Disclaimer: I own no rights to Dragon Ball Z or Sailor Moon.
Treaty
"Goku," she whispered.
"Ren," he breathed the nickname he had given her so long ago.
He was so close. Her chest rose with every rapid breath as her heart began to pound. Her back was against one of the massive pillars in the large gazebo in the far reaches of the palace gardens. His right hand resting on the same pillar next to her head.
His breath was faster as well, as his eyes flickered from hers to her lips and back again.
"Ren," he repeated, moving his face closer to hers.
She wanted him to kiss her, had wanted it for a long time now; but she was married, and this was wrong; still she wanted it, wanted him.
As his lips finally pressed against hers and her eyes fluttered closed, she wondered momentarily how and when this had all happened; but she knew, it had all started the day he arrived.
*Transition*
"Majesties, King Vegeta has arrived," a servant announced.
"Thank you," Serenity replied. She watched as two black haired men entered the main hall.
"Queen Serenity, King Endymion, I am King Vegeta of Vegeta-sai, it is a pleasure to finally meet you," the smaller of the two said with a deep bow. "This is Kakarot, the strongest of my warriors and right-hand man."
The other man knelt down on one knee in respect.
"King Vegeta, it is a pleasure," Endymion echoed.
Serenity's eyes fell on the warrior. He did indeed look strong, and for a moment she was filled with fear, until he looked up and their eyes locked.
His eyes held nothing but respect and kindness, and as she stared at him, she felt an instant connection.
"Queen Serenity," Vegeta's voice pulled her gaze away from Kakarot and she closed her mouth which had unknowingly fallen open. "I am grateful for the opportunity to complete the treaty my father and your mother began thousands of years ago."
She stood from her throne and descended the stairs. Curtsying low before finally speaking for the first time. "I am thankful for this opportunity as well, your highness."
"My father often spoke of your mother's beauty," Vegeta told her. "I always thought he was exaggerating, but now I realize how much he understated. Your beauty is truly beyond compare, Majesty."
Serenity blushed. "You flatter me."
Endymion wrapped an arm around her from behind, startling her. "He speaks the truth," he whispered in her ear. "You are beautiful." He kissed her cheek playfully causing the Queen to turn a darker shade of red.
Shaking her head to clear it, Queen Serenity took a deep breath and focused on her first once more. "I've had lunch set up in one of the conference rooms. We can enjoy some magnificent food while discussing our treaty."
*Transition*
"I am leaving Kakarot here, as a show of good faith," Vegeta told Serenity and Endymion a few days later, after the treaty had been signed.
"Sire?" Kakarot asked, clearly surprised. "I should be with you, to protect you."
"No, Kakarot," Vegeta replied. "I can fend for myself if the need arises, and I have many powerful warriors at my disposal. The fighters here are weak; if a threat were to rise, I fear they would not be able to defend the Queen."
Kakarot's gaze drifted to the goddess, and he was relieved to see the same look of shock he was certain he wore.
"With all due respect, your highness, I am perfectly capable of defending myself," Serenity said. "I would hate to take your strongest warrior. We are a peaceful people. I fear Kakarot would get bored here."
"I meant no discourtesy," Vegeta rebounded. "I simply wish to offer him as gift of sorts, to add to your guardians."
"Kakarot is not a thing to give, he is a person," Serenity nearly growled. Her gaze shifted to the man in question. "How does he feel about all this?"
Her eyes met his as he contemplated the question, and her heart began to pound once more. Part of her wanted him to stay, but she also feared the feelings he gave her.
"Kakarot?" Vegeta queried after a few moments.
"I will stay. I once called Earth home, it will be nice to become reacquainted with it once more," the warrior answered.
"It's settled then," Vegeta announced. "Kakarot will stay."
"Fantastic!" Endymion exclaimed. "We will put him up in the castle and he can be the Queen's personal guard."
"I don't need to be protected!" Serenity barked. "I have protected this planet for well over 500 years with the help of my scouts."
"And how many times did you almost die?" Endymion questioned.
Serenity growled at him. "Almost, being the key word."
Endymion shook his head. "Let Kakarot stay, he can help train our armies so we are all better prepared for a battle if the need arises."
Serenity closed her eyes to compose herself. "Forgive me," she finally said once her eyes were open. She looked at the warrior. "I did not mean to make it seem like you are unwelcomed here. Your services will be greatly appreciated." She looked at the Saiyan King now. "Thank you for your kind offer. We will make sure Kakarot is comfortable here."
"He will be a great asset to you, as he has been for me," Vegeta assured her.
*Transition*
"Vegeta," Kakarot said, later that evening when he was finally alone with his King. "Why didn't you tell me you were planning to leave me here?"
"I wasn't sure if it would be necessary," Vegeta replied honestly. "But through or discussions the past few days, I decided it would be best."
The questioning look on the warrior's face was enough for his best friend.
"If there's one thing my father taught me about the Lunarian royalty, it's they're very stubborn," Vegeta explained. "When my father had started their treaty the first time he had to leave abruptly, he told the Queen to contact him if she needed help.
"But she was too proud to ask for help, and when they were attacked, she didn't contact my father. Ultimately her pride was what caused the fall of the moon kingdom.
"That woman in there is the last of her kind, aside from the half human brat exploring the Galaxy right now."
"Why is this so important to you?" Kakarot asked.
Vegeta let out a heavy sigh. "My father was very interested in the Queen. Her King had passed and she was alone." He paused for a moment. "He told me he had hoped to one day marry her; unite our kingdoms as one through more than just a piece of paper."
"But she died," the younger Saiyan interjected. "Because she wouldn't allow him to help."
"I will not allow the same fate to befall this Queen Serenity. She and her scouts are powerful, but I fear they will not be enough. If the need arises, I need you to contact me if she does not.
"With your instant transmission we can have many warriors here in no time. You can also train the warriors here to be better.
"We cannot afford to lose the Moon Kingdom again. I will not fail in the same area my father did. I will make him proud."
"I understand."
*Transition*
A few days later Vegeta was bidding Serenity, Endymion and Kakarot goodbye.
The warrior walked his King to the ship.
Vegeta clapped his only friend on the back. "Take care of her, Kakarot, and notify me at the first sign of trouble."
"I will, Vegeta," Kakarot promised.
"I'll be back intermittently," Vegeta told him. "I must keep up with this treaty somehow."
"Be safe my friend."
"You too."
*Transition*
Over the next six months, the Saiyan warrior watched over the Queen from a distance. Following her everywhere and standing outside the meeting hall when he was not allowed to hear the proceedings.
At first, Queen Serenity seemed annoyed by his constant presence, but over time she became used to the black-haired man.
"Kakarot," her soft voice called through the garden, where she was reading.
"Yes, your highness?" He shortened the distance between them, but only a little.
She patted the seat beside her. "Come sit, tell me a little about yourself. You have been following me around for the past six months and I know so little about you."
"With all due respect, Majesty, I'm not sure I should get too comfortable. I am here to protect you, I can't do that unless I am alert at all times," he replied.
The silver haired woman laughed, and Kakarot's heart fluttered.
"We are a peaceful people, Kakarot, as I told your King many months ago. I'd like for you to be comfortable here; it is your home now too," she pointed out.
"Your Grace," he began, only to be interrupted.
"Please, call me Serenity when we are alone," she insisted. "I wasn't always a Queen, and all the formalities get tiring."
The Saiyan's eyes went wide, but soon relaxed and he smiled. He finally sat next to the woman, making sure to keep some distance still.
"Then you can call me Goku."
"Goku?"
"It's the name I was given on Earth. Kakarot is a harsh Saiyan name. It sounds strange on your lips, so, when we're alone, you can call me Goku."
She smiled. "Goku," she tested the name while looking at the alien. "I like it, it suits you."
They sat and talked for the next few hours, getting to know each other better. Goku told her about the time he spent on Earth, and she told him a little bit about her pre-Queen days.
After that, Goku didn't trail as far behind her when guarding her, and soon they became good friends.
Two years after Goku's arrival Sailor Mars stood in front of her King and Queen, the warrior off to the side.
The scouts each had temples of their own spread all throughout Crystal Tokyo. They each took turns at the palace to help protect the Queen, and each of them got to know the Saiyan better.
"Rei, what's wrong?" Serenity asked her friend.
"Serenity, I have had a premonition," the Sailor Scout of Fire told her.
"What did you see?" Endymion asked.
Sailor Mars' eyes darted to the Saiyan warrior off to the side. She was the only scout still wary of his presence.
"Kakarot is here to protect me, as you and the other scouts are," Serenity said, noticing the glance and hesitation Rei exhibited. "I trust him with my life, you should too. He will need to know if danger looms in our future."
Rei sighed. "The details are kind of vague; I don't know who, or when, or why, but something will attack and there will be lots of destruction and death."
"There's always destruction and death," Endymion groaned.
"Did you see any specific deaths?" Serenity questioned. "The scouts, or Endymion, me?"
"No, Usa. Just crumpled buildings, bodies everywhere and a barren wasteland," Rei breathed.
"Did you see any Saiyan bodies?" It was Goku who spoke now.
They all looked over at him, surprised at his sudden words.
Rei shook her head. "I don't think so."
"These premonitions you have, are they set?" Goku queried.
"No," Rei replied. "They are simply warnings of possible outcomes. Why does it matter?"
"The Saiyan army is more than happy to provide assistance if necessary," he told her. "Majesties, I can contact King Vegeta and have him send more warriors."
"We are perfectly capable of protecting our own planet," Endymion barked. "We don't need any more warriors."
"Endymion!" Serenity squeaked, stunned by the harsh tone her husband had used. "Kakarot is simply offering back up should we need it." She looked at the warrior now. "While I appreciate the offer, we can refrain from contacting your King at the moment. As Sailor Mars said, the details of the attack are unclear, I would hate to cause alarm when there is no reason to." Her gaze traveled back to the Goddess of War. "In the meantime, I think it would be beneficial to begin regular training sessions again; we all need to build our skills and strength. I believe Kakarot can teach us many things."
"You are not permitted to fight," Endymion argued.
She whipped her head to the side, to look at her husband. "I will not stand idly by as my kingdom is attacked," she growled. "I have always been Earth's protector, being a Queen doesn't change that."
"You have not fought for well over 300 years," Endymion pushed.
"I may be rusty, but that doesn't mean I'm incapable," she countered.
Rei cleared her throat causing the bickering royals to look at her.
Serenity turned red. "So sorry, Mars."
The Sailor Scout was smiling. "Good to see some things never change. You're still stubborn as ever."
"I am not," Serenity protested.
The three others in the room laughed. Even Goku had begun to learn of the Queen's stubbornness. But it reminded him of his own King back on Vegeta-sai, so it never bothered him.
"I will alert the girls and we will begin training immediately," Mars assured her King and Queen after the laughing had subsided.
"Kakarot," Endymion spoke. "I will agree with my wife in the fact that you have many abilities and a fighting technique we can learn much from, would you be willing to train our warriors once a week?"
"I would be more than willing, but who would watch over the Queen?" Goku replied. "If all your warriors, including the scouts are in my training, who will protect her?"
"I can train too," Serenity offered.
"No," Endymion spat. "That's final!"
Anger filled the Queen, her arms crossed across her chest and she gave a huff of breath.
"You can stay by Kakarot's side, and encourage your army. Remind them what they're fighting for," Endymion continued. "But you will not, under any circumstances, train with them."
Serenity's eyes narrowed, but knowing this was not the time or the place, she held her tongue. Trying to soften her gaze she looked back at the Sailor Scout in front of her. "Thank you, Mars, if you receive any more premonitions, please inform me immediately."
"Of course." Mars bowed and swiftly left.
*Transition*
"Endymion," Serenity said later as she and her husband prepared for bed.
"Yes, love?" he questioned.
She stood beside their large bed and watched her husband. She knew what she wanted to say; she wanted to fight, to train with her friends and become stronger. She wanted to defend her planet as she had hundreds of years ago.
The King stopped and looked at her. "What Sere?"
"I want to fight," she blurted. There was no tactful way to say it.
Endymion's visage changed from relaxed to angry. "No," he spat quickly.
"Why not?" She countered.
"You are the Queen," he retorted. "It is, and always has been our job to protect you. How do you expect us to do that if you're out there fighting with the rest of us?"
"We have always been stronger when we fought together," she nearly yelled. "If you prevent me from fighting it may jeopardize everyone. It has always been the Queen's job to protect her people.
"Don't forget, it was my mother who defeated Beryl all those years ago. Not her army, her." She took a deep breath to calm herself. "You fought in that battle, and you died. My scouts all died, heck, even I died. It was the silver crystal that defeated Beryl; all of our enemies really. By not allowing me to fight alongside my scouts, and you, you are only jeopardizing our people more."
Endymion stomped around the bed and ceased mere inches from his wife.
"I will not be the damsel in distress any more!" He roared.
Her face fell. "Mamo-chan . . ." she began.
"Don't Mamo-chan me, Serenity. I am not that weak boy I was back then, and I refuse to let my wife fight all the battles while I sit idly by. This time it will be me protecting you. That is final!" He whipped around and quickly got into the bed.
Too upset to sleep, Serenity turned and headed toward the door in nothing but her night gown.
"Where are you going?" Her husband asked.
"For a walk," she replied shortly as she slammed the door behind her.
That's all for this chapter. Stay tuned and please review.
Gohaun