Chapter 3
The Promise
Gohan followed the soldier numbly through the palace. I should have known, he thought. Whenever I talked about training procedures she didn't-she shouldn't-know about, she always had that glint in her eyes. She only has that glint in her eyes when she knows something I don't. She pretended that she didn't know what I was talking about, but she did. She did! I should have known! When she was younger she always rough-housed with the boys and was a total stranger to 'girl talk.' And when she realized that dresses meant no more roughhousing, she refused to even go near them! I remember that struggle well. As his thoughts retraced the memory, he remembered the struggle he and his mate had. She always was 'unusually' strong, he mused, and then his eyebrows shot up in shock. How long HAS she been training?
Gohan was hastily brought out of his thoughts by the sound of the guard's voice. "She's in there, Son."
He nodded solemnly and walked in the door the guard had opened for him. The door was then shut behind him. "Pan?" he called softly.
"Tousan!" Pan ran to him and caught him up in an almost painful embrace.
Gohan chuckled. "It's not THAT bad down here, is it?"
Pan let go of him and laughed slightly. "No, but I'm starving!"
"Sorry, didn't bring anything," he told her with a sheepish grin.
"No need. I'm getting out of here soon."
"Eh?" Gohan seemed confused, and scratched the back of his head in pure Son style.
"I'm either getting out or I'm busting out-their choice."
Gohan grinned. He always admired his daughters rebellious spirit- but now was not the time nor place for it. "Pan…" he said, his voice rising to a warning level.
She sighed. "I know, Tousan, I know. I must obey Royal law."
Gohan grinned with pride at his only child. "Now, about this training…"
"It's not fair!" she cried with such fierceness he rocked back on his heels. "I'm just as good as a male saiyan, Tousan! Better!"
"I know, I know," he said in a soothing tone. He never once doubted his Pan, but there was a first time for everything. He wasn't entirely confident of her fighting skill.
Pan looked down at the cold stone floor. "I guess you want an explanation."
"You're damn right I do," Gohan told her. "And I want it now. What were you doing training on royal grounds?"
"It's a way to take out my anger," she lied to him. She hated lying, especially to her father, but she'd rather lie then tell him she trained for the sheer joy of training and fighting. He wouldn't understand. "And I didn't know I was on royal grounds. I was training by the Westside."
Gohan seemed to digest this information. "I can forgive you for being on royal grounds, but training, Pan?" He looked her in the eye. "I want you to promise me that you'll never train again. Take your anger out on something else."
Pan stared into his ebony eyes, utterly surprised-and disappointed. She thought that her father, of all people, would understand her will, her need, to fight. Instead, he was trying to clip the wings that freed her. "Tousan…"
"Promise me, Pan. Promise me you'll never train again," he repeated.
I could understand a few months, even a few years-but never? How could I never train again? She thought to herself, shocked that he would do this to her.
Suddenly there was knock at the door. "Son Pan? Prince Trunks had agreed to see you now. You can come as well, Son," a guard said as he pulled open the door.
They both nodded, faces grim. The decision of Prince Trunks could affect Pan's very life, if he chose so.
Pan breathed a sigh of relief as two guards grabbed her arms, ignoring her father's angry glares at such treatment. She didn't promise her father anything-and how could she break a promise that was never made?
Author's Note: Yes, I know, it's short, but trust me-the next update will be soon and long!! I promise. And also, I would like to thank all of my reviewers! (not many… but hey, beggars can't be choosers…) Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!! Thank you!!! ^-^ You make a writer happy. ^-^
((*Sings tune to oneself* Don't worry, be happy….Do…do…do..do…do…do)) lol. Thanks everyone!