Aww, you guys are the BEST!!! I love you all!!! So... How'd you like my last chapter? It's the best one so far, right?!? RIGHT?!? Sorry... WAY too much sugar on V-day...

Chapter 11: Trial and Error

Trunks had decided that he could not yet return home, and made Pan SWEAR not to run away until he returned. After promising he would be back soon, Pan agreed. He also told her to notify him of any dreams she had once he returned.

Pan spent the whole morning talking to Bra about the best method of persuasion to use on the king. They decided that Pan would start off with the request, and then Bra would do the rest. She would talk, while they both would put on their most irresistible puppy dog pouts. After agreeing on this, they went downstairs to find him in his throne room, deciding on his outfit for the ceremony tomorrow, as well as several other things. There were outfits for the children, and the choice of crown his youngest son would be presented with. He didn't seem to be choosing anything with much concern. He looked a bit tired, and was absently pointing at the outfits he chose, and waving the maids away.

"Okay, Pan. Let's get this over with." Bra whispered. Pan nodded to Bra, and they both rounded the corner, trying to act casual.

"Oh, Otou-san! Good morning. How did you sleep?" Bra asked the tired king, who collapsed down on his throne and rubbed the sore spot between his eyes.

"How does it look like I slept?" he mumbled. But he suddenly froze, and then slowly looked up at the girls, who wore their best fake grins. King Vegeta however, was not fooled. "All right, what do you want?"

Both grins vanished, as Pan and Bra looked at each other. Then Pan spoke up. "We just wanted to see how everything was going. I mean it must be hard having to prepare a whole naming ceremony by yourself. Would you like some help?" Bra nudged Pan in the side. That wasn't what they had planned.

"No, I don't need any help. Just ask what you've come down here to ask, and leave me alone!"

Pan hesitated, and then spoke very quickly. "We ask that you please honor Okaa-san's request for the name of the baby!"

"So that's what this is all about?" King Vegeta smiled, and laughed a little. Pan didn't know what to make of his reaction, but Bra saw right through it. She elbowed Pan behind her a little, and spoke up.

"Yes, Otou-san. We ask on behalf of Okaa-san, that you name him Goku, as requested."

"NEVER!" King Vegeta shouted, stomping his fist on the arm of the chair, breaking it right off. He stood up abruptly, and both girls jumped and cringed away as he raised himself to his full height. "WHY WOULDN'T I NAME MY SON WHAT I WANT? YOUR MOTHER HAD NEVER EXPRESSED PARTICULAR INTEREST IN HELPING WITH THE NAMING CEREMONY BEFORE! WHY SHOULD SHE SUDDENLY CHANGE HER MIND? DON'T YOU THINK I DESERVE TO NAME MY OWN SON? HAVEN'T I MADE SACRIFICES FOR THIS FAMILY? HE WILL BE NAMED NAPPA, YOU SPOILED UNGRATEFUL LITTLE BRATS! NOW GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!"

Everyone around them froze. The maids stopped to stare, but hurried along when King Vegeta turned his menacing gaze to them. He turned back to Bra and Pan, and took a few deep breaths.

"Look, I loved your mother as much as you two did, if not more. If she had picked a different name, then of course I would have obliged. But that name... I just couldn't name any son of mine after... after any... low-born peasant!"

(What? Had he known Goku-san as well?) Pan was getting confused again.

King Vegeta collapsed back down in his chair, and noticed the broken armrest. "Somebody order a replacement for this piece of junk!" He shouted at the crowd of maids.

"What do you mean by low-born peasant, Otou-san?" Pan asked. Her curiosity was getting the best of her once again. "Okaa-san had said she was naming him after an old friend of hers. Did you know him too?"

"Yes, I met him. And I would very much appreciate it if you would never bring that name up around me again! Now leave me. I have a lot to do."

Bra motioned for Pan to follow her out of the room. But as she walked away, she swore she heard King Vegeta mumble, "I promised Kakarot... I would take care of her... but I have failed..."

Trying to convince King Vegeta to name the child Goku had not gone well at all, and Pan was afraid of what he might do to them if they ever tried to bring the subject up again. After all, he had given Trunks a black eye once. But at least she had gotten something out of it. King Vegeta had had connections to her grandfather. Now Pan had new reasons to talk to her real family, but she dare not go out now that she knew Trunks was there.

Pan and Bra went down to the kitchens for lunch.

"Well, that's it. We can't convince him; he won't change his mind!" Bra exclaimed as she sat down to the plate the cooks had laid before her. Bra took two bites, and announced that she was full.

"We can't give up yet, Bra! The ceremony is tomorrow; there isn't much time. We just have to try again."

"No way, Pan. Otou-san is annoyed enough with us as it is. Why don't you ever know when to quit?"

"I guess I just never learned how..." Pan mumbled. "And anyway, you know how important a name is. It practically says what kind of person you'll grow up to be!"

"Yeah, and look what I got stuck with..." Bra muttered.

"So we just have to keep trying!" Pan continued, taking no notice to Bra's last comment. "It would be an insult to the memory of Okaa-san if we failed."

"Yeah, but you heard what Otou-san said. If it were any other name, he would have obliged. I wonder why he wouldn't like that name over all others."

"I'm not sure, but I think I have a pretty vague idea why he doesn't like the name Goku. You see, I met a man named Goku when I ran away before. It turns out he's my grandfather."

"Wait... what? You know who your real family is now?" Bra laughed in surprise.

"Yes, I found out just last night."

Two hours later, the girls were still in the kitchens talking. Pan had now told Bra everything about last night's venture outside the castle grounds, and what Trunks was doing with her family, and even about how he had known who her real family was the whole time. At first, Bra had been in shock that Trunks would keep such a thing from Pan, and felt like pummeling him when he returned, but she had calmed down.

"So he didn't say when he'd be coming back?"

"No. All Trunks said was it would be soon." Pan sighed.

"Heh... but it depends on how long he thinks soon is." Bra tried to laugh, but she was serious. Without Trunks, there was no way Pan and Bra would succeed in convincing King Vegeta of letting go of his pride for his family.

For the rest of the day, Bra advised Pan to stay away from their father. He was in an especially bad mood all day, even at dinner, when all preparations for the ceremony were finished, and everyone was going about business as usual. He didn't talk at all during dinner. He just ate a few bites, stood up, and briskly walked out of the room. Upon seeing this, Prince Vegeta hurriedly stuffed a few bites in his mouth, grabbed a bread roll, stood up, and ran briskly after his father, leaving the two girls to finish their meals in total silence.