Vegeta sighed as he laid in bed and stared up at the ceiling as Bulma curled up to his side. The things Leelee had said earlier that day kept rolling around in his mind and he couldn't make them stop no matter how hard he tried. Her warning about danger, peril, and greater enemies plagued his mind as he tossed and turned, unable to go to sleep. He frowned as he looked at Bulma. She looked so peaceful as she slept, her blue hair slightly mussed from sleep, a serene expression on her face. She was so gorgeous. He lightly ran his fingers through her silky soft hair and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. He sighed into her hair as he stared at the wall, his mind still working in overdrive.
There had to be something he could do to protect his family. He would not stand for anyone harming his mate ever again. It was his job to protect her. And he had failed miserably. It was hard to believe that it had been nearly a year ago when Bulma had been taken and thrown into the shadow realm. For him, the memory was still painfully fresh.
He snorted and moved to lay flat on his back again. A year. Almost a whole year's worth of training since he'd gotten his wife back and he hadn't progressed hardly at all. He'd hit a plateau and he didn't much care for that. He was in better shape than he had ever been before. He was stronger. Faster. And it still wasn't enough. There was always the constant nagging in the back of his head that he had still not surpassed Goku, but now that was not the goal. That would come in time, he was certain of it. But what he was focused on now was keeping Bulma and his children safe.
Vegeta heaved a sigh and threw his legs over the edge of the bed as he sat up. There would be no sleep for him tonight until he figured out some new way to push himself beyond what he had already achieved. He glanced over his shoulder again to make sure that Bulma was sleeping before he dressed and headed downstairs to the living room.
He was surprised to find one of the living room lights on and Tora sitting on the couch, curled up with yet another book. Jenny and Leelee had left their books behind, stacked neatly on the coffee table. It was amusing to see Tora like that, so engrossed in whatever it was that he was reading that he didn't even notice Vegeta's presence, his tail curling over and over as he read.
"What are you doing up?" Vegeta asked, glancing at the clock. It was nearing midnight.
Tora looked up and him and shrugged. "Reading," he answered before he looked at the clock and yawned. "I didn't realize it was this late." He bookmarked his page and got to his feet with a tired groan. "Goodnight, Prince. Don't stay up too late yourself."
Vegeta watched him go before he looked at the books on the table. He noticed the book Jennifer had been reading earlier that day and he picked it up, his curiosity piqued. She'd left it bookmarked and he flipped it open as he sat down to read.
ARES - The great Greek god of war, battlelust, and manly courage. He is represented as the son of Zeus and Hera. The character of Ares in Greek mythology will be best understood if we compare it with that of other divinities who are likewise in some way connected with war. Athena represents thoughtfulness and wisdom in the affairs of war, and protects men and their habitations during its ravages. Ares, on the other hand, is nothing but the personification of bold force and strength. Ares loves war for its own sake, and delights in the din and roar of battles, in the slaughter of men, and the destruction of towns. The destructive hand of this god was even believed to be active in the ravages made by plagues and epidemics. This savage and sanguinary character of Ares makes him hated by the other gods and his own parents. In the Iliad, he appears surrounded by the personifications of all the fearful phenomena and effects of war. With all his overwhelming physical strength, he is always victorious. The warlike character of the tribes of Thrace led to the belief that the god's residence was in that country, and here and in Scythia were the principal seats of his worship. In Scythia he was worshipped in the form of a sword, to which not only horses and cattle, but men were also sacrificed.
Vegeta gave a soft snort. If the Saiyans had ever worshiped any sort of a god, Ares would have been it. A Saiyan god, now that was an interesting thought. A very interesting thought. He chewed his lip for a moment, wondering if there was a way that this god could give him what he sought. Strength. Speed. Victory. The ability to protect his wife and everyone he held dear. He would trade almost anything to have it. Because knowing that he was the best, the strongest, the most fearsome warrior, meant mental peace for the prince. It meant that he would no longer have to worry about Fasha or what her bastard child might grow up to become. He would never again have to worry about a killer android such as Cell popping up to destroy them all or some crazy Atlantean hell-bent on revenge or unleashing the dark goddess Apollymi. Vegeta's mate would be safe. His sons and daughters and granddaughters would be safe.
He considered the book again, an idea forming in his mind. He wondered if there was a way to appeal to this god for some sort of aid. It killed his pride to ask for help, but he was starting to feel desperate. Maybe Jennifer knew some sort of spell that she could cast for him to ask for help.
He shook his head. No, he didn't want to involve her. Or anyone else for that matter. More to the point, he wasn't sure if he even wanted anyone to know that he had decided to seek the help of a god. Perhaps it would be better to keep this to himself. It would certainly be easier on his pride to do so. But he didn't know where to start. Despite being surrounded by magick for the past few years, Vegeta himself had never attempted any sort of spell. All the spells he'd seen Jennifer cast had always involved some sort of strange herbs or candles, that type of thing. Just his luck, he'd end up poisoning himself or some such silly nonsense. The other magick they used was for battle and he didn't see how that would particularly help him in this situation. He didn't possess an elemental power like they did. And while Tora's magick had proved useful in the past, it didn't make him any stronger. It didn't make him invincible in the way Vegeta longed for. No, he needed something more.
Vegeta drummed his fingers on the hardcover of the book. What other options did he have? There had to be something. Some other sort of magick that hadn't been explored or that had slipped his mind. Perhaps Arthusia would know something. He sighed. There again lied the problem of appealing to someone else for help. That wouldn't do.
His whole body went rigid as an idea occurred to him. Arthusia had summoned Kaiona, the Hawaiian goddess of lost souls, to her front porch. Perhaps he could do the same with Ares. He knew he was going to have to watch his attitude and his mouth. If he disrespected Ares the way he had Kaiona, he seriously doubted that he would walk away from the situation. But how to do it? When Arthusia summoned the Hawaiian goddess, she had spoken in a language Vegeta didn't understand. He looked at the other books and began to flip through them, searching for something that might give him a set of instructions on how to summon a god.
There were none. He knew there was a way to do it, he'd seen it done himself, but apparently the magick was unknown to most others or was too powerful to be mentioned in books purchased from a normal store. Just as he was flipping through the last book, a simple incantation caught his eye. It was to invoke Ares to aid in a spell. Surely the word "invoke" could be swapped with "summon." What was the worst that could happen?
Vegeta hesitated for only a moment before he grabbed up the book and headed out to the back yard. It was dark and quiet outside, the city nearly silent this late at night. He glanced around to make sure that the lights in the house were off before he looked at the book in his hands.
Oh, he felt foolish. Standing in the darkness, speaking to some god that he wasn't even sure actually existed. But it was worth a try. Anything was worth a shot if it meant protecting Bulma.
Vegeta cleared his throat before he spoke. "Ares, mighty god of war, I summon thee forth," he read aloud, then paused as a cold chill crept down his spine. The words had barely left his lips before he felt the presence in the yard. He hadn't even read the rest of the chant yet. He slowly turned on the spot and the book dropped from his hands at the strange man who had appeared in the corner of the yard.
The man was tall with dark hair and a thick black beard that was neatly trimmed. He wore only leather sandals, a red cloak, briefs, and brass vambraces on his forearms. A heavy spear was in his right hand and he surveyed the Saiyan prince with a piercing stare.
The book slipped from Vegeta's hand as excitement and fear coursed through his system. "Ares?" he asked cautiously.
The god snorted and looked around at the pitiful world he had been summoned to. Summoned by a mere man not versed in the ways of the gods, "Obviously and yet, no tribute, my summoner does not even kneel before me. I should kill you for such an insult." How had this pathetic man, a warrior, a prince. How had he summoned him with just a few words of an incomplete spell, "The veil is thin, something has upset the balance. How very interesting." He looked around the dark world, how he would love to transform it, change it into one with skies dark with smoke. The air filled with the scent of blood as the world warred with itself. To have chaos, battle, victory. He looked back to the man in front of him, "Well? Did I stutter mortal? Kneel before your summoned god and tell me, why have you brought me to this plane of Earth?"
It hurt his pride to do so, but Vegeta would not risk irritating this god any further than he already obviously had. He dropped to a knee and bowed his head. How was he supposed to address a god? "Sir" or "Lord" both seemed laughable and would probably get him killed. He swallowed nervously as he felt sweat breaking out on his forehead and the back of his neck. "I seek your help," he said in what he hoped was a respectful tone. "Our world has been attacked many times over. My family has been attacked. I seek the strength I need to protect them. To know that I have no equal in battle, that no matter who or what I may face, that I shall overcome any challenge presented to me. My kind have a love for battle like your own. I thought that if any of the gods would understand, it would be you." He still knelt before the god and didn't dare look up. His heart slammed against his ribs and he silently begged that the words he spoke did not anger Ares.
Ares threw his head back and laughed, a great booming laughter that sounded more like thunder that echoed around the backyard before he looked down at the mortal before him, "You are not of this earth and yet you wish to become a god amongst men. Most of my worshipers simply ask for my favor in battle. I usually ask for blood as payment. Although…" He trailed off as he thought to himself, a smirk tugging at his lips. The veil was indeed thin, it would take so little to give the world a push it needed in the right direction. Into the glorious war he so craved. He could see the ties that led to the mortal before him, how close he was to the other powers in this world, "Luck seems to favor you mortal, I will grant you this power you seek. You will be without equal, save for myself. You will be faster, stronger, more ruthless than any who have dared walk on this planet before. Men will tremble before you and you will be able to crush them into dust."
He walked around the yard a moment, gesturing his hand and formed a goblet made of bone. He took his spear and cut his hand with the sharp point before he held it over the cup and filled it, "I do, however, have one stipulation. Of course, cannot simply give freely this power of mine. I will own you for so long as you have my blessed gift of battle and strength. The payment I want, a simple little task for when I call upon you at some future point in time. I could do it myself, but why should I get my hands dirty? I am a god, after all." He turned to Vegeta and strode to him, towering over the prince. He held the cup out to him, a smirk on his lips, "Do we have a deal?"
Vegeta sat up straighter, still on his knee, and dared to look up at Ares. It made his skin crawl to hear the god say that he would own him. It reminded him far too much of Frieza. Yet Frieza had never offered him such a tempting offer. He tried to control his breathing as he thought over the deal presented to him. He wondered what the task would be. But then again, if he had the power this god offered, surely the task would be manageable.
"Deal," Vegeta answered breathlessly and quickly grabbed the goblet from Ares' hand. Without a second thought, he threw his head back and gulped down the blood from the god's hand. The thick, coppery taste clung to his tongue even after he was done drinking and his eyes fell closed as a strange sensation filled his being. He could feel his power surging, spiking as a raw, ruthless energy filled him. It seemed to permeate the air around him as it coursed through his veins. Oh gods, YES. This was what he was searching for. A cold confidence flooded his chest as he finally stood and met the god's eyes with a smirk. Whatever the payment was, this was so worth it. "Whenever you need that favor, I will be here, ready to do as you ask."
Ares smiled at his new convert. He wondered if this mortal would realize the depth of the price he asked. Even when this mortal's time on earth came to an end, he would still serve the god in death. A death that would come sooner rather than later if he stayed on this destructive path brought on by his own hand, "Excellent. I will send word for you soon enough for my small, little task. Until then, please do enjoy your new power. Know that I have kept my end of the bargain." He gestured with a hand, the cup vanishing from the plane of existence, "Go forth and strike down your enemies, know that no one will ever dream of harming you or your family ever again."
A wicked smile split Vegeta's face as he flexed his muscles, the air around him crackling with red bolts of energy. "Oh, I will," he said darkly. "I most certainly will."