Vegeta was still preoccupied with his grueling training schedule to notice a semi-distraught Bardock enter the premises. Bardock stood watching. Observing at first. Then, "Boy! Come here."
Vegeta stopped mid-air and smirked. "Bardock, come to spar? Think you can keep up?" He laughed.
Bardock returned a small smile. "Maybe later."
Vegeta's smirk faded. "What is it?"
Bardock looked and felt uneasy. "I need to discuss something important with you and I'd rather not shout it out across the room. Get over here."
"Alright." Vegeta levitated over until he was about three feet away. What does he want to talk to me about? Nothing, I'm sure. He's probably just trying to throw a sneak attack my way. Not gonna happen. I'm too smart for his tricks.
"It's about your new Princess."
I was wrong. He thought. "What about her?" He asked indifferently.
Bardock sighed and ran a hand through his thick hair. "It's... It's very important that you... ah..." He stumbled over the right words. How do you explain your thinking on such a matter?
"Come now, Bardock. It can't be that difficult. Spit it out. Does Kakkarot need another beating? Want me to hold him?" Vegeta was in a jovial mood. He was always pretty calm while he was training. Maybe that's why Bardock chose this time to approach me.
Directly, then, I suppose. Bardock thought to himself. "It's very important that she consents to you Vegeta."
He sighed. So, that's it. "I know, it'll be hard enough getting her in the same room. I sense that she has a temper. Good thing she's not a Saiyan. I'd have a fight on my hands." He chuckled.
"That's not what I meant." Bardock said severely. He's so thick-headed sometimes. When he talks like that, he's his father's son. Not my pupil.
Vegeta stopped smiling and making jokes. "What do you mean then, Bardock?" Vegeta was taking on that air he used when in interrogation. Dishing out the questions, flushing it out of the ones with the secret.
"I mean, she's not to be forced." He said through grit teeth. "She's not a toy, Vegeta, she's a woman."
"Barely." Vegeta muttered.
He stared wide eyed as Bardock picked up 10,000 lb. weights and chucked them into the far wall, leaving a large dent. "I mean it!" Bardock was panting and Vegeta stared at him in shock.
The Prince's anger was rising. "What in the hell is wrong with-"
"Don't start with me, boy." He says sternly. Vegeta stops. "You don't treat her like that. It-It's just important." He continued.
Vegeta does nothing but stare blankly. What else could he do? This was unusual behavior for the older man.
"What about duty and loyalty?" Vegeta questioned, straightening his back.
Just like his father. "A woman's feelings on being taken come first. Just... believe me. Don't you dare feed her that line of loyalty either."
Vegeta still stared. His fists clenched he jerked his elbows forward and cracked the joints. I don't get this.
"I don't know who you think I am, but I'm not some sick jerk who gets his jollies from beating girls." He said frustratingly. I thought he knew me better than that.
"Good." He replied shortly. "Do not lay a hand on her inappropriately without her express permission." He held up his hand, balled into a fist to further make his point.
Bardock was as avid a trainer as the Prince. There was no question behind his threat. "Do we understand each other?"
"Yeah." Vegeta replied with a glare.
Without another word, Bardock calmly walked out of the room, fists still clenched. I hate to do that to him. I do trust him. It's just... sometimes he reminds me too much of his father... there need not be a repeat incident of which I was a witness. He shook his head at the thought.
Never again. He thought. She reminds me so much of her
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"My dear, I noticed that you don't much take to our new guest." The King questioned his wife.
"No, I don't." She said bluntly.
King Vegeta laughed out loud. Guffawed. "I just don't think you like someone rivaling with your beauty, my Queen." Marie was sitting in front of her very elaborately decorated vanity in her room, the King had stopped by for a visit and arrived only moments ago.
She fained shock. "You don't really think she rivals me do you dear?" She asks suggestively, already claiming to know the answer in the King's shallow mind. He'll say whatever I want him to. He's on my time now.
The King smirked. He leaned down and placed his hands on either side of her chair, "Of course not, my Queen, no one could rival you in that department." He whispered in her ear. It's a hell of a thing she can't read my mind, thought the King. She'd kill me if she knew I thought Bulma was much more attractive in the facial area. She was just downright beautiful. When I first saw the Princess of Earth I was impressed, that's why I knew she would become part of the family. I sure as hell couldn't have her, not with Marie being here. She'd destroy me. I could not afford to have everything ripped away from me then and now. With my old maid out of the way, and her family disposed of on a distant, unheard of planet, Marie moved onto the estate and deeply rooted herself into the very foundations of the palace. There was no getting around that. Sitting there staring at that picture I then thought of my son, the first time in a while, I daresay. He would have the blue-haired beauty, and I would admire her from a distance. He had thought this at the time, while visiting Earth. He had only caught a slight glimpse of her, but then later on, while dining, he saw a portrait of her in the dining hall. That's when he struck. The Briefs family could not refuse his offer. He snickered.
"Very nice." The Queen purred.
King Vegeta pulled her from the chair and coaxed her to his own adjoining bedroom.
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"I have never in my life met someone so sweet!" Chi-Chi exclaimed, as they entered Bulma's room. She smiled at this. She's so happy. And he likes her too, I think. He couldn't take his eyes off of her... I wonder if she noticed...
"He is a gentlemen." The Princess replies.
"Oh, he is. He is." She agreed. "Oh! Bulma, I forgot to give you the letter that came with your father's ring."
Bulma looked down gingerly
at the ring that encircled her finger. I miss
him so much. I had no idea how bad it would be without him...
Chi-Chi returned with a piece of parchment. "It's the letter from him. He shoved it into my hands at the last minute, before he sent me off. At the time, I barely had time to pack my own self. He was in quite a hurry. I see why, now. The Prince and his crew were planet-side at the time."
Bulma took the letter and immediately opened it. It said:
My dear little Princess, I cannot begin to explain how regretfully sorry I am about this business with the Saiyans. I know dear, that you don't take too well to orders... or being told what to do and how to act. I also know that the Saiyans are a dominant people, as you may know by now. I just want you to remember, as much as you don't want to hear it right now, you are much like you mother. You're stubborn and head-strong. Some of your worst qualities, my dear, are now your best assets. Do not let them break you. Keep your spirit. I love you. I'll see you soon. And believe me when I say that your mother also loves you with all of her heart.
Your father,
King Briefs.
Bulma brings the letter down from in front of her face, only to see Chi-Chi staring at her worriedly. "Its alright Chi. Here," she hands out the letter to her. "Read it. It's nothing real personal."
As Chi-Chi scans the letter, Bulma begins to think of her father's words. I am being a little... well, not myself. I've been walked all over by that man since he took me aboard... no, since he came to fetch me in my own room. I should be respected! Not treated as property! My father is right. I should have never let them see me like that. I am not a broken toy. The next time he sees me, I'll look him in the eyes and he'll know that I am not afraid.
"Your father is the sweetest man." Chi-Chi had her hand comfortingly over her own heart. "He's such a good King."
Bulma smiles at her friend, "I bet he's not as sweet as Kakkarot."
Chi-Chi blushes a furious red. "Oh, oh, you... Bulma!" She's giggling hysterically though, and the Princess knows she's not really upset.
"Don't worry, I won't say anything!" She hollers to a retreating Chi-Chi. She's suddenly found something interesting in the washroom, much to the Princesses amusement. Bulma plops down on the bed and stares at the lighting above her. When Chi-Chi emerges again, she's got one large red rose in a vase, she sets it out on her bedside table.
"Is that one you picked today?" Bulma starts to remove her shoes.
"Well, it is from today." She replies coolly.
"Kakkarot got it for you didn't he?" She pushed.
When Chi-Chi nods slightly, Bulma squeals with delight. "Yep, definitely a sweetie." Bulma eyes her, waiting for a reaction.
She doesn't phase this time. "I think you already know my feelings."
Bulma senses she doesn't wish to discuss it anymore. "It's been such a long, long day." She remembered thinking that the days were longer here, Kakkarot confirmed it, she'd been awake for about eighteen hours straight, and the sun was just now setting.
"But, Princess, we're supposed to go to supper! You must get up and change."
"Huh uh. Not me. Make up something to the Prince... I'm sick. Flu... or something. Make it sound good."
Before Chi-Chi could get a word out a muffled voice came through the thick double doors. "Why don't you tell me yourself, girl?" It was Vegeta. Bulma was at first a little afraid of what he'd do. She remembered the warning from before. Likely they'd be dining with his family tonight. To refuse that would be... She swallowed hard. Suicide. She slid off the bed, and opened the doors herself.
Vegeta was a bit taken aback by the sheer beauty that confronted him in the doorway. Her hair was a mess, the curls waving wildly around her shoulders, gracing her ribs. Her face and eyes were bright from the exercise of the day and she was wearing no shoes, her ankles visibly showing. He had to hold back a feral growl.
Seeing him there, smug and dangerous, strengthened her resolve. Remembering her father's words of encouragement, she stiffened her back and noticed Vegeta's small intake of breath. "I'm not feeling up to it tonight, my Lord. Please give my apologies and regrets to your father and step-mother?"
"She's no kind of mother to me." He replied back.
She didn't know what to say to that, so she kept silent. Mere seconds had passed before Vegeta finally said, "Alright woman, just this one time. You had better be prepared for breakfast in the morning." With that he turned and all but vaulted down the hall. Bulma watched him until he turned a corner. Amazing.
She came back into her room and slowly closed the doors behind her.
"What did he say, Bulma?" Chi-Chi asked anxiously.
"He said... 'Alright.'" She replied to her friend incredulously.
"What? Really? Wow, I guess there is some good in him."
"Not necessarily." Bulma replied. "But, I'm thankful for that. He did say to be ready for breakfast tomorrow, but he didn't say what time..."
"Well, you get on to bed and I'll worry about that in the morning. You've been ready to go out the door looking stunning in ten minutes with me there before. And I'm here now. Don't you worry. Go on ahead to bed, dear. I'll be along."
Bulma lay her head down and for the second night in a row, thought of the Prince.
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She's going to play me a fool, if I keep letting her. Thought Vegeta as he headed toward the dining area. I will not force myself on her in that way, but she will have to obey me on some points... well, most points. He had arrived. I better not hear a word about it from Marie or I'll be in no mood for company. They may not invite me back. He smirked at this thought.
Upon entering the room, he found everything already in place and his father halfway through the second coarse gorging himself. Bardock sat at the other end of the table. His boys on either side of him. Vegeta's seat was on the left of his father next to somber and quiet Radtiz, the right side being reserved for the wife. She took precedence over the King's own son.
"Where is that girl, Vegeta?" The King questioned between bites of food.
"She, uh, she's not feeling up to dinner tonight." He replied, keeping his eyes on his food. A meat of some sort. He didn't really recognize it. But it smelled alright and looked edible. It'd do. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Bardock stop chewing and look at him. Raditz cleared his throat. Kakkarot never noticed anything else when there was food involved. He kept chewing.
"Not feeling up to it? Why the hell not? That's a bit insulting." King Vegeta had stopped eating all together now and was staring intently at his son.
"Very insulting." Marie added. Taking a sip of her wine and eying the Prince intentionally.
Kakkarot's munching reverberated throughout the room and across the table. Vegeta's glare darkened along with his mood. He knew what the Queen was up to. She was slowly trying to weed Bulma out of the palace, by persuading his father in every way possible that she was in no way worthy of the title Princess of Vegeta-sei. She may damn well get her way, if I don't intervene. He opened his mouth to say something. But, he was interrupted by Bardock.
"If the girl wasn't feeling up to it, so be it. She'll be to other dinners. If you were not feeling well, my Lady, you wouldn't be sitting in that chair." He said bravely. "Women should not be forced into anything." Vegeta looked up expecting the older man to be looking at him. But, no. He was looking directly into the King's eyes.
What's this? Thought the Prince.
Vegeta noticed Marie was looking a bit anxious as well. He certainly did not miss the meaningful looks between the trio. The silence was never broken. No one said a word after that. When dinner was over, the King exited through a door closest to him and Bardock all but nearly stormed out of the other exit, knocking Kakkarot back on his heels. The Prince didn't get a chance to ask him what all that was about.
"I will though," He vowed. I will.
