A/N: I'm glad I designated Chapter 14 as the anniversary chapter, as I wasn't able to write this until now :D. I'd like to encourage people to leave tougher reviews, as I know this story has holes, and I need to be made aware of the ones I'm not seeing.

Nevertheless, I'm quite happy with the results so far. I started this story with only the intention of writing a good Trunks/Pan story, following the canon as closely as possible(some of the GT inconsistencies especially made it hard), and modifying some of the elements that I found in some of the better interpretations of the series.

This story has grown to have a life of its own, and it is my hope that it will grow into a viable "after GT" saga that could have been published and animated.

Lauraneato has been the guiding light that has kept this story moving and has helped to refine it at various points, and as such I'm naming her my honorary second muse for this. Continuous special thanks, Laura!

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball/DBZ/GT

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Chapter 15

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So the legend was wrong...we've been living a lie this whole time.

Trunks was abstracted, turning the stunning revelation around in his mind, trying to see all the angles. He started out the viewing window, not registering the view of the stars passing by as the prototype rocketed back to Earth.

At first glance, the knowledge that the Saiyan race's power had been boosted by the infusion of new blood by an unknown alien species millennia ago seemed irrelevant, but Trunks knew that it wasn't. Every event in the universe is caused by other events. Nothing is truly disordered...merely misunderstood. Trunks thought about how Goku, Gohan and his father had struggled to find the latent power within them, many times fruitlessly. As father said, they had been going about it all wrong. They'd been trying to advance and become more sophisticated, but the sleeping power within them was primal and savage. The more the Saiyans tried to rationalize the power, the further they were from the true essence of it.

"Father, does this mean that there was never a 'Super-Saiyan'?" Trunks asked the meditative Vegeta.

The older Saiyan flicked a hand in a dismissive gesture. "That he existed is fact. That he should be called a 'Super-Saiyan' is questionable. That there is a 'Super-Saiyan' destined to rise every three-thousand years is purest nonsense."

Trunks frowned. "So there's no chance that you, Goku or Gohan could be the legendary one?"

Vegeta snorted. "It's all random. If my Father had been a Super-Saiyan, and defeated Frieza, then he would have been declared to be the 'Legendary Super-Saiyan.'" The older Saiyan looked thoughtful for a moment. "If any of us could have been the Super-Saiyan of legend, it would have to be either Gohan or you. Gohan's power doesn't seem to have a known limit, and neither does yours."

"What about Goten?"

Vegeta laughed harshly. "He was certainly powerful, but your brother in all but name is not nearly as savage or cunning as you." He paused, seeming to consider something. "I take back what I said before. Gohan's hidden power is the closest thing we have to what was likely to be our ancestors' abilities. If the legend had been real, Gohan would have been the one."

Trunks took a moment to digest that. "So, we forget our heritage as Saiyans?" He asked disbelievingly.

Vegeta made a sharp negation gesture. "Regardless of how our people forgot about those who came before us, we must not make the same mistake. We will remember ALL of our ancestors, both Saiyan and the great warrior race that was forgotten. We honor their triumphs, while still recognizing their faults."

A silence fell between them as both were deep in thought. Trunks idly glanced at the controls to check their time until arrival. The computer calculated that they were just over two and a half hours away from Earth. I have all I need, now. I should get Marron and go, tomorrow.

"I want your word on something," Vegeta said suddenly. "You will not reveal anything that happened here today. Not about our race, not your transformation...not even what I said about Pan. Also, you will not use the final transformation in any battle unless there is no other choice, and only if you are absolutely certain you understand your opponent's abilities completely."

Trunks couldn't believe what he was hearing. "I have a tail, now. People are going to notice that," The younger Saiyan pointed out. "Also, my power is much higher than before. It's going to be nearly impossible to conceal that I can become a forth level Super-Saiyan."

Vegeta frowned at him. "Extremely difficult, but not impossible. And you will have to do it. You'll have to keep your power suppressed, and you'll have to be careful not to show too much of abilities. In short, you'll have to act like Kakkarot when he's going incognito. I will not allow you to go if you do not give me your word to keep this secret."

Trunks sighed. He could already guess how much trouble this was going to cause, but his father was making sense. During their hunt for the black star dragonballs, many of the planets would never have allowed them to land if they knew that the three of them could easily lay waste to their worlds in relatively short order. Dr. Myuu might have had quite a different welcoming committee waiting for them on M2 if he'd known how powerful they really were.

"My word. I won't tell anyone about this. I'm only pledging not to reveal this until I come back, though," Trunks added. "My children deserve to know the truth about their heritage."

Vegeta relaxed. "Fine." His lip curled in his usual smirk. "Speaking of children, the capsule I gave you makes you infertile for three years." Trunks felt his jaw drop, and he could see a dark amusement in his father's eyes as a result. "Your mother and I didn't think you could keep your hands off of Pan for the entire journey, and I'm sure a child would be an unwelcome liability should some 'accident of judgment' occur." The older Saiyan reached into his armor vest and pulled out the thin container the nanobot capsules were in. He handed the case to Trunks. "The rest of these are the same as what I gave you. We only had enough time and resources to make eight."

Trunks opened the case to give his hands something to do while he tried to suppress a rising blush. Did he have to be so blunt about it? He thought plaintively. He noted that there was space inside for ten medicine capsules, but there were only five inside. Ok, two got used today...where's the third?

"What are you planning on doing with Marron, given her instability?" Vegeta asked unexpectedly.

Trunks blinked at the change of topic. "I don't know yet. I don't even know what the problem is."

Vegeta made a displeased sound. "She may have the blood of that bitch 18 in her, but she's not like us. She wouldn't willingly risk her neck the way she has without the most powerful of motivations."

Trunks considered his father's assertion. He was again impressed with his father's ability to see a problem from a strategic angle. What would it take to make Marron "willing" to put her life on the line? "Desire or fear," Trunks answered absently.

Vegeta nodded approvingly. "A vague answer, but all motivation boils down to those two categories. Which do you think it is?"

Trunks thought about Marron's outburst at Capsule Corp. He clearly recalled her burning anger, bitterness and the bizarre look of longing on her face when he interrupted her daydream. Absent had been the kind of raw terror his father was suggesting until he'd mentioned Bebi. "It's not fear. She wants something in that other dimension."

Vegeta's eyes were narrow, but he offered no comment. Trunks took it as a nod to his insight, as the recalcitrant Prince rarely praised him when he accomplished something. Trunks shortcomings never received the silent treatment, however.

The silence stretched on, and before long, Trunks found himself nodding off. Before he could fall asleep in the cockpit, he made his way to one of the ship's sleeping rooms and dozed off, fully clothed.

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When the alarm sounded, warning the passengers of Earth's approach, Trunks shook off his impromptu nap and made his way back to the cockpit. Vegeta was elsewhere, apparently expecting the younger Saiyan to the legwork required to land the prototype. Trunks wasn't surprised, and even enjoyed flying the incredible machine back through the atmosphere in a controlled glide back to West City.

Vegeta returned to the cockpit soundlessly, dressed in jeans and a tee-shirt. It was clear from his body language that he was done "working" for the day. I bet Mom will love that… Trunks thought idly, knowing that his temperamental mother would be upset that her husband was probably going to take a few days off. When he looked again, though, his father's eyes were sharp and alert.

Trunks frowned as he absently landed the sleek black fighter at their home. Other than the sleepiness that followed his transformation, he felt energized and focused…almost jittery. He remembered his new tail, and the fact that he hadn't changed out of the Saiyan fighting suit his father had given him. This is not going to be easy to hide, Trunks thought glumly.

The two Saiyans disembarked, and Trunks absently capsulated the prototype. He shaded his eyes from the early afternoon sun. Tomorrow…hard to believe how fast two days went. He stretched, noting with distaste that he was covered with dried sweat, dirt and even some blood. He thought about heading off to the shower, but he settled for pulling off the space mercenary armor breastplate.

A light female voice called to them. "Trunks! Vegeta! Welcome back!"

Vegeta smirked as Bulma came to greet them. Trunks noticed that she was rather light on her feet, given her age. "Mom took the first capsule, didn't she?" He asked his father quietly.

Vegeta chuckled darkly. "She took one more than ten years ago. I'm surprised you didn't notice anything."

"How did it go?" The Lavender-haired inventor asked when she reached them.

Vegeta scowled slightly. "Your theory panned out," the older Saiyan grumbled. "Leave it to an Earth woman to discover the truth of our race's oldest legend."

Trunks' mom beamed at the compliment. She turned away from her husband and directed a glare at her son. "Now you be careful. You're not invincible, even with that tail of yours," She scolded him "I want you back in one piece, young man, and preferably married!"

Trunks grinned at her. "I'll see what I can do," he answered flippantly. When his mother's glare turned lethal, he held up his hands quickly. "I meant about getting married!" he added hastily.

Bulma's glare softened. "You'd better have!" She said without much less heat. She unexpectedly grinned. "If a shy and overprotected kid like Gohan can get an acceptable wife, you don't have any excuse," she asserted with laughter in her voice.

Trunks chuckled. "I suppose I don't have an excuse, when you put it that way." Trunks had a mental image of Gohan and Videl running around in those dorky costumes, making complete fools of themselves. "But I don't have a secret identity and a costume that's 'A super fit!'" The younger Saiyan said as he was doubled up with laughter, parroting Gohan's voice as "Saiyaman."

"Trunks!" Bulma admonished her son. She tried to look stern, even as she fought not to laugh herself. "That's not nice to make fun of poor Gohan!" A smile was creeping across her face, however.

"Tell me good citizens, have you seen anyone breaking the law lately?" Trunks continued to mimic Gohan's overly dramatic and excessively masculine Saiyaman voice. "Because if you have, I am here to put an end to their evil ways!"

Bulma was convulsed with laughter, but surprisingly, Vegeta looked grim. "Stop this immediately! This behavior is beneath you, and Gohan is undeserving of your mockery!" The older Saiyan said angrily.

Trunks stopped his recitation of the event, and looked his father over carefully. "I see someone is having a pang of conscience," Trunks said bitingly, realizing that his father was remembering the events at the Cell Games. "You could just apologize to him, you know."

His father gave him a death glare. "We wouldn't be here today if not for him. You would do well to remember that."

"I seem to recall that you said something like 'we honor their triumphs, while still recognizing their faults,' earlier today, didn't you?"

Vegeta looked taken aback, slightly. "How does that apply here?" He asked with much less venom in his voice.

"It applies because I am well aware of what he's had to bear, and what he's had to do." Trunks smiled again. "That doesn't mean he doesn't have an excessive taste for cheap theatrics and a completely screwed up idea of what makes someone 'cool.' On a side note, I beat up the bank robbers that day while he was busy practicing his weirded out postures and gestures."

Bulma couldn't take it. She was rolling on the grass laughing so hard that she couldn't breathe. "Videl…was…doing…exactly the…Hahahaha!" Bulma tried to say as he continued her laughing fit. Finally, she wiped the tears from her eyes and her shaking subsided. "I was out shopping for jewels with Majin Buu when Videl showed up one day doing that!" Bulma continued, still chuckling. "Buu captured the thieves before Gohan and Videl were done with their whole routine!"

Vegeta looked mortified. "That's the last time I stand up for Kakkarot's brat," He muttered to himself. "Who knew he was just as ridiculous as his father?"

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Trunks felt better after a shower and a change of clothes. It also felt good to be home with nothing to do for once, even if it was only for a day.

Despite his father's uncharacteristic outburst, he'd been a good sport about his family's mirth. Trunks understood that his father was probably just feeling the first hints of paternal worry, and wasn't quite sure how to deal with it. His mom knew all about it, though, and was making the most of the small time they had left before his departure.

Trunks was relaxing in his room when Bra stopped by. "Hey Bro!" She said as she invited herself in. "Give me some good news! Tell me I don't have to come with you tomorrow!"

Trunks grinned as she flopped on his bed. It was big enough that she didn't manage to fall on him in the process. "Ok. Not only do you not have to come tomorrow, you can't!" He paused for effect. "How's that?" He asked impudently.

Bra mock growled at him. "It depends on the reason!"

"Pan's coming with us. No more room!" He winked at his sister.

Bra's blue eyes widened. "She is SO not!"

"Cross my heart!"

Bra looked amused. "Cross my heart and what? Hope to get laid?"