Chapter I - A change of heart

As I put my hand against my head, I noticed how much it was pounding.

I felt horrible, but couldn't help but pick up the smell of smoking fish.

I tried to get up, but my body was way to heavy to lift. After a brave try to recall what had happened to me, I gave up and finally opened my eyes.

As I suspected, I was lying on sand, close to the sea while it's waves nearly reached me.

Next to me was a man cooking the fish I smelled.

I could only see his contours though, because he was covered in smoke.

The first thing I noticed about him was his spiky hair. It was black and pointing in all directions.

'Damn it!'

The man swore a few more times and threw something away. Maybe he had burned his fish.

I felt like he was about to turn around, and since I didn't know who I was dealing with, I pretended to still be unconscious.

'I can't believe I had to travel two weeks through space for this.'

Was he an alien? If so, maybe I was an alien too. Perhaps he knew what had happened to me.

My curiosity overcame my fear and I opened my eyes.

'Good morning.'

'It's already afternoon.'

Sigh, he's a hard ass.

'Who are you, and what happened?'

I gave it another try to get up, but it was no go. The man had already turned back to his fish, leaving me with questions. At least he didn't burn it.

'I found you, that's all I know.'

It was hard hearing him over the sound of the waves.

The wind blew away most of the smoke, and for the first time I could see the man clearly.

He was wearing a green and blue armor, including a furry brown belt, with warrior's boots. A red headband peeked through the wild black spikes.

'Where did you find me?'

It couldn't be all he knew, surely he had to have other information.

'Right here. Are you done talking?'

'One more thing, what's your name?'

His voice was cold. Filled with anger and mostly regret, I could hear it. Why, I didn't know.

'It's Bardock. Now leave me alone.'

A few days later I got the feeling in my body back. Finally I could get up.

As for recalling who I was however, there was still nothing. Even my name didn't come to mind.

Bardock didn't seem to care that I could finally stand up.

All he had done for these past couple of days was sparring, eating and sleeping.

If he even looked at me, it was filled with that feeling again. The anger and the regret, but also a sense of sadness and defeat.

I didn't know exactly what it was, but somehow I felt bad for him.

'Thanks for saving me.'

Bardock looked at me when I said it, surprised this time.

'Don't thank me, really.'

'Why are you still here?'

Again, he was surprised.

'Because I have to.'

'Why?'

As he regained his attitude, Bardock stood up and walked up to me. It felt frightening, as if It had happened before.

'Because I said so. Now sit down and shut up.'

He sounded like he was seriously threatening me.

I wanted to sit down and shut up, but my body had something else in mind.

The words left my mouth before I realized it.

'Why are you being such an asshole?'

A change in his eyes told me that I had asked a wrong question.

In those few days I had never seen Bardock happy, but I also had not seen him as angry as he was now. Like he was on the verge of an emotional breakdown.

'Get out of my sight, now.'

'Why? How am I supposed to think differently of you when you don't speak to me and don't care how I'm doing. If you didn't care, you shouldn't have rescued me.'

I didn't have the guts to let him speak again, and wanted to walk away quickly when Bardock suddenly grabbed my pulse. I felt my heart beating and I knew Bardock could hear it.

'Listen. I actually have to keep my distance from you, or my whole mission has been for nothing.'

That even made less sense, but it confirmed one thing.

Bardock knew more about what happened than he said he did.

'What are you talking about?'

Bardock sighed and shook his head.

As if he tried to convince himself not to tell me.

'I can't. You would be better off if you didn't know. Let's just keep it at that.'

'No, let's not just keep it at that! You know something, and it's either about me or about my situation, so tell me. I really want to know.'

Again he sighed. His hand held mine, firmly, up until the point it really hurt.

'I... I'm a bad man and I should be killed right on the spot.'

As Bardock fell on his knees, he buried face in his hands.

With my arm around him, I tried to comfort him.

That was it, he broke down.

'I'm so sorry, Princess. I'm so sorry.'

'Princess? What do you mean?'

I tried to hide how shocked I was, but it was no good.

'Princess Elaine. Married to Prince Vegeta an heir of the throne of Planet Vegeta.

A very powerful warrior and his minions took over our planet and rule it up till this day.

They offered a lot of money to the common Saiyan warriors to capture the Royal Family.

I was one of the traitors who took the offer.'

They already killed King Vegeta, and they threw the Prince and yourself in prison.

I was ordered to bring you here and kill you.

We were here when I almost beat you to death, but at the last moment, I couldn't.

I'm so sorry Your Highness.'

I wanted to say something, I really did. I just didn't know where to begin.

I was a princess, I was married and my kingdom was being terrorized as we stood here.

Most importantly, if Bardock hadn't had a change of heart, I would have been dead.

'It took two weeks right?'

'Wh.. What did?'

'Your journey to this planet. You said it took you two weeks.'

'Uh.. Yeah, that's right. So?'

'So? We're going back! We're going to save my kingdom and my husband.'

As I noticed Bardock wasn't sure, I tried to take his doubt away by pulling him up.

'You can change you mind later, but for now we are going to Planet Vegeta.'

The only thing I heard was Bardock muttering.

'Yes Your Highness.'