36
"I can't believe I'm back here again." The Saiyan Prince scowled, flicking his bow up and down to give him something to do. Nappa pulled at his armor, shifting it to a more comfortable place with the added weight of the golden shoulder guards, a sad, wistful smile on his mustached face, "Yeah… it's been twelve years to the day since your father, my King, died."
Bardock, dressed in his black armor now with green shoulder guards, slapped his friend's arm, scolding him, "Our Little Prince has enough on his mind right now. This was not the time to tell him that." "I needed to know." Vegeta barked as Raditz joined their little group, dressed in black with black armor with brown accents and shoulder guards. The tall Saiyan with long, shaggy black hair crossed his arms, grunting, "It's time, my Prince."
Slowly walking out of the Training Center as war drums began to sound, Vegeta slid his impassive mask with his patented scowl in place as he emerged into the late afternoon sun. Flanked by Nappa on his right, Bardock on his left, and Raditz behind him; forming a diamond, the teen kept his gaze straight ahead. The same stands that were normally packed with enthusiastic Capitalists, were now packed to the brim with everyone from the Capital and Revolutionaries from every Region.
Behind the drums stood four men deep lines of a hundred warriors hailing from every Region. As Paragus walked out onto the balcony that Freeza always stood on, the warriors began to fall into formation behind the Lost Prince and his guards. Stationed on the perimeter of the circular plaza were twenty-six guards, two from each Region and they were all dressed in black. Vegeta's guards stayed back with the line of other guards, the warriors staying behind the line as the Saiyan Prince continued on; his pace never slowing or missing a beat.
Standing in a semi-circle with plenty of space for Vegeta to pass through, were the remaining Winners. Vegeta vaguely noted their placement, with the five Winners from Regions 2 and 4 on his right while the six Winners from Regions 3,7, and 12 were on his left. But the teen kept his eyes locked onto the platinum-haired man in the purple and silver pinstriped suit, who was tied to a concrete poll and somehow he still managed to have a smug grin on his purple lips.
Broly and Kale were glaring at the bound man; the tall Saiyan male wearing nothing but a short-sleeve scarlet shirt with white pants while his Region partner was dressed in a scarlet coat with black pants. Beside them stood Goku, dressed in a navy shirt under an orange vest paired with orange pants held up by a navy sash; holding hands with his Mate who had on a purple dress with an orange kerchief tied over her shoulders. While Gine looked nearly identical to her Mate, except her armor had no shoulder guards and teal accents instead of green.
Tienshinhan held Chiaotzu and both wore green jackets with a white circle holding a strange black emblem over their hearts. His black jacket standing out next to them just as much as his denim jeans, the raven-haired Seventeen clenched his fists as his icy blue eyes glared a hole into Freeze's skull. Eighteen wasn't much better with a blue mini-skirt over black tights and a tight black shirt, the only thing she had on to combat the chilly air was a sleeveless, crop-top denim jacket with a red ribbon embroidered on a pocket just like her brother.
Sparing a quick glance, Vegeta saw that Piccolo was dressed like Nail except with purple pants instead of white. But what nearly stopped him in his tracks was Bulma. She was in a long crimson dress, fluttering slightly as the wind caught it, with her blue hair down and braided out of her face so everyone could see her clear blue eyes. A shimmering indigo sheer cape attached to her neck and wrists, flowing gracefully to the ground. On the back of her cape was a very faint dark gray outline in the shape of a chatterdee with its wings outstretched.
Inky black eyes met clear blues pools for a second as he passed his blue-haired Mate. Vegeta could feel her worry and confusion because of him not letting her feel him through the Bond. Can't worry about Her right now. Gotta focus on the matters at hand… Sliding his eyes back to his old enemy, the flame-haired Prince finally came to a stop at the very center of the circular plaza as the drums ceased.
Dramatically spreading his arms while clad in dark green pants, a matching dress shirt, and a white jacket, Paragus addressed that crowd, his voice loud and commanding, "Welcome! Today is the first day of the new Ee-arth! Because today, here on the Competitors Boulevard, all of Ee-arth will watch, not simply a mere spectacle but the ushering in of a new era of freedom!"
Paragus lowered his hands, looking down at Vegeta as he spoke, "Today, the greatest warrior of the Revolution will fire the shot to end, not only this war but all wars. May his arrow signal the end of tyranny everywhere and the beginning of a new era. Prince Vegeta, I pray that your aim is as true as your heart is pure." A poorly concealed smile appeared on the one-eyed Saiyan's face as he spread his arms out again after he had finished his speech.
Slowly, methodically, Vegeta set his feet and drew his single arrow from the quiver hanging from his hip. Drawing it back, the teen stared down the shaft at Freeza. Coal-black orbs met bright red ones as Freeza stood tall and defiant, even in the face of certain death. Almost as if he had read Vegeta's mind and already knew his plan.
Flicking his eyes past Freeza, up at the balcony, Vegeta smirked as he quickly raised his bow and fired. Shocked gasps echoed in his ears, an evil grin on his lips as his puppet dropped to his knees and fell from the balcony to the cold stone below. Freeza began to cackle gleefully, blood pooling in his mouth as he started to sing, "Peaceful young people with fire on their houses, Thousands of voices all silenced like mouses, Watching these cowards bow to their new King, These are just a few of my favorite things."
Vegeta reached for the bump he had discovered earlier, easily pushing it through a disguised hole. Pulling the hidden tube out, he flicked it, causing the arrow to extend as his target was singing. Cold, fiery eyes stared into deranged red ones as the bowstring slipped through his fingers a second time. The laughter stopped, the murderer's face went blank as he rasped out, "If I had any regret for the countless, horrific deaths that I've caused, it's that I'm dying…" Then the light left his red eyes as Vegeta watched, a triumphant smirk on his lips as his parents' murderer finally paid for his crimes.
The guards began to rush forward, obviously intent on arresting the black, flame-haired teen. Vegeta turned to face his fate, bow at his side when Bulma was suddenly pushed into his arms. "What?" He grunted as he saw the Winners staring down the guards, all posed and ready to fight. Even Chiaotzu was on her feet to protect him. Piccolo snapped back from his place beside Nappa, "If you think we were just going to let them take you, then you're a bigger idiot than I thought, boy."
Slowly, everyone not from Region 13 began to turn and force them back; away from Vegeta. Why… 'Because you're their… …Prince. They chose… …to follow you… Not him.' "Ahem." Vegeta glanced over his shoulder to find that Shenron had been the one to sneak up on him. The former Game Master, still in his emerald jacket over a tan shirt, motioned with his head, "Come with me, Prince." Not waiting to see if the stubborn Saiyan was following him, Shenron made his way to open door near Paragus's body.
"Vegeta, no," Bulma begged, clutching the edges of his armor. Pulling his blue-haired Mate tightly against him, murmuring into her silky hair, "I have too. I love you, Bulma. I always have and I always will. Watch over this for me." He passed his weapon to her before drawing her into a heated kiss.
Opening himself to the Bond again, Vegeta poured all of his love and desire out for his Mate to feel. Reluctantly breaking the kiss, forcing back a whine, the Prince pulled out his deathberry pill and pressed it into her soft hand, In case anything happens… 'Nothing's gonna happen…' But in case it does… 'It won't…' Then hold onto it anyway. Once he was sure Bulma wouldn't argue with him anymore, Vegeta turned and followed after the strange man.
