I'm quietly looking at you
At your turned back
My hands reach out to hold onto you
But my feet are frozen
My misery holds onto my ankles
My eyes on you are shouting out
Don't stop, I might catch you
I'm not letting you go because I hate you
I can live well without you
So don't look back
Before I change my mind
My cowardice hides my tears
My greed for you is shouting out
Don't stop, I might catch you
I'm not letting you go because I hate you
I can live well without you
So don't look back
Before I change my mind
I couldn't catch you because I'm a man
Like a pretentious boy
Who thinks this is the best for you
Don't cry if you loved me
I'm alright, if this was love
I'll ignore you, pretend that I forgot you
So hurry and leave
I couldn't cry because I'm a man
- Yang Yo-Seob, "The Man who Couldn't Cry"
(Ruler: Owner of the Mask OST)
Episode 21
An Obdurate Determination
"That seat may be on the top, but it was a lonely one..."
King Vegeta mused one night as he gazed up at the royal throne a few feet in front of him. He was on his knees over the carpeted aisle, while his first born son sat next to him on his right side. It was the same fated evening when he has finally opened up his heart to the Crown Prince, who, after nearly thirteen years of being cold and distant towards him - has finally forgiven him. (See Ending of Episode 5 and beginning of Episode 6)
"You may become this planet's powerful ruler, but you cannot just do anything you want. You must see and hear your people and must decide what's better for their sake or they will rebel against you. All of your subjects will give you different opinions, until you won't know which is right or wrong anymore. There will come a day when you must set aside your own personal emotions and decide with an iron heart for the sake of your people and kingdom.
"... Unlike the rest of our people who aren't particular with blood-relationships, I always believed against tradition, that as the royal family, we must stay bonded for the sake of our own security of the royal throne. However, when the day comes and you must choose between yourself, your loved ones, your people, how are you even going to fight back? What are you going to do if you have to sacrifice yourself or your loved ones for the sake of protecting someone else?
"That was the reason why I taught you not to have any affections for anyone. No matter what happens, you have to set aside your personal emotions in order to win. That is how a warrior should do things."
~=-o-O-o-=~
"His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince has arrived!"
Nappa had declared at the throne room's entrance before Kakarot and Raditz opened up the doors to allow Prince Vegeta to walk in.
The king and the royal council immediately sensed the Crown Prince's ire as soon as he regally entered the royal throne room despite the guarded, serious look upon his face. The sovereign was as uneasy as he was when his son questioned him earlier. Vegeta strolled in his royal glory across the throne room, over the red carpet aisle just as the Members of the Royal Council put their heads down in honor. He slowly walked up a short flight of stairs and halted at the right side of the royal throne where his father sat and watched at him in apprehension. The prince ignored his sire, turned around with a swift, about face movement so that the council could see his lividness. He scanned the throne room with piercing and scrutinizing eyes.
The king was about to open his mouth to begin a discussion about what happened to the Crown Prince yesterday but his son unceremoniously cut him off without further ado.
"I wanted to discuss about a lot of things today." The heir apparent to the throne announced brashly. The deep scowl on his face was hard. King Vegeta and Zorn grunted in exasperation. Everyone thought whatever he's going to say is going to be unpleasant.
Before the king could say something, Vegeta continued audaciously, "It is about the preparation for the Annual Power Assessment. I want you to search someone for me and force him to fight me on that day!" His tone was commanding - giving off the charisma of a despotic prince anyone wouldn't dare to disobey.
"Who is it that you wish to fight at the Annual Power Assessment, your highness?" inquired Takenoko, a Saiyan with upswept hair in his fifties. Horenso's successor in the position of being Minister of Government Affairs.
"The warrior I was fighting last night." The Crown Prince declared. Sneering in disgust, he pulled his lips away from his bared teeth. "I didn't get a chance to settle the score last night. I got sedated."
"Your highness, you deliberately lost control of yourself and your powers last night during the battle. It is only rightful for anyone to sedate you in order to stop you from destroying the planet completely." Paragus explained.
"You were found on an abandoned island yesterday. If you were fighting with anyone, nobody was able to see him. How are we going to find him if we don't know what he looked like?" asked Nasu.
The prince raised his chin as he peered down at Nasu and Paragus with a leering look.
"Is that so?" Vegeta said thoughtfully. "No problem. I sketched a picture of him out of my own interest."
He took out a folded paper from his chest plate, unfolded it and tossed it on the aisle. It was a perfectly detailed sketch of the Masked Man and colored with color pencils.
Nasu and Kabu's eyes widened in surprise staring down at the picture. Paragus remained well composed. While the others became confused at the image of a strange burly man who has a masked over his face.
"Vegeta, there is no way for them to find someone whose face is covered with a mask." The king told his onerous son.
Vegeta cast a long side glance at Prime Minister Paragus who was behaving impressively calm.
"I don't care about whatever you think or do! I am ordering you to find me this man and force him to fight me on the Annual Power Assessment!" the cranky Saiyan Prince shouted.
Everybody just stared at their arduous future king without a word.
"You seem determined to face this man again. Why do you persist on fighting him, your highness?" Paragus questioned.
"I already said it. Don't make me repeat myself." The prince sneered. "Plus, I never had this much interest in fighting someone who could make my Saiyan blood boil with such furor." His lips crooked upwards with a menacing smirk which made the council members' spines chill.
Paragus smiled, inwardly criticizing the prince's cockiness. He lowered his head, lifted his right hand and putting it over his left chest plate, showing submission to the prince's orders. "I understand. If his highness truly desires to fight this man then we shall obey your royal command to search for this warrior and make him fight you at the Annual Power Assessment."
"We will do as you command us, your highness!" The royal council said in unison, following Paragus' pose of respect and submission.
Vegeta snorted loudly. He doubted Paragus will have to find the man, though. The way Paragus was bowing down to him in utmost respect and submission was making something within him cringe. The piousness of this bastard is astounding him.
"Now then, into the next topic." he declared. "I discovered something really interesting yesterday." He turned his eyes to the Minister of Science and Technology. "Face me in the center aisle, Nasu."
The Minister looked nervously at Paragus who just glared at him. Yesterday evening, Paragus told him about Prince Vegeta's message and they carefully planned out how they must deal with the tempestuous prince.
"Hurry it up!" Nasu jumped at Prince Vegeta's impatient command.
He scampered into the center aisle as if he was just pricked by needles on his butt. He lowered his head to avoid seeing the Crown Prince's piercing stare at his soul.
Vegeta pulled out the photo from his chest plate and he dropped it on the aisle right in front of the Minister. Everybody's eyes widened at what they saw, especially Nasu, and they immediately shot their affrighted glances at their quietly incensed future king. Vegeta observed how each of them reacted to the photo, sensing how their ki would flicker both in shock, disbelief and fear.
Vegeta smiled, "I see that everybody in here has an idea about who and what the thing next to me is, huh?"
Nobody dared to speak about what they know yet but Nasu decided to feign ignorance just as they planned. "Who is this boy, your highness?"
At those words, Vegeta's wrath erupted which caused the walls and floors to tremble at his power. Just as Paragus and his lackeys predicted. King Vegeta quickly grabbed his son's arm to restrain him from getting violent.
"Ouji, get a hold of yourself!" King Vegeta ordered his son. Prince Vegeta shot him a ferocious glare.
"Take your hands off me!" The completely livid prince warned.
"Vegeta!" The king pulled his son's arm rather harshly, causing the prince to get angrier.
"What is with this photo that you are being so livid about, your highness!" Paragus shouted defiantly. "The boy looks exactly like you. An impostor like him should only be punished by death! Why the need to show it to us and make a fuss about it?!"
The stained glass windows exploded at the waves of onerous power radiating off the apoplectic Saiyan Prince. All members of the royal council collapsed to their knees on the trembling floor, screaming in fear.
"When I ask you a question, do not dare to make a fool out of me by feigning ignorance! Do you seriously think I still have no idea? Don't play dumb with me now! I know exactly what he is! What I want to know is why a clone of me has shown himself in front of me?!"
"Vegeta! Calm down and control your ki!" The king hissed.
"Please calm down, your highness!"
"My apologies, your highness!" Nasu cried. "Please calm down and I will answer you honestly! I swear!"
Nothing in this room was able to soothe his wrath. Neither his father nor Nasu's pleas nor the Royal Council. Vegeta knew these fools were trying to trick him. His anger boiled further but he was immediately calmed down by something else.
As if hearing Bulma telling him to stop, he closed his eyes and let out a calming breath. With that, the invisible waves of power radiating off him gradually dissipated. He furiously pulled his arm off from his father's grasp and slapped the king's hand away. He turned to the Nasu with a portentous glare.
"Now speak before I change my mind and blast you all into oblivion!" he growled dangerously.
Nasu gulped to himself. He turned his eyes towards the Prime Minister. Paragus nodded. Nasu shifted his eyes to the anxious Saiyan King before he settled his eyes on the seething Crown Prince.
Nasu fell into his knees and curled down on the floor as if to beg for the Crown Prince's mercy. "There was a plan to clone you fifteen years ago, your highness. The plan, we called the Project Denzetsu, was led by your father to create a clone based on your DNA Map. At first, our initial plan was to create a Super Saiyan through modifications of the genes but his Majesty wanted a clone army with the same powers as you do. The purpose for such Project is to aid you with defeating the Galactic Empire.
"This project is a top secret. His Majesty made a law not to mention of this project to anyone, that is why you and most Saiyans in your generation know nothing about it."
Prince Vegeta sighed in agitation.
This time, it was the King who became furious. The story was fabricated in order to place the blame on him. "The project was a failure, I immediately ordered you to completely destroy all traces of the Project!"
"You know that we are able to create a live modified clone of the Crown Prince, your Majesty! It's just that his strength is nowhere 1% of Prince Vegeta's power! The Project is a success but because you wanted a perfect result, you immediately deemed it as a failure."
"Is that your reason for going against a royal command? You still continued this project on your own despite your orders?!"
"We only wish to fulfill his Majesty's wishes to create a clone army to aid the Crown Prince with overthrowing the Galactic Empire. I admit I failed to comply with your royal command but I only did it to prove my loyalty to you!"
"Do you really intend on lying?" Vegeta said in a surprisingly friendly tone, leering devilishly towards the mendacious quisling. "You say you are loyal to the Crown, but you decided to fabricate the truth by saying you only did it to fulfill my father's greedy ambitions? Do you bastards really think I am that stupid?!" he yelled.
"Your highness, you have to learn how to trust the royal council members for what they are telling you. If you don't trust Minister Nasu's answer then nobody in this room can answer your question." Paragus said.
Vegeta glared at the Prime Minister with an icy yet threatening glare. He pointed a finger in his direction. "I've told you, Paragus." he said. "If you continue to play this foolish game for the throne, I would make sure that all of you involved with it will suffer the consequences of my wrath. And yet, despite my warning, you still wanted to play. Fine, I dare you. I may not be able to kill you right here and now, but I will make sure that all of you involved will pay dearly for this."
He turned towards Nasu, "I'm giving you your last chance to switch your loyalty to me, Nasu. For the sake of Kinoko, tell me the truth now or I might spare you from the consequence."
Paragus gritted his teeth in annoyance, glaring at the wavering Minister of Science and Technology. Nasu was beginning to have second thoughts - being reminded of the visions the seers saw of what would become of the Crown Prince and the Saiyans. King Vegeta also have the same worrisome thoughts. Could the consequence be the visions the seers saw of the future?
"W-What do you wish for me to confess to you, your highness? That the Project Denzetsu's revival was done in order to betray the royal family?" Nasu asked with a trembling voice, still looking down at the carpet in which he was kneeling at.
"What else would it be?"
"If you know something about it why the need to question me then?"
"I'm just checking on something. Now spill it out."
Nasu wondered to himself if Vegeta was just trying to fuck his mind and trick him into confessing to him the truth behind the Project Denzetsu. There was no doubt that the prince already knew the truth because of what the chief technician of AJI-07 told him so what is he planning to do in here? (See episode 20)
"... My apologies, your highness." Nasu cried out. "The Project Denzetsu was revived and continued by the Ministry of Science and Technology in order to create a Saiyan who would surpass the Chosen One's legendary powers. The clones are made as the replacements for the cultivars used in the military training drills of one Elite Saiyan and use this experience to make him stronger by taking advantage of the Zenkai boosting power of the Saiyans."
"What?!" King Vegeta was appalled to hear that from the Minister. The other council members flinched with guilt while Paragus lost his calm demeanor.
"What the fuck are you saying, Nasu?! Have you lost your mind?!" Paragus roared.
Nasu turned to Paragus and whined, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Prime Minister! I had to!"
Vegeta smirked at the exchange between the two. Now that the Minister of Science and Technology has spilled what he knew about the opposition's plans, what would Paragus do?
"Your Majesty, your highness." Paragus said. "Now that Nasu has confessed to his sins, it is only rightful to punish him as you'd like."
Vegeta gradually turned his head on his right side to give a spine chilling gaze at the Prime Minister as he pointed a finger towards Paragus' direction and warned dangerously, "Don't get ahead with my decision now, Paragus or I will shut you up permanently." before returning his attention to Nasu.
"So who is the Elite Saiyan you are talking about?!" the prince demanded.
Nasu hesitated at first. His jaw and the corners of his mouth twitched as he contemplated on what to answer to the ruthless prince. The heir watched at him as he crossed his arms over his chest plate and waited.
"H-he's a Saiyan named Irobu, your highness. His identity has been kept for confidential purposes." he replied after a while.
Vegeta rolled his eyes and hissed, "I don't care about the confidentiality of his identity. As the Royal Crown Prince, I have the right to demand who was behind the Project meant to destroy me! Is he the same Masked Saiyan I showed you in the sketch earlier?"
Nasu nervously swallowed before nodding his head slowly, "...Yes, your highness." he reluctantly responded.
"Who is the man behind the mask?"
"Uhmm..." Nasu faltered, flickering his fearful gaze at Paragus who was tensed on the sides. Vegeta didn't miss their exchange of silent languages though. For a few moments, there was silence in the throne room.
King Vegeta knew the answer very well. Even Zorn and everyone else inside the throne room, except for Prince Vegeta who knew nothing at all. The Crown Prince could sense it through his intuition. He was the only one being left out.
And deep inside, Vegeta knew the answer as well but still he refused to believe it until he gets a confirmation.
"Tell me!" Vegeta roared. He was shaking with fury once again.
Seeing that his son was about to lose control once again, the king finally confessed. "It was Broly."
Surprised, the Saiyan Prince turned towards his father. What is the meaning of this? His father knew?! Everyone stared at the king who just opened his mouth to reveal the truth.
Upon meeting his son's betrayed gaze, the ruler looked away in shame. "Paragus once showed me a clip of Broly transforming into what it seemed to be is the Legendary Super Saiyan form. I feel threatened by his power. Paragus told me he did not want the throne yet and had me do as he says or he will have Broly kill you and Tarble. I did whatever I could to protect you both. I did everything just as he told me, except having you dethroned. That's the only thing I was fighting about. I still believe that you will one day realize the prophecy as it is your birthright."
Vegeta had noticed his father's sudden and strange obedience, favoritism and overprotectiveness towards Paragus since the day they had discussed about the treaty with the Freeza Army. His father had always prevented him from harming Paragus and his followers and panics whenever he would punish them by torture or try to kill any of them. He also noticed how his father had ignored his own pride so he could give the Saiyan Kingdom to the Galactic Emperor.
He remembered sneaking inside his father's palace one night, only to hear how his father feel threatened by whatever Paragus did. He didn't care about it at the time since he was not yet in good terms with the king. (See Episode 1)
But now he knew... So this was the answer. Paragus must have also blackmailed the king into making the law which would protect the members of the royal council.
He had the pieces of a puzzle slowly connecting to each other now. The creation of the clones, the corruption of Ministry budgets he found out during the night of the lantern festival and where the money was used (see Episode 8), the law that protects the members of the royal council, everything.
Paragus' was one shrewd, manipulative and calculating bastard, he learned. And everything was meant to kill him so these traitors could take over the royal house.
Vegeta turned his head towards Paragus, filled with rage. How dare this piece of trash blackmail and manipulate his father, the King of the Saiyans like some mere puppet?!
Paragus sighed. It seems the beans have been spilled and there's nothing for him to hide now.
"Yes, that's right. It was Broly, indeed." Paragus finally revealed with a wide, wicked grin. He raised his chin as he declared loudly, "Do you really think I would easily forgive and forget how your father betrayed me by having me and my only son assassinated? I used to be your father's loyal subject but after he learned about Broly's latent potential, he ordered our deaths because he saw Broly's power as a great threat to you!
"Yes, I planned it all along! I wanted to dethrone your royal bloodline and use Broly to take over the throne and become the new ruler of the Saiyans as revenge! You never deserved to lead our race as you are too pathetic! Especially you, Prince Vegeta. Your father was so proud of your exceptional latent abilities but it seemed that you turned out to be such a big disappointment!"
The contempt on the way he addressed and pointed at the prince made the tempestuous Vegeta explode with his uncontrolled wrath and Paragus has found himself quickly intimate with the wall meters behind him as the livid prince pushed him against it within the blink of an eye.
"Tell me that again or I will rip your eyes off your sockets so you will never see the success of your heinous plans, you ungrateful, spineless bastard!" The furious royal heir snarled hatefully as he roughly raised Paragus by his throat against the wall single-handedly.
"That's all?" Paragus choked and then laughed mockingly. "Hahahahaha! Oh great and mighty prince, you make me tremble in fear! You won't scare me with your empty threats! You have grown soft. Your emotions for that human girl is what made you weak. And that foolishness will be your greatest downfall! A weak and soft hearted fool like yourself does not deserve to lead the Saiyan warrior race!"
The prince's obsidian eyes glowed scarlet as his face become filled with rage and hate. He leaned towards the Prime Minister until their eyes were only an inch apart. The ominous glare Vegeta was giving Paragus was intense and spine-chilling.
"Then let me show you how weak and soft I am."
Tendrils of iron sand began to float around them and gathered to penetrate inside Paragus' left eye. The Prime Minister screamed and convulsed in agony against Vegeta's hand, covering his left eye with his hands. The prince roughly let him go and Paragus collapsed on the floor and curled in pain as Vegeta continued to manipulate the iron sand inside his eye, causing severe damage until the eyeball became soup like in consistency. Red blood and viscous liquid which used to be the traitor's eye streamed down his left face into his hands and dropped on the floor. Paragus screamed several curses at the Crown Prince. Everyone watched in horror as their atrocious future king did his cruel torture to his enemy.
"I disintegrated your left eye as punishment for your obvious attempts of treason against the Royal Family. I will save your right eye as it shall be your only way to see how I will thwart your foolish plans and obliterate the one you are depending on." Vegeta declared with a cold tone. He turned to the rest of the royal council and said, "Minister of Strategy, Tohu." Prince Vegeta called.
The said Minister reluctantly stepped up, his head lowered to avoid the prince's malevolent stare, "Yes, your highness."
"Set up the match between me and Broly on the day of the Annual Power Assessment. When I slaughter him on that day, right in front of you and all his supporters, you shall regret this betrayal to your rightful leaders. You better set this match as soon as possible, or I might surpass him too much." A sly grin stretched across his lips. He turned his still scarlet eyes towards Nasu. "And since you confessed your sins in front of the Royal Family and the Royal Council, I will show you mercy for your daughter's sake. Instead of killing you outright, I have a much better punishment for you."
He sauntered forward towards the Minister of Science and Technology, who began to whine and back away in terror of the fearsome heir to the throne. Nasu let out a shriek when Vegeta disappeared, leaving an afterimage where he last stood. The Minister felt two hands grab both his shoulders from behind and heard the spine-chilling voice of the feared Destroyer of Worlds behind him.
"Prepare yourself," Vegeta smiled.
With a deafening crack, the heir ripped the Minister's limbs apart. An intense, ear piercing, agonized scream from Nasu followed that as he collapsed on the floor. The prince simply watched at his agony with a remorseless, piercing and icy stare.
"I ripped your arms apart so you'll be useless to Paragus anymore. Soi, take this fool away from my sight before I could kill him! Let him bleed to death within the prison!"
"Yes, your highness!" the terrified Minister of Justice, Soi immediately dragged the still howling in agony Nasu out of the throne room.
Vegeta turned towards the remaining members of the royal council, still scowling displeasingly at them all.
"And as for the rest of you traitors, if you have that much confidence with Broly and Paragus then feel free to take on their side. I don't care, you were all traitors anyways. When I kill your 'Legendary Super Saiyan' you shall regret the day you turned your backs on me. This assembly is hereby adjourned! Get out of my sight before I send you all to hell!"
The Royal Council cleared the room like scampered mice with Taro, the new Minister of Health assisting Paragus out of the throne hall.
"Ungrateful bastards..." the angry prince spat hatefully as he turned to face his rueful father who couldn't even look back at him.
Vegeta knew that Paragus' words were somehow correct when it comes to the king. His father was truly a coward when he was threatened by a greater power, especially when his enemies threaten to harm him and his brother. The prince knew that if he open his mouth to scold him, the king will give him the same excuse he had about his mother. Probably would even blame him for saving Paragus and Broly when he had the chance to assassinate them years ago.
King Vegeta sighed as he shook his head in disapproval of his son's behavior and foolishness. "What did I tell you about Broly, Ouji? Looks like I was correct about him after all! This is what happens when you neglect your training. Unless you become a Super Saiyan too, you have no chance of beating him."
The prince's scowl deepened for a moment, contemplating his father's words. He was right, he knew that but he won't admit that it was all due to his own neglect.
He snorted back haughtily, "You don't have to tell me that! I will become the Legendary Super Saiyan soon and kill him! I will reclaim my birthright as the true chosen one of the Saiyans!"
The confident smirk across the prince's face was wide while his dark eyes sparked with excitement.
"Don't become cocky and be blinded by your own pride and self confidence, Ouji. Now that you know everything about the opposition's plans, they might find a way to stop you from becoming one. Just be careful, my son."
"Tch! Don't tell me what to do! You have no right to say anything to me when you are greatly responsible for their plan's success!"
"Paragus and Broly should be long dead by now if you didn't intrude my soldiers from executing my death order to them!"
"Tch!"
Just as he thought, his father would bring this up and put the blame on him. He hated it when his father tried to make him regret things he has done.
"Do you regret saving their lives now? This is what happens when you show mercy to your enemies. I told you so many times that you have to be ruthless in order to win. You must forget and set aside your emotions during battles. You are such a stubborn, cocky brat." King Vegeta scolded. The prince's eyes narrowed, feeling annoyed by his father's nagging.
"I regret nothing..." the prince replied after a while, keeping control over his irritation. "Whatever comes my way due to my own stubbornness would only serve as a lesson and Broly's power is a thrilling challenge for me to conquer." he faced his father with a determined look. "I am a true Saiyan warrior and unlike you, I am not afraid to face anything! And I am willing to risk my life on the line!"
Vegeta rudely walked out of the throne room, leaving his distressed father shaking his head about his cockiness. What's he supposed to do with such adamant pride and stubbornness?
~=-o-O-o-=~
As soon as the Crown Prince came out of the throne room, the Generals and servants anxiously waiting for him outside all lowered their heads to bow down in respect. He glared at the group with a portentous glare, swept his eyes on each one of them until he found the recreant fool behind his other three Generals.
He sauntered forward with a menacing gaze, like a predator who was approaching his prey. Nappa, Kakarot and Raditz stepped aside to give him way, wondering what's up with him. He stopped when he was finally a foot in front of the aloof warrior, who just realized that the prince was staring up at him with an intimidating glare. The prince was a child in comparison to his towering height, but it was obvious who the dominant one was by their sheer presence alone. Broly may have a dormant legendary power that surpassed even Vegeta's prided strength but the prince's despotic reputation and undying fortitude alone was an overwhelming pressure not even Broly could withstand.
It was a silent battle between two calm but cataclysmic storms.
Broly blinked his eyes, wondering to himself why the prince was giving him that fearsome pair of menacing eyes, as if he was planning to eat him alive. Vegeta was displeased with him, he was sure of that. Realizing what could have happened after he saw the situation of his father and the Minister of Science and Technology when they got out of the throne hall, a pang of guilt gnawed into Broly's chest.
He was about to open his mouth to say something in order to explain himself when Prince Vegeta abruptly backhanded him across the face. The sudden attack caused Broly to fly sideways across the courtyard and rolling into the stone ground. This made the other three generals gawk in disbelief at their suddenly violent master.
Out of pure instinct, Broly quickly recovered and crouched down in a low stance like a cat in the brink of a fight. He stared up at the piercing, cruel crimson eyes of the Saiyan Prince that glowered back at him remorselessly. The abhorrence was clear in the bitter look on his face.
"And here I thought you were tougher than that." Vegeta murmured before he pulled his lips away from his bared teeth and snarled hatefully. "Get up, you worthless, impudent, prideless ingrate before I finish a job that was long since overdue!"
Nappa, Raditz and Kakarot snapped their heads towards Broly, questioning themselves what he could have done for the prince to treat him like this. Broly lowered his eyes and pitifully picked himself up, unable to stare too long at Vegeta's domineering gaze. It was shameful.
"You disappoint me, Broly!" Vegeta continued. "I tried to show you the true meaning of Saiyan Pride and yet you chose to be manipulated by your father!"
Broly shook his head in denial as he stepped forward and reached out for the prince. "No, your highness. You got it all wrong-!"
Vegeta's eyes flashed with rage, and his ki spiked, his aura sparked around him momentarily, causing a small but potent pressure wave around him that hurled his Generals and servants away from him.
"Yes, you are correct when I got it all wrong. I trusted a traitor like you! I never once thought that you are capable of having such a nerve. Betraying me behind my back and concealing what you truly are in front of me. How dare you?!"
"Your highness, please listen to me, I –," Broly stammered as he tried to approach the fuming heir to the throne. He got it all wrong. He never did him wrong and concealed what he is. There was something else he couldn't understand himself but wanted to tell him so much.
But…
"Don't you come nearer or I will kill you right here and now!"
Broly froze at that command, unable to move or say anything. It felt as if he was stabbed right into his heart by a piercing icicle.
"You told me that you are not interested on my position as Crown Prince and yet, you truly wanted to steal my birthright all along? What for? Revenge? Greed for power? And you simply let your father tell you what to do and let him control you?! I told you to decide on your own, so what's your damn reason for betraying me?!"
Prince Vegeta was quivering with his agitation. Broly could see the tiniest drop of tears on the corner of the prince's eyes he was trying his best to keep from falling. Tears also started to make Broly's vision blur, he wanted so much to open his mouth and say something. He wasn't betraying the prince at all, in fact, he was trying his best to protect him. But he couldn't say anything. He was guilty and afraid, because he understood what the prince must be feeling. How was he supposed to explain himself?
"How dare you make a fool out of me?! All these years, I treated you like a true friend, accepted you despite my father's warnings. I showed you mercy and saved you and Paragus from my father's royal command to assassinate you! After all I did, this is how you're going to repay me? By trying to steal everything from me and planning to kill me?!"
Broly badly wanted to explain himself but the blinded prince wouldn't even let him say anything else.
"Don't you ever show yourself to me until the day we fight on the Annual Power Assessment! From this day onward, I denounce you and remove you from your position as my General due to treason. You are temporarily reprieved from your true punishment until we come face to face on the battlefield again. Don't get confident just because you are able to achieve some overwhelming power. I am the Crown Prince of all Saiyans so don't think so lightly of me! I am the true chosen one, don't you forget about that!"
Vegeta then walked away, Raditz and Kakarot stared sympathetically at Broly who fell down on his knees at the stone ground with tears in his eyes. Nappa quickly followed the bilious prince, the other two reluctantly tailed behind him while the rest of the servants went after them, leaving Broly alone.
Once he was alone, Broly cried out into the skies, "Your highness!" as tears fell like rain and his heart broke to thousands of pieces.
The prince failed to listen to his pleas. If he'd only listen then Broly would have told him the truth. He had no choice but to follow his father or he'll punish him with an excruciating wave of torture until he was forced to obey him. Yes, he has a power considered as that of the legendary Super Saiyan but along it was a primal bloodlust he couldn't control. That power was being restrained by the golden crown Paragus put over his head against his own wishes in order to control and suppress his true power.
Broly had always feared the monster he would become every night whenever his father would release the beast inside him, he becomes an uncontrollable, sadistic killing machine. Broly was fully aware of this change in him, but it seems like he was a very different person when he becomes that. He was afraid of it. His father had trained him to one day kill Prince Vegeta by murdering his clones until he gets used to killing them and wouldn't have any problem with killing the original. Paragus found that Broly's devotion and friendship towards the Saiyan Prince was an unpleasant predicament. As if Broly knew that deep in his heart, Prince Vegeta had saved his life when he was still an infant. He fought for him because he had always believed in Broly's worth as a warrior.
But Broly failed him.
Broly saw how greatly disappointed his prince was about him. But he had no choice. Now the prince would see him as a cowardly, prideless traitor who cannot even stand on his own. A threat to his prided title and position.
Broly recalled the day Prince Vegeta had let him play Crown Prince eleven years ago. Vegeta had invited Broly, Kakarot and Raditz to join him on his studies with his royal tutor. Despite the complains and warnings coming from Nappa, Bardock, Paragus, Raditz and his teacher, Vegeta had insisted that he wanted some classmates to be with him or else he'll be bored to death. The three kids were forced to study with their prince and had a quiz afterwards. Vegeta was able to perfect the quiz while Kakarot and Raditz both failed. Broly on the other hand was close to perfecting the quiz if not due to a single mistake.
But young Broly was proud of his achievement. He was only three yet he was able to nearly perfect a quiz that was about physics application to battle, a special lesson meant for only the royal crown prince. He was sure that his father would be proud of him.
So he was disappointed when Paragus scolded him for having a lower score on his paper test in comparison to the prince. The competition between Vegeta and Broly was something Paragus was extremely meticulous about. Broly reasoned that Prince Vegeta was an unbeatable genius who could perfect all examinations given to him. Broly was intelligent too, he learns fast but he cannot compare to the true prodigy. Due to his defiant words, Paragus tortured him as punishment. He was mercilessly electrocuted by his cruel father through the golden crown locked on his head that was being controlled by Paragus' gauntlet and Broly was totally helpless against his father's restraining toys. He couldn't even run away.
However, when the King summoned for Paragus' presence, Broly's punishment was mercifully halted but before Paragus left, he was thrown into a small metal cage with railings zapping with electricity. His father left him crying alone in there, completely ignoring Broly's cries for mercy.
Until Prince Vegeta, Raditz and Kakarot came to his rescue. The little rebellious prince was merely inviting Broly to play in the courtyard but when he saw Broly's situation, it greatly enraged him. The prince destroyed the cage that locked Broly to set him free. Broly could only run and cry for the Crown Prince to save him once again, like he did when he was still an infant. Unlike Broly at that time, Vegeta was well aware of how Paragus was serious about competing Broly against him for the throne in the future but seeing how he treat Broly made him want to defend his friend against the new Prime Minister. However, Broly pleaded him not to do it. Vegeta could see that Broly feared and loved his father greatly that he cannot bear to disobey him despite how badly he was treated. So the prince restrained himself from punishing Paragus.
"I do not understand why my father was always trying to pit me against you," Broly told the prince.
"I was well aware about how much he wanted the throne for himself and he was using you and your abilities so you could one day overthrow me as Crown Prince and so as the entire royal bloodline and place you in my position as the future King of the Saiyans."
Young Broly was shocked, "Me? Replace you as Crown Prince and become future king? I would never dare do such a thing, your highness!"
Vegeta gave him a look of doubt but a playful smirk stretching on his lips, "Are you sure about that? You wouldn't wish to rule over the mightiest warrior race in the universe?" he challenged.
"Of course, your highness! How could a lowly young soldier like myself attempt such a thing?"
"Hmph!" Vegeta snorted. "Tell that to me again once you are done with our game for today."
Broly blinked in confusion, "What game?"
"Come with me, Broly."
When Broly didn't make a move to follow his footsteps, Vegeta dragged the protesting boy to his private quarters in the Crown Prince's Palace. Vegeta ordered his servants to leave him and Broly alone. He pulled him into a mirror and stared at their reflection. Vegeta was smaller than any average seven year old Saiyan while Broly was bigger than any other three year old, making them both almost the same height. Vegeta was skinny while Broly was lean but muscular. Vegeta frowned at the obvious difference in build. He guessed he had to put some more props to his plan.
Vegeta smirked back at him, a mischievous look sparked on his eyes and he ordered Broly to remove his clothes while he went to his wardrobe to take his white and gold royal armor. Broly was confused, why would he even do that?
"Come on, now. I gave you a direct order. Take off your clothes, give them to me and put on my Royal Battle Armor."
"Wh-What?! Why would I do that?! Your highness, I have no right to wear such special clothing!"
"It's a direct order. Just shut up and obey my command or do you want me to help you do that?!"
When Broly still refused to do it, Vegeta had forcefully removed his clothes and dressed him into his royal armor despite the younger boy's protests. However, no matter what Vegeta did to snatch off Broly's crown despite the younger Saiyan's protests, it didn't budge at all despite his great strength. Vegeta eventually gave up removing that thing, cursing and wondering what that Crown was for anyways. He angrily took his red cloak and put the hood over Broly's head to conceal the child warrior's disheveled spiky hair.
"Well, look at that. It does look good on you." Vegeta complimented with a dangerously impish smirk as he circled around the trembling boy and looking at him as if he was some masterpiece he made. Broly was almost in tears and Vegeta frowned at that look.
"Come on now. Stop those tears. A Crown Prince is not allowed to cry due to frivolous matters. You will be the future king of the Saiyans and you need to be strong. Okay?" he scolded.
"But your h-," Broly complained but the real prince hushed him.
"I'm giving you an hour to feel the life of a Crown Prince. I will be with you so don't worry about anything. I'll tell you what to do via telepathy and just act whatever I say, okay? Oh, and let me borrow your things for a moment, too."
What kind of cruel game is this? Broly didn't have any idea what the Crown Prince was trying to do. Perhaps, he was planning to escape the palace wearing his clothes or maybe he was planning to go after Paragus. Whichever it is, Broly felt that it would be troublesome. He silently watched as Vegeta dress himself in Broly's clothes. The prince then took his black cloak and concealed himself on it.
"Now then, let's go." He invited.
Broly reluctantly followed Vegeta out of his chambers but the prince pushed him forward in front of him. "You are the prince, you should be the one leading the way."
"B-B-But where do we go, your h-..."
"The courtyard. Kakarot and Raditz are supposed to be waiting there."
"Uh… Okay."
"And stop stammering! Walk with graceful dominance like a real alpha. Be confident and proud. You are the Crown Prince, you are the most powerful of all Saiyans. Show them that."
Broly did his best to imitate how Vegeta walks in his royal glory, which made the prince laugh to himself at how that was poorly done. Broly admitted to himself that it wasn't that easy. He noticed that everyone he would meet would immediately bow down to him in respect and they are even willing to do every order he commands them to do. They also feared him. He felt really powerful, like a real boss. It's like he held everyone in his little fingers.
As soon as Broly was beginning to somehow like this little experience, Vegeta suddenly bombarded his mind with palace laws which a Crown Prince must obey at all times.
When Broly became aware of the palace laws a Crown Prince must obey, he realized that being Crown Prince may not just be all 'obey my orders or suffer my wrath' thing. Even with someone as powerful as Vegeta, he simply cannot do anything he wanted. Although Prince Vegeta was known to defy the palace laws most of the time, he still couldn't help but feel pressured about it. If he was the Crown Prince, Broly would surely feel like being choked alive.
A Crown Prince was never allowed to feel any emotions of affection towards anyone. Broly's default nature was being expressionless most of the time so he thought that maybe this is one law he can live with. However, he was also not allowed to have any friends. Even with Paragus' strict orders to never consider Prince Vegeta as a friend, Broly couldn't help but defy that. Who wanted a life being alone and without friends anyways?
A Crown Prince was also not allowed to come out in public or the commoner's land unless due to some business approved by the King. As the future king, all Saiyans will depend on him and his every actions and decisions. With one wrong move and you may lose your people and your power. Broly understood that with greater power comes greater responsibilities and being just a child back then, Broly felt so powerful having this world under his small little fingers, however, the weight of pressure caused by a Crown Prince's responsibilities was overwhelming him. It felt as if he was lifting the heaviest thing in the entire universe in his arms and he must become strong both in mind and body in order to balance his kingdom. Everyone will depend on his strength. That's how hard Vegeta's role must be, Broly thought to himself. As Crown Prince, he was being trained to one day be able to uplift that thing alone once he becomes king. Broly knew that Vegeta was capable of doing that. Broly couldn't help but feel awe at Vegeta's incredible fortitude, yet sad that his life was supposed to be lonely.
Broly knew it in himself that he wouldn't have the guts to stand up alone against the laws and defy his own father, so if ever he becomes the Crown Prince and Paragus becomes the king, he knew that he didn't want that kind of life.
Broly now understood the objective of this game. Vegeta wanted to show him and make him understand that being a Crown Prince isn't something he would want to live his life.
Once they reached the backyard, Kakarot and Raditz immediately knew the difference but Vegeta warned them to play along their little game.
Soon enough, they started chasing each other around the courtyard. Several feet behind them, Paragus watched along an elderly Saiyan he was consulting about his son's and the Crown Prince's future. (See Episode 12)
Nearly an hour later, Vegeta and Broly exchanged clothes back to the Crown Prince's private quarters.
"Thank you for the experience. I guess jewelry isn't really my thing. You have too many of them and you're just a kid." Vegeta complained. "Why do you go around with those things anyways? Paragus was spoiling you a lot, I see."
"Dad said these things once belonged to my mother and he had them recreated so I can wear them." Broly explained in a low, cool voice as he fixed the golden gauntlet on his forearms.
"Oh… I guess those things were truly precious to you, huh?"
"Yes, your highness."
"So, tell me about your experience. How does it make you feel to wear the Crown Prince's Royal Armor? "
Broly was unsure if he must answer him the truth. He lowered his eyes and played at his fingers for a moment. Vegeta waited expectantly at his answer.
"Hmm… How should I say this...? Uhmm… I guess it was an amazing experience too. I learned a valuable lesson today. I learned that being a Crown Prince was a heavy responsibility despite how powerful you are to become when you become a king. A lot of kids would think that being born into a royal family was a blessing because you could get and do anything you want. That was what my dad was telling me too. But, now I understand that it wasn't just about how powerful you are being on the top. You have such heavy responsibilities as well, which your people and entire kingdom would depend on. And because of that, your royal armor felt really heavy on me. I am sorry, your highness."
Vegeta looked away, "So I guess the same goes for me. Your clothes felt heavy too. At first I thought it must be lighter than my royal armor because you are free from the suffocating palace laws. But I know that having such a jerk for a father was something I couldn't stand at all. My father was the same as Paragus, greedy, selfish, strict and competitive towards you. But I guess we just handle things rather differently. I always hated following orders, rules and laws because I wanted to live my life the way I truly want it. My father cannot control me no matter what he did while Paragus seemed to intimidate you so much. Do you really wish to follow through your father's plans to overthrow me?"
"I was never interested with your position or the throne. And after the game we played today, it made me realize that I do not want to become a prince or a king. Rest assured that I will always be loyal to you no matter what happens, your highness."
The Crown Prince let out an amused smile, "That's more like it. I'm counting on that promise. Don't disappoint me, Broly."
~=-o-O-o-=~
The seemingly formidable Legendary Saiyan cried his broken heart out. He just lost his only true friend who has ever believed in him. Or so he thought. After what happened between them, there was no chance that Prince Vegeta would ever listen and believe him again. The ruthless prince never gave second chances to his subjects. And he was sure that Vegeta is bent to kill him when they battle on the Annual Power Assessment.
What must he do?
~=-o-O-o-=~
King Vegeta came out of the throne hall with Zorn and found Broly in tears on the ground. The former General stared up at the king for a moment before he lowered his head. The displeased king decided to ignore the traitor's son he considered a threat to the Crown Prince.
He went to his executive office several meters south of the throne hall. He sat on his chair and said to Zorn, "I am worried about what the seers saw about Vegeta's future. He's beginning to show some signs of that nature. I can sense it on his ki. The hatred was unmistakable and its beginning to change him. I am afraid that my mistake will be the reason for his rampage that would lead to the death and destruction of the Saiyan Kingdom."
"Your Majesty, I wish to make a suggestion."
"What is it?"
"Bardock is a seer too and perhaps, he could make a difference because the Crown Prince listens to him."
The king frowned, feeling a pang of jealousy in his chest. "Alright then, summon Bardock. I have a favor to ask of him."
Zorn bowed down and obeyed the king's order.
~=-o-O-o-=~
Vegeta marched towards his training chamber like a calamitous tempest, his generals and servants tailing behind him. Once he was in front of the heavy metal doors of his Gravity Room, he commanded in an imperious voice, "Leave me and my Generals alone." His scowling face was hard and held a serious but intimidating expression. His stabbing eyes were focused at those doors, glaring at it as if it were his greatest enemies.
The bowing servants and workers around him left immediately, as if running away to save themselves from death brought upon by the onerous Grim Reaper. Once alone, Kakarot swallowed nervously as he summoned his courage to ask the fearsome royal to ask, "Your highness, what happened between you and Broly?"
Vegeta told his Generals, "Whatever happened between me and Broly is none of your concern. From this day onward, I am going to seriously train to attain the Legendary power which is my birthright. Do not ever bother me with useless things, unless it's really important. And the only people I will entertain other than Nappa are Bardock, Bulma and someone else who look exactly like me. Do you understand?"
"Yes, your highness." The three Generals nodded until they shot their eyes up in both surprise and curiosity.
"Uhm… What do you mean by 'someone else who looks exactly like you'?" Kakarot nervously asked.
Vegeta fell silent for a few moments and Kakarot immediately felt uncomfortable at his unnerving dreadful stillness. The younger Saiyan awkwardly looked away and cleared his throat to cut the worrisome muteness.
"Uh…"
"Any clone of mine who would appear to search for me. Bring him to me immediately."
"Clone? So you already knew?"
"That's obvious, isn't it?"
"Uh… Yeah."
"So what's Broly got to do with all this?"
Like a landmine after being stepped upon, the prince's ki suddenly explode when he abruptly gritted his teeth in anger, glaring at the huge metallic door in front of him as if it was his worst enemy. Such violent reaction caused Kakarot to inch away in fear. He raised his hands as if to surrender.
"Okay. Okay. My apologies, your highness." Kakarot smiled. He already knew the prince didn't wish for them to question him about Broly anymore.
Growling like a rabid animal, Vegeta snarled in hatred, "Computer!"
A female monotone voice immediately responded to his call, "Yes, your highness?"
"Open this door and let me in!"
"As you wish, your highness."
With a loud whooshing sound, the metallic door slid open. Before the Saiyan Prince could walk in, he told his men, "You're dismissed. Get out of my sight before I decide to smash your face with my fists!" and then he sauntered inside the Gravity Room with a stone cold expression, leaving the three Generals staring back at him in trepidation.
Kakarot sighed as he rubbed the back of his head and his nape with his right hand, "I'm getting a bad feeling about this. His ki's feeling different today. It feels like he's about to revert to his dark side once again."
Raditz gave his younger brother a look and silently told him that they must talk away from where Vegeta was. They strolled out of the Prince's Training Center. Once they were outside the building and wandering around the royal palace grounds, Raditz started to talk. "I could feel his hatred. Whatever that issue is with Broly and the clones must have been the trigger to such hatred. I'm afraid this might lead to the new prophecy that dad was talking about." He said.
"New prophecy? Did Bardock get a new vision? Is it the same as the one the royal seers saw? Is Prince Vegeta really going to destroy us all?" Nappa asked in a hushed voice.
"Dad saw him killing his own people, and while we were trying to stop him, he mentioned about how his enemies shed his own blood and that he's making them pay by shedding their own."
"Vengeance?"
"Yes, we figured it had something to do with the clones. I guess we were right about that. He's beginning to change."
They saw Bardock marching a few meters ahead of them. He was being led by Zorn towards the King's Executive Office. "Hey, isn't that dad? Did his Majesty summon him today?"
~=-o-O-o-=~
"Your Majesty, Bardock has come just as you commanded!" Zorn announced at the door of the office where King Vegeta waited.
"Let him enter," the antsy king commanded. The door slid open and Bardock walked in. He fell to one knee, bowed his head down and raised his right hand over his left chest plate to give respect to his sovereign.
"I am here, Your Majesty." Bardock said in a pleasant voice. "Why do you wish to see me?"
"Bardock," King Vegeta said. "I heard that you are somehow close to the Crown Prince and because you are the father of his two Generals, you must have become closer to him more than I do. He was a rebellious, stubborn brat who doesn't allow anyone to tell him what to do but as he considers you more than a soldier or an advisor, he somehow listens to you than anyone else."
"The Crown Prince may listen to me sometimes, but that's very rare of him to do so. He is truly a stubborn, troublesome child. It's hard to make him listen to any advices or suggestions, but there are very few times when he'll consider it depending on his mood, your Majesty."
King Vegeta stared at the low level soldier kneeling before him.
"I called for you because I want you to find a way to change the new prophecy."
The lower class soldier shot his head up as he stared at the king with wide eyes.
"As a seer, you may have seen a change in the prophecy about the Crown Prince's future just the same as how the royal seers saw. The prophecy of Prince Vegeta becoming the Legendary Super Saiyan, defeating the Galactic Emperor and saving the Universe from that Evil Empire has changed drastically. Instead of becoming the long-awaited savior, the Crown Prince will be the one to destroy everything he was meant to protect and save. Did you see that same vision too?"
"Yes, I have seen glimpses of it through the eyes of my sons' future selves, Your Majesty." Bardock responded.
"Tell me what you saw. Everything."
"Death and destruction to all Saiyans. The Crown Prince will change and become the harbinger of chaos to his own people. Perhaps, some traumatizing event will be the trigger to his sudden change which will cause him to harbor such unfathomable hatred and bitterness. He will give such importance to his power, thinking it's everything that will be the most important. He also said something else. 'They started this game by drawing his blood, and he will fight back shedding their own!' and that he will kill every single one of them and make them pay with their blood'."
King Vegeta let out a shocking gasp as his face paled, the fear was unmistakable on his expression. "H-He will say that?"
Bardock kept his cold expression, "I know that you have an idea on what game he was talking about. I saw the clones in the vision. Also a mysterious masked man, a mountain of corpses, an Oozaru, the planet being destroyed. The Crown Prince will change. I could sense it in his ki that he's about to change but it's not yet too late for us to stop the vision from happening. We still have a chance to change everything."
The king nodded, a determined look on his face. "Yes. You are right. I can feel it too." He recalled how Prince Vegeta demonstrated his wrath earlier in the throne room. We still have time to change things, Bardock. What can you suggest to keep the prince from changing into that monster?"
Bardock was thoughtful for a moment, thinking of anything to try and keep Prince Vegeta from harboring such rage and turn him to the Saiyan filled with extreme bloodlust and fury he saw in his vision. What's the most important thing for Prince Vegeta?
And he suddenly got an idea.
"I have an idea, Your Majesty. I wish for you to consider this suggestion for the sake of your people."
"What is it, Bardock?" King Vegeta asked.
"Bulma Briefs. I suggest that you let her keep close to his highness' side, your Majesty. She's our only hope and it may hurt our pride to consider this, but she now holds the fate of all Saiyans and the entire Universe."
~=-o-O-o-=~
In the Gravity Room, Vegeta stood defiantly at the center of the dark spacious room. He was half naked and on his training shorts and white boots. The gravity pressure around him was at twenty times normal gravity of Planet Vegeta. Red lights flashed across the room as training drones floated above him. A fierce determined glare fixed on his crimson eyes as his teeth gritted in rage. The image of the Broly being the masked man, of Freeza, Zarbon and Dodoria created by his heated mind appeared in front of him.
His determination was unwavering and his fury raged on like a burning inferno inside of him. "I swear that I will become a Legendary Super Saiyan soon and realize the prophecy that is my birthright. I will not let anything get in my way from now on!"
And so he began an intense training session as he burned himself with the fires of his rage, resolve and to prove himself that he is the Crown Prince of all Saiyans and the rightful chosen one.
~=-o-O-o-=~
Meanwhile, Bardock was confident about his suggestion to the King. He strongly believes that only Bulma could save them all from Prince Vegeta's upcoming wrath. King Vegeta gazed down at the soldier with wide, disbelieving eyes. He couldn't understand the reason for Bardock's ridiculous suggestion. How would a powerless human change this new prophecy?
Soon, they will realize the power of the forbidden emotion the Saiyans had never believed in.