Chapter 4
Meanwhile back at the campsite Marron was having trouble sleeping. She kept tossing and turning and her entire face was covered in sweat. Then all of a sudden she woke up screaming startling Trunks who woke up too.
"Marron, are you okay?" Trunks asked going over to her. Marron flung herself into his arms and cried onto his chest. Trunks was so shocked at first that he didn't know what to do. He just held her tightly and rubbed her back.
"Marron it's alright. You were just having a nightmare. Everything is fine now." Marron broke out of his embrace.
"No Trunks everything is not fine. Because that wasn't just a dream, it was my past."
"Your past?" asked Trunks getting confused. "What do you mean?"
"I suppose that I might as well tell you. I am from planet Earth."
"Planet Earth," said Trunks. "But planet Earth was destroyed by Freeza eight years ago."
"And I saw the entire thing happen," said Marron. "I'm sure as you know that Kami was the guardian of Earth for many years. Well on his death bed Kami asked my father Krillin to take over his job."
"Your father is Krillin?"
"Yes, and when my father became the new guardian life was peaceful for a while. But then early one morning something wasn't right both my father and my mother could feel it. Some of Freeza's men were going from city to city attacking innocent people. My father and mother went off to fight and told me to stay at home. But I followed them anyway. They confronted Freeza and he killed my father instantly. Captain Ginyu then noticed me and tried to bring me towards Freeza but I was so upset about my father's death that my power level went crazy. And I ended up attacking Captain Ginyu. When I had Captain Ginyu on the ground I was going to attack Freeza but my mother grabbed me and flew home as fast as she could. She put me inside a small spaceship and then launched it into space. I'd just barely made it out of Earth's atmosphere when I saw it explode. Within a few minutes I had lost everything that I had ever loved. My entire world was completely destroyed. I had nowhere to go so I ended up traveling from planet to planet. A few years ago I hooked up with Bra and we bought the Winnebago together. Things were going fine until we had a little encounter with The Ginyu Force. We just barely made it out of there with out lives. We had to borrow money from Garlic JR in order to repair the ship, but we haven't been able to pay him back. So now if we don't pay him back then there will be a great price on our heads. You see that's why we need the reward money. I have to admit that I didn't want to get involved because I knew that if Captain Ginyu found out that I was helping you it would put us all in danger. And now everything is going wrong. I'm sorry for putting you through all this."
"Marron I'm sorry, I had no idea," said Trunks. "I was quite wrong about you; you are not the cold, heartless being that I thought you were. You are very brave and fearless." Marron smiled.
"I'm not fearless."
"You are compared to me," said Trunks. "Look this whole thing is not your fault. It all started when I ran away. I shouldn't have done that, but at the time I didn't know what else to do."
"If you don't mind me asking, why did you leave your bride at the alter?"
"I wasn't in love with her."
"Then why were you going to marry her?"
"That's a good question," said Trunks. "Because I'm a prince and I have to marry a princess. And technically she is the last princess left in the galaxy."
"Well, what are you going to do when you get home?"
"I'm going to marry her."
"But you don't love her!"
"Yes that is true but I have to marry her. You see I'm my family's only heir and I also care about my people. They need me to take over the throne after my father dies."
"You mean that you would give up your own happiness for your family and your people."
"Yes because they have done so much for me."
"Trunks it's my turn to apologize, I was wrong about you. I thought that you were nothing but a selfish, spoiled, little brat. I think that you are the most unselfish person that I have ever met." Trunks smiled at Marron as he reached over to pull her into a hug. After letting go the two of them just stared into each other's eyes, they leaned closer and were just about to kiss when Trunks pulled away.
"I'm sorry Marron but I can't do this. I can't fall in love with you."
"But Trunks…"
"Marron listen to me it wouldn't work, I'm a prince and when I get home I have to marry a princess. I think that we should just go back to sleep." And with that Trunks went back to sleep. Marron stayed awake thinking about what had just happened. Shortly after Goten and Bra returned and went back to sleep.
Soon the sun was beginning to rise on the four travelers. But not far from them was that same young Namek who had been following them the entire time. He then opened up a small communication device that he was carrying with him.
"This is a message for Captain Ginyu of the Ginyu Force. I have located Prince Trunks and his friends. Here on Solton, one of the Moons of Vega. If any other information is needed just contact Krilo." And within a few seconds the Ginyu Force received the message.
"Captain Ginyu," said Zarbon. "We have located Prince Trunks with the help of one of our spies."
"Where?"
"Solton, one of the Moons of Vega."
"Great, set a course for Solton," said Captain Ginyu. "Within 24 hours they will be our prisoners."
Back on Solton things were not good, because the heat of the sun was incredible. Not only that but Trunks, Marron, Goten and Bra could not find any water. They kept walking, trying to see if they could find some source of fuel. Finally it got to the point where Marron and Bra couldn't walk any further. So Trunks and Goten had to carry them. They tried to keep on moving but finally Goten realized that he could not go any further.
"That's it Trunks, I can't go any further."
"Come on Goten, there's just one more dune to go."
"No, you said three dunes ago. I got no more left. Oh waiter, check please." And with that he dropped Bra on the ground and collapsed right next to her.
"Must go on," Trunks said to himself. "Must go on." Then he realized that there was no use fighting it.
"Oh who am I kidding?" And he did the same thing; he dropped Marron to the ground and collapsed right next to her. Well it looked like the end for Trunks, Marron, Goten and Bra. But just at that moment a group of young Nameks who were around the ages of 5 to 9, came walking up on the same dune where the travelers had collapsed.
"Hey look!" one of them said. They all rushed over to the four bodies lying on the desert.
"You think that they're still alive?"
"Only one way to find out," another one said. "Lets give them some water." Within a few minutes Trunks started to wake up, Marron and the others did too.
"Thank you," said Trunks grateful. Then he got a clear picture of whom his saviors were.
"Hey Marron how did we get to Disney Land?" After their strength was returned Trunks, Goten, Marron and Bra followed the Nameks. Trunks figured that would probably be the best thing to do since the planet was the Nameks home. They followed them to a large dune, which was really a secret hideout. Removing some of the sand, they opened a door that led down a bunch of stairs into a huge room. The Nameks told Trunks and his friends to wait there. Just then a young Namek walked into the room carrying a walking stick that was taller than he was. He smiled at them.
"Hello there, my name is Dende."
"Dende!" Trunks, Marron, Goten and Bra said in unison.
"You've heard of me?"
"Are you kidding?" said Trunks. "Who hasn't heard of Dende?"
"Dende the Wise!" said Marron.
"Dende the all-powerful!" said Bra.
"Dende the Magnificent!" said Goten.
"Thank you but I am just plain Dende. But I am also the keeper of a great power. The legendary Dragon Balls."
"And when the seven Dragon Balls are brought together, one has the power to summon the eternal Dragon. And the Dragon will grant that person two wishes," said Goten.
"Correct," said Dende. "But now I am needed to help you four with your problems." The four of them just stared at Dende not knowing what to think. Meanwhile not far from the hideout Captain Ginyu, Zarbon and a few other soldiers were on Solton trying to find Prince Trunks. They had been searching for hours and had no luck. Finally Captain Ginyu stopped walking.
"Something wrong Captain Ginyu?" asked Zarbon. "I'm feeling a strong power level that is very, very close. It's coming from that dune." He pointed to the hideout. Zarbon walked over to the dune and removed some of the sand and found the door.
"Your right Captain Ginyu, there's a secret entrance here. I'll call for an attack squad."
"No! We can't go in there."
"Why?"
"Because Dende is in there and he is the keeper of the legendary Dragon Balls and their power is far too great."
"Well then how are we going to go in there and get Prince Trunks?" asked Zarbon.
"We will wait until nightfall and then we will not go in there. They will come out to us. And we'll use Marron as the bait because I know Marron's one weakness," said Captain Ginyu with an evil smile on his face.
Back inside Dende's house, Dende gave Trunks and his friends food and drink.
"You guys can stay here for the night and tomorrow we'll supply fuel to your ship."
"Thank you," said Trunks. "We really appreciate your hospitality. Is there anything that we can do to repay you?"
"You don't owe me anything. But now it's time for me to help the four of you with your own inner problems."
"Our inner problems?" asked Marron.
"Yes because each one of you has an inner struggle inside of you. I think that I'll start with you, Bra."
"Me."
"Yes, deep down inside you feel that you are alone; because you had to grow up without a family. The only clue that you have to your real heritage is the necklace that you wear around your neck." Bra stared at Dende with her mouth wide open. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. How could he have known that?
"Speaking of the necklace," said Goten. "Trunks I think that you should take a look at Bra's necklace. Bra showed it to me the other night. I can't read it but from what I can tell it looks like some sort of old Saiyan writing." Trunks looked at the necklace.
"I know what this is," he said.
"You do?" asked Bra.
"This necklace is a Royal Saiyan Birth Certificate. All Saiyans of the Royal Family have one. I have one too." Trunks pulled out his own necklace and showed it to Bra and the others.
"Wait a minute," said Marron. "Are you saying that Bra is somehow related to you?"
"It's possible," said Trunks.
"You know I used to have a tail when I was a little girl. But because of a small accident at the monastery it was removed."
"Well my family used to be a foursome. When I was five years old my mother gave birth to a baby girl. But shortly after Freeza attacked and kidnapped my baby sister. Even though Kakarot tried to stop him, he was too late. And Freeza was able to escape with the baby. Father has been sending Saiyans to search for the baby ever since, but there has been no luck. Look Bra I didn't want to mention it before because I wasn't sure about how you would react; but you look exactly like my mother. If I didn't know better I would say that you are the spitting image of her. Well it looks like I have just found my missing baby sister," said Trunks smiling. Bra ran over to Trunks and hugged him with all her might. All of the questions that she had been trying to find answers too were just answered at that very moment.
"Well now one down and three more to go," Dende turned to Goten. "You also have an inner struggle that you have been trying to fight for years."
"Look I really don't want to talk about it, okay?" said Goten.
"Goten, I understand that this is really hard for you. But you can't hold it inside you forever."
"Yes, I can!" said Goten getting angry. Bra walked over to Goten and touched him on the shoulder.
"Goten, I think that Dende is right. Maybe if you talk about it, you'll feel better."
"This is about you and your father isn't it?" asked Trunks.
"There's nothing to talk about. He's the strongest fighter in the universe. He can do anything. And then there's me; who will always be stuck inside his shadow and an outcast with the people on our planet."
"Goten, you don't give yourself enough credit," said Dende.
"But it's true, nobody on Vegeta thinks that I can handle taking over my father's position as Captain of the Guards. Their all just sitting around waiting for me to screw-up."
"Goten, you have no idea how strong you really are do you?" asked Dende.
"What do you mean how strong I really am?"
"You lack faith in yourself. More and anyone on planet Vegeta, you have the potential to become a great warrior."
"I do?" asked Goten looking at Dende with a strange look on his face.
"You need to give yourself a break," said Dende. Goten smiled, what Dende had said to him made him feel a lot better. Dende then turned to Trunks and Marron.
"Now as for you two, isn't it time that you, two just accept the fact that your in love with each other." Trunks and Marron both stared at Dende not knowing what to think. How could he have known all this?
"But Dende, I've already explained to Marron why I can't be in love with her. Because I'm a Prince and I have to marry a Princess."
"So just tell your father that you're in love with Marron instead," said Dende.
"I can't do that, he'll never accept it," said Trunks.
"Your mother is not a Princess," said Dende. Trunks stared at Dende with his mouth open.
"She's not!"
"No, she's not. She was once an earthling like Marron. Upon a small trip to planet Earth, Vegeta saw your mother fell in love and the rest is history."
"But why didn't either of them ever tell me?"
"Because they wanted you to make up your own mind about your future. Over the years you have done certain things only because you felt that they were your duties as a Prince, and also your duties to your people. But now maybe it's time that you finally did something just for you." Dende then looked directly at Marron.
"Why are you afraid to love him?"
"What do you mean afraid? I'm not afraid of anything," she said getting angry.
"You're afraid because you loved your parents very much and they were killed right before you're very eyes." Tears started to form in Marron's eyes.
"And you are afraid that if you open you're heart to Trunks, that you will lose him just like you lost you're parents. Look I know that it's hard, but sometimes you have to take a chance on faith. Don't be afraid to let him in." Trunks extended his hand towards Marron. For a few minutes Marron looked doubtful. But she slowly reached over with her hand and took Trunks' hands. The two of them just stared into each other's eyes, knowing that nothing was going to be the same again.