A PROMISE MADE IN SECRET

Vegeta clenches his fists as he fights his emotions and begins to lock them deep inside his heart. Not allowing his inner true self to emerge. Wondering what he will do.

It doesn't seem to matter what he thinks now. This here and now, doesn't seem right. The will to gather these dragon balls... It has brought no fortune to him. He can remember years ago... when he cried alone at night. She came to him. Holding him close as tears fell in darkness.

This is an injustice. The reasons for Zara being here, it's just not right.

"Zara. You don't have to do this."

She looks down and releases a soft breath of air. Looking up at him, knowing that Vegeta would rather not do this. She already knows that he's going to hold back and pull his punches.

That he will try to have mercy on her.

"Vegeta. You know I have to. I have no real choice in this."

Zara gave him everything. She gave him passion. Her very soul, she promised him in secret in reasons so untold. And she promised within a vow to live a life as one. To live a life anew. To love him for all time.

"A promise so untrue. Just lying to myself."

Her tears begin to streak down her cheeks as Vegeta watches her. A powerful wind blows between the two of them. Zara's hair dancing in the wind as she unbuckles her cape. Allowing the wind to take it.

Preparing for the fight of her life. The most emotionally taxing challenge ever.

"Zara. We don't have to do this. Just leave. Please."

He attempts to persuade her one last time. Giving her time to think as he remembers all that she has done for him. To hurt her... would mean to hurt himself.

"I am the damned, and the dead now to you Vegeta. It's up to you to decide as to the path you wish to take now. Because I can't take this anymore. Prepare yourself... Vegeta."

With those last words. He knows what she is saying. They are on the same wave, and in the same emotional circumstance. The pain is too much for them to handle. And what Zara is doing now... isn't just for her. But for them both.

She intends to replace the sadness... with pain. Pushing Vegeta into action. He might be hiding his inner turmoil with a stoic face and clenched fists but the hurt is there. Everything that can't be found is there. Deep inside.

Her promise to love him for all time... It doesn't matter anymore. Her Love has brought no fortune. And the reason she will leave him is that of someone else.

"I can't take this no more."

Her thoughts race as she jumps, launching herself towards Vegeta. Almost exactly at the same time Vegeta.

Both of them hiding the pain inside as they collide in midair.

Vegeta swings first with a quick right hook aiming for Zaras left cheek, intending to hit her with a direct powerful attack.

Only to catch a glimpse her golden eyes. And immediately pull his punch, turning his fist into an open-handed slap with less than twenty percent of his strength.

Zara's face turns slowly from the impact, her eyes shut from the strike. She takes it with a heart of stone as she smiles.

"You always knew just how to make me cry."

She looks into his eyes as he looks at her.

"Vegeta. It's ok. You can hit me with your full strength. I want you to."

Reaching out she places her right hand gently on Vegeta's face, gently pulling him closer. Taking the pain deep inside with a heart of stone. Only to be met with the anger of his protest.

"Do you get your kicks from hurting me, Zara!"

A powerful blow directly aimed at her abdomen from his knee. Sending her back as blood escapes her mouth.

"That's good Vegeta. Show me what you have learned through all these years. Show me."

She places her hands together and sends a power blast directly at him. Only to be countered and sent into the air. A direct signal for all to see as Vegeta flies to her and punches her breastplate with a powerhouse of a right hook.

The armor shatters as blood escapes from the wound. Sending her into the dirt below them both creating a crater.

"NO! DAME IT!"

Vegeta shouts as he flies quickly down with urgency. He never expected to hurt her this much. The only way this would be possible is...

... Is if... Zara took the attack head on... She let him do that.

"WHY! WHY DID YOU DO THAT?"

He shouts at Zara as he pulls her from the rubble. Her bloodied body now with a deadly wound. Slowly her eyes open, looking up at Vegeta as he kneels down before Zara. He places her head upon his lap, The blood pouring from her chest. A death sentence should she not get to a healing tank soon. And even then... it's no guarantee that it would save her life.

"I... Knew that no matter what I told you. No matter what I did. You wouldn't come back with me to Frieza's ship. And..."

She coughs in an attempt to take another breath. Her eye's starting to become bloodshot as her body trembles.

"And... if I... went back to Frieza without you... She would only kill me."

A deep rage from within Vegeta begins to rise.

"Frieza. Again it's her."

Slowly Zara reaches out and takes Vegeta's hand.

"It's ok... Vegeta... it's alright. I... wanted to end it this way. I knew that."

Her voice begins to soften as her eyelids begin to lower ever so slightly. All that she taught Vegeta, begins to flow through his mind. All of his attacks. All that he knows. Everything he learned about space travel. All the alien languages. All this and more.

"ZARA DON'T! DON'T DO THIS. YOU HAVE TO LIVE. DON'T LEAVE ME. YOU'RE ALL I HAVE LEFT IN THIS WORLD."

A soft smile graces her lips. To her... Vegeta was more than a friend. She wanted him. She wanted him to be hers. Always and forever. But... somehow she always knew, that no matter what she did. In a way... she never would have him. Not like that.

And so she settled for the next best thing. She treated him as if he was her own son. As if he was her sibling or close relative. Joking around with him. Never hiding anything from him. Always trying to get a smile from him. Or making him uncomfortable. She loved him.

"We had... lots of adventures... didn't we Vegeta."

Tears land upon Zara's forehead as she feels him wipe both his tears from her. And her tears as well.

"Vegeta... where did you go?"

She reaches out trying to feel him. Quickly he grabs her hand and places it upon his own chest, allowing her to feel his heart beating. Not wanting her to go... Not wanting to let go.

"Shhh. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere Zara."

His voice trembles... His best friend... His last friend... His only friend... is dying in his hands. He did this... Because she wanted to save him.

"Vegeta... I... I love..."

Her voice... her breath... the last of her spirit... it leaves her body as he leans down and kisses her lips. Letting her feel his love for her. Right before she leaves this realm of existence forever.

"I know... I love you too Zara... BUT WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DIE!"

The rage within him... at that moment... something snaps. All that he knows. All that he is and was before. None of it. None of it matters anymore.

He yells in a rage like no other. This was his second mother. A sister. His friend. Now gone by his own hands.

Tears evaporate as he covers his face and collapses upon Zara's now lifeless body. He yells into her clothes and grasps at her clothing.

"NOOOO!"

He turns and slams both his fists into the dirt creating a mile wide crater as electricity rises from his body and his hair flashes a brilliant yellow for a split second. Mountains from around him tremble and shatter into billions of pieces hitting the floor.

An ocean of dust fills the air as he rises from the ground crying. His rage now slowly turning. Sorrow into anger. Sadness into a rage. Depression now persistence.

"Frieza... FRIEZA!"

Lightning comes from the heavens and hits him directly and a brilliant flash of light can be seen for several miles. Every scouter that is within 30 miles suddenly explodes. As Vegeta... Turns into a true Super Sayan.