In Search of Amity
Period 31: A sign of the times
Weeks
passed like a river that never over flooded or dried, training had
resumed and everyone worked harder than ever before, Savarnas
strength was increasing rapidly as she often trained with Vegeta.
"Good,
now the other one." He ordered, his arm up broking her routine
roundhouse kicks, a good way to keep her flexibility up since her ki
was no where near as strong as that of the others, this was the best
training method for her.
"I need
to it to be higher, I can't feel the back thigh muscles stretching
enough" she said stopping, Vegeta scowled.
"You can
squat down on the other foot, this is not going any higher," He
stated regarding his arm.
It had
been almost a week after Gohan and Videls blessing was given, Trunks
finally asked Pan to be his girl, she was surprised and delighted
when he came into her room and asked her, it was the perfect place
and the quietest setting, making it truly special. They talk
frequently, taking time away from training to find quiet places to
get to know one other.
Always
sitting on the floor facing one another, his wrist always draped over
her shoulder or fingers gently caressing her hair. He spoke of
ordinary things and about home, about the cafes, stores and islands
they would he would take her to visit, she would stare into his eyes
adoringly with a gentle smile across her lips, dreaming of those
times to come.
Things
were slowly in the beginning and went no further than long winded
conversations, he tried many times to kiss her and always she
refused, stating the time was not right to fall in love. However,
weeks passed and Pan found herself unable to hold back her true
feeling toward this man, this man who she admired and thought of from
afar for much of her teenage years, she now dared to fall in love
with him.
Piccolo staled in the upper levels, Gohan's heart broke from watching him sink lower everyday, trying to ignore it made him feel guilty, he would sit several metres away watching for signs on life, speaking to him as though he were in a coma and unable to answer.
"Do you remember when you saved me from Broly, that was the closest of all calls when he launched that attack, inches away from destroying me and you came, all the way from earth, do you remember?" He conversed but to no evil.
Piccolos stayed in his trance with his back to Gohan and his head bowed, hands in his lap, with eyes staring out the small porthole before him, Gohan would bring him water everyday but only occasionally was the glass empty when he returned.
"I miss you Piccolo, really miss you" he said, wiping his watery eyes with his sleeve, the sorrow was too much to bare and he stands to leave, hoping Piccolo will break from his trance to call him back, but he doesn't.
"do you delight in wasting my time girl?" Vegeta yelled, sprinting across the chamber floor until was inches from her, karate chopping at her neck she ducked in time and rolled away.
He landed on his feet, turning toward her.
"Too slow Dammit, haven't you remembered anything I taught you?" He cursed.
"I'm trying, I can't go any faster." Savarna replied, rolling to her feet and standing.
"Forget it, you wont get any better at this go train with Bra, she's closest to your level." He opened the gravity door for her to leave, disheartened she walked out, and the door slammed shut behind her.
Leaving,
she passed by the viewing window lounge and spotted Goten inside
reading.
"Hiya
uncle" she called walking in, her clothes loosely fitting and
comfortable as she slung down onto the couch opposite him.
"Finished
training with Vegeta?" he asked, his eyes constantly locked with
the pages of his novel 'The Power of One', it rested in his left
hand.
"Not
exactly, he dumped me for the chamber" she frowned, staring at her
wiggling toes propped up on the armrest.
"Don't
worry, your a lot stronger now than when we left home, we are proud
of you and Vegeta, he just makes it harder than it has to be, shake
it off." He mumbles with eyes still locked with the on the page,
his other hand cradling the back of his head.
Trunks
enters the room looking for a place to read his own material, without
acknowledging them he sits upon the recliner beside Savarnas couch.
"How
long have we got left?" Goten enquired.
"Mmm, 2
hours and we meet them down stairs." Trunks mumbled with his
attention on a book about planet Namek's history.
Savarnas
eyebrow rose.
"What's
happening in two hours?" she asked
"Sparring
session, everyone is welcome, didn't anyone tell you?" Trunks
asked looking up.
"No…
I wasn't and im sure I know why." She said with spite.
"Why?"
Trunks asked
"Because
I don't have any saiyajin or Namekian blood in me, too weak to hold
my own, a waist of space and a hold up to the rest of you." She
muttered with a sour frown.
"Sav
don't let what Vegeta said get to you, its nothing personal, isn't
not that right Trunks" Goten passed.
"What
did he tell you?" Trunks asked.
"He
dumped her for the chamber" Goten informed, Trunks nodded
understandingly.
"Its
true, he still tells me im not good enough or fast enough, but I
don't let it get me down." He abbreviated.
"Its not
the same, they know you have the potential, I don't and they make
it clear to me." She retaliated.
"Who's
they?" Trunks asked.
"Your
dads, Gohan and Piccolo…I hate being left out." She admitted
looking down at the floor, hot tears lingering in her chest.
Trunks
shook his head and with a nasal chuckle, placed his book down on the
coffee table, standing he walked to an open space nearby, Goten
watched with interest.
"Ok, you
think you should be given a fair go right." He directed at
Savarna.
"Yeah I
do" she replied.
"Well…
let's go then." He stated standing with his feet apart and hands
fisted by his side, Savarna stared at him unsure if he was serious.
"He's
being serious Sav, if you think you can take him, go for it."
Goten informed, Savarnas eyebrows cowered together at Goten then
turned to Trunks.
"No way,
it isn't going to happened you will crush me." she stated
bewildered.
"That's
not the point, the point is im giving you a go…now throw something
at me." He ordered.
Savarna
blinked twice and stood up.
"I cant
do that, this a joke isn't it" she chuckled and Trunks stamped
his foot.
"Now
charge, c'mon!" he shouted.
Pressured
she walked toward him lifting her fists up around her face
protectively, and then charged. Trunks avoided her first punch, she
threw another and again his face moved out of the way, then a
roundhouse kick that hit him square in the hip, his eyes widened
slightly at the impact.
Holding up
his palm he blocked a jab from her right fist, then left first with
his other, closing his fingers around them he lifted her off the
floor, spinning several times with her in tow he tossed her across
the floor to the opposite wall, she managed to slide to a stop,
avoiding injury.
Trunks
waited, an emotionless expression upon his face and his body relaxed
yet ready, she stood up and slitted her eyes at him, he wasn't
laughing so perhaps this wasn't a joke after all, she attacked
again racing up with her fists taunt. Trunks blocked her several
punches and kicks as she threw them, his feet planted and eyes blink
less.
"Show me
something else, use your ki," He said amongst her attacks, she
stops
"I have
none, it doesn't exist in me," she said while puffing.
"Untrue
everything has ki, without it you couldn't even breathe, eat or
walk," he revealed and Savarna attacked again, her knuckles dry yet
painless as they affected his firm skin.
He found her weak point while blocking attacks, he watched her fist rise
up toward his eye and darted to the side, lifting his arm high he
bent at the elbow and lowered it down onto the space between her
shoulder and neck.
He his
her, Savarna fell to the floor moaning from the pain, Trunks looked
down horrified he did not realise he hit her so hard.
"Sav I
didn't mean to hurt you! " he uttered kneeling down by her side,
suddenly her face down body spun around and her elbow connected with
his jaw line, he was thrown several metres to the right.
"Whoa
way to go Sav!" Goten jumped his buttocks up and down on the couch
cheering her, Savarna stood up wincing from her saw shoulder and neck
but kept her eyes focused with Trunks. He stood with a respecting
smile upon his lips, she had indeed fooled him and she deserved to
know it.
"That
was a good move, really got me off guard, but it might not work on
all opponents." He said rubbing his jaw, Savarna dropped her guard
and took a deep breath walking over to Goten's couch, and she sat
down bowing her head to massage her neck.
"You did
real good Sav." Goten supported, moving her hands aside he
massaged the space where Trunks hit her.
"I think
Ill miss the sparring, I have other things to do, and I need to rest
this anyway." She said, solemnly, Trunks noticed.
"Look
Sav, I didn't challenge you to make you see that you cant compete,
I just wanted you to have a chance at…" She did not allow him to
continue.
"You
don't need to explain anything, I get it ok, im the poor human with
no ability so lets make her feel better." She snapped, standing up
she brushed past him and left the room.
Trunks
mouth hung upon in dismay.
"What
did I do, I just wanted to make her feel better about not being able
to fight, give her a chance to show what she's got." He
presented, Goten frowned standing up.
"That
was her whole point man, she doesn't want special treatment because
she doesn't have the same power." He explained, picking up his
book and leaving Trunks alone in the room.
Two hours passed, the gathering of warriors took place in the centre of the ships lower level, Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Pan, Trunks, Dende and Goten were there.
"Alright, ill explain what's going on, we have trained for a long time and its time to put it to the test." He explained, standing in the centre of the group.
"Wait we only have seven, we need one more to be even." Gohan pointed out, Goku looked around saw it was true.
"Hmm, I guess we can't do anything then." He said rubbing his chin in a pondering manner.
"Maybe I can even up the odds." Piccolo uttered, floating down from above them and he landed softly amongst them, everyone turned to him unsure of what to say, some looking to Goku for reassurance.
"Always, take a place." Goku indicated, the Namek approached a spot opposite Goten and everyone stood straight up, Goku was up with Trunks, Vegeta with Pan and Gohan with Dende.
"One pair at a time for one minute each, face off then fight without ki, no one steps outside the large circle on the floor." Goku announced.
The first
pair was Dende and Gohan, the rest moved out of the circle and to the
sidelines to watch, the pair stood feet apart and bowed their heard
respectfully, each took on their unique guarding stances.
The room
was silent.
"GO!"
Goku shouted.
Gohan
attacked first, throwing several punches as he went, Dende ducked
away and sent a few side kicks to his opponents ribs, getting in
several hits until Gohan low blocked and brought a roundhouse kick
around hitting Dendes head and cheek.
The namek went
flying to the right of the circle and dug his heels in instinctively,
stopping himself from slipping out, landing on his hands and feet.
Looking back at Gohan with a crooked smile he charged with his body
close to the ground, head bowing he crashed against Gohan's abdomen
sending him flying across the floor, the saiyajin stopped himself
from leaving the circle with his feet planted against the ground,
both skidding to a stop with Gohan still in the circle.
Head
butting Dende against his antenna, the Namek pushed back covering
them in pain, Gohan attacked, karate chopping Dende across the
shoulders and neck, the Namek fought back, blocking with one arm and
punching through with the other, landing one in right Gohan's chin.
"Time!"
Goku called and the two fighters stood down, smiling to one another
they left the circle abruptly for the next pair to begin.
"Not bad
guys, a lot of fighting spirit in there, Dende I think you just need
to work on something to help with your antenna, maybe a turban like
Piccolos will help." Goku suggested.
The next
pair to fight was Vegeta and Pan, Pan understandably was nervous.
Savarna
sat with Bra who preferred to watch, their lags handing under the
railing on the above level they commented on each contest.
"I
wonder what Piccolos going to do, he's next up with Goten." Bra
pointed out, her feet swinging gently as though there were a gentle
breeze blowing through. Savarna wondered the same thing, watching
her father intently as he stood motionlessly, waiting his turn in the
ring.
"I have
a weird feeling something's going to happened, not today but soon."
She alerted, Bra turned to her confused.
"Sav, I
know about intuition, but how can you knows the day it's going to
happened?" she asked.
"I don't
know, forget it I must be getting crazy… I hope what dad has that
it isn't contagious" she mumbled, looking to her wrist she
noticed the three stones on the bracelet had discoloured, instead of
their usual bright blue and white they were tainted with grey
markings.
"You
would think Namekians had real jewels, that's a real fake if I ever
saw one" Bra commented, watching Savarna fiddling with it she
couldn't help herself, jewels were one of her best friends and even
on the ship on non training occasions, she downed herself with them
from head to foot.
Piccolo
was up, he stood awaiting Goten's ignition, Goten did the same and
their was a brief pause in movement, Goten attacked throwing a punch
at Piccolos chin, the Namek blocked, Goten tried again, kneeing
Piccolo in the stomach and chest but he also blocked those.
Goten was
confused, Piccolo blocked but made no attempts to fight back, he
backs away instead.
"C'mon
Piccolo throw something at me, this isn't a staring match!" He
shouted, heading in again he attempting an uppercut that Piccolo
interrupted with a left fist at Goten's face, his arm extending
like a rubber band until Goten left the circle, mashing against the
opposite wall with Piccolos fist still imbedded in his cheek.
"….
K.O!" Goku shouted after a pause of surprise, Piccolo didn't
move, his fist stayed against Goten's cheek, its as though he was
mentally blocked, unknowing what to do next.
"Pic,
its over get your fucking fist out of my face" Goten mumbled
through his scrunched up lips.
Piccolo
seemed to listen, slowly he pulled away as though checking that he
had heard right, then pulling his arm back into its socket he took a
spot outside the circle.
Goten
pulled away from the wall, rubbing his bruised cheek he looked with
confusion to the Namek.
Savarna
had seen it all and now she knew something was gone, it just was not
him in there anymore.
After numerous switcheroo of sparring partners and countless rounds it came to an end, the bone crunching sounds of body impacting seized and each took their time away from one another, Namek was at least four months away and they were making excellent progress.
Trunks walked from the shower room, his hair almost dry, his skin feeling fresh, and spirit rejuvenated. Pan had already showered and wore her hair in a towel so it would not get wet, fresh and dry she stood outside waiting for him.
"You did real well, what are you doing for the rest of the day." She asked, he walks up beside her and snakes his arm around her shoulders.
"I have something planned" he stated, there was a pause and pan turned to him.
"And?" he persisted, noting the cheeky smile upon his lips
"And what?" he replied.
"Your up to something, what is it?" she smiled with a giggle and Trunks threw his head back trying to suppress the smile on his face, this made Pan want to know more.
"I can't tell you, your going to have to see." He said with an outer gentleness that she found most appealing in him, his smile was one of the most beautiful she had ever seen.
Slipping
his arm down from her shoulder he took her hand into his, she looked
down to their linked hands and followed as he led her away, through
the hallway that led out of the great hall and toward the less
frequented rooms. She was intrigued but also nervous at what awaited
her, the sweet side of this man made trusting him easy.
"Can I
take a guess at what it is at least?" she asked but he did not
answer, ducking down as they passed a broken pillar, now she was a
little afraid but still she trusted him.
"Watch
your step here," he said, watching her walk over another fallen
pillar, whatever this whole business was about it must be special to
him, for him to be so thorough.
"Ok,
wait here for a minute" He asked as they stopped at a dead end
door, it was rusted with cracked edges and dirt collecting at its
base, he disappeared inside leaving it ajar, his fingertips disturbed
the dusk around its rim, creating perfect fingerprint markings.
She waited
as he went to open the door, remarkably, it opened with great ease,
and he disappeared inside.
"Come on
in Pan." He called.
thankyou for reading
