Goten took a nervous step backwards. "Er, um… I'll just go make sure that Yamura chick isn't going to kill that poor kid. See ya!" He rushed out of the room.

Giru rapidly floated after him. "Goten wait for Giru! Goten wait for Giru!" he cried as he disappeared from the room himself.

Gohan glared over at the remaining person in the room. "Trunks," he droned, "If you don't mind, I need to have a word with my daughter… ALONE."

Rather than flee, Trunks tightened his face and stood his ground. "No."

The two whipped their heads towards him "What?"

"I'm not going anywhere," Trunks replied, "The whole reason we're all the way out here in space is because you two were unable to resolve your differences to begin with! Clearly you two need a middleman to help work things out, and I'm not going anywhere until you guys patch things up peacefully, so we can finally go home already!"

The two blinked in astonishment, then glared at each other before giving a defeated sigh. "Okay, fine by me," Pan muttered.

"Do I have a choice?" Gohan grumbled as he crossed his arms.

"All right then," Trunks clapped his hands together, "Each of you are going to speak your peace, one at a time. The other has to actually listen. Now who wants to go first?"

"ME!" Pan shot her hand in the air.

Gohan sighed. "Be my guest…"

"Dad, I'm tired of you and everyone treating me like I'm some dumb baby that needs protection all the time!"

"Pan, we're not-"

"STOP," Trunks held his palm at Gohan, "Let her talk."

Gohan desperately wanted to punch Trunks, but for the sake of his daughter, decided to put up with this nonsense…

"I know you say you're protecting me," Pan continued.

Gohan wanted to agree out loud, but remembered he was supposed to listen, so he stayed silent.

"But it's gotten to the point that my strength and potential is being hindered! It feels like I'm being groomed to be the next Mr. Satan, but I know I can be more than that! I don't know why you're so gung-ho about me not being a Z-fighter, but you realize I'm not just gonna lay down and give up on my goals! I'm gonna get stronger, no matter what, and I'm not gonna let you or anyone get in my way! If you don't like it, then just go back to Earth without me!"

Gohan narrowed his eyes. "May I now speak?"

"Are you done, Pan?" Trunks asked.

Pan sighed. "May as well be… I'm tired of repeating myself over and over."

"Pan, listen… I hear you. I do," said Gohan, "But I also need you to understand what you're getting into. You're so hyper focused on this goal, you've already cast aside so many important things, like your family and your friends. All for something you're not ready to handle yet."

"How could you say that?" Pan cried, "After all I-"

"Pan, you already spoke," said Trunks, "It's your father's turn now."

"But-"

"NOPE."

Pan growled and crossed her arms furiously.

"I know you want to become a true fighter, Pan," Gohan continued, "But you don't know what it all entails. It's more than just brutal training and intense fights. It's going in knowing you may lose your life. Are you truly prepared to deal with that? With leaving all your loved ones behind if something were to happen?"

"What do you think is happening now?" Pan spat, "I already left everyone behind and nearly died several times by training alone."

"That just goes to show how narrow-sighted you are!" said Gohan, "You're putting your own ambitions and wants before anything else."

"I wouldn't have to if you just trained me to begin with!"

"You know why I can't!"

"It's not that you can't, it's that you won't! You've seen what I'm capable of, and yet you still think I'm too stupid to handle it!"

"Stupid, no. Immature, yes! Very!"

"What am I supposed to do? You wouldn't train me!"

"And at this rate, I never will!"

"Then go back to Earth!"

"Not without you!"

"WILL YOU TWO STOP IT ALREADY?!" Trunks nearly burst into Super Saiyan mode just to get them to stop arguing. The two immediately shut up, shocked at the outburst. "Clearly you two are at an impasse here. Pan, your father is just worried about you and protective, like any father should be for their kid. We're all just trying to look out for you. We're doing it out of a place of love."

Pan wasn't touched by this sentiment. "You're taking HIS side?"

Gohan nodded. "Trunks is right, Pan," he said, "We all know what's best, and we-"

"AND GOHAN…" Trunks cut him off, rendering him speechless, "Pan has made it obvious that she had a goal in mind and that she's willing to go beyond her boundaries to reach it. There's nothing we can do to stop her, and the harder we try, the further out she'll go.."

Pan smiled. "Thanks, Trunks."

"Don't thank me yet," said Trunks, "You're still wrong for running away instead of working things out. But Gohan, you're wrong too. You can't keep Pan from training. She's shown what she wants and what she's willing to do to achieve it. The both of you seriously need to find a middle ground here."

Gohan crossed his arms and closed his eyes. "Damn it, Trunks…" he grumbled.

"Why, Dad?" Pan cried, "Why are you so against me getting stronger and being a Z fighter? You really want me to be some lame celebrity wrestler like Gramps? Would you NOT be proud if I actually became as strong as you?"

"Of course not!' said Gohan, "It's just…"

How could he actually word how he felt?

Pan narrowed her eyes. "It's because I'm a girl, is it?" she sneered, "Because I'm not your son, you have this crazy need to cradle and protect me, and make sure I'm pure and innocent! Girls don't fight! They're meant to be nothing more than housewives, is that it? If I were your son-"

"That's not true, Pan!"

Pan was taken back at her father's outburst.

"To answer your question from before… No. I would NOT treat you any differently if you were my son instead of my daughter," said Gohan, "I would STILL worry for you. I would still want to protect you! Because that's my job as your father! It's to be a better father to you than my own father was to me!"

Both Pan and Trunks did a double take at this. "Wait!" Pan cried, "WHAT's this about Grandpa?"

Gohan was taken back, realizing what he had just said.

"Was… Grandpa NOT a good father?" Pan asked.

"No, of course he was," Gohan replied, "Well… for who he was, he was a decent father… But…" He sighed deeply, "He wasn't the best family man… He did things that any other father in their right mind wouldn't put their son through. He loved us… but he was terrible at showing it. Mainly he was more focused on obtaining his own goals than focusing on his family. You should know… He up and left us for five years just to train Uub, whom we've never even met before."

Pan glanced down. She remembered that all too well… as well as disappearing with Shenron without even so much a good-bye to everyone. Not even to her…

"I couldn't tell you how many nights I had to listen to your grandmother cry herself to sleep," Gohan continued, "And then I had to hear your mother do the same after you disappeared. Your grandfather was willing to leave everything behind if it meant becoming stronger… and Pan, you're now doing the same thing. THAT'S why I'm afraid of you getting so involved with training."

For the first time, Pan was starting to see things from another perspective. "Dad…" she said softly, tears forming, "I'm sorry… I never meant to hurt you and everyone… But, why do I have to give up my goals just to make others happy? I don't have to run away to the edge of the universe just to train! Why can't you just let me train at home?"

"And what happens if it isn't enough, Pan?" said Gohan, "What's to stop you from running off somewhere else to get what you want?"

"I'm not Grandpa!" Pan cried, "I love you guys! I WANT to be with you! But I want to be a Z Fighter too! I only ran away because I felt I had no other options!"

"If you were given other options, Pan," said Trunks, "Would you stay home then?"

"Of course!" Pan replied, "It doesn't have to be you, Dad! Trunks could train me! Or Uncle Goten! He said he would until you scared him off!"

"Heck, I'm sure if my father saw how much Pan has improved, maybe he'd even show her a thing or two!" Trunks added.

Gohan slightly cringed at the thought. Vegeta might be too much… But he crossed his arms and closed his eyes in deep thought. "It seems like no matter what I choose… I'll lose you, either way," he said softly.

"Dad, you won't lose me!" said Pan, "Not if I get proper training."

Gohan took in her words, and then gave a final deep breath. "You're not really leaving me much choice, are you?" he said, kneeling down to her and placing a hand on her shoulder. "Well… If it really means that much to you… then I'll personally make sure you get the best training, even if I have to do it myself."

At that, Pan beamed brightly. "You will? Really? Wait, the last time you said that-"

"I mean it this time," Gohan assured, "I'm not just saying it just to get you to come home. I really WILL train you."

In response, Pan excitedly wrapped her arms around her father and squeezed tightly. "Oh Dad, thank you!" she cried, "Thank you so much!"

Gohan returned the squeeze. "I love you, Pan…"

"I love you too, Dad."

Trunks had to wipe a tear from his eye at the sweet scene. "Beautiful…" he mumbled, then asked out loud, "Can we go home now?"

Pan smiled and nodded. "Yeah, let's go home," she said, then grew a bit worried, "But hold on… I'm going to have to tell Yamura that she no longer needs to train me. Hoo boy, I hope she doesn't try to kill me."

Gohan smirked. "She'll have to get through me first."

The three made their way through the ship and to the training room, easily sensing where the others' ki may be. Along the way, Gohan did explain to Pan that while he did intend on training her, there would still be repercussions from running away from home for so long… Pan suggested hardcore training, possibly worse than what Yamura put her through. "If I can handle her, I can handle you," she said smugly.

Gohan wasn't too keen on the idea, but kept it in the back of his mind…

They entered the control room of the training room, where they found Goten watching, with Giru sitting on his shoulder, through the window. Inside, Akira was out of his gown and now wearing black spandex and white boots. He was working on powering up, passing into Super Saiyan mode. The energy level was through the roof and rising, but fortunately, no danger of any explosions. Across from him, Yamura simply observed.

"This kid is no joke," Goten said as he watched, "His power level can just about match Vegeta's… He may even have the ability to surpass him."

"Dad's not gonna be happy to hear that," said Trunks.

"Don't worry," Pan smiled, "He'll control it. He'll be a great ally to us. I know it!"

"I hope you're right Pan…" Gohan watched as Akira transformed into Super Saiyan 2, only to quickly tire out and hit his knees, reverting to his normal self.

Yamura grabbed Akira by the arm and helped him walk back to the control room. There was a bottle of water nearby, which she snagged and offered to him. "I'm sure everyone else felt that," she said, "Akira, you've been given some great power… You need to utilize that power properly if you want to be a great Saiyan warrior."

Between glugs of water, Akira gave a small smile. "Thanks…"

"But if you're not careful with it, you could do some serious damage to yourself," Yamura continued.

"And others," added Goten.

"Isn't hurting others the point of fighting?" asked Akira.

Yamura sighed, "Not if you're going to get yourself killed…"

Akira nodded. "Okay. I trust you."

Yamura smirked. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."

The others looked at each other nervously at this prospect, but Pan didn't seem too bothered. She walked up to the two. "Sooo… Yamura," she started, "Now that you have yourself a new student, I guess you won't be training me anymore, huh?"

Yamura cocked an eyebrow. "You bailing on me?"

Pan grew nervous. "Well… I wouldn't call it bailing!" she said, "I mean, I know I made a promise to stick by my training, but… well, my dad said he'd take over, and honestly, I really want to be able to train with him now." She started sweating a bit, "So, maaaaybeee… if you could NOT kill me?"

Yamura smirked in response. "Relax kid," she said, "I never intended on killing you. If you did give up, I would've made you go home in shame. THAT'S a fate worse than death in my opinion."

Pan twitched her nose. Somehow, she couldn't help but agree…

"But honestly…" Yamura continued, "You surprised me how far you came. I didn't think you'd make it a cycle before you called it quits. You got some determination, kid…" She clapped a hand on Pan's shoulder. "You're gonna be a great warrior."

Pan smiled brightly. "You mean it?"

"I wouldn't say it if I didn't."

Pan then wrapped her arms tightly around Yamura's waist and squeezed tightly. Gohan and the others cringed, afraid of what would happen next. Yamura looked as if she was about to punch Pan, but to everyone's surprise, she instead softened up and patted her on the head.

"Okay, that's enough," she said as she finally pushed Pan off.

"I won't forget you, Yamura," said Pan with a smile, "I couldn't have gotten as far as I did without you!"

"Yeah, I'll miss you too, I guess…" Yamura muttered, scratching the back of her head, "It won't be the same not getting to knock you around for fun."

Gohan scoffed at that remark.

"Maybe… you could come back to Earth with us," said Pan, "We could still spar once in a while, and I'll show you just how strong I've gotten!"

Yamura crossed her arms and turned away. "I'd rather not," she replied, "Not so long as HE'S there… But speaking of which…" She then made her way out of the room.

"Where are you going?" Pan asked.

"Gotta put in the coordinates for Earth," Yamura replied.

"You're coming with us after all?" Pan chimed.

"Of course not!" Yamura spat, "But I gotta drop you idiots off. You lost your own spaceship on Androiss."

"OH CRAP, YOU'RE RIGHT!" Trunks suddenly cried, grabbing his hair in panic, "My mom is gonna kill me when she finds out!"

"Don't worry," said Gohan, "I'll take the blame. After all, I'm already in a life-long servitude to your mother as it is…"

With Giru's help, Yamura was able to pinpoint Earth and set it as their destination. At their current location, plus given their hyperboost, it wouldn't take more than 3 months to return.

That would give the group plenty of time to train properly. No more cramped quarters.

"By the way," Trunks brought up at some point, "Are we NOT going to talk about how Pan became a Super Saiyan?"

"She did WHAT?!" cried Gohan.

"I did WHAT?!" cried Pan.