Disclaimer: Not my characters, not my intellectual property blahdee blahdee blah!
Prologue
It was a gloomy rainy day in the capital city of Earth. The gloom extended to the outskirts and seemed to magnify over the country mansion of Lord and Dr. Marshall Briefs.
The gloom seems to reflect the attitude of Lord Briefs only child, a daughter, Bulma.
She sits in the drawing room her sketches and reading forgotten as she stares outside at the pelting rain. Nature gives life to the tears of her hurt and her shame.
She had spent the last three weeks here, in her childhood home. She had spent much of her youth there and although it held some fond memories she had longed for the day when she could join her father at the mansion in the city. And when that day had come she had never been happier. The capital promised, excitement, life, and adventure like she had never known. It was where she had made her entrance into noble society. She had experienced all the grandest of balls and parties, made friends. She had access to every cultural art available; theater, music, art was all hers for the taking and she absorbed it all greedily. But the reason she had loved that city the most was because it allowed her to find her true calling, science.
Unfortunately for her she lived in a time where women were not allowed such luxuries as intelligence and ambition. She found out fast that having such abilities was frowned upon. Her own father was a scientist who had given the world hover cars, energy sources, and even bot prototypes, but he to told her that her time could best be spent finding a husband not designing machines.
So her knack for engineering and physics was kept a secret.
Little did she know that was only the beginning of the end and now the capital held no joy for her. Her father, her friends, the city itself seemed to turn their back on her and she no longer wanted anything to do with it.
As she sat lost in her miserable thoughts the door to the drawing room opened to reveal an cheerful blonde woman with a tray of tea.
"Here dear I thought this might cheer you up."
"Thank You." Bulma whispered taking the cup and turning back to stare out the window as she sipped it.
The woman heaved a sigh. "I'm sure that so much moping is bad for you."
Bulma rolled her eyes but allowed a small smirk to form on her lips. Bunny, was her beloved governess and had been for as long as Bulma could remember. She was as close to a mother as Bulma ever had and was one of the few people who new her science secret. She knew that if she didn't speak soon, Bunny would continue to pester her until she was satisfied. But Bulma was stubborn and kept quiet, if only to further irritate the woman. That was until Bunny began to glance at Bulma's sketches.
"What are these?" She asked curiously pulling the pad closer to her.
Bulma sighed. "It doesn't matter." She grumbled.
Bunny pouted. "Bulma Briefs. It does too matter." She scolded.
"Besides…" She continued a smirk forming on her face. "I know you're just dying to tell me."
Bulma bit her lip and glared at the woman but after a few moments she couldn't help herself. "Alright!" She said with a sigh before bursting into a smile and beginning her explanation. "it's a capsule. Imagine being able to shrink large or numerous objects down to the size of a pen. Whole supply shipments of food, weapons, any kind of logistics you can imagine could be carried across long distances in the pocket of one man! Never again would convoys be threatened, shipments delayed, the whole world could benefit from such a device." Bunny smiled Bulma always seemed to light up when she talked about her inventions.
"See you feel better now don't you." Bunny teased and Bulma couldn't suppress her little smile.
Bunny reached onto the tray she had brought in and picked up two letters. She held one out to Bulma. "You have a letter." She stated.
Bulma looked at the handwriting on the note and immediately her frown returned. "I don't want to read it."
"Come now dear, your father said this one is urgently important."
Bulma glared and turned back to looking at the window.
"If you read it I will let you read this other missive I have?" Bunny taunted.
Bulma glanced back at her with one eyebrow raised in curiosity.
"From my sources at the mansion in the city. They tell me every elite noble in the city received this notice, some say its not just our capital but every capital in the galaxy!" Bunny wove her tale splendidly peaking Bulma's interest.
"Where's it from?" Bulma asked. Bunny grinned and waved the letter around in front of Bulma. "I don't know." She lied eyeing Lord Briefs letter on the table. Bulma humped and picked up the letter.
"Happy now?" She muttered ripping the seal. Her eyes falling on her father's clean script.
Dear Bulma,
I am at a loss as to the reasons for your abrupt departure from the city. I have some news however that I hope will cheer you and persuade you to return to the city to hear it. It is not the sort of news that can be spoken of impersonally in a letter. I only ask that you return to the city as soon as possible so that we may discuss your future.
Your Father
Marshall Briefs
Bulma rolled her eyes and suppressed a growl. She clenched her fists in the paper and threw it carelessly on the table.
"Alright, now give me the letter."
Bunny handed it over. "See that wasn't so difficult was it?"
Bulma flipped open the missive and read quickly through the print once, her eyes widening a fraction before reading it over once again.
"What's it say dear?" Though the sneaky governess already knew very well what it said.
"The King of Vegeta-sei is seeking a tutor for his children. Someone of noble standing. To teach royal manners and comportment as well as basics on other intellectual and cultural subjects." Bulma repeated bemused. "Hmmm Vegeta-sei where have I heard that before?" She wondered aloud.
"Oh you know, its one of the planets in our system's security alliance. The foremost one actually without them we would be sitting ducks for the Kold army. And of course there is that legendary rumor about Lord Ox's daughter…."
"Lord Ox…" Bulma thought a moment remembering full well the imposing nobleman. She had never met his daughter but she was somewhat of a scandal legend in capital circles. It was said that she was betrothed to the Prince of Earth, but had had a love affair with a saiyan, the natives of Vegeta-sei, and ran away with him. She hadn't been seen on Earth since and Bulma could not recall ever meeting a saiyan at any of the society parties. Bulma knew little about the planet or its people other than the fact they were all great warriors.
Either way the idea the missive presented intrigued her although she was certainly not about to gallivant off to another world when she was sure her genius mind could find a solution to her problems right here at home and soon.
Sighing once again she realized now was the time to face said problems. She couldn't lick her wounds forever.
She stood taking both messages and heading for the door. "Bunny instruct the servants to read my things, we leave for the capital in the morning."
"As you wish my lady." Bunny replied with a patronizing smile.
The next day around midday Bulma found herself waiting in the sitting room outside her father's office. A man of great importance as he was this whole building was his office both scientific and political, but this room alone was for his personal use.
After a few moments her father appeared from the door leading out into the hallway. She stood when he walked in. A tall slender man with imposing shoulders, light graying purple hair, glasses, and a dignified moustache.
"Ah Bulma dear, no need to sit out here. My office is always open for you."
"Of course Father." Bulma answered formally. The two went into his office and he sat behind his desk and she across from him. It felt very much like a business meeting to Bulma. It always did with her father.
"Bulma I have so good news for you. It has occurred to me that as you are now of proper marrying age that it is up to me to ensure your future happiness by selecting you a husband."
"As fate would have it a gentleman approached me just the other day asking for your hand. One, Yamcha Sandborne, I'm sure you are acquainted with him. The good news is I have already agreed to his suit. Congratulations my child."
Bulma sat jaw set and fists clenched. She would have been in shock accept that this whole situation was quite typical of her father. Her anger began to flow freely.
"You have already agreed?" She asked in a biting tone trying to maintain an even keel.
"Yes it is a good match."
"Father, I have already met Yamcha, he and I have been courting for months."
"What? Without my permission?" Her father asked border line incredulous.
'As if it is difficult to hide anything from you father?' She thought angrily. "We have gone to numerous and sundry social events together. Everyone saw us as a couple."
"Well then you should have no objection to the marriage if you already fancy the gentleman." Her father said nonchalantly.
"No father." She said sternly. "No, the reason I left the capital was because the one social event I did not attend found him on the arm of another. I had to find out about from scandalized whispers and gossips; rumors accusing me of inadequacy and desperation. What I finally saw for myself when you and I attended the Governor's ball was him in the shadows immodestly wrapped in the arms of Lord Jerome's youngest daughter Claire. I dare say I will never marry a man with such impropriety."
"You did say you were already courting therefore their illicit affair means little, you are still first. And you will become his wife."
"You would have me marry a cheating philanderer!? What about Claire's father surely he will want to rectify the situation accordingly."
"It is his own fault for raising such a loose child. Once Yamcha is married to you the affair will stop, I will make certain of it. It will not reflect badly upon you if you take him back."
Her father's matter of fact attitude about the whole situation only fueled Bulma's rage and she refused to sit quietly by and allow such talk.
"And what of my feelings?! Who's to say he will not cheat again?"
"Such things are commonplace in noble society, you will become used to it. And with all your unusual traits it will be difficult to find you another match."
"Unusual!" She shouted. "You mean intelligence, curiosity, stubborness, all traits I got from you!?"
"Yes and they would be marvelous traits to possess had you been born a boy, but as you are they are of little value to the world."
Bulma couldn't have been more struck had her father hit her. She had always suspected it, but now it was proven true. Her father's expression was dead pan and he looked clearly nonplused by her shocked expression or the connotation of his words. In that moment her genius whirred into action providing her with a plan all accordance with the facts provided the day before.
After a moment she reigned herself and stood. "Father. I will not marry Yamcha, on that you have my word. I refuse." She turned her back on him and quickly and proudly stalked to the door.
"You DARE to disobey me?! I am your FATHER I know what's best!" He shouted his anger growing as he sat straighter in his chair.
Bulma smirked to herself, making him angry was far preferable to his indifferent neglect of her in the past and his hypocritical placation in the present. She continued walking and as she was just about to lay her hand on the door knob he shot out of his chair. "STOP! Where are you going?!"
She turned her head back to him for a moment and with a serious expression answered. "To a nunnery…."
Her father's eyes popped comically from their sockets and he slammed his hands on the table. "You would condemn our line to extinction?! Allow the empire I strived so hard to build fall apart without hope?"
"I would." She answered. She opened the door and looked straight into his eyes. "Good bye father." With that she exited the office in a graceful sashay and left her father to stand dumbfounded. He did nothing to stop her for he was still shocked she would do such a thing and after a moment he sat back down believing it to be a bluff, for he knew her vanity was too great to allow her to do such a thing as become a nun.
Bulma hurried down the streets back to her father's elaborate town mansion. Bunny greeted her when she walked in. "How did it go?" Bunny asked cheerfully as Bulma hurriedly climbed the stairs to her room without removing her outer clothes.
"Bad." She mumbled grumpily as she quickened her step forcing Bunny to keep up with her. "What did your father want?"
As soon as they entered her room Bulma began to search frantically for yesterday's missive. Still searching as she spoke. "He wants me to marry Yamcha."
"What?! Doesn't he know? Didn't you tell him?" Bunny asked unbelieving.
"I did, but he doesn't seem to care." Bulma said distractedly as she found the letter she was looking for and sat down at her desk and quickly but carefully scrawled a reply.
She folded it and put it in an envelope and handed it to Bunny, "Here have a messenger take this to the saiyan alliance base and return immediately to confirm its receipt."
Bunny nodded numbly. "What is all this for my lady?"
"I can't say, not here, not yet. Once this letter is successfully sent we are headed back to the country manor, but tell no one."
Bunny nodded again and did as she was asked. No sooner had the messenger boy returned did they leave, headed back to the solitude of the country.
A week passed when finally a messenger arrived with a letter addressed to Lord Marshall Briefs carrying the royal seal of Vegeta-sei on it. Bulma immediately snapped it out of his hands and grabbing Bunny from the kitchen dragged her to her room to read the reply.
She ripped open the envelope and proceeded to read the clean evenly written script in earnest. Bunny watched as Bulma's face erupted into a triumphant smile. She almost squealed in glee.
"Now will you tell me what is going on?" Bunny asked exasperated at the secrecy. Bulma grasped Bunny by the shoulders. "I am leaving Bunny."
Bunny's eyes shot wide. "What?"
"I told father that I would rather be in a nunnery then marry Yamcha." Bulma began to explain while hurrying to her closet to pull out her suitcase and beginning to pack.
"But we both know I could never go through with something so drastic. But I remembered the letter. So I wrote pretending to be my father telling the King that I had all the skills necessary to teach his children. Which I do and then some mind you." She continued picking through her closet thoughtfully. "And here is the reply asking me to come to Vegeta-sei. They expect me in no more than three days."
"But Bulma, the saiyans are barbarians, war mongers everyone knows that."
"They can't be that bad if the King himself is looking for a comportment coach for his children. Besides I've already done a little research about the culture and I think this will be a great change for me! I've always wanted to travel and now I can, I can be a part of something bigger!" Bulma jabbered on excitedly.
"Are you sure this is what you want Bulma?" Bunny asked all seriousness.
Bulma stopped her hurried packing and looked at Bunny with determination. "Yes, more than anything."
Bunny stood for a moment biting her lip and then nodded. "Well I suppose if you're set on it all I can do is help you pack." Bulma squealed excitedly and jumped on Bunny in a hug. "But know that I will miss you terribly." Bunny added.
"Don't worry Bunny. I shall miss you too, but I will be fine. Promise you won't tell father." Bulma said looking stern. Bunny shook her head, Bulma was so much like her father it was no wonder the two butted heads so often.
"I will not, but he will figure it out eventually."
"And when he does I will be well settled and there will be nothing he can do to change it."
So that day as the sun set Bulma set off alone, with the fewest amount of suitcases she had ever needed, destination the space port, and a new life and new world she couldn't possibly imagine….