Videl Warrior Princess: Hi guys! Wow, I know this is quick, two updates in one week?! Don't get too used to it though. I spent many a hour on this chappie, and I would have had the previous one up earlier if it hadn't been for school projects and acting up. Oh well. I'm trying. Thanks for sticking with me. Enjoy this chappie, and don't forget to review! Oh yeah, I don't own DBZ! Let's just make that clear! Also, I chose an interesting name for Diabla's maiden name. If you don't get where it's from, just tell me so in the review, and I'll explain in the next chapter. Thanks!

Chapter Twelve: Uncovering the Truth from the Lies…

Perse smiled down as Videl was finishing her homework. "So, how do Erasa and Sharpener like having a friend that is the daughter of the famous Mr. Satan?" she asked. Videl looked up at her, bit her lip, and looked down quickly in embarrassment. Perse frowned, concerned, and touched her shoulder gently. "Videl, what's wrong?…"

Videl couldn't bear to meet her gaze and looked away. "I…I haven't told them about Daddy…" she answered. Perse's forehead furrowed in confusion.

"You haven't told them?" she questioned. The raven-haired girl nodded. "How could they not know that your father is Mr. Satan? Your name is Videl Satan after all!"

"Well…I didn't tell them my name was Videl Satan…" the girl admitted in a hushed voice, looking away still as her nanny stood, gaping in surprise and shock.

"Who do they think you are, then?" Perse inquired sternly, wanting to get to the bottom of this.

"…Videl Elysian…" she confessed meekly.

"Elysian?…" Perse repeated, and Videl nodded. "That's your mother's maiden name, isn't?" she asked, her voice soft, and again, Videl nodded silently. Perse knelt down beside her and gently touched her shoulder. "Videl…Why did you tell them that was your name? Why didn't you just tell them the truth?" The young girl sighed and still didn't meet her gaze. "Videl, look at me," she replied, and slowly, Videl obeyed. She gently brushed the child's bangs away from her eyes and looked down at her concerned, as a mother would with her daughter. "Why did you lie to them about your name?"

"Well…I…" Videl's voice trailed off and began to look back down to the floor, when Perse stopped her.

"Now Videl, look at me. You're going to tell me this to my face, not the floor. Mr. Floor does not care what you call yourself, just as long as you don't spill grape juice on him. I care if you tell others lies or the truth. Okay?" she lectured in a gentle tone. Videl nodded. "Now, try again."

"I didn't tell them my real name because…" She paused.

"Because why?" Perse persisted in a friendly voice still. Videl sighed again and looked up at Perse, her blue eyes now filled with sorrow and anger.

"Because I didn't want them to like me just because of Daddy's fame!" she almost shouted. "I wanted them to like me for me, not because of who Daddy is like all the others at school!"

For a moment, Perse just sat there, looking down at Videl, who was holding back her tears. Finally, the nanny enclosed her into a tight hug and patted her on the head gently. "Videl…Oh Videl, I know you're tired of being treated that way…I now know why you did it…" She broke the hug and looked down at her. "But don't you think it was wrong for you to lie to them?" The girl remained quiet, so Perse tried again. "Videl, how would you feel if Erasa or Sharpener lied to you about who they were?" She looked down for a moment, then back up to Perse.

"I'd be hurt," she answered.

"Why?"

"Because they lied to me, and I thought they were my friends."

"Don't you think that Sharpener and Erasa will feel the same way?" Videl didn't answer; she stared down at the ground in shame. "Well?"

"…Yes…" she mumbled.

"Videl, I know you're worried about people only liking you for your father's fame, but if Erasa and Sharpener are really your friends, they'll still like you for you, no matter what your name or family be, okay?"

"Yes, Perse," Videl answer though she felt differently. Her friend smiled and hugged her quickly before pulling back to look down at her with that same happy smile.

"Good!" she chimed. "Now, hurry up and finish your homework. It's almost suppertime."

THE NEXT DAY…

Videl tapped her foot on the floor in a quick, uneven rhythm, impatiently staring at the clock, waiting for it to strike three and let them out for the day. She was going to have to hurry if she wanted to meet Erasa and Sharpener at their school in order to make the movie. Excitement build itself up inside of her; she couldn't wait! A small, secretive smile even formed on her face, she was so thrilled. Finally, the awaited hour came, and the siren-like bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, much to the relief of both the students and the teachers. With a small exclamation of joy, Videl jumped out of her seat, grabbed her bookbag, and ran out the door. However, Perse wasn't there to greet her…

"Father?" she asked in shock, standing at the top of the steps, raising a brow, staring up at the grinning face of Mr. Satan.

"Hello there, Videl!" he replied loudly as if he were announcing it to a great crowd.

She blinked, surprised, a confused expression still on her face. "What are you doing here?" she asked. Mr. Satan's eyes lit up with a worried expression and they darted back behind him, smiling nervously. He laughed loudly.

"Oh, my daughter is such a kidder!" he exclaimed, looking back to her, and Videl turned and looked behind her father to see a group of reporters standing there behind them, cameras, notepads, and microphones ready. Finally Videl understood.

The press was following him around for a day, and now, he wanted to put up the family man image. She had seen it before when reporters stopped by the house. Suddenly, breaking her thoughts, Mr. Satan grabbed her arm and gently pulled her forward, his fake-photo grin still pasted to his face as he turned to face the reporters. "Now, smile for the nice reporters, darling!" Instantly the cameras went off, so many flashes were on those cameras that Videl could only see multi-colored spots of light that left her feeling dizzy as she stood there looking like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Daddy, make them stop. Make them go away," Videl mentally pleaded, wishing she'd have the courage to actually say it. But deep down, she wondered if her father would. However, Mr. Satan didn't shoo them off and merely posed and smiled for the gleaming cameras until they finally went away. Videl ran as fast as she could to the car, waiting impatiently as they were driven home. She was going to be late! Those stupid reporters caused her to get behind!…She hoped Sharpener and Erasa wouldn't leave without her…

Videl found herself home at four, and she hissed a swear under her breath as she ran through the front door past Perse, up the stairs, and straight into her room to grab her phone. Quickly, she dialed Erasa's number, praying that she would be home. "Hello, is Erasa there?" she asked, after hearing the phone pick up on the third ring. "This is Videl." An indistinct conversation went on, and Videl strained with all her might to hear it, but she couldn't understand what they were saying. Finally, the caller returned back to the phone.

"I'm sorry, hun," Erasa's mom apologized. "Erasa's not feeling well, so she can't come to the phone."

"Oh…" was all Videl could think of to say at first. She tried to swallow her disappointment. "Well, tell her I hope she feels better."

"I will," Erasa's mom reassured her.

"Thank you. Bye."

"Bye."

Click.

"I'd better call Sharpener," she thought as she began to dial his number. "Make sure he knows." It looked like it would just be her and Sharpener going to the movies today. Oh well, they'd plan something with the three of them again.

Sharpener picked up on the second ring.

"Who is it?" he asked, the harshness from his voice thicker than a wool sweater. Videl blinked in shock, never having heard such a tone from her friend.

"Sharpener, it's me, Videl. What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? What's wrong? I'll tell you what's wrong!" he snapped, his anger still sharp. "You lied to us, Videl!"

"I—"

"How could you do that?! I thought you were our friend!"

"I am!"

"Bull shit!"

"But I—"

"Erasa and I trusted you, and you lied to us about who you are! How can you call yourself our friend if you can't even trust us enough to tell us who you are?!"

"You don—"

"Forget it! I don't want to talk to you anymore, Videl!"

"Sharpener, I—"

Click.

Videl just gaped at the receiver in her hand, dead quiet from shock. How did he know? How did he find out who she was? She turned on the TV with her remote that was on her bed and watch in silent horror as she saw the news playing her at the school with her dad. Instinctively, she turned it off and dropped the remote onto the floor, still holding onto the phone receiver, standing there, dumbfounded. Cautiously, she looked down at it and placed it back and slowly sat on her bed, staring off into nothing. She didn't cry; she felt too empty and hollow to cry. Without even trying, she had destroyed the only two friendships she had with people her age. What was she going to do now?