The Prince:
Chapter 2: Day of Happiness. Night of Sadness.
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.
Four saiyan children watched their Prince in disbelief. Never had they seen a child as small as him put that much food away. They had all eaten their fill hours ago. Vegeta swallowed the last bite of the dessert, sunk back in his chair and sighed satisfied. Chote and Tuce heaved their own sighs, of relief. They were now broke and they were both at their wits end trying to figure out how they were going to tell the heir tot he throne "no" when he requested another desert.
"I've never had dessert before." Vegeta stated pleased.
"Not even if you eat all of your dinner?" Chote asked.
"I have to eat all my dinner or my father yells at me." Vegeta replied. " I'm not allowed to have any junk food."
"Why?" Oniya and Chote asked in unison. They couldn't believe a parent could be so cruel as to deny their child a simple pleasure like dessert.
"Father says that it's just empty calories and that I'll waste energy burning them off. "
"Makes sense." Tuce replied. Oniya and Chote looked at him skeptically. "Although, " Tuce hastily continued realizing his response to be unpopular. "I don't see how a little could hurt once and awhile.."
"That's what I suggested to Father." Vegeta agreed. "But he just lectured me on why I couldn't."
"That sucks." Chote replied.
"Yes." Vegeta agreed. Then smiled. "But that's okay because when I'm King , I'm going to have nothing but dessert for every course of every meal."
"Well, you certainly made a pig of yourself today!" Sala observed. "You completely forgot your manners."
"At least I have manners to forget." Retorted Vegeta.
Sala scowled and was about to retort herself when a group of loud men entered the restaurant, covered with dirt and a little blood. The waitresses stopped what they were doing and stared at them nervously. They were wearing Frieza's uniforms indicating that they were occupationalists.
Vegeta didn't recognize them but slid under the table anyway just in case they recognized him. This action unnerved his company but they tried to carry on like nothing was wrong and discreetly listened to the conversation.
"So, " one man asked his comrades as they sat at a booth a few booths down form where the kids were sitting. " What riot should we join?"
"Heh! The one that's causing the most damage, of course!" Another replied and they all laughed.
"I bet the king is getting pretty pissed off right about now." Another continued.
"Woman! Get your fat ass over here with some drinks!" another one yelled, they all laughed. The waitress scowled at them, but hurried to complete the order.
The man stifled his laughter and continued on. "Well, it's his own fault. If he'd pay us a decent amount for the work we do then we wouldn't have to try and persuade him like this. The only people he considers on this planet are the elite"
"He's not a very good king, that's for sure. The Queen isn't so bad, she runs this whole planet while he goes off on occupations, cutting down on manpower, cheap bastard! But The Queen washes her hands of occupations, she can't appreciate our situation.."
"She's a weak woman."
"They say she's strong, the most powerful woman on the planet. And the second strongest saiyan."
"Ha! No woman could be the second strongest. Especially not her, have you seen her?"
"Yeah, she's nothing to be scared of. Just some skinny little girl. She's never given public display of her power. No elite hides their power. She obviously doesn't have any power to flaunt."
"She must be strong. Look at the Prince."
"That doesn't mean anything. The King could have any woman he wanted."
"So?"
"Idiot! The kid's not hers!"
"Still, she's considered his mother. If the prince were taught to govern like her then maybe by the time he's king he'll fix this problem. He might be more considerate than his father, the queen sure is."
"They say he won't be King for at least another seven years. I sure don't want to wait that long for some decent money. And besides, I heard that the Queen isn't even allowed near the kid, he's probably just like his father."
"You mean an idiot."
"Yeah."
The men started to scream at the waitress again who hadn't returned with the drinks. They got fed up waiting and left, loudly and not without breaking everything they could get their hands on on the way out. As soon as they were gone Vegeta crawled out from under the table and sat with a scowl scrunching up his little face.
"Assholes!" Sala exclaimed. "They can't insult Recely like that! C'mon Vegeta!"
"To do what, Sala?"
"To kill them. They're only middle class saiyans at best. I could most likely take them all on myself."
"Hmph!" Vegeta scoffed. "That would sure put a stop those rumors." He added sarcastically.
"It would at least shut them up."
Vegeta shook his head in exasperation.
"No, that'll just make things worse for father and he's stressed enough. People are going to say things and we cant do anything about it. People will believe what they want."
"But what they said.."
"Father told me not to pay attention to such nonsense. Besides, you and I both know that that's not true. Mother is the second strongest Saiyan. She.. she just doesn't like to fight."
"Really." Tuce asked. "I thought that all saiyans .."
"Not my mother." Vegeta interrupted. "She doesn't. I don't know why."
All four children decided to let the conversation drop there. Although none of them, not even Sala understood why the queen was not a willing fighter. It didn't make sense for her to go against instinct.
"What upsets me," Vegeta continued. "Is that they think Father is greedy."
"He isn't?" Oniya asked.
Vegeta shook his head no.
"Father wants to pay the ocupationalists more. The more money they have, the wealthier the planet is. It's just that Frieza isn't paying him anymore for the planets we conquer for him. Now we're nothing more than slaves." Vegeta took a deep breath and swallowed hard in an attempt to mask his emotions. He turned to be able to look at all his friends at once. " The only thing this rioting is going to persuade father to do is take action against the rioters. Father is not a patient man, I'm afraid a lot of people will be killed today and for nothing because my father is unable give our people what they want."
Silence passed between the children. They didn't know how to respond to the Prince's story.
Finally Tuce stated, " I gather, My Prince that you are expected to do what your Father cannot."
Vegeta nodded. "Of course, the limitations of the father are always expected to be surpassed by the son."
"Can you provide for us. Will we be slaves forever?" Tuce questioned his future sovereign. Making piercing eye contact with him.
"I..I don't know." The prince stammered unsure of himself. His father would've berated him for this. He had told him that as king he was always to appear confident in his own ruling. But Vegeta was just not sure he was going to be capable of running this planet of warriors with all their violent tendencies. His planet had a lot of problems that needed fixing and at four years old, he had no idea how to fix them. "I'll try my best when my turn comes."
"Well, " Tuce smiled. "That's a good enough answer for me. A person can only try his or her best."
Vegeta smiled, wishing that his father was as understanding as Tuce. Vegeta knew that his best was not good enough in his Father's eyes.
"Geeze!" An agitated Sala complained. "Quit talking about adult stuff. We're only kids for a short time. Plus it's getting late. Let's go to the kickball field. We could have gone to the arcade but…." Vegeta laughed, interrupting Sala's complaint, and started to exit the booth. He was ready for more fun.
"Wait!" Sala demanded. Vegeta looked over his shoulder at her unimpressed with the order. "Maybe you should go home now. It's getting late." She added more gently.
"Hmph!" Vegeta responded and started to walk away.
Sala knew what that meant and was not happy with what it implied. "But your mother..."
"What about her?" Snapped Vegeta.
"She'll be worried."
"No she won't,. she doesn't care about me anymore." Vegeta replied and ran out of the restaurant.
"She does too!" Sala replied quietly knowing that Vegeta didn't hear since he was already outside. The rest of the group was fast on his tail, leaving Sala to feel sorry for The Queen.
Nappa and Argo stood off in the distance watching large group of saiyan children running, yelling and tumbling all over each other in the dirt.
"Looks like fun, huh?" Argo stated pleasantly to Nappa.
Nappa chuckled. " Would never have thought to look for His Highness here. It doesn't seem like something that a child of his training would be interested in."
"You'd be surprised what grabs a child's attention. Sala would much rather come here than train with me." Argo replied
Nappa looked at down the shorter man. "Doesn't that bother you?"
"No," Argo replied with fondness sin his voice. "she has plenty of time to perfect her fighting skills. But she won't always have time to interact with her peers like this. They're all equals on that field, they're not divided by their powerlevels as we adults are."
Nappa looked at the Prince zig zagging around other kids, trying to get the ball he was kicking into his teams net. He didn't have an opening, so he kicked it to another teammate who did. Everyone cheered when that child scored, even his highness.
"It's too bad his father couldn't see the importance in this." Nappa stated of his observation.
"Yeah." Argo agreed sadly. "Veg only sees the importance in power."
Nappa gaped at the bold comment and was about to defend his master but was prevented from doing so as Argo called out to his daughter.
Sala smiled and ran over to him, stopping just in front of him. Argo forcefully altered his affectionate smile to a stern set jaw as she advanced.
"Sala, do you know what time it is?" Argo asked.
Sala shuffled her right foot and hummed nervously. "It can't be that much past my curfew?"
"Only two hours." Argo replied. Sala looked at the ground sheepishly. Vegeta walked up to the group in a nearly identical stance as that Sala was now in. He'd completely forgotten about the time. It now seemed that it would've been a good idea to let someone know where he was going. Despite what he'd said, he did not want to worry his mother.
Argo's demeanor turned back to a cheerful one. "I guess I can overlook it this time since you were entertaining a special guest. Did you have a good time, junior?" Argo stated and looked right at Vegeta.
Vegeta smiled and nodded excitedly. "This was the best day ever!" then his face fell. "But I should get home as soon as possible. Mother is probably worried and father..." Vegeta trailed off, not wanting to admit his fear.
Argo chuckled and side glanced to Nappa who was doing the same thing. "Your mother knows where you are and is not one bit upset. Sala orchestrated this whole thing seeing that you've been escaping the confines of the palace a lot lately. " Sala smiled, very proud of herself. "And as for your father, he won't be home until tomorrow."
Vegeta nodded comprehendingly. Then he smiled pleased.
"Hey!" a voice called out to the group. Tuce walked up trailed by Oniya and Chote a safe distance behind. "Everyone's going home now. So, we just wanted to say goodnight."
"Awwwwww..." Vegeta mumbled as he watched the rest of the kids walking out of the field, a few of them waving at him and the rest of the group. Vegeta waved sadly in return not wanting the day to end.
"Are you guys going to be around tomorrow?" Tuce asked Vegeta and Sala.
"Yeah!" Sala exclaimed.
"Sala..." Argo prompted.
Sala sighed. "Sorry Papa, I forgot." Argo smiled in approval of the apology. She then turned back to Tuce. "I promised Papa that I'd catch up on the lessons I'd missed today. I won't be able to go out until late afternoon."
"No problem." Tuce replied then turned to The Prince. "How bout you, Vegeta?"
Vegeta beamed, half because he'd made a new friend and half because he could see Nappa's appalled expression. His trainer had picked up on Tuce's informal address to his superior. But then his smile faded. "I doubt I'll be joining you all tomorrow." The prince sighed in despair. "I don't know when I'll see you again."
Tuce heard the disappointment in Vegeta's voice and was angered by the injustice. "Th.. that's not fair!"
Argo chuckled and took both Vegeta and Sala by the hand. "Don't worry Tuce. They'll both see you again before you know it. But now we have to be off."
Tuce nodded in approval and waved as he ran back towards Chote and Oniya who were both waving too.
Vegeta waved with his free hand at his new friends as Argo gently tugged at his other arm. He was very happy. Not only had he had a great day, but also he might have more just like it. He was sure that his father would not ignore the testimonies of both his mother and his best friend.
*********
"Now, young man, whatever am I going to do with you?" Recely wondered aloud a she pulled the covers over her child.
Vegeta squirmed about under the covers, trying to get comfortable. When he was satisfiesd he asked, "What's wrong Mother? Argo said that you weren't upset with me?"
"I'm not, Dearest." Recely sat on the edge of the bed smiling warmly then let her face fall into seriousness. "But I'm afraid your father is very upset."
Vegeta regarded her with apprehension in his eyes. "Where did father go anyway?"
"Frieza sent him on some errand." Recely shrugged indicating that she had not been informed of her mate's exact whereabouts. "He's not expected to return until tomorrow evening."
"Humph." Vegeta scoffed. He would've sent someone else on an errand in his place had Frieza asked him. He looked at his mother and wondered if she would've gone. He wondered allot about how his mother would handle certain situations. He knew by the reports of the elite that she handled the planet quite well. She managed to keep the often-ignored middle and lower classes happy. He wished that his Father would allow him to study her methods.
"Vegeta, I want you to stop enraging your father." Queen Recely said. He looked away from her, angered that she would make that request of him. He couldn't remember he last time she had tucked him into bed or the last time she even said goodnight to him. Hell, he couldn't even remember the last time he'd heard her voice and that was all his father's doing.
"Vegeta?" Recely gently prompted sensing his frustration. The little prince clenched his eyes shut to keep from looking at her. Emotions of loneliness overwhelmed him. He tried with all his might to resist the urge to embrace her. He had practice repressing these urges but it was hard. His love towards his mother was like a lethal addiction, his father would punish him for any display of affection between him and his mother, but he still wanted her, needed her, and was angered that he was denied her.
He shook his head in frustration, causing his mother to look at him with concern. He was so angry with his father. He was fed up with his empty promises and decided to take measures into his own small hands, thus he ceased training in order to show his father that he wanted his wishes respected too. He didn't mind striving towards the goal his father had chosen for him. If it made his father happy then he would do it until the day he died if need be, but he didn't see the reason why he had to be miserable while doing it.
"Oh ,dearest! I'm afraid that he might hurt you." Recely confessed. The king had done that before.
"I'm not afraid of him!" Vegeta replied forcefully, as if he was trying to convince himself as well. "Besides, I get stronger with every beating." He curled up into a fetal position, facing away from her . He knew what her response to that would be.
"There are better ways to increase your power level. Your father is an expert warrior and strategist. Think about what he can teach you instead of what he can beat into you." Queen Recely stated in a forced tone, as if she hated to admit her mate's power.
"You will be the king of this planet someday, Vegeta." Recely continued." You need your father to teach you. I know that you wan to be a good king."
"Of course I do, Mother." Vegeta replied assuringly.
Recely smiled. "Then let your father know you want to be a good King. He's only harsh with you because he believes you don't take your training seriously. "
Vegeta turned over to face her. "I do take my training seriously. It's just that Father…He…" Vegeta tried to suppress his tears. He looked right in his mother's eyes with a mournful expression on his face."What does he want from me?"
Recely felt his gaze penetrate into her soul, requesting an answer from her. To Recely's dispair, she had none for him. Vegeta understood the expressions returned to him and sighed. "I've tried so hard, Mother. But nothing is good enough. I guess I'm just not good enough to be King."
Recely scowled at her son's confession, enraged at her mate. It was obvious that the King expected too much of his Prince.
"Now you listen to me, Vegeta. King's are not born, they're trained. You are only four years old, you are nowhere near ready to be the King of this planet."
"But Father says that I'll be the King soon.."
"You won't be the King until you're ready. I won't allow it."
"But according to Father, I'll never be ready." Vegeta argued.
Recely studied her son's depressed face and sighed.
"I'll talk to him and try and make him see reason."
"what's the use? You've talked to him before and nothing has changed." Vegeta sighed, abandoning any hope of ever seeing Tuce and his new friends again. He had been so happy that day it was if he was wearing rose colored glasses. He'd forgotten his father's stubbornness. The King never renounced a decision.
"I'll make him listen to me." Recely replied determinedly. Vegeta's mouth dropped in fear.
"Please don't, Mother."
"I'll make him listen." She stated, fiercely confident.
"No!" Vegeta exclaimed. "Please! It's different with me enraging father because I'm safe but you…"
Recely glared at him with his father in mind. "So, I'm expendable?" Recely was livid at the fact her mate gave her son that idea.
"Not to me." Replied Vegeta solemnly.
Recely smiled affectionately at their son who returned the gesture.
"Don't worry Vegeta. I'll take care of everything and I'll be careful."
Vegeta was satisfied with that response. His Mother never lied to him. She was nothing like his father.
"All right Mother, and I won't be bad on purpose anymore."
She smiled warmly at him and rose. "Thank you. Now, you must be tired and you need your rest in order to concentrate on your lessons tomorrow."
"Do I have to make up for today?" Whined Vegeta.
"Yes you do." Recely replied and smiled affectionately at her son's pout. She giggled before she turned to leave, "goodnight, Vegeta."
"Mother, please tell me a story." Vegeta asked as his mother headed toward the light with the intent of turning it off.
"It's awfully late.." Recely replied unsure.
"Please? It's been so long since you've told me one."
Recely abandoned turning off the lamp and sat on the bed again. "Which one do you want to hear?"
"The Legend of the Super Saiyan, of course." Vegeta replied and wiggled his feet happily under his covers.
Recely laughed fondly. He never said any other title. "There are other stories that are just as good, you know."
Vegeta laughed. "No story could be as good as the Legend of the Super Saiyan. It's the best."
"How can you be sure it's the best when you haven't heard any others?"
"Mother!" Vegeta whined in mock annoyance.
Recely smiled. "As you wish, my sweet." Vegeta smiled in triumph and settled into his pillows as his mother began telling the story of the last super saiyan and his great power. Unlike her son, Recely wasn't fond of the story. The super saiyan succumbed to his own power. She did not want that to happen to her son, the child believed to be the most likely candidate to become the next super saiyan.
Recely did not have to finish the story. The Prince was fast asleep before it was halfway through. The Queen heaved a sad sigh and pulled the bedcovers over her sleeping child's chest and tucked him in securely.
She prayed to the gods that the little Prince would control his mischievous tendencies and behave. She feared for him. His father was being pushed around by Lord Frieza and his people. It wouldn't be long before he snapped and most likely Prince Vegeta would be the catalyst for that. Recely also plainly saw that her son was the most convenient whipping post for the king to take out his frustrations on.
Yes, Recely knew the King better than anyone. She knew that the wanted his heir to be the super saiyan more than anything. If Prince Vegeta did achieve that great power he would be unstoppable. Recely feared that her child was being taught the wrong things. The King was ambitious, arrogant , proud and prone to violent and impulsive action against that which annoyed him. She knew that her son was already prejudiced against the lower classes, as all the elite were. If by chance he did become a super saiyan she feared that he would become a tyrant, like Frieza, Prone to tormenting those weaker than him to make himself feel superior. If only the Queen could educate her son, but his father did not want the child learning form her.
"Your Father is ruining you." She said to her sleeping child as she smoothed out the hair on his forehead." You may not believe this but I'm not expendable."
She sighed sadly. "His majesty, loves power. That's why he loves you and I. He would not if we weren't the most powerful family he could have obtained for himself. So, my handsome little prince, it is you that is not safe in this family." Recely whispered and stroked Vegeta's hair.
" Your father believes that my lot in life is to cultivate powerful princes. Raising you was never a task the King planned on sharing with me " She leaned closer to him, her lips centimeters away from his forehead." That's how it will be if he has his way, but he will not. I will have my way, and you will not be a king such as your father but a much greater one." She then kissed his forehead.
"I promise I'll keep you safe, always."