"Rebels of the Revolution"
By Akira
Disclaimer: Vegeta-sei, Gohan, Goten, Videl, Pan, and Trunks are dutifully Akira Toriyama's. The first line of the summary belongs to Peter Jackson of the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy (Boromir in The Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring at the Council of Elrond). Midwinter comes from several different fantasy books I've read. Lastly, there is mention of Enerials and Enerial forged weapons in this chapter. Both belong solely to my friend, Natalie, who has granted me permission to use the Enerials for my own purposes.
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… chibigoten124/SSJ3MysticPan and Videl17… for reviewing!
Chapter XII
"Lord Gohan, Lady Videl, I have come to request my sharing the evening with you and your family," Trunks murmured, bowing very low.
Gohan opened his voice, about to reject, when Videl all but silenced him with one look. "You may stay," Gohan replied in a disgruntled voice.
"Our King is always welcome in our home," Videl said courteously, curtseying.
"Thank you, my lord and lady," Trunks replied smoothly. Now he had other matters to attend to. "I must take my leave. I'll be back ere nightfall."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Exchange program, Andrean?" Trunks asked, confusion and wonder shining in his azure eyes.
"Yes, my king. I was wondering if you would be so nice as to switch trainees with me. It would be only an experiment of some kind," Andrean replied, his eyes cast down as his foot shuffled nervously against the floor.
"An experiment? Andrean, I would hope by now that you know better than to experiment with the lives of these young ones who serve under us. This is the beginning and foundation of their lives. Surely, they would not want us to toy around with them."
"My King, that's not what I meant," Andrean answered.
"Then what did you mean?"
Andrean stopped the shuffling and met Trunks's eyes with an air of defiance. It seemed as if he was trying to prove something, though Trunks could not identify what. "Blaze – my trainee – has been yearning to try and do the weapon pattern dances as Pan can. It is not my wish to defy his greatest wish, especially one that might save his life in battle one day. My King, please consider this. I am willing – more than willing – to help Pan in every way I can. I realize you are not used to commanding large groups at once, and I have more than enough experience from commanding squadrons and regiments in the Elite. She was a born leader, my King, and you must realize that I want to work for the good of both our trainees." Andrean's eyes suddenly looked out the window almost wistfully. His speech was over; he waited slowly for Trunks's reply.
"Why? What causes you to do this? Most trainers care not for the happiness and wishes of his trainee."
"Because I was put into that position before. My trainer cared for me, and I owe it to him to do the same for Blaze."
Trunks stayed silent as thoughts whirled in his head. "Very well. The week after Midwinter, Andrean."
"Thank you, my King."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"An exchange program, my lord?" Pan murmured.
"Yes. It's just as well for I was wondering how to fine tone your leadership skills."
"Many thanks, my lord, for your concern with my well being. Shall we make our way towards dinner?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After dinner, Pan escorted Trunks back to his room then proceeded to run back to her family's chambers. Running around the last corner, a hand suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a little niche in the wall. Instinct told Pan to unsheathe her new kris. Before she realized who it was, the blade of the kris had left a narrow trail of blood across the person's cheek. Her wrist now freed as she had caught her assaulter in the element of surprise, she turned to face him and gasped.
"Blaze?" A weak nod confirmed her suspicions. "What in the blazes are you doing?!" Pan all but screamed.
A hand went up to the trail of blood as Blaze asked her, "Have you heard the news yet?!"
"If you're talking about the exchange program, yes, I have. My Lord told me this evening," Pan replied evenly, her worry and concern for his cheek slowly ebbing away as she saw green fire shimmering against his palm.
"Isn't it wonderful?" Blaze touched his cheek with a fingertip as Pan noted with envy how the skin neatly formed back together. "I'll get to serve under the King!"
"Oh, it's magnificent! I won't get to see my Lord for a fortnight, what more could I ask for? I'm only trying to finish my training early!" Pan remarked wryly. She wasn't trying to put a damper on Blaze's excitement, but Trunks was one of the closest friends she had had in years and it wasn't exactly thrilling to know she had to spend a fortnight without him. Andrean was nice enough… but he was just a friend, more of a family friend than her personal one. He looked out for her… but in a way she suspected her uncle had ordered him to.
Blaze's face became crestfallen. "If you really don't want to, I'll tell Andrean that you wish not to."
Pan noted to herself harshly that she had forgotten how easily Blaze became upset. It came from being a bastard child of a streetwalker, who had thrown him out when he was but a mere babe. He had then been taken in by foster guardians, who had beat him. It wasn't a pleasant past. He had been rotating foster guardians due the fright that each one got when his Gift, uncontrolled, produced weird things. It had been this way until he was old enough to apply for training to serve Vegeta-sei. As one of Pan's older year mates, he had become a close confidant and advisor. "No, it's alright. Really," she tried convincingly as she caught the look in his eyes.
"Pan, I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you understanding this. I see you out on the field every morning, doing a weapons dance that I know must be graceful but deadly, and I get indescribably jealous. It's not a very Warrior-like feeling, but I just yearn to learn how to do that."
"As you will, Blaze," Pan said. Silence ensued between them like an uncomfortable tension. Quickly Pan found herself in a bear-like hug then realeased just as quick.
"Have a good Longnight with your parents."
"Thank you," Pan replied, about to say 'you, too' instead, but she caught herself in time. "My Lord is in his chambers right now, if you care to join him," she said softly as Blaze rounded the corner.
Pan took her time walking down the hall. When she finally did reach the door, she pushed it opened gently, easing into view of her parents in front of the hearth, enjoying their time together as they waited for her. "Mama? Father?" she whispered hesitantly.
"Oh, Panny," her mother crushed her into her arms. "I've missed you so much, little girlie. You're always away."
Gohan laid a hand on Videl's shoulder. Videl soon released Pan out of the hug. "It's been a long time since we've all sat before the hearth. Let us do so now, as a family."
Pan followed her parents to sit before the hearth as a family, to enjoy each other's presence throughout the night. Looking around, Pan was astonished to see that there were only few changes in the months she had left. Her mother used to alter the decorations according to season. Looking over at her mother, Pan noted that she didn't look too well. After a few moments of silence, Gohan spoke.
"Daughter, are you now so learned in a warrior's heartlessness to give your father a hug on Longnight?"
Brushing away tears that she didn't know she had, she welcomed her father's embrace. Only in her father's arms did she feel safe again. Though she sometimes couldn't fathom the reason for his actions, she was quite content to feel as if she were a little girl again, wanting to be protected by her father. It had been a long time since she was home.
End Chapter XII
A/N: Summer! Ten blissful weeks of nothingness! Perhaps I should work on this instead of sleeping all day…. Love ya lots!
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