers, pausing only by the door to remark, "Have a great Fall Festival, my Lord, and pick a good one."
Trunks watched her go with mixed feelings. He had developed a fondness for this mere fourteen-year-old as an older brother might a little sister. They had not talked much, no, she was always busy with training. During the two training sessions a month with her, he had only time to teach her new stances, measure her progress, and train himself with little talk. He had been learning the ways of the throne and of instinct of the Saiya-jin nature – one thing he found was intruding more and more into his life nowadays. Sadly enough, here on Vegeta-sei, Pan was the closest on to him… or seemingly the closest one that cared about him… yet she couldn't express an opinion without getting angry at him.
Not for the first time since he had encountered this new gender, Trunks thought to himself, 'Women are weird.'
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lanterns were strung above all amid the stars in the sky. A rounded platform rose from the center of the crowd. The members of the Elite, who were currently on Vegeta-sei and wished to have a warrior-in-training, stood upon it. Other warriors who also wished for a warrior-in-training also made their way onto the platform. The King and Steward approached the platform, one anxious face and one unreadable face respectively. As the King and Steward made themselves comfortable with the other warriors, the group of youngsters – warriors-in-training, or trainees – gathered in the far corner of the festive square.
Trunks twitched nervously… in mere minutes he would be in front of this crowd made up of his subject – in mere minutes he would announce with finality who he would train for the next four years. He had been afraid of his kingdom when he first arrived, but now the fear back then seemed petty compared to the one he faced now. He knew of rumors – no, he had not heard them all; with all the gossip, who would know all of what is flying around? – about him. These people remained respectful because it was expected of them, not out of respect for him. He had yet to earn that.
After a kiss on the forehead from her father, Pan sought out the King and went to stand by him. She touched his hand lightly to let him know she was there. He didn't respond verbally but smiled bleakly at her. She felt herself grinning back a smile of reassurance. He would do fine; she had no qualms about it.
In the simple matter of seconds which the two smiled at each other, both knew that the morning's hot tempers had slowly gone out. With the knowledge of a sense of usefulness not present since he left Namek, Trunks performed his part dutifully and flawlessly. Backed by each other and their faithlessness in themselves, but faithfulness in the other, the two basked in the beacon of limelight shone upon them that night. It was the night that would change the lives of the both of them… and rewrite history as Saiya-jins knew it.
End Chapter VII
A/N: Happy Easter to all! Nice little present, don't you think? How many people had the Easter bunny come and visit them? Pray tell, I'd like to know!
Hit a minor writer's block, which I had to clear up before I could go on with the story. If anyone noticed that the chapter didn't flow correctly through the majority of the chapter, my excuse is the writer's block. It caused me to write the chapter at intervals. One thing good did happen out of this: I've got the rest of the story outlined. ^ ^' Oh, and sorry about the ending of the last chapter – it was a reiteration of the end of chapter V – I've fixed the problem.
Early on, I made the decision not to keep the 14-year age difference between them. I knew I wanted to shorten it for this story, but to what extent I did not know. After reviewing my reviews (no pun intended) and pondering on such matters, I have decided to bestow upon you humble readers the knowledge of Trunks's age. King Trunks Vegeta Briefs, in this particular story, is twenty-four and five moons old.
As always… REVIEW!
