Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Eternal Treasure of Planet Vegeta ❯ Nightmare City ( Chapter 11 )

Terra hurriedly pulled her new dress over her head. It was ten to eight and she hadn't even started to get ready. After she secured her dress she ran to the dresser and started to brush her hair frantically. Grabbing a slide from the bureau, she slid it into her hair to hold the bun in place. Then she pulled out a bit of the front so it shadowed her face. Not bothering with makeup, she rinsed her face clean, patted it dry, and pulled off her earrings. Opening one of the bags from her shopping experience, she pulled out a small box containing her new earrings. They little silver hearts and bells that tinkled and they dangled down to her jawbone.

Tipping one of the bags out, she rummaged around for her new pantyhose. As soon as they were on, she removed her chipped nail polish and brushed on a light coat of clear polish. While she was blowing it hard for it to dry, she heard the doorbell ring.

"Darn it!" she cursed, slipping her feet into her matching jewelled shoes. Puffing at her hand still, she opened her new handbag and slipped in her wallet, mobile, and student card. Then she took out a tube of clear gloss and brushed it over her raspberry lips.

She checked herself in the mirror. A call came from downstairs. It was Trunks.

"TER-RA! Goten's here!"

"Coming!" she yelled back. `Have I forgotten anything?' She picked up the present she had bought for Goten and headed downstairs. Before she came down the stairs, she slowed her pace and brought it to an elegant gait.

Slowly, she descended the staircase, her hips swaying as she walked. She had a shy smile on her face. Trunks and Goten stopped talking to look at her. She walked over to them, her heels making a soft tapping noise on the tiles.

"Sorry, I was still getting ready", she said.

"I hope you didn't go through any trouble for me", said Goten politely.

"I didn't", said Terra, remembering her aching feet after five hours of shopping.

"You look very beautiful", said Goten breathlessly. "Especially in that dress".

"Thank you", she replied, smiling at the compliment. "And you look lovely." Goten blushed pink. Terra remembered her present, and she presented the small box to him.

"This is for you", she said. "To apologize for my bad behaviour to you before. I hope you like it."

Goten blushed and took the present. He carefully peeled away the paper, and was left with the box.

"What is it?" he asked. The box was bare. He eased it open, and inside was a tee-shirt. Goten held it up. It said: Feed Me!

"I thought it was fitting", said Terra modestly. Goten and Trunks both started laughing.

"Hey, I got you one too", said Terra, pulling out another bag and tossing it at Trunks. It was purple and read: Prince of Cool.

"That sums up Trunks completely", laughed Goten. Trunks pulled the shirt over his head. It looked comical over his bulky sports jacket. The grand oak clock chimed the hour, and Terra and Goten left. As soon as they were gone, Trunks dashed upstairs into his room, shut the door, and turned on his computer. Once it started up, he went to the online Orange Star student directory. Going into the senior year section, his typed in his student number, then searched the directory for Miyo.

After a period of two seconds, the computer showed two matches.

"Hmm", said Trunks, scrolling down. There were two Miyos in senior year: Tyraine Miyo and Rowe Miyo. Twins; from Panda City.

"She's not there", said Trunks. He tried the junior year, but there were no matches. The same proved true for the sophomores and freshmen. There was no person by the name of Nikaisha Miyo enrolled in Orange Star Senior High School. Trunks growled in disappointment. He closed the window and opened another one, this time going to the online telephone directory.

He typed in Miyo, Nikaisha for Satan City, and hit enter. The site searched, and came up with 0 matches. In annoyance, Trunks slapped the keyboard. As the desk groaned he suddenly remembered that of course her name wouldn't come up, because she'd be a minor and still be living with her parents. But he didn't know her father or mother's name. It would have to wait then. Miyo was a common name, and there were plenty of families named Miyo. Trunks needed more information to zero in on his target.

~

The Twilight Room was the fanciest place Goten had been in his whole life. All of the quiet elegance and refinement made him feel a bit inferior. Terra held her own, and she looked right at home.

Maybe she does this a lot, he thought. The maitre' d guided them to a table set for two on the terrace. It was lovely there; the rose creepers were in bloom and were emanating delicious smell. The waiter pulled out Terra's chair and she gracefully dropped into it. He then put two menus on their plates and left.

"This is a really nice place", said Goten. Terra, who was skimming the menu, looked up and smiled.

"Do you like it?" she asked. "My father used to bring me here on my birthday."

"Have I met your father?" asked Goten politely.

Terra raised her eyebrows. "Don't you know who my parents are?" she questioned. "Hasn't your mother told you?"

"N-o" said Goten, dragging the word. "Why, who are they?"

"I, uh, I thought you knew", said Terra, staring at her plate. Her cheeks began to colour. She twisted the napkin in her hands.

"Tell me", said Goten earnestly. "How can I get mad about it? Not unless you're my long lost sister or anything?"

"No, no", Terra assured him. "We aren't related. It just that -this is so embarrassing!"

"If it's something about your parents", Goten said gently, "I won't tell anyone if something bad happened between them."

"No, it's not like that!" said Terra, louder than she had wanted. People sitting at nearby tables turned to stare at them. "My parents -they just…"

"Why don't you want to tell me?" he asked. "I'm not going to laugh."

"Goten", she sighed. "I -I'm afraid, that if I tell you…you won't want to see me anymore."

"Yes I will", he said, taking her hand. "Just tell me."

"Well, okay". She took a deep breath and said, "My father's name is Trunks and he's the head of Capsule Corp in the future." She opened her clenched eyes to catch Goten's reaction. His mouth was hanging open, and he was staring at her.

"Is that a joke?" he whispered. She shook her head.

"See, you hate me", she said bitterly. "I knew you would."

"I -I don't understand! You're Trunks' daughter? How can that be? He's only a few years older than you!"

"I know it's strange", said Terra., withdrawing her hand from under his. "I'll understand if you think I should leave now". She got up to leave, but Goten grabbed her wrist.

"I'm not angry or anything", he said, though his voice was shaking. "I'm just shocked, that's all. I want to hear about it."

The waiter came up at them and asked them whether they were ready to order.

"I'll have no. 15", said Terra. "The chicken, please, and easy on the cream sauce."

"Uh, yeah, that sounds good", said Goten. "I'll have that too."

"Yes sir", said the waiter, bowing. As soon as he left Goten turned his stare back onto Terra. She looked very uncomfortable.

"I need a reality check", he said. "I'm on a date, with my best friend's daughter? Is that right?"

"Sounds about right", said Terra, trying to smile. "Guess you don't like me anymore."

"That's not true", said Goten. "I'm not looking at you in the same way, of course. But Terra, I really like you, and I don't want to let this spoil anything". He patted her hand and smiled at her.

"But", he continued, "I still want to know about you. How can you be Trunks' kid if you're fifteen?"

"It's kind of a freaky story", began Terra. "You see, uh, my parents and me -we don't belong in this dimension."

"What?" said Goten loudly. "What the hell do you mean?"

"Shh", Terra hushed him. "Keep it down; you don't want everyone to hear you! I'll explain; see, a quite a few years ago my mom and dad come here to fight off these androids that were terrorizing their own timeline. They came from an alternate universe in time capsules my grandma built. And while they were here, they fell in love, and they had my brother and got married. Then they went back and had me."

"But why are you guys here again?" asked Goten.

"That's something I'm worried about", sighed Terra. "We left in the dead of night, we didn't pack anything. My dad wasn't with us when we left. Mom told me he was coming later, but she didn't say when. It's been a couple of weeks, and we haven't heard anything. A few nights before we left I heard my parents fighting, and my mom crying."

"What about?"

"I couldn't hear them; my headphones were on. I didn't think it was a big deal until Dad didn't come back."

"So why come here?"

"I don't know what going on at all", said Terra in an exasperated voice. "I have no idea why we're here, or where my father is. No one will tell me anything, and I know everyone else knows! They think I'm too little; they think I'm five years old!"

She was getting so worked up that Goten was alarmed to see electric purple sparks dancing around her. Then he noticed the fine chain that was clasped around her neck.

"That's lovely", he said, trying to change the conversation. Then suddenly, he realized something great. "Terra", he said. "You're a Saiyan!"

"Yeah, I know", said Terra, looking up at him quizzically. "So what?"

"Well, I'm a Saiyan too!"

"I hate to state the obvious, Goten", said Terra sarcastically. "But, no duh!"

"I like your necklace", he said hastily. Terra looked down to the gold chain resting on her chest. She pulled the end out of her dress to reveal a pendant.

"Hey, that is cool!" said Goten. "Can I have a look?" Terra leaned over.

"I can't take it off", she explained. Goten turned it over and looked at it. It was a sparkling golden five-point star. On the bottom what an inscription in strange writing.

"What is this?" he asked. Terra shrugged and said, "I'm not sure. I've had this chain and pendant since before I could remember."

"Gosh, so it was a present?"

"No, I found it in a drawer, and I liked it so much that I was allowed to keep it. I even got matching earrings made when I got older."

~

Nikki tossed in her hospital bed. All sorts of images were running through her mind, a play-by-play of her whole life, in super fast-forward. But why was it stopping at all the bad moments in her life?

Why did it have to show her the times when she felt like her world was falling apart…

A dark hair seven year old entered her older brother's room. It was quiet and shadowy in there. Nikki could scarcely believe that this was Matt's bedroom. Only a month before it had been bright and glaring with flashy lights and rock music played really loud. But now suddenly it was all gone and over, and as Nikki quietly made her way over to the shadowy bed in the middle of the room. Her older brother was lying on the bed, his eyelashes making spidery shadows on his cheeks, and the skin on his face was paler than she'd ever seen it before. His usually gelled hair was tangled and around his head. Nikki stood silently over the bed. She didn't understand why one day, Matt simply fell over, and he didn't get up. Her mother and father hadn't told her anything, and her mother kept crying. Nikki supposed that something bad had happened, but she didn't know what or why. Nobody would tell her anything.

It seemed strange that Matt should be bedridden. He was always was rushing around to his friends houses or to school or soccer practice. He was always so alive and young and vibrant, and Nikki used to feel tired looking at him. But he always found time to spend with her, though she was eight years younger than he was, and often annoying. Matt's eyes always crinkled when he laughed, and his dimples appeared. He even had a girlfriend named Lina, who he was always talking about. She was nice too, and Nikki liked her.

Nikki felt tears sting her eyes, because she knew somehow that Matt was never going to wake up. He was going to sleep forever, and she would have to be awake without him. Maybe at night when she fell asleep, they'd meet again in dreamland. She saw Matt's soccer distinction from the year before with his full name on it: Matthew Valley Miyo. It was glowing gold in the evening sun.

"You are so impossible! Why can't you do this little thing for me? I don't ask for that much!"

"That's all you ever do, is ask. Or demand would be a better word! Spending all my hard-earned money like it's falling from the sky!"

"I work harder than you! I'm the one who has to take care of three children, including one teenager, and manage a whole house! I need everything I buy!"

"And how come everything that you buy serves you? You never get me or the children anything!"

"Get out! You can sleep in the living room!"

"This is my house, I paid for it! You go sleep in the living room!"

Nikki stood outside the door, listening to her parents bickering. Though her eyes were tearless, she felt like crying. They had been fighting almost constantly for years now. It had been so long since smiles had been on their faces that Nikki looked on to her photographs to remind her there had once been a time when they were happy. But in all the pictures when they were truly happy, there was always with them a picture of a tall boy with dark hair. It was her brother Matt, who had died seven years ago from ruptures in the skull at soccer practice.

Nikki had to marvel at their stamina though. They had been fighting once they got over the initial shock of their son's death, and they were still going hot. But Nikki knew it was only a matter of time before they decided to separate, meaning that she and her brother and sister would be split up too. As much as she loved her mother, Nikki didn't want to live only with her and the same for her father. She would miss his cool advice, and her mother's warm understanding. She sighed and returned to her room, closing the door in the hopes that it would douse her parents' voices.

"Hey Nikki, you look great!" said Tom. He was her date for the big Valentine's Day ball at school. Nikki smiled and took his hand. Tom was older than her and he had a car. She fare-welled her parents and went out on what she hoped to be the best night of her fifteen-year old life. Tom's car was shiny and glossy, and it was fast. Looking at it made her shiver. She got into the passenger seat, and Tom got into the driver's.

They took off. The roads were desolate and quiet, and a faint rustle of leaves was the only other noise. Tom drove without looking away from the road. Nikki couldn't help but grin, after all, she was with the most sought after man in the school. They kept driving, and all she could think about was the look on everyone's face when she turned up on Tom's arm. But the drive was taking longer than usual.

"Uh Tom, this isn't the way to school", she said. He flashed her his gleaming smile and didn't say anything. After a little longer, she spoke up again.

"Tom, you're going in the opposite direction. The school's the other way around".

"I'm not going to the school, baby", said Tom, looking straight forwards. Nikki looked at him. He pulled off the road and into the woods. They finally stopped when they were well into the middle of the small forest.

"What are we doing here?" asked Nikki, undoing her seatbelt. "Tom, we're going to miss the dance!"

"Who cares about the dance?" said Tom, his voice low and sultry. He leaned closer to her. "You're going to have a much better time with me babe, I guarantee it."

"W-what do you mean?"

"This is no time for words", said Tom smiling. "All I need is action. The wilder the better, know what I mean?"

"I think you should take me home Tom", she said, her voice quivering. He pressed his lips against hers, and pushing her against the door; one hand went to the back of her dress and eased the zipper down. The front of the dress fell open, and the boy's smile went from gentle to frenzied. He began to lick her neck, and she screamed. She screamed for all she was worth, but there came no answer. Nobody was there to save her.

~

Vegeta was lying in his bed. Nikki was still in hospital, and still unconscious. Bulma was there with her. The doctor had said she wasn't to come home yet, because her condition wasn't improved. Vegeta had felt like blasting her into a zillion pieces.

He stared at the ceiling, and felt the urge to blast it too. He wanted to blast everything in sight, and then stand in the ruin and scream. He felt a lump in his throat, and realized he was on the verge of tears.

`You're pathetic!', he growled in his mind. `Living on this miserable planet had made you weak and emotional. You are a weakling stuck on this shitball!' Another voice in his head protested, arguing the opposite.

`What's wrong with having emotions? They seem to have helped Kakarott in battle, that baka! I can't deny to myself that I have feelings of affection towards my brats, and their children. I used to love Bulma. What happened between us?' He wondered to himself about how his marriage had deteriorated, and realized it had been happening over the years. But he had been in love with Bulma, he had really loved her, and without a doubt she had loved him too. And she still did, but the difference now was that she only loved him and wasn't in love with him. And nor was he in love with her anymore, but mainly because together they had overcome so many obstacles and had created children, they continued to care for each other. But Vegeta would be damned before he'd admit that to anyone.

He rolled over so his face was in the pillow. Sleep overcame him and there his thoughts ran wild, uncontrolled by his consciousness.

"Vegeta! Vegeta!"

"What do you want? I have training to do!" The little Saiyan prince snapped at the girl running after him. She caught up and stopped him.

"Hey Vegeta, guess what?" Vegeta sighed. He didn't want to play games with his sister, he wanted to train. But if he didn't humour her now he'd never rid himself of her.

"What?"

"You know that bad person called Freezing or something?"

"Frieza?"

"Yeah, that one. He's come in a really big spaceship to Planet Vegeta! It just landed!" That perked interest. Vegeta turned to her sister, now giving her full attention.

"What? Why?"

"Dunno", she said, shrugging her shoulders. "But I got to see him when he came out, Vegeta, and guess what he looks like? He looks like a really big lizard, the type we used to squash in Mommy's room." She saddened, and in a quieter voice said, "Mommy is never going to come back to us, is she?"

Vegeta patted her chubby arm. He didn't know what to say to her. Their mother had been sent into space nearly a month ago. His sister was only two years old, she didn't understand at all.

"I miss Mommy", she said. "When she's away, nobody smiles anymore. Only sad faces and false laughter everywhere. Vegeta, I think we're all going to die soon, you know that? I hope I die soon, so I can be with Mommy. Will you come with me when I die?"

"Don't be silly", snapped Vegeta. He wasn't angry, more afraid at the possibility of her words. She sighed.

"I'm looking forwards to death, Vegeta. It will be salvation. Freedom." She looked up into the night's sky, full of beautiful stars. And Vegeta looked with her, and for the first time in his life noticed how beautiful they were, how steadfast and brilliant and distant.

"Like Mother", he whispered. Her hand slipped into his.

"Yes, Vegeta. Like our mother. The most precious of our people." And then the world faded, too soon for the Saiyan Princeling to understand the embedded meaning of his sister's words.

A/N: Don't own DBZ, please don't sue me. I'm trying to save money at the moment. Guess what? I had a dream the other night about eating soup that was full of moustaches. I'm very weird. I'm seriously considering professional help.

Please tell me what you thought of my new chapter, and there will be more coming up soon!!

~ Mystica!!!