Disclaimer: All characters not mine, except for Setsei, Tommy, Salina, Shane, and Jun. Everything else I do not own. Also a reminder, this story is AU. I don't know if I've mentioned this or not. Majin Buu existed, but never destroyed the entire Earth. He was never allowed to get that powerful. Ehem… anyway here's chapter 7… two chapters in less than a week. Enjoy!

Chapter 7 It Came to Me in a Dream

It was much later when the girls finally decided to get some rest. Pan slept in her own bed, and Setsei slept in a sleeping bag on the floor. Both fell asleep pretty quickly, mind and body exhausted. As Setsei slept soundly, Pan's body tossed and turned, caught up in a dream.

Dream

Pan found herself amid swirls of blues, pinks, and purples. She stood still, her feet seemly glued to the ground. Her eyes searched the area around her, struggling to find answers to this confusing puzzle. As she looked around, white balls began to appear before her eyes, each at different heights and places. Pan counted the balls to herself- 1,2,3,4,5,6,7… 7 balls altogether, each one shining in a brilliant white. Why seven balls? Why white? Why?…. These questions flowed through Pan's mind, questions she couldn't find any answer to.

While Pan was lost in though, the balls began to change from white to a light orange. Red dots appeared on each ball, each one shaping, morphing. Each dot came to rest on its destined spot, finishing its metamorphosis into a star. When Pan looked at the final product, she saw not seven white balls, but seven orange dragon balls. Each one hovered in the air, seemingly glaring at her. The balls began to rotate around Pan's head, first slowly, then quicker. Each ball emitted a low whistling sound, that got louder and louder with each rotation. It was enough to make Pan cover her ears and close her eyes to try and get rid of it. She couldn't hold her hands close enough to completely get rid of the sound; it was always there, a haunting melody. Then, just as suddenly as it had come, the noise stopped. Pan thought she was dreaming, but decided to chance removing her hands from her ears. She did, and gasped at what she saw.

The dragon balls had now come to settle away from Pan. Instead, they rested around a figure seated in a rocking chair. There was something strikingly familiar about the woman there; she cradled something in her arms, protectively. All of her attention was on the cradled bundle, and she never even looked up at Pan. Pan watched the woman, intent on seeing what she did next. The woman rocked back and forth slowly with her right foot, keeping a steady pace. The bundle began to stir and Pan saw two little hands reach up. Low cries were heard; the woman began to softly shush the child, humming softly. "Hush little Panny, don't say a word. Mommy's gonna find you a dragon ball. And if that dragon ball don't shine…."

"…Mommy's gonna find you another one…." Pan softly finished the song. She had never known her mother sang her that song; she had always thought her father made it up. He never told her that her mother used to sing it to her daily…..

Flashback (A/N: Yeah and in a dream too:P)

The little infant cried and cried. Her little hands punched at the air, her feet kicking wildly. She was only a month old, but her parents would have sworn it was more like six. A frayed young mother hurried into the room. "Panny, Panny, it's okay…shhhh… mommy's here…" Videl then began to sing the only song that would calm her baby down every time. She had just made it up one day after Pan had come home from the hospital; she had already sung all the nursery rhymes and baby songs she could think of. Nothing had worked until this. Pan was a very colicky baby. She kept her parents awake most of the night so often that they had begun taking turns sleeping away from home, just to get a full night's rest.

Once Pan had settled some, Videl carried her over to the changing table. She gently laid Pan down, and unbuttoned her onesie. As Videl changed her baby's diaper, she gently blew air onto Pan's belly button. This neat sensation brought a slight smile to Pan's face and she looked happy. Videl sighed and only hoped that this moment would last.

"There's my two favorite girls," called a voice softly from across the room.

Videl turned, and smiled when she saw Gohan. "She's not doing any better today. It's been really rough. How are we ever going to make it through the first year? It feels like it's been a year and it's only been a mouth." Tears formed in Videl's eyes. "Gohan, why did we do this when we are so young? We should have waited, we should have…."

Gohan walked over to her and put his arm around her waist. With his other hand he began to rub Pan's tummy. "We should have did exactly this. You are a good mother Videl. Look at Pan. Look at how well she is growing. Look at how smart she is. She's just going through a rough time. This isn't any easier for her than it is us." Inside Gohan felt the same as Videl; he thought they were too young as well, but time cannot be changed and Gohan would not give up his daughter for anything. He wiped away one of Videl's tears and smiled softly at her. "Tell you what… I'll take Pan for a bit and you go rest okay? You're making me even more tired just looking at you!"

A small smile appeared on Videl's face. "Stop teasing. I'll go rest for a bit, and then fix dinner for us. Pan has a bottle in the fridge that you can warm up in about a half hour. She's due to eat then, but if she's not crying yet, then hold off until she does. If you…"

"We'll be fine Videl." Gohan picked up Pan and cradled her gently in his arms. It was kind of humorous to look at- one of Earth's most powerful beings holding one of Earth's most delicate creatures. "Now go on and get some sleep."

Videl turned and began to walk toward the bedroom the couple shared. She could hear Gohan singing the dragon ball song to Pan. The notes floated down the hallway, calming not only Pan, but her as well. "Hush little Panny don't you cry. Daddy's gonna find you a dragon ball. And if that dragon ball don't shine, daddy's gonna find you another one. Gohan sung the song repetitively; the soft lullaby soothed Videl into a peaceful sleep. She never knew that Gohan had stood outside the door with Pan in his arms, singing it to her.

End Flashback

Pan listened for the baby's cries, but none were heard. The bundle had stopped moving and the woman, her own mother, smiled with relief and once again the rocking resumed a regular pace. Tears slowly ran down Pan's cheeks, but she wiped them away. She hated to be crying like this, but she had experienced a touching moment like none other. She wanted to run over there, hug her mother, tell her how much she'd grown, how much she loved her, everything. Yet, this was only a dream and dreams don't come true.

They come true with dragon balls thought Pan angrily. And just as her dreamself thought this, a new person poofed in. It was an angry Bulma. "What did I tell you about using the dragon balls for this! You can't do this! Your father commanded she be left alone! Son Pan don't even think of it!" Bulma came closer with every new word until Pan could feel the spit as she spoke. Bulma finally disappeared, and Pan was left to gaze at her mother and her infant form whilst the dragon balls floated overhead. It wasn't far to her. I can so use the dragon balls. Dad wouldn't have to know about it! A hole opened below her feet; Pan screamed as she began descending into the unknown, her eyes squeezed tightly shut.

The air whistled and screamed by her for sometime before stopping. When Pan finally opened her eyes, she was met with the beauty of a mountainous landscape. Here the trees were in springtime bloom and the brightest, healthiest shade imaginable. The skies were a bright blue with very few puffy white clouds. The air was warm with a slight breeze. Pan looked to the mountains and noticed what a lovely shade of brown they were. The air smelled earthily. Pan looked down, and noticed she wasn't on the ground, but floating mid-air. She wondered what she was doing in this particular location and began looking and listening for any clues. Her attention became drawn to something behind her; voices were coming from one of the mountainsides.

As she turned, she realized she recognized the voices. Her own and Setsei's. Pan wanted to get a closer view, and tried to fly in that direction, discovering she controlled this part of herself in this dream. She saw herself hovering and helping Setsei climb up the mountain. Pan wondered why she didn't just carry Setsei and fly; it was much easier that way. This was a dream though. Her thoughts then turned to why she and Setsei were here in the first place. Why am I here? And why did I bring her? What exactly is this dream all about anyway?

"Over there! Behind that crevice in the granite!" shouted a triumphant Setsei. This was enough to bring Pan out of her thoughts and back to her dreams.

Pan watched as her other self dove behind a rock to retrieve whatever it was that Setsei had found. "Good job Setsei! That makes the third one we've found so far. At this rate, we'll have them all by Thursday evening." Pan raised the object high over her head before sticking it in a satchel.

Pan gasped. It was the 7 star dragon ball! If my dream self means this Thursday coming…. it all makes sense. She was trying to do in time for the anniversary of her mother's death! She could do it. "I can do it!" she shouted. "I can and I will! They'll see! I'll show them!"

End Dream

"…They'll see… I'll show them…. I can do it…." Pan mumbled in her sleep. Her covers had been tossed aside and off the bed, where they currently rested on Setsei's head. After the dream, her body settled into a deep sleep, her talking becoming less and less. So rolled over and snuggled deeper into her pillow.

Pan awoke to the not-so-nice bright sunlight. She groaned and rolled over, not wanting to wake up quite yet. The sun's rays weren't giving up though. "Fine, fine, you win stupid sun…." she mumbled. She sat up and yawned, stretching her arms. She glanced over at Setsei, and giggled when she noticed the girl completely covered by her own blankets. "Oh Setsei…. Wake up!" called Pan.

The mass under the blankets began to stir. "What the…." Came the voice as Setsei realized that something was covering her. The movement increased and two flailing arms appeared from under the mass of blankets, then a head full of mussed hair. "Pan why are your blankets all over me?" asked Setsei as she tried to straighten her morning hair and make it look somewhat normal.

"I really don't know and I can't answer that. They were there when I woke up," answered Pan, giggling slightly.

Setsei fumbled around, tossing away all of the blankets. "You seem quite cheerful this morning. What brought the sudden change about?" questioned Setsei. She was quite surprised at how different Pan was compared to last night.

"Last night I had a very… strange dream. I think it showed me what I needed to do though. I'm going to go find the dragon balls. I'm going to wish my mom back to life."

"But Pan, what about the consequences? What will your father think?" asked Setsei. This didn't seem reasonable. It didn't seem right at all. She was trying to be the voice of reasoning.

"Setsei, my dream showed me my mother. I was there too, but I was an infant cradled in her arms. The dragon balls floated around my mother. They were encouraging me."

"Encouraging you to keep something sacred. Pan, do you realize what you are truly doing? I know next to nothing about the dragon balls, but to bring back a someone who's been dead for almost sixteen years can have serious consequences."

"Setsei, you don't know what it's like to grow up without a mother. To grow up without someone who was dearly loved and you were so tiny you can't even remember them. I have no memories of my mom. I was only three months old. I couldn't. I want to get to know my mom, want to know what she was like. I want to find the missing piece of me."

"Pan, what will your mother think of you bringing her back? Did you consider her emotions? She might not be as happy as you think she will be."

Pan's emotions were brought back to Earth with this serious confrontation. What exactly would her mother think? Would she scold Pan for being so careless? Pan didn't want to abandon her idea though. She had a feeling, deep inside, that some good would come of this, but that might come after much pain and hassle. She knew it was worth it. Forgive me for what I'm about to do mom… but I love you so much and I have to know you. I want to know my own mom and to do that I have to use the dragon balls.

"Setsei, I have to do this. I have no choice. Mom will forgive me. I just have to know what it's like to have a mother for once. I have to…"

Just then there was a loud knocking on Pan's door. Pan made shushing sound with her right index finger. Setsei nodded, sighing. This isn't over yet Pan… "Come in!" called Pan.

The door creaked open and in shuffled Chichi. Ah good. You girls are up. I hope you slept well. Pan, your father is doing much better. I made sure of it," said Chichi in a slightly devilish voice, leaving Pan and Setsei to wonder just exactly what the mother had did to her son. You never could tell with Chichi. "If you girls will come downstairs, you can join Goku for breakfast. If you don't hurry, I'm afraid he'll eat everything before you get down there."

Setsei got a weird look on her face. Chichi realized she'd said the wrong thing, but it was too late to take it back now. She tried to come up with a quick excuse. "You know Goku, Pan—he has such a ferocious appetite these days!" A fake smile plastered her face, but she hoped Setsei bought it. Come join us when you're ready!" She shut the door behind her and sighed, rolling up her sleeves. Time to go cut a hungry Saiyan's breakfast period short…the frying pan should do the trick nicely…

Setsei turned back to Pan, choosing to ignore the scenario before her. Things were strange, but getting Pan to see what she was truly doing was more important. "Pan, are you absolutely certain you want to do this? What if your father found out?"

"He's not going to find out, Setsei," Pan answered, giving a death glare. "I'm keeping her away from him. They won't cross paths because I'll make sure that she is wherever dad isn't."

"Pan, there's just one problem with that plan—throwing aside the fact that your mother might not be too happy with the whole ordeal to begin with, don't you think she'd want to see her husband? I don't know too much about your parents, but if I were brought back from the dead, I'd like to see my loved ones."

Pan knew she couldn't just push aside Setsei's question, but she did know that she could avoid it to an extent. "I'd deal with that problem when I came to it."

"Pan, stop being selfish! I can't believe you're going to risk all of this just to see your own mother! These dragon things are making you selfish! You wouldn't even have this option if you were me!" Setsei couldn't yell, but she could raise her voice. She may have been short, but she did have quite a temper when it flared. "You can't do this to your family. It could have tragic proportions, something that I can't even foresee! That's just how terrible all of this can be! Think about what you're doing! Really think about it because I don't think you have. Think about what you're doing- to yourself, your family, and your mother." With that, Setsei went silent. She knew she'd gotten her point across.

"Setsei, I'm gonna do this whether you think it's right or not. I think it's right and that the outcome will be better than any consequences. You don't have to see her even. Just help me gather the dragon balls. I could use a hand. And if I get in trouble, you won't."

"Pan, I don't think you understand what you're saying at all. I'm going to have to think about this. If you push me, I'll refuse."

Pan waved her hand. "Okay, it's up to you then."

Hope you enjoyed that chapter. I have no idea when the next one will be out, but I can try my best! Review please.