Chapter 8

Word Goes Around Fast

            The knife clattered to the floor as Pan looked at her hand in numb disbelief. "… no… I…" That's what the guy put in her hand-the knife. In her fear she had held it in a death grip, too preoccupied with Trunks and too frightened to really remember it was there-until now.

            The guards rushed at her, shoving her against the wall, away from the knife. King Vegeta strode up to Trunks, checking his pulse. His eyes widened, and he roared, "Get the healers in here! He's still alive!"

            Pan, too insensitive to fight the guards, only stared at Trunks with eyes with from shock. She didn't hear King Vegeta at all, and the only thing she could do was blink dumbly, as if she was still waiting for Trunks to wake up and tell her he was all right, and it was all some cruel joke.

            But that didn't happen.

            King Vegeta turned to Pan. "And her," he snarled, his face an ugly scowl. "Take her to the dungeons. I will deal with her later."

            "Shouldn't we just kill her?" a guard asked.

            "No, no, not yet. If and when she dies, it will be slow and painful. Now where are the healers?!" the last comment Vegeta roared, his eyes furious.

            Pan was tossed into the dungeon carelessly, and she landed on the ground with a sickening thud. Her cry of pain echoed in the empty dungeon, but the guards on watch didn't seem to care. She writhed on the ground in pain, her right elbow bent in an odd angle. Gasping, she sat up, her arm hanging uselessly by her side.

            "You okay?"

            Pan flinched at the words, looking around for the one who spoke them. "W-what?"

            "I asked you if you were alright. Are you?" the voice, feminine, questioned.

            "I-I guess," Pan stuttered, cradling her arm. "Who are you?"

            "Me? I'm Niomi. Now let me take a look at your arm."

            Pan tentatively held out her arm, glancing away with a sharp intake of breath when she saw her elbow jutting in a way that nature never intended it to go.

            "My my, that looks nice," Niomi mumbled sarcastically as she scooted over, letting Pan have a closer look at her.

            Niomi looked much like herself- she had long ebony hair framing her face, with intelligent coal black eyes, gleaming with strength. Pan immediately felt like she could trust Niomi, and her fear melted away for just a moment.

            Carefully Niomi rotated Pan's arm, trying to find the exact spot it was broken at. White-hot pain sear through Pan's arm and throughout her body, and she gritted her teeth to keep the cry of pain in her throat. "What are you doing?" she snapped, becoming angered at the treatment of her arm.

            Surprisingly, Niomi laughed. "Sorry. I just have to find out where your arm is broken. It might not heal back the right way."

            "And that means-"

            "Right," Niomi said with a nod, then continued inspecting her arm. "On the count of three, I'll set it. One, two," Niomi then swiftly jutted Pan's elbow back into place, holding it with her hands.

            "Whatever happened to three?" Pan gasped between clenched teeth.

            "Must have forgotten it," Niomi said with a grin. "Seriously? You dreaded three, and when I would have said three, your body would have tensed up, and I may not have been able to set it. If I did it on two, you wouldn't have had as much fear."

            "Thanks," Pan said dryly.

            Niomi smiled. "Don't mention it." She then ripped a small piece of her shirt off, using it to wrap up Pan's arm. When Pan protested, she replied- "it's the least I can do."

            "So why are you down here anyway?" Niomi asked after a while.

            "I-I… I" Pan stuttered. "I don't really know," she concluded, casting her eyes downward.

            Niomi nodded in understanding. "That bad, huh?"

            Pan looked up at her. "But I didn't do it," she said, surprised that her voice came out in a soft whisper, almost desperate.

            Niomi sensed the truth in her voice. "If you don't want to tell me, don't. But I believe you."

            "Thanks," Pan said with a small smile, but her body started to shake in fear.

            Niomi quickly changed the subject. "So who are you? I told you my name-what's yours?"

            "Pan," she answered-but still shaking.

            "Pan?" Niomi questioned incredulously. "Son Pan?"

            "Y-yeah," Pan stuttered, her eyes wide. "H-how do you know?"

            Niomi flashed a toothy grin. "Word gets around fast in the palace, even down here."

            "I knew word got around fast, but I never dreamed that it got down here," Pan said, still shocked.

            Niomi chuckled. "You'd be surprised.

            "So, did Prince Trunks get tired of you and just throw you down here?" Niomi joked.

            "Not exactly," Pan mumbled.

            Niomi winced.  She forgot already to stay away from that subject. "I always wanted to meet you," she blurted truthfully. "I just never expected to meet you here."

            Pan managed a smile. "Me? Why me?"

            "Because you were caught training Pan. Training! Don't you see? I'm just the way you are-but I've never had the guts to train for fear I'd be caught. You've inspired me to realize that I have to take the risk."

            "R-really?" Pan stuttered. Then she smirked. "Perhaps I can teach you to train."

            Niomi grinned. "I'd like that." Suddenly, Pan admitted a very misplaced yawn, and blushed. "Why don't you go to bed, Pan. You must be tired."

            Pan was about to protest when she realized that she was tired. All the… actives… of the night had tired her greatly, not to mention the fact that it was early in the morning, before most of the populace awoke. "Good idea. Thanks, Niomi."

            "No problem."

            Pan laid down as comfortably on the stone floor, resting her head on her hands. Forgetting about what had happened, she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

            Author's Note: Sorry sorry sorry sorry! Okay like I said, I'm really sorry about not posting, so I decided to post another today. Do you forgive me? Please say you're not mad… This makes up for it right?

…

Right?

^-^ Well anyway I'd like to thank everyone for the simply wonderful reviews. I might have stated this before (but I'm too lazy to check) but just leaving a simply, thoughtful review means so much to me. Thank you all so much!!! ^-^ I don't know how to repay you all… will new chapters work?

Just to let you all know, I have a plan for this story and I know where it's headed-therefore, hopefully no writer's block (*crosses fingers, fervently praying she hasn't jinxed herself*) and quick chapters. However, if you have any insight, leave it in a review!

Also, if you have any questions, feel free to ask-I don't care what they are. E-mail or review, however you like. I'm open to anything! If you're confused about something in the story-ask. Most likely, something's wrong and I have to fix it.

Well, Adios! Later! Sayoonara! (that's Japanese for goody-bye, I think… correct me if I'm wrong I'm learning ^-^)