I'm baaaaaack! (strikes pose) See? I told ya I would update sooner! I TOLD ya, didn't I? DIDN'T I?!? YYYEEEEEESSSS!!! And now... the terribly confusing multiple plot lines continue!!! Let the bewilderment commence!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! ahem... Enjoy, once again.

Chapter 22: Left Behind

As Pan and Trunks landed softly on the gravel street, they were greeted by a seemingly upset Videl.

"PAN!!! Son Pan, do you know how worried I was about you?!? Why on Vegeta-sei did you run off like that?!? I had no idea where you were, you could have been anywhere, and you could have gotten seriously hurt..." Her voice trailed off, and she found she could not stay mad. Instead, she hugged her daughter closely, fighting back tears of relief.

"Okaa-san..." Pan was a bit alarmed by her mother's behavior. She then noticed the battle going on behind her mother. "Wait, isn't that Otou-san fighting?!?"

Trunks looked where she pointed, and his mouth dropped open slightly. "What does Gohan think he's doing?!? Doesn't he know Vegeta's virtually invincible?!?"

"Apparently not..." Pan muttered. That was her family for you. They didn't care how powerful their opponents were, only for the motive to defeat them.

"Oh man... This is bad... Gohan doesn't know what he's gotten himself into!" Trunks alleged.

Indeed, the eldest son of Goku had gone into this fight without thinking of whom it was he was facing. The two were in a rapid fistfight, going at each other with all they had and more. They were moving so fast, it looked like a series of flashes, and was hard to tell who was winning. After what seemed like hours, Vegeta appeared out of thin air, and landed on the ground, breathing heavily. Gohan also appeared about ten feet above the ground, and collapsed on the gravel grimacing in pain. Both fighters' clothes had several rips, and both displayed many scratches and bruises. However, it looked like Gohan had gotten worse of a beating. He didn't seem to be able to stand up after hitting the ground.

"Gohan!!!" Videl cried, rushing to his aid. After catching his breath, Vegeta laughed at his opponent.

"Heh heh... What's the matter, Gohan? Can't take it? Hah! You should have known you were no match for the Prince of Saiyans! I am of the Warrior Elite, just as my father before me!" He gloated. Then he looked over at Bra and baby Goku. "Come, we're finished here."

Bra silently obeyed, handed him the baby, and climbed back onto his back. The three took off, leaving the four stunned Saiyans in his dust.

Gohan gasped for air as Videl hovered over him trying to comfort him. She scowled at the prince in hatred.

(Where is Goku? Why isn't he here yet?) She wondered. As she thought this, a small figure speeding toward them in the distance caught her eye. (That must be him now!)

Unfortunately, it wasn't Goku. Instead, Kuririn landed near Trunks and Pan, panting and sweating slightly.

"Hey guys, Goku sent me here to help!" He called.

"There's really nothing you can do right now, Kuririn!" Trunks said. "Where's Goku gone off to?"

"I don't really know. He spotted King Vegeta, and went out after him. I'll bet he went off to fight with him again."

"Well if he has, it doesn't seem like they've started yet. There would be a very strong energy signal if they were." Trunks commented.

"Oh yeah... Right!" Kuririn sighed. Then he turned his attention to Gohan. "Hey, what happened to Gohan?"

"He got in a fight with my brother, Vegeta." Trunks replied.

"He... WHAT?!? But... this is Gohan! Whoa... could anyone really be that strong...?" Kuririn stared.

"Trust me, my brother wasn't even up to his full power. You've never seen strength until you've seen him fight at his best." Trunks assured, his voice shaking a bit as he recalled that day when Vegeta had murdered those guards.

"Gohan, you shouldn't try to get up just yet..." Videl cried. Everyone turned their attention back to the fallen warrior, who was attempting to stand.

"Get off, Videl..." He muttered. Videl backed down.

"...Gohan..."

He stood up to his full height and faced the direction the prince had flown. He then clenched his fists, bent his knees slightly, and let out a deep and powerful yell. A white aura formed around him, and small rocks and bits of gravel sifted and were blown away from all sides. Videl, Trunks, Pan and Kuririn put their arms in front of them as a defense, but it did little for them. The four were knocked back several feet, and pummeled with gravel and dust. Suddenly, Gohan pushed off from the ground, speeding after Prince Vegeta.

"Otou-san, no!!!" Pan cried after him.

"Well this certainly won't end well..." Trunks muttered. "I'm going after him. You all stay here!"

"Trunks, I'll go too!" Pan said.

"No, Pan... You'll just get in the way..." Trunks said softly, his back to her. Pan suddenly felt his energy surge, and a golden aura engulfed the young man. His hair blew straight upward, and formed long golden spikes spurting out in all directions. His muscles seemed to get slightly bigger as well. He had transformed into a Super Saiyan...

"Trunks..." Pan whispered.

Trunks suddenly jerked his head back to look at her with an intimidating glare. And just as in her dream, his eyes had gone from their soft ocean blue to aqua green. His glower pierced right through her, into her soul. Slowly, a soothing smile crossed his expression.

"Stay here, Pan..." He mumbled just loud enough for her to hear. His right hand then glided across the hilt of his sword. Suddenly, he faced forward, and charged off, drawing his blade. He eventually took off from the ground, soaring after Gohan.

"Trunks, no!!! Don't leave me here!!!" Pan shouted. Videl and Kuririn rushed up behind her and grabbed her arms. "Let me go!!!" Pan screamed. But the two held on tightly until Trunks was completely out of sight. Pan lessened her struggle, and dropped to her knees, staring up at the sky. Her mouth hung open slightly, searching for the right words, but none came. He had become a Super Saiyan right before her eyes, and flown off without her...

...Yet another dream had come true...

Goku and Vegeta had gone their separate ways rather peacefully, both realizing they had their own personal matters to attend to. Vegeta had flown off toward the cave, where he expected to find Vegeta Jr., Bra, and baby Goku. But much to his concern, they were not there. He decided to wait there for them. Goku on the other hand, had flown back to the battle scene, not sensing any commotion in the village any more. Upon arriving, he spotted Goten carrying Paris and Zamuri to the gate.

"Hey, Goten!!!" Goku called from above them. He lowered himself to their level.

"Hey, Dad! Where've you been?" Goten asked.

"I just had to clear something with King Vegeta." Goku replied casually.

"You fought with him again?"

"No, actually he had to go somewhere really fast. But not before I found out he's after Trunks, Bra, and the baby Goku."

"After them?!? What do you mean, Grandpa?" Zamuri asked urgently.

"It sounds like the whole reason he organized this battle was to get his children back." Goku answered.

"Then we've got to help them!" Zamuri cried. "Pan might be in danger too!"

"What makes you say that, Zam?" Goten asked.

"I... I saw her fly off from her room, and... and I didn't want her to get in trouble." He looked at the ground, feeling like a traitor for exposing his sister.

"Oh man... Not again!" Goten exclaimed.

"Well then, let's go!" Goku shouted. He hoisted Zamuri on to his back, and pushed off from the ground. Goten followed with Paris on his back. Together, they raced off for the scene in the village.

A few precious minutes later, the four landed softly on the gravel road alongside Pan, Videl, and Kuririn.

"Hey, guys! What's going on?" Goku asked.

"You're a little late, Goku." Kuririn said sadly. "Vegeta just took off with Bra and the baby."

"WHAT?!? You mean they've been captured?" Goten cried.

"More like liberated..." Kuririn sighed.

"It was like Bra wanted to go. She even advised Gohan to just let Vegeta take her." Videl informed them.

"Speaking of Gohan, where is he?" Goku asked, looking around curiously.

"You just missed him. He just flew off after Vegeta. He was nowhere near ready to give up." Videl said. "And then Trunks followed him."

Pan winced as her mother mentioned that name.

(That traitor... That liar... That deserter...) She couldn't quite put her feelings into words.

Seeing the pained look on his sister's face, Zamuri put his arm around her shoulder.

"Hey, what's wrong, sis?" He asked gently. Pan just shook her head. "Well, I'm here if you want to talk about it."

"We had better get the women and children to safety, Goku." Kuririn whispered.

"Oh, right. Okay." Goku nodded in understanding.

"Hey, Videl! I think it's best if we get you and your mischievous children to a safer location." Kuririn called.

"You too, Paris." Goten coaxed. Paris smiled and nodded.

Kuririn led the small group to the back room of a rarely used storehouse, where they found a stone stairway leading underground. At the bottom of the stairs was an arched doorway that led to a rather large room full of people, all women and children. The room was lit with rectangular fluorescent lights in the ceiling. Though there were many heating vents lining the walls, the stone made the room fairly cold. People huddled together with blankets or whatever else they could find. From the crowds emerged Chi-Chi.

"Goku!!!" She cried, and lovingly wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest.

"Hey Chi-Chi." Goku smiled calmly. Some of the other women looked up and gazed at the doorway behind him, as if expecting their loved ones to appear in it as well. But as the small group finished filing in, their hopes were diminished, and they went back to their children.

"Papa! PAPA!!!" Marron rushed up to her father and embraced him tightly. After letting go, she searched the newcomers over. "Where's Mama?"

"She's still out there fighting." Kuririn said.

"Is she okay?"

"Yeah, she's fine. Don't worry about your mother, Marron. She's strong... real strong. She can handle herself." Marron smiled at her father's words, but couldn't help feeling a bit concerned.

Goten had entered the room, Paris on his arm. "Hey, Okaa-san!" He called to Chi-Chi. "Guess what? We're engaged!!!"

Chi-Chi stared at her son for a moment before falling flat on her back. Goku paid no attention to his wife's reaction, and instead gaped at Goten.

"Really?!? Wow, that's great!!!" He exclaimed. Paris hugged her fiancé's arm, smiling. Goten grinned and scratched the back of his head with his free hand.

"Hey, Goku... Don't you think we should get going? I mean the fight's not getting any better." Kuririn nudged his friend.

"What? Oh, yeah..." Goku replied. Then he turned back to his wife, who was helped back to her feet by Videl. "Listen, Chi-Chi. I have to go fight again, and I just came by to drop off these four." He motioned to Paris, Videl, Pan and Zamuri.

"You're leaving already? Goku, what's going on up there?!? We've all been down here for hours without so much as a word from any of you!!!"

"I'm really sorry, Chi-Chi! I have to go right now, but I promise I'll come back as soon as I can!"

"Be sure you do! And where's Gohan by the way?"

Goku was not sure how to answer her. He looked to his friends for assistance.

"...He's still fighting!" Kuririn cut in. "I just saw him a few minutes ago, and he's fine! Really!"

Chi-Chi glared from Kuririn to Goku, and then sighed.

"Thanks for understanding, Chi." Goku said. And with that, he motioned for Kuririn and Goten to follow him up the staircase. Goten gave Paris a quick peck on the cheek, said goodbye, and followed his father out the archway. Kuririn squeezed his daughter's hands, and told her he'd be back with her mother. Then he too disappeared out the archway.

Once again, Pan felt like she had been left behind. But with all these people around, she wasn't going to be able to make a clean getaway. Plus her mother would be watching her like a hawk. She felt trapped.