AN: Wow! My first Author's note. So exciting! Anyway, as you can probably derive, this is my first story (that I have the guts to actually post) and it's an AU, because the traditional '3 years' has been done to boredom in my opinion, unless you're a legend like niteryde, and not your average author wannabe like me.

So, in this story Bulma's a Mermaid and Vegeta is… well, Vegeta. Here goes nothing:

Disclaimer: (Another first. Yay! *clears throat*) I don't own Dragon Ball Z or any of the characters related to the anime in any way. They're all the property of Akira Toriyama and all those animation companies that brought it to life. I'm just borrowing them 'cause I love them.

Chapter 1 (Oh My Scales!)

Bulma stared at her reflection in shocked horror. Her cerulean eyes shifting disbelievingly from the dusty rose pebble of soft skin exposed on her otherwise dark-scaled chest, to the single ultramarine scale she now held between her webbed fingers. The scale had, but a moment ago, been firmly secured to the crown of her right breast; and now –her life might as well be over.

The Mermaid had woken up with the most intense of chest itches and after furiously clawing at the scales found there, this had been the result: one scale –a single scale had been loosened and lost; and her befuddled mind took its sweet time digesting the monumental implications. From the corner of her eye she caught the reflected gaze of her twin sister, Marron. Her turquoise eyes were also fixed on the scale in Bulma's hand and were wide and with awe.

As a telepathic race, the Merfolk are also often sensitive to their fellowmer's emotions, and since the two Mermaids are as close as any pair of twins could be, Marron had easily sensed and was woken by Bulma's distress. Like Bulma, Marron had also immediately seen what was causing all the consternation, yet a quick peek into her sister's mind revealed joy and reverence and not the animosity that Bulma accosted it.

Sensing her sister's attention, Marron shifted her eyes to meet those of her twin and finally spoke:

'Oh, Bulma!' she squealed, 'Do you know what this means?' Bulma grimaced. Of course she what it meant, the losing of a mammalian mermaid's chest scales can only have one conclusion, she thought, and glared bitterly at her exposed nipple. She was to be a Breeder.

'No!' Bulma projected her vicious denial, though, not in reply to Marron's obviously rhetorical question. Marron's cheery disposition vanished and was replaced by utter confusion. She stared at Bulma with a troubled expression and Bulma soon felt the telepathic tendrils of her twin, probing at her shielded thoughts. Marron, was by no means a strong telepath and after a minute of futile poking she gave up with an exasperated sigh.

'I don't understand, Bulma! You've been endowed with the ability to reproduce. The great Neptune himself has lovingly blessed you!' she projected passionately .

Bulma, still glaring hatefully at the exposed skin on the apex of her right breast, laughed bitterly. She should have known that Marron would see it this way, what else can one expect from a palace priestess.

'It is more a curse than a blessing, Sister. I am a warrior, not a Breeder. I would die before I let myself be gang-raped and have my uterus abused at the whim of a bunch of greedy old farts!'

Marron's eyes widened, shocked at her sister's callous projected thoughts. She looked around fearfully for a moment, verifying the no-one was in radar distance so as to pick up her sister's seditious thoughts before returning an angry gaze to Bulma. 'You dare speak so rudely of the Queen's Council? That could be seen as treason!'

Another bitter laugh, 'What can they do to me, Marron?' she challenged haughtily. 'I'm the strongest warrior in the Queen's army – '

'They are strong too, Bulma.'

'They are old and feeble.' Bulma continued as if the interruption had not taken place. 'I am the seventh daughter of Queen'

'Eighth'

'Keep dreaming Marron. I was born first.'

'Says you' Marron griped.

'I am a General of her military forces,' Bulma went on, ignoring her sister, 'Captain to her Imperial Guard. Our people are awed and in fear of my ferocious reputation and cunning… ' she continued gloating, but was again interrupted by her Marron's mutterings: 'Yes, yes: Bulma the Bull shark, the powerful and courageous –bla bla bubbly bla.' Marron drawled , rolling her eyes as she had heard the very speech a thousand times over. Bulma frowned. There was momentary silence as the only things projected between the two telepathic creatures were emotions of stubborn resentment and teasing amusement.

'My point is,' Bulma continued loudly and Marron winced at the force of the interjection, 'The Council would not dare to put me in the ranks of the Queen's breeders-in-waiting. I'm too much of a military and political asset.'

Even as Bulma projected the thought, she knew she was only fooling herself. Marron knew it too, since Bulma felt her sigh.

'Bulma,' she started again, cautiously. 'You know if it is discovered that you are fertile, you will not be left as you are, especially because of your high rank as a warrior. Don't you see? This is exactly why the great Sea God had blessed you with this gift! It's our tradition; only the strongest of the queen's breeding daughter's will one day ascend to the thrown and you're the strongest in the whole of the domain… The strongest one –' Marron trailed off softly. Suddenly her eyes lit with an epiphany –a truly astonishing feat since it was well known that Marron definitely was not the brightest anglerfish in the deep sea.

'The Prophecy!' The priestess shrieked excitedly,

"When stars decide to touch the sea. Blue is called to blend with black... Uhm...The strongest one must chosen be. The barren trident to bring back. A brown-tailed one with lilac hair. The golden crown he is to wear." 'Something like that'

By the time Marron was done reciting the Prophecy of their people her eyes were wide as saucers as she stared at her twin. This did not bode well for Bulma.

'Great. Just Great!' Bulma thought sarcastically, careful to conceal her thoughts. 'Now she thinks I'm some kind of foreseen Messiah. What the Kelp have they been brainwashing her in that damned temple?' If there was ever any hope that Bulma could have swayed her twin into assisting her in her to escape, her fanatical little speech had just dashed it. Nevertheless, Bulma tried again: 'Marron, there hasn't been a male heir in five generations. What makes you think that I would change that?'

'I know you will. Why else would a great warrior like yourself develop fertility so far into your adult life?' Marron continued with unshakable faith. 'You're the strongest one –I know you are. Bulma, with you as Queen we can unite our broken Kingdom once and for all time. You will definitely be the one to give birth to the brown-tailed one, our long awaited King, oh this is so exciting –I must inform the Council.' Bulma shook her head, projecting all her frustration at her own twin's naivety.

'Marron, no! If I become Queen I, like our mother, will be forced to give birth every cycle for the rest of my life! I will never see a battlefield again. How could you possibly think I would be happy about this? I'm sorry Marron, but that is simply too much to bear… I'm not doing it.'

Marron froze, halfway through the door.

'I don't understand Bulma. Our city has waited 300 years for the you to appear –

'Who the kelp says that that stupid prophecy is about me anyway?' Bulma screeched.

'But.. you're the strongest.. The Prophecy says'

'Marron, the Prophecy is nothing but a myth; created to cover up the fact that the Queen's –our bloodline has been corrupted generations ago…'

'Sacrilege! Surely you don't believe that' Marron continued in an anguished whisper.

'Marron!' Bulma snapped, her wrath tangible. Marron cringed. 'Don't be stupid. Not one of this city's Queens or their breeding daughters have been able to produce a healthy male heir for hundreds of years now! Our rival Kingdoms have been exploiting this weakness and our city has suffered immensely, but ever since I've taken up the position of General we've been holding our own. I belong on a battlefield, Marron. I would only be wasting my life if I were to become the figurehead of this city.'

'What are you going to do then, Bulma? Are you going to hide this gift and deprive your own people of a better future?' Marron's snarled.

'Damn it, Marron!' Bulma snapped angrily, 'This is not some gift from the gods! This is nothing but bad luck!' she continued, clawing at her breast, for emphasis, wincing when more scales were being scraped off by her harsh nails. Marron cried out, sinking to the floor with her hands clutching her head and Bulma, realizing that she was causing her sister physical pain with her fierce emotional explosion, abruptly ceased screaming, reining in her anger until it was no longer projecting. With a light swish of her tail she was at her Marron's side, gently helping her upright. Then, in a more gentle manner added:

'Marron, I'm leaving. I'm not sticking around long enough for the Council to get their slimy hand on me. Being fertile is the worst thing that could have happened to me, but my soldiers are well trained and there are many strong warriors in my command who have great potential.' Marron was shaking her head in denial and finally let out a sorrowful wail. 'I've done a lot for this monarchy, but all I have done I have done willingly, because –let's face it: I'm not the self-sacrificing type… That said, I'll need you to me one last favour, sister..'

Marron glared angrily at her sister, which is probably to be expected. 'I can't believe you!' she replied, shoving her sister away from her. 'You betray us so carelessly and still you expect me to help you?' Marron was completely livid. 'It was worth a shot.' Bulma thought to herself with a sad sigh as she watched her sister storm from the room, the strong backlash caused by Marron's hastily exiting tail nearly spun Bulma in her place. She considered swimming after her, but decided the risk was too great. Marron's vision would clearly see her as the next Queen, which meant she could not be trusted to stay silent. With a defeated glance at her right breast, now even more bare because of her overzealous tirade, Bulma decided that if their were ever a time to escape, it would be immediately.

AN: So, there you go. My first official attempt at unleashing my imagination. Hope you all like it and Review, because I REALLY need the motivation. Oh –also, I'm looking for a Beta.