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Vegeta walked his blue-haired Mate back to their room, neither speaking as he tried to understand what had just happened. "Why me?" His deep, gravelly voice rasped as they reached their destination. Opening the door, Bulma took the flame-haired teen's hand and dragging him inside, "Because we all thought you're the best one for the job. Everyone has either seen what you can do firsthand or has heard about your exploits from them."
Chuckling lightly as she poured him a glass of water, Bulma added, "Besides, you know as well as I do that you weren't about to bow down to anyone else and having the country divided kinda defeats the purpose for the war we just fought." Gratefully accepting the glass, Vegeta grunted, "But that still doesn't explain why I'm not locked up in a cell somewhere for killing Scar-Face." "Maybe because of the crowds?" She suggested as she slid into a chair opposite him.
"Maybe…" Vegeta mused, "but unlikely. That Dragon's whole plan might've been to make me President from the beginning." Almost as if he's granting me a wish… "Why would he do that?" Bulma wondered, obvious confusion etched onto her pale face. Smirking at the rare sight, he shook his head, "Dragon's been on our side the whole time. Remember the pocket watch he had at the Winner's Ball? It had the Royal Crest hidden on it. And he has backed my every move and decision, even before I defeated Scar-Face in one-on-one combat."
Slowly shaking her head, the blue-haired teen said, "But that just doesn't make any sense…" "Oh, but it does." The Prince rumbled, "Dragon's a kingmaker. Most likely, he always has been. That strange serpent has been orchestrating this specific outcome since he became Game Master." Glancing at the clock resting on the massive dresser, Vegeta rose to his feet, "It's late and you should rest, Woman."
Bulma stood with him, starting to protest when he pounced; sweeping her into a passionate kiss. Whining as he broke away from her sweet lips, Vegeta rested his forehead against her's and whispered into the air between them, "Even being this close is too dangerous, Bulma. One more night… One more night…" I can survive one more night… "One. And don't you even think about flaking on me tomorrow night." Clear blue eyes glared up into inky black orbs, trying to convey her love and frustration to the stubborn Saiyan. "As if I ever could, Woman." Vegeta chuckled, a deep, rumbling noise from his chest that warmed her heart as he pulled away. Good night, my Mate. 'Good night, Veggie…'
This couch is even more uncomfortable than last night. The black, flame-haired teen griped to himself as he tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable and failing. Eventually, in the wee hours of the morning, Vegeta found the sleep that had been eluding him all night.
Vegeta stood beside his Father, who was seated on a white marble throne. Behind them hung a three hundred-foot crimson tapestry bearing the Royal Crest in gold thread. To the left of his Father's throne was a smaller one, carved out of ash wood, where the ever graceful Karin sat. On his Father's right were two empty thrones, the larger one next to the King was carved from a single juniper tree while the smaller one was made from the wood of an acacia tree.
Noticing that he was in his ceremonial armor, the young Prince was about to ask what was going on until he saw the crowd that was packed into the throne room. At the very front sat a curly, blond-haired woman in an aquamarine dress dabbing at her eyes to keep her tears from making her makeup run. Suddenly, the great doors opened and Vegeta struggled to remember how to breathe.
With her blue hair standing out against her white dress, Bulma and her father made their way towards the royal family. Our Pre-Mating Ceremony? Vegeta gasped at the demur smile gracing his Mate's strawberry lips. When they finally reached the steps, he quickly went to take Bulma from her father and led her up the steps to stand before the King.
King Vegeta rose when the soon-to-be Mates were in position, his deep voice booming throughout the large room, "We are gathered here to witness my son, Vegeta the Third, along with his Chosen, Bulma Briefs, make their Declarations." Gently holding her soft hands, Vegeta stared into Bulma's clear blue eyes as he Declared, "I, Vegeta, Prince of all Saiyans; take you, Bulma Briefs, to be my Mate. Now and forever, protecting you, providing for you and our offspring. I promise you, Woman; there will never be another Queen at my side for as long as I live." Bulma bravely held those emotional, inky black pools as she Declared, "I, Bulma Briefs, take you, Vegeta, Prince of all Saiyans; to be my Mate. Now and forever, nursing your wounds, tending to you and the offspring you will give me. And I promise to rule with honor until your heir is of age, should you fall while protecting your family."
With that, the pair turned to face the crowd and raised their interlaced right and left hands up before thumping a fist over their hearts and raising it above their head, spreading their fingers out in the Saiyan Salute as they promised themselves and their family to their people. "Kneel, Prince Vegeta." His Father ordered, rising from his throne once more. Turning to face his King, Vegeta let go of his Mate's hand and eloquently dropped to one knee; his onyx eyes staring up at his Father.
Kneeling before his son, King Vegeta lifted his turquoise pendant and placed it around Vegeta's neck. A small smile graced the King's face as he announced, "Arise, Vegeta, King of All Saiyans." Slowly, gracefully, the younger Vegeta stood and faced the crowds once more. The entire hall erupted into cheers and shouts of 'A'oo! A'oo! A'oo!'
A wide grin appeared on his sharp, angler face as he slept. Until he rolled off the couch. "Oomph!" Vegeta scowled, having just woken himself up from a very pleasant dream. "Another nightmare, 'Gete's?" A bubbly voice suddenly asked. Glaring up at the lower-class, spiky-haired Saiyan, the Prince's scowl deepened, "What are you doing here, Kakarot?" Goku plopped down onto the couch across from Vegeta, his ever-present grin in place as he shrugged, "Bulma asked me to make sure you were awake. Your conference thingy starts in like, two hours."
"Noted," Vegeta grunted as he sat down on the couch he's called bed the past two nights. Suddenly Goku's cheeks turned red, quickly looking away as he mumbled, "Umm, 'Gete's? What kinda dream were you having?" Glancing down, the flame-haired teen came to despise the fact that his battle suit was spandex, opting to answer his friend's question before thinking of unpleasant things to get this embarrassment to disappear, "Mine and the Woman's Pre-Mating Ceremony. My parents were there and my Father crowned me King of All Saiyans." "So that's why you were smiling." The other Saiyan exclaimed, adding, "You should do it more often. Makes you seem less mad."
All he got was a non-committal grunt from Vegeta, who was more focused on ridding himself of his 'issue.' Desperate to focus on anything else but the Woman his mind kept drifting back to, Vegeta wondered, "What happened at that meeting last night? What was discussed before I arrived?" Shrugging, Goku rubbed the back of his neck, "Shenron said not to tell you…" A sharp warning growl escaped the Prince, overriding any order the other Saiyan teen had received. "Ok, fine. But you can't tell Cheech I told you, she might not let me mate with her for who knows how long." "Get on with it, Kakarot!"
Shaking his head, Goku sighed, "We talked about what to do to you for killing Paragus. Only no one wanted to do anything. Then someone, the pirate guy I think, suggested that we let the new President decide and that brought up the fact that with Paragus dead, we had no one to act as President. That's when Bulma suggested you and everybody agreed." "They do realize that they elected a murderer, right?" Vegeta scoffed, crossing his arms over his muscular chest as he glared at a bookshelf off to the side.
A light chuckle brought the Saiyan Prince's attention back, "Yeah, but we understood the reasons behind them. The girl from your first Game was to end her suffering, the same with Zarbon. Goz died because of your reflexes but you told Kale to run. And I mean; yeah, you killed during the war but which of us didn't? Freezer was a tyrant and got what he deserved. Turns out Paragus was no better, Tien and Chiaotzu made sure we knew that."
"That still doesn't explain why they chose me?" Vegeta mumbled quietly. "I don't know 'bout anyone else, 'Gete's." Goku grinned as he stood up, "But you're the best one for the job in my opinion. Plus, who better to make sure mine and Chi-Chi's kids don't grow up like we did then my Best Buddy?" With that said, the spiky-haired Saiyan left his Prince to think on what they had talked about. Wait a second! Vegeta's coal-black eyes snapped up, Kakarot's Mate is pregnant already?!
An hour later, with his body finally back under control, the flame-haired Prince scowled at the Game Master, "It's about time you showed up, Dragon. Start talking." Sighing as he lowered himself onto the couch opposite the stubborn Saiyan, Shenron began explaining, "At the press conference no one will get to ask questions simply because this is not up for debate right now. In a few years, we can hold a true election once Ee-arth is back on its feet. Pretty much all you'll have to do, Prince Vegeta, is follow Kai's lead and swear to protect all citizens of Ee-arth equally. Think you can do that?"
"Of course I can!" The teen snapped, adding, "I want to be crowned King of All Saiyans. Freeza is dead, so now is the time for me to claim my Father's title." Shenron chuckled lightly at the young Prince's outburst, "As if I expected anything else. Selypa made sure that the Saiyan Royal Crowns were safely hidden away after your last Parade. Your guardian has already made all the arrangements necessary for your Coronation since his family was the Royal Vizier back in Vegeta-sai." Vegeta nodded sharply, "Good. Now leave, I've got to get ready." "As you wish, Prince Vegeta."
