Chapter 10

Q: Would you speed it up?

A: Oh, if only I could. There's so many little details I have to work out in my story. I'm so ready to write Kakarot as a teenager, but the story isn't quite ready yet. There are so many important details.

Q: Would you make a human in your story on the same level as the Saiyans?

A: There really wasn't any humans in DBZ that ended up on par with the Saiyans, particularly Goku and Vegeta. Their power was just unlimited. But, I can promise there will be Z Fighters in this story and I can promise that there will be one human that will be a lot of trouble for the Saiyans, more than you could ever expect.

I don't own DBZ

"What is wrong with you incompetent humans? I specifically told you what shade of red I wanted this room painted and yet I arrive to find that you have chosen this ridiculous wallpaper!" During Cellena's pregnancy, she had become obsessed with seeing the palace completed. Dr. Brief and King Furry put in a lot of effort to make sure it would be finished by the time she gave birth to her daughter. Eighteen weeks later, her doctors said that she should be expecting her child any day. That put her need for the palace to be finished into overdrive and some poor interior decorator paid the price. "Can someone please dispose of this trash before his blood starts staining the wood!"

Colleen decided to tag along with Cellena for support, but she mostly stayed out of her way when she started acting crazy. "It looks like you've developed the nesting symptom hard!"

"What's that?"

"It's when you feel the need to get ready for the baby, so you start putting things in order. I read it in human book."

Cellena didn't want to admit that she was having such symptoms, but she started watching the blood pour out from her victim and was starting to tear up from the thought of it staining the wood. "Will one of you humans please save my floors?"

"Now!" Colleen barked. They all became unfrozen from their spots that they cowered in and hurried to clean up and dispose of their boss's body.

"I've been so stressed lately about this palace."

"It is a beautiful palace."

"Not as long as it has ugly wallpaper..." Her lip began to quiver.

"Okay, okay." Colleen struggled not to laugh and wrapped her arms around Cellena and began leading her away. "Why don't I take you to my house and I'll fix you something real nice?"

Cellena nodded. "I think I would like that."

Colleen and Bardock had yet to inform Cellena that Colleen knew about their previous relationship from years ago. She didn't need the stress or the drama and there was no need to make everything awkward. Colleen had found a way to not let it bother her, so that was the most important thing. Besides, Bardock and Cellena had barely seen each other, so there was really nothing for her to be jealous about.

When Colleen came home, she was glad to see Raditz training his tail by lifting weights with it. It was particularly hard for him to train his tail, but he claimed it didn't hurt when it was pulled anymore. Kakarot was also outside in a more complicated and taller play pin.

"Has Kakarot been giving you any trouble?" Colleen asked her son.

Raditz bowed before Queen Cellena and then addressed his mother. "He's pretty simple for a genius. When he reaches the top of his play pin, I knock him down and throw him some food. Then he's good."

She glared. "I'm going to pretend I didn't just hear you say that."

"Where's Bardock?" Cellena asked. "I don't sense him near." She wouldn't admit it out loud, but she did miss him. Of course she had her mate, her son, and her servants, but she did miss having her friend around.

"He left about a week ago to go train."

"He didn't need a sparring partner?"

"He said there was some stuff he needed to figure out on his own. He said he needed to meditate or something."

Cellena bursted out into a loud fit of laughter. "Bardock? Meditate? On what, exactly? What he's going to eat for dinner?"

Colleen laughed as well. "That's exactly what I said when he told me, but he said it was important."

"Well, good luck to him then." She began rubbing her pregnant belly. 'Though I did want to talk to him about Cerina. She's been growing normally, but I'd like to know more about her.' "Hopefully, he'll figure out what he needs to."

Cellena enjoyed her time with Colleen. She had other Saiyan females that began waiting on her hand and foot and also acted as guards, but she had grown a bit of an attachment to her, probably because she took her in as her project. Regardless, she enjoyed her company and her time away from Bulma, who was becoming very attached. Then the more time Bulma tried to spend with Cellena, the more her son decided to be annoyed by it. She was fond of them both, but she wasn't in the mood to always deal with children.

When she relaxed enough with Colleen, she returned to Capsule Corp. Bulma was waiting in her usual spot and Vegeta wasn't that far away. He was pretending like he wasn't waiting for her, but when she arrived, he followed after his mother without explaining what he wanted.

Bulma made sure to stay on the other side of Queen Cellena so she wouldn't be right next to him. "Is there anything I can get for you?"

"You can draw me up a bath, Bulma."

"It would be my pleasure!" Bulma was really trying to be a good assistant since Vegeta was there. As long as she was favored by Cellena, she would safe. She practically ran to Cellena's private quarters and began making her a bath.

Vegeta hadn't really said anything and Cellena felt compelled to when he started following her inside. "Is there something you need, Vegeta?"

"Not really. Since you have that child inside of you, you're weak and vulnerable. Someone should watch out for you."

She smiled. "I'm actually still very capable myself. If you wanted to spend time with me, that's all you had to say."

He pouted stubbornly. "I didn't say it, because that's not what I want."

She rolled her eyes. "Sure, Son. I believe you."

Cellena sat down in a comfortable chair and kicked off her shoes. She could hardly believe that her child was ready to be born into the world at any moment. 'My Cerina.' She smiled and began to hum as she rubbed her stomach. She wasn't usually so cheerful or emotional, but she did enjoy children.

The more affection Cellena displayed the more annoyed Vegeta became. He kept getting angrier and angrier until he just couldn't take it anymore. "Why are you humming to the baby? She can't hear you. It's ridiculous, Mother!"

Bulma came from the bathroom with a big smile on her face. "I think Queen Cellena has a beautiful voice!"

She smiled. "Thank you, Bulma."

Vegeta grunted angrily. "She's only sucking up to you so much because you're the queen!"

Cellena cut her eyes at her son. "That would make her more intelligent than you, wouldn't it?"

'I don't understand her fascination with this human! Father told me she was brilliant and that he wants to use her, but that's not good enough. She doesn't deserve to live, and yet they won't let me kill her! Mother is lucky that Bulma isn't already dead.' "I practiced restraint. Can't I have the fruit? It's already beginning to wither!"

"As much as I would love to give it to you, I know that you'd probably turn right around and kill Bulma. Then I would be angry. Don't you prefer me relaxed?"

"Yes, but–"

She chuckled. "It's perfectly normal that you're jealous of this new child I'm having. Since you can't properly compete with the child, you're taking all of your frustrations out on Bulma."

His eyes bucked. He had never thought if it like that, but he didn't believe it. "I'm not jealous, I just think she'd be better if she was a sizzling corpse!"

Bulma's eyes began to well up with tears. 'How is he supposed to be my prince? He's so mean!'

"That's enough!" Cellena could understand Vegeta's frustrations, but she was fond of Bulma and didn't want him to cause her any harm. He needed to learn that he was a child and he couldn't get everything he wanted without proving himself worthy. "If you can manage to spend the day with Bulma and she tells me that you have behaved, I'll give you the fruit."

His mouth dropped. "Mother!" He received a stern glare from his mother and then pouted. "You might as well just kill me!"

Bulma wasn't thrilled with the idea either. "But I'm scared," she told Cellena.

That disappointed Cellena greatly. "I was hoping you would have picked up a bit of our warrior instinct by now. I don't expect you to be afraid of anything." She sighed. "But it's too late now."

"What do you mean?" Bulma asked afraid.

"I've decided to let you stay here with your family. I've already selected another assistant."

"But that's my job!" She wasn't too keen on the idea at first, but she loved spending time with Queen Cellena.

"You can still aide me. Learn what you can from your father and one day, you can be the leading scientist of the empire." It was exactly what Cellena wanted and she knew Bulma would live up to her expectations. She was doing a good job as her aide and she would one day be able to handle much bigger tasks. "But for now, I think it's best that you stay with your family."

'But I thought we were family...' She put her head down defeated. "Okay."

"Now leave me." Cellena commanded both Bulma and Vegeta. She was already getting annoyed with having the two of them around. One day she wanted to smother them and other days she wanted to destroy them.

Bulma was sad and Vegeta was frustrated, so they both left out upset and stood by Cellena's door with nothing to do but be upset about being together. Vegeta just stood with his arms crossed and with a scowl. Bulma was terrified, but she had to get over it. Her job was on the line! "So what should we do today?"

"Nothing," he grumbled, right before he got to the yelling. "I'll never get to eat that fruit because I can't tolerate a complete and total weakling!"

"What do I have to do to prove myself?" Bulma was desperate. The fate of the human race rested on her small shoulders. If she couldn't make Vegeta like her, then it wasn't going to matter if Cellena loved her or not. He had to become her friend and then she had to become his queen.

Vegeta thought about it. He really couldn't stand Bulma, but that didn't mean he couldn't find some amusement. He smiled evilly. "You have to kill."

"What?"

Vegeta knew by her shriek of pure horror that he was indeed making the right decision. "Warriors kill. If you want to be one, you have to understand what it's like to take a life."

'But I can't kill. I'm good!' Bulma didn't know what to do and she didn't know what to say. She knew what she had to do in order to be Vegeta's friend, but was terrified to do it. Why should something have to die because he was a brat? It wasn't fair!

Vegeta started to laugh from the look on Bulma's face. 'Oh, this is just too great!' "Good luck, Bulma. If you can't stomach it, then you can always just be a normal slave." He patted her on the back and walked away with his head held high. A sniveling coward like Bulma was never going to be able to take a life. She was going to be out of his hair for good.

Bulma couldn't let the world down. Either she would beg Cellena to let her keep her job and find some other way to make Vegeta like her or she would impress him on her own. 'I don't have a choice...'

Killing a person was out of the question and never crossed Bulma's mind. Killing a bug wouldn't have been a very big deal and she was scared and grossed out by them. She was going to have to kill an animal. She thought it might be okay to kill something big and mean like a dinosaur or a shark, but she didn't have the means, skill, or bravery to accomplish something like that. She had hundreds of pets inside of Capsule Corp that wouldn't put up much of a fight. 'But Momma would be sad...'

She didn't want upset her mother, so she had to go after one of the multiple animals that wouldn't be noticed. She took an hour to work up her nerve and found her way to the cages where they kept the rabbits. They had over twenty and a couple were pregnant. There was no way her mother was going to find out one of them were gone.

She looked around to make sure no one was near and then she put a bunny in her backpack and snuck up to her room. She didn't know if she could sneak into the kitchen and steal a knife. There were chefs in the kitchen all the time during the day. She could probably sneak and steal one of her father's tools, but she didn't want things to get that messy. Then she went into her family's living room and started looking around. When she saw a letter opener on the desk, she knew she had found the perfect weapon.

"Bulma?"

Bulma snatched the letter opener and hid it behind her back as soon as she heard her mother's voice. "What's up?"

Her mother should have been able to tell that something was wrong, but she was very oblivious. The world could be ending and she'd be looking for her favorite cat. "One of the rabbits is missing. Have you seen it?"

Bulma had told a few fibs in her life, but she always felt bad about it. She was about to immediately start crying, but she forced herself to suck it up and she shook her head.

"Alright. I'll keep looking. I wonder where it could have gone." She began looking in ridiculous places, like in vases and such. Sometimes it was funny having a mother that was so unintelligent. Other times it was annoying. Bulma was thankful that time. It allowed her time to escape.

Bulma snuck back into her room and locked the door behind her. She knew she had a backpack with a bunny inside waiting to die unexpectedly. The thought of that made her instantly burst into tears. She had to keep herself from wailing loudly or else her mother would hear. She sniffled pitifully as she opened her backpack and pulled the bunny out. It was adorable and innocent, much like Bulma. As long as they both lived in the same world together, that's what they'd both remain. But the bunny couldn't live as long as Bulma was supposed to be a hero. She raised the knife and closed her eyes. 'No! I could at least look.' She stabbed the bunny and it started struggling to get away, but Bulma struggled to hold it still. Then she continued stabbing it until it wasn't moving at all and the bed and Bulma was covered in its blood.

Bulma dropped the letter opener and fell to the ground. She was stunned at how cruel she could be. What was the point? How could she do something like that? Cellena already liked her. She was a genius. She should have found another way to make Vegeta like her. Now she was a murderer with a crime scene to clean up.

She did her best to wipe the blood, but there was always another speck of it somewhere. The maids would have found something and told her father. She couldn't tell him why she killed the bunny. He might do something stupid and he might actually punish her. She stripped her sheets and stuffed them into the hamper, hoping that would buy her some time. She wrapped the bunny in a pillowcase and stuffed it back into her backpack. Vegeta would have never believed that she killed something if she didn't show it to him.

When Bulma managed to stop crying and cleared her face, she rushed out of her living quarters to find Vegeta training. He was outside, brutally fighting some very ugly green creatures. Bulma had seen other Saiyans fight them, but Vegeta was very mean when it came to them. She actually felt sorry for the creatures when they were on the ground hurt and whimpering in pain.

"What do you want?" Vegeta was so annoyed by Bulma watching him that he could hardly concentrate or enjoy killing the Saibamen. "What is it now?"

She ran up to him shaking. "I killed this for you."

Vegeta's eyes bucked. He thought he misheard. When she reached inside her bag and pulled out a bunny, he immediately started cracking up. "A bunny? Oh, you're so strong! You killed a mighty bunny rabbit!"

Bulma was sad that the bunny was gone and disgusted that she had to take a life, but all that started to go away once she heard him mock her. She became angry and started screaming. "I didn't want to, but I did it for you! I wanna be your friend! But you're just stupid and I think your mom was right. You are jealous!"

He growled. "You take that back or I'll blast you!"

"No, you big dummy!" She stomped on his foot as hard as she could and ran away back inside Capsule Corp.

It was unexpected and only hurt him a little bit, but he was furious. 'Stupid girl! She's lucky that I'm not allowed to kill her.'

Bulma ran straight back to her mother. She couldn't tell her what she had done and she wouldn't have understood, but she just wanted to be held by someone who loved her. When she saw her, she bolted for her and wrapped her arms around her as tight as she could. "Momma!"

"Bulma?" She was surprised, but held her daughter in her arms. She was shaking. "Bulma, what's the matter?"

Bulma revealed her tear stained face to her mother by looking up to stare into her eyes. "Is there something wrong with me?"

She gasped. "No, Sweetie! Why would you say that?"

The Saiyans did whatever they wanted while Bulma's mother lived in her own little world taking care of plants and pets. It was good that she didn't get upset like her father or pulled in like Bulma, but she wasn't anyone Bulma could really talk to. Her thoughts and life were very shallow perceptions of the world and Bulma had already in a way outgrown her mother. She only needed her for emotional support that only existed in a mother's hold.

Bulma didn't say what was really bothering her and her mother didn't really press it. After Bulma stopped crying, her mother gave her some treats to calm her down and let her watch her favorite television show. She normally loved watching puppets ask simple questions that she knew the answers to without thinking, because they were asked in catchy songs. Now everything was different. She felt different. She didn't think of herself much like a child. It was time to end such childish things.

While her mother continued looking for the bunny, Bulma ran off to once again find Vegeta. He was eating lunch by himself out on one of the balconies. There was tons of barbeque food laid out all for him and he was devouring it like a savage. It was messy food, but he looked so vicious in particular.

He glanced up at her and then rolled his eyes. 'What does this fool want now?' "Did you kill a chipmunk?"

Bulma pouted. She was going to start yelling, but she stopped herself and took a seat next to him. For some reason, she wasn't very afraid of him anymore. "Why wasn't the bunny enough?"

He started laughing and nearly choked on his food. "I didn't think you would kill anything."

'He was just trying to get rid of me?' Bulma wasn't sure if it was a good thing she surprised him. Vegeta never intended on anything being killed for their deal, but at least he knew how serious she was about being his friend. "And have you killed before?"

"I've killed millions upon millions."

Bulma couldn't imagine it, so she couldn't grasp the horror of what Vegeta admitted to. "How could you do that?"

Vegeta picked up another juicy hamburger. "Do you eat meat?"

Bulma shrugged. "Yeah, but–"

"Everyone who isn't a Saiyan to me is just another animal. You think I'm like a human because I look like one? No. We're Saiyans and you can never be one of us."

Bulma mumbled. "Maybe I wanna be..."

He shook his head. "You don't have the spine. Why don't you go home to your human parents? We're leaving tomorrow and I'll make sure we never see your weakling face again."

Bulma did what Vegeta needed her to do, yet it wasn't enough. She had to think of some kind of way to make him pleased with her. It just wasn't fair that the bunny had to die for that stupid boy!

There were things not even brilliant Bulma could understand. She didn't think she'd ever be capable of doing something so terrible. But if she could do it, was it possible that her father tried to kill the Saiyans? It was very different, but one step of evil could lead to a bigger one. If she had it in her, didn't that mean he was capable of even greater evil? She tried to forget about her father trying to kill them all, but sometimes she'd think about it when she saw how happy Cellena was with her pregnant belly. How would she have felt if her child was missing or gone for forever?

She was still reluctant to ask, but she kept thinking about it until dinner time. Her mother had to cut the chicken they had. Her father had a real hard time keeping his hands steadied ever since he was hurt by the Saiyans. He was also scarred and he had white patches in his hair and always had bags under his eyes. He didn't talk as much as he used to either, which Bulma didn't mind. It was hard to talk to him.

Now she didn't have much of a choice. "Daddy?"

"What is it Bulma?" He had been distant ever since he got hurt. He couldn't stand the thought of what he was putting his daughter through. She was constantly with Cellena. She wasn't safe and she wasn't going to be influenced well.

Bulma could barely look him in the eye. "I have something to ask you."

"What is it?"

She struggled to keep her tears in from only the thought of it. "Did you try to kill all the Saiyans with a gas?"

His eyes widened. He wanted to lie to her, but Bulma was much too smart for that. Even his wife had eyes wide opened and she gasped. He felt like the most horrible being in the universe and he didn't think he had a defense that could make it right. "Who told you that?"

"Is it true?"

"...I didn't want to..." One of King Furry's men came to him and told him that he had to do it for the people of earth. He knew how strong the Saiyans were. There was no way he could have stopped them.

"But you tried!" Bulma knew the Saiyans were mean and Queen Cellena made her work, but they had a lot of fun together too. They weren't all bad! "You would have hurt Cellena! You could have killed her baby!"

"I know, but I was trying to protect you from King Vegeta and Queen Cellena."

"I love Queen Cellena!" She couldn't keep her tears in or stand to look at her father anymore. She jumped out of her chair and started to run for her room, but not before completely breaking his heart. "I hate you!"

"Bulma!" Mrs. Brief ran after her daughter, but Bulma closed and locked her door first. "Let me in, Sweetie. We'll talk about this."

Bulma didn't want to talk. No wonder why she was able to kill that bunny. Her father was capable of being evil. But was he really evil or was he really that much of a coward? Which was worse? At least the Saiyans were powerful. Her father wasn't much of anything anymore.

Dr. Brief didn't know what to do. He didn't have the heart to follow after Bulma. He could get her door opened up easily enough, but he didn't know how to face those blue eye. 'At least the Saiyans will be gone tomorrow. Then she won't be so close to them anymore.' That was the only thought that gave him any peace to make it through the rest of the night. He told himself that he would explain things in the morning and make things right with Bulma. He could do that if the Saiyans were gone. As soon as they regained their home, he would regain his daughter.

Bulma couldn't sleep. She had the same nightmare over and over again about her father getting her killed because of his hatred for the Saiyans. She knew they were mean people, but they were still people. On earth, everyone learned how to live together. Why couldn't her father see that? He was the smartest man on the planet. How come he couldn't find another way?

She didn't know what she was supposed to do, but she knew what she couldn't do. 'I can't stay here.'

Every morning, Dr. Brief would eat a quick breakfast and go down to his lab to get to work. He knew he was supposed to invent many things for the Saiyans, but he was finding his work very difficult. He didn't know if he needed to invent something else first or if he was just having a difficult time having a brilliant breakthrough. He used to love to wake up in the morning, because he knew he was changing the world. Now he knew he was helping evil villains get stronger so they could take over the universe. He wasn't very inspired.

Well, he decided he was going to take a break from it all. As soon as the Saiyans were gone, he was going to have a wonderful day with his family. He was going to take Bulma to the park and then take his wife shopping, but it would all start with a delicious breakfast right after Bulma woke up. "What's keeping her?" he asked his wife.

"I don't know. She's usually up before me." Mrs. Brief didn't see Bulma leave her room. "She usually tells me when she goes off to work for Queen Cellena."

Dr. Brief had a terrible feeling and rushed to his daughters room to knock on her door. "Bulma?" When there was no answer, he knocked harder and harder. "Cellena shouldn't require her assistance. She got a new assistant and she told me Bulma could stay!"

"Maybe she went for a morning walk, Dear, or to play with the animals."

Dr. Brief just knew it wasn't that simple. "Go get me my toolkit."

Queen Cellena stood outside Capsule Corporation, admiring her temporary home. Her palace was now finished and very grand, so she could move on. Still, she very much did enjoy her time there. She sighed. "This is goodbye."

Both King and Prince Vegeta scoffed and both spoke at the same time. "Good riddance!" The both of them got inside of the limousine and waited for Cellena to get in as well so they could finally go to a place more suitable.

Cellena rubbed on her stomach. 'You'll be the first Saiyan earthling.' It was odd, but her new life wasn't so bad. "I'm ready."

"Wait! Wait! Queen Cellena!"

Cellena turned around once she heard Bulma's high pitched voice calling from afar. She smiled once she saw her. "You've come to see me off?" She wouldn't admit it out loud, but she was going to miss Bulma.

"I want to come with you!"

Cellena's eyes bucked. She was actually flattered, but she didn't know if she should accept. She wanted Bulma to make a choice, but she didn't think she'd pick her. "What about your family?"

"I asked my daddy about the gas." She couldn't think about it without crying. Cellena was her friend and Cerina was supposed to be her new sister. "He tried to kill you and your baby. I hate him!"

Cellena knelt down to Bulma and placed her hands on her tiny shoulders. She was so upset, but Cellena didn't know how to make things better for her. She was an innocent human child and Cellena was a warrior bred for destruction. "Bulma, I've done so much worse than your father. I've killed entire planets. I'm a killer."

"And I am too."

"What?" she asked baffled.

"I killed an animal for Vegeta." She put her head down in shame.

Cellena struggled not to laugh at Bulma. She saw how heartbroken the girl was about it. "It's really not the same."

Bulma didn't see it that way. It was a stepping stone. "I wanted to be a warrior. I wanna be strong like you. I wanna be fast like you. I want you to be my mommy!"

Her eyes bucked. "I can't." She didn't understand how Bulma could have grown to be so fond of her. "You're only human."

"Show me how to be more. Please!" Bulma couldn't stand the thought of being weak and afraid for the rest of her life. "I have nightmares that my daddy gets me killed because he hates you and he's scared. I don't wanna ever be that scared."

Cellena could understand Bulma being angry at her father, but her mother was sweet. She was an idiot, but she still did nothing wrong. If Vegeta disowned her, she would be devastated. "What did your mother do to deserve this treachery?"

Bulma hadn't really thought much about her mother and how she would feel. She could only think about how she didn't want to be with her father and how she was supposed to be with Cellena. "She's not you."

Bulma had worked very hard for Cellena and they did both enjoy each other, but she remembered what it was like when she had to give up her son to Frieza. It was the most awful thing in the universe, barely topping sending Tarble away. Perhaps it was her hormones, but she felt sympathy for Dr. Brief. "Bulma–"

"I don't care what you say!" Bulma yelled and hugged Cellena as tight as she could. She wouldn't let go of her friend or her baby sister, not if it meant that she had to go back to living like a weak coward. "I'll never let you go!"

'Is this right?' If it was what Bulma truly wanted and ultimately what she and her mate had schemed about, then it was the best thing to do. "You won't have to. Come."

Bulma smiled gleefully and joined Cellena inside the limousine. When she saw King and Prince Vegeta scowl at her, she didn't care. She scooted as close to Queen Cellena as possible, wrapped her arms around her, and rested her head in her lap. 'She'll protect me and I'll be her princess, just like I'm supposed to be.' She knew she could always trust Cellena and if she loved her, she could win over the king and prince eventually.

Cellena began to rub Bulma's back and she smiled. No, Bulma could never be her daughter and she didn't need her to be. That didn't mean that she couldn't be fond of her. It was going to work out to both of their advantages. "You won't have as many responsibilities as before, Bulma. You still need to study and become a scientist. At least honor your father in that way."

She nodded her head. "Yes, my queen." Bulma would do whatever Cellena wanted her to. You always did your best for family.

'What is mother doing?' Vegeta grumbled. He really did hate that Bulma, but he was beginning to realize that perhaps he was a tad bit jealous. 'Well, I'm not going to start sucking up to her!'

King Vegeta was concerned about Cellena's apparent emotional attachment to Bulma, but at least she would calm down any day once she gave birth to their powerful daughter. Bulma would always remain attached though. Humans couldn't help their emotions. In a few years, he would kill Dr. Brief and Bulma would make him the best equipment in the universe. 'Looks like another job well done, Cellena.'

The palace was very beautiful and large in stature. Cellena didn't know much about earthling architecture, but she knew a few things that were essential. There were white columns, two winding staircases in the foyer, crystal chandeliers, crown molding, and marble floors to start things off. Seeing the beauty of the palace put Cellena in high spirits. "We should celebrate!"

She clapped her hands together and the servants began rushing about. They brought wine for King Vegeta and juice for Bulma and Cellena. Prince Vegeta was presented with a covered silver tray. He was hoping he knew what it was, but he looked towards his mother to be sure. "I would like to commemorate this moment by giving a gift to my son."

The servant lifted the lid and Vegeta smiled from ear to ear. "The fruit?"

"Bulma told me that she thought you should have it."

Vegeta looked toward Bulma. He didn't understand why she went along with it. He really did hate her and he knew she must have at least hated him a little bit. 'What is she up to? She can't really think this will make me her friend. Maybe I'll stop plotting to kill her, but only maybe.'

Vegeta wasted no more time and devoured it quickly. It was delicious, but he cared more about the sudden burst of power flowing through his body. "Wow! I really, really wanna..."

King Vegeta patted his son on the shoulder. "Lets go spar, Son. I know exactly how you feel." He expected that his son's bloodlust would be high, so fighting it off with a good spar would be better than him wiping out humanity.

Vegeta smirked. "You're gonna feel sore once I beat you!"

King Vegeta chuckled amused at his son. "We'll see about that!" The two of them hurried off to one of the training rooms. King Vegeta had no intention of going easy on his son, and Vegeta naively thought he could put up a good fight.

Cellena wanted to follow her boys, but she was a bit tired and starving. She needed to get off of her aching feet and eat until she passed out.

"My Queen!" A beautiful woman and a young girl around Bulma's age made their way from upstairs and bowed before the presence of Cellena. They were groomed in such a away that Bulma knew Cellena would approve of. Bulma wouldn't have been able to tell they were Saiyans if it weren't for her tail. "I hope you find the palace to your liking."

Bulma had seen the Saiyan woman around, but she didn't know who it was. "Bulma, this is Basila and her daughter, Cassava. Basila will be my new handmaiden."

Bulma made sure to hold her tongue, but she was upset. "Hello."

Basila smiled amused. "This is the little genius destined for greatness?"

"Of course," Cellena said. "Bulma would never let me down."

"Of course I wouldn't," Bulma assured. She felt like she had something to prove, especially with the little Saiyan girl eyeing her up and down. 'Did I do something wrong? What's her problem?'

"Basila, go make sure my room is prepared," Cellena ordered.

"Yes, my Queen." She bowed and left with her daughter back up the winding staircase.

Bulma didn't know how to ask for her job back. She didn't want to press matters with Queen Cellena. She had obviously made up her mind. Still, she had to try. "I thought I could keep my job."

Cellena smiled. It pleased her greatly that Bulma wanted to serve her, but that was only part one of her great plan. "You're too good to be my handmaiden, Bulma. I'm going to raise you like my own. You'll have the finest teaching this planet can offer. Does that sound nice?"

Bulma gasped. 'I really am gonna be a princess!' "It sounds wonderful!"

Bulma got to pick out a room in the wing that only the royals were supposed to sleep in. Bulma loved her new room. Her bed was humongous and the room was beautiful and sophisticated. There weren't any toys, but there were plenty of books and Bulma loved to read. Her closet was bigger than her entire bedroom at Capsule Corp. There weren't any clothes inside, but she was going to have fun filling it up. Her life was like something she had seen in a movie. She thought her life was amazing before, but it was somehow even better.

She started jumping up and down on the bed. Her father didn't like when she did that, but she wouldn't have to take orders from anyone besides the royal family. 'It's gonna be great being a princess. I'll do what I want when I want. Then when I'm queen, no one can ever tell me what to do and no one will ever be able to hurt me ever again!'

Bulma decided that she wouldn't miss her parents. If she could help it, she would never think of her father again! She was a princess and she didn't need any parents. She could be her own boss and rule her own life. One day she was going to rule the world and maybe even more than that. 'I don't need Dad!'

She didn't see much of Queen Cellena and her family. Cellena wasn't feeling very good and Prince Vegeta and his father spent the whole day training. Bulma explored the castle and read until it was nighttime. She tried to go to sleep, but there was a storm outside and the thunder and lightning scared her. 'It's not gonna do anything to me. It can't hurt me!' She knew that, but she was still terrified. She curled up under her blanket with a pillow and struggled to sleep. Normally, the only thing that would calm her down would be to get into bed with her mother and father. 'I don't need them!' But she couldn't fall asleep without them. She didn't feel safe.

Bulma knew how stupid it was, but she got out of bed and started tip toeing down the halls to the royal bed chamber. They had guards sometimes, but not always. King Vegeta was too strong to really need someone to protect him and he could protect Cellena while she was pregnant. Bulma was glad that she didn't have to deal with a guard, but it was still frightening that she would have to deal with King Vegeta. Still, she used her shaking hand to knock on the door. "Queen Cellena?"

King Vegeta instantly opened his eyes. He could sense Bulma's pitiful energy and he wasn't a very heavy sleeper. "I'm going to kill her."

Cellena struggled to get out of the bed. She didn't want to, but she didn't want Vegeta to get up and send Bulma carrying dismembered limbs to the medical station. "I'll handle her." She really did hate having to wake up. She was having such a peaceful sleep. She had every intention on scolding Bulma, but she looked so pitiful when she opened the door and saw her. "What is it, Bulma?"

Her lip quivered. "I can't sleep. I'm scared of the lightning and thunder."

Cellena looked back towards her mate to make sure he wasn't paying attention to their conversation. He would have seen Bulma as pathetic for her fear and Cellena would have been pathetic for caring. "But you're brilliant. Surely you must know that the lightning can't touch you while you're in this palace."

"I know, but..." No amount of logic was going to erase her fear. Only the arms of a loving mother could do that. "Will you come with me?" It was a longshot, but she had to try. "I have peanut butter, graham crackers, and chocolate frosting. It'll be nice and really yummy."

Even though Cerina couldn't have known what those things were, Cellena's stomach began to rumble. 'I should eat something anyway.' Cellena rolled her eyes. "Fine."

She couldn't believe that she was leaving her mate's bedside to attend to a child that wasn't her's. It was so beneath her and she had no idea why she put up with it. It was absurd to be afraid of the lightning and the thunder when they were all safe inside the palace. It wasn't as if the world was going to end. Cellena should have told Bulma to get over it and slammed the door in her face. She left Vegeta alone after telling him terrifying stories about the Legendary Super Saiyan. Of course, Vegeta had too much pride to ask his mommy to stay with him through the night.

'I hate these hormones and being so soft. I've grown too attatched to this child. I'm not even acting like myself anymore.' Cellena joined Bulma in her bed, just as she wanted. It was ridiculous, but she did hold up her end of the bargain with the snacks, and it was a nice combination. "I take it this is something you did with your human mother."

Bulma frowned. "Sometimes." She didn't want to think of them. That was her old life and she had someone new who cared about her. "Thank you so much."

"I still don't understand."

"I don't either." She shrugged. "It's just scary."

Cellena couldn't even fathom it. "I'm quicker than lightening. It would sting to be struck, but I'd be fine."

'That's pretty amazing! The Saiyans are so strong that they're not afraid of anything. I don't want to be afraid of anything either.' "Will you show me how to be stronger?"

"You want me to train you?" she asked surprised.

Bulma blushed and sunk her head down. "If you don't mind."

It did seem like such a waste of Cellena's time. Bulma could never compare to the rest of the Saiyans, but wasn't it a good thing that she didn't want to be completely helpless? No one could touch her family, but enemies of the empire could want to use Bulma to get to Cellena's family. If Bulma was going to be so valuable, then she should have been able to take care of herself. "I'll be busy with the baby once she's born. Vegeta is going to take a trip off world and I'll be in charge. I won't have the time."

Bulma slumped her shoulders. "Okay..."

"However, I will find you teachers." Cellena saw how Bulma brightened up and it actually made her a bit proud of Bulma to be so excited to train. "You should learn basic fighting styles and techniques. Then when you're ready, I'll have a Saiyan teach you."

"Thank you!" She hugged onto Cellena and nearly cried. 'I knew I made the right decision! I'm gonna be a powerful princess and then I won't have to worry about anything ever again!'

Cellena was becoming more accustomed to Bulma's displays of affection, but she wasn't quite ready to hug her yet. She patted her on the head until Bulma let her go, as usual. "You're welcome."

Bulma still wanted Cellena to stay and that wasn't much of a problem considering how tired Cellena was. The child was zapping all of the energy out of her and it wasn't long before she drifted off to sleep. Bulma watched Cellena for a while and admired her. 'She's smart, beautiful, strong, and graceful. She's perfect. If I want to be queen of the entire planet, I'm gonna have to be like her, but even better! Then it won't matter if I'm not a Saiyan. Vegeta will fall in love with me and then he'll be nice to me.'

Bulma managed to fall asleep feeling completely safe and satisfied with her decisions. She started to have some very peaceful sleep until she felt something wet in the bed. She rose up in a panic, fearing that she had accidently wet the bed. Cellena would have gone ballistic! But it wasn't her. "Queen Cellena?"

"Brussel..." she mumbled in pain.

'Brussel? Who is that?' "Queen Cellena!" She shook her until she opened her eyes.

Cellena was exhausted, but she was also in an incredible amount of pain. She threw the covers off of her. Her water had broken, but she could smell so much blood. "Bulma!"

"Lights on!" The room obeyed the sound of Bulma's voice and then she began to cry from all of the blood that had soaked her bed and had gotten on her feet and her pajamas. "What's wrong?"

"The baby is coming." She got out of the bed, but as soon as she stood up, she became lightheaded and stumbled to a wall. "Oh no." Her legs collapsed. She didn't know why she was so weak, but she couldn't manage to take another three feet on her own. "I need to get to the medical room."

Bulma started to panic, but she wouldn't let Cellena down. She started running through the halls, screaming for help. "Queen Cellena needs help!" In seconds, guards were in Bulma's room and they carried Cellena off to the medical bay. Bulma was forced to wait outside in the lobby, but King Vegeta went in to be with his mate, looking rather concerned. In a few minutes, Vegeta came into the waiting room and awkwardly took a seat not far from Bulma.

He hated thinking that a child could have taken out his mother. She was a very powerful warrior. She deserved a much greater death than childbirth. 'She'll get through this. She's not this weak!' He was worried, but he was very annoyed once he heard Bulma's sniffling. "Why are you crying?"

"Because, I want your momma to be okay!" Bulma broke out into full on wailing tears. She didn't want Queen Cellena to die and she wanted the baby to be okay.

'Why does she care so much about my mother? Does she not realize the sort of things we would do to these earthlings? Her entire people could be wiped out, yet she's crying tears for my mother.' "She's a true warrior. There isn't anything to be worried about."

Bulma dried her eyes and forced herself to stop crying, but it was difficult and she was so upset that it was hard to breathe or talk. "I'll believe in her power."

"Why did you decide to tell my mother to give me the fruit? We didn't spend the day together and I would have never let you live through it if we did."

Bulma shrugged. "It's something that you wanted and it's my duty to help you. You're the future king, right?"

He smirked. "I am." 'I still don't get this human. Doesn't she know her entire planet is in risk of being destroyed? It's a miracle that the earthlings haven't been wiped out.' Vegeta got over himself and took a seat next to Bulma. "Are you saying that even though you humans have your own king and my mother is using him as her own puppet until my father formally declares himself ruler and you humans obsolete, that you still want to willingly serve under us with no problems at all?"

"I'm loyal to your mother...and your father."

"But my father tortured your father." Vegeta smiled viciously. He was testing the girl. "That doesn't bother you in the least bit?"

It did bother Bulma. It broke her heart when she visited him in the hospital and it bothered her to see him broken with so many scars. "I'm bothered, but it doesn't matter. I disowned him, because he tried to kill your mother."

"You could sever ties to your family so easily?" he mocked.

"I already have."

He cocked his brow. "And why is that?"

Bulma thought that he might make fun of her, but she didn't care. "I love your mother. I wish she was mine. I would die for her." 'This is my chance.' "I would die for you."

Vegeta laughed. Of course she should claim to be loyal to him and promise to die for him, but it was strange that she meant it considering she was a human. "I haven't done anything but be cruel to you...on purpose!"

"But you're the prince. I pledge myself to the Saiyan Empire. One day, you will be king and I will remain loyal. I will do anything for you."

"Anything?" he asked intrigued.

"Within reason." She smiled. "You're still only a prince."

Vegeta had plenty of subjects that would do anything for him. It wasn't odd hearing declarations like that, but he could tell that Bulma was going to be an interesting case. His parents were treating her so special because she was a genius. If that were true, then it was a good thing that she was so ready and willing to follow him. "And when I'm king and my mother and father are gone, you'd really do anything for me?"

"Anything."

He smirked. "That's good to know."

Bulma was beginning to feel confident. 'He's going to be my friend now and one day, he'll be begging me to be his princess. Oh, I can't wait! Then I'll really be Cellena's daughter.' "Prince Vegeta, who is Brussel?"

"I don't know." He pondered it further, but he couldn't figure it out. "It's a Saiyan name, but I don't know anyone that goes by it. Why?"

"Your mom said his name while she was sleeping. She sounded worried about him."

'Brussel? Why would my mother be saying anyone's name in her sleep and be worried about him?' He didn't know if he should be concerned, but he was determined to figure it out. He needed to make sure she didn't do anything stupid and get in trouble with his father. 'If it has anything to do with Bardock, then this Brussel is probably trouble.'

King Vegeta emerged through two double doors and both Bulma and Vegeta stood up to bow before him. "My son."

"Yes, Father?" In that brief moment of silence, Vegeta began to fear the worst about his mother. Her energy had been fading, but he didn't want to believe she was gone. He already thought he had lost her once when the planet was destroyed. He didn't care to relive the experience. "Is Mother–?"

"Your mother is fine," he assured. "She's injured, so she is resting. The child is alive and healthy as well. I am about to read it's power level." King Vegeta was excited about it. He could sense that it was very high already.

"I'm coming." Vegeta got off of the couch and joined his father's side.

King Vegeta saw Bulma sitting on the white leather chairs while she was covered in his mate's blood and bodily fluid. "Cellena will destroy you if you ruin her palace, Bulma. I suggest you go clean up and go to bed."

Bulma knew she was disgusting and it did disturb her, but she didn't feel that it was right to leave without seeing Cellena or her new baby sister. "Is it alright if I see the baby?"

"You can in the morning, but tonight is about blood, and you are not our own."

That absolutely crushed Bulma. 'I am family, and I'm gonna make you all see it one day!' "I understand." She bowed before her king before leaving. "Congratulations, my king. I hope Cerina makes you very happy."

Bulma was upset while she walked alone back to her room, but she knew she'd be able to hold Cerina soon enough. She would be Cellena's daughter and Vegeta's friend and in time, she would be strong. 'I'm gonna pull this princess thing off. I know I will!'

Cellena opened up her weary eyes and saw the face of her son. He instinctively reached for her stomach and was about to panic, before she remembered the terrible pain of her child ripping right through her. "Is Cerina alright?"

"She's fine," Vegeta said.

Cellena realized that her son looked very worried. "Then what's the matter? Is something wrong with her?"

"We tested her power level."

Cellena began to instantly think the worst. 'She wasn't strong enough. Vegeta is going to send her away!' She was still hormonial and incredibly emotional, so she was struggling to remain calm and fight back her tears. "And?"

Vegeta was still in shock about it. "It's over nine thousand."

"What?" It was too amazing to believe. "Nine thousand?" She began to laugh happily and hysterically. "What did your father say?"

"He didn't seem very excited." Vegeta didn't like that his sister had such a high power level. He had never heard of one being so high before at birth. Sure his mother ate of the fruit, but that was just ridiculous! But even if he was upset, he didn't understand why his father was so upset and rushed out of the medical bay. "I think he was angry...maybe even afraid."

"What? Why would he...?"

"Are you serious?" King Vegeta asked. "His power level is actually ten thousand?"

"Yes, Sire." A Saiyan soldier bowed before his amazed and frightened king. No one could believe that such a power level was possible for an infant.

Cellena stood by Vegeta's side, smiling to herself. A powerful child born into the Saiyan Empire was exactly what they needed. "This is great news, isn't it my king?"

She watched for his frown to disappear, but his only change in appearance was the sweat that appeared on his forehead. "Then a Legendary Super Saiyan has emerged. The child must be executed at once."

"Executed?" she asked shocked. "My king, it is merely a child. It may be powerful, but what do we have to truly fear from it?" There were other Saiyans that agreed with Cellena, but they were too afraid to voice their opinions. She wouldn't usually argue with him, but they were loyal to their own and they most certainly were not low enough to kill their own children! "Sire–"

"I know what the child is capable of. It needs to be destroyed in order to save our race."

Cellena wiped out civilizations for a living, but killing children didn't sit quite right with her especially not a Saiyan child. It had a mother and a father that were proud to have such a child born into the world. They didn't deserve to hear that kind of news. It was tragic to lose a child, no matter what the circumstances. "But it's only a baby!"

"There will be no more discussions!" he said angrily. Even if she was his queen, he did not want to be argued with, especially in front of his royal guards.

Cellena was angry and began to leave his side. By the time the father, Paragus, rushed into the room, she was watching Vegeta's cruelty out of sight in a corner. He begged Vegeta to let his son live, but her mate was stubborn and he deeply believed in the power of the Legendary Super Saiyan. Not only did he sentence his son to die, but he blasted Paragus and had him carried off like garbage.

Cellena thought of all the things she had suffered and everything she had lost, things she had never even spoken of to any living beings. She felt pity for Paragus, Broly, and the mother who birthed them. She didn't know how she could stand to look at Vegeta anymore. She let Frieza take their son and then he executed a Saiyan child. She was about to rush away from her anger, but then the windows crashed and Bardock came flying in.

"Oh no..."

"Mother?" Vegeta had never seen his mother afraid before. She was injured, but she was particularly pale and she wouldn't respond until he shook her. "What is it?"

"Vegeta, listen very carefully!" She grabbed her son and stared into his eyes and intensely as she could. "I need you to go find Bardock."

"Bardock!" he barked.

"Yes."

He grumbled. "What for?"

"Just do as I say!" She didn't know who else to rely on or who could stop Vegeta. She couldn't in her condition and she didn't think she was powerful enough. Bardock was the only one who could save the future he predicted and the one she dreamt of. "It's a matter of life and death. You bring him here as fast as you can. Do it for me."

Vegeta watched her struggle as she got out of the bed. He knew she had just gotten stitches and her power level was still low. She was in no condition to do whatever she was trying to. "What are you doing? You have to rest!"

She hobbled to the doorway and rested on the frame. She was pathetic, but she had to try. "I have to stop your father."

"From what?"

She didn't have the time nor the energy to keep the tears from flowing out of her eyes. She was so desperate not to fail her new child, like she had failed the others. It might have cost her life, but she needed Cerina to live. "From killing your sister."

To Be Continued...