Marron had never been in a building as massive as the royal palace.
Even the mega-malls back on Earth didn't come close.
She had been a little nervous about letting Bra give her a make-over, but it was soon evident that the girl was bored rather than deliberately bratty.
"So," Marron said. "Your brother…"
"Yeah?" Bra flecked some cream eye-shadow on Marron's lids. "What about the idiot?"
"He…has a fiancée?"
"Yeah," Bra shrugged. "I mean, technically. Lady Videl- she's from a neighboring planet. It was decided when they were still babies, in order to form a union between planets. And she comes from a warrior race too, so no one really minds that she's like seven years older than him."
"Wow…" Marron murmured, her hopes falling. "Is…she pretty?"
Bra scoffed. "Well, not really, if you ask me, but apparently men get off on the tomboy-type. You though," She gathered Marron's hair up and twisted it up experimentally into a bun. "Are much prettier than she is."
Marron blushed.
"It's the truth!"
"I…don't know…" Marron glanced at the princess. "Men seem to like you, though."
Bra shrugged. "I guess."
"As we walked here, each guy we passed couldn't take his eyes off you."
"Yes," Bra mused. "That's the thing with beauty. Do you think the man that I eventually marry would love me even if I was ugly? I don't think so. That's why love is fake. Men only love with their eyes."
Marron wrinkled her nose. "Oh, don't be so cynical. There are men out there who care about the person inside-"
"Ha!" Bra threw back her head and laughed. "Honey, you have a lot to learn."
xxx
Bra left Marron standing by the piano room as the younger girl went off to order a drink for them both.
Marron wished she had taken her along.
The Saiyans walking by with their battle armor and scouters and their 'don't mess' expressions scared her senseless.
"Hey!" Someone yelled and she jumped as she saw two men making their way towards her.
"W-what?" She jabbered- they were at least six feet tall and built like wrestlers.
"You're one of the new servants, aren't you? From Earth?" They all leered down at her.
"Uh…" Marron said.
"Looks like no one's told her the rule." One said and the other two chuckled.
"W-what rule?" Marron managed.
"It's a rule," The soldier continued with a dark smile. "That if a pretty little Earthling enters the palace, they need to give each of the soldiers a kiss."
Marron went red. "I…I don't think I read about something l-like that…"
"Aww, don't be stingy." He grabbed her arm and Marron could do nothing but get helplessly pulled along. "Give me a kiss, pretty girl."
His two friends laughed.
"S-stop it!" Marron squealed as he yanked her closer.
"What's the matter? Still a virgin?"
Their laughs grew louder and tears pricked the corners for Marron's eyes, but she didn't dare let one slip.
"Come on, girl! We haven't got all-"
"What's going on here?"
Marron looked over the soldier's shoulder to see Trunks standing at the doorway, arms crossed.
The soldiers turned pale.
"Y-Your H-Highness-!"
"Am I interrupting something?" Trunks enquired, walking across the room and putting an arm around Marron's shoulder. "You gentlemen wouldn't happen to be messing with my new girl, would you?"
Marron went an even deeper shade of red and the soldiers turned even paler.
"N-no, sir!" The soldier and his cronies dropped down on one knee. "Of course not."
Trunks moved closer to Marron's ear. "Are you okay?" He whispered.
She could only nod.
Trunks looked back at the three unfortunate soldiers. "I suggest you find some other hobby instead of taunting defenseless girls. Might I suggest knitting?"
Bra came back into the room with a maid who carried juice for her and Marron.
Her starry blue eyes surveyed the situation with mild interest.
"Did I miss something?"
Trunks made a shooing gesture and the three soldiers scuttled away.
"I thought you said you were going to take care of her." He glared at his sister and pointed at Marron.
"I am!"
"Those three idiots were harassing her."
"Marron!" Bra put her hands on her hips. "Just tell them you're under my command and they won't bother you anymore!"
"S-sorry." Marron was still shaken.
Trunks glanced at her. "You know what, sis? I think I'll take her from here."
"What? You don't need a lady-in-waiting!"
"A guy always needs a pretty girl on his arm." Trunks gave her a Vegeta-smirk. "You can have the one mother told me to take care of…what's his name? Goten. You can play with him."
"Trunks!" Bra yelled. "You can't do that!"
But Trunks was already tugging Marron out of the room. "C'mon, Marron," He said. "It's time you got the grand palace tour."
xxx
Goku wiped the crumbs from his mouth with his sleeve. "Wow, thanks for the food, King Veg!"
"Don't call me 'Veg'." Vegeta growled.
"It's our pleasure." Bulma smiled.
"We're so grateful for your hospitality." Chi-chi smiled.
"Tch." Vegeta said.
"Think nothing of it!" Bulma waved her hand. "By the way, Vegeta, I was going to take Chi-chi out shopping so you can stay here with Goku, can't you?"
"No." Vegeta said.
"Great! See you later!"
"Woman-!" Vegeta began, but she'd already dragged Chi-chi out of the door. "Damn her." He muttered.
"So," Goku grinned. "Know any jokes?"
"Don't talk to me."
"I got one! Knock, knock!"
"Go away."
"No, no, Vegeta- you have to say 'who's there'."
"That's King Vegeta to-"
"Then I say: Cows go."
"Are you going to stop talking or am I going to have to make-?!"
"And you say: Cows go who?" Goku laughed. "Then I say: Don't be silly! Cows go moo! Ha, ha! Get it? Isn't that funny?"
"It's taking every ounce of my strength to keep from killing you."
"You want me to tell my baseball jokes? I have twenty-four of them-"
"For God's sake, Kakkorot!" Vegeta banged the table. "Don't you have anything else to do?!"
Goku stared at him. "Um…"
"What?"
"What did you just call me?"
"Kakkorot!" Vegeta snapped. "That's your name, isn't it, idiot?"
"Actually, my name is Goku."
"Yes, but Bulma said that you were born on this planet and given the name Kakkorot. So, your name is Kakkorot."
"But everyone on Earth calls me 'Goku'."
"I don't care what everyone on Earth does- I'm calling you this!"
"But it's kinda dumb. I mean…it's not my name."
"It IS your name!"
"No it's not."
"Yes it is!"
"No it's not."
"Yes it is!"
"No. It's. Not."
"Yes! It! Is!"
Thus, the never-ending war between Vegeta and Goku began…
xxx
Goten had been lazing on the marble steps of the palace when Princess Bra kicked him in the head.
"Ow!" He fell face-first on the next step.
"You." Bra said. "Servant boy, entertain me."
"Oh," Goten rubbed the bruise. "You're here."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Mainly it conveys the meaning that you have arrived."
Bra's lips twitched. "Don't try to get smart with me, servant boy."
"Oh?' Goten got to his feet. "I thought you wanted somebody to entertain you."
Bra studied him. He was definitely good-looking and there was a mischievousness in his smile and eyes that differed from his brother, Gohan.
"Do you want to hear a joke?" He asked.
"Not particularly." Bra replied.
"You sure? It's about cows."
"Quite sure. I just want someone to bully for the next hour."
Goten grinned at her. "Sweetie, with a body like that, you can bully me any day of the week."
Bra glared at him. "If my father hears you've been speaking to me with such disrespect-"
"Sorry, sorry," Goten held up his hands. "With a body like that, you can bully me any day of the week, Princess Bra."
"I hate men with smart mouths." Bra said shortly.
Goten winked at her. "Sure you do. That's why you're smiling at me."
Bra touched her lips.
She was smiling- and genuinely. At a man.
Huh, She mused. Who'd have thought?
xxx
Gohan's first thought had been: Why wouldn't Trunks want to escort his own fiancée?
When he ventured this question to Bulma she had shrugged.
"Trunks is…complicated," She sighed. "And so is Videl. They treat the fact they have an engagement with…apathy."
"Will they still get married?" Gohan asked.
"The official engagement is actually set to happen tomorrow on Trunks' birthday." Bulma had told him. She smiled. "You wouldn't mind, would you, Gohan? I hear she's quite tough to deal with, but you can handle it, can't you?"
"Er, yes, Your Majesty."
But, as Gohan stood at the docking bay, watching the space ship as it landed, he wasn't so sure.
'Tough to deal with'? What did that mean?
The shape ship door clicked open and Lady Videl walked down the metal ramp.
Her blue-purple eyes looked up at he was the first thing they met.
Gohan stared at her, all worries suddenly gone.
He could deal with a little 'toughness'.
He'd never seen anyone so beautiful in his life.
