A/N: I am so, so sorry for the wait between chapters! I had so many ideas I wanted to do, and putting this chapter together was like a big, confusing puzzle for awhile there. I have finally been able to make sense of it, and now present you with my newest addition! I hope you all enjoy it.
Update: There is new character art of Grenada being made as we speak (Nov. 2nd) Check my Twitter or Deviant Art for updates. I am now also making an author Tumblr as well where art and samples of unreleased chapters may be posted. (@dark.indigo.roses)
Also, did you see my new work, Lunch For Three? If you love Raditz/Launch romance, come check it out. Vegeta/Bulma, Chi-Chi/Goku, Krillin/18 and even Bardock and Gine will all star in it! This story is based in the modern era, and is a Roomates/Strippers AU. It will become more M rated as time goes on.
Warning! : Highly graphic bloody content here, and depictions of murder.
"Are you not the same man I fought before?" Vegeta questioned, crossing his arms as he eyed the dull green eyed man across from him, where the resurrected Gemini known as Grenada stood, yet not quite as animated as he was before.
Grenada lifted his head of agent orange spiky locks, which jutted out wildly all over the place, save for his brow, where a third eye stared out lifelessly.
"I am he. The same that fought Vegeta.. hmhm." Grenada grunted, and formed his hands into fists.
"You ran and hid from me, then barricaded yourselves in an invisible sanctuary. I was angry, because I had just achieved the false form for the first time," Vegeta said evenly, with a tone that was almost gentle; minus the bite of his jaw snapping with his desire to fight.
"Then, I am to assume you died, and now you've returned to fight once again. You are nothing but a pawn, a weapon, just as your master has said. What purpose do you have besides to fight?" Vegeta spat.
"Yes. Hm... You are correct in many ways. Mhm. Although, my Master is not so unkind to me. Hmhm...He may have burnt me, but the flame..mm..it never failed me." Grenada grinned back at Vegeta, flexing one hand, from which green flames blazed from his fingertips. He hissed, feeling the pain of his new skin burning as his energy rushed out around him.
"So very loyal you must be, then. But still, such a fool, for if I had such ability, I would never allow anyone to reign over me!"
Vegeta shouted, and did the same, pulsing out an an invisible aura streaked with gold flecks of light, bright against the dying eclipse, which was now reminiscent of a bloody black hole in the sky, as Mars and Neptune seemed to have absorbed the sun, and now were attempting to pull them into the sinking void.
Surrounding them, were the remaining Saiyans, that stood off to one side, staring down the possessed Namekian that was Vulcane. Raditz stood on high alert; watching Vulcane for any movement. Nappa protected over Launch, who tended to the wounded, which were many.
"Please, Bdakka, you must stay still for her to help you" Rachanā said softly, as she sat beside him. Currently, Launch was healing the burn scars on Bdakka, who was beginning to struggle under her touch. He snarled, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks as she placed her hand on his sternum, and a golden glow radiated over him.
"Let me go! I have to fight!" He snapped, then the golden sparkle faded, and he sat up, patting his chest experimentally.
"How do you feel?" Launch questioned softly, and the dark, dwarfish saiyan, stout and burly tossed his head of dreaded locks back and laughed heartily.
"I feel twice as powerful! I thank you, Gemini Saiyan." He said, lowered his brow to clutch her hands, and shake them gratefully. Launch gasped, feeling the power he was showing her.
"See? Big difference. See what the General says about my class, now." He said with a mischievous grunt, standing up quickly. Rachanā followed, stumbling a bit weakly.
"What do you mean to do, Bdakka?" She said with a soft whimper, as she leaned against Launch. The Saiyan placed one large hand over her breastplate, and knocked on it twice.
"You know what our people are meant to do, I must fight. We were both burned by the pyromaniac Gemini, and he had the foolish audacity to steal away the purity of my sweet Rachanā, my life mate. He will not go unpunished for his action." He said, caressing the skin of her bronzed shoulders, then kissing her quickly, and taking flight, his stump of a tail bristling from the base of his spine. Rachanā took Launch's hand, smiling weakly.
"Would you be well enough to take me with him...? Once he's gone far enough. He would want me there...we Saiyan women keep their eyes open for our beloved one. She watches him fight until the end. Then she may make her cries." Rachanā said, clutching her hand tightly to express her urgency. Launch's mouth moved soundlessly, and she looked up to Raditz. His face was grim, no longer did he make sadistic jokes, nor tease at the being who looked like the green man.
"I shall take her. Candor, take over for the moment." Zenaya said sharply, and offered her hand to Rachanā. She took her hand, and hefted her weak body over her shoulder. Launch gasped as Candor stepped beside her; almost frightened of the brooding, stern faced male. Then, he nodded down at her.
'I shall protect the offspring of Bardock's son." He said sternly, and Launch understood, her puffed up tail lowering. "Thank you." She responded, and felt Nappa's presence beside her as well, as she watched Raditz facing off with Vulcane.
"..So, you have escaped the paralysis of the Kazanshi sticks. Thanks to your Prince, you're free. As I see it, the time of the Saiyans is ending, and the Era of the Geminis is nigh." Vulcane hissed, pulling back a green lip to bare his pale purple gums.
"But that's one thing you will not have the pleasure of knowing, once my weapon disposes of him, I shall sic Grenada on you, too." He rumbled, then quickly lit up his hands, prepared to blast Raditz where he stands. Raditz glanced to Vegeta, and the two met eyes a moment, and the Prince nodded, then both shot out at different angles; widening the battlefield.
Vulcane hovered, Raditz giving chase, as he looked back and observed the evil malignancy within Piccolo bringing forth a great amount of his power, forming an orb of light in his hands. Raditz's eyes widened, and he whipped around, watching as Vulcane continued to make the orb expand, swirling with flames. He then had a bright idea, and grinned. Then, began to move in a familiar way, two fingers going to his forehead, as he held the other arm out straight; his fingers spread outward as a small bead of energy began to grow there.
I shall do what I must, even if that means I have to do what you would have done in my place.
"Raditz!" A familiar voice suddenly shot out, and Raditz's attention was stolen; eyes widening.
"Don't use the Special Beam Sunday on him!" Piccolo shouted out of the mouth that was working against him; one hand holding his jaw closed, as the other was held over his head, balancing the growing supernova he was about to throw at the small group of Saiyans. Raditz frowned, and knew that he couldn't be swayed by Piccolo's words at that moment, not at the risk of his people being slain. Raditz charged up the blast just as Piccolo had taught him, the Namekian's words of encouragement resonating in his mind.
Raditz recalled the power once again; his entire body swirling with ruby and blue energy. Raditz widened his stance, and growled lowly as the heat of his centermost ki was evoked, and began to ooze through his veins, his black bracer cracking as the energy flooded out like a dam bursting from his center, through his bicep and down his forearm, the vascular muscle bulging outward like the swollen banks of a river until gathering in his hand, making an bright point of ruby light in his splayed open palm.
Raditz let loose the Special Beam Sunday Cannon, which came out in a blindingly red and gold corkscrew of white hot ki, whirling around itself in two tempestuous, twisting fissures. Vulcane turned towards his victims, and lifted up the massive supernova; making Launch clutch tight onto Kannon as their faces lit up orange from the fire, and they cried out in terror. Nappa stepped in front of them, holding onto Onioan's massive blade that was being used as a barricade.
"Come on, everyone! Give it everything you got!" Nappa said, nodding to Launch and Kannon to put their hands there as well.
All the Saiyans placed their hands on it, and made a wall of their shared ki. As the blast was let free, it exploded outwards with a thunderous peal, and the supernova was split. Half hit the barricade, and sent the Saiyans digging their heels into the soil for many feet backward as the heat blasted them all, as the other half struck the bluff side, blasting a large dent in it. Then, a whirring, spinning energy made itself evident, along with a pained scream.
Raditz finished pulsing out the beam, feeling satisfied as he saw that the Saiyans were all safe, and he had not shot Piccolo through the heart like he had done to him. In fact, Vulcane's screaming was due to the fact that his stolen arm was cut off at the forearm, and purple blood was spurting from it, as well as a large gash in his abdomen, where it had carved a clean hole out of his stomach.
"You poor, cretin bastard!" Raditz shouted as he crossed his arms, and tossed his head back, laughing enthusiastically. His tail was wagging maliciously as Vulcane made his long, agonizing moans of despair; all along not knowing that the body he was in was in fact capable of regeneration.
"You'll regret that!" Vulcane rasped, and used his one arm to gesture up to the heavens once again, Raditz looking on with a smug grin.
"Just KILL HIM!" Nappa roared from below, but Raditz didn't glance back. Instead, he made a beckoning motion to Vulcane with one hand, as two shadows darted past.
...
Vegeta cackled, feeling just as invigorated as the Gemini gave chase, the wind at Grenada's back as he blasted backwards from Vegeta, his orange spikes ruffling over three deadened eyes, from which Vegeta could see none of the light of enthusiasm for fighting which he had recognized, and revelled in challenging before.
"Gemini, where is your fire? Isn't that why your creator named you after a deadly projectile, give me some of that fire from before! Come on, just try and mark me!" Vegeta shouted, smiling as he sneered at him, his tail flying out from his back curling almost playfully, as he began to charge up his hands, making small, yet powerful purple energy orbs in his hands, and whipping them at Grenada. The Gemini swiftly dodged them, with a speed that was unworldly; malignant energy swirling around his form as he lifted one hand, and began to make a fist.
Vegeta watched eagerly, his own fists clenched outwards with balls of energy readied to throw, as Grenada allowed his phosphorus fire to burn through his new flesh, his eyes unblinking as his new skin sizzled and melted away with the bleeding of flames from his veins.
"Grenada. Hmh. That's who I am." He murmured, looking down at his own disembodied hand, and turning it as he watched the fat melting from the palm of it. His old body was more accustomed to the flame; this one was new and needed to be broken in. But, he supposed it would do, he didn't intend to stay on the living plane for long. Then, he felt something hot whizzing past him, and glanced over, as Vegeta charged his energy into one hand, then punched him heavily in the gut with the opposite hand, carrying his body up on his fist. Vegeta sent Grenada flying, and pointed two fingers at him, sending a quick beam towards him, which when struck; Grenada screamed, and light exploded outwards from him, sending him hurtling back down to the ground, screaming out in pain.
Grenada regained his wits and blinked blankly; looking up and wondering in his deadened brain what the purpose of this pyrotechnic show was. He was for a moment, dazzled by the bright lights as they whistled, then rapidly began arching down towards him, blasting sand and ocean up into the air. The Gemini glanced around at the light show that Vegeta had made, the lights reflecting off the Saiyan Prince's eyes as they narrowed; observing his prey caught in the trap with an inquisitive gaze.
The Dirty Fireworks flew just inches past Grenada's inert body, and Vegeta understood at last, frowning deeply.
"Grenada, come now, you didn't seem so suicidal in the past!" He called out, capturing his attention by tossing a ki blast at him. The Gemini at last dodged again, and Vegeta felt some relief that maybe his opponent was still capable of fighting.
"You're no fun, if you just play fish in a barrel with me I'll just end up killing you mercilessly, and not feel any satisfaction!" Vegeta spat angrily, tossing shots at him rapidly, watching as the Gemini lifted his hands at last, and batted at them, volleying some back, which Vegeta countered happily. He blew the shots back, sending Grenada flying back a few feet, his arms crossed over his head as steam curled off his bloody arms.
Satisfaction.
Somehow, that word sparked a tiny flame in Grenada, and he tossed the energy volleys away from himself, then a green aura blew out from around him. He formed two black grenades in his hands, others forming one by one in his aura that swirled around him like a flame cloak; his eyes shimmering with life at last, as he recalled his last living desire. That was right, he wanted revenge on the big, bald headed Saiyan, not this one, even though this one was quite the annoyance; he hadn't done anything but beat him in battle, which Grenada could respect. The only other thing which should have bothered him, was that he was a saiyan; but Grenada no longer saw species, or race, in hell nobody had skin, all they were was writhing, bloody bodies making suffering wails of torment; once the flesh was ripped from a man, whether he was a Gemini, or a Saiyan was indistinguishable to him.
Grenada flung the grenades at Vegeta, as he simply blasted through them, laughing as he saw that his opponent was finally reinvigorated by his words. The two flew into the void that was the sky, the Gemini lit up from behind with red light, as they spun into the bloody hole where there once had been a sun, now only the black planets eclipsing it, allowing barely any light to pass through. Vegeta spun around, keeping an eye on his opponent as Grenada pulled back, reforming his artillery.
Vegeta did the same, charging up his hands blue, he began rapidly blasting off ki orbs, Grenada watching, stunned by the lights surrounding him; yet not one of them had hit him. What was this?
"Hmm? Why don't you try to hit me?" He asked, his artillery fading from his hands, as Vegeta continued filling the sky with golden blasts, until satisfied; he panted, and observed Grenada looking around himself curiously.
"If you wanted to hit me, you'd do better than surround me in a mine field. Hmhm. I just won't move, and then-," He began, but was silenced.
Vegeta bellowed, "Die! Kamikaze Grenade!" And fired a final shot into the sky, and sent all the orbs at him, Grenada screaming as he was pelted by red beams, surrounded by smoke. He coughed, then regained his senses, and shot out of the smoke, covered in round welts from head to toe as he aimed to charge at Vegeta.
Vegeta was much too quick though, as he used his head as a battering ram; blasting the other man in the stomach. Grenada coughed hoarsely, and belched up a lump of black and red fluid out into his hands, Vegeta flinching back quickly at the regurgitation of the Gemini's effluence. Grenada spat, and the liquid burned off with his anger, then he charged for Vegeta, viciously punching and kicking with his flaming limbs, not stopping even as they bruised, and crunched against the opposing flesh he was hitting. Vegeta continued backpedaling, taking the two of them away from the battlefield, far away from the others, including the small armoured car Bulma was sitting in.
"Give me all you've got, come on! I can handle it, but it doesn't look like you can!" He shouted nastily, grinning back at the enraged Gemini, who was using the lesser martial arts he had been taught, but Vegeta knew of no such thing, only kicking, punching, dodging, then grabbing his opponent's punching hands, and holding him tight by the wrists.
"Should I restrain you like your Master? Is that what he did with you-" Vegeta spat, ignoring the legs kicking at him, instead, twisting his own around Grenada's in a restraining lock that was inescapable.
He grunted when he was bit on the ear, blood dripping from Grenada's lips, and down his neck as the Gemini growled like a mad animal, ready to devour him. Vegeta stayed perfectly still, then waited until Grenada pulled back to tear his ear off to bash heads with him. Grenada screamed, their heads colliding, making the third eye between them squelch as Vegeta pulled back, not a scratch on his face.
"You're good and vicious, but you have no direction. All you are is an angry madman, and without that eye, you're nothing." Vegeta snapped, then quickly threw Grenada away from him, a thin, red beam shooting from his finger, and accurately piercing it.
"Bang." Vegeta whispered, and the eye was penetrated, and popped out with the heat of the beam cooking it from within, then Vegeta pulverised it with another small pulse of his energy. Grenada cringed in mid air, and froze up with his pain, before quickly dropping from the sky like dead weight. Vegeta watched as he fell, crossing his arms as he simply waited; wondering what effect losing the evil eye would have on the Gemini?
I cannot sit here and play with my prey any longer, not with her.. waiting for me.
Vegeta realized, his eyes rounding as he spun around to see where Bulma was, and confirming that she seemed safe. That was further confirmed, when the horn of the vehicle honked and made a trumpeting melody; Vegeta's cheeks burning with his frustration as he turned back to look down at the bloody speck on the ground.
He will die with no respect, not a warrior's death. Just a pawn, a weapon, no purpose. Only pain.
He felt an energy coming up next to him, and eyed Bdakka from his peripheral. He could feel the sheer heat, and rage radiating off the other Saiyan, and he glanced at him in acknowledgement.
"My Prince," The third class began, his brow, and stump of a tail lowered in shame. Vegeta snapped his head towards him, growling out with annoyance.
"What do you want? Can't you see I'm busy?" He questioned, gesturing down to the ground where Grenada lay.
"I want revenge for how he defiled my mate. I must fight the Gemini." Bdakka said sternly, and Vegeta sniffed sharply at him, then turned away and tilted his head to follow him.
"Stay the fuck out of my blast path if you want to live."
"Thank you." Bdakka said with reverence, tapping his fist on his breastplate.
Vegeta's face became stony with his resolve, and he slowly lowered down vertically, cracking his neck as he did, a torrent of energy coming out around him.
Bdakka paused in mid-air, marvelling at the power emanating from the Super-Elite royal. Then, he blinked; shaking the awestruck feeling away, and quickly followed after him.
Raditz saw that Vegeta had knocked down his opponent from a distance, and grinned as he watched Vulcane slowly pulling power from what seemed to be the air, scabbing over his wounds. Raditz looked down at the wounds and snorted.
"It seems your Celestials aren't quite as generous as they were before. Ready to fight?" He spat, uncrossing his arms, and levitating closer to his opponent. Vulcane stared back from Piccolo's green countenance, and they met eyes, the crimson pools staring back at him, soulless flames.
"Make your move, Saiyan." The Gemini whispered, and Raditz blasted forth in a second, his black mane a flame behind him as he began to beat at the one-armed Namekian mercilessly; the dull thuds on his weakening body resonating with sickening smacks, that seemed to enrage Vulcane with each hit he was too slow to dodge.
"Enough, pest!" He roared, and Raditz was flung back into the other Saiyans as Vulcane roared with his annoyance at the pest who had been knocking him around. A bright yellow flame burst around him for a moment, before dissipating. Vulcane panted, he was growing tired from the back and forth, and he had simply pulled more energy from the Celestials once again, and used it to throw off Raditz. He was tiring, and fast, he realized, but why?
Launch turned her head from where it was resting against Nappa's chest, his hands on the small of her back, and Kannon's as he protected them from the battle going on before them. Nappa growled, he was tired of watching Raditz and Vegeta playing with their enemies, he needed this Eclipse to end already, damnit!
"Kannon, Launch you can either stay back, or come with me. I know now that's your choice, but you girls might get in my way if you interfere. You should know not to get in a Saiyan's blast path. I'm tired of watching this shit, it's time for that bastard to die!" He growled, and they moved back from him, looking out towards the battle, then nodding, noticing Launch's dark indigo hair was violet underneath the bloody cast of the sky, just as her mother's was at that moment.
"Ok, go help Raditz!" Kannon said, encouraging, and kissed his cheek, Launch doing the same.
"Go get em'!" She agreed, and Nappa took flight, the two women clasping hands. Launch watched with curious dark eyes, glancing over to Zenaya, who had returned momentarily, and was now looking up at Candor as he rubbed his shoulder where a massive pink scar was healing.
"You aren't going! You're staying!" She snapped, but Candor wouldn't have it. He stepped forth towards the battle, their tails briefly intertwining, before he silently left her. The Saiyan Elite sighed, crossing her arms as she wagged her tail, eyeing the battle around her and wishing she could join, but she had tasked herself with protecting Launch. She was precious to Nappa, and she carried a half-saiyan baby, so she saw no other way.
"Fight for them, for our people, Raditz, fight for your friend.. for our future!" Launch cheered, and the two girls jumped and clapped enthusiastically; earning them an incredulous look from Zenaya; who placed her hands on her hips and scoffed. She kept snarling, and lashing her tail around, before screaming,
"Break his bones and drink his BLOOD!" She snarled in a vicious roar, before wiping the spit off her chin delicately, then joining the other girls in catcalling and clapping. Onioan saw this too, and swung his sword around.
"Go Candy, General is the greatest!" He added, and the others laughed. It was a small comfort when they were in the situation they were faced with.
Raditz regained his footing, and saw that Nappa and Candor were standing beside him. Nappa grinned, and punched one hand into his palm.
"Let's give him the blastin' of a lifetime. Remember how the Saiyan Armada used to get things really burnin?" He grinned, and Candor nodded, Raditz raising one brow questioningly.
"Do you have enough energy, Nappa?" He said, looking over his guardian's battered body, and looking dubious. Candor too, had just recovered from being badly injured.
"We're Saiyans, did you forget that, or are you going to be a good trooper and power up?" Candor gravelled, his fist clenched at Raditz.
"I know that. Thank you for always living up to your name, Lieutenant Candor." He snarled bitterly, still growing at being reminded of his level, when he himself had once shared the same title under Frieza's regime. Nappa laughed, patting Raditz hard on the back; making him wince slightly from where the Kanzashi sticks had been.
"I'm strong enough, the question is, if this doesn't kill im', what the hell will?" The General said with some amount of disbelief.
Vegeta raced down to the ground, in competition with Bdakka, to see who could reach the Gemini first. It seemed Grenada had been ready for them, because when they flew down, the first thing they had noticed was that he was bathed in phosphorus green flames once again, his grenades at the ready. Vegeta and Bdakka braced themselves, and flew directly towards him as he began to fling his explosives at them. The saiyans flew straight through a blazing hot sea of bright blasts, the heat of each individual explosion hitting them, the ones they couldn't dodge slightly slowing them, knocking them off course, but Vegeta only grit his teeth through the pain, propelling himself on the hot wind even quicker.
He pierced through the heat, a streak of white energy parting the emerald sea. Vegeta kept going at a suicidal speed, going straight for Grenada in his destructive desire to kill him. At his side, Bdakka did his best to keep up, but had to burst out the side of the fire to collect himself. He panted, glancing back with surprise at Vegeta, wondering how even The Prince of All Saiyans could survive such inhospitable conditions.
He landed, then was surprised to see Rachanā resting, where she had been set down carefully on the ground by Zenaya. He ran to Rachanā, kneeling down beside her, then assisting her to sit up.
"You're suffering, my sweet." He said in a reverent whisper, carefully taking her burned hands. She smiled, clasping his back.
"I shall be alright...I came back to see you." She whispered breathlessly, her eyes falling shut, he reached out and shook her gently by the shoulder.
"Rachanā?" He questioned until she woke again, then watched as her eyes slowly opened again, and she caressed his hand over her shoulder.
"Tell me Bdakka...what do you think my sister found out there...in space?" She rasped, and he paused a moment.
"Tyurni, she was... is very resourceful. I'm sure that she is living happily on a planet, far, far away from here." He said softly, and stroked her raven locks back from her pinkened cheek where it looked raw, and was glistening with blood.
"Thank you..." She sighed, and Bdakka's jaw quivered, as he moved forth to give her a long, tender kiss.
"It's time for you to go now, I will be waiting for you." She said softly, yet sternly, and Bdakka nodded, kissing Rachanā's hand once more, then taking flight towards the ensuing battle.
Vegeta narrowed his eyes, ignoring the searing pain burning away at him, his heat resistant armour wasn't even shriveled in the slightest, and he didn't seem at all concerned about it as he burst through the explosions at last, and plowed Grenada over into the sand.
"Let's make this quick, freak. I want to make a... deal." He said with an annoyed huff; Grenada pushed himself up with one arm, looking at Vegeta with a puzzled expression. Bdakka landed, and glanced at Vegeta as well, equally as puzzled as the Prince crossed his arms, and looked irritated.
"We're going to team up on you, and put you back in hell where you're supposed to be. While you're at it, do whatever it is you did before to make me ascend for real this time, and don't go easy on me." Vegeta said, pointing at his own chest; as if implying that he wanted Grenada to burn him like he had before.
"Ascend? Is that possible?" Bdakka asked, blinking at Vegeta in amazement.
"It's possible, I'm sure of it, and I know that I can achieve more than just the false form, this time I intend to become a Super Saiyan!" Vegeta snarled, lashing out at Grenada. The injured man on the ground cackled, and sat up slightly from the ground.
"Mhm. Sure, I could try and fry it out of you...Hmm, but I have a better idea. I want to tell you a secret, Vegeta. Hmhm. Just between, one psychopath to hm. Another." He sneered, and Vegeta spat on the ground towards him.
"I'm not psychotic, not any more than deemed necessary." He said sourly, and Grenada tossed his head back and laughed. Vegeta smirked back at him, feeling himself slightly amused by the Gemini's humor. Bdakka growled, wishing to surge forth, and slash his gullet open with a knife, stopping him from making that irritating sound always made, his guttural throat sounds permeating every sentence.
"Hmh. Tell you what, you may fight me, mm, team up on me and give me the eternal rest that I've been.. mhm. Missing. You do this, and I promise to you, that I will tell you the answer to slaying Vulcane once and for all. Hm. Perhaps that would be.. enough." He whispered hollowly, then rose up on a green flame, gesturing towards the woman, that Tianshae that Vegeta had sensed some odd dissonance in. She was right there, hiding behind a large rock plateau with the sword. Vegeta's eyes widened, Why is she there?! When did she get there? He thought, then realized that the reason he hadn't noticed was because the woman's aura was weakened to barely nothing.
She's waiting for the right moment to come and stab me, so she can steal away my blood, and with it, my power for her Master! He thought, reasonably paranoid.
Vegeta's abdomen clenched with the memory of the stab wound, as he placed one hand there as he stared at the sword; feeling apprehensive of the long, silvery thin blade, presently in it's decorative sheath, with the small, red, one star crystal ball on the pommel.
"A Dragon ball!" Bdakka gasped, and Vegeta turned to stare at him, baffled.
"What?!" He snapped, and followed his finger back towards the sword. Vegeta eyed the thing; feeling suddenly enraged by the pretty little gem, What the is that, and why is it significant? Why the fuck haven't I been informed of this?!
"The Dragon Balls grant wishes, Your Majesty. With them, the dead can be brought back to life! Anything you could dream of, could happen." Bdakka said in earnest, and Vegeta's eyes widened.
"Anything?" He questioned, his mind rolling with all the possibilities.
"Hmhm. He's right, though it's not the ball on the sword that's going to kill him, mm...lest you remove it. Vulcane would kill me for telling you this.. mm." Grenada chuckled bitterly, raking his bloody hands through his hair a moment.
"So, You are no longer bent under your Master's will, then?" Vegeta interrupted him.
Grenada gripped his own hair at the roots, snarling back at him.
"I am no longer under his enslavement! I worship only The Flame! He wants to take Kannon away from me--He," Grenada began, choking on his words. Vegeta took a long calming sigh as he grew agitated waiting to hear the rest about how to use the sword against Vulcane. Bdakka stepped slightly forward, growling lowly at the infuriating little man. Grenada sensed the Saiyan's shared annoyance, and began to explain himself further.
'The Dragon Ball's mm... Mystical power prevents the user from... hmm-" Grenada said thoughtfully, but was suddenly silenced as Bdakka charged at him. Vegeta glanced back just a second too late, and growled out in rage; suddenly he felt a primal feeling of possessiveness coming over him. Grenada was speaking to him, revealing the most important secrets of the dragon balls, and how to achieve the Gemini's demise, and Bdakka had interrupted him at the worst moment!
Bdakka took his opportunity, and struck Grenada straight in the jaw, knocking him back a few feet. He then took advantage, and grabbed his victim's ankle, and tossed him. Bdakka powered up his hands, charging them with an emerald green energy, and blasting at Grenada rapidly, the blasts coming out making his body stutter in mid-air as he tried to resist the blasts pelting him, and right himself.
Vegeta watched with grit teeth, and found himself secretly counting on the Gemini to get himself out of his temporary paralysis, watching, and silently urging Grenada to fight through it.
Get up. Yes. You aren't going to be bested by that third class, even if he is a Saiyan, this is a battle for your place in the after life. Earn it. Vegeta silently thought, not caring if the Gemini could sense his brain waves.
Grenada struggled a moment, then spun himself around; just like Vegeta knew he'd be able to. Bdakka balked at this, backing away for a moment, as Grenada grinned at him. Laughing maniacally, he put two hands together, and formed a massive, smoky, black grenade between them.
Bdakka hunched his body over, an aura wavering up from inside of him as he grew enraged by the Gemini's resilience, and prepared to fire back at him. Vegeta crossed his arms, still infuriated that Bdakka had interrupted his conversation; but he would perhaps let the third class have this little victory, then that was it.
The two gathered their energy into their respective attacks, and launched both at once. Vegeta knew it would be fruitless, Bdakka was a lower-class, he couldn't possibly survive that damned grenade attack. Yet, as the explosions went off, he was rendered stunned. Both were knocked back for just a moment, before in an instant, they flew back at one another, in a flurry of fists and kicks.
What was he doing, standing there, utterly useless, when he should be giving the Gemini a proper burial into the sand, for all he had done to him, he both loathes and has to thank him, for revealing the fate of his planet...Which, he now would have been the rightful king of... If Frieza had not slain his people, shamed his blood...
Vegeta growled and clenched his fists, a golden heat rising up from within, then making a halo around him, as veins bulged from his neck and arms. His muscles grew large, his body, full of energy. Vegeta looked down at himself, and grinned. A red wave of flame-like energy pulsed out from around him, making his black hair tinged red, and his gaze, pupiless white. He had once again achieved the false form, this time; he had practically called upon it. He was that much closer to the Legendary form.
"I'll kill you, and him!" He seethed wrathfully, and surged towards the two battling opponents, barrelling forward on a giant blast of murderous energy; he rocketed forward on the white slash through the sky, and kicked Bdakka dead on, directly in the stomach with both boots, pushing him violently back from Grenada.
The two parted, and looked at him incredulously; both cringing in pain. Bdakka clutched at his stomach where his armour was broken; stunned at the intensity of Vegeta's power, and his intimidating appearance. That hit was so sudden, it had knocked all the wind out of him.
"He's yours, your Majesty," He shuddered, and backed away as he needed a moment to regain his breath. Vegeta nodded curtly at him, no aggression remained in his gaze.
Bdakka saluted him, and Vegeta bowed his head. He would take that. He looked through the smoke, towards the ground, and flew urgently back to Rachanā; feeling he had redeemed his mate's honor at last. Vegeta may have ended up getting the finishing blast, but he would be fine with it. The King always got the kill shot. That was what Saiyan tradition demanded.
Vegeta watched through his extraordinary sight as Bdakka flew down, and returned to his mate. He waited until they were out of sight to turn and face Grenada, but the Gemini had darted away while he had his head turned. Vegeta sensed him from just the smallest sound of a muffled breath, and flew towards it. He found Grenada, and was almost pleased to see that he had in turn, found the Gemini woman. He restrained her with both hands, one cupped over her mouth and nose, the other under her chin.
Tianshae and Grenada struggled for just a second, then to Vegeta's surprise, his teeth were on the woman's throat, and he bit in, deeply. For a moment, he questioned whether the Gemini was marking her as mate, that was, until he began inhaling her sparkling, golden blood rapidly, a golden glow coming from the woman's dying amber eyes.
Vegeta gulped; watching the display with a mild sense of horror, and fascination as she slowly became smaller as she withered, her liveliness fading away; as the vital essence of her was being suctioned away by Grenada's lips. The blade dropped from her grip, landing in the sand with a clatter.
Grenada dropped her, breathing in, he picked up the sword, and turned to beckon Vegeta closer. He hesitated a moment, glancing back at Bulma. He shook his head, No. This fight needed to end, regardless of any minuscule feelings he had regarding the Gemini's place in the afterlife. For all they knew, there was nothing but endless darkness on the other side. Vegeta surged forth, and knocked the sword quickly out of his hand before he could give himself the power required to become just as invulnerable as Vulcane. Not a chance.
"Hm? You- The Prince of All Filth!" Grenada retorted, and that phrase right there, made Vegeta's resolve utterly snap. Grenada was at his full health now, minus one extra eye. He could go fly with the unicorns and butterflies in the blasted sky for all Vegeta cared, because he would not allow him to insult his race.
Vegeta grimaced, and looked to his hand. A lavender flame surrounded it, filled with white heat. Grenada grit his teeth and stared at the duplication of his own attack with rage, the Cosmic flame Cannon! Vegeta gripped the grenade-like ball of energy, and pelted Grenada hard in the chest with it. The Cosmic Cannon exploded upon impact, sending the Gemini staggering back.
"You...how dare.." Grenada hissed, then his eyes widened, and Vegeta was coming right at him. Vegeta plowed Grenada in the face with a closed fist, both of them thrown violently to the ground by the powerful punch. Vegeta buried him into the sand, his fist creating a crater, and destroying his brow ridge, he felt the squelching of his eye under his knuckles, and dug it in deeper until his victim screamed, and they made deep divots in the sand with the force of his fist.
Grenada came to a stop at last, hitting his head on a large obsidian rock. He attempted to grasp for it, and just managed to bludgeon Vegeta on the temple, the glass shattering and leaving shards of glass sticking out around the Saiyan's eyebrow. Vegeta growled, taking a fistful of glass, he smashed it into Grenada's eye socket, and punched the shards further in.
The Gemini made a pained gasp, and struggled beneath him, turning his head away in fear. Vegeta clamped down on his ear with his teeth, and tore it free by the cartilage like a savage, just as Grenada had intended to do to him. The Gemini no longer had any semblance of a fighting chance. He was pinned down, and was being ripped apart, alive.
He struggled, managing to free his arms, he grabbed for Vegeta's face; his thumbs digging down in order to dislodge his eyes. Vegeta growled, and savagely bit onto his pinky finger, making Grenada loosen his grip on his face. The Saiyan prince was wild with his bloodlust, and thirst for vengeance, and without thinking he snapped Grenada's finger off with a click of his sharp teeth. Vegeta ground the crunchy flesh of it between his jaws, then swallowed it. Grenada screamed bloody murder. Vegeta had elicited just the response he had wanted.
"There, you wanted to see me act like a psychopath. I've eaten fools like you for breakfast." Vegeta snarled, and ensnared him by the throat in one powerful hand, his Adam's apple bobbing painfully against his fingers as he violently shook him, his head bobbing, the sound of his skull cracking audibly with each smack into the obsidian beneath him.
"Do you want to know what Hell is? Don't you get it? I've seen Hell on Earth. But, I'm not the one who's going to die today. Say goodbye." He ground out, and Grenada pleaded with his eyes; begging him to quicken his death sentence. Grenada looked up, and stared into the Eclipse; to his home planet, Mars. Tears were running down from the corners of his eyes, as he made his one final request.
"Please... kill me. Send me h-home."
It only took a slight tightening of his grip, and his fingers pierced into his neck. Vegeta felt around with his middle fingers for his jugular, and ripped it out, turning Grenada's torn neck to the side. Blood arched out from the gash, and fell around him in gallons. Though he was caught up in the splash of it, Vegeta didn't even flinch. He had long ago grown used to it.
Vegeta blinked the red streams trickling down his brow, and into his eyes away; his tongue licking up the saline flavor collecting in the corners of his grimace. Grenada gurgled, choking on his own blood for a few long, agonizing moments as Vegeta watched; giving him nothing but a blind; heartless gaze.
Grenada exhaled long, and deeply with a haunting rattle, and his head lolled back, motionless. Vegeta tossed Grenada's lifeless form away from him, and to the wind, where he crumpled, and once he hit the ground, splashed into a red puddle of effluence. He was never truly himself, he had been just a whisper of what he had once been. Now, he was nothing but blood seeping into the sand.
Vegeta strolled forth, and picked up the sword. Sliding it slightly from its sheath, he eyed it's radiance, then slid it under his tail, which was wrapped snugly around his waist. Resting one hand on the red ball bejeweling the pommel; he reflected that he had been no better than that savage, in that moment, he had lost it once again.
How could Bulma even look at me now, with blood coating these killing hands?
"You do realize what will happen if we use the Blutzkreig Zap." Raditz said solemnly; crossing his arms and glaring at them all with warning. He didn't like it; using the attack that Bardock had helped to create. Nappa and Candor looked back at him, their tails slightly wagging.
"C'mon, what's so wrong with honoring your Pops?" Nappa said, jabbing him in the ribs. Raditz grunted stubbornly.
"Bardock was Second in Command to Paragus. He led our armies to victory... He was fit to be renamed Elite Class. King Vegeta would have allowed it, had he known.." Candor trailed off, and stared at Raditz with a saddened gaze, making him feel conflicted, he looked down, and his eyes landed on Launch lovingly. She waved up at him, and he smiled; sensing her, and a fraction of the hybrid's ki inside of her. It was strong. His father's legacy would live on, his underling blood; that untapped strength was there, rushing through his unborn child.
"If not in memory of Bardock, then do it for us. For the last of the Saiyan race to live on!" Nappa urged, and Raditz thought back to all the lives that would have been required to form that river of saiyan blood in the tunnel, and how it had... fed Vulcane. Raditz recalled the disgusting scene, and grimaced.
"Oh, fine. Let's go fire it up, then." Raditz snapped back, and the two Saiyans laced their burly arms to Candor's, their ankles hooking all together. The Low Class and Elite, all locked together in sync.
"Ready." They announced, and Vulcane weakly laughed as he saw them all lock together, clutching at his stomach with his one good arm.
"Would you look at that? They link all together just like Barrel of Monkeys!" He cackled enthusiastically, his white fangs bared as the Saiyans remained silent. Vulcane halted his laughter, and lowered his head, smirking. A bright ring of sparks began to grow at the center of the three, held by the Elite in the middle, as the other two looked forward, their irises paling to a foreboding sanguine; making the Namekian float backwards suddenly.
The ring continued to grow in size, the energy coming from the three radiating outward in waves; large bolts of electricity dancing in the air, steam sizzling off the heat of the Blutzkreig. Then, the Saiyan at the center bellowed, his ring expanding rapidly with their combined energy pulsing through it. Then, in an instant, the three of them made a massive shockwave pulse through the surrounding air, the Saiyans on the ground watching, feeling quakes rolling through the earth, as bits of obsidian began to circle around the great ring of ki.
"How stupid can you monkeys be? Making a giant circle, how do you propose you could possibly hit me?" Vulcane sneered, darting off to the side in a flash to show them just how quickly he could move.
None of the three spoke; all locked in their battle pose. Vulcane froze up, staring into their eyes which had become white, as the energy ring pulsed out more blutz waves, something seemed off to him, and his eyes widened, turning back to stare at the planets. That Namekian! What's she doing!? No wonder he was losing energy, she had been channeling her energies out to the Saiyans, not him!
"You betraying bitch!" He screeched, then his voice lost it's strength as his back was scalded by an intense rush of heat. Vulcane screamed hoarsely as the Saiyans let out their combined energy, all screaming as they funneled their energy into the massive blast he was being carried on by his back, Piccolo's purple gi burning away as he was caught up in the brunt of the attack, surrounded by flashes of white and black. The endless night was lit up bright, the blood red sky suddenly bright and rosy with swirling white ropes of electricity.
Launch stared up at Raditz in amazement, the other women watching with their jaws dropping. A transformation was happening before their very eyes, as the Saiyans they knew and loved grew larger, muscles more massive, their eyes, and faces had changed, large fangs growing out, as well as the hair on their bodies, growing more bristling and thick. They were somewhere between Ōozaru, and as human as a Saiyan could be considered. Each Saiyan's strength was increased twenty fold; perhaps even more so, but the Ōozaru form remained locked within; along with the disastrous consequences. It was not Super Saiyan, it was what could have very well been the evolution towards it. They called it Saiyä-Zarou, and it was something only rarely used by those who could control their Ōozaru tempers.
"Just a little more! We gotta fry him out!" Nappa bellowed, his fangs gnashing as he clipped out his command to the others, none seeming to have noticed their transformations. Launch's eyes grew listless as she stumbled back, limp, and Kannon caught her.
"Launch, honey?! What's wrong!?" She shouted, but Launch was now staring out at the pulsing waves with fascination, both hands on her stomach. As Kannon turned to look at what was happening, her eyes widened. From nothing, golden particles came together to form another large, long haired Saiyan. He floated up, and placed himself right above the blast path, then aimed down, and added to the beam. Nappa gasped as he looked up, and saw the familiar Saiyan.
"Saavoy!" He breathed out in admiration, watching the broad back of the Saiyan as he too pulsed all his power into the attack. Raditz looked back as well, the whites of his eyes fading to crimson. For a second, he had almost hoped... Wished that it was his father, Bardock. His spiky brows furrowed, puzzled, and he sensed some familiar energy in the new Saiyan, but before he could fully examine him, their attention was on the resulting propulsion of the Blutzkreig beam.
I don't miss him. Raditz thought absently, and felt a rush of that disembodied apathy wash over him that he had once grown to live in.
This is how he died. He was burned alive. He thought, blinking his still crimson eyes at the morbid imagery that was so easily made in his head, as Vulcane succumbed to that very same fate.
Vulcane screamed as the body he was in was caught up in a massive flame, blackening him from the outside in as he screamed in terror. Then, he dropped to the ground, lifeless, but the blast only continued on its path, rising up into the sky with a deafening roar, then blinding all of them as there was a resounding impact. They looked up at the Eclipse, and saw that Neptune had been struck, and fault lines were cracking all over the planet; bursts of energy crackling beneath the gas giant's surface. There was another rumble, this one so close, it shook the very ground they were standing on, as all took heed of the dying planet.
There was a high pitched sound, then flashes of white and blue light washing over the beach, before the blast reached the core of the planet, and detonated in an immense explosion. Planet Neptune was destroyed, and the resonating boom sent all of them stumbling back, ducking for cover as massive chunks of molten earth were thrown violently outward.
All covered their heads on the ground, or ducked behind something solid as the blasts continued, large molten chunks of rock hurtling from the sky, and landing heavily in the sand. Miyuki and Bulma screamed in terror, until Bulma regained some of her senses, and frantically slapped the button to raise the protective shields. Once shielded, she was able to squint up at the sky and see what had actually happened as a result of the blast.
"It looks like.. there's been a change in the Eclipse," She whispered, and looked to Miyuki beside her. The other girl squinted her eyes nearly shut at the sliver of golden light that was nearly blinding her.
"Its.. sunlight," Miyuki whispered back, then the two girls giggled, turning back to smile up at the sight of the sun, their eyes leaking out tears from the brightness, even if it was just a crescent sliver of it.
Then, they were both stunned as there was another startling sight, a large mass of light was crashing through the atmosphere, followed by a black smoke cloud as one of the giant chunks of Neptune's surface fell from space, and rocketed towards their vehicle.
Vegeta turned from the battlefield he had shared with Grenada, his eyes wide as he saw the asteroid. He stared at the flames around it, and his lip pulled back, the blutz waves having an effect on him as well.
"Bulma!!"
His eyes flashed red, and his canines elongated as he screamed, and felt his body undergoing the change to Saiyå-Zarou. His body mass bulked up to twice the size, then was covered partially in brown fur as the pupils of his eyes became blindingly white. He lowered his head, and raised one hand, forming a blue ball of energy in it. Light radiated out from around him as he charged the attack, and his eyes widened as the meteor was arching down towards Bulma.
Bulma reached for the lever of her laser cannon attached to the top of the armoured car, and grinned.
"Don't worry, Miyuki! I've got us covered!"
She pulled the lever, and the countdown began as it charged up, backwards from ten. Her and Miyuki began to chant the numbers for moral support, watching the asteroid, and hoping that the laser would destroy it. Another pair was coming up, just below the ridge, Yamcha and Master Roshi had just arrived, and upon seeing the asteroid heading straight for Bulma, both Yamcha, and Master Roshi gasped in horror.
"Oh no, that's gotta be one of Bulma's cars!" Yamcha said, his eyes wide with confusion.
"What about Miyuki? Is she in the car with her?!" Puar gasped, just as worried for both women.
"Ill save them both!" Yamcha said with determination, and placed both hands together in a claw, aiming towards the asteroid. He had come with concern for Miyuki nagging at his mind, but hadn't even realized Bulma was right there in the car with her! It didn't matter, he would save both of them, regardless of their history!
"Come on, my boy! Let's give er' everything she's got!" Roshi grunted, and Yamcha nodded as they both began to power up, Master Roshi's shirt tearing in places, until falling off as his muscle mass was greatly expanded. The two took their stances, and began to chant, preparing to release two Kamehameha Waves.
"Ka...me...ha...me...HAA!!" The two shouted in unison, and within a matter of seconds, there was a starburst of brightly colored beams of light; red, and blue, all shooting upwards at the asteroid.
The beams struck, and it was pushed back, before being hit hard by Vegeta's quick ki attack. He smirked as he clenched his fist, then pulverized it into dust with his Big Bang Attack. Great clouds billowed out from where the asteroid was, and Bulma made a huge sigh of relief, Miyuki as well as tiny pieces of rock bounced off the armoured rooftop.
"That was a close one, thank goodness Yamucha saved us!" Miyuki said happily, looking out the back window. Bulma didn't hear her as she stared out at the horizon, and saw Vegeta's impressive figure hovering there, watching over her. Her heart filled with warmth, knowing that Vegeta had also protected her. He stepped forth, and she gasped at his appearance. He was bathed in golden light, his eyes returning to black at last, and his coat of lustrous fur receded; knowing now that she was safe.
"Vegeta.." She sighed, her hand over her chest, aching with the swelling feelings of love, and her great relief.
"Yamucha!" Miyuki yelled, and swung open the car door, jumping out, and running over to him, the bell on her collar jangling loudly. Yamcha seemed stunned a moment, then chuckled as she ran up, and jumped at him. He caught her, the both of them spinning together for a moment. Miyuki looked down at him, and kissed him fervently, all over his face. Yamcha blushed and squeezed one eye shut as she showed her gratitude, and Puar jumped into the embrace as well, being squeezed between the both of them.
"We were so worried about you, Miss Miyuki! Yamcha could tell something was wrong, and we came right away to make sure you were ok!" Puar said, with a hint of worry in his voice, and Yamcha frowned, pushing Puar and Miyuki away slightly; feeling overwhelmed with all the affection he was receiving, did he even deserve it?
"I'm ok, thanks to you two, and Vegeta." She reassured, and Yamcha furrowed his brow, looking out over the sand dunes, towards where there was a figure, and it was growing larger as it approached, and landed before him. Vegeta had arrived; his armour ripped and burnt in places, and coated in dried blood. He still wore Vulcane's sword on his hip, wrapped safely by his brown tail. Yamcha gulped nervously as he observed the battle bloodied Saiyan with some apprehension.
"Vegeta, you helped blow up the asteroid?" Yamcha said, somewhat wary, and puzzled if it had actually been his blast that had pulverized the asteroid into dust. Their Kamehameha Waves had been enough to steer it away, pushing it backwards, along with the laser beam, but that massive Big Bang Attack from the Saiyan was what truly did it.
Vegeta smiled, simply closing his eyes tiredly as Bulma was quick to retort back.
"Why would you even ASK him that? Of course he did!" Bulma said, having stepped out of the car, her hands on her hips angrily, shocked at Yamcha's obliviousness.
"Why does this come as a surprise? Do you really think I would let my mate cook, in a metal death trap?" Vegeta snapped, and Yamcha looked down at the ground shamefully, and shook his head, finding it hard to meet the Saiyan's eyes. Maybe he was wrong about Vegeta? He glanced back at him, then Bulma as she ran towards him and they embraced. Yamcha stared from beneath his bangs, and felt the guilt of his past weighing upon him tenfold.
"No. I'm...grateful to him. Because if he hadn't helped, there's no telling whether or not Miyuki would have been ok, either." He said, and Bulma took a sharp intake of breath as Vegeta held her, and snorted at the scar-faced weakling with an air of disinterest. Bulma was still watching as he turned his face away from her, and locked eyes with Miyuki. She held Puar to her chest, and smiled warmly at him.
"Thank you, Yamucha, and Master Roshi. I owe my life to you all." She said, and Master Roshi shook his head, walking up and resting on his cane.
"Don't mention it, darling. I put my all into that beam, did you know that was my technique that started the whole darned thing? It was about oh, 15, years ago by now, there was a unquenchable blaze on Fire Mountain, that even the mystical Bansho Fan couldn't put out..." He began, and Miyuki and Puar listened to him with interest, as he began telling a tale that everyone had heard a thousand times, but nobody seemed to mind.
Bulma turned back to Vegeta, gently touching his bloody, burnt face with her fingertips, feeling where his ear was mangled as she cradled his head, and he moved closer to kiss her, pulling his arms around her tightly and crushing her to him gratefully; thankful that she, and he had survived. Yamcha watched from the corner of his eye, and couldn't help but smile slightly as he clutched Miyuki's hand.
The smoke had long since cleared, as the remaining saiyans, and humans walked towards the battlefield where Vulcane had met his demise at last. Raditz fell to his knees, cradling Piccolo's feverish, pallid face in his hands, and to everyone's amazement, his shoulders began to shake with his grief. Launch came up beside him, placing one hand there, her blonde hair covered in a fine layer of dust.
"Can you heal him? Just Piccolo?" He rasped, and her brows furrowed upwards sadly as she shook her head.
"No, I've exhausted all my energy. I'm so sorry, Raditz."
Raditz recalled the last time her life energy had been exhausted, and nodded firmly. He was not going to allow that to happen.
"Nevermind, then." He said to her, and Launch pouted, feeling bad she couldn't help him.
"Wait." A voice came from behind, and Raditz turned to see Vegeta approaching, pulling the sword out from his waist. He aimed it down at Piccolo's inert, burnt form, and placed the tip of the blade over the Namekian's breast.
"Vegeta, don't! He'll jump into you, next!" Raditz warned, but Vegeta shook his head.
"No, he won't." He said, and quickly unscrewed the ball from it's setting on the pommel. He held it in his hand for just a moment, examining it, then handed it back to Bulma for safe keeping. She cradled the small ball in her hands, gazing at the gem in amazement.
"Wow... it's a tiny... red dragon ball.." She whispered, and Vegeta nodded to her.
"You'll keep it safe." He said softly, and turned back to Piccolo's body.
"She's the only one that can hold it, got that?" Vegeta stated, to no-one in particular; but the ones he intended to direct it to nodded, Nappa placing one hand on Bdakka's shoulder, and silently commanding him not not to refuse his Prince's demands. The Saiyan relented, and simply looked on, as Rachanā lay nearly motionless in his arms. He gazed down at her, and forced back a cry.
"Can you use it to bring my Rachanā back to life, Princess?" He choked out, and Bulma's eyes widened towards him; amazed by the title, yet understanding why the Saiyans revered her as such. She felt a pang of hurt in her chest; here she was, Princess of All Saiyans, and yet she could not soothe her people's grief.
"Can you do it, Princess?" Zenaya repeated, placing one hand on Rachanā's, Onioan and Candor coming up behind her as well.
"Chanā can't go yet, not yet?" Onioan said, and Bulma felt her heart falling to pieces.
"I can't make a wish, not right now.. not unless we had all of them. I'm not even sure... what planet this is from." She said hoarsely, and squeezed the ball tightly as she watched the sad scene before her.
Zenaya frowned, looking back at Candor, and he nodded in agreement with Bulma. "No, Candy..? You mean...? General?"
Onioan looked to Nappa for confirmation, and the general shook his head, No.
"We'd have.. to find. But she can't.. last." Nappa said softly to Onioan, and the giant executioner burst into tears. Bdakka refused to look at any of them as his own tears fell onto Rachanā.
"I should have taken her to space, she would have at least been with her sister... There's really, nothing that can be done... Not for us." Bdakka grunted, and pulled his mate closer, his large arms trembling.
"I am.. so sorry." Bulma said, and Bdakka looked at her with cold, hateful black eyes, that sent a chill through her body. Seeing no reason to stay, Bdakka grimaced, and turned away, leaving the others to grieve in solitude.
"Let him go, he's better off leaving than staying, he's lucky I didn't just kill him for what he did." Vegeta growled, he had listened to Grenada's words, and thought about them carefully before coming to a conclusion. He was almost one hundred percent sure of what he was doing, as he slowly slipped the blade into Piccolo's flesh, directly above his heart. It became glowing, and everyone stepped back besides Vegeta, apprehensive.
But then, the sword pulled out a black malignancy from him, and it sunk into the blade, turning the silver tarnished, and chipped like black paint. Piccolo gasped for his breath, and began coughing, Raditz and Launch rushing towards him.
"Piccolo, you're alright!" Raditz said, taking the Namekian in his arms, and attempting to help him sit up. Piccolo's dark purple tinged eyelids fell, and he breathed raspily, gripping whatever he could to stay uptight, gasping for each reedy, weak breath.
"Can you regenerate?.. Piccolo? Piccolo?!" He asked tensely, and Launch came close to try and assist them, placing both hands on Piccolo's arm to try and heal him. Piccolo jolted to life for just a second, and they all gasped, seeing Launch weaken, and fall against Raditz.
"No, Launch!" Raditz gasped, and grabbed her wrist. She blinked tiredly, and he shook his head sternly.
"He wouldn't want you to lose your life to save him. I...couldn't lose you." Raditz said, and glanced down at her stomach. Summoning Saavoy had taken all her energy, helped by the fuel of the blutz waves, but now she was exhausted. Launch nodded, and hugged both him, and Piccolo.
Vegeta watched the scene, and one eye twitched spasmodically at how ridiculous Raditz was acting, over a damned Namekian!?
"...Tch! All Seven Saiyan Gods should be rolling in their Eternal Rest! Don't look so damned defeated, Raditz! Your green friend there will have a peaceful end, free of parasites." Vegeta said, almost reassuring him with his familiar sneering. Raditz looked up hopefully, wiping the tears from his eyes. Then, Vegeta examined at the blade in the light, seeing the darkness in it that made it so heavy, and broke it across his knee, and to many of their surprise, it fell into dust. Vulcane was truly, and most definitely dead at that moment, his spirit had been siphoned out, and destroyed completely.
Vegeta tossed away the remaining pommel, and dusted off his hands. As they watched, Piccolo's weakening body faded, and he dissipated into nothing. All around him, gasps were heard, but nobody would know how to explain the phenomenon but him.
"He was transported through time and space!" Dr. Briefs gasped from Raditz's scouter, where he was watching on the other end, and Master Roshi nodded.
"Yep. He's been taken... Somewhere else." Master Roshi whispered, and Raditz turned to him; his face contorted with confusion.
"You mean he's... dead!?" He said with a disheartened voice, and the old man nodded.
"Well... I'd like to say he still lives, but that's just wishful thinking...I'm sorry, Raditz. All along, our greatest threat has been sleeping here, waiting. But, you Saiyans came together with us humans, and in my mind, you saved him." He said wisely, and Raditz glanced back down to the ground, feeling the barren earth where Piccolo's body had once lied.
"Goodbye, Green man. See you in the next life," He said softly, and patted the spot. Launch leaned up against him, and placed her hand upon his on the ground, as they all said their silent goodbyes. Raditz and Launch then paused, as light began to illuminate their interlaced fingers.
All glanced up at the setting sun, as Mars slowly moved away from it, and light returned to the planet. Birds flew across the sun, which was now gradually moving down in the darkening sky, and they all watched in silence as it slowly set.
"It's truly ended... The Gemini's Eclipse." Vegeta said, and Bulma smiled, grasping around his arm, and holding him tightly, happy to see that at last, the sky had returned to it's beautiful midnight blue, with stars sparkling all throughout it, like flecks of shimmering heavenly light.
"Yes, now we should all go home and rest, you included," She said, her poking finger stabbing him hard in his chest. Vegeta winced slightly, "Watch those fingers, woman! They're like icicles!!" He shouted, and soft laughter warmed the sounds of night now returning around them at last.
The waves were crashing hard on the beach, as Raditz took Launch's hand and she placed it lovingly over the scar tissue on his chest; recalling the familiar sound of gentle ocean waves, and kissing her tenderly under the faint sliver of lunar light surrounded by the dust of Neptune, which nobody had even seemed to notice, her golden tail wrapping with his dark brown one.
...
Somewhere far off, in near complete darkness, a moon was rising over Mount Paozu, and with it, an unearthly cry.