My attention flickers over to Goten while my father explains the history of Bardock, the Saiyan who possessed the ability to see into the future. Goten is sitting on the floor beside me, his back pressed up against my mattress. Every few minutes he'll sigh, or drop his face into his hands as if thinking with despair," This can't be happening."

If either of us had a choice… we wouldn't have accepted our great-grandfather's little gift.

"….In the end, none of the Saiyans on planet Vegetasei believed Bardock's vision was real. He faced Frieza's army alone, and was the first to perish," Papa finishes. He's quiet for a few minutes, allowing us enough time to absorb the story before dropping the bomb." Like the both of you, I have inherited Bardock's ability to see into the future. I had my first psychic experience in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber when I was only twelve."

Papa's face softens as he remembers his experience.

. +.+.+.+.

He was training with Grandpa Goku, preparing for the monstrous androids Future Trunks had forewarned them about. They were seven months into training when it happened. Goku had been a little too fierce during training, and unexpectedly delivered a knock-out blow to my father's head. It felt like being hit by a train. If Papa had been a normal human, his head would've disconnected from his neck and exploded like a watermelon…that's how strong Grandpa Goku was.

My father dropped from the sky like a rock. He knew he'd be unconscious once he hit the ground, but halfway through the fall everything around him began to change. The white tiled floor started to move like gentle ocean waves, then completely dissolved, changing itself into dirt. Papa heard a school bell chime in the distance and felt the humming of voices in his ears. There was laughter and shouting. The wind picked up, pushing against his hair and skin, carrying with it the scent of freshly cut grass. The pain in his head was still there, but it had lessened greatly.

By the time Papa's knees hit the dirt, nothing about the hyperbolic time chamber remained. Goku's presence was gone as well. Within just a few seconds, Papa's psychic abilities had thrown him six years into the future, right in the middle of an important high school baseball game.

"Quit daydreaming out there!" The coach harshly shouted from the sidelines, cupping his hands around his mouth to amplify his voice." Get up, get up! Hurry! My grandmother can move faster than you—and she's dead!"

People watching the game were all shouting at him in harsh voices. For whatever reason, it was important that he get up quickly and throw the damn ball.

Rubbing the sore spot on his head, Papa scrambled to his feet. His arms and legs were much longer than he was used to. If it weren't for the people screaming his name, he would've thought he was in someone else's body. With everyone shouting at him there wasn't enough time to stand idly or freak out over what just happened. He found the baseball sitting in the grass just by his feet and hurriedly bent over to pick it up. It felt small in his large hands. No doubt the ball was the cause of the little, annoying bump on his head. He uncertainly raised the ball in the air. What did they want him to do with it exactly? Was he supposed to give it to someone?

The coach and his teammates' faces had turned red from shouting so much. He sensed they were on the verge of abandoning the game and would settle for beating him up if he didn't act soon. His body felt uncomfortably weak. He was nowhere near as strong as he had been in the hyperbolic time chamber. The thought of facing a swarm of angry humans was intimidating in his current state.

A shorter, heavier, teenage boy smelling like sweat ran past second base." I'm so sorry, Gohan! I didn't mean to hit you in the head! You're usually on top of your game and, well, please forgive me!" The teenager panted and wheezed as he pushed his legs to go faster. He'd seen a once in a lifetime opportunity for a home run and was taking it. He looked over his shoulder with wide, disbelieving eyes after passing third base.

Other players eager to win the game rushed in on my father. All eyes were locked on the ball. Papa had no idea where he was or why he was suddenly taller and playing baseball. Panicked, he threw the ball to the pitcher a handful of seconds before the apologetic teenager slid into completing his home run.

"Out!" It was declared.

The crowd went silent, then erupted into enthusiastic cheers.

Whatever. Papa had thrown the ball like they wanted. He spun around and started to walk further out the field. He had no idea why he grew so tall, but he knew he needed to get back to the hyperbolic time chamber and resume training. He'd have to tell Kami that the chamber had a bizarre hole that dropped him in a baseball game. . . that would definitely need to be fixed. His mother had mentioned growth spurts to him before. Was a sudden growth spurt the reason for his longer limbs and taller height?

His teammates tackled into him while he was lost in his thoughts.

"Great job, nerd!"

Someone poured a bucket of water on his face, nearly drowning him.

"It was so awesome when that ball hit you in the head…. thought you died, man!"

"Gohan… Gohan…Gohan. . ." Someone started to chant, encouraging the other teammates to join. The coach helped him to his feet with proud tears in his eyes. Papa's teammates jumped and hugged him. He'd helped his team win, and they were very grateful.

"Um, I have to go somewhere now…." Papa mumbled, unable to squeeze through his tight circle of teammates, whom he'd never met before but somehow, they knew his name. They parted down the middle, making a pathway for two girls who'd come to congratulate him.

One girl had short blond hair and a bright smile. Papa trusted her right away. The other girl was short with pigtails, and had scowling blue eyes….Papa was instantly scared of her.

"Ooh, way to go Gohan," The blond congratulated in a mischievous voice." You looked so cool playing today." She nudged her friend in the side." Didn't he, Videl?"

"I guess he looked a little cool," my mother mumbled.

A large, muscular boy with blond hair and wearing a matching baseball uniform, trapped Papa in a headlock and roughly rubbed the top of his head. Papa sensed no malicious intent, so he didn't fight back." You think THIS GUY is cool? Pfft. He's a total spaz. Didn't you see him zone out because of a butterfly? That's the real reason the ball bounced off his head like that!"

Videl narrowed her eyes." Gohan has good reflexes, even when he's not paying attention. I think he let the ball hit him on purpose."

For some reason, Papa's cheeks turned red and he started to sweat. She was good at making him feel uncomfortable. He only ever felt that way when his mother was disappointed in him for not finishing his studies for the day. It was bizarre that such a short girl could have that same affect on him.

"I don't know. . . " my mother's best friend playfully responded." It looked to me like he was staring at Videl. He's been staring at Videl a lot lately."

"I've noticed that too," the bigger guy growled, his headlock tightening for a second before releasing him.

These people talked comfortably about Papa as if they knew each other. It was almost as if they were friends, but Papa had never met them before in his entire life! They certainly seemed nice enough and Papa welcomed the idea of having non-fighter friends…but there was definitely no time in his schedule to make friends while preparing for the fight with the androids and Cell. It was a lot of stuff for a boy his age to deal with .

"I've gotta go home!" He declared, running out of sight before blasting off into the sky. Once at home, he was shocked to discover that a smaller version of Goku was waiting impatiently for him to return home. He woke up in a sweat in the hyperbolic time chamber after the boy called him," Big brother."

Papa dismissed these experiences as dreams. He never mentioned his dreams to Goku, and after spending hours of rigorous, strict training everyday….he welcomed them. He enjoyed those times when he could escape and be a carefree high school student, or a fun older brother. Mostly, he enjoyed spending time with Videl. . . the girl who made him uncomfortable, but in an in-explainable good way.

Papa started to notice there were days missing in his memory after returning to the hyperbolic time chamber one morning. He would go to sleep, have one of those "dreams", then wake up in bed five days later with no memory of what happened in between. He thought that maybe he was training so hard he couldn't keep his days straight. His muscles moved on their own sometimes, remembering the training he'd forgotten. Just as long as he wasn't getting weak, that's all that mattered.

One afternoon, Grandpa Goku and Papa were stretching, preparing to train and spar until their stomachs told them it was time for dinner, when Grandpapa offhandedly said," Did I ever tell you I met my father once in a strange dream on Namek, when I was fighting Frieza? It happened so quickly I thought I made it up." Goku alternated between touching his toes with his opposite hands." He really helped me see how important it was I beat Frieza no matter what it took, and I think I helped him too in some way. Maybe you should try meeting him sometime."

. +.+.+.+.

Papa's brows pinch together, and his frown deepens. Goten and I lean in closer, hanging onto his every word.

" Unlike Bardock, we can do more than just see into the future. We can actively interact in the future and change it if we desire. That's not exactly the case for going into the past - "

"We can go into the past?" Goten shouts, jumping to his feet. There's hope and determination in his eyes. If there's a chance he can change what's already happened, then he'll take it." How did you go to the past? You need to show me how you did it right now!"

Papa's lips set into a straight line. He doesn't have good news to give to his little brother." Going into the past requires meditation. It's an easy thing to do. However, you won't have a body. You'll be like a floating spirit. You can watch the past unfold, but you can't actively change it. Bardock was a dying man when my father went into the past….they were only able to interact because Bardock already had one foot in the Otherworld. Goten, I'm sorry, but there's no way you can change what has happened."

"Dammit!" Goten punches the wall." This really sucks! What's the point of seeing into the future if I can't do anything to change it?" Goten punches my wall again. Instead of leaving a dent, he leaves behind a giant hole.

"Goten, calm down," Papa says.

Goten whirls on his brother. Both of his fists are clenched." How the hell can you expect me to calm down? Do you know what I've experienced? My girlfriend cheated on me with my best friend! Now she's pregnant, and I don't know if the baby is mine!" His eyes widen as if remembering that I'm in the room. He lowers his voice and his tone sounds more apologetic." Valese seemed like a pure, sweet girl….don't worry Pan, I'm sure Trunks must've been seduced. He only cares about you. I don't know why or how this happened."

I smile sadly at my uncle. Trunks has committed the ultimate betrayal, yet Goten can't help but stick up for him. A part of me wants to tell Goten about the little girl that Valese is carrying, who is currently no larger than a raspberry. Fable had Valese's brown hair and big eyes, but her intelligence and mannerisms were identical to Trunks'. If I offer this information to my uncle, will it comfort him knowing that he's not the father, or will it further devastate him?

"How far did you travel?" I ask.

Goten shakes his head like he doesn't really want to talk about it." I'm not sure. I awoke to a part in time where Valese was seven months pregnant. I was so happy and excited for the baby to be born. On the day that Valese went into labor, Trunks pulled me aside and explained that the baby might be his. When I came back to the present, I thought that maybe it had all just been a bad dream, but… Valese told me she was pregnant today ,and I just knew that my experience wasn't a dream. I went to Gohan for advice and, well, here we are. "

My chest tightens at the revelation that Valese is pregnant. Of course deep down I already knew, but a small part of me still hoped that I was wrong, that Trunks hadn't already made the same mistakes I'd foreseen.. Goten is right. There's no point having psychic powers if it's too late to change anything.

Papa stands up, walks over to Goten, and puts a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder. " I'm sorry for what you've been through, but I'd hate to see a friendship like yours and Trunks get destroyed over one girl. What happens next is up to you."

Papa touches two fingers to his forehead. His eyes flicker to me." Grab my hand. We're going to see Dende."

Why are we going to see Dende? How can he help us? I do as my father instructs and take his hand. We leave my bedroom and appear on the lookout in an instant. Dende is standing at the edge of the lookout, holding his wooden staff, with Mr. Popo at his side. He turns around to face us, a warm smile on his face." It's been a long time, Gohan."

Papa laughs nervously and scratches the back of his head." Yeah, sorry about that. I've been very busy with work lately. I feel bad for asking, but can you do me a huge favor?"

Dende walks over to us. His eyes scan over mine and Goten's miserable faces. His voice sounds uncertain as he speaks." I'll do the best that I can. What is this favor?"

" When I was a child, Kami put his hands on my head and took away my ability to see the future. It had become a burden and Kami thought I would live a happier life without that burden. I need you to do the same for Goten and Pan. I need you to take away their psychic powers."

I'm so shocked I stop breathing. From what Papa has told us, he loved seeing the future. What exactly had he experienced that made Kami want to take it away? Goten's body stiffens beside me. We're both unsure if ridding ourselves from our newly awakened abilities is a good idea.

Dende gazes at the floor as he thinks over the request.

"Dende has never performed such a task before," Mr. Popo speaks.

"He's right. I'll need Piccolo's help," Dende agrees." Piccolo and Kami merged together before I became the new guardian. Perhaps, Piccolo will remember how Kami was able to do it."

Papa nods. " Alright. I'll find Piccolo and bring him to the lookout." Papa touches his forehead and directs his next words to Goten and me. "You two wait here. I'll be back soon."

.+.+.+.+.

Dende and Mr. Popo watch me as I pace up and down the lookout while Goten sits patiently.

"Papa didn't even ask if I wanted to get rid of my psychic powers. He just went ahead and made the decision for me," I growl, sounding very much like a teenager as I kick the tip of my foot into the floor. I mean, I definitely don't want to be psychic, but he still should've asked. I'm more than capable of making my own decisions!

"I trust Gohan. If he thinks we'll be better off without our psychic abilities. . . then we should be quiet and do as he says," Goten comments. Any doubts he had about this decision are gone. Besides, there's nothing he can do to change his destiny now. If only we knew what we were experiencing sooner…if only we had been able to control our newfound abilities. . .

My lower lip quivers. I never got the chance to apologize to Fable for speaking harshly to her. I was never able to make sense of why I was the one Fable called "mommy," or why Trunks was raising Fable with me and not with Valese. Most alarming of all, Goten was never in my visions. He's Trunks' best friend. Shouldn't he have at least shown up at the door with Valese to retrieve Fable that day?

Papa returns to the lookout a few minutes later with Piccolo.

"Are you ready?" Dende asks softly, putting a comforting hand on my shoulder.

I let out a deep breath and nod.

. +.+.+.+.

Papa instant transmits us back to my bedroom once the ordeal is over.

Claiming he needs to be alone for a while, Uncle Goten opens my window and flies into the night. A part of me is worried he'll fly to Capsule Corp and beat Trunks up for his betrayal. A fight is the last thing Bulma and Bulla need to witness at this hour. Papa seems to sense my unease.

"He just needs to come terms with what's happened. He'll come around," Papa says, sounding very sad and tired. He walks to my door." I'm going to bed. Try to get some sleep, too. We have a very busy day planned in the morning."

"Okay."He starts to leave, but I stop him. " Papa, wait! Why don't you want mama to know about any of this? " He's never asked me to keep secrets from my mother before. Why this?

Papa's back is facing me and he has one hand resting on the doorknob as he speaks."I was always nervous, and very uncool during those times I went into the future. I didn't know how to flirt or do anything when it came to girls. Your mother saw me as just a friend. When she became engaged to someone else…I couldn't stand it. Then Kami took away my burden, and the time I spent in the future started to feel like a hazy dream. I only remembered what happened after starting high school, that's when I decided to do things a little differently so Videl wouldn't marry anyone else."

He changed my mother's future, that's why he doesn't want her to know.

"Goodnight, Pan."

He leaves my bedroom.

I seat myself at the edge of the bed and fold my hands in my lap. For now on, there won't be days missing from my memory and I wont have to question my sanity every minute. My questions about Fable, Trunks, and Valese will be answered if I follow the future I foresaw…If I continue my relationship with Trunks. But it's my choice. I hold the power to change my future.

"Oh, my cellphone!" I cry out, remembering I kicked it beneath the bed. If I want to know what time the going away party starts and where exactly I'm moving to….I'm going to need to charge my cell phone and keep in contact with Bulla. I drop to my knees and feel under the bed for my phone. I find it pressed against the wall. The screen is cracked a little.

There are three missed calls. One is from Bulla, and the other two were from Trunks.

The first few unread text messages are from Bulla, asking:

"So, how was the date? Did you like the dinner I helped my brother plan? Only the best for my bestie!" At the end, she inserts a red heart and a winking face.

"Why aren't you answering my call?" She asks.

In her next text, she sends a large question mark. '?'

"Nevermind. I think I already know what you and my brother are doing. You sluts." She adds a shocked face, an eggplant, a mouth, then ends with kissy faces and fireworks.

Her next text message begins with a sad face." Trunks just came home. Mom and I are worried. Did something happen? I love you. Call me ASAP!"

The final text message is from Trunks. My heart clenches. I really don't want to read what he has to say, but I don't have the strength to ignore him either. Hoping for the best, I read his text message. Instantly, I'm disappointed with how short the message is, and part of me wishes I had just answered his calls.

"There's something I need to tell you.

I'll find you at the party."

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed the chapter!