Ice-Cold Love

Me: Don't kill e for this, but I've got a new story challenge. This is dedicated to Lawrence Helmbain for providing me with such an interesting story challenge.

Prompt: Tsumetai's marriage to King Cold was purely political. She cares not for her husband, nor Frieza and Cooler. However, she is interested in the ones who killed her 'family' as potential mates…

Pairing: Gohan/TsumetaiOC (I don't want to hear any flames about this. I have planned to work this out, and there are numerous other pairings with an aged character with a younger character out there, so I don't want to hear it!)

Time Frame: The Cell Games (The Cell Games Saga in itself can be divided into parts, and in my opinion, part one was Goku alive and part two was when Goku died. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but for purposes of this story, that's how it'll be.)

Me: While I'm aware that Gohan was only about 10 or 11 during the Cell Games, there will be a timeskip to when he's 16 or 17; I might even make it 18, but I'll work that out along the way. Anyways, again, thank you Lawrence Helmbain. This story might end up being anywhere length-wise depending on where I plan to send this, but let's start.

Disclaimer: I can't claim the idea nor any characters, however I can claim a box set of DVD's, some T-Shirts, and the plot.

Prologue

She wasn't like typical wives.

She didn't dot on her husband and family, asking constantly whether they were alright, or if they wanted something, did not describe her. She was utterly disgusted by the fact that some women were actually like that, frequently fawning over their husbands and waiting on them hand and foot. They were men; they claimed to be breadwinners, warriors, and some even had the gall to say they were better than women.

If they were so better, why did they depend of their wives like a newborn depends on its mother?

Why did they feel the need to be constantly fawned by their wives? Why did they need their wives to cook for them and clean for them? Why did they need their wives to look pretty and sophisticated in front of others when they themselves went around looking like slobs acting like it was okay?

That was not who she was.

She was the breadwinner. She was the warrior. She was stronger, faster, smarter, aggressive.

Better.

She was no damsel in distress. She was a damsel that kicked ass and took names.

Her 'family' was pathetic; someone of her caliber shouldn't have been with people so pitiful, so weak. She was stronger than all three of those men combined. Her husband, so laid-back and more concerned with his work then he was with anything else. Once he proved no one was as strong as he was, he stopped right there and carried on with his egotistical ways. Her oldest son, the same way: once he realized he was one of the most powerful men in the universe, he stated behind the front lines and grew cocky, which led to his demise. And her youngest…she wasn't even about to go into the disappointment Frieza cause. She could have had anyone she wanted instead of the pathetic wimps she was stuck with, however, she was locked into a loveless, unsatisfying marriage. But she stuck with it, waiting for the day when they became so overconfident that they got themselves killed.

And she wasn't disappointed.

When the news came in about her youngest son's death, people thought she would shed tears.

They thought she would go numb in horror, shock, and disbelief before she went into a crying fit, or a fit of rage. They thought she would be in despair because her own child was dead. They thought she would go on a mad hunt for whoever committed the act of killing her son, even if result may or may not have been satisfactory.

She didn't.

When the news came in about her husband's death, everyone expected her to cry.

They expected her to throw herself on her knees and wail. They thought she would plead for it to be some cruel joke, to threaten the messenger with harsh consequences for playing such a sick joke. They expected her to go into a fit of despair-induced rage, cursing the people who committed this act and asking any deity out there why they had to take him of all people. They expected her to cry out and scream that she wouldn't find another like him and then say she would refuse to marry every again after this.

She didn't.

When news came about her oldest son's death, the people weren't even sure what she was going to do.

They thought there would be tears, and screaming. They thought she'd be in such rage because her whole family was dead. They thought she'd go completely numb in horror and shock, acting like everything was fine until the harsh truth finally hit her and she could do no more and break. They thought she'd break and become a shell of a woman. However, she didn't neither. They expected her to lose all hope in living, because everything she lived for was gone.

Bu they were wrong.

She didn't react because she didn't care.

Back when she came of age for marriage, and unexpected disruption came in the form of King Cold. He had landed on her planet and gathered everyone on the planet together and blatantly stated that the planet was officially under control of the recently formed Planet Trade Organization and that they had to immediately surrender or else he'd exterminate them all. Some people were shocked, some were afraid, and some were numb in horror thinking that King Cold would carry through with his threat. However, these doubts were quickly diminished. Their Elder didn't believe a word he said and assured the people nothing would happen. Taking the wise man's word for it, they laughed it off and the people were about to disperse, thinking the man to be mad, or maybe had escaped from a mental hospital. King Cold did not like what the Elder said and decided to make an example of him.

King Cold had simply killed him, along with the other members of the council.

After that, he declared that the same fate would befall them unless they surrendered. But, Tsumetai's father,, a politician on the planet, worked out a deal; they would willingly become a planet under his rule and provide him with income and taxes without protest, if he promised to let no harm befall the planet in exchange. Cold agreed, but on one condition: the fairest woman on the planet was to become his wife.

And Tsumetai's father volunteered her.

There was horror, unspeakable horror. How could her father give away his only daughter to a tyrant that they only knew for not even half an hour and expect her to willingly go along with it?! Then rage, unbridled rage. Were her people really going to give her away to save themselves? Did they not consider what the unknown King would do to her once they were behind closed doors? He could have planned to rape her for all she knew! And finally, there was rebellion. Pure. Unadulterated. Rebellion. She yelled, and screamed and threw a tantrum like a child who was denied a treat. She fought against her people's decisions and demanded they pick another bride. But as it was, Tsumetai was the most beautiful woman of all the ones on the planet, and suited King Cold's needs perfectly: voluptuous body, beautiful face and narrow eyes, and a fiery personality. She was indeed the perfect woman in King Cold's eyes, and the latter expressed his delight in having her as his wife. Tsumetai tried to fight, but then King Cold annihilated a group of merchants when she expressed her disdain. She then knew the man was serious. Her rage and adrenaline died down and there wasn't anything left for her to do. And finally came defeat. Utter defeat. She had to concede. Too many of her people could die because she was being stubborn and she couldn't allow that to happen. She had to accept the smug King's proposal and became his wife, though she did it grudgingly.

What was she supposed to do? Deny a man that could wipe out her entire race or marry him and be trapped in a loveless marriage (at this point, Tsumetai considered fighting him, but her people could be caught in the crossfire and she couldn't afford have any innocent person get harmed if she made a simple mistake like letting her guard down for a moment)? She went through the wedding process without uttering a word, though there was some protest when the wedding night came. She would rather have King Cold kill her in their (and she said that with contempt too) bedroom than allow him to touch her in that way. However, Cold had subtly pointed out that he could kill her and her race if she didn't comply. Though Tsumetai knew she could take him on in a fight, she wouldn't have been able to stop him from sending anyone to her planet and killing them all.

Although she hated herself and the man who made her, Tsumetai laid back, spread her legs, and prayed it would be over quickly.

She later found out that that dreadful night was the start of the end of her life as she once knew it.

Cold had impregnated her that night, a fact that angered Tsumetai to no end. She didn't want to have to carry around Cold's child, nor did she want any part in raising it. She was going to abort the disgusting thing before Cold ever found out what had happened, but the medic who was checking over her immediately sent word to Cold, who in turn knew that Tsumetai would do anything to abort it, and he therefore kept her under constant guard, making sure that no matter what, she was always watched constantly during the duration of her pregnancy so that she couldn't do anything rash like getting rid of her baby. She tried to cope with it by imagining that the baby would have no trace of Cold's looks or personality, and be exactly like her.

Her hopes were dashed at the birth.

When Cooler, as Cold wanted to name him, was born, Tsumetai held contempt for him. He was the splitting image of Cold. And as he grew, his personality held some of Tsumetai's in it, but was otherwise all Cold. He depended little on his mother, wanting to learn how to rule and conquer at a young age. He often spoke a bit badly about his mother, and when Tsumetai punished him, he often considered that he didn't have a mother, and those were times when Tsumetai considered that she didn't even have a son. Cold was displeased with her and forced interaction with Cooler on her, but they could never get along as mother and son could. And compared to her, his power level at birth and as he matured was laughable.

Another unexpected surprise came in the form of Frieza. After a particularly bad deal and a lack of troops in his empire, Cold was frustrated beyond belief, and the only way he could deal with it was by releasing it in another matter. Tsumetai refused, and another threat of her home came up, but Tsumetai still fought. She to this day would never understand how he overpowered her, but the resulting aftermath could be described as a rape. Tsumetai was embarrassed, humiliated, and angry. She refused to leave her room, nor speak to anyone, going into a stasis of sorts to cope with what had happened. But days after her lockdown, she felt sick to her stomach, getting worse each day until she finally collapsed and Cold broke into the room and had a team of medics look over her. She found she was pregnant again, a fact that angered her and delighted Cold. Once again, she was placed under lockdown and unable to go anywhere or do anything without someone near her, and she couldn't keep in contact with her family about the events that had happened thus far. She was truly alone.

Frieza's birth gave her a bit of hope. Although his personality would prove to be like his father's, he looked more like Tsumetai then he did Cold. And he adored his mother, though Tsumetai was a bit reluctant to show too much affection to a child she barely wanted in the first place. But she later learned that Frieza adored her because he adored her power, wanting to be strong like her. He wanted to rule the empire as the most powerful being in the universe, and wanting to one-up his older brother. Their sibling rivalry would eventually tear them apart, but Tsumetai wasn't going to reconcile them. It was a bit of a good thing to know she wouldn't have to deal with those two anymore; all she had to deal with was Cold.

Years went by and things didn't change. Tsumetai didn't fall in love with Cold and barely tolerated him. She didn't enjoy being in the same room as him, nor did she like the overly affection gestures Cold sometimes flaunted in front of other people. But she smiled and took it for her people's sake. She was still unable to do anything to help them, but just knowing Cold kept up his side of the deal was enough for her.

Cooler's death made her happy. The spoiled little brat that hated her and that she hated was gone, and she wouldn't have to deal with him again. The Planet-Trade Organization also mourned the loss of a good potential heir, and Cold was angered. He was going to hunt down whoever committed the crime, but he apparently had other pressing matters that took precedents, the arrogant bastard. How dare he make her go through raising that abomination just to brush off the issue as he did? It made no sense to her.

She couldn't have been anymore delighted when news of Frieza's demise at the hands of a Saiyan reached the empire. Cold was furious, but she was impassive about it, which turned some of Cold's anger to her. She didn't respond to his rants and let him go when he decided to quest for Frieza's body, which was reported to have been floating around in space. Tsumetai was glad when he was gone, having been suffocated by his constant presence around her. Cold's own demise had her laughing in glee. She was free of the son-of-a-bitch and didn't have to listen to him nor do anything he said. It was wonderful. She could focus on more pressing matter, like a challenge.

Her power was so great there weren't many people who excited her. However, the prospect of a Saiyan, and a Super Saiyan for that matter, made her body thrill. Just the thought of someone who could kill her 'family' and remained unscathed from it made her excited to know such a creature was out there. That was the kind of power she craved, power Cold was unable to provide her with. But a Saiyan…

"E-Empress Tsumetai?"

Tsumetai didn't glance wawy from the screen she was staring at. "Didn't I ask not to be bothered? Why are you here?"

"W-We've found them," the frightened guard said. "We have their location."

"Really?" Tsumetai raised an eyebrow. "It isn't a false alarm like last time, is it?"

"N-no ma'am!" He replied hastily. "We are positive we're locked onto their location. I-it's the same place your late husband-" Tsumetai growled. "And late sons perished. Ee-arth."

"It's pronounced Earth you twit," Tsumetai corrected harshly. Honestly, Cold's hired help could be so dense at times! She wasn't particularly fond of many of them, but they proved their usefulness sometimes. "However, it was to be expected. Since Cold found out about Frieza's death those years ago, that place was his target. I should have known they would be there."

"Would you like me to set the course for Earth…Madam?" he added as an afterthought.

Tsumetai nodded. "Yes. Set a course for Earth." A Cheshire cat grin spread across her face. "We're going to find some Saiyans…"

End

Me: That wraps up the Prologue. Chapter 2 is Tsumetai going to Earth, and finding the Saiyans on Earth who took down Frieza, Cooler, and King Cold. Stay tuned for the next installment.