Series: DBZ Rating: Pg-13 Genre: Romance/Comedy
Disclaimer: All official characters in this story are copyrighted 
their respected owners including animation studios, 
multimedia/licensing groups, and merchandising organizations.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The sun shone through the window onto the light pink flowered blanket. The shape underneath the blanket stirred then kicked it off, sending the blanket flying like a flowery wave. Pollen ran into the adjacent room and jumped onto Stamen's bed. She bounced on him for a few moments and Stamen grabbed her arm. He glared at her and she smiled.

"It's morning!" she cried and pulled away from him. She jumped off of his bed and ran out the door for Pistil's room.

"Pistil! Get up! it's morning!"

"Go away!" Pistil cried as Pollen pulled her out of the room.

"Look at how prettyful everything is! Get up Nitrate!"

"No!" Nitrate yelled.

"I'm going to strangle her," Pistil growled and Stamen laid a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sure it'll wear off soon," he said.

"What are you talking about?"

"Her excitement."

"Whatever. I'm going to take a shower."

"Come on Nitrate!" Pollen said as she knocked on the door.

"No!" Nitrate yelled as Pistil walked past the door.

"You want to look good for that girl you like, don't you? I'm going to get all clean for that cute clueless boy," she said and Pollen ran in front of her.

"How do I get the green one to like me?" she asked and Pistil smiled.

"I think he's scared of you. You've got your work cut out for you."

"But..."

"Just find out what he likes and go that route."
**********************************
"Did he say why he wanted to live here? He can, but this is just a 
little unexpected," Rion said and Dende smiled.

"I believe he's frightened," Dende replied.

"Frightened?"

"Of that child that's taken a liking to him."

"Tenrro misses him. Guess I'll have to see if he's willing to come 
down for a visit."

"How is Taro faring with that other one?"

"Pan's worried about him. She thinks that girl is too advanced for 
him. Taro's a bit...dense. I seriously don't think he knows what to 
do with girls. I mean, the only ones he's had around him are his 
relatives."

"Clarinet is afraid and Taro has no idea what to do. This will 
certainly be interesting to watch."

"My sister knows what she's doing, though. She likes that one because 
he reminds her of Grandpa. Well, I guess I'd better see if I can talk 
to him."
***************************************
Nitrate opened his door and stepped out. His pale yellow hair had 
been combed and he wore a new shirt.

"You smell nice," Pollen commented and he drew back in shock.

"Get down from there. Why did you have to get up so early anyway?" 
Nitrate asked as Pollen dropped to the floor.

"Because it's so prettyful out here."

"Is she out of the bathroom yet?"

"I dunno."

"Pistil get out of there! It's not yours!"

"All right, all right. I'm done anyway," Pistil said as she walked 
out of the room. Nitrate stared at her attire, or lack of it for a 
moment then glanced up when he heard the *click* of the bathroom door.

"Hey! You do realize that that get-up isn't going to work on that 
guy, don't you?"

"I can try, can't I? I wonder if he's awake yet. Oh well, I guess 
I'll find out."

"How come you look so nice?" Pollen asked as she lay on the floor.

"I just do. Why don't you go bug Stamen?" Nitrate asked.

"I can't. He's in there."
***********************
"Hey! Leave it alone! That's MINE. You can't eat it," Taro said as 
he took the plate from Tenrro. The child's ebony eyes blurred with 
tears, then he opened his mouth and let out a wail.

"What happened?" Pan asked as she ran into the room.

"He took my plate."

Pan picked the small child up and ran her fingers through his coarse 
black hair which had already begun to look a lot like Goku's.

"Taro you should know better."

"But it's mine."

"Taro...Clarinet, get the door please."

"He's not here, Mom."

"Then YOU get it and let Tenrro have something from your plate."

"But...all right."

Taro reluctantly handed Tenrro a piece of food from his plate then 
walked out to the hallway and opened the front door. Pistil leaned 
forward and kissed him as hard as she could in hopes of getting a 
reaction. She drew away from him and Taro blinked his eyes.

"Did you bring any food?" Taro asked.

"Is food all you think about?" Pistil asked and Taro looked down at 
the ground.

"No, but I'm hungry."

"Well then, would you like to play a game?"

"What kind of a game?"

"If you play, I'll give you some food."

"Okay. What kind of game?"

"Let's go outside and I'll explain it to you."
********************************
"Um...hi. My hand's better," Nitrate said to Toko, who had just 
opened the door. She smiled at him.

"That's good. New shirt, huh?" she asked and Nitrate flushed 
slightly.

"Well we didn't really have much. You always get up this early?"

"Yes. I'm used to it. You forget that my family takes training 
seriously so I'm used to being up early. All right, I'll pick you 
up."

Toko reached behind her and picked up Lingerie. She pushed the 
child's blue-violet hair back out of her face then turned back to 
Nitrate.

"I'm also watching her for Aunt Bra," she said. "We're getting ready 
to go over to Rion's. You can come if you want."

"Okay."

"This is a lot different from the way you were acting the other day."

"I don't feel any different from usual."

"Sounds like you've got a bit of Mother in you as well," she said.

"Who's at the door?" Gendi asked as he came up behind Toko. 
Lingerie reached for him and he took her from Toko's arms. She 
grabbed onto his black hair, which had once again grown past his 
ears and Gendi winced. Bra laughed and Gendi glanced at her.

"You look a lot like your dad and you let the women have their way, 
don't you?" she asked.

"With the stubborn group I've go, I find it a lot easier to do than 
argue."

Bra folded her arms and glared at Gendi.

"Well maybe if you didn't get so lazy..." she said and Gendi grinned.

"It's hereditary. I can't help it. Will you let go?"

"Hey you. Don't you want to see Tenrro?" Toko asked and Lingerie 
look at her.

"Pan!" she said and Toko nodded her head.

"Pan's there too. Come on. Let go of your dad's hair and we'll 
leave."

Lingerie let go of Gendi's hair and Gendi breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'll be glad when she's out of this stage," he said. "Hey. I didn't 
even notice you there."

"It's all right. It was interesting just to watch all of you," 
Nitrate said.

"New shirt? It's nice," Bra said.

"Well come on. I bet Tenrro's wondering where you are," Toko said.

"Pan," Lingerie said.

"Her too."
*****************************
"I want to stay here, Father. I don't understand the way I get when 
she's around and I don't like it. I won't disappoint you," Clarinet 
said.

"I know why you're confused. You're only part Namek. You're also 
human and Saiyen. The Saiyen part is more dominant than the human 
but you're mostly Namek," Rion said and Clarinet looked at him.

"Father, I know what I am. What do you mean? I'm not understanding 
you."

"Well, it's sorta difficult for me to explain. You see, I'm not even 
entirely sure how it works but I do know that I love Pan dearly. I 
think the way you're feeling now is how you feel when you really 
like someone."

"The way you like Fife?"

Rion smiled as he patted his son's head.

"Yes. I want you to know that you can stay here if you want. Don't 
be afraid about your feelings. It's natural. You don't have to worry 
that you're different or anything, all right?" Rion asked.

"But she's so much like Taro."

"Maybe that's why you like her."
************************
"What are you doing here?" Pistil demanded as Nitrate walked up to 
where she and Taro sat.

"I was invited. Don't you think you're moving too fast for him?" 
Nitrate asked as Pistil ran her hands underneath Taro's shirt.

"Oh I'll give him time to catch up. Maybe he'll catch on pretty 
quick."

"That's just as likely as Pollen making time with that green guy."

"What?" Pollen asked and Nitrate stared at her.

"What are you doing here?" he asked and Pollen shrugged her 
shoulders.

"I don't know. Stamen got boring so I came after you two. What are 
you doing?"

"She'll give me food if I let her do this," Taro said as Pistil ran 
her hands over his shoulders.

"What kind of food?"

"I dunno."

"Pistil..."

"Why don't you go bug the green kid?" Pistil asked and Taro looked 
at her.

"He's not a kid. He's my brother. He's up at Kami's," he said.

"Where's that?" Pollen asked.

"You don't know?"

"No."

"Toko!"

"What do you want?" Toko asked as she walked into the doorway with 
Tenrro running after her.

"Can you take her to Kami's?" Taro asked.

"What?"

"Please."

"Why don't you?"

"'cause I'm busy."

"No argument there. Why is your hair so springy?" Pistil asked as 
she ran her fingers over his coarse black hair. Taro flushed as 
Pistil ran her fingers down his ears.

"All right, all right. I'll take her there. You're busy, I can 
tell," Toko said.

"Huh?" Taro asked.

"Never mind. Come on."

"Where are we going?" Pollen asked.

"To Kami's," Toko replied.

"Okay."
***********************
"Guess I'd better go back to Earth. I'm sure Pan's wondering about 
me. You sure you'll be happy here?" Rion asked as Clarinet picked 
up a momento that had belonged to Piccolo.

"I'm sure Father. I'll train really hard too. I'll control the 
strength that comes from this," Clarinet said as he wagged his tail.

"You've gotten better at controlling your strength. You're not like 
you were when you were younger."

"True. I learned a lot from Grandpa and Goku and Uncle Piccolo."

"Excuse me, Clarinet..." Dende said as he stepped into the doorway 
of Piccolo's old room.

"What is it?" Clarinet asked.

"There's someone here that wants to see you."

"There is?"

"Yay! I get to see you!" Pollen cried as she embraced him.

"How'd she get up here?" Rion asked as Clarinet tried to push her 
away.

"Your sister," Dende replied.

"Wow, so this is where you're going to live?" Pollen asked.

"How's Pan?"

"Fine and so is Taro," Toko said.

"What's with Taro?" Rion asked.

"His admirer is a bit more advanced than the one that likes 
Clarinet."

"I see and Taro is a bit like Mother when it comes to women. Guess 
I'd better get down there before Pan finds out."

"Pan would cut into him really good. Poor Taro."

"What about poor me?" Clarinet asked.

"She's not a threat," Toko said as Pollen ran her hands down 
Clarinet's arms.

"What do you mean she's not a threat? I'm stuck."

"You can always phase out, silly."

"Oh yeah..."

"I don't think you want to have her let go of you."

"What?"

"Leave him alone, Toko," Rion said and Clarinet looked at him.

"Aren't you going to help me, Father?" he asked.

"You feel good," Pollen said. Clarinet flushed and Toko smiled.

"Just give into her. The two of you would make a wonderful couple," 
she said.
****************************
"Taro! Time to eat! WHAT is going on here?" Pan demanded as she 
walked up to where Pistil and Taro sat. The small children followed 
behind her, their eyes wide with wonder.

"Hi Mom. She promised me food if I let her do this," Taro replied.

"Taro get up right now!"

"What's the matter?"

"Just get up. You should be ashamed of yourself."

"It's not MY fault that he's cute," Pistil said as she took Taro's 
hand. "How about I feed you?"

"Okay," Taro said and Pan glared at him.

"Taro!" Pan cried.

"Oh yeah. She made lunch."

"That's not what I was talking about."

"Then she can feed me?"

"Taro, why must you be so dense? That's not what she means."

"It's not?"

"No."

"Don't you think it's about time to let him go?" Pistil asked and 
Pan looked at her.

"He's only sixteen," she replied.

"He's very beautiful."

"Taro are you going to eat or not?"

"Mom stop. You're confusing me," Taro said.

"That's not hard to do."

"Huh?"

"Not very nice of her to call you names, is it?" Pistil asked and 
Taro looked at her.

"What?" he asked.
**************************
"Dende please do something. Stop that," Clarinet said as Pollen 
pulled on his tail.

"It's real? I thought it was stuck to your pants. How'd you get it? I 
don't remember you having a tail before. Of course, Pistil says I 
don't have enough brains to remember anything but I don't think she's 
right. I remember some stuff you know," Pollen said as she ran her 
fingers over his tail.

"DENDE!"

"What do you expect me to do?" Dende asked.

"Help me," Clarinet replied.

"I'm just as unsure on women as you are. You're forgetting some of 
your origins if you turn to me for advice."

"Sorry. It's just that I want her off of me."

"You don't like me?" Pollen asked and Clarinet looked at her.

"It's not that..." he began and Pollen hugged him tightly.

"Yay!! I knew you liked me."

"I didn't say that either. Look, I've got work to do. Can't you go 
somewhere else to amuse yourself? Dende, you're free, aren't you?"

"ME?! Um...actually I have to go categorize my clothing," Dende said.

"How can you? You always wear the same type of clothes."

"Then maybe it's time for a change."

"Hey! Don't run out on me Dende!"

"Why don't they stay up?" Pollen asked as she pushed Clarinet's 
antennae up.

"Because they don't. They never have. Now come on. Let me go," 
Clarinet said.

"How come that other one's darker than you?"

"I come from mixed blood."

"Huh?"
****************************
Stamen leaned against the wall and sighed. For once it was quiet 
and he wasn't complaining. He wondered how the ones his siblings 
had chosen were faring as he picked up a book. The need for romance 
seemed to consume them and he was happy that they had all found 
someone to admire.

"It gets them out of my way," he said as he gazed out the window. 
The telephone rang and he answered it.

"Hello? Hi. How did you know I was here? Oh. Pistil. I should have 
known that? Is she being annoying? I can take care of that. What? 
You want my help? All right, I'll be right over there."

He hung up the phone and brushed back his pale flaxen hair. He 
didn't know why Bra wanted his help but he was glad that he had 
something to do. He had become tired of the silence.

He missed Pollen, which surprised him. He missed what he had once 
thought was highly annoying. Pollen, from the day they had opened 
their eyes had held a light that the others could not comprehend.

"I guess it's true," he said to himself. "That we all reflect who we 
were patterned after. I got the cool sensibility of a Namek. I don't 
fault it. Someone needs to keep them in line."
********************************
"Do you want to hold her? She's very calm," Toko said as Lingerie 
watched Nitrate with her hand in her mouth.

"What about the boy? Is he calm?" Nitrate asked.

"Tenrro? He's too much like Goten. Plus, he adores Taro."

"Okay, you've told me enough. She looks sort of like you."

"She looks more like my aunt. What happened to you?"

"Mom and that girl got in a fight over me. I hate when people argue," 
Taro said then glanced at the back door.

"Where are you going?" Toko asked.

"Out."

"Out where?"

"I don't have to tell you!"

"The similarities are amazing," Nitrate said and Toko looked at him.

"What are you talking about?" she asked.

"The similarities between him and Pollen."

"Boy, those two are really going at it. Where's Taro?" Rion asked as 
he came into the room.

"He left. I don't know where he went," Toko said.

"Great. Well, I guess I'd better get Pan calmed down first then I'll 
look for Taro."

"I think I know where he went."

"I think I know too. At least Clarinet will be happy to see him. 
Guess I'd better get those two separated."
********************************
"Leave him alone!" Taro cried as he landed on the lookout.

"What's the matter?" Clarinet asked as he pushed Pollen away.

"They're fighting."

"No way. Father just left."

"Not Dad. Mom and that girl."

"Pistil's fighting again," Pollen sighed and Clarinet looked at her.

"What are they doing?" Clarinet asked.

"Fighting over who gets to feed me. That's silly, isn't it? Plus, 
I'm still hungry," Taro said.

"There's gotta be food up here. I mean, Goku and Gohan came up here 
an awful lot."

"Hey yeah, you're right. Where's Dende?"

"He's here somewhere."

"Dende where's the food? I'm hungry!"
*******************************
"Pan calm down, will you? I don't see that she's done any harm," Rion 
said and Pan glared at him.

"YOU don't see that she's done any harm? You're just as dense as he 
is, aren't you?" Pan demanded.

"Don't you think it's time he learned about girls?"

"Not that kind. I don't care what she does or where she goes but I 
don't want her around my Taro!"

"Pan, Taro's not even here."

"What?"

"You know how he gets about arguments. He left."

"Now see what you did?"

"What I did? Excuse me, but he's not a child any more. He's not the 
child you once held in your arms. He's grown up," Pistil said.

"He still needs me. He can't fend for himself," Pan replied as she 
tried not to cry.

"He can do that already," Rion said and Pan looked at him.

"But..."

"She's right. You've just got to accept it."

"Rion, he's my only son. I just can't give him up to someone like 
her."

"And what's so wrong with me?" Pistil asked. "He's a lot better off 
with me than he would be with Pollen. Besides, that's just an excuse 
and I'm not buying that. You're just afraid, aren't you? Afraid that 
I'm right. You can't hold onto him forever. It just doesn't work that 
way."
*******************************
"I wish you wouldn't hang onto me," Clarinet said as he pulled his 
robe out of Pollen's grasp.

"But I like you," Pollen said.

"I need to train. You can stay if you'd just sit down and watch and 
be quiet."

"Okay. I can be quiet even though Stamen doesn't think I can."

Clarinet sighed as he sat down and closed his eyes. If she were a 
little less like his brother in her mental capacity, he'd like her a 
lot better.

Pollen watched him for a moment, then stood up. She quietly left the 
room and walked over to where Taro sat eating.

"Why doesn't he like me?" Pollen asked and Taro glanced at her.

"He doesn't know how to express it. He's funny that way. Pass the 
rice please," Taro said.

"This?"

"Yeah. Thanks."

"So how do I get him to like me? I really like him."

"I dunno. Why does your sister act the way she does?"

"Because she's Pistil."

"Boy that cleared a lot up."

"I'm sorry. Being specific isn't my strong point."

"Hey take it easy Taro. Mr. Popo just restocked the kitchen," Dende 
said as he came into the room.

"Sorry. I just was really hungry. I didn't get to eat because my mom 
and that girl were fighting," Taro said.

"I guess I'd better go home. I'd only get in the way here," Pollen 
said and walked out of the room.

"Dende, why are girls so confusing?"

"I don't know, Taro. Women is not a strong suit with us Nameks,"
Dende replied.

"Why is that? Wait, I know why."
***********************************
"Stamen? Where are you? Hey...no one's here. Where is everyone? 
Pistil's over at that guy's house...Nitrate? Are you here?" Pollen 
asked as she looked around the house. She sighed as she sat on the 
floor. What was she supposed to do now?

"How do I get him to like me?" she asked.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Nitrate asked as he stepped into 
the room.

"Where have you been?" Pollen asked.

"With Toko. Get out of my way, will you?"

"Do I get in everyone's way?"

"Sometimes. I bet Stamen enjoyed his day without you. This house was 
quiet for once. Hey, I wasn't serious."

"I was just a mistake, wasn't I? I wasn't supposed to be this way, 
was I?"

"Hey where are you going?"

"I don't know and you'd better not try to follow me!"

"Idiot."
*********************************
"Boy today was sure interesting. How did you make out with the 
girl?" Pistil asked as she walked into the room.

"Fine. She knows how things are supposed to go," Nitrate said as 
Stamen opened the door.

"Where have you been? Did you find someone to talk to?"

"I've been working," Stamen replied as he looked around.

"It's awfully quiet. Where's Pollen?"

"Yeah...I didn't get grabbed or anything when I came in the house. 
Where IS she?" Pistil asked.

"She ran off," Nitrate replied.

"What did you do this time?"

"I didn't do anything. She said she must have been a mistake and ran 
off."

"Where did she go?" Stamen asked.

"I don't know. She told me not to follow her."

"And you listened to her?"

"I didn't think she was serious."

"Well she was. I probably should go look for her."

"Leave her alone. She'll come back when it gets dark," Pistil said 
and Stamen looked at her.

"It's dark now," he said and Pistil shrugged her shoulders.

"There goes that theory," she said.

"I'm going to go look for her."

"I'm going to bed. Keeping my body perfect is hard work, you know."

"What about you?" Stamen asked and Nitrate looked at him.

"What about me?" he asked.

"Are you staying here or are you coming along?"

"I don't know. I suppose I should take a shower so I can look really 
good for tomorrow...hey!"

"There went that idea. So, are you coming along?"
**********************************
Pollen ran into a small cave and peered around. She sighed as she 
sat on a large rock.

"There's not much here, but it will have to do. This is home now 
and...and Stamen won't have to worry about me being annoying!" she 
cried loudly then stopped in shock as the rock that she sat on began 
to twitch. She quickly hopped off and stared at the rock.

"It's breaking! Wait a minute...it's not a rock. It's an egg! 
Um...hello? Whatever you are in there...you're not going to eat me, 
are you?"

The egg cracked more and tiny claws pushed bits of the shell off. 
Pollen stared in amazement as a head appeared and shook more of the 
eggshell off its body. A tiny dinosaur crawled out of the shell and 
Pollen fell down on her knees and stared at the baby.

"Hey...you don't have anyone to take care of you, do you? That's 
sad. I've got Stamen and the others to look after me, even though 
they're mean about it sometimes. Gee, I guess even though I'm a 
mistake you could come live with us. I'm sure they'll let you. 
But...you need a name. Gee, I've never had to come up with names 
before. I wonder what I should call you."

The dinosaur chirped and Pollen smiled.

"You make a squeaky noise. I'll call you Squeak. Guess we'd better 
go home. Hey...it's dark. We can't go home. I don't know where we 
are. I want Stamen!"
***************************
Clarinet stood in the mouth of the cave and blinked his eyes. He was 
unsure as to why he came to this particular cave, but he really felt 
sorry for her.

"I wasn't trying to upset you. It's just...I've never felt anything 
like this before," he said and Pollen looked at him.

"I don't mean to be annoying. I really don't," Pollen said as 
Clarinet entered the cave.

"I suppose I understand. It's just that I've never had anyone act 
like you before. I don't exactly know how to deal with that. I mean, 
you act sorta like my grandma and...I don't know. I always feel funny 
when she touches me but I kind of like the feeling," he said and 
Pollen stared at him.

"Like how I like you?" she asked. "I don't know why, but I think 
you're really nice."

Clarinet's face grew red and the dinosaur chirped.

"Hey there. How are you? It looks like it just hatched."

"His name is Squeak and he did just hatch. He's all alone so I'm 
gonna have him live with me."

"Well then, how about I take you home?"

"'Kay. I hope I don't get yelled at. I don't like it when Stamen 
yells."

"Pick the dinosaur up and let's go. Oh. Take my hand and close your 
eyes. I want you to picture your home because I have no idea where 
you live."
***********************
"Where have YOU been?" Pan asked as Taro walked past the living 
room.

"Kami's. I had a really good lunch," Taro replied.

"How's Clarinet?" Rion asked.

"Okay but he got that girl mad. She left."

"What girl?" Pan asked.

"That one girl that everyone says acts like me," Taro replied. "I 
got tired and came home. You didn't get that other girl really mad, 
did you?"

"I don't think so. She wants to come back," Rion said and Pan 
snorted. 

"I don't trust her," she said.

"She's harmless," Rion said.

"Not with my Taro she isn't!"

"Pan, you're overreacting."

"I am NOT overreacting!"

"Stop it! Stop fighting!" Taro cried as he tried not to cry. "If 
she wants to come over here, she can. I can think for myself."

"Are you sure?" Pan asked and Taro stared at her.

"All I am is a little kid, huh? That's all anyone sees me as. Even 
Grandpa said I wasn't a Saiyen. You all don't believe in me!"

"Calm down, Taro," Rion said and stood up.

"I'm not putting up with this any more! I'm leaving!" Taro cried and 
ran out of the house.

"Why didn't you stop him?!" Pan demanded and Rion looked at her.

"Why? Because he'll come back. It's Taro."
***************************
"Hey...no one's here again," Pollen said as she placed a hand on 
Clarinet's waist.

"You can let go of me," he said as Pistil walked out of the bathroom.

"Pistil!!" Pollen cried and ran towards her. Pistil screamed as 
Pollen knocked her to the ground.

"Get off of me!" she yelled as Pollen embraced her. Squeak ran up 
and began tugging on Pistil's towel. "What is that?! Get it away 
from me!"

"I'm so glad to see you!"

"My towel! IT ATE MY TOWEL! Don't you DARE look at me!"

"Why would I want to?" Clarinet asked and Pistil's face grew red.

"Don't you have any interest in women?!" Pistil demanded and 
Clarinet shrugged his shoulders.

"Not especially."

"You smell pretty," Pollen said as Pistil tried to push her away.

"Quit sniffing me! Now that thing is licking me! Help!" Pistil 
cried as Stamen opened the front door.

"What's going on in here?" he asked and Clarinet bowed low.

"I found her and returned her to you. Now I must leave," he said and 
disappeared.

"Where's your towel?" Nitrate asked.

"That thing ate it! Get her off of me!"

"Stamen! I'm so sorry I ran off!" Pollen cried as she ran over to 
him.

"I'm getting dressed," Pistil said and stood up. Stamen took off 
his shirt and handed it to her.

"Here. It's not much but at least it will cover," he said and Pollen 
tugged on his pants leg.

"Can I wear one of your shirts too?" she asked.

"What is that thing?" Nitrate asked.

"His name is Squeak and you're not gonna be mean to him."

"Where did you get him?"

"I found him and I'm gonna keep him 'cause he's all alone."

"I don't want that thing around me!" Pistil cried as she slammed 
her bedroom door.

"I think she's mad because you ate her towel," Pollen said and the 
dinosaur looked at her.
***************************
"I'm glad you're back," Dende said as Clarinet appeared at the 
lookout. "Your father is here."

"What happened?" Clarinet asked as Rion stood up.

"Taro's run off," Rion said.

"Why?"

"He's sick of Pan treating him like a child."

"Yeah...she sort of overdoes that. Taro can't really change the way 
he is."

"You've got a point there. Where were you earlier?"

"I found that girl and took her home. Taro said I made her upset."

"The one that acts like Taro?"

"Yeah. I wasn't able to concentrate so I got mad with her. I was 
trying to meditate and she wasn't helping anything."

"So you were concerned about her."

"Well, she's new to earth and I didn't want anything happening to 
her."

"I see."

"Why? Do you think there's more than what I'm saying?"

"I'm just trying to understand your feelings. I don't really know 
that much about how boys and girls react to each other and 
you...you're a completely different story."

"I know I am. There no one else in the universe like me."

"And that's all right. Come on, let's go find your brother."
****************************
" I want to be as great as you and my great-grandpa," Taro said as he 
laid his hands on the headstone of Gohan's grave.

He glanced around at the graves of his relatives and sighed. He
wished he could speak with them like he could in the past. He wished that
his only living grandfather was on earth so that he could speak with him.

But he was the one that had first lost faith in Taro. He was the one
that Taro felt that he needed to prove himself to the most.

"If only someone could show me but there's no one left. They're all
in Other World. If only there was some way I could go there. Maybe 
Aunt Bra can help me."

"Taro, what are you doing here? Does Pan know?" Bra asked and Taro 
stood up.

"Can you help me?" Taro asked.

"I sure wish Trunks had decided to stay here. I really do miss
everyone. Oh, what do you need help with?"

"I want to be strong. Just as strong as your dad. I'm sick and tired
of people treating me like a little kid. I may not be as smart as
Clarinet but I try. It's not my fault I'm not like him. Can...can I have a 
ship so I can train in space? Or maybe I should just go and visit Uncle 
Shin. He helped Grandpa Gohan get stronger. Maybe he can do the same 
thing for me."

"Don't go rushing into things, Taro."

"I'm NOT rushing into things!"

"There she is," Gendi said as he set Lingerie on the ground.

"Mommy!" she cried as she ran over to Bra. Bra picked her daughter
up and hugged her.

"Hey. What are you doing here?" Gendi asked.

"Getting ready to travel," Taro replied as he moved away from his 
grandfather's grave.

"Where are you going?"

"To Uncle Shin's."

"That's a long ways away."

"I know."

"Does your father know you're going there?"

"What do you think? Do you want to put some flowers on my father's 
grave, dear?" Bra asked and Lingerie nodded her head.

"So what brought all this about?" Gendi asked.

"I want to become stronger," Taro replied.

"Pan was getting onto him again," Bra said and Lingerie looked at her.

"Pan," she said and Bra nodded her head.

"That's right, dear. Pan. Apparently Pan's not willing to realize
that he's not as young as he once was."

"No one believes that I'm anything. Even Grandpa said that I wasn't a 
real Saiyen," Taro said and Bra looked at him.

"Trunks?" she asked and Taro nodded his head.

"Yes, but now I'm going to show them all. I'm going to become strong. 
I'm going to be just like my grandparents."

"Do you think we should tell Pan about this?" Gendi asked and Bra
looked at him.

"Even though I'm not looking forward to hearing her go on about 
Taro, we probably should," she replied.
*****************************
Taro landed at the Supreme Kai's and collapsed on the floor from 
exhaustion. The Supreme Kai ran out of his office and knelt beside 
him.

"Taro?! What are you doing here? What's going on?" he asked as he 
helped Taro up.

"Please, let me train here. I want to get really strong. Don't send 
me back. I want to learn," Taro said and knelt before the Supreme Kai.

"Very well, but let me take care of something first. Please, wait 
here," the Supreme Kai said and went back into his office. He shut 
the door and closed his eyes.

"Rion, I'd like you to come here as soon as possible. Taro is here," 
he said.

"How in the world did he manage that?" Rion asked and Clarinet 
looked at him.

"Manage what, Father?" he inquired.

"Taro is at the Supreme Kai's. He doesn't know Goku's Instant 
Transmission technique. How did he get there?"

"He must have flown. Are we going there?"

"We'd better. If I don't come back with some news, Pan will kill me."

"She'd just yell at you a lot, Father. She wouldn't actually kill 
you."

"I know that."
***************************
"Dad? What are you doing here? If you've come to take me home, I'm 
not going," Taro said as he folded his arms.

"Your mother is extremely worried about you," Rion said and Taro 
frowned.

"So what? I'm not a baby any more. I'm going to do it. Maybe I'm not 
as serious as him but I'm going to learn and I'm going to train 
hard."

"You're determined," Clarinet said and Taro nodded his head.

"I want to be just as great as my grandparents. I want to prove 
myself to Grandpa."

"You don't have to prove yourself to Father, Taro," Rion said and 
Taro looked at him.

"Yes I do. He said I wasn't a real Saiyen," he said.

"When did he say that?"

"When that...that thing had killed you."

"You know, it was strange being in Other World without Fife around," 
Rion said as he glanced at Clarinet.

"The two of you really didn't get any time together, did you?" 
Clarinet asked and Rion smiled ruefully.

"It's just as well. You know how Pan gets about that."

"I never thought that fair. Fife knew you first."

"True, but Grandpa could deal with Pan a lot easier than he could 
deal with Fife. Well it looks like Taro is pretty determined to stay 
here."

"I can see that. I suppose I should set up some sort of lodging for 
you," the Supreme Kai said.

"It doesn't need to be a great big room," Taro said.

"Father, before we go back to earth, can we see him?" Clarinet 
inquired.

"I don't know if we should. You know how he gets with me. Plus, Pan 
gets awfully suspicious," Rion said. 

"Do you not care for him the way you used to?" Clarinet asked and 
Rion swallowed nervously.

"No. I do. I really do, but I can't..." Rion said, his voice 
trailing off.

"Why not? I'd really like to see you two together again. You've 
allowed Taro to grow up with his parents and yet I...I never did. 
Fife was dead by the time I was allowed to come to earth."

"Apparently he's been dwelling on these feelings for quite some time 
now," the Supreme Kai observed and Rion nodded his head.

"He's always had a complex about the nature of his birth."

"I heard Dende's thinking about retiring."

"But where are they going to get another guardian?"

"If I can't see him, then why are we wasting our time here?" 
Clarinet asked and Rion sighed.

"What's with you? You're usually not so difficult," he said.

"I've put up with an awful lot, Father. I don't see why we can't 
visit him."

"Both of you stop this fighting!" Taro demanded and Rion looked at 
him.

"Taro if you're going to train, you need to learn not to get so 
angry," he said.

"I'm sorry but I hate arguments. I always have."

"Yes, you have. You're right, Clarinet. Life hasn't been very fair 
for you. We'll pay Other World a short visit before we go back to 
earth, okay?"
*************************
Fife glanced up and smiled. He did not know to what he attributed 
the visit to but he wasn't complaining. It had been entirely too 
long since he had spent time with Rion. He wondered what brought 
them there, but he wasn't complaining.

"To what do I owe this visit to?" Fife asked as he embraced Rion.

"Clarinet wanted to see you," Rion said. "He was very persistent. It 
amazed me."

"I just wish you two could be together more. Taro got to grow up 
with his parents. I didn't," Clarinet said as he approached Fife. 
Fife embraced him and ran a hand over his antennae.

"I'm sorry but I had to do what was needed. I chose to sacrifice 
myself for the good of everyone. Even you," Fife said and Clarinet 
sighed.

"I understand. I really do, but can't you see where I'm coming from? 
I would much rather have grown up with both of you near me."

Rion looked guiltily at Fife and Fife forced a smile.

"You can't put all the guilt on me. I can't exactly leave here," he 
said.

"You seriously think I could get away from Pan just to come here and 
see you. You don't know how upset she was when she found out I had 
another child."

Clarinet's face took on a pained expression when he thought about 
the stir he had caused when he had been brought to earth the first 
time. Fife took Rion's hand and ran his fingers over it. Rion 
glanced at him and awkwardly smiled. He noticed the glint in Fife's 
eyes and took a nervous step backward.

"Go ahead and do it. I've missed seeing you two the way you should 
be," Clarinet said and Fife folded his arms.

"Why are you so hesitant? So Pan finds out. Big deal. He is our 
child, isn't he?"

"Yes, but..." Rion said and the Namek shook his head.

"If there's one thing we asexual beings have learned, it is to never 
argue with logic."
*************************
Nitrate opened the front door and stared out at Toko. She smiled 
then bowed slightly in respect.

"May I speak to your sister?" she asked.

"Which one?" he inquired.

"Pollen why is it eating my things?!" Pistil cried and Toko pointed 
in the direction of Pistil's voice.

"That one. Please move," she said and ran her fingers through his 
silken hair. Nitrate flushed for a few moments then stepped out of 
her way.

"Hey. What brings you here?" Stamen asked as Toko entered the house.

"Someone should teach you some manners. Stop that," Pistil said as 
the dinosaur came over and affectionately licked her hand.

"He likes you," Pollen said.

"None of you have seen Taro recently, have you?" Toko asked and 
Pistil looked at her.

"I was going to see him today if that lizard would stop eating my 
things," Pistil said and Pollen stood up defiantly.

"He's not a lizard! He's a dinosaur!" she cried and Stamen sighed.

"Whatever he is, he needs to be trained. He shouldn't be eating 
Pistil's clothes," he said and Pollen lowered her head.

"You're right. I'm sorry. We need to teach you some manners, Squeak!"

"So no one's seen him?" Toko asked and Stamen glanced at her.

"Apparently not," he said.
**************************
"I was beginning to worry about you," Bra said as Toko came into the 
house. "I told Trunks I'd make sure you'd behave."

"I went to ask about Taro," Toko said as she hung up her coat.

"Did you find anything out?"

"No. They haven't seen him."

"Not even the one you like?" Gendi asked and Toko lowered her eyes.

"Let her be, dear. Do you want something to eat?"

"I'm fine. The quiet one cooked dinner. It was really good," Toko 
replied.

"It's nice to know they won't starve. So, is he really like my 
father?" Bra asked.

"He reminds me of him a lot. It's too bad Grandpa isn't around. I bet 
they'd really get along. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset."

"It's all right. We've just got to accept that he's not coming back."

"Tenrro's got to accept that too. That's going to be difficult for 
him..."
********************
"Nitrate....?" Pollen asked as she sat cross-legged on his bed. 
She crawled up the blanket and gazed at his sleeping face.

"Nitrate...?"

He sleepily opened an eye and screamed in shock. He pushed Pollen 
off the bed and sat up, breathing extremely hard.

"WHAT do you want?" he demanded as Pollen climbed onto the bed.

"Well, if you really, really like that girl, will you go live with 
her?"

"GET OUT OF MY ROOM!"

"Answer my question."

"GO AWAY!!"

"Nitrate would you shut up? I'm trying to sleep. Oh I see. She came 
to annoy you this time," Pistil said as she came into the 
room. "Where's that lizard of yours?"

"It's not a lizard!" Pollen cried and Stamen cleared his throat.

"Are you aware of the time?" he asked and Pistil glared at Nitrate.

"Nice going. You made him mad," she said and Nitrate stared at her.

"I made him mad?! She was the one that almost scared me to death," 
Nitrate said.

"You never answered my question," Pollen said and Nitrate glared at 
her.

"Would you just answer her question so we can go back to sleep?" 
Pistil asked.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not going to."

"Nitrate, just do it before I lose my patience," Stamen said and 
Nitrate looked at him.

"You don't know what she asked."

"You're right. I don't, but why don't you give her an answer so we 
all can get back to sleep?"

"How did you get in here anyway?"

"I dunno," Pollen said. "So is she going to live with you?"

"Is someone moving in with you?" Pistil asked.

"No!" Nitrate cried.

"Is she moving in with you?"

"Would you two get out of here?!"

"Come on, Pollen. We'd better leave. He wants to be alone with his 
woman."

"That's a lie!" Nitrate cried as he formed a ball of energy in his 
hand. Pistil frowned and Stamen whistled shrilly. Pollen covered 
her ears in pain.

"STOP IT ALL OF YOU!! I'm tired and I'd like to get some sleep," 
Stamen said and Pollen ran over to him.

"I didn't do anything Stamen! I just wanted my question answered," 
Pollen cried as she grabbed onto his leg.

"You've gone and upset her," Pistil said and Stamen gazed down at 
her.

"Come on, let's get out of Nitrate's room."

"Can I sleep with you?"

"All right. Come on," Stamen said and Pollen took his hand.

"Yay! Let me get Squeak."

"No. He's not sleeping in my room."

"Aw..."

"Well, if you don't want to sleep with me..."

"I do. You will let me, won't you? I didn't mean to make you mad. I 
just wanted my question answered."

"It's all right. Here. You left this in here."

"My bear! I was wondering where he went. He's so soft, isn't he, 
Stamen?"

"Yes. Now get on up there and quiet down. I really want to get some 
sleep tonight."

"Okay. I'll be quiet. Goodnight."
***********************
Stamen opened a sleepy eye and glanced at Pollen. She was talking 
in her sleep and it was getting him annoyed.

"Pollen if you don't be quiet, you're going to go back to your 
room," he said and Pollen yawned.

"What? Are you talking to me? I'm tired. Come back later," Pollen 
said as she made her toy bear appear like it was talking. Stamen 
lowered the bear to the bed and gazed at Pollen.

"You were talking in your sleep again."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. You're not mad at me, are 
you?"

"I'm not mad."

"Yay!" Pollen cried and squeezed him tightly. Stamen flushed as 
she pressed her toy bear into his face.

"Would you stop it?"

"I'm sorry."

"Look, I'm tired. I'd like to get some sleep."

"Okay. I'm sorry."

"Pollen..."

"What?"

"Quiet."

"Oh. Right. Did you hear that Max? Be quiet."

"Max?"

"My bear."

"All right. Tell Max to be quiet then close your eyes and go to 
sleep. Please."

"Okay. Be quiet Max. Stamen doesn't want you to be noisy."
************************
"So, did you sleep at all?" Pistil asked as Stamen glanced up from 
the book he was reading.

"I slept some after I told her to be quiet. She was talking in her 
sleep again," Stamen replied.

"I guess she really needs to be close to you. You've seen what 
happens when you get hurt."

"Yeah, I know. She gets so worried about upsetting me too. Do I 
really get that bad?"

"No. You're the only authority we've got. You keep things balanced 
and that's hard to do."

"Especially as unbalanced as my siblings can get."

"Yeah...hey! That was directed at me, wasn't it?"

"I never said that."

"You implied it."

"No I didn't. Well I guess I'd better start cooking before Pollen 
wakes up. When she's awake, I never get anything done."

"Yeah, Pollen's got a talent for that. Well, I'd better get in the 
shower before Nitrate takes over the bathroom."

"I think you're a little too late for that."

"Nitrate!!"

"What? This room isn't yours you know. It doesn't have your name on 
it," Nitrate said as he shut the bathroom door.

"Don't mess anything up in there!"

"Hi everyone! Where's Stamen?" Pollen asked as she ran out of the 
room with Squeak close behind her.

"He ran off. You kept him awake last night so he left," Pistil said 
and Pollen's eyes grew wide with terror.

"I...I..." she stammered and Pistil waved her hand.

"Calm down, will you? He's in the kitchen."

"Why did you scare me like that? That wasn't very nice. Why did you 
do that?"

"Get that thing away from me. I don't want it eating my things."

"Come on Squeak. Let's go see Stamen. Maybe we can help!"

Pistil watched Pollen run into the kitchen then walked back to her 
room. She sighed as she made her way to her window. She wanted to 
visit Taro but she had no idea where he was.

"It's so boring here," she sighed.

"You can play with me," Pollen said and Pistil drew back sharply.

"WHAT are you doing in here?" she demanded and Pollen shrugged her 
shoulders.

"Because Stamen wouldn't let me be in the kitchen."

"So you came to bother me? Why can't you bug Nitrate?"

"Cause he's busy too. He's in the bathroom."

A knock came at the front door and Pollen ran to answer it with 
Squeak close behind her.

"Hi there. Is your brother in?" Toko asked and Pollen nodded her 
head. She shut the door and ran off for the bathroom. Pistil 
sighed and opened the front door.

"You want to buy her?" she asked and Toko shook her head.

"No, but I want to ask a favor."

"All right! I'm coming out! Just wait Pollen!" Nitrate yelled as he 
opened the door.

"I just wanted to tell you something," Pollen said as Nitrate glared 
at her.

"What did you want to tell me?"

"Forget it. She's not here for you," Pistil said as she and Toko 
walked past the bathroom.

"When did she...? Pollen, why didn't you say anything?" Nitrate 
asked and Pollen bit her lower lip.

"Because you yelled at me!" she replied.
********************************
"Nitrate's in the bath," Stamen commented as he checked the boiling 
rate of the contents in a pot.

"Well, I wanted to talk to you," Toko said and Stamen raised his 
eyes.

"Really? Why?"

"Well, Lingerie and Tenrro miss Taro so I was wondering if I could 
borrow Pollen?"

"Say yes," Pistil said and Stamen glanced at her.

"She's already gotten to you?" he inquired as Nitrate stepped into 
the room.

"Sorry you had to see me like that. I had no idea you were coming 
over," Nitrate said.

"Idiot," Pistil said and Nitrate stared at her. "She came for 
Pollen."

"No way."

"It's true."

"I'm afraid she's right. I came to see if I could get Pollen to come 
over and play with Tenrro and Lingerie," Toko said and Pollen ran up 
to Stamen and pulled on his pants legs.

"Stamen...Stamen..." she said and Stamen looked at her.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Can I...can I go? Pleeease?"

"Let her go," Pistil said.

"I'm going to let her go," Stamen said and Pollen's eyes grew wide.

"Really?! Yay! Let's go!"

"You can come too," Toko said and smiled at Nitrate.

"I was beginning to think you didn't want me," he said and Toko 
shook her head.

"You're silly. Come on. Let's go. You can help me watch them."

"Pollen alone needs plenty of watching."
*************************************************************
"Why are you here, boy?"  Vegeta asked as he dodged a blow from another person in the arena of Other World.

"I want to talk to you, Grandpa. It's important," Clarinet said and Vegeta stepped out of the arena.

"It must be important, considering you came all this way. I'm surprised they let you through. Considering that you're not dead and all..."

"Well Grandpa, I'm going to take over Dende's position of guardian but that's not why I'm here..."

"Why are you here, then?"

"Please, Grandpa. Tell me about your people. I want to know. I want to know all about them. I want to know about the people that I'm a part of."

"You're serious about this, boy, aren't you?"

"Yes I am, Grandpa. Please, tell me all that you can remember. I want to know about this part of me. I know about Nameks, but I don't know much about the Saiyen blood in me. You're the only one that could tell me about your people. I mean, you WERE the prince of them, were you not?"

"I was. I would have been king if Frieza had not destroyed my home. All right, boy. I'll tell you about the great warrior race that I am a part of...."

Vegeta sat back for a moment and closed his eyes. Clarinet sat 
across from him on the cool ground of Other World. He sat patiently 
as he waited for the aged Saiyen to gather his memories.

"On Vejita, there were two races. One race was peaceful and lived in 
cities and made things. They were the builders and thinkers, if you 
want to put a label to them. They were the ones whose future was in 
politics and other fields that did not really matter. Fields where 
strength did not enter into the equation. Then there was the other 
race, the stronger one made up of warriors with large muscle mass 
and powers that could not be believed. Descended from gods, legends 
said because of their immense strength and skill. One of the assets 
or this race was the tail of a monkey and with that the ability to 
transform into a giant simian capable of mass destruction. It was 
with this ability that our race prospered and moved to different 
worlds spreading our kind far across the universe," he said and 
Clarinet opened his mouth.

"Forgive me for interrupting, Grandfather, but how far did your 
people go to conquer?" he asked and Vegeta glanced at him.

"The world that you call home down below was scheduled for invasion. 
You see, the lower class Saiyens, their children were sent to 
different planets with pre-programmed instructions that made it 
possible for them to conquer a world when the Saiyen reached 
maturity. It was a way of getting rid of the less intelligent 
members of our race and gaining new ground. Similar tactics have 
been used in the history of the Earth. It's not a new concept."

"How many worlds fell to your people?"

"How many? My father knew, but I didn't. You're forgetting that I 
was only a child when I witnessed the first wave leave my home. I 
only watched the pods be sent out from the bridge of my father's 
ship. There were so many pests. So many lower classed Saiyens that 
would never amount to anything. It was unbelievable. Most of them 
survived, I am sure. I'm also positive that not many of them befell 
the same fate that Kakarrot had. Imagine. A Saiyen warrior defending 
the planet that he was supposed to destroy. If it wasn't for some 
childhood accident, the Earth would not be around now. And, a lot of 
the problems that came with that pathetic little planet wouldn't 
have been known."

"The Saiyens. Didn't Frieza destroy a lot of them?"

"A lot, yes and it was supposed to be my duty as the prince of all 
Saiyens to destroy that monster. Then Kakarrot showed up and took 
the glory away from me. Just like he's done time and time again."

"Um, Grandfather...How did the tails come about in the first place? 
Is it true that you're sort of descended from a human-type species 
and a primate?"

"One thing I learned as a child boy is to never question your 
origins. If you do, you only make your mind confused and incapable 
of doing any good for your cause, whatever that may be. The 
abilities we had were a part of our heritage. They were 
a part of our tradition. Even the legends of a Super Saiyen were 
held sacred. Many strived to achieve that elite status, but only a 
few made it."

"I wished I could have known those people. I'm sure I would have 
learned a lot from them. Of course, I'm learning a lot from you now, 
Grandfather. This tail, though, is it permanent? Will I have it 
forever?"

"I remember having a similar conversation when you first got it as a 
small child. The tail is part of what you are. You can suppress it, 
but not forever. It is a part of what makes the blood within you 
Saiyen. You should not be ashamed of it," Vegeta said and Clarinet 
shook his head.

"Oh, I'm not ashamed, Grandfather. It's just...well I was wondering. 
I mean, I never saw Goku or you with one so I wasn't sure."

"Perhaps there was no reason for having a tail in our lifetime."

"You may be right about that. Well, I guess you've answered my 
questions. Oh, if Saiyens are ever found, the ones that left 
Vejita..."

"What's your question, boy?"

"Well, by rights, would my father be king or would his father be 
king?"

"By rights, my boy would be but there's nothing left to rule over. 
Even if there are Saiyens out there, our way of life has been lost."

"That's sort of depressing. You were proud of your heritage when you 
were on Earth. I never saw anyone so determined as you to prove 
yourself and to prove your race. But why Grandfather? If your race 
is lost, what good is it to prove that you are a member of that 
race?"

"Because as long as someone keeps the memory of the Saiyens alive, 
the spirit of my people will still be there. I'm not willing to let 
that die. Too many Saiyens died to protect what they were. It is 
disrespectful to let such noble deeds fade away as if they were no 
better than snowflakes on a volcano."

Clarinet thought about the analogy for a moment, then nodded his 
head.

"I understand," he said and stood up. "Thank you so much for being 
willing to talk to me, Grandfather."

"I couldn't very well turn you away. Not after you made such a long 
journey. Your determination is impressive. I'm sure you get that 
from me," Vegeta said and the future guardian nodded his head.

"I'm sure I did."

************************************************************************************
"He's not here," Dende said when Pollen landed at the lookout.  She frowned and sat down on the ground.

"Well where is he? He's not with his brother. He's not here. Where is he?"  she asked.

"He's taking care of some business."

"Where?"

"In a place where you cannot go."

"That's not fair. He's avoiding me, isn't he? He doesn't like me."

"He's getting some questions answered that have bothered him for a long time now. They've been bothering him even before you existed."

"Oh. But it's not fair! Everyone is busy. Pollen's chasing after his brother, Nitrate's interested in his cousin or whatever she is and Stamen's too busy to do anything. I don't have anyone. Well, except for Squeak but Squeak isn't very good at talking. I haven't even been able to teach him how to say hi."

Dende watched the small dinosaur crawl onto her lap and shook her head.  He foresaw difficulties with her for Clarinet in the future.

"Please, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I have a lot of preparations to make. Clarinet will be taking over a most respected position. I have to make sure that everything is ready for his return so that the Earth can begin its transition to a new guardian."

"Can't I stay and watch?"

"I'm afraid not."

"Why not?"

"Because it is not allowed."

"All right," Pollen sighed as she looked at her dinosaur. "Come on, Squeak. We're not wanted here, either.  Maybe it was true. Maybe I am a mistake. We should just be invisible that way no one would see us. We'll find a new home. Ooh. Maybe we can live in the city. There's lots of people there. Come on!"

Dende watched her leave and shook his head.  He had the feeling that it was going to be a looong day.
****************************************
Stamen sat on a long tree branch and gazed out at the water.  He wondered what had gone wrong in the tubes they were created in. He thought of Sixteen's words, the ancient android's voice clear in his mind.

"Sometimes our feelings conflict with our programming."

He thought of how he had awoken, literally stepping out of a pod, dripping with the excess of fluids.  Barely conscious, he was pushed towards a detoxifying wash where water mixed with special chemicals rained down on him.  He remembered the shock of consciousness, the tingling sensation in every nerve ending as his body reacted to the temperature of the water.

"Do not be alarmed," Dr. Gero said and Stamen looked around in confusion. "This is just the first step to your new life."

The water switched off and Stamen instinctively shook off the excess from his body.  The area around him blew warm air as he gazed out at the figure watching him.

"You should be capable of speech now. Try talking."

"Who...are you?"  Stamen asked, his voice slightly raspy.

"I am your creator, Dr. Gero. As soon as your siblings awaken, I'll explain everything to you."

"Siblings?"

"Counterparts would be more exact, though. Now, give your body a try."

"So this is where you've been hiding lately," Pistil said and Stamen looked at her.  He dropped to the ground and stretched.

"I didn't even hear you come. What do you want?"  he asked and Pistil folded her arms.

"I know I shouldn't complain about the silence but have you seen Pollen? She's the only one out of all of us that got shortchanged on brain cells."

"I thought she was off annoying that Namek again."

"She's been upset about him. She doesn't think he likes her."

"You tell me how something like that would work. You know as well as I do the physical makeup of Nameks."

"Pollen must have missed that lesson or else, she's taking into consideration that he's only part Namek."

"It doesn't matter. The Namek cell structure is what dominates his body. The other cell structures just play a small part in the genetic makeup. For example..."

"Look you don't need to tell me the reason why. I know."

"I'm sorry. You know when he did me, he put some of his genetic information in the mixture."

"Oh I'm fully aware of that. You were his firstborn."

"A little cynical, aren't you?"

"Perhaps."

"What is this? A rendezvous?"  Nitrate asked and Pistil folded her arms.

"Hardly. I've got my own ignorant male for that," she said and Stamen looked at her.

"I know that was a veiled insult. What am I ignorant about?"  Stamen asked.

"Women."

"I see. If you're saying that I don't waste my time contemplating the illogical nature of the feminine mind then you're correct."

"You know he's really enjoying not having Pollen around," Nitrate commented.

"If you are that concerned then you go look. I need to get over to the Capsule Corporation lab and check on something. The first stage of development should be complete."

"What are you making?"  Pistil asked.

"He's making a monster that will destroy the world," Nitrate said.

"You know I'm perfectly capable of doing that," Stamen said as he folded his arms. "But I'm not. I'll let you see it when it's all done. When you find Pollen, tell her I'll be back this evening."

Pistil watched him fly off and looked at Nitrate.

"You know, when I told him about her, I didn't think I'd be made to go look for her," she said.

"Well, she is related to us. I guess we should go look for her. Any ideas where she'd be?"  Nitrate asked.

"No."
******************************************************
Pollen sat on the ground and sulked. Squeak watched her for a 
moment, then became interested in a dragonfly. It flew off and 
Squeak chased after it.

"Where are you going?" she asked. "It doesn't want to play with 
you."

The dinosaur ignored her and continued to run after the dragonfly. 
She watched for a moment then resumed pouting.

"I wish you were a mean dinosaur. Then you would eat me up and no 
one would have to put up with me any more," she said. "But you 
can't. You're just a stupid dinosaur. Where's a real monster when 
you need one?"

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Taro asked and Pollen looked at him.

"Go away! I'm waiting for a monster to eat me up!"

"Why?"

"Because."

"Because why?"

"I'm not telling."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to."

"Just because my brother is busy doesn't mean you have to get eaten 
up by a monster."

"Who said it had anything to do with him?"

"Why else would you want to get eaten up by a monster? Also, there's 
something about him that I think you don't know..."

"What are you talking about?"

"You see, he's mostly Namek."

"I can see that. What's your point?"

"Well, I call him my brother but he really isn't."

"What?"

"He's technically not a boy."

"Well he can't be a girl."

"He isn't."

"Well if he isn't a boy and if he isn't a girl, what is he?"

"Neither."

"What?"

"He's asexual."

"What?"

"Well he doesn't look like you 'cause his body doesn't curve like 
yours and his chest isn't as big and round and doesn't stick out 
like yours....And he doesn't look like me 'cause he's got nothin' 
down there so he can't like you like you do."

"Because he's got nothing down there?" Pollen asked in confusion.

"No. He can't like you like you like him 'cause he's neither. It 
makes sense if you think about it. If he were like me, then he could 
like you like you like him but he's not so he can't."

Pollen sat back down on the grass and started to cry.

"What's with you now?" Taro asked.

"I'm...confused!!" she sobbed.

"Okay. I can show you if you want. I gotta undo my belt first...."

"Taro, what are you doing?" Rion asked and Taro looked at his 
father, whose arms were folded much in the same fashion that his 
great-grandfather would fold his arms.

"Trying to explain Clarinet to her, but she doesn't understand me. 
So I was gonna show her," Taro explained.

"You never grew up, did you?"
*******************************
Clarinet landed at Kami's and sat down and began to concentrate.

"Clarinet, please wait a moment," Dende said and Clarinet looked at him.

"What's wrong?"  Clarinet asked.

"That child was here looking for you.  She seemed quite upset that you left."

"She's got to deal with it. I mean, yeah, I must have human feelings. I mean, they're a part of me but the majority of me is Namek. I can't share the feelings that she has for me.  I'm not made up for that."

"Yes, I understand that, but how are you going to explain it to someone like her? It seems to me that she was neglected that part of her education when she was created."

"I don't know. Do you know where she is now?"

"Unfortunately, I do not.  She flew off in anger and since I can't leave this place...."

"I understand, Dende. I'll look for her. Hey...Taro is here. I wonder why he left the Supreme Kai's. You don't think Shin sent him back do you?"

"I wouldn't think the Supreme Kai would do that, but if he had reason to..."

"Guess I'd better find out why. I'm sure Father's already sensed his presence. Let's just hope Pan hasn't.  She gets too much like Goku's wife."

"Yes, the similarities between the two are quite striking."

"Well, I'll be back soon. Don't worry Dende. I'm fully prepared to step up to the responsibilities of your position."

"I never had any doubts about you."
*************************************
"So why are you back here, anyway? Did you give up?"  Rion asked and Taro glared at his father.

"No!"  Taro cried and Rion folded his arms.

"Don't act like a five year old. Tell me why you're here."

"I don't know.  I was concentratin' and I ended up here. Then I saw her and asked what she was doing. She said she was waitin' for a monster to eat her up and then I explained to her about Clarinet. Then you showed up.  I need to get back to Shin's, though."

"Hey, what are you doing back?"  Clarinet asked and Taro looked at him.

"You look different," Taro said as he sized his brother up.

"I've been busy with Dende. I've been preparing to take over his position. So, why are you back? He didn't send you home, did he?"

"No. Why does everyone think the Supreme Kai sent me home? I AM a fighter! I'm just as good as my grandpa!"

Electricity engulfed Taro as anger flashed in his eyes.  Rion watched him with a critical eye.  He wished that the fighters of the past were still alive to help him deal with his son's fighting spirit.  There was definitely a bit of Saiyen pride in the young Saiyen's mind and it was controlling his heart.

"Taro, I know you want to prove yourself but getting like my grandfather really isn't going to solve anything," Rion said and Taro glared at him.

"Just shut up will you?! You don't know at all. You all don't know anything!"

He screamed in anguish and Pan ran up to the scene.

"Taro! What's going on?! Did the Supreme Kai's training room hurt you?"  she asked then stopped as a disturbing change encircled Taro.  The skies overhead darkened to a deep violet, lightening stretching its jagged talons across the grimly painted sky.  Gendi appeared along with Stamen and the others to see what the energy influx was.  Rion's eyes grew cold as he took a step forward.

"Stop this Taro and stop it NOW," he said and Taro turned towards him, his eyes a glowing amethyst as his hair changed, almost rhythmically from amber to a disturbing mixture of gold and blood red.  Rion still approached, his hands down at his side and palms inward.  His gaze was fixated on his son's face.

"You've let you anger and determination consume you now stop this before it tears you apart. Don't get like I once was."

"Like you once were? I believe that is impossible. I am stronger than any of you were. I am now stronger than my grandparents. I am the strongest being in the universe!"  Taro declared and Gendi looked at Bra.

"Let me guess. He was heavily influenced by Vegeta," he muttered.

"What does that mean?!"  Bra demanded and Gendi held his hands up in surrender.

"Absolutely nothing except for the fact that he was extremely hard-headed."

"Who's got the children?"  Pan asked.

"Toko. She watches over them while I'm at work. So, what are you going to do to him, Pan?"

"I'm going to ground him just as soon as he's done playing games."

"Um....I don't think he's playing games,"  Gendi said.

"Well this is interesting. I've heard about this, but I've never seen it. Do you mind if I take some notes?"  Stamen asked as he approached Taro.

"What are you talking about?"  Bra asked.

"When a Saiyen is overwhelmed by darkness, the side effect can be something like this. It's extremely rare so this is really great to witness this.  You see, as with anything, when the balance is disrupted, it is only a matter of time before breakdown occurs.  Taro's determination and desire not to be ridiculed consumed him so the end result is..."

"Would you just shut up?"  Pistil asked and Stamen looked at her. "Instead of giving us a lecture, perhaps you could tell us how to get him back to normal."

"I...I don't know."
**********************************************************************
Trunks sat up and Loren looked at him.  He had been lying across her legs, his eyes closed when he had unexpectedly gotten up.  He placed his hands on the transparent ground and stared into the clouds far below him.

"What the heck is going on down there?"  he asked.

"Down where?"  Loren inquired and Trunks growled in frustration.

"Don't do this to me right now. Earth. Where else would I mean?"

"I don't know. The universe IS a big place...."

"Honey, Earth is where our friends and family are. Well, besides from Other World I mean..."

"So what's going on down there?"

"I don't know.....Someone's emitting an awful lot of energy. What is it?"

"We've got  to go."

"The Supreme Kai?"

She nodded her head and Trunks stood up.

"Guess it's about time to go there anyway. How long has it been?"

"How long has what been?"

"Since we were there last. We probably should wear some different clothes. Think you can do it?"

"But..."

"I'm not going down there like this. Especially not to the Supreme Kai's."

"Okay."

"You're getting dressed too."

"I know that..."

"I'm just making sure. You don't always think about the obvious."

She looked at him for a moment then frowned.  Trunks took her hand and gazed urgently at her.

"We need to get down there. I really don't like what I'm sensing."

"All right. There's we're both dressed."

Trunks gazed at his black t-shirt and blue jeans as Loren tied back his hair.  He pulled her away and gazed at her attire.  She wore a short sleeveless dress that seemed to end four inches above her knees.  Trunks lifted a corner of the dress and peered underneath.

"What are you doing?"  Loren asked and Trunks drew away. 

"I'm just making sure you remembered to put something on underneath," he replied.

"Oh. Did I?"

"Yes. I know, it's been awhile since we've done this. Let's go."
******************************************
Taro's eyes flashed angrily at Clarinet and Clarinet laid a hand on his training robes.  Pistil folded her arms and glanced at Stamen.

"This isn't your fault, is it?"  she asked and he looked at her.

"What are you talking about?"  he asked.

"Well, this isn't what you were experimenting on, was it?"

"If that were true, then why would I be so amazed about this?"

"He's got a point there," Nitrate said as he watched Toko console a terrified child.  "So what are we gonna do? He's scaring everyone."

"I guess the only thing we can do is knock him unconscious," Stamen said and Pistil folded her arms.

"I'm not doing that," she said and Stamen glanced at her.

"I didn't say you had to."

"Good because I'm not going to do it."

"So who is going to do it?"  Nitrate asked Stamen.

"We are," Stamen replied.

"WAIT A SECOND!!! How did I get dragged into this?!"

"Your power is like mine. We're going to have to do this together to make any dent in him."

"Just as long as you don't hurt him..."  Pistil warned and Nitrate looked at her and then at Stamen.

"PLEASE let me off the hook! I don't want to be on her bad side," he begged and Stamen grabbed his shirt collar.

"Let's go," he said.
******************************************************************
"I'm glad you're finally here," the Supreme Kai said and Trunks looked at him.

"What's going on down there?"  he asked.

"I'm afraid it's Taro."

"What's the real problem?"

"That IS the real problem."

"WHAT?! You're kidding, right?"

"I wish this WAS all just a horrible joke, but it isn't. His determination to make you recognize him as one of your people has consumed him and it has taken a turn for the worse."

"Wait a minute. Are you telling me that I didn't recognize him as a Saiyen?"

"That what he believes, apparently."

"I have never said anything like that."

"Yes you did..."  Loren said and Trunks looked at her.

"What? When?"

"When he sat down in the middle of the fight."

"Oh....I know what you're talking about now. He shouldn't have done that. That was a stupid thing to do."

"But you really hurt his feelings."

"I apologized back then."

"Perhaps he's forgotten about that," Shin said and Trunks looked at him.

"It appears to be that way," he replied.
************************************************
"This is your fault," Pan said and Rion stared at her.

"HOW is this my fault?!"  he demanded.

"I don't know. Give me a minute and I'll think of a reason why this is your fault."

"You're not being fair. I've done nothing to invoke this."

"Then it's that girl's fault."

"Now just a minute," Pistil said as she walked up to Pan. "I don't like that insinuation. The only thing I've done is point out some of the finer things to him. I haven't committed some gross crime or anything."

"You've corrupted my baby and now look at him!"

"Puhlease. None of this is my fault. Don't even try to put this on me."

"I think this thing has reached large proportions," Rion said as he got an odd look on his face.

"What are you talking about?"  Pan asked.

"My parents are coming."
************************************************************
The blinding flash of light died down just  as Trunks and his wife appeared at the scene.  Stamen breathed heavily as he wiped his face and looked at Taro for any damage.

"I don't think it worked," Nitrate said and Stamen glared at him.

"I see that. Now how are we going to get out of here without being seriously injured?"  he asked.

"I don't know. Wait...are you telling me that we really screwed up?"

Taro glanced in their direction and sneered, much in the way that Vegeta used to.  Nitrate's eyes grew wide as Taro brought his hands to his side in his favorite attack.

"Ka...me...."  he said, his voice low and filled with concentration.

"This is all your fault," Nitrate said and Stamen looked at him. 

"Just get people out of the way, all right? I'll do my best to block it," Stamen said.

"What do you mean block it?!"

"Ka...me...ha..." Taro repeated and Stamen glared at his sibling.

"Just go!"  he cried as the ball in Taro's hands grew in intensity.

"....Me...ha!!"

Stamen cringed in anticipation of pain but gazed up in astonishment when none came.  Trunks stood in front of him, his hands gripping the ball as Taro forced it forward.  His eyes had grown darker than ever  and his power increased as he watched his grandfather, determined to eradicate him from the Earth.   Trunks lifted the ball skyward, anger in his eyes as he pushed the remnants of Taro's attack off into space.

"Taro what's with you?"  Trunks asked then dodged another of his grandson's attacks.

"Do you still not believe me? Am I not a true Saiyen?"  Taro demanded and Trunks stared at him.  He could see an awful lot of his father in Taro.  Perhaps this was what Vegeta was like in his younger days. Not the appearance, but the attitude.  Trunks dodged another attack and sighed.  He'd have to get stronger.  He didn't want to hurt his grandson but there seemed to be no other way of getting him back to normal.

"Taro stop this now. I don't want to hurt you," he said and Taro sneered.

"Why? Are you afraid that I can't handle it? Are you afraid that I'm going to run off crying? I'm not the same person that you once knew."

"I can see that. But you're still not dealing with this rationally."

Trunks winced in pain as Taro's attack hit him.  He had been counting on the fact that Taro would still have a bit of himself in his new personality. Unfortunately, there seemed to be no trace of the person that Trunks knew.  He ascended to the next level and gazed coldly at his grandson.  He released an attack of his own and Taro blocked it.

"Is that all you've got? Living in paradise has made you weak."

"Paradise? It hasn't all been paradise," Loren commented as she watched the two. "At least not all the time. But, I don't know how long it's been since there's no time there..."

"Mom, don't worry about it," Rion said. "Father doesn't need to be distracted."
***********************************************************
To be proud of one's origins.  To keep the nobility and traditions of old alive.  That was what it truly meant to be a Saiyen.  Clarinet threw his training robes on the ground and flexed his tail.  Rion looked at his first-born and took a step forward.

"I don't want you going nuts too," he said and Clarinet nodded his head.

"I'm not going to.  But, my brother is a threat and I have to do something about this. I am going to be the future guardian,  you know,"  he said and Loren stepped out in front of him.  She held out her hands and gazed levelly at him.

"Let Trunks try to deal with him first," she said and Clarinet shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Grandma but I'm going to have to ignore that request.  If I am to take over Dende's position, then I need to show some initiative.  Technically Grandpa doesn't have any right to deal with this problem since he is no longer an inhabitant of Earth.  I can't just stand around and watch. That's not what a guardian is supposed to do."


He stepped around his grandmother and walked past Stamen and Nitrate.  He came up behind his brother and placed his palms together, facing outward.  He closed his eyes as he tried to remember the name of his uncle's attack.  What was it? Cho...Chobakuretsumaha.  That was it.  It was said to have been his uncle's ultimate attack.  He hated to use it on his brother but drastic means called for drastic measures.  He released it and it struck Taro square in the back.  Taro cried  out in pain as Trunks used his burning attack.  Pan cried in pain and grabbed onto Rion's arm.  Rion glanced at her and took her hand.

"It's okay. Don't you want him back to normal?"  he asked and Pan sniffed loudly.

"Why does it have to hurt him?"  she asked as Bra and Gendi made their way over to her.

"Come on, let's go somewhere where it's safe," Bra said.

"But I can't leave him like this!"

"Go on and leave. I'll stay here," Rion said and Pan sadly nodded her head.

"All right but you'd better ground him when he's back to normal.  I want him to know that he can't be doing this all the time,"  she said and Rion nodded his head.

"I'll take care of it. Go on and go. Why don't you four go with her?"

"Nitrate, take them all back to her house," Stamen said and Nitrate looked at him.

"What about you?"  he asked.

"I will stay here as well."

"Why?"

"Because I want to see how this is played out. You see...."

"Come on. Just let him stay. I don't want to hear his drawn out scientific reasoning for this," Pistil said as she grabbed Nitrate's arm.

"But what about Pollen?"

"Pollen's already with the other children. You don't need to worry about her."
*****************************************************************
The joint attack had obviously affected Taro in some way or another but he refused to let it get the best of him.  He unleashed his Saiyen Vortex attack and Clarinet glanced at his grandfather.

"Please, let me deal with him. It is my duty. Or at least it will be," he said and Trunks stepped back.

"All right but I'm going to stay here just in case you need some backup," Trunks said and Clarinet nodded his head.  He began concentrating, his body glowing with energy as he ascended to the second level.  He cried out to further his concentration and Trunks watched him go a step further.  

Clarinet harnessed the full power of a Saiyen with a tail, but he was completely in control.  He stood about a foot or two taller than normal, his golden skin covered with light shining fur that ended at his chest.  His antennae stood straight and for once, he had a clear line of sight.  His eyes had narrowed slightly, his lavender pupils now lost in a sea of green.  He gazed at Taro for a moment, who seemed to be preparing an attack of his own and placed a finger on his forehead, much in the same way that Goku prepared for his Instant Transmission technique.  He released the Eye Beam attack and directed it at Taro.  Taro blocked it by using some sort of shield and Clarinet moved fast.  He used his uncle's Chobakuretsumaha attack and listened for the sound of impact.

"Why do you have to be stronger?!"  Taro cried. "It's not fair!"

"Sounds like the way Taro's supposed to sound," Rion commented and Loren watched the fight.

"Perhaps but I don't think he's completely back to normal. I just hope Clarinet doesn't damage him too much," she replied.

"We'll be able to heal him if he gets hurt."

"I know. I just don't like what I'm sensing. It's too....familiar."

"Does it remind you of your dark days?"  the Supreme Kai asked and Rion glanced at him.

"Please, Uncle.  I REALLY wish I could change what I did at that time, but I can't," he said and Loren looked at him.

"Don't get lost back there. You can do nothing to change your past. Accept it and move on," she said.
******************************
Taro fell to the ground and shook his head.  He  glanced up at Clarinet, who held out his hand to him.  He sighed and took it and Clarinet pulled him to his feet.  Clarinet gazed levelly at his brother and Taro glanced away.

"You're not going to do that again, are you?"  Clarinet asked. "Because I really don't want to do this again. Not when I'm the guardian of Earth."

"I just wanted to be taken seriously like you. Everyone takes you seriously because of what you are. Everyone still thinks I'm a little kid. It isn't fair," Taro said.

"People are so used to the way you act that they tend to forget that you've grown up. They still see you as a child, but there's no reason to get upset about that."

**********************************************
"Drop it, Squeak! That isn't yours!"  Pollen cried as the dinosaur picked up a toy that Tennro was reaching for.  The small child began crying and Pollen glared at the dinosaur.  "Listen to me! You're not being very nice. Put it down!"

"Sounds like a daycare in here," Pistil muttered as she changed the channel on the television.

"I was watching that!"  Nitrate protested and Pistil shrugged her shoulders.

"Well you aren't now."

"But..."

"Just give it to her," Stamen said.  "I'm getting tired of hearing all of you."

"HEY!! Give Max back to me!"  Pollen cried as Lingerie took the stuffed bear from her side.

Stamen stood up and gazed out the window.  Nitrate walked up to him and Stamen glanced at his brother.

"So why did you leave? I thought you wanted to observe," he said and Stamen nodded his head.

"I did but I'm also aware that they need some time alone. There's a lot of apologies that are in order. I didn't belong during that."

"So is he all right? He's not all weird any more, is he?"  Pistil asked and Stamen nodded his head.

"Yeah, he's all right. A little apologetic, though. I'm sure they'll bring him over here so you all can see him. I hope Trunks makes the trip as well. I have some questions I'd like to ask him.  Especially since he's the only surviving member of the fighters of old," he said.

"Man, you had to get him started, didn't you?"  Nitrate asked and Pistil looked at him.

"Hey, I was just showing some concern for my boy!"  she said and Pan stood up.

"YOUR BOY?!"  she demanded.  "My Taro will never be yours."

"Pan calm down. I think you're overreacting," Bra said and  Pan folded her arms.

"I am NOT overreacting! That woman is trying to corrupt my baby!"

"If only I could blast her," Pistil muttered as the dinosaur walked up to her and sniffed her.  "Aah! Get that thing away from me!"

"What are you so worried about? It biting you?"  Nitrate asked and Pistil glared at him.

"You don't remember what it did to my clothes, do you?"

"Actually I do. That was pretty funny."

"Pollen! Get it away from me!"

"I can't! I'm busy trying to save Max!"  Pollen cried as Lingerie ran into the other room with the stuffed bear in her arms.

"I'm going outside. It's too loud in here," Stamen said and walked out of the room.

*************************************************
"Can we leave now?"  Loren asked and Trunks looked at her.

"No. My sister would never forgive me if we left without talking to her. Besides, why are you in such a hurry to get back to a place with no time?"  he asked and Loren knelt on the ground to watch a butterfly.

"Because."

"We've got plenty of time for that. Come on, let's see everyone while we still can. They can't live on earth forever, you know."

"I know that."

"We also should visit Other World before we go back. I'm sure people have been wondering about us."

"You're not mad at me....are you?"  Taro asked as he sat on the ground, his head facing the grass.  Trunks walked up to him and knelt beside him.  Taro glanced up at him for a moment then lowered his head.  "I'm really sorry. I'm not....I'm not even sure how I got that way.  I never meant to hurt you, Grandpa. I never meant to hurt anyone. I just wanted to prove myself."

"And you did that. You are just as great as the Saiyens of old. There's nothing to be ashamed of," Trunks said and Taro looked at him.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. Come on, let's go see the others."

"Taro, if you take over Goku's position as the world's strongest, my job as guardian will be a lot easier," Clarinet said and Taro looked at him.

"But you're the one who beat me. You're the strongest," he said and Clarinet smiled.

"I think I was a little more determined then you this time, that's all."

"Come on, you two. Let's show everyone you're still alive. Pan especially, Taro," Rion said and Taro looked at him.

"I don't wanna go," he said.

"Why not?"

"She's gonna be really really mad at me for what I did. I don't wanna go."

"She's going to be relieved, not mad. Okay, Taro? She was really worried about you. You're her only son. She didn't want to lose you."
*********************************
Lingerie began crying and Bra came to her aide.

"That's not your toy, dear. Come on, let's get one of yours," she said as she picked the small child up.  Pollen squeezed her bear tightly and ran out of the house with Squeak behind her.  She ran up to where Stamen sat meditating then slowed down.  Squeak ran into her leg and she fell forward.

"OW! Didn't you see I stopped?! Why did you do that? We can't interrupt Stamen!"

"Pollen, it's all right," Stamen said and Pollen looked at him.

"But we interrupted you. I didn't mean to. It was Squeak's fault!"

"Pollen, I'm not mad."

"Are you sure?"

"Do I look mad?"

"You might be trying to hide it..."

"Pollen..."

"Well you might. Anyways, it's all Squeak's fault!"

"...what do you want?"

"I wanted to be out here with you...You ARE mad, aren't you?"

"I'm not mad."

Pollen pushed her bear into Stamen's face and tried to make it appear to talk.

"You sure look mad," she said, trying to make a deep voice.  Stamen sighed and drew away.  Pollen lowered her toy and looked at him.

"I'm sorry," she said and sat on the ground with the dinosaur beside her.

"Pollen...it's all right."

"Are you sure? Hey, who's coming?"

"I don't know. They're still too far away. Wait...it's Trunks. Man, he's still got a lot of energy for someone as old as he is."

"How old is he?"

"I'm not really sure. Somehow his relationship with his wife stopped his aging process. But, it seems that everyone's coming. Everyone that was there, I mean."

"Even Clarinet?"

"They're still too far off but I think so. It would only make sense but you know he can't stay here."

"I know," Pollen said and sighed.

"Don't worry. This world is a big place. You'll find someone."

"I just want him as a friend. I like him. I don't know why, but I do."

"I think I know why and I think you do to. You just can't see it in the terms I'm putting it in."

"What? Max, did you understand him? Yeah...I didn't  think you did.  Stamen gets really confusing, doesn't he?"

"You can see them now, Pollen. They're closer."

"Lemme see! Yeah! There they are! I'm gonna meet them!"  she cried and took off.

"Pollen..." Stamen said then sighed.  He shook his head and sighed.  It  was pointless to try and stop her.  "Oh well. At least I get some quiet for once."
*********************************************
"Your friend's coming our way," Taro said and Clarinet sighed.

"Great," he replied.

"I think she's funny."

"She's annoying."

"She's not annoying."

"Not to you, maybe. She is to me."

"That's 'cause she thinks you're like me and you're not."

"What?"

"Well she thinks you're like me but you're not 'cause you've got nothin' there. You weren't put together like me. I was gonna show her but Dad showed up."

Clarinet said nothing and Trunks glanced at his son.

"Don't ask," Rion said.

"I don't want to know," Clarinet replied.

"Could you say that again? I think I missed something somewhere," Trunks said.

"Hi!!"  Pollen cried as she flew up to them.  "Pistil's really going to be happy to know that you're okay. She's been soo worried about you."

"I've got to see my mom first. Dad wants me to. You sure she won't be mad?"  Taro asked.

"She's not going to be mad, Taro. She's going to be relieved," Rion said.

"How long are you two staying?"  Stamen asked when they had landed.

"I don't know. Awhile, I guess. Why?"  Trunks asked.

"I was wondering if I could observe you two. Your invulnerability to aging intrigues me."

"What did he say?"  Loren asked and Pollen shrugged her shoulders.

"Stamen's talking all smart again. Just ignore him," she said.  "Max and I do it all the time. Max? Where are you Max?! Stamen! Stamen! I....lost Max!!!"

"Calm down will you? It's right here," Clarinet said and held the bear out to Pollen.

"What are you doing with him?"

"You dropped it."

"You saved him?! Max is so happy! Here, he'll give you a hug and I'll give you a kiss."

"A what?"

She tightly embraced the Namek mix and kissed him on the cheek.  She drew away and made her toy wave at him.

"Your face is red!"  she laughed as Bra ran out into the yard.

"TRUNKS!!!"  she cried and ran up to her brother.

"Hey Bra. How are you doing?"  Trunks asked as she tightly hugged him.

"Fine. I'm so glad you're here. You're going to stay awhile, right? You're not going to leave right away like last time, are you?"

"We'll be here for a bit I suppose."

"But..." Loren said and Trunks looked at her.

"You can wait. We can afford to spend some time here," he said.

"All right."

"DADDY!!!"  Toko cried as she ran out of the house with the children following her.

"Has she gotten older?"  Trunks asked and Loren looked at him.

"I don't know..."  she replied as Squeak circled around her.  She knelt onto the ground and patted the small dinosaur. "How are you?"

"That's Squeak and he's mine," Pollen said. "He'd say hello back but he can't talk yet."

"I understood him."

"How...how did you understand what he said? He speaks dinosaur."

"Boy you don't know her very well," Taro said as he stepped out from behind his father. "She can talk to everything!"

"That didn't sound exactly right, but I know what you meant," Rion said as Pan ran up to him.  "No running away, Taro. You're a Saiyen, remember?"

"I don't wanna be a Saiyen right now! She's gonna be mad at me!"

"Taro!! Oh I'm so glad you're all right!"  Pan cried as she tightly hugged her son.

"Ow! Dad, she's hurting me!"  Taro cried and Rion smiled.

"See? I told you there was nothing to worry about," Rion said.

"Don't you DARE do that again, do you hear me?"  Pan asked and Taro brought a finger to his ear.

"How can I not hear you? You're really squeezing me,"  he said.

"I don't squeeze so hard," Pistil said and Taro glanced at her.

"That's good. I'm being crushed."

"You should be glad that I haven't decided to ground you," Pan said as she drew away from her son.

"Well, since things are sort of back to normal, then I'm going to go back to the lookout and finish preparing," Clarinet said.

"You don't have to go away 'cause they're acting like girls," Taro said and Clarinet smiled.

"I know, but I really do have a lot to do. Too bad Uncle won't be able to see this."

"Perhaps you can visit him and tell him all about the ceremony," Trunks said.

"Thanks. That's a good idea. I'd really like to go back to Other World and talk to people a bit before I have to start my duties."

"All right. You've held onto him for long enough. It's MY turn now," Pistil said and Pan glared at her.

"I don't trust you around my baby," Pan said.

"Pan..." Rion said and Pan looked at him.

"I think I have a right to be concerned."

"Was your mother concerned with me?"

"Of course not. She knew your family. I don't know anything about this group. They weren't even born, they were created."

"So were Sixteen, Seventeen, and Eighteen and they lived like normal people."

"Pistil..."  Stamen said as he walked up to his sister.

"What?"  Pistil asked. "I really don't like the way she's treating me."

"I see that but preparing to blast her isn't going to help anything."

"I know but she makes me SO angry."

"Mom..." Toko asked and Loren looked at her.

"What?"  she asked.   

"Are you going to stay here for awhile?"

"I don't know. Trunks wants to stay here for a bit so I guess I have to."

"I'm glad. I really miss you two. It's just not the same without you. It's not the same without anyone."

"But you've got someone here that can take care of you. At least that's what it looks like."

"Why is she looking at me?"  Nitrate asked and Toko laughed.

"You're actually figuring things out, aren't you Mom?"

"Figuring what out?"  Loren inquired.

"You two are talking about me and I don't know why and I want to know," Nitrate said and Toko took his hand.

"You're funny," she said.

"Why?"

"You just are."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"Why not? I thought you were one of the smart ones. You WERE made after Grandpa, right?"

"I'm not sure...Stamen?"

"What?"  Stamen asked as he walked over to them.

"Who was I patterned after?"  Nitrate asked.

"Vegeta definitely but I don't know who else was put into the mixture.  Possibly some of Trunks. Dr. Gero DID have access to everyone's genetic information."

"Maybe that's why she likes you so much. It's your father figure," Pistil said and Nitrate looked at her.

"What's that supposed to mean?"  he asked.

"Nothing. I'm not going to waste my time explaining it to you."

"Are you guys hungry?"  Bra asked and Trunks nodded his head.

"I am. I don't know when I ate last. Kinda hard to keep track of time when there isn't any," he said.

"All right then. Since it's so nice we'll eat out here. I'm going to need your help in the kitchen, Stamen. We've got quite a few people that can eat a lot here. We need to make enough."

"I don't normally cook for numerous people but I'll do my best," Stamen said as he followed Bra back into the house.

"I think the world is in good hands," Trunks said and Rion looked at him.

"I think you're right, Father. There's hope for this planet yet. We've got my boys protecting the world plus a new line of fighters. They won't be like the old days but they'll be just as good. Who knows, maybe the children will be stronger."

"I'm just glad that Taro believes in himself again. He definitely has Father's determination. It's good that someone has it. The Earth is definitely in good hands."

"Yeah."

"Come on you two. Instead of just standing around, you can help us get the tables ready," Pan said and Rion shrugged his shoulders.

"Looks like we're being put to work," he said and Trunks grinned.

"That's all right. I don't mind it," he replied.