Here it is… what you all (or at least a couple of you sweet, sweet reviewers) have been waiting for…. Chapter three!
Enjoy!
"Okay kiddo, spill. I know that something's up. You've been acting all secretive for a week now. Tell your Auntie Bulma what's up."
Pan smiled mysteriously at her 'Auntie'. "Okay, but you have to promise not to tell my mom or grandma."
"Of course Kiddo."
"I've decided to go Vegeta-sei as the ambassador."
"Wow. Hold up. I'll give you one thing kid, you certainly can surprise a person. I think I've got you down, and then you go and do something like travel to a planet of blood thirsty savages."
"Auntie! I'm serious about this! This isn't just a random thing! I've been trying to figure out a way to get out of the spotlight for a while now. This is it. I'm the perfect ambassador. 1) I already know all about saiyans, whereas if you got anyone else, you'd have to explain all about how we know so much about them. 2) I am a quarter saiyan. I'm more likely to be able to get along with saiyans than anyone else. 3) I'm strong enough and clever enough to take care of myself if the whole thing is a trap or something. 4) I'm the Chief of State's daughter. I know all there is about governing and diplomacy. See! No one else fits into all of those categories!"
Bulma could not help but think of someone else who would have fit that description if not for his death- but that was a long time ago. Time to move on. "Your father could go."
Pan snorted. "Yeah right. Father would never leave Mother. Not to mention that he has no interest in the saiyans." Pan paused and then spoke under her breath, "He has no interest in anything."
Bulma heard and lifted an eyebrow. She was not the only one who needed to move on. Sure, she knew that Gohan had been through a whole lot, and at a young age too. But he needed to wake up. He had a beautiful, intelligent, personable, strong, and funny daughter who thought he did not care about her let alone love her. Sometimes even Bulma even wondered if he did. Gohan only really responded to Videl. He was distant to everyone else, even his mother and occasionally even Videl.
Whenever she saw him, Bulma felt like slapping him. His child was still alive and he did not even care about her. Well one day maybe he would wake up, but by then Pan would be gone. She would despise him and want nothing to do with him. He had already missed all of her childhood. It would serve him right.
Then again, Videl had not been the most faithful of parents either. Busy trying to gain the position of Chief of State, Bulma could not remember how many times Videl had dropped her little daughter off with Chi Chi or Bulma. Even after being elected, Videl still had little time for her daughter. Videl had, however, loved her daughter and made it clear. She might have missed a few times, but usually she was there to tuck her daughter in to bed and play catch in the back yard. Despite these things, Videl had been distant. With distant parents, Bulma and Chi Chi had wordlessly moved in to the important positions in Pan's heart. They loved her with all their hearts, since there was no one else to take up any heart-room.
"Well then, I guess you're going to Vegeta-sei."
Pan squealed. "Oh my gosh! Do you really mean it Bulma? You'll talk to Mom?"
"Yup kiddo, I really mean it. You need to get off this rock." Maybe you'll find someone who will love you the way you deserve.
"Videl? Do you have a minute?"
"Sure Bulma. Let's walk in the courtyard. It's too nice of a day to stay indoors." The two women walked into the palace gardens in silence. "What was it that you needed to talk to me about Bulma?"
"I'm worried about Pan."
Videl's brow instantly twisted. "What's wrong?"
"She's depressed. She's been depressed for months."
"Really? I hadn't noticed." Videl looked concerned and a little sheepish.
"I know you didn't. Videl sweetie, she needs a change."
"Oh is that all? Well Margie decided that Pan should head to college soon. She'll be starting school at Green Leaf University in the fall."
Bulma shook her head, her patience was running thin. "You don't get it Videl, do you? That isn't the kind of change I'm talking about. Think about what you just said: Margie decided. Margie, Pan's publicity director has decided that she is going to go to Green Leaf college."
Videl's patience was thinning too. "What are you talking about Bulma?"
"Pan is eighteen years old and her publicity director is basically dictating her life. Normal children start making their own decisions and plotting their lives at 18, most before that."
"Well Pan isn't normal! She's the daughter of the Chief of State! Every person on the planet knows her face!"
"That's where your wrong Videl. Pan is just a girl. She's just a girl like any other who was unfortunate enough to be the daughter of the Chief of State and have every person know her face. She's just a girl-"
"Unfortunate?"
"Yes, unfortunate. She's just a girl. To describe Pan, you don't say 'the most famous person on the planet', you say a smart, sassy, beautiful, strong-willed girl! A little girl who is turning into a woman, just like all little girls do. And just like the other girls, Pan deserves a chance to decide her own fate. Some silly publicity director who has never spoken two words to her can not decide Pan's future. Only Pan can." Bulma paused as a tear etched down her cheek. "Don't you see Videl? Pan's just herself., a girl like any other."
Tears were making their way down Videl's cheeks too. "Oh Bulma!" she cried and hugged the older woman tightly. "How could I have missed this?"
"Videl?" a new voice spoke unexpectedly and both Bulma and Videl jumped. It was Gohan. "Is something wrong?"
Bulma could see Videl trying to piece something to say together, so she answered for her. "No Gohan. Nothing's wrong. Nothing, at least, that you would care about."
Gohan scowled fiercely. "What are you talking about Bulma, this is my wife. What's wrong?"
"It isn't your wife that has a problem Gohan, its your daughter. And as we all know, you don't care about anything to do with her. You can't comfort your wife about this because you don't know anything about the problem. Get out of here."
To Bulma's surprise, he did. His scowl deepening, Gohan shot up into the air right where he stood and disappeared into the clouds.
Videl was gathering herself back together. "That was harsh Bulma."
"It was the truth."
Videl sighed and took a step away from the older woman. "Never mind. How could I have been so blind Bulma? This was my own daughter. I know how when I was her age I just wanted to get away, and my life wasn't half as hectic as hers."
"It's okay sweetie. Sometimes its hard for mothers to notice these things." Bulma paused, wondering if she should go on. Why not? "Especially those as busy as you are." She hinted gently.
"I've been neglecting her haven't I? I noticed, when she got older, that she seemed to need less time and care. Sometimes, when I went to watch over her, she would tell me to leave. I knew that she was growing up, but I couldn't see it."
"Pan told you to leave all those times because she thought that you were busy and didn't want to keep you from your work. It's amazing how, growing up as she has, that she remained so selfless."
Videl snorted. "Her grandmother is the cause of that I suppose. Chi Chi has never been known for overindulgence."
Bulma giggled. "Yep. She made Little Panny, the world's star, do the dishes… hehe."
Videl giggled with Bulma for a moment before sobering. "What am I going to do Bulma?"
"Wrong question Videl. What are you going to let her do?"
"Oh. Yes. She must have some sort of plan or idea. Has she told you?" Videl questioned.
Bulma paused, choosing her words carefully. "Yes. Pan has an idea, but I imagine you won't like it, but you have to let go sometime."
Videl sighed. "Yes, I suppose whatever Pan has in mind will be something I won't like. Regardless, however, I think I'm going to indulge her. Margie and I have been controlling her for too long. Unless Pan has something totally bizarre like dressing up in a secret identity and becoming a super hero, I'll do my best to comply. It is her life."
Bulma smiled. "Excellent. I'll tell Pan that she can start packing."
"Wait a minute! Packing for where? Where's she going?"
"Why Vegeta-sei, of course!"
Well, there you have it. Hope you liked it. Next chapter will introduce the bad guys. It'll be at least two more chapters before we get some T/P action going on, so bear with me please. Anyway, well, til next time…
-pd
