Pan glanced around the hallways as they walked, gazed out windows into courtyards and rooms. "Woah..."
The monastery was a giant stone structure with certain wooden parts build into it for rooms. It was beautifully decorated with plants, paintings, and architecture. Pan could see plenty of younger people cleaning and scrubbing various areas, keeping it in pristine condition. She saw a class of students practicing levitating, another in drawing out their ki.
"The monastery is a grand place, isn't it?" said Bata.
Pan nodded slowly. "It ain't bad."
She had to admit, she was curious what it would have been like learning how to use ki, and how to fight, as part of a group rather than one on one with Grandpa. It looked kind of fun...
"Keep up Pan!" called Bata.
Pan gave a start and realized she had been starting to daydream. She ran to catch up and walked behind Bata. After twisting and turning down various hallways, they arrived at the Abbots room. Bata knocked on the door and waited.
"Enter," came Sawa's voice.
The two of them walked in to a surprisingly plain room. All it had was a bed, a mat on the floor, a dresser, and a ground level table with a tea pot and a cup on it. Sawa himself was on the mat, crossed leg, in an almost meditative state.
Sawa slowly broke his meditation and stood up, walking over and looking Pan over. "So, up and well. You've recovered remarkably quickly. I trust you are ready to start pulling your weight around here?"
Pan resisted the urge to growl at him. "I would have helped out if I were able."
Sawa nodded slowly. "Good, a willingness to serve will suit you well.
Pan narrowed her eyes slightly. There was a clear difference between helping out and serving.
"The first lesson you shall have is that of humility and service. No matter who you are and how powerful you may be, we all serve Lord Kojin's will. Bata will take you to the kitchen where you shall do dishes for an hour. Next, you will spend an hour helping to clean the monastery. Afterwords, you shall spend an hour washing and drying clothes. One task for each of the days you were under our care," ordered Sawa.
Pan had been ready to refuse until the last part. It WAS only fair for her to do a bit of work to pay them back for taking care of and feeding her.
"Okay," said Pan.
"You are dismissed, once you are finished, Bata will return you to me," said Sawa.
With that, they left, making their way to the kitchen...
Three hours later...
Pan walked behind Bata, her nose still wiggling at remembering the bad smell of dirty clothes. The few hours had been quick and event-less, but, infuriatingly informative.
Pan had gone from irritated with how the Lady Magistrate had told Bata to be her attendant to being really pissed. Bata had been following her around and helping her without pause, not just because she wanted to help, but because she was also required to as an 'attendant'.
The people who Pan had seen cleaning earlier were either 'low classes', people being punished for breaking a rule, or those learning 'the first lesson of humility'. It was the same with the dish washing and clothes washing.
It had only taken her about thirty minutes to identify what really differentiated the classes. Power. People around Bata's power were low class. People above them were average or 'mid' class. The elites were the few people of various age of very noticeable power.
But what really bothered Pan about it, was how everyone seemed to naturally go with it. Those in the low class seemed to accept being used in such menial ways, being required to follow elites around and answer their ever whim, and even not talk back when someone of a higher class talked down to them. It worked like clockwork, each class downplayed those below them and sucked up to those above. If it was like this in the monastery, dare Pan even think what it was like outside these wall with the normal citizens?
The way everyone accepted it though, it made Pan question if she had a right to try and change it or not. She frowned as she walked, uncertain of what to do, and merely decided to play along for now. Its not like she could really do much else unless she figured out the green energy Bata had talked about. There mere fact the green energy existed though made Pan hopeful she could one day find a way to use it to return home.
They returned to Sawa's room and entered after knocking.
Sawa glanced towards Bata. "She did her chores as instructed?"
Bata nodded. "Yes."
"Without complaint?" asked Sawa.
Bata nodded again. "Yes."
Sawa studied her face, as if searching for lies, before nodding. "Good, it would have been unfortunate to have to levy a punishment on her first day."
Pan resisted the urge to give him a death glare. She'd like to see him try and punish her, especially for something so trivial as a complaint. She did it all the time back home for her own chores and homework, she used it in a fun way to try to make jokes or...
"Now," said Sawa, breaking her line of though, "I suppose we shall start your lessons. As I am not sure of your exact power and skills, you will be tested. First though, go bathe, afterwards, return to me in the Lord Kojin's arena."
Bata nodded and pulled Pan away and out the door.
"Arena?" asked Pan in confusion.
"Its a training area for elites. Lord Kojin sometimes visits the monastery to view the progress of its students and sits upon his throne overlooking the area," explained Bata.
They walked back into Pan's room and into the bathroom, Pan glanced behind her and gave Bata a curious look. "Um, I can clean myself you know."
Bata scowled. "It's my duty to help you in anyway possible, including keeping you clean and tidy, now get those robes off."
Pan rolled her eyes. "Sure 'mom'."
Bata gave her a quizzical look. "Mom?"
It took Pan a moment to realize Bata, not having been raising in a family, probably wouldn't get it. "Oh, umm, don't mother's clean their kids? I was trying to make a joke."
Bata briefly smiled. "Oh, I see."
Pan took of her robes and sat down in a tub as Bata turned the water on, took a scrub pad and a bar of soap, and began to wash Pan's back. Even though she had been making a joke about it, Pan couldn't help but remember being bathed by her mother when she was younger. She smiled a sad smile, ah the good old days when she was just a little girl.
Pan smirked all of the sudden, a mischievous grin crossing her face. "You know, I'm not the only one whose dirty."
Bata gave her a confused look. "Huh?"
Bata yelped as Pan suddenly dragged her into the tub, sending water flying everywhere. Pan giggled as Bata scowled furiously at her.
"Pan!" she yelled.
"Hee hee, now get those robes off missy, you need some scrubbing to," Pan teased.
Bata rolled her eyes but obeyed, turning her back to Pan. "I'm starting to think you're worse than a child."
"Well, I am a ch..." Pan began.
Her word's died suddenly, Pan felt cold, as she looked at Bata's back. Her hand's shook as she drew a finger along various healed scar marks. Bata shivered a little bit and gave her a questioning look over her shoulder.
"Bata... what are these...?" Pan asked, not sure she could take the answer.
"Oh, I used to be a little rambunctious rule breaker when I was younger," explained Bata, "I got punished a lot."
Pan clenched her fists, wrath overtaking her face. There was a brief cackle of power around Pan and sparks of energy. THIS is what Sawa had meant by punishment?!
"P-pan?" asked Bata, suddenly frightened.
"And just how young were you?" asked Pan, her voice dangerous, "And what exactly did you do?"
"U-um... well... when I was five I remember that I was so naive that I dared to call Lord Kojin foolish for one of his laws in front of Abbot Sawa," said Bata, appearing ashamed, "I got whipped a few times for that."
Pan's eyes twitched.
"The next time was when I did a poor job on cleaning the training areas and complained about having to go back and...," continued Bata.
Pan stood up, got out of the tub, grabbed a towel, and left the room, unable to bear hearing another word. Pan sat on her bed and seethed, struggling to contain herself. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to fly through the walls, break down Sawa's door, and rip his head off.
There was a creak of the door as Bata carefully walked out of the bathroom in her own towel and hesitatingly sat down next to Pan. "Pan? What's wrong?"
"..." Pan did not respond.
She didn't know what to say to her, especially when Bata seemed to so readily accept it as normal. She was starting to understand why the people here were like this. It was instilled on them from birth pretty much. They were taught and forced to basically be servants, punished if they refused. Pan connected another dot in her head all of the sudden. Anyone with potential was taken from their families and raised in this monastery. Kojin's Monastery, under the thumb of those loyal to him, taught nothing but obedience and servitude towards him. No one could change things because anyone who could possibly grow strong enough to challenge this 'Kojin' was basically turned into a servant who revered him. Pan made up her mind, then and there, she was going to interfere in this world. She'd start right here in this monastery, with those that so readily revered their 'divine' Lord Kojin. First though, she needed to draw Kojin to her and prove to them he wasn't as divine as he seemed.
"Pan? I don't want to push you, but, we ought to get you cleaned up before testing begins," said Bata timidly.
"I'm clean enough," said Pan, her tone thin, making it clear she wasn't in a mood to argue.
Bata immediately went quiet.
Pan reached under her bed and pulled her gi's out, putting on first her turtle hermit one, then the fox one over it. She moved to the end of the bed, opened the dresser, and grabbed a robe to put over them and hide the gis. She then tossed a spare robe to Bata.
Bata did not question her this time, merely quietly clothing herself. Pan knew she had scared the girl, and regretted it, but, this couldn't go on.
"Lead the way Bata," said Pan coldly.
"P-pan? Why are you so angry?" asked Bata, "Did I do something wrong?"
"No one Bata, no one deserves to be punished for something so stupid," said Pan angrily, "Especially in such a way."
Bata hesitated. "Pan... its okay, its how things are done."
"I said: Lead. The. Way." ordered Pan.
A worried look crossed Bata's face, but she obeyed. Five minutes later, Pan was led into a large, circular courtyard with a raised throne on the far end. In the center was a tiled floor, almost look the arena in the tournaments Pan had grown up with. Sawa was standing in the middle of it, waiting.
Pan had to resist every urge she had to put her fist through his chest. She found herself missing the simplicity of Terra. There, you saw a Saiyan, you killed a Saiyan. But no, this required something 'more'.
Sawa nodded curtly to her. "Good, let us begin. I wish to first see what you know. Do you know any of the concepts of meditation?"
"I do," replied Pan in a controlled voice.
"Show me," said Sawa.
Pan adopted Mr. Piccolo's meditative stance, floating a bit above the ground, and softly meditated.
"Woah," whispered Bata.
"An interesting form, tell me, since you can already levitate, can you fly?" asked Sawa.
Pan stopped her meditation, stood up, and flew into the air a bit before stopping to look down upon Sawa. The man clearly looked impressed.
"Well, wherever you came from, you certainly had to have had a skilled teacher," said Sawa, "Now, come back down."
Pan did so and waited.
"I wish to measure your power as to know whom you should be sparring with during training, unsupress yourself," ordered Sawa.
Pan grinned, now was the time. She figured if she showed enough power, she'd draw Kojin's attention and bring him running. He sounded greedy as hell to get anyone of significant power under his thumb. She remembered how much she had shown when the Lady Magistrate's visit, ten percent of her weakened power. The woman had then assumed she'd be as strong as a 'lesser magistrate' when at full strength. However, Pan didn't know how strong that actually was.
Hmm... what power to go to then? She thought briefly, the strongest she had felt in the monastery was around Tien's strength. She decided she'd merely double that. She smiled for a moment, she had come a long way with her training on Terra in the time chamber to be able to so easily rival Tien without using the Kaio-Ken.
Pan narrowed her eyes and raised her energy. Sawa's eyes went wide with shock, Bata gave a small yelp of surprise. Off in the far distance, Pan thought she felt a stirring of energy. She smirked, someone had taken notice.
A solemn look crossed Sawa's face. "So, this is the power of a mutant human, extraordinary."
Pan sneered at him, crossing her arms and tilted her head up.
Sawa frowned at her. "Mind yourself, your power is impressive, but, more powerful is the one who shows proper humbleness and respect before our Lord."
"I respect those who earn it," stated Pan.
Bata gave a small gasp.
Sawa narrowed his eyes. "Watch your tone."
Pan raised a cocky eyebrow at him, she knew she had done enough, based on what Bata had told her, to be punished. She was daring him to try anything. Judging by his restraint, he knew better than to try.
"It would you need lessons in respect and etiquette, Bata, would you show her to Instructor Kori? I'll need to send word to request someone capable of properly training her in power and form," said Sawa, his voice thin.
"Y-yes Abbot Sawa," said Bata.
Pan relaxed her power and followed her out.
Bata led her, to Pan's surprise, into an empty nearby room before closing the door behind them. "Pan..."
"What?" she replied.
"What was that?!" exclaimed Bata fearfully, "You can't so readily disrespect Abbot Sawa and our Lord Kojin!"
"Oh? I think I can," said Pan.
Bata's fear turned into anger. "Now you listen here Pan! I don't care how stupidly strong you think you are! I'm not going to let you get yourself in trouble! You're coming with me, you're going to Kori's classes, and you're going to learn some manners and that will be that!"
Pan blanked for a moment, suddenly going passive. Woah, Bata just pulled a grandma Chi-Chi...
Bata opened the door, grabbed Pan's arm, and yanked her down the hall...
Of all the stupid things Pan had ever been forced to do, this took the cake. She was sitting at a desk, in a room full of children, listening to a man read along from a book on how to properly act around 'people of importance'.
What was worse was Bata standing behind her, giving her a deadly look, and preventing her from even thinking about leaving. Pan was stronger than her yes, but that temper and attitude was way to memorable of Grandma Chi-Chi, it was sending shivers down her spine.
Pan looked at the book on her desk to hide a scowl. She had fought a Super Saiyan to the death, yet here she was, terrified of someone who reminded her of Grandma. Pathetic...
"Now, when someone passes you a dish from the other end of the table, what do you say?" asked the instructor.
"Thank you sir or ma'am," the rest of the class echoed.
Pan wanted to groan, was this class seriously a thing? Grandpa, mom, dad, where in the world were they and why weren't they rescuing her from this torture?
Gohan, Goku, and Videl all of the sudden stopped and sneezed after exiting a portal back into the portal room.
Goku rubbed his nose. "Huh, weird. Wonder what that was."
Both Gohan and Videl shrugged before following Shin and Vegeta into the next portal.
Pan tiredly walked back to her room, feeling brain-dead after that class. That was more draining then training all day at times thirty Kaio-Ken back in the time chamber. Pan swore to herself, never again would she go through something like that...
"Where do you think you're going missy?" said Bata.
Pan winced and turned her head, "Uh... bed? I think I'll skip dinner."
"Oh no you don't, were volunteering to help prepare food for the monastery for dinner," said Bata.
Pan frowned. "Why?"
"Because YOU need to get back into Abbot Sawa's good graces," said Bata.
Pan scowled. "I don't..."
"Now Pan!" warned Bata.
Pan winced again. "Okay okay okay... lead the way."
The one good thing about making food for other people was getting to sample it yourself first. Pan decided that would be her excuse for having helped out with dinner. There were deserts and pastries here that didn't exist on Earth. And they were amazing.
"Okay Pan, now that everything is set, let's start delivering to the dinning hall," said Bata.
"Do we really have to hand all the food out to everyone?" asked Pan.
"I'll handle most people along with the other low classes, YOU are going to go serve Abbot Sawa," said Bata.
Pan frowned. "Excuse me?"
Bata gave her a temper fueled look. "Now Pan!"
Pan stared her in the eye, working up the courage she wondered if she could ever replicate against Grandma. "No."
Bata blinked a few times. "No?"
Pan turned and walked out of the kitchen without another word. No way would she ever do anything for that Abbot asshole after learning what he had done to Bata, and probably who knows how many other people. If she knew where he had his whip, she'd rather strangle him with it instead. Pan walked along the halls quietly, ignoring the other people she passed along the way, and returned to her room. She laid down on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. There was a creak followed by the opening of the door and the patter of a certain girl's footsteps.
"Pan, why are you acting like this all of the sudden?" asked Bata.
Pan looked over at her. "If you don't know, I don't think I can really explain it to you."
"Try me," said Bata.
"Where I come from, you don't get whipped for a little backtalk," spat Pan.
Bata blinked a few times. "Where you come from...?"
"Wait, do you remember now?" asked Bata.
Pan sighed. "I never forgot, I just didn't want to have to explain it."
Bata's eyes went wide. "P-pan! Deceiving Abbot Sawa, deceiving the Lady Magistrate, those are heavy crimes!"
"You're not listening to me Bata!" shouted Pan.
Bata went quiet.
"People don't hurt eachother because of little things like what you did, that's beyond stupid! You might get scolded and have to do a few extra chores, but that's it. If you're doing something wrong, people should help you learn, not kami-damn whip you for it! You're just a kid!" said Pan furiously.
"Does... it really offend you that much that I was punished?" asked Bata, a little confused.
"Yes!" answered Pan.
"Oh... um...," stammered Bata, not sure what to say.
"This place is all sorts of wrong. It mixes in the really good, willing to take care of hurt strangers, with the really really bad, whipping little girls because they talked back or were a little rude," said Pan.
"People acting like they are so superior to 'lesser classes', there were some things like that back home, but nothing like this, it's wrong!" said Pan.
"Terra had its excuse for what was wrong with it! It was being destroyed by the Saiyans, people were being killed! What's this world's excuse? The 'divine' word of some alien? There's nothing divine about coming out of space and murdering billions of people!" said Pan furiously.
"Pan...," Bata spoke quietly.
She looked a lost and confused by Pan's outburst. "Just... promise me you won't do anything dangerous, please?"
Pan looked up at the ceiling. "Go to sleep Bata."
Bata looked conflicted, but slowly, she left the room.
"When I meet this 'Lord Kojin', you'll see," murmured Pan, doing her best to try to go to sleep...