Dreamer: Ok, hello everyone! This is my first DBZ fic and I hope you like it! This story is going to contain: B/V and CC/K (G)! But the other characters will be in it too. This story is AU and takes place on Vegeta-sei, atleast for now. All the characters, as far as I have decided (though I might change my mind) are saiyan. This is the prologue! I really, really hope you enjoy it! On with the story.
Disclaimer: I am the ruler of the world, I own DBZ or my pen name is Dreamer. Only one of these is true… can you guess which one??? J
"words" = speaking
'words' = thought
**words**= flashbacks
Prologue: Blue Crystal
A seven-year-old prince bolted out of the room, close to tears, as his father bellowed after him. "Come back here, Vegeta! I mean it! You'll regret ever being born to me if you leave this room! COME BACK!" The king shouted hoarsely at his small son's retreating back. Vegeta leaped into the air and began racing dangerously down the halls. Small drops of shimmering water slid down his cheeks and fell to the carpeted floor as he bucketed through the hallways, his mind still ringing with his father's words. Vegeta let out a small cry of misery as the scene played over in his mind.
**"Vegeta, my son, why won't you play with your brother?" King Vegeta inquired gently, glancing back at the pouting boy behind him, and then to his proud heir. Vegeta's eyes narrowed in annoyance for a moment, before his lips twisted into a sneer.
"Father, I will never consider that disgrace of a weakling to be my brother." Vegeta growled lowly. The small 7-year-old hiding behind the King's leg cringed at Vegeta's harsh response and grabbed tighter to his pants. Vegeta smirked at him with disdain and returned his eyes to his father. King Vegeta's gaze hardened and his voice became sharp. "He is my son and therefore your brother! And you will respect him as such!"
Vegeta flared at his father's defense of the child, resentment and pride taking control of his senses. "That pathetic half-breed is not my brother! He is the bastard of some saiyan whore that you took! His mother has no royal blood and is a slut! Just because he is your son doesn't mean he is royal in any way. He will never be my brother. My brother would be born to my mother and wouldn't be such a weak baby! He is illegitimate! Therefore he is a bastard and I would have to shame my family to play with such a thing!" Vegeta roared, his voice breaking with rage and indignation.
Smack!
The sound of the slap across Vegeta's face resounded throughout the luxurious playroom and then faded into silence. Vegeta slowly raised his hand to his cheek, staring in horror and disbelief at his fuming father. His voice grave and cruel, King Vegeta addressed his son with flashing eyes, "Don't you EVER call Kakkarot that! Don't you EVER! He is the most special child that has ever lived in this court and as MY son; he will NEVER be a bastard! He is the son I always wanted. Strong, fierce and merciful! If you were half the son he was, the maybe you would be fit to be my heir."
A cold wind swept into the room through an open window. Vegeta watched dumbly as a soft white curtain billowed gently against the window, caressing the wind as it flitted through the room. Suddenly, a violent wind ripped from the air, taking hold of the curtain and tearing it from its hangings and to the dark floor. Vegeta suddenly felt very numb. A searing rage scorched within him, burning all other emotions in its path. Vegeta gave Kakkarot a venomous glare, his eyes becoming furied slits. "I will make you pay, Kakkarot!" Vegeta snarled with a hate that tainted the once innocent air of the room, "I will defeat you and destroy you! Then I will prove that I am your true son, father. I am the only one who deserves your love and praise. I am the heir and I will prove to everyone that I am the only real prince! I WILL PROVE IT!" And with that, Vegeta fled the room, leaving an outraged father and a stunned Kakkarot.**
A small tear fell off Vegeta's face and was flung behind him as he flew at top speeds through the desolate hallways. Servants jumped out of the way and cursed him as he fled in desperation, but he ignored them and pointedly wiped the tears from his cheeks. He was the heir to the Vegeta-sei thrown, the boy who would one day rule over an entire planet and make subjects cower at his feet. He was the child whose blood lines traced him back to the Legendary and who would one day be the strongest Saiyan alive. He was Vegeta, Prince Vegeta, and he didn't cry.
Someone yelled something frantically to his side and he jerked his head up just in time to see that he was heading headfirst into a window. Letting a savage cry escape from his parched lips, Vegeta covered his head and crashed painfully into the window, shattering the peaceful glass, and sending it twinkling to the ground 65 feet below. Knocked unconscious by the ruthless impact and flying too fast to stop, Vegeta was flung limply over the courtyard gates and into the dank streets of the city outside the palace walls.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Bye Bulma! I'll see you tomorrow! Meet you outside the fort at 7:00am!" A cheerful little girl called over her shoulder to her friend, waving her tail at her enthusiastically. The child had raven hair and an unusual jet-black tail. Her smile was sweet and loving and her cheeks were slightly rosy from the cold of the winter air. Without another word, the small girl turned around a corner and disappeared from her friend's sight, heading for home.
Bulma smiled after her best friend Chi Chi, her eyes sparkling with mischief and a tiny bit of sadness at seeing her friend head for home. She sighed and turned to walk back to her own home, not that she would be missed. Bulma's family had once been happy; though poor they were talented scientists (the father and daughter anyway J) and loved each other greatly. However, just 3 years earlier, when Bulma was 3, her father had been summoned to the palace and had never returned. Since then, her mother had become oblivious to all around her and went around as though she didn't have a care in the world. Bulma had been left to take care of herself, which accounted for much of her wild spirit.
Bulma was a very unusual Saiyan, in looks and personality. For starters, she had tresses and a soft tail the shade of the afternoon sky, a blue so pure that it didn't seem possible to be put atop the young child. But her eyes put that blue to shame. They were large and inquisitive, speckled with enigmatic wisdom and intelligence higher than her years. They were the brilliant color of a sapphire, charming and alarming at the same time. She could bestow the most wonderful sense of pride with just the blink of an eye, and take it away just as quickly. Unlike the rest of her face, which she attempted to keep stoic, her eyes always gave her away, flashing with rage or trembling with sorrow. She could never escape the emotion that surged within their magnificent surfaces.
Her appearance, though freakish, was very much appealing. Her personality, however, could be very different, depending on the person who viewed it. Because of the pain she had suffered, her father torn from her life without a good-bye and her mother no longer a mother, but a defeated woman hiding in a shell of ignorance, she no longer held the innocence that a child her age should. No longer was she able to act ditzy and pretend that nothing was wrong in the world, and because of that curse, she could not hide her eyes from the horror and suffering of the world around her. It pained her to a point where she could no longer control her regret and sorrow and so had instead chosen to mask it behind a wall of indifference and arrogance. Pain was the worst feeling that could be bestowed upon someone, and unfortunately, most of hers was inner.
But all was not lost for the child's tainted soul. No matter how cold she tried to appear, deep down there was a heart that bled for those who she longed to help and the unbreakable spirit of a hero. And no matter how much she tried to control her emotions, Bulma's true character would show through when she was truly needed and she would take on the King's royal army before allowing cruelty to befall upon someone who was still innocent, or someone who needed help. These traits would soon be tested, though she was oblivious to the ordeals that lay ahead.
~~~~~~
Bulma glanced around the shadows warily as she strode down the broken sidewalk, searching darkly for any signs of danger. She knew she could defend herself quite well if she was attacked, for unlike her mother and father, Bulma was indeed very strong for a child her age, but she would rather avoid a confrontation if she could. Suddenly, Bulma heard the sound of muffled cries coming from the alley way to her right. Before she could move on, she heard the sickening crunch of bones cracking and a harsh voice cut in, "Shut up brat!"
Curiosity peaked, Bulma peered cautiously into the darkness of the alley and approached silently until she was able to witness the disgusting scene before her.
A tall and bulky man hovered above a beaten and shivering boy, sneering at him demonically. He was thrashing him brutally and the blood splattered against the wall beside her face. Bulma's eyes narrowed.
"Not so tough now, huh boy? That will teach you to attack a first-class Saiyan!" The tall Saiyan named Radditz jeered, his tail swishing around with an air of superiority. Rasping with torment, the small boy struggled and rose painstakingly to his feet. His face, below his midnight hair raised in the shape of a flame, was battered and bleeding, one eye completely swollen shut. His muscled arm was twisted and dislocated, discolored from his beating. The First-class Saiyan frowned. "Why not give up brat? Escape with at least a little dignity. The girl wasn't worth it." Radditz stated with disgust. It was only then that Bulma noticed the barely breathing form of a small child, maybe 3 years of age, crumpled behind the defiant and strained boy. Bulma gasped as she watched Radditz fling the boy mercilessly into the brick wall behind him. Anger seethed within Bulma and her fists clenched into tight balls. The man laughed cruelly and stalked toward the fallen boy, who was still struggling to rise to his feet. Radditz raised his palm, a small spurt of light starting to form in his open hand.
"Good-bye brat." Radditz growled, preparing to release the attack. A savage cry of rage sliced through the air and Radditz was slammed into the brick wall. Before he had time to regain his stature, a flash of blue went by him and without another thought, the crumpled toddler and small boy were gone, only the swift wailing of wind and bite of cold frost letting him no that he had lived the experience and hadn't dreamed it all.
~~~~~~~~~
Bulma quickly swung the door to her house open and without saying a word, raced up to her room. Dumping the ravaged boy and girl on her bed she ran over to her tiny closet and yanked out her med-kit. Her family hadn't been able to afford the materials to make a rejuvenation-tank. Slamming the kit down on her desk, she hastily checked the children over. The girl, no more than a toddler, had silky black hair, sticking to her pale face and the crusted blood. The child's lips were slightly bluish. Bulma's eyes widened with shock and she shakily reached over and felt for the girl's pulse. Nothing. The toddler was dead.
Trembling, Bulma fell back against her desk in horror. The child was dead. Gone. She would never be able to come back. She had just disappeared to the world. Faded. Her life ended. There was nothing more, and nothing to remember her by. It was as if she had never existed, was just a limp body without a soul. Bulma retched and bile gurgled down her chin. A sudden whimper brought Bulma back to her senses. She quickly composed herself, trying desperately to ignore the nagging feeling of apprehension and nausea forming in the pit of her stomach; she determinedly stepped over to the boy and studied him.
He looked to be about seven, with a light tan complexion and a strong muscle tone. He wore clothes, she noticed, which had the emblem of the royal palace of Vegeta-sei. Her eyes narrowed, but then she shrugged. In her part of town, it could easily be someone who stole it. His pitch-black hair, with a separated bang coming down directly above his right eye (N/A: Kinda like the one Gohan has when he's older. I thought it was kinda cute! J) rose in the shape of a wild flame, like a demon fire. His face was soft, though with sharp features and what seemed like perpetually furrowed brows. His lips were drawn into a grimace, though it didn't seem to fit him. 'All in all, he could be called cute I suppose.' Bulma glanced down at him before quickly adding mentally, 'If he didn't look like he had just gone through hell.'
Bulma carefully started to mend the wounds around his face and on his abdomen when his body went rigid, convulsing with pain and a jagged cry escaped his lips. Suddenly his eyes shot open and Bulma leapt back in surprise. The two stared at each other, him with pain and confusion, and her with disbelief and curiosity. Finally after what seemed like an eternity, Bulma spoke gently, "If you relax, I could get back to healing you. You're pretty beat up."
Vegeta's brow furrowed and he slowly lifted a battered hand to his face. He felt the bandages and oil she had padded there. His eyes widened. "What… what happened?" He stammered in bewilderment. Bulma came towards him warily and sat beside him. "You got in a fight with a Saiyan warrior. I came along when he was beating you up and saw him throw you into a wall." Bulma explained softly, looking at the floor. Vegeta's eyes became clouded as he recalled the battle. He clenched his fists involuntarily. Abruptly, he realized something. He turned and gazed at Bulma questioningly, then cleared his throat and spoke carefully, "The last thing I remember is a ki blast beaming at my face. I couldn't do anything… so how did I wind up here?"
Bulma glared at the floor and bit her lip. She knew that Saiyan pride would cause this boy to become enraged for her saving him. Sighing, Bulma forced the words out quietly, "I… I saved you." Vegeta raised his eyebrows, wondering why she seemed so reluctant to tell him that. Shouldn't a girl be proud to tell a prince that she saved his life? Especially one so poor and deprived as this one. Then something occurred to him and he narrowed his eyes. She must want something from him. Maybe she had seen the mark on his clothes and known that he was the prince. Glowering at her and clenching his fists, he snarled viciously, "Don't expect me to do anything for you. Your saving my life means nothing to me! If you wanted a reward, wench, then you found the wrong saiyan!"
She back away in stunned silence, his voice had been cruel and unfair. Then the message of his words sank in and she scowled. Trembling with indignation, Bulma seethed, " How dare you?!? How dare you?!? To accuse me of doing this for a reward! I save your life, risk my own, and you treat me like I am some tramp who is greedy and cold! I DON'T WANT YOUR MONEY! I WOULDN'T CARE IF YOU WERE THE PRINCE OF VEGETA-SEI HIMSELF, I WOULD KILL MYSELF BEFORE ACCEPTING MONEY FROM YOU!"
Vegeta was shocked. No one had ever spoken to him like that before and no one had ever done anything for him without wanting something in return. Everything was about power and greed. No one was untainted by it. Isn't that what his father had always told him? So why was she?
Bulma started to get up and storm out of her room when a hand laid gently on her arm. She jumped in surprise and slowly turned to face him. Vegeta looked pained and confused, and most of all…lost. Gazing straight into her eyes, he swallowed his pride and forced out two words that he had never thought he would say, "T-Thank you."
~~~~~~~~
Bulma laughed for what was about the millionenth time that night and Vegeta grinned. After he had thanked her earlier, they had sat down and somehow wound up talking for hours. The brilliant morning rays were slowly seeping into her window when Bulma finally composed herself enough to stammer out, "And…you…you…said…what…to…him?" Vegeta's grin widened and he puffed up his chest and imitated himself as a toddler, screeching, "I don care you found me! I hide and you can no see! So shuddup!" (N/A: I know that sounded really demented but Vegeta is explaining an incident that happened when he was 4 and Nappa found him during hide-and-go-seek. Needless to say, he was not very pleased…hehehe) And both him and Bulma broke out laughing hysterically.
Vegeta broke off laughing first. Glancing around her room in wonder he examined her things and possessions, intrigued by how dirty and cluttered her room was. Bulma turned to look at him and noticed him studying her stuff. "What?" She questioned loudly. Vegeta shook his head. "I never knew that beggars had such messy rooms." He offered obliviously. Bulma's little face scrunched up and her nose flared. "Beg-beggars? ARE YOU CALLING ME A BEGGAR?!? HOW DARE YOU!?!" Bulma sputtered shrilly, causing Vegeta to cover up his ears. Without a second thought, Bulma jumped up and started throttling him, her rage overcoming reason. "I'LL GIVE YOU A BLACK EYE AND THEN YOU'LL BE THE BEGGAR! BEGGING ME TO STOP THAT IS!!!" Bulma shouted in indignation. Vegeta confused by her fury, raised his arms to defend against her blows.
By accident, Bulma slapped Vegeta across the face, leaving a scarlet mark across his cheek. Ceasing her attack, Bulma brought her hands down and stared at his face as he gingerly felt it. "I'm…I'm sorry… I didn't really mean-" Bulma stammered out but was stopped by the cloudy and distant glint in Vegeta's eyes. Feeling slightly nervous and taken back, Bulma prodded quietly, "Hello?" Before she could blink her eye, she found herself mercilessly thrashed across the room. For a split second, Vegeta stood in front of where she had been standing, his eyes bulging with rage and his form trembling from his outburst, his hand still out-stretched from where he had struck her. And just like that, he went back to normal.
Shaking his head, his eyes became unclouded, and his rage diminished, leaving him tingling and slightly confused. Then his obsidian eyes fell upon Bulma. She was back into the corner, shaking, curled into a tight ball, as she watched him with fear. A trickle of blood was sliding down from her temple and a large, discolored bruise was blooming on her creamy cheek. Vegeta's eyes widened and he stepped toward her. Her body trembled more violently and she cried out, "Stay back! Stay back! Just stay away!" Vegeta's brow furrowed and taking another step forward, his young voice sounded out, "What do you mean? What happened? Who did that to you?"
Bulma's lips quavered and her eyes welled-up with tears. "You did." She whispered and then whimpered as he took another advance toward her. Suddenly his eyes lit up with realization, and he stumbled backward. He remembered his father slapping him and then he lunged at Kakkarot and struck him with all his might and…Kakkarot? No, he had been in this room, with…Bulma. His mouth opened in horror. He had struck Bulma. Her slap…he had remembered the King, seen the King instead of her, and seen Kakkarot. Vegeta turned his gaze back to Bulma, cowering with pain in the corner, but trying so hard to keep a brave face. An uneasy silence hung over them for a moment.
Slowly, the young prince moved toward her again, taking one step at a time. Bulma bit her lip, trying not to cry out as tears broke free and streamed down her face. Stopping less than 3 inches in front of her, he went down on his knees and stretched out his arms. A ragged sob escaped Bluma's lips and rung throughout the silent room. 'He's going to kill me. I'm going to die and will never see another full moon and-' Bulma's thoughts were silence and two small arms wrapped around her. Her eyes shot open only to be staring straight into the dark, and regretful ones of Vegeta. He was hugging her, his friend that he had brought fear and pain to.
Backing away, Vegeta gulped and stated in a small, childish voice, "I'm sorry." Bulma stared at him in surprise for a moment and then a crooked smile graced her face. Sighing and pretending she was about to die from the effort, Bulma replied, "I forgive you and I'm sorry too. Your cheek is still red… do you want me to kiss it and make it better?" She added the last part with a mocking smile. Vegeta scowled. Bulma grinned.
Vegeta and Bulma sat in a companionable silence, before Bulma's eyes sparkled with delight. Turning and facing him, Bulma squealed, " I gotta show you something! C'mon!" And without waiting to see if he was following, Bulma swiveled around, threw open her window, and leapt out, falling gracefully before daintily straightening out and soaring through the moonlit night. Vegeta watched her fly for a stunned moment, before smirking and following her out the window.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Bulma landed deftly on the sidewalk, Vegeta beside her, and peered up contentedly at the boarded up little shack. Vegeta raised his eyebrow and scanned the area. It was practically deserted, very few buildings along the street, all broken down and rotting. Scrunching up his nose, Vegeta turned back to see Bulma disappear behind the curtain that stood in place of a door. Shrugging, Vegeta trailed along inside the shack.
Vegeta halted in disbelief as soon as he stepped inside the pathetic building. The inside, contrary to the impression the outside gave, was intriguing and appealing to the young prince. All sorts of cheap, but alluring trinkets and babbles hung down from the ceiling, or the walls and carpets and sheets of brilliant colors covered every corner. An intricate stained glass window with the image of two saiyans battling against a violent sunrise allowed moonlight to cascade smoothly into the room. Prince Vegeta gazed around in awe.
Bulma, who had taken a side upon a worn couch with stuffing popping out of it, smiled at Vegeta's amazement. She had reacted that way as well when she and Chi Chi had finished decorating the dank old room. "Do you like it?" She questioned in amusement. Vegeta nodded absently and asked in wonder, "What is this place?" Bulma beamed with pride and responded, "It's called the fort. Me and my best friend decorated it." After thinking for a second, she added with a sigh of sadness, "The only thing it is missing is a puppy. I have always wanted one but-"
"I'll get one for you." Vegeta interjected impulsively, his jealousy aroused by the fact that she called someone else her "best friend". Bulma gazed at him in shock and, to his surprise, tears started to well up in her eyes. "C…Could you…really get me one?" Bulma stammered hopefully. Vegeta nodded vigorously, encouraged by her tear-filled delight. Bulma burst out with a happy cheer and wiping her tears away, shouted, "Thank you! Thank you so much!" Vegeta grinned at her, pleased with her joy. Suddenly, something occurred to him. Raising his eyebrows, Vegeta demanded curiously, "Wait a minute… where did you get the money for all this stuff?"
Bulma stared at him dumbly for a moment before her cheeks went crimson. Looking at the ground, Bulma mumbled something under her breath about "borrowing". Vegeta, having the acute hearing that he did, caught exactly what she muttered. He howled with laughter and Bulma gave a sheepish grin. Still roaring with hearty laughter, Vegeta blurted out his comments on her "borrowing", "Bulma the girl! Bulma the genius! Bulma the… thief?" And both of them erupted in a fit of giggles.
Bulma abruptly cut off her giggles and pouted. Vegeta noticed and blinked in surprise. "What'sa matter, girl?" Vegeta demanded curiously. Bulma narrowed her eyes and glared at him, before sticking out her tongue and insisting, " I already told you, my name is Bulma! BULMA! And that's what was wrong… I don't know your name." Vegeta frowned and looked away. He hadn't told her his name for a reason… he didn't want her to know. She was the only person who had ever treated him like a normal kid, not expecting amazing things out of him and accepting him just as he was, without comments on his weaknesses. He didn't want her to know who he was. He wanted her to always just treat him like this, and to just be his friend. Which left only one way out of the question. Vegeta grinned impishly.
"Wouldn't you like to know…GIRL!" Vegeta shouted the last part to make sure he got the reaction. Bulma fumed and her little face twisted into a glare. " I TOLD YOU NOT TO CALL ME THAT!" She yelled indignantly. Vegeta smirked. "Fine, how about wench instead?" He laughed as she turned bright red.
"JERK!"
"Wench."
"MONKEY!"
"Slut."
"WIMP!"
"Whore."
"Buger!" Bulma screeched at last. Vegeta laughed mockingly and fell over.
"Buger? That was the best you could come up with?" He jeered before falling into a laughing fit again. Bulma gave him a smug smile. "No, I meant the one dripping from your nose!" She giggled as his hand went up to his face and found nothing. "Gotcha!" She cheered as he went red with embarrassment for being tricked.
"That's it! No one tricks me and gets away with it!" Vegeta hollered before pouncing at Bulma. Luckily, Vegeta was still sluggish from his injuries and Bulma easily flipped out of the way. Vegeta growled and was about to lunge at her again when a small pebble bounced against the stained glass window. Both Vegeta and Bulma blinked at the window before Bulma exclaimed, "Oh my gosh! Is it seven already? Chi Chi's here! You gotta meet her!" Grabbing Vegeta's hand, Bulma dragged him out the door towards a waiting Chi Chi.
Chi Chi saw them coming and shouted out impatiently, "What took you so long?!? I've been waiting here for half an hour!" Bulma smiled sheepishly. "Sorry Chi! I've been talking with…um… him!" Bulma replied, pointing to a weary Vegeta behind her. Chi Chi took one look at Vegeta and her eyes widened in horror and realization. Turning around, Chi Chi screamed and ran away, shrieks broken by fragments of her thoughts, and her knowledge that Bulma was standing in front of the Prince of Vegeta-sei, a boy with enough power to destroy them both with one finger.
Bulma stared after her best friend in shock and confusion. What was she running from? She had only pointed to the boy, it wasn't like she was pointing to Frieza in a pink tutu or something. Shaking her head, Bulma muttered, "Well, that sure was weird…" Turning around she noticed Vegeta sitting on her step glaring down at the cracked pavement. "Um… I'm sorry, she was acting a little weird, but normally-" Bulma was cut off by Vegeta's harsh and broken voice, "Almost everyone reacts to me like that."
Pausing slightly, Bulma was about to ask why when Vegeta brought his gaze to meet hers. Vegeta's onyx eyes, normally so indifferent and cold, were filled with unshed tears, tears for years of torment and pain that can come only from those pushed away from everyone, feared by everyone who ever set eyes them. Vegeta had never let anyone take a look into his eyes, his soul, like that before he met someone who wouldn't add to the pain he had already suffered. Before he met Bulma. She was the only child, no the only person period, who had ever given him friendship, who had given him a chance. And he would never forget her for it.
After an uncomfortable silence, Bulma finally asked, "What about your friends?" Vegeta shifted his gaze back to the ground. "You're the only friend that I've ever had." He stated in a broken voice. Bulma peered at him in shock. She had never met a child who didn't have friends. Everyone she knew had someone to care about them. Was he seriously saying that he didn't? Tears stung at Bulma's eyes. No matter how hard she tried to control emotion she just couldn't. It hurt to think that anyone could be so alone.
Sitting down gently next to him, Bulma slowly unclasped something from around her neck. Vegeta continued to stare stonily at the ground. Suddenly something slipped over his head and was hung on his neck. Instinctively, Vegeta grabbed the thing, and was surprised to find a small crystal, glowing brightly with a sapphire blue light. Vegeta turned to face a smiling Bulma. Glancing back down at the crystal in bewilderment, Vegeta inquired, "What…what is it?" Bulma sighed and looked toward the wavering sky.
Taking a deep breath, she explained in a voice of raw emotion, "My father gave me that crystal on that chain when I was 3. He said that when I was a baby, I found that crystal and touched it and that somehow, a tiny bit of my ki went into it, making it glow that blue color. Now, it glows either brighter or dimmer depending on how close I am to it. See how bright it is now?" Vegeta nodded and studied it with interest. Finally, looking back up at her, Vegeta asked in confusion, "Why did you give this to me?"
Bulma gave him a wide smile before whispering quietly, "Because I am your only friend. Now, wherever you are, you will always have a part of me, and always know how far or close I am. This way, we can be friends forever, no matter what happens." Finishing her speech, Bulma held out her hand to him. "Friends forever?" She offered with a grin. Vegeta gazed at her in complete silence, his face hard and appraising. Bulma's grin faltered slightly, not knowing what to do. Then, with a charming smile and warm eyes, Vegeta took her hand and shaking it, promised, "Friends forever." They smiled happily at each other until their moment of peace was shattered.
Vegeta tried to yell out a warning, but it came too late as a hard fist collided with the side of Bulma's head, sending her skidding into the pavement. Vegeta cried out with rage and lunged at the stunned attacker before he felt someone grip him from behind. "Prince, it is alright! We have come to save you from that traitor girl who kidnapped you! We will protect you, Prince, it is alright!" The royal guard holding him tried to explain to the thrashing prince as he tried desperately to get to Bulma.
"NO! Let me go! Don't hurt her!" Vegeta yelled in a pleading voice as he watched one of his other guards pick Bulma up and fling her savagely into a decaying concrete building. Bulma screamed as the sickening crack of bones breaking resounded through the air. Vegeta cried out, tears falling from his cheeks, still too weak from his last defeat to break free and help her. Again and again he watched them beat her and throw her, the air ringing with her screams and his cries. He tried in vain to call out to her, yelling for her to run away, but she wouldn't leave him. She couldn't have known he was the prince, and she knew was that her friend was being held by these saiyans and couldn't defend himself. And no matter how much pain was blown upon her, she would not desert her friend.
The guard, feeling the prince's ki rising and not knowing how to control him, hit him in the back of the neck as Vegeta yelled over and over again, "Let her go! Let her go! I don't want to go back! I don't want to! Let me go! Let her go! Stop it! Stop it! Leave her alone! Don't hurt her!" The attack on his neck didn't seem to phase Vegeta as he tried frantically to reach his battered and beaten friend. Desperate, and afraid, the man finally used all of his strength and backhanded Vegeta across the head. As he fell unconscious, Vegeta wailed in a voice of torment, "BBBBBBBBBBBBBUUUUUUUUUUULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAA!"
And Bulma fell to the dirty, dank ground her last time, hearing that word. Her name.
The guards, their job done, slowly turned away and rose one by one into the air, the leader carrying the unconscious prince in his arms. With one last look at the girl who they thought had kidnapped their prince, they fled deftly toward the palace.
In their arms, the prince lay in a dreamless darkness, tears still streaming down his face. A single tear fell against the crystal as it dangled listlessly around his neck, the light glow of the blue ki faded and almost gone.
~~~~~~~~
Author's Note: Ok, um… I know that the characters were kinda out of character, but this prologue is written when they are younger so I thought that maybe they could be a little different from when they are older. Just think that Vegeta is a prince who never had any friends… wouldn't you be desperate for one too?!? Ok, maybe he was a little too desperate, but anyway… I will try to keep them in character though! Anyway, this is an au fic and in this one, all the characters I bring in will probably be saiyan (even if on the t.v. show they are not) unless I say that they are not. This is my first Dragon Ball Z fic so… DON'T HURT ME!!! Jk!
Oh, so you know, here are the ages of the main characters so far for the prologue:
Vegeta:7
Goku/Kakkarot:7
Bulma:6
Chi Chi:6
And as a side note, did you people freak out when you found out that in this story Goku is… VEGETA'S BROTHER? Ok, just so you know, Radditz in this story is not related to Vegeta or Goku. Well, that is kinda what started this story. In case you people are wondering about it (if not you can skip it and read the last part J) my sister is a history buff and she was telling me about Louis the 13th ( a king of France I think…) and how his father had lots of illegitimate children and forced Louis to stay in the same house as them and play with them. Louis always hated the half-siblings and felt superior to them, so it kinda reminded me of Goku and Vegeta's rivalry. Thus I had an idea for this story and then decided to make it a Bulma/Vegeta story and probably a Goku/Chi Chi story as well!
Anyway… ok, to be honest, I don't really know where I am going with this story! I just kinda sat down and started writing it. I have some ideas of how to continue it, but I'm not sure that it is really all that good. Hehe… should I continue it? I really don't know because I have never written a story without planning it out but if people like it… then I will be loyal to it and continue! So PLEASE REVIEW! Thanks!