AN: Readers be warned. This chapter contains scenes of a VERY adult nature involving a heavily pregnant mermaid. If you're not into that kinda stuffs… avert your eyes, I guess. Otherwise: enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball Z, Super or GT or any of the associated characters that appear in this fanfic. I do however own the Merpeople (except Marron).

Chapter 20 (The Seal of Fate)

For the second time in as many tides, Ray found himself floating before an impassive ring of stoic, judgemental faces. This time however, his outlook was not nearly as hopeful. But somehow he found himself just as, if not more determined than ever before.

The council stared him down, with eyes that managed to be stern and yet dead at the same time. A deafening silence echoed in the amphitheatre-like room, all thoughts and expression locked up tight in acknowledgement of the shitstorm that was about to be unleashed.

A pregnant pause; then High-Councilman Jahto spoke.

'Lieutenant Naga. You have returned.'

Ray stayed silent in answer.

'Not with the Princess, mind you, but instead with fanciful stories. Stories of surface-dwellers with extraordinary abilities. Of beasts of legend… Imoogis and Selachimorphians and Megeladons. You come bearing tales or heirs and prophecies fulfilled and imaginary threats from non-existing beings… and with these stories you try and lead our people into revolt and rebellion against their rightful rulers: Against their Queen!'

'I have spoken nothing untrue. Lapis-'

Captain Silvertail is just as bewitched as you are. Her abilities have been compromised.'

'Then get another Truth-seer.'

'There are none to be found in this Queendom. Captain Silvertail's successor is not yet fully trained.'

'Convenient.' Ray remarked, failing to completely disguise his sarcasm. Jahto's eyes narrowed as he stared down Ray.

'Where is General Bulma.' he asked.

'I've told you before. She is on the surface.'

'And say we believe you in this. Say you really found her, Why did she not return with you? That was what you were tasked with doing, was it not?'

'She cannot return yet. She is with child.'

'A landweller's child!' Jahto spat.

'An abomination.' someone else in the council said and murmurs of concurrences echoed through the hall.

'An Heir to both Land and Sea!' Ray exclaimed.

'Pah! Ridiculous. If your tales are to be believed the sire of this so-called heir is not even from this planet. You want us to accept some hybrid, whom we do not even know could survive in the ocean, as our sacred heir? You, Lieutenant, have lost your mind!'

Ray looked up toward the Queen. Her face, like that of many around her, remained stoic, but Ray could spy the subtle clenching her of her fists on the armrests of her dais.

'It is not the first time that the heir to the throne returned carrying a surface-dweller's child.'

'And look how well that worked out for the Royal bloodline. It cannot be allowed to be dirtied in such a manner again.' Jahto declared and Ray noted a few heads behind him nodding in agreement.

'The curse of Queen Aquelle must be broken the same way it was wrought. A mermaid and a surface-dweller divided the realms of earth. A prince and a Princess caused the rift. So too will it be undone.'

'Pah!'

Ray wasn't surprised at his audience's intransigence. Bulma had warned him of the consequences of this course. This is why he chose to remain under the sonar during his campaign. The story of their adventure had spread far and wide across the Queendom, told in seedy taverns and during covert conclaves.. The people believed easily because of Bulma's popularity. The truth of their stories helped along by the Council's own zelous search of Bulma all those tides back. A campaign that was aimed at destabilizing the power of the Council. It had been progressing swimmingly. Ray was speaking at a secret gathering, one of the many he had been doing since his return, when he was arrested for sedition. It was too late, however. The seed had already been planted. The Queendom was astir and everyone knew that the heir would soon be born. Fortunately Lapis was still in the current somewhere, continuing the work. She might even be able to return to Bulma to deliver the report that he had been unable to send, due to unexpected imprisonment. Until then however, Ray's own work was not yet done. He took a deep breath, and spoke.

'When stars decide to touch the sea.

The strongest one must then chosen be.

Blue is hailed to merge with black.

The barren trident she brings back

The One who slumbers again must stir

For the royal challenge to occur

In battle, Grand: the victory –

Unites all of land and sea.

A golden crown he will wear –

The brown-tailed one with lilac hair.

Heir to both land and sea'

'We know very well, the words of our prophecy, Lieutenant.' Jahto stated, but Ray heard the tremor in his tone. That niggling of doubt that he tried oh so hard to conceal. Ray smiled.

'Good. Councilman' Ray affirmed. Then let his eyes dwell around the cavernous room. 'Then let me proceed to tell you how your Warrior Princess, an Arowanian by both birth and by the mark of the three shaded tail, and the leader of your armies whose battle prowess and strategy knows no equal, proceeded to fulfill that prophecy.'

So he did, baring no interruption. And when they tried to drown him out with denials he used his superior telepathic strength to broadcast his voice over all their disputes until his message was heard by all present in that room and by those beyond their walls. This was what his princess tasked him with. He would not fail her.

'Where is your proof?' The voice was not Jahto's, but softer, higher pitched. It wasn't filled with disbelief, but rather hope. It belonged to the Queen. Her eyes were as soft as her voice, imploring.

'He has none.' Jahto sneered disparagingly.

'You ask me where my proof is, your Majesty? I ask you, I ask all of you, who claims to be true believers: Where is Your Faith?'

The room went silent again, as everyone seemed to process his reply.

'Put him back in his cell.' High Councilman Jahto said, his tone bitter with lingering defeat.

Three days. It had been three Neptune-damned days since Vegeta's return from his trip to Mount Paozu, and Bulma hadn't seen hide nor hair of him since. What use was having him back when he stays holed up in that Gravity room day and night. To say Bulma was exasperated was and understatement. She had needs, damn it! She didn't think he was training either, because every time she checked she either didn't see him, meaning he was below deck in the living area, and when she did spot him, the Saiyan was doing his level best to impersonate a Buddah statue on the floor of the training area. It was extremely frustrating, and enough was enough, she decided, and started a determined march towards the labs.

Once in her office, Bulma wasted no time logging into the Gravity Chamber's communication system and found herself staring at an image of a meditating Vegeta.

"What do you think you're doing?" she asked testily and saw his brow twitch. He opened one eye to stare haughtily at her image projected on the wall.

"What does it look like I'm doing, Woman?" he answered, his own tone also confrontational.

"It looks like you're avoiding me. What I want to know it, why?"

"You're awfully full of yourself to think this is about you."

"Well, who else would I be full of, Vegeta? It's not like you're exactly available from all the way down there." Bulma huffed and smiled gleefully as he sputtered his indignation as the full meaning of her innuendo hit.

"You… you vulgar woman." he exclaimed, and Bulma laughed saucily.

"I seem to recall that you rather enjoyed my vulgarity once upon a time. Enjoyed it thoroughly, over and over again."

Vegeta stared at her stupidly for a moment and even with the red lighting in the chamber she could make out the darkening on his cheekbones.

"Tell you what, Vegeta. Why don't come sleep up in the house tonight."

"But… you.. the babe-

"You know I don't like to be denied, Vegeta." she interrupted sternly.

His gaze locked with hers. Even through the computer screen, his eyes still seemed to bare the wealth of his emotions. She watched his internal struggle play off in that expressive depths and saw the moment he succumbed to her. He nodded stiffly and Bulma couldn't contain her triumphant grin. "Now leave me be, Woman." he scolded, "I'm… training"

Vegeta stared angrily at the ceiling that evening, cursing himself for his fondness when it came to that damned woman. He should be training. And therein lies the problem, for if he were actually training his easy acquiescence to his woman's summons would not really have bothered him as much. And yet, Vegeta was finding it really difficult to work up the motivation to continue, especially considering the advice that he managed to solicit from Kakarot with his fists. It was as he suspected, the key to becoming the legendary lay not in base strength, but in emotional vulnerability. Only when he sacrificed all his defenses, all his Control, would the power be released. Of all things, it just had to be something so diametrically opposed to his nature. He would need to willingly pursue something he considered a weakness and Vegeta was having a really hard time wrapping his head around that and was desperately looking for alternative options.

He was distracted from his musings by the sound of his door opening and the padding of her bare feet on his carpeted floor. He didn't look at her, still a bit resentful of her influence over him, but listened as she paused by his bedside for a moment then felt the bed shift as she climbed on. His resolve to ignore her only lasted as long as it took her slip his shorts down his waist, and he felt her warm breath fan over his semi-erect member. When he finally glanced downward, the sight he was greeted with had all his blood rushing south turning his erection from semi to painful in a heartbeat.

On her knees, between his legs with a night garment so sheer it left absolute jack shit to his imagination, she crouched seductively. Her breasts were too large for the nightgown, and spilled shamelessly from the useless scraps of fabric cupping them, her darkened nipples grazed his thighs and the round swells of her luscious ass waved tantalizingly in air was, completely bared by the nightgown pooled around her rounded belly. The sight of her swollen belly gave him pause, uneasiness dampening his excitement and causing him to question the wisdom of this idea, but her mouth, gods damn it, how the fuck was he supposed to think straight when his cock was in her mouth. Still, he found his concern for the babe's well-being gave him willpower enough to try:

"Woman, I don't think this is a good ide- Ah fuck!" he faltered as he felt her throat contracting around him. His hands buried itself into her curls of their own volition, pushing them out of the way so he could watch her work him, taking all of him until he hit the back of her throat and sucking hard on the upstroke. His hips to jerked helplessly at the sensation. She did it again, and again and his ability to reason vanished into thin air.

"You were saying, Vegeta?" she asked cheekily, when she came up for a breath, her tongue swirling teasingly around his head, paying special attention to the sensitive underside.

"Minx," he said through gritted teeth, fist tightening in her hair "I forgot about that little trick of yours." She was about to continue when he jerked on her hair, hindering her.

"Nng, Vegeta!" she scolded breathlessly. He wasn't swayed however, his mental faculties reasserting themselves in the absence of her decadent mouth.

"Woman, the babe... Is this safe?"

"It's safe as long as it's comfortable for me" she quickly reassured. "I've read lots of books on it." He relaxed his grip, and she went right for his shaft again, setting a relentless and punishing pace, that had his spine tingling with an impending climax barely a minute in. Her arousal scented the air, the smell drugging his already overstimulated senses and causing his mouth to water.

"Turn around." he ordered, hoarsely. She ignored him and he tightened his grip on her hair again.

"Bulma, turn around." he ordered again, more assertively and helped her position herself to straddle his shoulders, the source of her intoxicating scent hovering just over his head. He wasted no time, and dove right in, groaning as her taste hit his tongue. Bulma arched upward and mewled in pleasure, hips gyrating as she rode his face. He felt her attempt to lean forward to resume her own earlier activity, but her belly was a frustrating obstruction.

"Vegeta!" she whined, "I can't reach."

"I don't care. It's my turn," he answered, his voice muffled.

"Vegeta!" she scolded, but her frustration was soon forgotten as he increased the intensity of his assault. Spurred on by her litany vocal and sometimes telepathic encouragement, Vegeta took her right to the edge, then sucked hard on the little bundle of nerves at the top of her sex. She screamed his name as she came, and he felt her nails dig into the top of his thighs as she convulsed on top of him. He continued lapping at her, working her through the last of her spasms until she collapsed beside him in a boneless heap.

"Give me a minute to find my brain" she panted after a moment, "And we'll take care of this." she said, gripping his still engorged erection.

"Woman -" he started hesitantly, but before he could protest she was up and over him, gliding her heat all over him. He cursed, and gripped her hips before the insatiable wench injured herself. He rolled her onto her back, mindful of her delicate state.

"Now Vegeta," she moaned, "Oh Neptune Vegeta, I can't wait."

He cursed again, but as usual couldn't find the will to deny her. He entered her slowly, hissing at the wet heat gripping him. She was tighter than he remembered her to be, and still spasmed around him in sporadic bursts. Once seated to the hilt, he couldn't help the groan that escaped him as something inside him quietly clicked into place at their intimate joining. He felt, in a word, complete. It was exhilarating and unnerving all at once. He took a moment to appreciate the view. From their position he could see all of her, just slightly obscured by her nightgown. Now, that simply will not do, he decided. Letting her thighs, rest over his, Vegeta made quick work of relieving her of the garment, baring her completely to him. He stared hungrily at her full breasts, nipples thick and darkened by the pregnancy, and trailed his eyes downwards over her rounded belly, the sight of it caused the primal part of him to rear up and roar with satisfaction at seeing her so thoroughly and obviously claimed. Seeing his seed growing healthy and strong in her belly. His mate. His son. He started moving with deep sure strokes, listening to her cues as she cried out her pleasure. Time lost meaning and the world disappeared around them as their pleasure built and he reveled in it. He could feel the telltale tightening at the base of his spine, signalling his impending orgasm, but held off. Needing her completion first. Her moans had become intelligible sounds of ecstasy, so he delved into her mind to gauge her readiness. Their combined pleasure had him thickening in an instant, almost ready to explode, and he bit his lip in an attempt to stave off the urge. He lifted her legs over his shoulder, shifted his position until he felt, though their mental link, himself grazing that sensitive little spot deep inside her. She went wild, bucking and tearing at the sheets and he struggled to steady her. He gritted his teeth as he rode her on that knife's edge, grunting with increasing effort as the volume of her cries crescendoed. Their combined orgasms was a tsunami of sensation, flooding his every sense with rapture, momentarily blinding him and he crowed, actually fucking chest-rumbling-roared his release, and fell into oblivion.

When he regained his sensibility, she was tucked into the crook of his arm, her heavy belly resting halfway over his stomach. He looked her over, still a bit shell-shocked after experiencing her orgasm the way he did. Their eyes met, hers blinking in tired satisfaction. He wanted to ask her what the hell just happened, but found that words weren't possible in his current state, so he did what he'd been craving to do ever since she entered his room after he landed back on earth. He kissed her. She tasted as he remembered, just more… potent. Everything about her was more potent. His Saiyan genetics made him sensitive to the changes in her hormonal state, and he could easily pick up on the increased amount of pheromones raging through her body.

"I'm happy that you linked with me the way you did, right at the end." she said, as their lips parted. "It's the way of my people, I'm told."

"Hmm" he grunted. His one hand went to play absently with her curly hair. The texture was almost completely different to what her silky strands used to feel like. His short nails grazed her scalped and she sighed in pleasure, relaxing into him.

"You never came to dinner that evening." she continued, and he heard the petulance in her voice. "My friends were very disappointed. They wanted to meet you."

His hand paused. "Friends?" he asked, his brow furrowing.

"Don't tell me you haven't noticed two odd colored humanoids running around the compound."

"I really didn't notice much of anything, given that I was… otherwise occupied."

"Don't remind me" she said with a hint of bitterness. He rolled his eyes, exasperated. She sighed.

"Well, a lot has happened since you left… besides the obvious." she stated, indicating her belly. "Some of my comrades from my home had managed to track me down, if you can believe that" she continued, and he tensed, an uneasy feeling worming its way into his gut.

"Also, Dr Brief finished his telepathy converter that he was working on."

Vegeta felt the uneasiness grow as she informed him of the events that occurred in the last few months. From her intentions to reform her people's government, her ideas to integrate the two societies and all of the technological advances she was planning to introduce to her people.

"We're planning on building an underwater base, just off the coast of West City."

"And you expect the Council to just fall in line?" he questioned, "From everything that you told me about them, it's highly unlikely that they would ever quietly except all of your fantastical revolutionary ideas."

"Of course not, but as I explained, I've got a plan to deal with that as well."

"Your plans are pointless if you don't have a solid base of power with which to back them up."

"Whose side are you on anyway?" she complained.

"Bulma, destabilizing a civilization is something I have endless experience with. It's a necessary skill in the Planet Trade Organization, especially if you were part of the first purge squad."

"You seriously can't compare what you did with-

"I can, and I am." he interrupted. "A Council of Elders is notoriously difficult to oust without exterminating the lot of them. Their influences are often extensive. They use religious zealotry and the gullibility of the people to keep a tight reign over their power. In most cases, using this zealotry as an excuse to commit heinous acts under the guise of it being the will of some deity. Meanwhile, all they do is solidify their own power by eliminating their enemies and spreading fear and superstition among the people. Under such a Council, executions for heresy are par for the course"

"My plan makes sense then. I will become their prophesied one, they will not be able to deny me and save face."

Vegeta's chuckled darkly at her naivety. "Tell me, Woman. Have you ever read the religious text called 'The Bible'? They will paint you as a false prophet and deny your birthright at every turn."

"Well what do you expect me to do?" she yelled, irritably. Vegeta sighed.

"Do you really want to pursue this course? Return to a people that could reject you as easily as they love you?" She paused, and Vegeta watched the worry flit over her brow before it forked downwards into a determined expression he was intimately familiar with. She belonged to another world, the realisation causing something inside him to crack. And they belonged to her. Vegeta discerned that he really had no recourse but to support her in her quest, for his woman, despite her seemingly fragile state was a true warrior and nothing but death would keep her from achieving her goals. The crushing pressure settling on his chest was almost crippling as he contemplated a future without her. He would not lose her, he determined, and if he had to share her then so be it.

"I can no longer give him a throne," he stated finally, resting his hand on her swollen belly. "But you can… I will assist you. After the androids"

"After the androids" she agreed, laying her hand over his. A covenant. A pact to survive and triumph over the fate that lay before them, and in that moment, their son decided to move and he could feel the outline of a little hand pressing up against his palm to seal the contract made between the three of them that night.

AN: I tried guys. I really did try to censor some of this smut*insert angel emoji here* , but well… I failed. I have a very hard time trying to curb my artistic expression, when I do the words just come out all wrong and feel forced. So you'll just have to accept this as is… carte blanche.

Also, sorry the chapter's so short… and late. I'm a newly minted Missus now, so I didn't really have time between getting married and the honeymoon to do much fanfiction stuffs (;D)

Anyhew. Until next time..