For those of you who already read the original version, this revised version isn't very much different from it. So it's up to you if you'll read this again or not. As for those who just came across this fic, please give this one a chance. I know that some of you don't like having original characters around, or perhaps, alternate universes, but please give this fic a chance.

DRAGONBALL Z: RENASCIMENTO
Rebirth of the Future's Only Hope
by Kaz Valkyrie

Prologue: Sabrea, 758 AD


"Unidentified starfighter, this is General Ivanov of the Sabrean Air Force. Transmit your identification code immediately, or be denied entrance to our planet. I repeat, unidentified starfighter, this is General Ivanov of the Sab---"

A muffled transmission from the mysterious vessel echoed in the control room of the Sabrean docking bay. "Sonia?" a voice asked, a voice that was a mixture of shyness, anxiety, excitement, relief and fear --- all at the same time.

"L-Lorelai? Y-you're back!" Sonia Ivanov's once monotonous voice was now full of emotion, and the intensity of her joy was evident as her transmission was heard inside the cockpit of the starfighter Kuei. However, the tone of her voice dropped. "But alas, I cannot open the planetary shield without your identification code. Callista's rules. Forgive me."

"Transmitting identification code now," Lorelai Anacreon blurted out as she keyed in her code. Once she finished, she could not help smiling as she said, "That's alright, Sonia. It's no bother."

After a few moments, Sonia's overjoyed voice exploded through the shuttle's speakers. "You're cleared, Kuei! Welcome back to Sabrea, Lorelai! Please proceed to the fourth docking bay, Callista will meet you there."

"Thanks."

"Be careful in landing, so much has changed for the past two years you've been away. Callista did a lot of restructuring, she nearly turned Sabrea upside-down. She said Sabrea was in a much too primitive state," the general narrated, ending it with a short laugh.

"Looks pretty good to me. Earth is far more primitive than the Sabrea two years ago," Lorelai replied, looking at the city lights that made the surface of Sabrea look like a glittering diamond. Starfighters, freighters and mini-transports moved about the velvet Sabrean sky like fireflies in the dark night.

"I missed you, Lorelai," Sonia said going informal --- when she wasn't supposed to. But she just could not hold her emotions back. After how many years, her best friend was finally back, and she, truly missed her. "You've been away far too long."

Lorelai, sister of Callista --- who currently stood as the empress of Sabrea --- forced back sudden tears. "I missed you too, Sonia. You just don't know how much I missed you. See you below."

Sabrea was a world far too advanced than any other planet in the Outer Regions --- but in their progress the Sabreurs sacrificed the beauty of their once green and lush world. Their planet faced much danger not only because of its probable collision with the three moons that orbit it, or the chance of being swallowed by its own sun after a few decades, but also because of the deterioration of the planet from the inside, deep down the core.

Despite of the constant threat of nature on the small planet, the Sabreurs continued to live the lives they have always had. Lives guided by Sabrean tradition, ancient practices and cultural beliefs. But they were not to be underestimated. Despite their use of ancient --- yet standard --- weapons, the Sabreurs remained powerful. Armed with magic, skill, reliable weapons and technology --- the Sabreurs were a race to fear.

They were said to be even more powerful than the famous Saiyajins, though the theory has yet to be proven. Myths contained in history books stated that the Sabreurs and Saiyajins originated from one mother race, and that the two races were linked in more ways than one.

Lorelai walked calmly and briskly through the halls of the royal palace, two sets of guards flanked beside her. However, it was evident in the soldiers' faces that her return brought everyone great joy. Many loved Lorelai, for she was a woman one-of-a-kind. She was firm with her principles, unbiased with her judgments, analytical in her thoughts and certain with her decisions. She was also quite a beauty, and a tough warrior to boot --- powerful in magic, skilled with her saber and knowledgeable in technology.

"Lorelai!"

Lorelai's face brightened as she saw her younger sister Callista emerge from the throne room and run towards her. Callista had a face much like Lorelai's own. Her long orange-blond hair matched the shade of her light blue eyes, and she stood in a stance so honorable, so dignified.

"Great restructuring job, I must say," Lorelai commented as she pulled away from her sister's embrace. When she said that, however, she could not help give Callista a grin full of sarcasm.

"Don't mock me, Lorelai."

Lorelai laughed. Nothing had changed between them. She was still the elder sister who loved to mock her little sister. Callista was still the little sister who hated to get mocked by her elder sister. Even after many years, things remained the same. "Oh come one, I mean it! You've transformed Sabrea into the technological heart of the Outer Regions! You turned Sabrea into the most progressive planet yet!"

Callista could not supress her proud smile, especially with the tiara on her head. However, her expression changed noticeably as she resumed speaking. "Tomorrow. Tomorrow, you shall be the empress," she said, a hint of jealousy in her voice, which she vainly tried to replace with a concerned expression. "It's a hard life, Lorelai. Harder than what you've ever experienced. I just... hope you'll get past all the odds."

Thick fog embraced the massive structure in the northern continent of Sabrea --- the royal palace. Lorelai stood by the balcony of her private quarters, nostalgic despite of being in her homeplanet. She gazed at the sky thoughtfully, as if searching for a certain bright spot, searching for a bright aura of a planet she had grown to love.

Earth.

The princess sighed as she remembered everything that happened to her. She was sent to Earth to accomplish a certain mission, which was actually a test she had to pass in order to become the empress of her planet. It was long and hard journey, but she found friends along the way. Friends that helped her all throughout her mission, through thick and thin. One of them was a brave and dashing human named Victor Vanbrugh. And of all her friends, he was the one she could never forget.

If there was anything she learned on Earth that she valued the most at the moment, it was love. She could not understand how it worked, but it seemed to be the foundation of the planet itself.

Strange customs those humans have. They're all open to change, all open to new things. Even with those changes taking place in their world, they still manage to live together harmoniously. Why can't Sabrea be like Earth? Why can't my fellowmen just live the way humans do? she said to herself with a sigh. I guess some things will stay as they are. Some things will just---

She stopped as she was alerted by a sudden presence behind her. She immediately spun around to see who or what it was, but her startled expression turned into one full of happiness. "Oh Sonia," she exclaimed, rushing towards her best friend to encase her in a hug.

Sonia returned the embrace with tears in her eyes. "I'm just glad to have you back, my Empress."

The future empress let go, and with her a look of utter seriousness, she took up a sharp salute. "The pleasure is mine, Admiral."

The huge grin that grew on Sonia's face was very visible despite of the dark night and the terrible fog. But the grin disappeared as she stared at Lorelai's features. "Lorelai? What's wrong? Something's bothering you, what is it?"

"I can't tell you," Lorelai said as she turned away. The look on her face was... unreadable. "I'm really sorry, Sonia. But I don't think I can..."

"You can trust me. I'm your best friend, Lorelai. That's what I'm here for," the other Sabreur said as she moved to stand beside her best friend. "Come on! You've been telling me your secrets since we were little! Are you going to deny me this information? Who knows, maybe I could help you out! I'm good at those things, am I not?"

Sonia had never failed to make Lorelai smile. However, the grin that spread on her features quickly melted away as she thought about the problem that was at her hands. She shut her eyes as the struggle in her raged on, while Sonia just stood by her side patiently, waiting for Lorelai to just break the news.

After a few moments, she opened her eyes, and even if she did not want to spill her secret, she found herself doing it, nonetheless. "I... I broke tradition, Sonia. I have a daughter with a human."

Her best friend gasped in surprise, but as her shock faded, she immediately smiled. "Lorelai, that's tradition. That can and will change. In fact, you can start up the change! Our world is so advanced, yet our actions are so ancient. Is that even right? We have to cope up with change... and well... I was hoping you would work for that change."

"You mean---"

"I'm not gonna tell," Sonia assured. "Don't worry, your Highness. I'm your best friend. You can trust me. I'll never betray you, even if my life will be on the line. And besides, I want you to be the empress. I want you to be the leader, much like everyone else does."

Lorelai felt tears coming to her eyes. She expected terrible things to happen. She even expected her best friend to despise her for what she had done. But no, she didn't. Even though it was a bit of a shock for Sonia at first, but the shock wore off almost immediately. It was as if what she had done was just... normal. In relief and gratitude, she hugged her best friend. "Thank you, Sonia. Thank you for believing in me. And don't worry, I won't let you down."

"Don't mention it."

Unknown to them, Callista was listening from behind the window pane. A small smirk then appeared on her pale moonlit features as another one of her evil schemes began to form in her head. I don't care if everyone wants you to be the leader, Lorelai. I don't give a damn. I'm going to take the throne, and you can't stop me. There's nothing you can do to stop me. After all, it's you who broke tradition. And it's you who's going to pay for it.

Applause filled the Senatorial Chamber of the Sabrean Royal Palace as His Eminence Pope Constance Grey crowned Lorelai as the empress of Sabrea. Admiral Ivanov sat adjacent to the empress in a stance indicating her readiness for anything. Beside her was General Ione, and the entire senatorial body stood right next to them.

Callista gave a slight bow before proceeding to the platform to give her congratulatory speech for her elder sister. She looked at the audience with bright, sparkling eyes and a proud grin. "Ladies and gentlemen, citizens of Sabrea," she began with a booming, well-projected voice, "Today is another milestone in the history of our world. For today, another warrior from the Anacreon clan took up the throne to rule everyone in this planet."

The Sabreurs applauded once more, and the noise died down when the princess resumed speaking. "Eons ago, Jacqueline Anacreon came to this world and blessed it with her presence --- a pure heart and pure spirit. She became the first ruler of Sabrea, the pillar of everything that is here right now. Great rulers followed her footsteps... Genevieve the Spirited, Frances the Faithful, and Diana the Pureheart. The Anacreon clan has kept Sabrea a peaceful haven, and you can all attest to that."

Then her expression grew concerned. "You hear many stories nowadays. How absurd the universe is, how great the change that has happened here, and how moral values have died. Well, not here. Not here in Sabrea. We have seen the effects of our grasp on traditions and values. Despite of all the change in our modes of actions due to technology, nothing has changed in our values and traditions, our beliefs, our reasons, our faithfulness."

Sonia's brow clenched as she heard Callista punctuate the words values and traditions. Something wasn't quite right, and she knew it by Callista's slightly strange tone.

"Yes, we have a changing world, but lasting values. Just because our world is advanced technologically doesn't mean we have to abandon our learnings and values that was handed down to us by our ancestors," Callista said glancing at Lorelai and Sonia.

The two ladies twitched uneasily, although they quickly tried to cover up what they just did. However, Callista noticed it clearly, though she pretended as if nothing happened, and she went back to her speech. "Look at Lyria, the world which used to be inhabited by technical geniuses. They clung to change, let go of their values that made them rise to glory... and perished."

"To what point are you getting at, Princess?" the admiral blurted out not taking her twisted words any longer. It was evident that Callista was directing the words to Lorelai, although she was putting it in an indirect fashion.

Callista merely smirked as the audience began whispering among themselves. "I just want to stress, General," Callista spat, emphasizing Sonia's former title, "That it is wrong to put to the throne a Sabreur who wants to change---"

"Change is inevitable," Sonia shot as she finally stood up to counter Callista's words, fear and panic rippling in her, although she managed to keep it hidden. "You know that. You changed this world, and you can see the difference."

The princess laughed. "Yes, I know that. But Lorelai wants change because she wants to change the tradition she broke!" she exclaimed, and a triumphant grin was planted on her face as the Sabreurs exchanged confused glances and shocked expressions. The time had come to deliver the blow, and the time had come to put her plans into completion. "Yes, ladies and gentlemen! Our dear empress broke tradition and had an affair with a human!"

The crowd grew wild as different reactions surfaced. However, Callista enjoyed the chaos. She merely stood there, her smile of triumph still intact. After all, she had won.

But Sonia was not giving up. Callista had no evidence, and thus there was still a way out of the dilemna Lorelai was in at the moment. She immediately walked towards the princess, determined more than ever. Finally, they came face to face, and with all the force she could muster, she slapped the hotshot Sabreur.

It took a moment for Callista to recover, but when she finally did, she found herself ready to strangle Sonia to death, although she knew that she stood no chance against her in hand to hand combat. She decided to stick with the battle of words, for she knew that she would win if they would just have an argument. Arguments were her specialty.

"Stop this scandal, Callista!" Sonia spat with bitterness in her voice. "I know why you're making up this issue! You just want to have the throne all to yourself!"

"Scandal?" the princess asked in an amused tone. She then burst into laughter. "Scandal, you say? Well you are most certainly wrong! I'm just telling the truth! I'm just letting the people know because they have the right to know!"

"Truth? Do you even have evidence to prove this stament you call truth?" Sonia shot back, enraged. She tried to keep up with her facade as much as she could, although she knew for a fact that she was a bad liar, and that sooner or later --- if she won't be careful enough --- she'd spill out the truth. And Lorelai would be banished from Sabrea for breaking such a tradition.

"Don't threaten me, General."

"Admiral," Sonia corrected pointing to the insignia on her breast plate. "And I'm not threatening you, I just want this matter to be cleared out." She turned to the empress. "Your Majesty, give me permission to arrest her."

Part of the crowd cheered as Callista's features paled noticeably. That was something she left out. Lorelai had already been crowned. She was already the Empress, and she had the power at the moment --- plus, most of the Sabreurs were still at her side, to Callista's dismay.

She decided to put more logic into her words, because if she'll be able to push Sonia on the edge, her sister's best friend would spill out the truth without herself even knowing it. "You can't arrest me, Sonia," she said cooly. "I'm the princess of Sabrea."

"Oh I can arrest you!" Sonia shot back. She then backed off from the princess, took out her saber and ignited it. "And remember, I can hurt you!" she exclaimed as she took up a fighting stance, ready to fight for Lorelai's sake, even with her life.

The crowd went wild. A handful cheered for Callista, while the rest were on Sonia's side. The chanting and cheering continued to dig into Callista's head until she could not take it any longer. "I CAN HURT YOU TOO!" she yeled as she pulled out her saber and ignited it in a flash. Her saber's yellow-gold blade clashed magnificently against the soft blue hue of Sonia's saber.

The admiral looked at Lorelai again, fire burning in her eyes. Without dropping her guard, she once again pleaded permission for Callista's arrest. The young princess was only going to ruin the chance for the Sabreurs to have a ruler that will make Sabrea a better place. "Lorelai, let me---"

"No."

That was her answer, simple and direct. No. She did not want Callista to be arrested. But Sonia knew that Lorelai meant something more than that. She had known her for all of her life, and she knew what was going to happen next when her best friend would say no in a dead serious tone. "But Lorelai---" she objected, but the other merely cut her off.

"Let her be, Sonia," Lorelai said as she shook her head. "There is no need to fight. Let's have this matter cleared without bloodshed, please. I hope you will all bear with me."

Silence filled the entire chamber, as the empress stood up to address her people. She began to walk forward until she stood between her sister and her best friend. At that development, Callista dropped her guard and shut off her ki-saber. After a few moments, Sonia did the same.

Nobody spoke. Nobody dared to break the silence, only Lorelai, who sighed. It's useless to hide the truth, for it'll come out in due time. And when that time comes, we will all pay the price. All of us. I'll... I'll just let the people deal with what I've done, I will do what they want me to do.

"Callista's right. I... I have a daughter with a human."

A/N: I know that not one of the DBZ characters was even mentioned, but please do not let that stop you from reading this fic. *smiles* Oh and yeah, 757 AD, the time that this chapter took place, is at the very same year when Goku and Chichi got married. Figured something out? *grins* Please review!

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