Notes:
1.) All questions must be submitted in writing.
2.) Secondly, this story moves very fast, for the author assumes/presumes that all readers know the series and know what sort of characters the characters are.
3.) I care not for being 'authentic' for the characters and their characters (this IS intended to be rather light-hearted - nearly). I write via my own personal interpretation of the characters.
4.) Additional characters and their characters shall be made known at appropriate times.
5.) Please do not assume that this story takes place in real time (time may jump days or years or hours, etc.).
6.) Thank you.
~ Chapter One: The Princess and the Piccolo ~
Princess Soteira stared long and hard into her jewel-studded mirror. She tilted, turned, and jerked her head at every possible angle, so the light shone softly upon her every perfect (or what she thought) feature. An hour passed before Princess Soteira considered herself 'fit to be seen' by the public. She turned away from her precious mirror and fashionably lifted the skirt of her dress with one hand. The other hand was held delicately in the air, waiting for an unseen courtier to snatch it and kiss it.
Her head was held high, and with an obviously proud and arrogant air, Princess Soteira glided gracefully across the black marble floor of her large, high-ceiling bedroom. She passed a jeweled and golden arch and two statues of golden lions that guarded her door. Princess Soteira traveled past a small, but airy anteroom and speedily proceeded to the parlor.
The parlor was the medium of the anteroom and the bedroom. The parlor was spacious and had not a speck of dust or mite. There were three bookshelves, placed in strategically fashionable places about the room, as were the two settees, two stands, three chairs, one coffee table, and one writing desk. Some exotic flowering plants bloomed in various locations, giving the carpeted room a comfortable and earthy atmosphere. Princess Soteira paused a moment to glance at some of her possessions, and sighed with content pride in her furniture arrangement skills.
There is no equal to myself.
The sound of opening double doors caught Princess Soteira's attention. A tall and dark-skinned footman bowed low, in the expected formal fashion.
"Your Highness," he announced, rising from his bow, "Rhian, Second Prince of [former planet] Vegeta."
A slim, muscled youth with a tangle of pony-tailed brown hair noisily strode into the room. A wide, jolly grin was slapped across his face. He saw Princess Soteira standing in the middle of the room, and at once marched to her and embraced her.
"Soteira!" he cried, seizing the woman's waist and lifting her in the air.
"Rhian!" the princess objected, but Rhian swung her around like she was a small child.
"Rhian, please!" Soteira said, her voice strained.
Rhian knew the tone all too well and set her down immediately. Princess Soteira smoothed out her dress before speaking to him again.
"Rhian, what is it that you must urgently speak to me about?" she said, her voice again calm and creamy.
"Soteira," Rhian said, arm reaching for her waist again, "There is a pressing matter of exceeding importance that I must privately…"
The footman exited. Rhian paused as the footman closed the double doors. The former immediately flew to the double doors and looked outside them for any eavesdroppers. Rhian closed the doors again and locked them. With this done, he turned to Princess Soteira again.
"Soteira," Rhian began again, "I must…"
"Why did you lock the doors," Soteira interrupted, "What is…"
"Marry me, Soteira," Rhian cut in.
Soteira was stunned. Her pretty mouth hung openly undignified.
"You want me to marry you!?" she half shouted in amazement.
"Yes," said Rhian, then added, "please."
"But…we are cousins, Rhian!" Soteira objected.
"Third cousins."
"That is irrelevant!"
"The Prince Vegeta – what of him?"
"He is rumored to be dead."
"That's an old story."
Soteira pushed Rhian away from her.
"Marriage, Rhian…that is impossible! My father…"
"…Would be pleased," finished Rhian, "I already proposed the matter to him and he agrees with me that this match would be a great alliance between our two planets and bring tranquillity to the age-long wars that has been…"
"I do not care about the Wars!" Soteira interrupted, her face flushing, "What matters is that I do not love you!"
"Love me!" Rhian exclaimed, "Love me! Does not the peace of Vegeta and Caelian matter more? The Saiyajins on both sides are weary of fighting and do not want to continue…"
"Let them continue!" Soteira's eyes were blazing, "Let them waste away! The strongest will survive."
Rhian looked shocked.
"The blood of our strongest has been spilled…" he said, "What is the matter with you, Soteira?"
She turned away from him, but in a glance, Rhian knew. He backed away from her.
"You joined the rebels," he said in a choked voice, "You're in a plot against your father and my father…"
Soteira put on a weak and wry smile.
"I was always against the monarchy."
Rhian was nearly out of the room.
"Strange that you are one of them," he said, and darted out.
Soteira flew to the door and aimed. One shot was all she required. Rhian fell to the carpet, dead. Soteira slammed the double doors and locked them once again. She knew that few minutes would pass before Rhian's body and her guilt was found out. Quickly, and rather unruffled, Soteira went to her bedroom and reached under the bed. An already-packed suitcase was drawn out. In two more minutes, the princess prepared herself for escape, and was flying out of the window in less than two minutes. She joined a group of fellow rebel Saiyajins in the gardens and hurried away.
~
Piccolo heaved a great breath as he stepped off the spaceship. The smell of summer was breathed into his lungs and was well appreciated. Trapped in a spaceship and breathing recycled air was not a treasured activity. The Namekjin's feet touched the front lawn of Capsule Corporation and he walked a few steps before he heard the voice of Gohan crying with joy at the sight of his mother. His mother, however, muffled her son's proclamations in a bone-crushing hug, and her father, in turn, crushed the both of them. Bulma was heard chatting animatedly with her parents, talking as fast as she could about what happened on their adventures to Namek.
Disinterested in the people behind him, Piccolo hovered a foot off the ground, his arms crossed and his face in a frown. He was beginning to reacquaint himself with the earth beneath him when a streak of pain, minute as a pin, stabbed at him in the forehead. Piccolo's eyes snapped open, his senses shaken. The pain was gone. Piccolo glanced over his shoulder. Everyone was still animated, talking mindlessly about the experiences on Namek and gasping about it. Piccolo frowned.
How strange…
The stab came again, but it was more acute and in his third eye. Piccolo's eye twitched.
What is this?
He glimpsed at the buildings around him, including Capsule Corp. He noticed nothing unusual, and no one else seemed to notice anything else. Piccolo's attention finally rested upon the faraway northern mountains on his upper left (eleven o'clock). The pain came for a third time. This time, the pain was like a thick cobbler needle, and it took to his neck. Piccolo then shot off like an arrow before anyone noticed he was gone.
~
Princess Soteira lay on the ground in agony. Her limbs were twisted strangely and blood gushed. Her pale face was smudged, her golden hair mangled, and her once fine eyes were dimming. She smiled wryly as she thought of her fallen comrades, their parts aimlessly floating along with spaceship debris in space. She recalled the shock of the swiftness of the attack of her father's fleet on the rebel spaceship and how her comrades' faces became contorted with fear as all systems failed to save them.
Princess Soteira had, at one point, tried to communicate with her father, but her father did not reply. Obviously, he held no more love for his daughter than he had for all dead children he had before, even though Soteira was the strongest of them all. If only Soteira had been male, maybe he would have taken pity. A son to carry out the war, the peace, and the kingdom.
That's what he gets, Princess Soteira thought as another spasm of pain attacked her, for stabbing Mother in the back!
~
Piccolo searched quickly and efficiently. His tuning of chi did not sense any questionable levels of energy; therefore, his effort was fruitless. His stabbing pains, however, grew more intense and more often, till the pain was a knifing heartbeat. It had stabbed at different parts of his body, but lately had taken residence in Piccolo's heart. The rhythm of the pain synchronized with his heartbeat, convulsing with every beat and torturing Piccolo every time he breathed. The torment wreaked havoc with Piccolo's concentration until he found himself spiraling downwards into a thick part of some woods.
The Namekjin landed on his feet, but collapsed to his knees, clutching his chest. His breath was more ragged and labored, but the stabbing knew no pity. It continued to intensify and it dragged Piccolo the stony ground. He lay there, struggling to breathe and fight for his life. He did not think of the woman who lay not ten feet away from him until the smell of blood caught his attention.
Piccolo lifted his head, and the pain instantly halted. Surprised, and suddenly lightheaded, Piccolo stood up and surveyed the scene. To his upper right (one o'clock) was –
"A space pod!" Piccolo exclaimed in a half-whisper, "My god!"
His gaze immediately shifted to a trail of blood from the spaceship. The bloody footprints led to a little grassy furrow in the dirt-and-stone ground, where the body of a woman lay. Piccolo's eyes widened slightly, but he swiftly flew to the woman's side. His fingers went to her neck and then drew back. His fingertips were stained with blood. Piccolo checked the other injuries.
Her chi is weak, Piccolo thought as he began to gently pick her up with one arm, Who is she?
His gaze shifted to her face. It was smudged with dirt and blood. Nearly automatically, he wiped some of the dirt away, revealing freckles. Then, the fact hit Piccolo that this woman was rather pretty. His face suddenly flushed pink. Another fact occurred to him: he had never held a woman in his arms before. The Namekjin nearly dropped her in self-surprise. When he caught her, he found something even more interesting.
"A tail!"
The tail was nearly severed from its owner, and it hung limply. Piccolo took an immediate distrust for the woman (which would affect for a long time). He cleanly cut off the tail, but took it with him as he flew up in the air to head back for Capsule Corp.
~
"Piccolo!" Gohan was jumping up and down as Piccolo landed for the second time on the front lawn of Capsule Corp, "We missed you, where have you…"
The small boy's jaw dropped to the ground.
"Oh…my…gosh…" Gohan's eyes bulged from their sockets as Piccolo silently strode past him, "Who…What…"
Piccolo walked through the tall front door and into the living room, where everyone sitting down and sipping tea. They, too, like Gohan, dropped their jaws (and teacups) and widened their eyes when they saw the woman in Piccolo's arms. After two seconds, Bulma sprung from her seat and shook her head, snapping herself from reverie.
"What happened?" she asked brusquely, assuming her brisk, business side of her personality.
Piccolo briefly and quickly explained things as Bulma led him to a joint emergency room. The woman was quickly placed on an operating table and was examined by Doctor Briefs (Bulma's father) and Bulma.
"A Saiyajin," Bulma muttered, her eyes full of shock, but she struggled to keep her composure, "Just great."
In anger at the thought of more conquering Saiyajins, Bulma purposely straightened out the woman's broken leg too roughly, causing the woman to cry out in her unconsciousness.
"What are you doing," Piccolo demanded, putting his hand on Bulma's hand on the woman's leg, "You're…"
Bulma slipped her hand away from under his.
"You straighten her leg then," she replied agitatedly.
Piccolo flushed.
"Fine."
He straightened the leg. The woman's eyes snapped open.
"What the hell," she croaked, "Is your hand doing on my leg?"
Piccolo instantly took his hands away. He turned deep red. The woman tried to sit up, but she cried out in pain and lay down again.
"Where am I?" she demanded, "Who are you? What are you…"
"If we don't have any more limbs to straighten," interrupted Bulma, glancing at Piccolo to crack him a grin, "Then let's get her into the rejuvenation tank."
"Rejuvenation tank?" the woman's attention averted to a large machine across the room, "What? How do you humans have such technology? I thought…"
"Would you like to help, Piccolo?" Bulma teased, "Carry her, I mean."
Piccolo's blush deepened as he began to back out of the room.
"I need to meditate," he said, and fled the room.
The woman saw him disappear out the front door. She looked at Bulma.
"Who is he?"
~ Chapter Two: The Blarney Stone ~
The hours wore on. The woman was healed and she could be found sitting on a settee silently reading a human-written novel. Bulma was surprised at this. She had, somehow, the impression that no Saiyajins read anything anyone else wrote and how the woman could understand the language was beyond her. The woman ate what was given to her, but she had halted her questions of her state of being. She did not speak anymore than she had to, but she had flatly refused to answer any of Bulma's questions or anything else regarding where she came from, etc. from other people.
To Bulma, the woman seemed only interested in where Piccolo was and how he had come to find her. Bulma told her all that Piccolo had told her, but the woman did not seem satisfied; so, she just sat on the settee and read, as if she was waiting for Piccolo to return to her and tell her something important.
"It would seem she's interested in Piccolo," Bulma said to Chi Chi (Gohan's mother) privately in the kitchen, "Or something."
"I don't trust her," Chi Chi replied curtly, "We should drug her."
"She doesn't want anything else to drink or eat," Bulma said.
"Don't you have sleeping gas or something?" Chi Chi suggested, "That doesn't smell? Those Saiyajins have sharp noses."
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do," said Bulma, "I'll get it."
The woman may had heard, but neither of the two other women knew, for when they returned with the gas, she was gone.
"She's still got a broken arm and leg," said Bulma as she went to the window, "And a broken hand, four fingers, three toes, wrist, and foot."
Chi Chi sighed.
"Why didn't she break her neck?"
~
Piccolo had seated himself in a cave near a waterfall. Hours had worn by and he had not moved from his spot. He meditated himself into a state when he could shut out everything else. Right now, he was talking to Kami, (his grandfather's good half) and Nail about the woman.
Piccolo: I don't understand the stabbing pain, Kami. It started nearly immediately after I exited the spaceship and touched the ground. The pain increased as I reached the northern mountains
Kami: Is this when you found the woman in question
Piccolo: Yes. I fell to the ground and found her not ten feet away from where I lay
Nail: Where was the spaceship
Piccolo: Wedged in a tree. It was a space pod, not unlike the models of Vegeta and Nappa's pods
Nail: This could mean another invasion
Kami: Or it could not. Did you examine the pod
Piccolo: No. I only glanced at it. I expect Bulma and her father will examine the pod later
Nail: They might not find much
Kami: You should inspect the spaceship now, Piccolo – there may be an explanation of why you – particularly – had to find this woman
Nail: Probably because he's the only guy who could carry her
Piccolo: She is not fat
Nail: What
Kami: Enough. Her measure of body fat does not account for Piccolo's heart pains
Nail: Even after all this time of being merged with you, Piccolo – I still don't understand you
Piccolo: Humph
Kami: Back to our original subject… Piccolo, you must investigate the spaceship – before someone else finds it and messes about with whatever evidence may be in the pod
Piccolo: "Right."
The Namekian rose from his seat and flew out of the cave mouth.
~
Princess Soteira took care to fly amongst the tops of the trees. She was in the mountains again, in the very wood where she had fallen. Her purpose was to find her ship. When she arrived, however, at the location, she found a certain Namekjin already messing about. He was – surprisingly – washing away the trail of blood from the ground. Princess Soteira hovered above the ground and watched him with some fascination. Her suspense, however, was suspended by her curiosity.
"What are you doing?" she called out to Piccolo.
Piccolo did not turn his head. He had sensed her presence long before.
"Your blood," he said, "it…unnerved me."
She cocked her head, rather like a bird.
"I thought Namekjins weren't afraid of such trivialities."
"We aren't," he said quickly, "It's just you."
"Just me?" the woman dared to fly a few feet towards him, "I am beginning to think that you must like me, Namekjin – or Piccolo, as that other woman told me."
"Yes, my name is Piccolo," said Piccolo, his back still turned on her (and avoiding her statement), "That other woman is Bulma."
"Odd name for a girl."
The corner of Piccolo's mouth tugged into a small half-smile.
She says the word 'girl' like 'gel'.
"GIRL," Piccolo heard Princess Soteira say loudly.
"I thought you could read my mind," said Piccolo.
"Read your mind?" Princcess Soteira raised her eyebrow slightly; "I am not familiar with that phrase."
"Then why…?"
"I've always prided myself on being perfect," Soteira fingered her insignia ring, "I'm royal-born – so I try to pronounce words as they are to be pronounced. I still slip up sometimes, though."
Typical Saiyajin, thought Piccolo, nearly rolling his eyes.
"My father was the brother-in-law of King Vegeta. My mother was sister to King Vegeta's queen. I have had seven other brothers and sisters, but they are all dead now, and so is my mother."
She paused. Piccolo, for the first time, looked at her over his shoulder. He thought she looked rather becoming in the soft sunlight coming through the pine trees. She looked like one of those skinny models: blonde hair, sparkling eyes, and tall stature. She did not have bony structure nor was her body overly voluptuous. The woman possessed neither enormous bust nor anything that suggested plumpness. In other words: nearly perfect. Her freckles were not very flattering after all. Piccolo turned back to his work. Nearly all of the ghastly liquid was gone now.
"Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?" Piccolo said, "Your Perfect Highness?"
"How dare you," responded she, "Namekjins are always so rude."
"Only I," replied Piccolo, "I will be courteous when I see fit."
"I am royalty," she said haughtily, "And a beauty."
"That is immaterial to my behavior."
"My beauty may be, but you cannot ignore my blood."
"Literally."
"And expressively."
"Certainly."
"Therefore, you must address me by my proper title: Your Highness, Princess Soteira of…"
"Soteira? Is that your name?"
"Yes, as you should know."
"I do not think I would."
"But you do."
"Only because you said it."
"Only because you asked."
"Only because it reminds me of someone."
"Who?"
She seemed a little jealous, and Piccolo was pleased.
"I did not think a princess of such high stature would be interested in the affairs of so base a peasant," said Piccolo smugly.
He felt her chi rise slightly. Piccolo straightened up, his work finished.
"If you shall excuse me," he said, taking a mock bow, "I have pressing previous engagement to attend, Your Highness, Princess Soteira of Perfection."
He turned towards the space pod, which was still wedged in the tree. Princess Soteira flew forward.
"Wait, that is my spaceship!"
She put a hand on Piccolo's shoulder, restraining him.
"Ouch!" she drew back her hand, "Damn, I forgot – my hand is broken."
Piccolo went to the spaceship.
"Stop!" Soteira cried, flying to him.
He pivoted around and caught her by her shoulders.
"Ouch!" she said, wincing, "The arm – that's broken, too."
"What else is broken?" Piccolo raised an eyebrow arch.
She gave a ready account.
"You should have stayed at Capsule Corp."
"I wanted to see you."
"Why?"
"Did you feel pain before you found me?"
"Yes – what did you do?"
"I had nothing to do with your pain."
"Then why did it only stop when I found you?"
"First, where did you feel the first stab of pain?"
Piccolo paused to think.
"My forehead," he said after a few seconds.
"Then it is true," said Soteira.
"What?"
She looked at him, and her eyes were glazed and dull.
"You've been poisoned."
~
Bulma pulled a pair of goggles off her face and shook her head.
"I am absolutely bewildered," she remarked to Piccolo, "I have never seen any poison such as this. The structure of the poison is fascinating – it's rather like a virus, only…"
"How long before I die?" Piccolo's question was directed at Soteira, who was hovering above the ground.
"Die? Are you jesting?" Soteira said, "This is not a fatal poison, if that is your question."
"What does it do, then?" Piccolo demanded.
Soteira shrugged.
"I do not know – the poison has been attributed to anything from internal bleeding to incurable diseases."
She took a deep breath and named as many diseases Piccolo could be inflicted with. Bulma gaped at her.
"That's gotta be blarney! I've never even heard of those diseases!"
"Foreign diseases," Soteira said, "You only become inflicted by sharp contact with this stone."
Soteira took off her insignia ring and showed it to Bulma. Bulma took a loupe and examined it.
"It's a beautiful ring," Bulma commented, handing it back to Soteira, "What's it called?"
"Nurtha-chysos-sri," Soteira replied, uttering Saiyajin tongue, "The first two words are 'Naenia-Nessos' in ancient Saiyajin high-priest dialect…"
"Sri," Piccolo repeated, "That's Namekjin…"
"…For 'poison'," finished Soteira, "The stone is commonly called 'Nessos', because of…"
"Never mind the name," Bulma said, throwing her hands up in the air, "Where does it come from?"
"Origin is obscure," said Soteira, "It's like a plant, really. When in the right type of rock, veins grow in masses. Commercially, the stone is hardly deadly, usually because of poor quality. The best stones are grown in specially selected locations on such planets as Vegeta, Namek, and few others, and the stone can be fatal by merely scratching skin."
"Oh," Bulma said, suddenly checking her hands for scratches, "Um…"
"Cure?" Piccolo asked.
"None," said Soteira.
Piccolo was stunned, but he struggled for composure.
"Ah," he said, then a little shaken, "I'll have to tell Kami."
~
Piccolo meditated, conversing with Kami and Nail in his mind while Bulma harassed Soteira with questions about the Nessos stone. Most of the questions were meaningless, some of them involved how the stone was grown, etc. Soon enough, Bulma wanted to plant and harvest her own garden of Nessos.
"Do you banter?" Soteira asked, both of her eyebrows shooting up, "You want to grow Nessos?"
"If we grow some," Bulma argued, "I'll be able to study the stone and perhaps create a cure – since you won't let me cut up your ring."
"I have just narrated the dangers of…"
"I'll wear gloves," cut in Bulma, waving her hand, "Extra thick."
Soteira drew in her breath.
"I suppose…" she began.
"It's settled!" Bulma whooped, "How long will it take to grow?"
"It depends on the rock," said Soteira dryly.
"Okay. How 'bout the northern mountain rock?"
"A decent quality – two years for a good crop."
"We should look around a bit," suggested Bulma, "Just pick me up and we'll fly around."
"Royalty do not carry the peasantry," said Soteira stiffly.
Bulma scowled, but Piccolo smiled with his eyes closed.
"I'll just go by myself," said Soteira, flying a little towards the door.
"I don't tr---" started Bulma, but Piccolo rose from his seat.
"I don't trust her, either," said Piccolo, taking Soteira's arm, "I'll take her, Bulma."
Bulma grinned, Piccolo blushed, and Soteira scowled.
"I will not be escorted by…" she began, but Piccolo gave her a shove towards the door.
"Let's go, Princess."
When the two were safely outside, Princess Soteira whirled around (still hovering) and glared at Piccolo.
"I refuse to be seen with a lowly peasant," she spat at him.
Piccolo crossed his arms and looked down at her.
"I will be a footman, then," he said.
She snorted.
"Footmen attend to the horses," she said.
"You are no horse," said Piccolo.
"Neigh," she replied sarcastically.
"Ah! You are after all," Piccolo said, and swept her off her feet and threw her over his shoulder.
"Ouch!" Soteira shrieked, "My broken bones! I order you to put me down, or you will suffer the consequences! This is not dignified!"
Piccolo flew up in the air.
"Be quiet, my 'sweet little mare'," Piccolo chastised, "Horses aren't supposed to talk."
"Neither are asses," promptly responded she, "They bray such light nonsense."
"Not so light for you to catch! Their talk is heavy as it should be."
"Heavy! Pregnant with their jabber."
"Women! Pregnant with mistake!"
"How dare you with your wit!"
"'Tis from my father tongue."
"A witty father! Witless else his son."
"What? Am I not wise?"
"Yes, keep you warm."
"Ah! Here is a mountain."
Piccolo flew down to the foot of an active volcano. He did not release Soteira, but handed her a sample of rock. She fingered it, then tossed it aside.
"It is good," she remarked, "One year."
Piccolo mentally marked the location of the volcano in his mind as he and Soteira traveled from place to place. More than half the time, the quality of rock was 'poor' or 'intolerable'. Others were 'somewhat lacking' or 'sufferable, but lacking strength'. After some time, Piccolo took Soteira under seas to examine submerged volcanoes, canyons, and mountains. Most of them hardly fared better than their dry counterparts.
"That last one, the Marianna Trench," commented Soteira when she and Piccolo were returning to Capsule Corporation, "Why did we not…Is something the matter?"
She had felt his chi waver. Piccolo wiped his forehead.
"I feel…rather…tired…" he yawned, "I must…rest…"
"We are in midair!" objected Soteira, "You are carrying me! And I – surely – cannot carry you!"
"I…must…"
Piccolo's heavy eyelids drooped, then shut. He began to plunge towards earth. Soteira did not hesitate. She freed herself from his grasp and flew beneath him. With her good arm, Soteira quickly constructed a net made out of chi. She netted Piccolo with this, and, with great effort, carried him in the net back the miles to Capsule Corp.
~
Three days had passed since Soteira and Piccolo's flight around the world. Piccolo lay slumbering in a guest bedroom, and Gohan had reported that Kami was asleep in his tower. Both seemed to experience nightmares, for they screamed and cried in their sleep, clawing at unseen enemy. They also muttered unintelligible words and chants in their frenzy. The only clear phrase they ever uttered, which was always at their worst and most intense moments, was a desperate, pleading, tearing "Somebody help me!" In vain did everyone attempt to wake the two Namekjins. Nothing could stir them from their constant torment.
On the first night, Bulma had plunged a Nessos-stone dagger (from Soteira) into the side of a suitable volcano. Since then, she worked day and night to care for her poisonous garden. Her first pebble had sprung by the third day, which spurred the intelligent scientist to harder hours and more deprived sleep. There was not a moment when she was not babbling scientific equations or spurting out horticultural-geological-growing questions for Soteira.
Soteira, who had said countless times that the growing of Nessos stones was actually a rather simple, but time-and-energy-consuming process, felt plagued and tiresome of the inquiries. She took to hiding her chi and concealing her person when Bulma approached. Many a time Bulma recruited others hanging around to find Soteira in a mock game of hide-and-seek.
Soteira often felt an urge to visit Piccolo's room and just gaze upon his face. She resisted her whims, however, for her pride prevented such associations with the lower orders. Instead, she observed the Namekjin tossing and turning in his nightmares from the safety of a tree (placed at poor angle) outside his window. She dared not hover by the window, lest be tempted to enter the room itself.
"She's grown wane and thin," Mrs. Briefs remarked to Bulma on the fifth day of Piccolo's slumber, "I wish she'd eat more. She was skinny before; but now, she's an absolute stick!"
"She's probably feeling guilty that she poisoned Piccolo," said Bulma, swallowing some bitter coffee, "What else could it be?"
"What? Purposely poisoning Piccolo? No such thing!" argued Mrs. Briefs.
Bulma rolled her eyes.
"You're too trusting, Mother. You even trust Vegeta!"
"Well…"
"Anyway, I think that Soteira poisoned Piccolo. He's the strongest now that Goku and Vegeta are…"
"But I thought Gohan was the strongest now."
Bulma stopped in mid-sip.
"Ye-e-es," Bulma said, "Technically, that could be true…"
"So it couldn't be that Soteira poisoned Piccolo!" said Mrs. Briefs happily.
"Maybe, maybe not," Bulma protested, "I don't trust Soteira. She possesses the only Nessos stones to poison anyone: pins, jewelry, weaponry…"
"Coincidence," Mrs. Briefs said.
"Or not," said Bulma, sipping her coffee.
~
Outside the kitchen, Soteira quickly retraced her steps back to the front door. Unbeknownst to Bulma and her mother, the princess had heard every word in the exchange. Soteira had never approved of eavesdropping before, but Bulma, proud owner of a bossy and commanding personality, possessed an exceedingly loud voice; therefore, Soteira could not help but hear Bulma's words as the princess passed by the kitchen.
At first, she was a little shocked. Literally, she wanted to injure Bulma – in any way possible, as long as Bulma felt pain.
How dare she talk of her superior in this manner!
Then, after thinking about it, Soteira decided that the situation be best dealt with while sitting in the tree outside Piccolo's window.
Mayhap the footman will awake – and save me the trouble of punishing that lowly maidservant.
That always calmed her.
~
At nearly three in the morning, Piccolo awoke from his slumber. Everyone was asleep then. Well, almost everyone: Soteira had stayed in the tree since the early afternoon. She was then the first to attend to Piccolo.
"Footman," she said at his bedside.
"Princess," replied he, sitting up, "I had not the pleasure."
He took her hand and kissed it. Shocked, Soteira drew back her hand.
How dare he kiss my hand!
"So courteous," she said icily, immediately suspicious of the glint in his eyes, "What is wrong with you?"
"I'm fine," replied an oily voice that was not Piccolo's voice, "I feel – refreshed."
The Namekjin pulled away the covers. He was wearing only a pair of pants. Soteira's cheeks tinged pink. The Namekjin now stood, in Soteira's opinion, a little too close to her royal personage. She took a step back. He stepped forward. His leering obsidian-colored eyes made the princess more than uneasy.
"You're awfully gorgeous," he said, tilting his head like a bird's, "Why do you step away? I have always thought you have had always a fancy for me."
"Prudence directs me to select alternate courses," replied she.
"Prudence," mused the Namekjin, "Prudence…"
Soteira slipped away towards the window. The other grasped her arm.
"Ouch," she winced, "That arm is still broken."
He released her.
"I forgot."
She gave him disproving look.
"I see."
She was nearly outside the window now. The Namekjin was at the window now, leaning in towards her. He still had a very un-Piccolo-like expression.
"You will return, won't you, Prudence?" said the Namekjin, "I do enjoy – no, require – your presence."
There was a hint of a scowl on the princess's face.
"Footmen do not order royalty about," she said with finality.
He tried to kiss her, but she flew out the window and hovered in air just out of his reach.
"I shall come and go as I please," said Soteira, crossing her arms stubbornly.
"Oh, Prudence," replied the other, "You are…"
"A footman's word could never flatter me."
She turned away and flew into the night.
~ Chapter Three: About a Namekjin ~
The Namekjin watched the princess become enveloped by the darkness. He had a smile of his very own. He hummed an impromptu song to himself as he dressed.
A sword, a sword has been sharpened
A sword, a sword has been spent
A sword to work slaughter, this great sword of slaughter
Who wields the weapon?
Who wields the dawn?
A lady has appeared, a princess daughter
She strikes down all around
The air strewn with sound
Of many who fall to the great sword of slaughter
A knock fell upon the door.
"Mister Piccolo, sir?" someone's voice could be heard, "Are you awake? I thought I heard a noise."
A short boy of six or seven years of age entered the room. His hairs on his were black and neatly trim; his eyes round and black; and his face of boyish proportions. This was Gohan (one of Piccolo closest friends). He looked up at earnestly his former teacher.
"Oh, you're awake!" Gohan said, his eyes shining, "I'm glad. You've been asleep for five days – six, if you include today. It's three in the morning."
"Thank you for telling me," replied the other, then paused before adding, "Gohan."
"Are you okay?" Gohan asked, "You seemed to have nightmares in your sleep. Kami, too."
The other hesitated for one second.
"I was fine. It was probably the stone."
"Well, I'm glad you're feeling better. Do you want anything to eat? Or drink, maybe?"
"Um, yes, of course. Water."
"Okay. I'll tell Bulma you're up."
"That is fine."
Gohan shut the door. He paused, however, before descending a flight of stairs, and looked over his shoulder at the door to Piccolo's room.
"I guess…it's all right now."
The boy fetched the glass of water.
~
"Well, everything appears normal."
Bulma lifted her head from a microscope. She had just finished examining a sample of blood.
"No mutations, no signs of an integrated virus…" Bulma continued, "I'm beginning to believe that poison stone stuff was just blarney."
"Then blarney it is," agreed the Namekjin sitting on the operation table, "Some poison stone that turned out to be."
Bulma began to put away her medical equipment.
"Then I guess there's no need for my Nessos garden," she said, "But it's such a pretty stone."
The Namekjin (still not wearing a shirt) got off the operating table and stood awfully close to Bulma. She didn't seem to notice him behind her.
"Indeed it is," said the Namekjin, sniffing Bulma's hair, "Mmm…flowers."
"No, it wouldn't look very good with flowers," said Bulma, turning around, "They'd…oh, excuse me, Piccolo, you're in the way."
She pushed past him and started to clean the microscope slides in a sink.
"You see, it's a gray-colored gemstone. There is no such thing as a gray-colored gemstone. Well, anyway, gray doesn't go well with flowers. No, wait, I take that back. It'd go well with bluish flowers, like those orchids I saw the other day in the grocery store…"
Bulma turned around to find the Namekjin standing close to her again.
"What's up with you, Piccolo?" she said, becoming aggravated, "Go put a shirt on."
"I'm…" began the Namekjin, but Bulma yawned.
"Geez, I'm tired. I'm going to bed."
She exited the room, switching the lights off.
"It's nice to have you awake, Piccolo," she called, "Goodnight – or, morning."
The sounds of her footsteps could be heard down the hall. The Namekjin poked his head out of the room, watching Bulma in the dark.
"Dumb she is, poor gel (girl)," said the Namekjin, "I shall have to show her what I intend to do."
He followed Bulma to her bedroom.
~
Soteira hugged her knees and watched the lights of the city flicker and shine from the safety of her leafy perch. She had not flown far from Capsule Corporation, but there was enough distance between her and the strange Namekjin not to come into contact. Now, the princess pondered about Piccolo – or whoever he was – and his sudden change in personality.
"He remembers his manners," she mused, "In my opinion, not the Piccolo I know. Piccolo would, of course, know his manners, but he would hardly act upon them (or mayhap he did act upon them). He has that sort spirit about…"
She shook her head.
"I digress from the subject. I must not daydream… The Namekjin tries to kiss my royal personage. That is a grave offense – and Piccolo would not dare – that is a second point. Thirdly, the look playing about his features is not of Piccolo's characteristics, unless I am very much mistaken in the fact that Namekjins are asexual. Fourthly…no, perhaps not."
Soteira shifted her position. She took to sitting upon a tree branch with her ankles crossed instead.
"Now, the possibilities: 1.) Piccolo is actually fine, but is temporarily out of his senses; 2.) The Nessos stone has 'screwed' his a-sexuality; 3.) Piccolo is in the right mind, but is feeling, shall I say, puckish? 4.) Bulma injected some sort of Earthling medicine into Piccolo's system (How dares she! And without my permission!); 5.) Kami's fault; 6.) Nail's fault; 7.) Outside forces are at their devious work."
Soteira leaned on the branch. She was feeling awfully tired to think about it.
~
Notes:
1.) Pronunciation of Names:
Soteira – SEW / TEAR / UH.
Coincidentally, 'Soteira' is another name for the Greek goddess Athena, who was not only the goddess of wisdom, but of cunning and clever military planning.
Rhian – RYAN or RYE / HAN, however you wish. I do not care particularly for this name.
Caelian – KAW / EL / LI / AHN.
Coincidentally
2.) Third Eye (Second Scene) – this term is not applied literally to Piccolo. The term refers to the area that is between one's two eyes, just before the nose starts. Pinching this area is supposed to relax oneself or stop tears (the author has not applied this method to either instance, and therefore cannot verify the truth of either situation).
3.) Gel – with a hard 'g' (such as 'gorgeous').
4.) Gemstones do not grow like plants. They take years to form, due to the slow process of nature and its forces.
5.) Marianna Trench – (am not sure of the spelling) is the deepest oceanic trench in the world. The trench is located in the Pacific Ocean.
6.) Credits to Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" and the movies "Shrek" and "If the Shoe Fits".