Hello my lovely readers. I'm back with another chapter. I had some serious writers block with this chapter, and I kept changing things to try to make it flow better. I hope you guys enjoy it!
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Chapter 25
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"Something's not right," Goku said suddenly, interrupting the status report his father was giving the King. The Prince snapped his attention to the younger man.
"Explain."
"I just felt Charm's ki flare up, but I can sense it's different from when she's fighting." Before anyone could respond, a scream ripped in to the room, floated up from the gardens outside the bay windows.
"That sounds like Rhinoa!" Bulma exclaimed, running over to the windows. "Oh my God!" Bulma looked horrified as she brought her hand up to her mouth. Without waiting for an explanation, Vegeta threw the glass doors open and looked at the scene unfolding on the grounds below.
Saluna, his beaten and battered mate, was standing over her best friend. One had was gripping the blonde's shirt collar, and the other was poised to make a killing blow. Rhinoa, obviously horrified, was collapsed on the ground mere feet away. Vegeta leapt off the balcony, landing on the ground next to Charm. He caught his mate's hand mid strike, and as he gripped her wrist, Saluna's eyes snapped up to him. The younger Saiyan's eyes filled with hate and loathing, and the mated Saiyans became locked in a deadly staring contest.
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Charm ran as fast as her feet would carry her, and each breath was starting to feel like an intense burning in her chest. She had run out of the dungeons, and out through the palace. She now was sprinting through the massive maze that was the palace gardens. Charm didn't dare glance over her shoulder, but she knew Saluna was hot on her heels. The Saiyan may still be injured, but damn was she still fast! The blonde's only thought was getting to Goku and fast. Charm let her feet carry her physically, but mentally she locked on to Goku's ki. She was about to jump up to take to the skies, until she was sliding forward, face first, on the rough gravel.
"Damnit!" Charm snapped, wincing from the sting of the ki blast that had hit her in the squarely in the center of her back. She got to her knees and turned to look back at the Saiyan. Saluna stood with her feet apart, a murderous look planted on her face. Charm rose to her feet as the Saiyan's voice rang out.
"You stupid little bitch," she snarled. "I was going to give you the gift of a quick death, but not anymore. Now I am going to take my time and enjoy ending your life." Saluna lunged for Charm, but the blonde was ready for her. Charm twisted to the side, evading Saluna's grasp. She began to throw punches at the Saiyan's side, taking advantage of the momentary distraction. Charm landed several hard blows, but the advantage was short lived. The Saiyan roared in anger as Charm threw another fist towards her. Saluna grabbed the blonde's hand before it made contact. She twisted the Earthling's arm in a single, fluid motion, and held it firmly behind her back. With Charm restrained, Saluna released her own barrage of punches, nailing Charm in the kidneys and back until the girl cried out in pain, blood spitting up from her mouth. Saluna snarled, pushed the blonde away, and phased out. Before Charm could catch her bearings, the Saiyan reappeared in front of her. Even in her much-weakened state, the Saiyan was stronger than the Earthling ten-fold. Saluna began viciously assault Charm, growling in anger as she went. Saluna paused for a moment, allowing Charm to weakly fall to her knees. Saluna looked at the blood that splotched the blonde beauty's face and clothes.
"Do it," Charm snapped, spitting more blood out in to the ground. "Kill me, just like you killed my brother, and Squall, and Seifer. Put me out of my misery, because I can't stand the sight of you!"
"Pathetic," Saluna growled, stepping up to Charm. She reached down with her left hand and grabbed the blonde by the shirt collar, lifting her up slightly. "You are a sorry excuse for a warrior, and maybe if you and your friends had chosen a better race to ally yourselves with, then you none of you would have to die. You sided with Vegeta, so you must die!" Charm narrowed her eyes, and gave the Saiyan a hard look, refusing to show any fear to the girl in front of her.
"You'll be doing me a favor," the blonde whispered harshly. "I don't care if you're some brainwashed mental case, things are already seriously fucked up."
"As you wish," Saluna emotionlessly said. Before any other words could be spoken, a sudden scream ripped through the air. The Saiyan and Earthling both shifted their eyes in the same general direction. An evil grin spread on Saluna's face as her onyx eyes found the dark brown pair that belonged to Rhinoa. The Saiyan's grin widened as she observed the look of terror on the other girl's face.
"Oh, don't worry," Saluna cooed without any hint of emotion, "I'll give you my attention once I'm done with this one." To add to the threat, Saluna used her free hand to fire a small ki blast at the raven-haired girl's feet. Rhinoa yelped in surprise as she fell backwards and landed on her backside. The Saiyan turned her attention back to the blonde still held in her grasp. She raised her first, preparing to strike. Saluna studied the Charm for just a moment before she let her fist fly. The Saiyan was mere inches from making connecting, but she was suddenly stopped. Saluna growled in anger when she saw the Saiyan Prince had a grip on her wrist. Saluna glared at Vegeta, her growl deepening, and Charm slipped out of the Saiyan's grip.
"Go," Vegeta snapped at the blonde. Charm didn't need to be told twice. She quickly scurried away and headed straight to Goku waiting on the sidelines. Saluna kept her eyes locked on the prince, refusing to back down. The Prince held her stare, not allowing any emotion to show in his onyx eyes.
"Let me go!" Saluna hissed venomously.
"Not a chance. Kakarot," Vegeta snapped at Goku, not daring to take his eyes off his mate for even a moment. "Take the blonde to the medical wing."
"On it," Goku responded.
"The rest of you- no one follow me on pain of death," the Saiyan Prince commanded to his underlings still standing up on the balcony. No one uttered a word, and Vegeta took it as a sign of understanding. Without warning he took off in to the sky, dragging the younger Saiyan by her wrist. Once he was certain they were out of view, Vegeta shifted his hold on his mate, and pulled her close to him. Saluna growled in anger as she was suddenly pressed up against him, her back to Vegeta's front. The girl struggled to break free of the Princes grip, but she found it to be of no use.
"Quit struggling, girl," Vegeta growled into her ear. "Or else I may accidently drop you."
"Go right ahead!" Saluna snarled in response. "Get your filthy fucking hands off of me! I'd rather fall to my death than feel you touching me."
"Enough!" Vegeta snarled angerly, with enough force that the girl decidedly kept her mouth shut for the time being. Vegeta continued flying until the jade forest came in to view.
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The Saiyans landing on the ground, and Saluna felt herself being abruptly released. She stumbled forward a couple of steps on impact, and quickly surveyed her surroundings. The girl was trying to formulate a plan in her mind when Vegeta's voice cut through the silence.
"Don't bother trying to fight me or flee. You won't get very far. You are too weak to do either."
"If you brought me out here to kill me, then just fucking do it already!" Saluna spun her heels to face the Prince. She narrowed her eyes and darkly growled.
"I'm not going to kill you, little one," Vegeta responded. "I am going to make you remember who you are." Saluna bared her teeth and charged at the Prince in response. Despite being at only a fraction of her strength, she attacked like her life depended on it. Saluna threw punch after punch, all which were easily blocked and dodged by Vegeta. The girl growled in annoyance as it become abundantly clear that the Prince wasn't even trying. Annoyance turned to anger, and Saluna roared out in frustration. Saluna threw her knee up, aiming for Vegeta's stomach, but found an empty space. The Prince phased out and reappeared behind the girl. He wrapped one arm around the girl's neck in a chokehold and reached for her tail with the other. Saluna, sensing what he was attempting, snarled and threw a hard elbow behind her. Vegeta grunted at the contact, and the younger Saiyan slipped out of his grip.
"This is pointless, little one," the Prince said, standing back up to his full height.
"What's pointless is all this stupid talking!" Saluna snarled, facing towards him and squaring off. "I don't care if it kills me! I will bring you down and avenge my family!"
"You are beyond misguided Saluna. Your family is here. Frieza has completely twisted your mind."
"Shut up!" Saluna hissed. "Lord Frieza saved my life! He saved me from you!"
"That piece of shit lizard messed with your head and planted false memories!" Vegeta snapped back, anger beginning to shine through. "He kidnapped you and tortured you until you broke! And when you finally did, he gave you false ideas and set you loose on the people you care about! He had you murder your friends! You nearly killed your own sister! Snap out of it Saluna! You are stronger than this!" Saluna roared in anger, but before she could say anything, the girl found herself hard-pressed up against a tree. She snarled dangerously as she felt the Prince up against her front with zero room to move. Saluna tried to push his off, but her effort was in vain. Vegeta reached up and gripped the younger Saiyan's chin.
"I will not allow you to continue being under Frieza's control." The prince muttered in to the girl's ear. "You are my mate, whether you remember it or not, and we are not leaving this forest until you are back on the side you belong on." Saluna's growl was suddenly cut off as she felt a sharp pain radiate throughout her body. Vegeta sank his canines into the base of the girl's neck, cutting in to the scar he had previously given her. Saluna cried out in pain as she struggled to pull away, but Vegeta's grip on her was too strong. Her knees began to buckle as she became lightheaded. She felt her blood run down her neck, but the Saiyan Prince refused to unlatch himself from her. He bit down harder and pushed her back more against the tree once he felt the shift in her posture. Saluna whimpered as she suddenly felt a ripping sensation course through her mind.
Saluna's pain was replaced but a wave of nausea as the tearing of her mind continued. Duel versions of the same events began playing in her head. The girl whimpered again as a nausea gave way to a pounding in her head. She heard two voices battling for dominance in her mind. One belonged to Shavon, fighting for superiority, against the other she knew to be the prince's. Both were trying to pull her in opposite directions, but only one began to grow increasingly stronger. With a final cry of pain, the girl slammed a mental wall up, completely shutting out of one the painful voices
Starr Reku blinked her eyes as realization hit her, and it hit her hard. She let out a chocked sob as events from the past weeks came flooding back to her. Images of battle with Zarbon came racing back, followed by the painful torture sessions and the humiliation of her body being violated over and over again. The knowledge of what she did to her friends and family hit her like a ton of bricks being hurled all at once. Tears sprung up in her eyes as another sob escaped from her throat. Vegeta felt the total change in the girl's posture, and he slowly released himself from her soft flesh. He pulled his face away from her neck and shifted his eyes to her face. The prince nearly sighed in relief as she saw the recognition in the young girl's eyes, but there was something else there as well. His mate's onyx eyes held shame and pain, and the sudden wave of emotion coming through the neglected bond nearly knocked him backwards. Vegeta held his ground, and his kept his body tightly up against his mate's.
"Vegeta," Starr croaked out, a pained sob coming from her as her body lost its strength. "What have I done!" The younger Saiyan collapsed into her mate, and Vegeta shifted his body, allowing him to scoop the girl up into a cradling hold. Starr buried her head in to the prince's shoulder, and all Vegeta could do was hold her as the tears continued to flow. After a time, the girl became silent. Exhaustion took its toll of the Saiyan's body, and she allowed the darkness to claim her. Vegeta looked down at his now unconscious mate, carefully observing the numerous faded scars the now marred her once smooth skin. Without a word, he rose up off the ground, and began to fly back towards the palace.
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Starr slowly opened her eyes, the sunlight nearly blinding her. She stifled a sob as the dreaded memories of her horrendous deeds slammed back in to her. The girl rolled over on to her side and pulled the heavy blanket up to her chin as she curled up in to the fetal position. She heard the sound of the door hissing open, followed by footsteps, and then the sinking of the bed as someone sat. Starr refused to acknowledge the arrival of the Prince, and instead chose to close her eyes. After a few moments, Vegeta spoke.
"Saluna," Vegeta said, reaching his hand out to touch the girl's shoulder. Starr recoiled at his touch.
"Don't," she whispered meekly. "Please don't." Vegeta pulled back his hand, unsure of how to direct the conversation. The prince was at a loss of words at the situation. He knew he did what he had to do to bring his mate back, but he was dumbstruck on how to deal with the aftermath.
"Saluna," Vegeta tried again. "You are back where you belong, at my side. We have to get you back in proper shape." The prince realized he said the absolute wrong thing when his mate growled.
"Proper shaped?" Starr snarled, sitting up. A fierce anger was gleaming in her eyes. "I was raped over and over and over again! I was tortured within an inch of my life, just to be healed and go through it all over again! I can't show my face to anyone! I'm in no condition to fight! I'd be better off dead! I killed some of my best friends in cold blood! I murdered Squall, Zell, and Seifer! I nearly killed Gohan and Saria! My own brother almost died because of me! Death is no less than what I deserve for my crimes!"
"Enough!" Vegeta growled. "Those crimes do indeed deserve death as a punishment, but those crimes do not belong to you! Frieza will die for it! He will die for everything that has happened, and he will suffer for daring to touch my mate!" An uncomfortable silence fell up the room.
"What am I supposed to do, Vegeta?" Starr said softly, her anger disappearing. Starr was feeling completely defeated. She slumped forward, pulling her knees up to her chest, and rested her forehead on top of the soft blanket. "How can I face everyone after everything I did?"
"You have to be strong," the Prince responded. "Frieza already broke you once. Do not allow him to win again by being unable to rebound. Your friends will fine."
"I'm not so sure," Starr whispered. "I killed Zell. The way Charm looked at me… I don't think she'll ever forgive me…" Tears threatened to surface in the girl's onyx eyes. Vegeta shifted and moved closer to Starr. To her surprise, the Prince grabbed the girl by her shoulders, and gently pulled her in to his chest. This time Starr didn't recoil at his touch. She took a deep breath and slowly released it as she relaxed slightly against Vegeta. The Prince wrapped his arms around the girl protectively.
"Give it time, Saluna. It won't be easy, but the others will come around. Until then, focus on recovering. We need to kill Frieza for what he has done. I promise you, as your mate, I will kill the mother fucking lizard. He's as good as dead." Starr said nothing as she nuzzled her head in to Vegeta's chest.
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"How did this fucking happen?!" Frieza shrieked, his terrifying energy sending powerful waves through the room. "How the fuck did the stupid monkey break her free of your mind control! You told me you had her completely under! Explain this now!" Frieza scream out in anger.
"L-Lord Frieza, I-I-I don't know," Shavon stammered. "I-It doesn't make any sense. I-I had her mind completely under my control."
"Clearly that was not the case!" Frieza snarled. "Find a way to fix it! I cannot allow the two of them to team back up against me!" Frieza screamed out again and raised his pointed finger. With no warning, the tyrant sent an energy beam through the heart of an unsuspecting worker. The unfortunate soul crumpled to floor.
"Consider that a warning," Frieza said threateningly, spinning towards the door with his tail flickering in agitation behind him. "and clean that trash off my floor before it stains something." Shavon released the breath she'd been holding as the door closed signaling Frieza's departure. She shakily took in a breath as she tried to steady her shaking hands.
"How did he do it?" Shavon said out load. "How did Vegeta break my hold? I have to get her back, or else Frieza is going to kill me!" Shavon shook her head, and quickly walked out of the room. She had work to do, and very little time to do it. Failure meant losing her life, and that simply wasn't an option.
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Starr sighed nervously as she stood on the balcony of the bedroom. For the last week she had been refusing to leave the room , and she also refused to see anyone other than Vegeta. While the Prince was being unusually understanding of Starr's situation, she knew he was growing impatient with her hesitation to leave the room. She was doing a solid job of keeping him out of her mind, which only added to his frustration. Starr sighed again as she surveyed the garden below her.
"Baby steps," she muttered to herself. The girl took a break and jump off the balcony, landing on the soft path below. Starr looked in both directions and, once she was satisfied she was alone, she began to jog. She was getting lost in her own head after jogging for a while and didn't see the blonde round the corner in front of her. Starr skidded to a halt a mere five feet in front of her. Charm looked up, suddenly realizing who was there, and her face darkened considerably. The Saiyan look at the Earthing with an unease, not knowing how the blonde would act towards her. Charm turned and began walking towards the Saiyan. Starr stood her ground and didn't bother to block or duck as the Earthling threw a hard punch at her face. Starr's head snapped to the side, and a thin line of blonde drew from the corner of her mouth. The Saiyan slowly turned her face back towards the blonde, emotionless onyx eyes staring in to furious blue ones.
"How could you fucking do it?" Charm snarled. "How could you kill them?! Squall… Seifer… my brother…." Starr stood there saying nothing, which only fueled Charm's anger more.
"You're not going to say anything?" the blonde growled as another person joined the commotion.
"Charm, stop!" Goku said, putting him in between the girls. "This isn't helping anything!"
"I don't care, Goku! And how can you defend her? How the hell can you forgive the person who almost killed your son!"
"I didn't say I forgave her, and who knows if I'll ever be able to," Goku snapped back, "but this, right now, isn't helping anything!" Goku's words hit Starr in the gut like a ton of bricks. She had known the recovery road wouldn't be easy, but actually hearing that her mentor speak the words cut deep. She pushed up off the ground before any could stop her, and she hurtled herself through the sky towards the one person who didn't hate her. Starr landed on the grass in front of the gravity chamber, and the door opened as she approached. Vegeta stood in the doorway, arms crossed, slightly surprised that he had sensed his mate out of their room.
"What is it?" Vegeta growled.
"I need to punch something," Starr snapped, angrily walking towards the older Saiyan. Vegeta stepped aside and allowed her access.
"Yes, you clearly do." The Prince closed the door, sealing the two Saiyans in the room together.
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As always, please tell me what you think! I've already started on the next installment, so I'm hoping to have that out soon!