The Queen:
Part 3
By: senzubean
I do not own Dragon Ball Z in any way. I make no profit from this story. I just wrote it for fun.
Chapter 6: Birth
Recely wanted to join in with the screaming.
Prince Vegeta had been born over an hour ago. He was tiny, looked exactly like his father and was very loud.
The midwife/nursemaid the king hired was standing by her bed, stoic. She looked impatient. She had been there since the day before and she obviously wanted to get on with her other duties. Her niece and assistant, who was Recely's age, had helped her queen much more during labor than the midwife had. She had done more than any of the 6 doctors had done either. They all made it clear that they'd much rather be off doing something else than be delivering a baby, which was traditionally work for midwives. And if they had to deliver a baby as important as the prince they certainly did not want to share the honor with five others. That was tough, because the King wanted doctors around and his son and mate. Since no one was going to argue with the king, poor Recely had to put up with the complaints. Besides, her mate was absent, another cause for Recely's agitation.
"I don't know...." One of the doctors said to the others as they all stood around the angry infant. They had measured his power level and it was what everyone hoped, the highest of any saiyan ever born. What they complained about was the Prince's overall physical appearance. He was smaller than average for a saiyan baby and according to them his color was odd. Recely was unaware of this, because she hadn't even seen him. As soon as he'd been born they took him to the other side of the delivery room placed him on a small table and crowded around him. Recely understood that they would have to make sure that her son wasn't in any danger and was healthy. But they had finished the assessment long ago and were just staring at him now. Didn't they know that his mother was anxious to hold him?
"Do you think His majesty will find him suitable?" Another doctor asked.
"There have been others like this, they don't last long."
Recely slowly rose to a sitting position. The assistant tried to coax her back to her pillows but Recely didn't hear her protests. She was too disturbed by what the doctors just said.
The doctors all silently agreed and proceeded to wheel the Prince out of the room.
"Where are you taking him?" Recely demanded in panic. She was afraid that they were going to do something horrible to her child
A doctor turned and bowed to her as the others continued along their way with the heir. "Highness, His Highness Prince Vegeta needs special treatment to prolong his lifespan. We've all seen infants like him before. I'm very sorry but I'm afraid his death is inevitable. "
Recely looked to the midwife who nodded her head in agreement. The queen was in disbelief. How could this be happening? She heard the doctors announce that his powerlevel as the highest of any child ever born. She just didn't understand how a child so strong could die.
Recely watched as her son disappeared into the hallway.
"STOP!" she commanded. All six doctors turned to her.
Her infants wails brought tears to her eyes. " I want to hold him first."
"But.." The elder doctor protested. Recely glared at him impatiently, her sorrow turning into anger. If looks could kill the doctor would've been dead. He picked up the screaming baby brought him to her.
"Your son," the doctor stated, paused for a moment then hesitantly added. "Prince Vegeta."
Recely took her naked child from him and her eyebrows furrowed as her anger grew more intense.
"You idiots! Of course his color is odd! He's freezing! Look at him, he's blue! Someone get me something to wrap him in!"
The doctors stared at her in disbelief and the midwife 'Hmph'd' in disgust. The assistant was there immediately with a blanket and quickly spread it out on the bed beside Her Highness.
"It's allright." Recely cooed at her son as she placed him on the blanked and wrapped him in it securely. She then picked him up and cuddled him. Vegeta's screams ebbed into tired whining as he settled comfortable into his mother's arms.
"Oh look!" The assistant exclaimed. "He's color is beginning to take the shade of a healthy baby."
Recely laughed with joy at that statement.
"Your Highness, it does appear that your son's health is improving, " the eldest doctor piped in." but I strongly suggest..."
"I don't care." Recely cut him off. "If he's going to die, he's going to die. I would rather it happened here with me than with you people." She added curtly. The doctors looked at each other helplessly then obeyed the queen's orders. She sighed and smiled at her son. "I assume you're hungry too, Vegeta. Don't worry, I'll have those nasty men punished for treating you so badly."
She turned to the midwife questioningly. She was still looking at her with that disgusted look and the younger appeared to be astonished for some reason. "How do I feed him?" Recely asked trying to ignore the two conflicting expressions. She had taken care of an infant before but since she had not been Letta's mother she did not breast feed her. No one had thought to teach her prior to her giving birth.
"I don't think that is wise, your highness." The older midwife said with a hint of condensation. Her niece looked up at her in shock.
"But aunt Cy, he's the Prince!"
"Hush girl!" The midwife scolded her harshly. The 17-year-old looked at the floor in shame. "Your highness is too young too understand whet those doctors were discussing before. Sometimes a child is born with his full power level. It's very rare, but there are certain signs that this is the case. Babies like that are usually small like that ton e is and they have blue coloring not because they are cold but because they have poor oxygen distribution. They never become any stronger and they usually have scores of other medical problems. That child is the same. By feeding it you will only create a bond with it and you will have a hard time when the king disposes of it." The midwife said all this plunk and plain. Her niece was very upset. Recely was just appalled.
"Don't worry, I'm sure the king will do it in a way as to spare the child any pain. And as for replacing him, His Majesty will have you started on another soon enough. So, give him to me and I'll see to him until His Majesty arrives." Boldly, the midwife reached for the prince. Recely violently slapped the offending hand away from her child, causing the woman to yelp in pain.
"I will not give him to the likes of you! This is my child and I didn't ask for your advice regarding his acceptability! I asked how to feed him, so tell me or go!" Recely stated defiantly and held her baby closer as she spoke
"You are making a big mistake! The King will never accept that scrawny little rat as his heir. He'll dispose of him like garbage, and if you actually do have a powerful child, which I doubt such a pathetic excuse for a woman like you could, he'll be too much for your feeble little brain to handle! To think that you're the queen of our glorious warrior race? You're just a little girl who hasn't had the sense to grow up!"
"You're useless to me, leave!" Recely screamed causing to Vegeta to cry even louder than he had before. Recely tried to comfort him; she had felt him jump in her arms as she yelled and was upset that she'd frightened him.
The angry midwife turned and started to leave. "Come Beana!"
Her niece obediently started to follow.
"I did not dismiss you." Recely said harshly while staring at the older woman, who glared right back.
"Pardon me, Your Highness." Beana apologized sheepishly and bowed to Recely. She retook her position beside her.
The old midwife had the audacity to slam the door behind her. Recely seriously considered summoning the guards to have her imprisoned but she figured with an attitude like that she would eventually undo herself.
She heaved an angry, frustrated sigh. She had been through a lot the past day and the last thing she needed was that kind of confrontation. Recely inhaled slowly for a few minutes and listened to her baby cry. She prayed the midwife and doctors were wrong about what the king would think.
Recely managed to smile at Beana despite her worry. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to enrage your foolish aunt. I don't want to keep you against your will. You may rejoin her."
"Thank you your Highness, but you are tired and need assistance with the Prince. " Beana bowed courteously. Then she smiled wryly. "Besides, I've been waiting a long time to enrage that bitch of an aunt!"
Recely burst out laughing. "Well then, I'm glad I provided you with that opportunity. She is a horrible woman!"
"Yes, and I had the misfortune of being raised by her." Beana laughed. "Now to business. I believe your little Prince would like to eat. Although to be completely honest, I'm not quite sure how it's done. I've never met a woman who wanted to hold her newborn let alone feed him."
Recely stared at Beana in disbelief. She couldn't fathom a mother disregarding her child like that. IT was too cruel.
King Vegeta watched his mate in silence. Recely was asleep on a settee in her library. Her back was turned to him and he watched her side rise and fall with her steady breathing.
His Majesty sighed in relief. The doctor had told him through his communicator that his mate was alive and well, but his son's condition was a different story. This news disturbed him somewhat but as long as his mate was fine there was nothing, in his opinion, to worry about.
He turned to leave, not wanting to disturb her slumber. He assumed that she needed her rest after giving birth to such a powerful child. A powerful child, but not a healthy one. His majesty wondered whether or not he should inspect the infant or just leave it be. The doctors said that it would die on it's own. The king wasn't sure he wanted to be the one to help it along, putting it out of its misery.
He was nearly out of the room when he heard a tiny whimper emanate from the center of the room. Knowing that it was not Recely making the sound he looked around him, positive that he had not seen a cradle before.
Recely stirred at the sound and lifted her head to look at something between her and the chair.
"Shhh, go back to sleep, Vegeta." She softly cooed. She was about to settle back down with the baby when she heard breathing from the other side of the room. She turned to see who had joined them without announcing his or her presence.
"Vegeta." She said apprehensively a she rose to a sitting position. The motioned for her to remain prone but stopped his protest when he caught a glimpse of what she was holding.
"Wh..why is he here?"
Recely held the baby tighter. "If he was going to die, I'd rather him do it here with me than alone in some incubator."
"Recely..."
"No, Vegeta. Don't try and take him from me. He is not going to die."
"I wouldn't ever hurt him." The king replied, assuming that she was implying that he would do away with the child. "I'm sorry I wasn't here for you. I wanted to come as soon as I heard that you were in Labor but the occupation..." the king stopped his explanation when he saw the queen's expression indicated apathy.
"Could I see him, please?"
Recely remained motionless at the request, still gripping the sleeping infant.
"Please?" The king prodded gently attempting to convince his mate that he meant what he said. Slowly Recely held up the baby to him. The King took his son gently and cradled him like his mate had. He looked at the child a he stirred restlessly from the disturbance of being passed between parents. The King was shocked at the similarity between them. He had the exact same hair, the same facial features. The infant whined slightly as he blinked his eyes, focusing on his father's face.
The King couldn't suppress a gasp of awe.
They had the same eyes.
Prince Vegeta blinked confused at the stranger holding him. Then his complacent expression morphed as he frantically started wailing.
The King turned his back to his Queen as all this happened. Recely stood up frightened and demanded that her child be returned to her.
The King didn't hear her as he watched his son flailing his limbs in anger wanting to be returned to the safety of his mother's arms.
Recely was at the brink of tears begging her mate to keep his word and not hurt Vegeta. She was about to fling herself at the kings back with he intent of taking her son when the eking burst into jovial laughter. The sound startled Recely and she stared at him in disbelief. The king turned to face her again with a very happy expression. Recely stared back shocked, she had never seen him so outwardly pleased.
"He's so strong!" the King exclaimed as he struggled to keep his grasp on the screaming wriggling prince. "There's nothing wrong with him. He's perfect."
Recely smiled with a mixture with relief and joy. She was glad that her mate approved. She looked at The King bouncing the baby in his arms in effort to calm him.
"You look tired, Recely." The King stated seriously as the baby's screams settled into whines. "You should rest, I'll give The Prince to his nursemaid." He transferred the slightly frazzled child to his right arm and cradled him against his side and entwined his other arm around that of his Queen's
"I'm going to officially announce his birth to our people right now."
Recely heaved a sigh of relief and allowed her to be led to her bedchambers.
Chapter 7: The Test
The King stared down at his son who was pleasantly sucking on his thumb and staring back. It was 3 AM. Beana had been dismissed, Recely was still sleeping since earlier that evening and the King was contemplating his decision.
"You're obviously healthy, why those doctors thought you weren't I don't know"
Prince Vegeta gurgled at his father in response.
The King half smiled back. "But, are you really as strong as the power estimators say?" Prince Vegeta waved his arms and legs happily underneath his blankets, oblivious as to what his father was about to do to him.
"All saiyans must be tested, Vegeta. Of course, since you're the crown Prince, you'll be tested differently. There'll be no planet occupation for you any time soon, but the test you must endure is much harsher. The question is, will you be able to withstand it?"
The baby gurgled again and wiggled his tail under the blankets. King Vegeta removed the coverings and took a firm hold of the fluffy appendage. He knew that the tail was every saiyan's weak spot and the elite were no exception, but some saiyans were more susceptible to the weakness than others. An elite could withstand much more trauma to the tail than a 3rd class saiyan could, but all saiyans were instinctively protective of it. Prince Vegeta emitted a low growling noise and glared at the offender. The King lifted his arm above his head taking the baby along with it. The Prince screamed at the top of his little lungs. The King remarked that he wasn't shedding tears, so his screams were those of pure anger. His little face turned beet red and he clenched his tiny hands into fists of rage. The King was impressed thus far, most babies would've been crying from pain at this point, not anger, and a weaker baby would've passed out a few moments after being lifted in the air by his ultra-sensitive tail.
The King debated whether he should continue with the next part of the test. The Prince obviously could withstand much more than any average saiyan could have, but the King decided that he wanted to see if the Prince could withstand more than an elite could.
The King clenched his hand around his son's tail, knowing that the added pressure would be more than an adult could handle at this pint.
Prince Vegeta screamed even louder and to his father's amazement emitted an aura of energy. The King dropped his child as the energy connected with his hand and lightly stung it. The Prince fell on the mattress head first then bounced onto his back. He kept up his angry screaming for a few more seconds then stopped abruptly. The energy he emitted had disappeared as soon as he connected with the bed. . He looked up at his father who was staring down at him incredulous as to how the child had released his own power after only being born a few days before. Never had he heard tell of such a thing.
The King smiled and gently tickled his son's belly affectionately.
"I know you'll be a super saiyan, Vegeta." He said. Prince Vegeta didn't respond. He remained motionless and glared at the King.
The King cocked his eyebrow questioningly. "Are you angry with me?" He asked amazed. Then he started to laugh. "You're angry with me! How cute!"
Prince Vegeta continued to glare for a few more moments then returned his thumb to his mouth
Chapter 8: Training
"Vegeta, get away from that door!"
"No!"
Nappa growled at the Prince's actions. Three and a half year-old Vegeta was standing with his back pressed against the door of the small training room he was in. Two saiba men loomed over him, squealing and laughing at him. Vegeta didn't like them at all.
"Attack!" Nappa yelled through the intercom. The creatures obeyed instantly. Vegeta knocked them away frantically and ran to the other side of the room.
"What is the matter with you?" Nappa demanded.
"Nufin!" Prince Vegeta replied defiantly. "Lemme out, I'm done!"
"You're not getting out of there until those saiba men are unconscious or worse!" Vegeta looked up at the video camera recording the session, then looked at the creatures that were standing over him again. He felt them to be just a bit too close, so he started to make his way towards the door.
"Your father will be very displeased with this performance, Prince."
"I'm not scared of him!" Vegeta replied defiantly then ran the rest of the way to the door.
"But you're scared of saiba men, huh?"
"No!"
"Then fight them!"
"NO!"
"VEGETA!"
"PRINCE VEGETA!" Vegeta corrected. He stopped his temper tantrum and calmly ordered, "You come in here, I want to train with you."
"No, your father wants you to train against them!"
"I don't care, I won't!" Vegeta replied.
Nappa got up from his seat and opened the door. He caught the prince by the head as he tried to run by. Vegeta threw a power ball at his trainer in anger. Undaunted, The huge saiyan tossed him back into the room. "Do that to them!"
Vegeta scowled furious at Nappa, he didn't like being thrown and he didn't like where he'd landed, at the feet of the saiba men. He jumped up and latched on to Nappa's leg as he was leaving. Nappa grabbed him by the hair and threw him harder into the room. This time he knocked the saiba men down as he rolled across the floor. He stood back up, unhurt to see the door close.
"Naappaaaaa!" he whined.
"Enough!" Nappa yelled through the intercom. " I'm tired of your games, this is training. Fight them now or I swear you'll be spending the night with them."
Vegeta shook with anger and whined furiously. He threw himself on the floor and rotated around to face the wall away from the camera. Nappa was unimpressed by the Prince's temper tantrum and he was even less impressed that he was refusing training and was turning his back on his opponents.
He was fed up. He shut off the intercom. Prince Vegeta heard it going dead.
"Nappa?" he asked and looked up at the camera, a little afraid that his trainer had did what he said he was going to do and left him in there for the night.
Nappa got up and left the room.
He returned thirty minutes later with the queen. He'd stopped by the kitchen first to get a snack.
"See." Nappa pointed to the screen. "Look what he's doing!"
"He isn't doing anything." Recely observed.
"Exactly! He won't fight them. I don't understand. He's not afraid to fight fully trained adults but he's scared of those things."
Recely glared at him annoyed.
"He's three. You locked him in a dark room with a couple of beasts he's never laid eyes on before and you can't understand why he's frightened?" Recely asked. She looked at her son through the monitor and her heart ached, She didn't like him being afraid in his own home. He was supposed to be learning. He'll never improve with this manner of teaching. She turned on the intercom. Vegeta heard it, jumped up and looked at the camera.
"I'll fight them Nappa! Please don't leave me here all night!"
Recely whirled around and glared at the man. "Explain yourself!"
Nappa laughed nervously. "That was just talk, Your Highness, I didn't mean it."
"Well he thought you meant it. Frightening him is not an acceptable teaching method!"
"Mama?" Vegeta asked.
"Well, what else was I supposed to do?" Nappa demanded before Recely could comfort her son.
"Mama, can I come out now? Nappa is being mean."
Recely pushed the button that opened the doors. Vegeta ran to her and grabbed onto her leg tightly. She could feel his whole body trembling with fear. A half an hour was a long time to a frightened child. She picked him up and held him close. Vegeta flashed Nappa a look of triumph.
"I'll show you what you might have done had you any common sense." Chastised the Queen as she departed the room.
"I knew I shouldn't have brought you here." Nappa said as she was passing through the door. Recely turned.
"Pardon?" She demanded.
"You're just a kid yourself. Just some girl from the woods. You don't know anything about being a warrior or a Queen."
Recely was livid. She wanted to show him that she knew quite a bit about being a warrior. But she as holding Vegeta and even though she knew by the Prince's smile that he wanted to see her defeat Nappa, she didn't think it would be a very good example.
"You're dismissed, Nappa."
"What? I was ordered by the King to train the Prince all day."
"Well, I'm ordering you now to leave." Recely turned her back to him and continued her way out. "I will resume my Son's training personally."
Vegeta smiled evilly over his mother's shoulder as she carried him briskly down the hall and stuck his tongue out at Nappa.
Outside it was a lovely day. It was warm and the sun was shining. The garden looked beautiful even though the weeds were threatening to take over at any time.
Recely smiled at her little boy who was happily digging in the dirt. They were going to do some gardening them selves. She and the Prince had taken their armor off. Vegeta had thrown his into the pond and would've thrown himself in too if Recely hadn't reminded him that they were going to train.
"Mama, " Vegeta said as he finished his huge hole. "I don't think this is training."
"Yes it is." Recely smiled.
"I think you're being silly." Vegeta replied and sat in his hole. Recely began to make her own small hole.
"I'm going to teach you how to size up your opponent." Recely explained.
Vegeta looked at her understandingly. "We'll need scouters then."
"No we don't. I'm going to teach you to do it without a scouter."
"Okaaaaay." Vegeta replied skeptically. And started to bury himself in his hole.
Recely giggled. "Who's being silly now? We're going to plant Saiba seeds, not you."
"Saiba seeds?" Vegeta asked. "Is that what the saiba men eat?"
"You'll see." Recely replied pleasantly and took out a container. She put a seed into her hole and covered it over. Vegeta crawled out of the dirt curious as to what his mother was doing. She then poured green goo on the hole. Vegeta watched in awe as a saiba man grew in seconds.
Recely watched his reactions; afraid he would be frightened again. Soon his gaping mouth curved up into a smile.
"So, dere just seeds!" Vegeta stated amazed "and you grew them all!"
Recely laughed. She thought it was incredibly cute that her little boy thought that only she had the power to grow saiba men.
"You can grow one too."
"I want to! I want to now!" He exclaimed excited and made a new smaller hole like hers. She handed him the whole container and although he used a little bit too much of the growth formula, he did an overall good job. Vegeta immediately got up and started to run around with the saiba man he grew. She let him just play with both saiba men for over an hour. They ran around and tackled each other playfully. Recely was surprised but pleased to see that the saiba men instinctively sparred with the prince as well. Vegeta learned in no time at all how the saiba men moved and fought. He was quickly outsmarting them.
She stopped him after an hour and asked him some questions about his experience.
"So, what do you notice about the saiba men?"
"They're fast." Vegeta replied and crawled up on his mother's lap. The saiba men went to eat some berries from some of the bushes in the garden. "And loud." Vegeta added. He stood up and cupped his little hands around her ear. "But just between you and me, " He whispered. "They're not very smart."
Recely chuckled. "No, they're not. But they're good warriors nonetheless, aren't they?" Recely asked with a certain large thoughtless saiyan in mind.
"Yes." Vegeta agreed.
"So, you're not afraid of them anymore?"
"Nope."
"So, you'll fight them."
"Yes, all of them except Mysaiba."
"Your saiba?"
Vegeta nodded. Recely hadn't noticed when he was sparring but she remarked now that Vegeta had been avoiding sparring with the one he grew. His was a bit larger than hers was, probably because he used too much growth formula.
"Why not him?"
"Because he's my friend." Vegeta replied. "And I wouldn't want to hurt him."
Recely smiled. Unafraid and confident.
Vegeta got up and faced her.
"Are we done now, Mama?"
"I think so." Recely replied.
"Can I go show Beana Mysaiba?"
"Sure."
Vegeta laughed and ran to get his saiba man.
Recely got up and stretched. It was almost suppertime, she hadn't noticed how hungry she was. She picked up her armor off the ground. Vegeta was running towards the palace.
"Vegeta, fish your armor out of the pond before your father comes home and sees."
Vegeta obeyed. He ran right in and started splashing around.
Maybe that was a mistake, oh well. Recely observed a little too late. Getting splashed interrupted her thought.
"Why you little.." Recely mock scolded and went right into the pond after him with the intent of getting him back.
"You call that training?" The king demanded furiously of his queen. Recely had just finished explaining how she rid the Prince of his fear of saiba men. She had just finished putting the Prince to bed and was planning on finishing the book she had begun to read that afternoon when she was interrupted by Nappa, but she was interrupted again by a large, annoying saiyan.
"It worked didn't it?"
"He's going to be a weakling if you train him like that. It was mostly play. Now he'll expect all of his training sessions to be the same and he'll be in for a rude awakening when they're not."
"Oh, lighten up, Vegeta." Recely replied and turned to get her book from the shelf.
"I will not, Recely. He can't be weak in any way. Do you want him to save this planet or not?"
"Not if his happiness is sacrificed for it. This planet isn't worth that."
The king stuttered, shocked at his mate's blunt response. "Not worth it? You'd sooner have us be slaves for all eternity?"
"Humph!" Recely scoffed and sat down in her reading chair. "I doubt even Frieza has figured out a way to live for an eternity and besides, from what I've heard buzzing around this place is that the average saiyan likes destroying innocents. Why should we make everyone unhappy by shutting down the planet trade?"
"Listen little woman, we do what we have to. They like destroying planets as much as I do. I hate killing off species, it's wrong."
"Yeah, you proved that opinion of yours allright." Recely replied sarcastically. . He was a hypocrite in her eyes. He could've obtained planetary dominance without killing the Tsoofur-jin, but he wanted to have some fun She hated her mate, if it wasn't for her son she'd attack him outright. Even then the king probably wouldn't kill her. He loved her more than anything.
"You dare chastise me?" The King erupted. "I did what I felt was needed to be done at the time. I admit that I was wrong to destroy all of them, but believe me there were a good deal of them that deserved to be destroyed!
"And who do you think you are to go and make that decision?"
The King glared at her with fury in his dark eyes. "I was young Recely and I made a mistake." He replied patiently. " I don't want to continue repeating it for the rest of my life."
"Then take responsibility for this planet, Vegeta."
"I have!"
"No, you've passed that responsibility onto our son!"
"He will be the King!"
"Yes, but right now he is the Prince and you are the King. He won't be able to rule this planet for a long time, Vegeta. So, you need to make a decision, either you handle this problem that is Frieza or you wait and let Vegeta grow up before passing the problem onto him."
The King was obviously still angry with her. He loved her, but sometimes her familiarity with him got on his nerves.
"The Prince is not a normal child, Recely." The king stated calmly. Recely gave up hope with that statement remembering how Sage had stubbornly upheld that belief of Letta. But the King was much more stubborn in his belief. He doesn't think of Vegeta as our son, he's only the prince to him. An object for his usage.
"He will surpass my power level within a few years." The King continued beginning to pace the floor in front of his mate's chair. "This planet will have a very young King at that time, one that needs to be fully trained. Whether he chooses to oppose Frieza then or not is up to him, but I must prepare him for that option. I wouldn't be any kind of a father if I didn't prepare him, now would I?"
Recely watched him patiently as he confronted her, waiting for an answer. She had to admit that he was right. But she believed that they could still guide him. If his father would only treat him with a little more respect.
"He puts his very best into everything." Recely mumbled to herself.
"I know."
"Then show him that you appreciate that." Recely opened her book to the page she left off at." He needs that from you." The King turned to leave.
"All right, I will then. As long as you promise to train him in a more orthodox way."
"Fine, I promise." Recely agreed, unwillingly. She felt he'd missed the point entirely. "As long as you promise to remember that he is just a child and doesn't have the capabilities of an adult. No matter how much you train him, you can't add 15 years onto his life."
The king smiled at her warmly then continued his way out. Recely rolled her eyes at his back. The king was forgetful and the Prince was mischievous. She knew that he'd forget the next time the child got on his nerves.
Chapter 9: Disaster
Recely winced. Not because she was in pain but because she had inflicted pain on her child. Prince Vegeta rolled across the floor and slammed against the wall. Recely felt incredibly guilty. She didn't like training her son this way. She liked using words better but she had to train him in the Elite tradition, which was experience training.
The King had insisted she do this a week ago. He had told her that children who were trained properly at the Prince's age grew into extremely talented and powerful warriors. Recely didn't think the method mattered very much, but the King insisted and she knew that if she disregarded his wishes she wouldn't be spending any time with her child anymore. Besides, Recely thought and glanced at Nappa, who was monitoring the session, it's better than that ass-hole beating my little boy.
Vegeta lay on the floor motionless. It was the third time he'd trained with his mother and his father had been right. The prince did expect a more nurturing kind of training from his mother and he had had a very rude awakening.
Recely's heart ached, she wanted to comfort him, but she just couldn't with Nappa watching. For Nappa had the largest mouth of any male saiyan on the planet. Recely swore there was actually an old gossipy hag inside his massive exterior.
A few minutes passed and Vegeta did not get up. Recely was getting worried; he usually stood up quicker.
"Get up, Prince." Nappa instructed. No response. Recely panicked. She was sure she hadn't hit him that hard, but her son wasn't showing any signs of life.
"Vegeta?" Recely asked in a concerned voice.
Vegeta looked up at her with red brimmed eyes. "Yes Mamma?" he said meekly.
"Get up, Prince, stop wasting time." Nappa ordered forcefully. Recely turned her neck and shot a warning glance at him. Nappa appeared shaken by the gesture. This somewhat surprised Recely. Nappa had always acted like he was better than she was. Humph, coward! He's seen the wounds I gave the King.
That's it! Recely decided. Enough of this. I'm the queen and his mother and I'll train him in the way I feel is best for him.
"That's enough for today." Recely announced.
Nappa cocked an eyebrow at her a little confused.
"But.." He started.
"I said this is enough." Recely replied, took her son by the hand and led him out of the room. As she had suspected, her mate had not listened to her opinions at all the week before and had not rewarded their son for his exceptional behavior in any way. She decided that it was time for her to give him that reward.
Nappa shrugged and casually followed. He figured if the King had a problem he could take it up with his queen and not him, since it wasn't his decision to end training five hours early.
The King had returned from his meeting with Frieza in a bad mood. This wasn't unusual; Frieza always set King Vegeta in a bad mood. To make his agitation worse he'd found Nappa sweet-talking some ladies in the palace sitting room upon his return. The King demanded the young warrior why he wasn't training the Prince like he had been ordered and, of course, Nappa obediently told him who had cut the training session short.
So, the King immediately went to find his mate and voice his displeasure, but was stopped on the way to her chambers by the racket emanating from the prince's.
The King flung the doors open causing the laughter to cease. Prince Vegeta, his saiba man and Letta, who had obviously come for a visit, stopped there jumping on the bed and stared at the unwelcome guest.
"Hello, Papa." Vegeta said unconcerned. His mother had given Letta and him permission to play with the saiba man in his room.
"What the hell do you think you're doing? That bed is for sleeping not jumping!"
Prince Vegeta scowled at his father, angry that his fun had been interrupted.
"It's my bed and my room and I'll do what I want in it." Vegeta saucily replied.
The vein in the king's forehead throbbed as he tried to contain his rage in front of Letta, who was slowly creeping off the bed.
"Letta, go find something else to do." The King said calmly. Letta quickly finished getting off the bed, thankful for the dismissal; she hurried out of the room.
"But we were playing!" Vegeta protested in frustration. He rarely had a playmate and was angered that the privilege was being taken away. He didn't understand what he'd done to make his father angry. It was his mother who stopped training early, not him, and she said he could do whatever he wanted for the rest of the day.
"You're supposed to be in training now!" the King replied sternly.
"But Mama said.."
"I don't care what your mother said, you know better, Vegeta. You know that I expect you to train by yourself when there is no one around for you to train with." The King angrily interrupted his son's excuse. Then he folded his arms and waited for a better excuse and an apology. What the Prince had to say did not please his father.
"But Mama said.." Vegeta began again in a meek voice. The King grabbed him buy the front of his shirt and hoisted him into the air at arms length.
The Saiba man was angered by the king's rough treatment of Vegeta and lunged at the offender. Vegeta screamed for him to stop too late. The King batted the creature away with his free arm. It bounced off the floor then lay still, unconscious. Vegeta wailed in horror, he was too young to be able to decipher between unconscious and dead, so he feared the worst.
"Shut up!" The King said shaking him. "It's your own fault! What did I tell you about that thing?"
Vegeta sniffed trying to hold back tears. "Y..you said I couldn't have him."
"Why are you constantly disobeying me?" the King demanded, still holding the child by the shirt.
"I wasn't disobeying." He took a deep breath about to attempt his explanation one more time. "Mama said that since I've been training so hard all the time and being so well behaved that I deserved a break for today. Just for today, I promise I'll train real hard tomorrow, Papa. So, I didn't disobey you 'cause you didn't say that I couldn't. And as for Mysaiba, Mama said that I could play with him for just a little while. I was going to put him back outside before supper."
The King looked at his son unmoved by his speech.
"You are the Prince of this planet, Vegeta. Someday you will be king. I'm getting sick of explaining this to you! You need to train every single day, no breaks! As King, I don't get breaks from running this Kingdom."
Vegeta's lip quivered in frustration. "But I did train today, we just stopped early. That's not so bad is it?"
"Vegeta, what did I just say?"
"You said that I was the Prince and someday I will be the King and the King doesn't get breaks."
"Good, you were listening after all. You have to train everyday, all day. Breaks will make you weak. The Prince of all Saiyans can't be weak."
"Maybe I don't want to be the Prince of all saiyans then." Vegeta blurted out in anger.
With that the King threw his son off the floor, hard. The Prince cried out in fear rather than in pain. He pushed himself into a sitting position, took one look at his father's furious face and instinctively slid backwards across the floor. Which was a big mistake.
"Little weakling!" The King spat disgustedly at the Prince's retreat. "You don't deserve to be my heir!"
"I'm s...sorry, P...Papa! It slipped out, I didn't mean it."
The King walked over to him slowly then kicked his son in the face, sending him flat on his back. The King then placed his foot on the Prince's outstretched tail. Vegeta didn't move or complain. He instinctively knew that he should remain perfectly still in this situation.
"You can't take back that little slip of the tongue with more words, Vegeta. You're going to have to prove to me that you're a worthy heir to my throne."
The King shifted his weight to apply more pressure to his son's tail. Despite a small gasp of surprise the Prince emitted he made no reaction. His father himself told him that to attack a saiyan in his weak spot was dishonorable. Vegeta had always considered his father an honorable man, the fact that he was acting in this way was worse than the pain he was inflicting.
"Papa, I'm sorry, it was mistake to say that! I promise that I won't ever complain again."
The king scowled at little Vegeta. He had told him that he didn't want words and that was all he was fighting back with. He wanted to see the anger he showed in his infancy, the power he had used to defend himself. The King put all his weight on his son's tail, popping the tiny vertebrae and inflicting pain that the child had never imagined possible.
"Papa stop, please!" Prince Vegeta cried out. The King furiously kicked him across the room. He slammed headfirst into the wall, leaving a massive dent, and lay motionless but not unconscious. The King waited for Vegeta to get up and attack him. He'd done more than enough to enrage the child. He didn't understand why the boy's defensive instincts hadn't kicked in yet.
Instead of Vegeta getting up he lay on the floor and began to sob uncontrollably. He knew that he shouldn't, that his father would find it completely unacceptable behavior, but he couldn't help it.
The King picked him up by the front of his shirt, yet again then slammed him against the wall, pinning him there level with his face.
"What the hell is the matter with you? I've been training you for months! Why won't you fight back?" the King demanded. This wasn't the kind of Prince he wanted as his heir. He needed someone who wasn't afraid of a higher figure than himself.
"B..b..be..cause..you..you're..m..mmm..my ..Papa." Vegeta choked out between sobs.
"So, you'll surpass me someday, everyone will expect you to kill me. I expect you to kill me!"
Vegeta looked at him mournfully and sobbed harder.
"I..I d..ddon't ..cc..care. I.. I won't..K..kk..kill you. I C..ca..an't!"
The King looked at his son's blood smeared face and was completely disgusted at the tears washing that blood away. Saiyans did not act like that. They didn't admit to the things the Prince was admitting to. Love? That was not considered important to saiyans. If the King's father had attacked him like that at the Prince's age he would be all over the man. The King wanted his son to be the perfect Saiyan not the sentimental weakling he was fast turning into and King Vegeta knew exactly who to blame for that.
He let go of the boy and he dropped limply to the floor. Vegeta looked up at him expectantly, wondering if his roundabout proclamation of his love had any effect on his father.
The King glared scornfully at the boy. If this doesn't provoke a defense in him nothing will. He can choose between his life or his sentimental attachment to me.
"If you refuse to challenge my position as ruler of this planet then you are blatantly refusing the position yourself. I don't have time to waste on uncommitted Prince's, Vegeta. Therefore, you must die!"
Prince Vegeta tried to protest but he could not make the words he was thinking audible. He shrank back against the wall terrified as his father powered up and extended his arm towards him.
"Goodbye, Prince." The King said distastefully and was about to fire.
Prince Vegeta closed his eyes whiting for oblivion. He heard a crash and thought it was all over, but soon realized that he could still fell the stabbing pain in his tail and knew that he was still alive.
He opened one eye and saw his Mother standing over him, scowling in the direction of the opposite wall. He looked over and saw a gaping hole in his bedroom wall revealing the pink sky outside. His father was no where to be seen.
Moments later the king reappeared outside, hovering just outside the hole in the wall. He growled and flew towards her. Recely growled herself and lunged right back. The two locked in hand to hand combat, punching and kicking each other in midair. Vegeta was terrified; he'd never seen his mother in a fight. She was attacking the King like a savage, clawing at his face and ripping open his flesh. The King was having trouble holding his own against her, something overtook her body. She'd never fought with him like that before. She grabbed him by the neck and flung him backward over her head. He landed on the floor ten feet away. Recely then whirled around and flung a massive power ball at him. He had tried to rise off the floor but the ball hit him on the chest and shoulder. He slammed back down to the ground and lay there stunned.
Recely took the opportunity to retrieve her son and get he hell out of there.
The commotion was enough to gather a small crowd. They watched dis-believingly as the queen tore out of the room holding her severely injured son. Then they were even more surprised to see the king stagger out of the room after her, barely able to stand.
No one dare speak to him. The king seemed to be in a world all his own. Slowly he looked at them.
"Don't you people have work to do?" He demanded in a weakened voice. Everyone departed quickly and the king continued his way down the hall, leaving a small trail of blood behind.
Recely stared at their son through the glass of the rejuvenation tank. Tears streamed down her face. The Doctors said that he would be fine in a day or so, but she still cried.
Why would Vegeta do this to him? She wondered. How could he be so cruel to his own son?
"You're careless, woman." The King said as he walked in the infirmary. The doctors moved out of the way and tried to look busy, but listened intently to what would no doubt be a juicy conversation, perfect material for gossip.
Queen Recely turned and looked at him unimpressed. She couldn't believe that she had ever been afraid of him. She thought she would never have the power to beat him, but now she knew that tit was possible.
"You should have finished me off when you had the chance. Do you really think I'm so hurt that I couldn't kill you?"
Recely stood in front of the rejuvenation tank protectively. "Come any closer and I'll finish you off."
"You wouldn't" The king hissed.
"Try me!" Recely snapped back. "I'll rip you to pieces if you attack our son again!"
The King remained silent and glared at her. Blood dripped from his scalp to the floor and he took deep breaths through clenched teeth making himself look threatening despite the appearance of his bludgeoned body.
"What are you contemplating, Vegeta?" Recely demanded. "Are you thinking about destroying your son and I and getting yourself a more ideal family?"
"Damn it woman! Can't you see that I love you both!" the King erupted cringing internally at his confession. Love, the emotion he despised, as it was not ideally saiyan. He would never admit it to anyone else but his queen. He considered himself a flawed saiyan because of it, and he did not want his son developing the trait. "I love you!" HE repeated distastefully. "I the King of the saiyans loves his child. No saiyan loves their child! Don't you understand that? To do so is a show of weakness. You made me weak, woman!" Spat the king. " You made me weak and you're making our brat weak. That's why I push him so hard, I don't want him killed."
"And yet you attempted to kill him yourself?" Recely spat back, indicating his hypocracy and letting him know that she thought his speech was a load of shit.
"I wasn't going to kill him!"
"It sure looked like you were."
"If you had've minded your own damned business you would've seen that I was just trying to provoke the brat. He's only been training for two months, Recely, I don't expect him to be a warrior yet. I just wanted him to fight back!" He yelled, then clamed down. " I don't understand why he wouldn't defend himself."
Recely shook her head and laughed disdainfully.
"You are an idiot Vegeta. A person only defends his or herself against things that they see as a threat. Vegeta didn't see you as a threat. He understood that you were angry with him, but he didn't expect you to harm him like that."
"Damn! He's already weak, and this is only the beginning!" Complained the king, clenching his fists.
Recely shook her head again.
"You don't get it Vegeta, you broke your bond with him today. Why would he do what you say? You don't respect him and yet you demand he respect you. Well, I've got news for you. He won't respect you, ever! He won't listen to anything you have to teach him. You didn't even consider that, did you? All you cared about was what everyone would say about your so called perfect saiyan genes if the Prince turned out weak!"
The Speech didn't have the desired effect on the king. Perhaps it was because he truly was an idiot and that he truly didn't care. But it was more likely the Kings injured pride.
"Didn't you understand me, Recely, he's already weak and the only person to blame for that is you with your low class heritage. That combined with your incessant coddling of him. I've made my decision. I guess I am an idiot, for if I were wise, I'd destroy you or at least exile you from the planet, but I won't. You will remain in the Palace, but you will not have free access to the prince. The only time you are henceforth permitted to be with him is in my presence unless I tell you otherwise."
Recely growled in rage. "That's not fair Vegeta! He's my son too, I have aright to be with him whenever I wish!"
"He's the prince and can not be spoiled by such unnecessary and frivolous privileges as those you grant him."
"Play time is necessary for a child! It's how they learn!" Recely replied furiously.
"He's the Prince! Maybe that's how weaker saiyans learn but the elite have better education methods!"
Recely glared at him and decided to drop this conversation. She would never convince him to allow little Vegeta time to himself. Besides, she had a much larger problem to deal with now.
" I'll fight for my right to be with him!"
"Undoubtedly," The King replied and chuckled almost evilly. "But, be fore-warned that your defiance of my order will come with a price, one that Prince Vegeta will have to pay."
"Price?" Recely spat through clenched teeth. She scowled at him so much that she could hardly see through the slits of her eyelids.
"Yes, the Price of cleansing him of all the weakness he's doused with every time you're together. I think I've done a good job of cleansing him of it today. He'll remember, and contrary to your belief he will respect me. He knows I mean business now, and he'll respond to the training better."
Her eyes popped open, appalled that he'd punish her disobedience by harming their child. She was regretting being so anxious about providing him with little Vegeta. Had she known he'd treat him this way she would've said to hell with her family and killed herself on the spot.
"I'm truly sorry Recely. I love you both. That's why I'm doing this. It will be hard on the both of you now, but when he's fully trained it will be worth it. He'll defeat Frieza and the three of us can be together for the rest of our days, safe and free!"
The King went to touch her face but Recely violently slapped his hand away.
" None of this will ever be worth it!" She spat venomously and ran out of the room.
Recely flung open the doors to her chambers then whirled around and slammed them as hard as she could behind her. To her disappointment, they didn't shatter.
Letta heard her come in and ran to meet her. She'd heard the fighting form the prince's room and had been worrying frantically ever since the noise stopped.
"Is Vegeta all right?" Letta demanded in extreme concern, her eyes puffy from tears.
Recely looked down at the little girl, but instead of seeing her sister, she saw another possible blackmail object for the king's use.
"Get your things together. You're going back to school immediately." Recely said in the nicest voice that she could muster, which was not nice at all.
"What's wrong?" Letta asked urgently.
"Do as I say." Recely calmly responded.
"But Recely.."
"GO!" Recely yelled. Letta then immediately obeyed.
Recely walked into her sitting room and collapsed into a chair. She tilted her head back and breathed shallowly.
"I..I'm ready." Letta said nervously and stood in front of her sister very concerned. Recely had never yelled at her before.
"Good, now listen carefully." Recely said as she leaned forward putting her face at eye level with Letta's.
"You are to stay with the scientists. You're not to ever come back here, do you understand?"
"No." Letta replied honestly. "Why can't I come back?"
"You can't come back because the King can't be trusted."
"Why, he was so nice to us before."
"He was never nice to us, Letta. The King was the worst thing that could've possibly come into our lives. He'll use you against me, like he's using Vegeta against me now."
"Is Vegeta all right?" Letta repeated her previous question. She didn't quite understand why her sister was so sad and upset. Just how was the King using the Prince?
"He's fine." Recely lied. Physically he would be fine, but mentally, Recely knew that he had already been traumatized beyond repair and somehow she had to prevent that from happening to him again.
The liquid surrounding Vegeta slowly drained from the isolation tank. He wanted to open his eyes and breathe on his own, but he knew that he was supposed to wait until the doctor told him that it was OK to remove the breathing mask. It didn't take long for this to happen and he was allowed to stand up. He almost fell down again. His tail still hurt tremendously even after his treatment.
HE stepped onto the cold floor outside the tank and felt goosebumps appear on his bate arms and legs. HE wanted a towel but he was afraid to ask. His father was there waiting for him. Vegeta stared at the floor afraid to look at him.
"Are you all right?" His father demanded in a tone that masked the concern he had for his child.
"Yes." Vegeta replied simply in a meek voice.
The King turned his back to him and walked away. Beana promptly went over to the Prince and wrapped him in warmed towels and gently guided him to the doctors waiting for him by the examination table. They would decide whether the he needed more time in the tank or not. After about ten minutes they determined that no more treatment would be necessary and gave instructions to Beana concerning his care for recovery. They also assured the King that Prince's ability to transform would not be harmed.
The King then ordered that his son be taken to his bedroom. Vegeta couldn't remember exactly what had happened to him. All he could remember was his father being angrier than he had ever been before and stepping on his tail. After that it was a blur. But after Beana got him settled into his bed and comfortable he noticed that something was different about his bedroom. It was clean, it didn't look like there had been a battle in there, but something else was different. It took the Prince a few moments to figure out just what it was that was odd about his little space in the world.
He gasped as he realized the door to his mother's chambers was missing and his father entered the room from his own. "Where's Mama?" Vegeta wailed just as his father entered the room through the doors adjoining to his chamber. "What did you do to her?" Prince Vegeta accused as the man advanced on his son and the very nervous nursemaid.
Prince Vegeta remembered what had happened now. His mother had saved him. She attacked his father and won. No one attacked the King, and no one had ever won; therefore, He feared the worse for her.
The King ordered Beana to leave, and after that was done he turned to his upset child and scowled at his pathetic expression in disgust. "I sent her to some appointments on my behalf." The King replied. "I didn't do anything to her."
"But the door!" Vegeta protested, pointing at the wall.
"You've both lost the privilege of each other's company. When you redeem yourselves, I'll replace the door." The King replied matter of factly.
Prince Vegeta started to pant and looked from the wall to his father then back. He started to whine and tears rolled down his cheeks. He didn't want his mother taken away from him.
"SHUT UP!" The King bellowed making the Prince start and stare at him terrified. "Enough of that pathetic whimpering! Saiyans don't go on like that and you're the Prince for pity's sake, you have to set an example for our people."
Prince Vegeta stopped crying and changed his expression from one of fear to one of rage.
"WHY!" He demanded, clenching his trembling fists.
"Because, neither of you take your position on this planet seriously. Until the two of you start behaving the way I want you're not to see each other. Do you understand? If you want to be with your mother then you had better start paying attention to what I tell you and try harder, because if you don't, Vegeta, I swear I'll exile her."
"You wouldn't!" Vegeta said shocked.
"I certainly would, don't tempt me to prove it."
"D..don't y..you love her?" Vegeta stammered trying to hold back tears.
"I have a responsibility to my planet and my people," The King replied, ignoring the question his son had posed." and that responsibility involves training you to be a good king and the best Saiyan of all so you can get rid of Frieza! That way we can all be free. Non of us are free, Vegeta. Don't you want to be free?"
The Prince nodded assuredly.
"Well then, if we are to be free than you need to kill Frieza."
"But why me? It's not fair!" Vegeta yelled in frustration. He didn't understand why he alone out of all the people in the entire e universe was the one destined to destroy the ruthless Frieza.
"As I just said, Prince, you are the best." The king replied as calmly as he could, his paper-thin patience was wearing very, very thin.
"No, I'm not, there's plenty of people stronger than me. I'm not strong enough."
"Not yet. But you're very young and have time to get strong." The King sat on the bed facing his son and took a hold of his face gently but firmly so that he had no choice but to pay attention and make eye contact with his father as he spoke.
"Vegeta, do have any idea how strong you are?"
" I was the strongest saiyan ever born." He replied mechanically. Everyone knew on the planet knew that. The probability of him being the strongest saiyan of his peers later was almost definite. "But father, what about those races that are stronger than saiyans to begin with?"
"There are stronger warriors than you now. But you forget, Vegeta, that you are very, very young. Yes, you were born phenomenally strong, the strongest saiyan ever born in the history of all saiyans. There was only one other saiyan that possessed such natural strength and that was the super saiyan. Don't you understand Vegeta? You will be the next super saiyan, I know it!"
Vegeta's eyes widened in surprise.
"You will be the strongest saiyan of all. Then if you keep training with great determination you'll surpass Frieza and become the ruler of the entire universe."
"I don't know." Vegeta replied unsure.
"You will rule the Universe Vegeta, because you are the best. But I need you to train harder."
"I am training hard."
Not hard enough." The King disagreed." There must be nothing else on your mind but training. You need to cast off any desire you have for anything else and strive for perfection in fighting. You need to forget about toys, and play. You will have time enough for such things when you are ruler of the cosmos, my son."
"But Mama, I need her."
The King stood up and looked down at him. "You don't need anybody but yourself, Vegeta. A good warrior relies on no one. That is the way Frieza works. He cares for nothing and no one. Mimic that behavior, son. Care for nothing and no one until you have everything."
Vegeta looked at the bedcovers and sighed. His father didn't understand he didn't want everything, there was only one thing he wanted and he was sure now that he'd never be able to achieve it. The Prince did not share his Father's ambition, but he still wanted to please him and make him proud.
The King walked across the room and turned off the light.
"Now, go to sleep. You need to rest in order to recover. We have to recommence your training as soon as possible."
Recely angrily tossed books from the shelves in her sitting room the next morning. She wanted to rid herself of everything the King gave to her. She was enraged.
She looked over at the wall where the doors to her child's room used to be and threw one of the books at it.
It wasn't enough for him to just threaten me! Recely complained internally and biffed more books across the room.
"Queen Recely," a servant asked.
"What." Recely demanded impatiently. She wasn't in the mood to be polite.
"The Prince requested the care of his saiba man be entrusted to you. I took the liberty of reseeding it." He held out the container and growth formula to the queen. She took it from him and stared at it.
"Tell the Prince that I will keep it safe." The queen said understanding that Vegeta feared for his friend's safety with his father around. She had seen the creature unconscious the day before and guessed who had rendered it so.
She then brought it to her desk and locked it in the top drawer. She then attached the key to her mother's necklace for safekeeping.
"At least I can do something for him." Recely said depressed and began to pick up the books she'd thrown around.
She growled frustrated. I want Vegeta to be mine and only mine.
"Come on, you can do much better than that!" Nappa chastised his student.
The Prince growled, angry that his best hadn't been good enough. He had to try harder. His father was watching.
The King leaned against a tree in the courtyard watching his son train. He smiled as the Prince lunged himself at Nappa when the warrior turned his head ever so slightly to inspect some servant women that had come outside with some laundry that needed to be air dried. The Prince picked up on his trainer's distraction and took the opportunity to show him just what he could do. He punched. The Prince's tiny fist connected dead on with Nappa's jaw. Nappa stumbled backwards and wiped his own spit from his face.
"Why you little..." He exclaimed and dove at his student in a fit of choler. Vegeta saw this coming ahead of time and was prepared to jump out of the way. He did a somersault over Nappa's head as he went to grab him. The massive warrior skidded across the grass on face down and smashed his face on the trunk of a tree.
King Vegeta burst out laughing at Nappa's foolishness. His temper always got the better of him and caused him to make stupid mistakes. Prince Vegeta smiled quite pleased with himself.
"Well done, Prince. I'm impressed." The King said proudly. Prince Vegeta beamed at this compliment, ecstatic that he'd managed to please his father.
"And so am I." Said a voice. The cleaning ladies gasped and quickly returned inside the Palace.
Frieza accompanied by Zarbon and Dodoria crossed the courtyard.
The king went to his son and stood in front of him protectively. Nappa frantically tried to wipe the grass stains from his bare chest and took a position on one knee and bowed submissively.
Vegeta stood behind his Father very confused. He had never seen Nappa submit like that to anyone besides his Father, then to his astonishment his father did the same as Nappa.
"Greetings, Lord Frieza." King Vegeta stated, then got up. Prince Vegeta unconsciously grabbed on to the King's pant leg and examined Frieza from the protection of his father.
"Hello, Vegeta. It's a lovely day on your planet. I was just on my way home form the last planet you occupied for me, the clients are very pleased with it. I thought since I was passing by I'd drop in and congratulate you in person."
"Thank you Lord Frieza. But the compliment does not belong to me alone, my men are very hard workers and are proud to be your servants."
"Yes I know." Frieza replied somewhat uninterested. His eyes were focused on the child nearly completely hidden behind the King's massive leg.
"Is this the little Prince I've heard so much about?"
The King chuckled nervously. "Yes." He replied as he removed his leg from in front of his son and gently nudged him with it into the open for Frieza's inspection.
To the king's relief, Vegeta didn't cower. He stood up like he was facing any of the elite.
Frieza studied him and smiled.
"I watched you fight. You're quite the little warrior."
Vegeta stared at him, not knowing how to respond to that.
"You like fighting, don't you?"
"Yes." Vegeta promptly answered.
"Come here." Frieza ordered and motioned towards him self with his index finger.
Vegeta looked up to his Father for his approval. The King motioned with his head for him to obey.
Vegeta walked up to Frieza's hover throne like he would walk up to anyone, proudly. He stopped a bout three feet in front of it and looked up expectantly at the warrior.
Frieza chuckled pleasantly. "How strong are you, little Prince."
"My Power level is 890." Vegeta replied.
"Goodness, you don't look that strong!" Frieza stated in over-exaggerated astonishment.
"Well, Father says that you're the most powerful being in the entire universe and you don't look that strong."
King Vegeta went bug eyed at his son's bold observation.
Frieza belly laughed at the child. His tail twitched happily. Then it swung. Then it lashed out and smashed the Prince on the side, causing him to go flying through the air and slam into the tree his Father had been leaning against.
"HEY!" Nappa cried out in anger. The King held up his hand to him, warning him to control himself.
Prince Vegeta was hurt but he got up quickly, quite unsteady and looked at his still laughing attacker. He was confused as to what he should do. The pain on the side of his body where he slammed into the tree was excruciating, as was the side where Frieza had struck him with his tail. Vegeta never suspected that a tail could be used to attack. It was taking all his strength to keep himself standing. He would've gladly remained on the ground but he didn't want his Father to be ashamed of him.
"Papa...." He whined and stumbled over behind his father's leg again. The King allowed the small display of weakness considering that not even he was expecting the attack. Had the attack come from an elite the King would've been angry at his son's whining, but the attack came form Frieza, the fact that his child was still conscious was testimonial to his great strength.
King Vegeta examined Frieza's facial expressions, trying to determine whether or not the lord of the universe realized his son's great strength as well.
Frieza stopped laughing and looked at the Prince again.
"Well, Princeling, we now both know that looks can be deceiving. I'm very impressed." He turned to King Vegeta. "You've got something to be proud of there."
"I know." The King replied solemnly. He was quite angry with Frieza for attacking his son like that. Vegeta didn't know any better than to say what he did. That was his mother coming out in him, she said whatever she liked.
"I have a job for you, Vegeta." Frieza started then continued to relay the particulars of the task to his servant. Without being told, Nappa came over to the King and Prince and picked the ailing child up then headed towards the palace.
Vegeta watched his father over Nappa's shoulder as they walked away. When they got into the palace, Vegeta whined again, only more loudly than before.
"Don't be upset Prince. You acted the way your father wanted."
"But.."
"You now understand why your father is always pushing you so hard, don't you?"
"Yes." Vegeta replied with a sniff. The pain was getting unbearable.
"We'll get you fixed up."
Vegeta decided right then that he hated Frieza.
Recely stood alone in the far corner of King Vegeta's siting room, staring out of the massive picture window at the city. She hardly noticed anything going on around her. The King was having a party for some reason. Recely did not care to know what it was for, there had been no occupation of late. She felt the party in bad taste considering that not two days before they were at eachother's throats.
A servant offered her some refreshments and she sent him away with a hand gesture. She normally wouldn't have used an action she considered so rude, but she was in no mood to be polite. She was angered by the fact that the King obviously expected her to help him entertain his guests after what he'd done to her and her child. Recely had a surprise for him though. She absolutely refused to talk to anyone but Argo or Sala.
Argo made an attempt to console her. Promising that he would talk to his best friend, but Recely doubted that that would work. The King seemed determined to keep her away from her child at all costs.
The sensation of her cape being tugged broke her reflection. She glanced down, expecting Sala again but was pleased to see her son smiling up at her. Recely faintly smiled back hoping that the King was not watching. She glanced over in his direction and felt her heart sink as she saw that he was watching, intently. Recely pleaded with her eyes for him to allow her a small conversation with her child but the King wasn't going to allow it. He shot a fierce warning glance at her, none like she had ever seen before. It was absolutely savage.
Recely's smile, faint as it was, gave Vegeta enough indication to start talking. "Mama, did you hear what happened to me yesterday?" He asked proudly, remembering how his Father told Frieza that he was proud of his him. But he saw his mother staring across the room and not listening to him.
"Mama?" he prodded and tugged at her cape a few times to regain her attention.
Instead of answering her son's plea, she turned to his nursemaid.
"It's well past his bed-time." She stated simply, with a hint of regret that only Beana noticed.
"But..." Vegeta protested as his mother led him away from her with her hand on the back of his head.
"Good-night, Vegeta." Recely stated as Beana took him by the hand and led him through groups scattered all over the room. Vegeta stared back at her as he was led. The look on his face broke his mother's heart. But she knew that if she did not shun him that his father would hurt him. She didn't want that to happen.
Recely returned her gaze to the king, demanding to know if he was satisfied. He responded by turning towards one of his elite and began conversing with him, ignoring the queen's presence once again.
Recely hmph'd and returned her attention to her city gazing.
He will be mine and only mine! I swear!
Hey! Senzubean here! I Hope you've enjoyed the story so far. It continues on in "The Prince". The focus switches from Recely to Vegeta. That's why I split it up into two different fics. Happy reading!