The Prince
Chapter 6: Recely's Promise
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.
"I think you'll be safe here for awhile." Tuce stated as he set Vegeta on the floor of his bedroom then closed the window they had entered through.
Vegeta turned to his friend. "Thank you for rescuing me, Tuce."
"I was almost too late, it's a good thing that vehicle had good brakes." Tuce smiled at the guilty look on the Prince's face.
"I shoulda known better than to run around the city like that." Vegeta said.
"It's all right. Kids do that all the time here, people are used to making hasty stops. I saw you run past me as I was walking down the sidewalk. You sure looked scared, so I followed you. I didn't know what else to do but grab you and ruin when I caught up, I hope I haven't offended you."
"No." Vegeta said. "I was just glad to get out of there. It was scary when all those people started to kneel and shout a me."
Tuce laughed. "At least we know that the citizens will be loyal to you when you become our King." Vegeta turned abruptly away from Tuce trying to ignore the statement. He walked around the small space, enthralled with what he saw. He stopped in for n to a shelf and examined some of the action figures Tuce had neatly lined up.
"I wish my room was like yours!" Vegeta stated.
Tuce chuckled. "Please, Vegeta. Any room in the palace is ten times better than this pig sty."
"No way!" Vegeta playfully disagreed. "They're all boring! Especially my room. You're lucky! You have toys!"
"You don't have any toys?" Tuce asked in shock.
Vegeta shook his head. "Only baby ones. I haven't gotten any new ones in years. Father says I have no time for them." He replied with a shrug then went to look at Tuce's posters on the opposite wall. Tuce went to the shelf and carefully chose two action figures. "Here." Tuce said passing them to the Prince. "You can have these. They're my newest ones and I haven't had the chance to abuse them yet."
Vegeta looked at them for a few moments then held them back to Tuce. "Thank you, but father won't let me take them where I'm going."
Tuce reluctantly took them back and tossed them on his bed. "You're upset with your father." Tuce observed, seeing the despair in his young friend's eyes. "That's why you were tearing around the city, isn't it?"
Vegeta sighed and sat on he bed next to the discarded toys. "Yes."
Tuce debated whether to inquire further when someone else caught his attention and that of Vegeta's.
"Boy! Are you here?"
Tuce gasped at the sound of the voice. "It's my father, he's home!" Tuce dropped to the floor and pushed things around under his bed. .
Vegeta leaned over, curious as to what he was doing. Tuce quickly grabbed the Prince's armor with both hands and then shoved Vegeta underneath. "I'm sorry, Vegeta. Be really quiet, okay?"
"Boy?!"
"I'm in my room, Dad."
Vegeta listened as heavy footsteps advanced from somewhere in the apartment towards Tuce's room. Moments later another a larger pair of boots joined his friend's.
"Where the hell have you been, I've been waiting for hours!"
"I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't know you wanted to see me."
Tuce's father grunted with displeasure as his scouter bleeped. "What the hell?"
Vegeta and Tuce both held their breath, the scouter had picked the prince up.
"Piece of junk!" The man complained and tossed the device to the floor. "It's reading two inaccurate powerlevels. You're no stronger than when I left two weeks ago."
"I've been training as you wanted father. Everyday with.."
"With who? Those kids you waste your time with?"
Tuce looked at the floor in dismay. "Who else?"
Tuce's father then punched his son in the face. Tuce fell on his rear end and quickly wiped his bloody nose. Vegeta suppressed the urge to defend his friend. Tuce had not asked for his help but he was ready to intervene if he felt Tuce's life to be in jeopardy.
"You'll never get any stronger! You're a weakling and a coward! There's an entire city full of potential training partners. Heaven forbid you should go pick a fight in the street!"
"But father..."
"I'm fed up with you! I don't ever want to see your pathetic face around here again!" Vegeta watched at The Man's feet walked out of view. "I'm going out. If you know what's good for you you'll be gone before I get back."
Vegeta waited while the footsteps became fainter. A door slammed in he background. Tuce sighed in relief.
"It's allright to come out now, Vegeta."
Vegeta crawled from under the bed and stood up. Tuce was already busying himself with putting some of his belongings in a backpack.
"You're really leaving?" Vegeta asked shocked. His own father threatened to do similar things to him when he misbehaved, but he never once believed that he would go through with them.
"Of course." Tuce replied. "I don't want to live with him anyway. I only stayed because of this childish hope I had."
"What hope is that?" Vegeta asked curiously.
"The hope that someday I would make him proud." Tuce said and stopped packing. He remained silent for a few moments then resumed. "But I'm old enough now to understand that pleasing him is impossible. He never cared for me."
"But what about your mother?" Vegeta asked.
Tuce smiled sadly. "She never cared either. She left my Father and I when I was only a few days old." Tuce zipped the bag shut. "She earned her elite status. Father says that she dumped us like garbage when she was offered a position in your father's army. The only reason Dad kept me around was in case someday I became an elite and provided for both of us . But I guess things didn't go the way he had planned."
"That's not right." Vegeta replied, appalled that his mother had just abandoned him. How could a mother do that?
Tuce smiled. "You're lucky, Vegeta. Both your parents care a lot about you."
Vegeta looked away from him to the floor. He didn't believe for one second that his father cared for him, not after what he heard him say.
"Wrap that armor in your cape, Vegeta." Tuce instructed as he flung his backpack over his shoulder and opened the window. "We have to leave and that outfit isn't a very good disguise."
Vegeta took off the armor and went about wrapping it up. He did the same as Tuce and carried the bundle over his shoulder. "Where are we going to go now?"
"I know a good place."
"This is ridiculous, Zorn!" The King said in a hushed voice as he watched his second occupation elite crew assemble in the throne room. "This is not as important as my son's welfare!"
Of course, the situation could have been much worse, Frieza could've found out about the Prince's disappearance before he left the planet Vegeta. The King counted his lucky stars that he'd left without knowing.
"I know, Your Majesty." Zorn replied patiently. "But you should maintain your usual activities. The Prince could be in more danger if the citizens get wind of his disappearance into the city. Imagine the chaos that would ensue if you were seen searching the city with a group of your soldiers. You must act as if nothing is wrong."
"I can't act as if noting is wrong! Everything is wrong!" the King replied with his voice rising. Some of the elite closer to the throne looked at him, curious at the outburst. The King glared viciously and they all quickly returned their gaze to the soldiers opposite themselves.
"Patience sire." Zorn replied. "The soldiers we sent to find him are the best we have. They will locate him without difficulty."
"Well, have you seen him or not?!" Nappa yelled at an old saiyan woman who was selling vegetables in the outside marketplace.
"What does he look like?" The lady asked impatiently.
"We're looking for the Prince, Lady!"
"What... does...he... look... like?" The woman repeated slower and louder quite annoyed at being bothered.
"Like the King but smaller!"
"How much smaller?"
Nappa growled in frustration and turned back towards his soldiers who were making inquires of merchants as well.
"Has anyone seen him?"
The elite all shrugged helplessly. Nappa spat a curse. Loudly.
I need to buy some time!
King Vegeta impatiently tapped his fingers on the armrest of this throne. He didn't give a damn about a thing the young elite kneeling before him was reporting. He didn't care about anything but the planet Tasbah. Tasbah would be occupied in three days. Three short days. Three short days until he had to give up his son.
Somehow, I have to stall that occupation!
"Has the Prince been found?" The King demanded Zorn unexpectedly, interrupting the young elite. The young man didn't know what to do, so he just remained kneeling on the rug, silent.
"Not yet, Sire." Zorn replied rather timidly for an elite of his powerlevel and in a hushed voice as he indicated that there were still people within earshot. No one was supposed to find out. But the king just didn't care.
"Damn it! Why not? How hard can it be to find a four year old wandering alone in the middle of the city!?"
"He's very well trained. Undoubtedly he is using his skill to elude the elite guardsmen."
"Cursed brat!" The King spat. "He has no idea what danger he's put himself in!"
The King thought for a moment. "That's it! I'm going to Tasbah." He looked down at the elite assembled in the throne room. "You people can go do whatever you want. But be forewarned, I don't want to catch any of you following me to Tasbah!"
"Sire!" Zorn protested the King's outburst.
"Get out of here, all of you!" The King bellowed, ignoring Zorn completely.
The elite were about to leave just when the Queen burst into the throne room. The King looked up and saw the anger on her face from across the room. "What's wrong?" He asked meekly, having no clue as to what could have enraged her so. She did not know about the situation with the Prince. He made sure that no one who had witnessed the child's departure would tell her.
"All of you, leave us!" Recely commanded the elite as she marched between the two lines. They started at her in disbelief. Recely had never lost her temper in public before. She noticed that they didn't immediately obey.
"I SAID LEAVE!" Recely stopped walking and screamed. They all snapped out of their trance and quickly left. Everyone but Argo, who was right behind Recely, retreated in to the corridor.
"Recely?" The king demanded in annoyance of her outburst. "What is the meaning of this?"
"You Bastard! How could you? How could you do this to Vegeta?" Recely shouted angrily as she advanced on him.
"Wha......" The king started confused then noticed Argo. "Argo, you told her?!"
Argo snorted in disgust. "Recely is his mother. She has a right to know what you plan on doing with her son." He snapped viciously and stood firmly next to the Queen.
"I was going to tell her!" Vegeta said defensively in a very annoyed tone. He had let his feelings show too much in front of his subjects and mate. He didn't like his subjects taking orders from their queen when he was around. Her outburst was a great blow to his pride as the dominant figure on the planet. He pushed himself from his throne and went to meet her on the floor.
"When? When I noticed that he wasn't around?" Recely asked enraged.
"Of course not!"
"Why would you agree to such a thing? "Recely asked beginning to cry. "It is unthinkable!"
"We have no choice, Recely. I wouldn't give Vegeta away for anything else!"
"Not even to make him stronger?" accused Recely. She couldn't allow such an irresponsible action. The prince would be ruined, his happiness crushed. She knew that Frieza would make a killer out of her little Vegeta.
"No!" The King replied. "I don't care about his powerlevel!"
Recely growled at him furiously. That was a bold faced lie.
"But if we don't give him to Frieza, " The King continued, "then Frieza will come and take him. Which scenario do you think is worse for Vegeta?"
Recely sank to her knees. Her mate was right, yet again. Even Argo wore an expression of defeat at that statement. Recely couldn't fathom the idea of her son being abducted from his home as his parents stood by helpless.
"We have to give him to Frieza, Recely," The King stated gently " but I promise that we'll get him back. I promise with all my heart!"
"How!" Recely sobbed. "How will you get him back?" She had the understanding, as all saiyans did, that there was no way to beat Frieza. There were countless barren planets out in the solar system testimonial to that fact.
"I'll defeat Frieza." The King replied as if it were as simple a task as opening a jar of pickles.
Recely scoffed. "If you're so confident about that then why don't you defeat him now and spare Vegeta this trauma."
"Now is not the right time."
The Queen was livid. "When will be the right time, Vegeta?" Recely demanded and rose off the floor. "A year, two years, ten years?" She turned away from him disgusted with his poor plan. "It will be too late!"
Vegeta reached out to try to comfort her. She whirled around before he could.
"Don't you touch me! I don't want you to ever lay hands on me again!" The King looked crushed but nodded.
Recely heaved a sigh. "When is he leaving?"
"In three days, after Tasbah has been occupied."
Recely stormed away as soon as the King completed his sentence. He watched her leave at a loss as to what else he could say.
Argo too turned to leave.
"How could you do this to me, Argo." Demanded king Vegeta in a tone tainted with bitterness. "You know I would have told her."
"When it was convenient for you!" Argo snapped back in reply. "And too late for Recely to do anything about the decision you made without her."
"How many times do I have to tell you? We have no choice!" The King yelled in fury. Argo was accusing him of liking the idea. As if he wanted to be rid of his son!
Argo shook his head and laughed bitterly. "No, there is a choice. One that any unselfish parent would make. But you are like so many of our people, only seeing what you can get out of the deal without thinking of your child's welfare! You don't want his love; you want his power!
"That's not true!" The King cried out in defense.
"It is true! I knew that you would surrender to Frieza's desire. That's why I told your mate. You are a coward Vegeta and you always have been! Recely will not stand by idly, you will be the only one to lose your son." That said, Argo continued on his way.
"Argo, wait!" The King shouted after him. Argo completely ignored him wanting to be rid of his presence.
Outside, Recely marched proudly past the Elite. Argo wasn't far behind and hurried to catch up with her. When he rounded the corner and his footsteps became inaudible, the elite began discussing the matter in hushed voices.
Zorn broke away from the group and walked down the opposite hallway.
Argo saw Recely collapse to her knees on her way to her rooms. He rushed to comfort her, embracing her against his body.
"I can't let this happen. I just can't." She sobbed with her face pressed against his chest armor.
"I know."
"I don't know what to do." Recely mumbled in devastation.
"We'll think of something. We have three days."
Recely sniffed and forced herself to stop sobbing.
"We have to find him first." She said realizing her priorities. "He's never been all alone before. I'm afraid that he'll get hurt."
Argo nodded in agreement and gently guided her to her feet.
"I don't mean to offend you by questioning your father's choice in soldiers, Vegeta." Tuce remarked as the two strolled casually through the gradually thickening forest later that evening. "But I thought it would be a lot harder to hide from the elite guard."
Price Vegeta laughed at his friend's observation. "It should have been. Father will be angry."
Tuce smirked. "At them...or at you?"
Vegeta stopped his giggling. "Both."
"He'll be angry but only because he's afraid that you'll get yourself hurt someday." Tuce explained and flashed a smile at his friend.
"Hmph!" Vegeta scoffed, ignoring the friendly gesture. "He's just like your father, he doesn't care."
"Ummm, Vegeta. If he didn't care, he wouldn't have sent soldiers after you. He'd just let you find your own way home."
Vegeta shook his head stubbornly. "He wants me back. That's why he sent the guards. If he doesn't find me then Frieza will be angry."
Tuce chuckled. "Now why would Frieza care that you ran away from your father?" He asked in an attempt to set his friend's imagination straight. He was only four, after all.
"Because Frieza wants me for all his own."
"What?" Tuce stopped walking. Vegeta looked up at him with a look of utmost seriousness.
"That's why I ran away from my father. Sala and I spied on my father and Frieza in the throne room. My father told Frieza that he could have me."
Tuce stared in disbelief, shocked that the all-powerful Frieza had visited the Planet Vegeta, then smiled. "Don't be silly, you two must have heard wrong."
"So, you don't believe me?" Vegeta accused hurt, he was sure Tuce would understand better than anyone. What with his father treating him as badly as Vegeta was treated by The King.
"It's not that I don't believe you. It's just that I think you may have heard that out of context. That's what happens when you eavesdrop. I think you should go back home and ask your father about it."
"No! I won't go back!" Vegeta yelled.
"Vegeta, someone is eventually going to find you. Besides, there is no way your father would just give you away, even to Frieza. He'd find some alternative before abandoning you like that."
Vegeta scowled in frustration. "How can you say that, Tuce? Your father just abandoned you!"
"That was different. I'm just some dumb kid. You're the Crown Prince. Even if your father is a jerk, he wouldn't give you up out of fear of losing the kingdom. He'll want it ruled by his own blood."
Vegeta shook his head in increased agitation. "That just proves my point. Father will give me away and he and Mother will have another Crown Prince. He won't lose anything in this exchange."
"What about your mother?" Tuce asked. "What will she lose?"
A few tears slid down Vegeta's cheeks, it was his mother he was afraid to lose. He turned away from his companion, not wanting him to see him cry, and wiped them away with his sleeve. "She can't do anything about it. Father is more powerful than she is. His decisions are final."
Tuce put his hand on his young friend's head and tussled his hair reassuringly. "Power isn't everything. "
Vegeta couldn't help but smile at that gesture, but he was still unconvinced by his friend's reassurance.
"Well," Tuce said as he looked around the clearing they had stopped in. "It's starting to get dark. We should probably start a fire and get some grub."
Vegeta beamed at the mentioning of food, he was starving.
Tuce put his bag on the ground and began to rummage through it. "Damn it!" He cursed quietly.
"What's wrong?"
Tuce sighed in exasperation. "It was in such a rush to be rid of my father forever that I didn't pack a blanket for us to sit on." He reached down and touched the grass beside him. "The ground is damp too. I'll have to find a log or maybe cut down a...."
"Here." Vegeta interrupted holding out a piece of fabric that Tuce recognized as his cape.
"We can't put that on the dirty ground, it's probably expensive."
"It's okay, I have lots of capes." He said as he spread it out on the ground. "You need it. Especially if you'll be living out here." Vegeta dusted himself of a bit then looked up at Tuce. "How long will you stay here?"
"Oh, I don't know. I'm gonna try to get a job somewhere in the city. Could be awhile before I can afford a room."
"Isn't there anywhere for you to stay? With a relative, perhaps?"
"If my own father doesn't want me then I'm sure that no one else will either." Tuce said as he dug a hole for a fire pit.
"I know! Sala's father is really nice and you're her friend. I know he'll let you stay at his palace."
Tuce laughed again and dusted the dirt from his hands. "I'll be fine, Vegeta. Father has kicked me out of the house lots of times in the past. I'm used to roughing it. Besides, would you want to live with Sala?"
Vegeta burst out laughing. "No!"
The two boys laughed for a few minutes, and then Tuce sighed pleasantly. "Hey, why don't you collect some firewood while I see what kind of animals are roaming around." Vegeta ran off to do as Tuce suggested. "Don't go far!" Tuce called after him when he could barely see the Prince anymore. Vegeta yelled in agreement and continued to pick up scattered sticks.
It was while walking back to the clearing; arms burdened with kindling, that Vegeta saw something flying above his head. He licked his lips thinking it was bird and that Tuce would catch it, but he soon realized that it wasn't a bird. The person stopped and hovered just over the clearing where Tuce was. The cloak this person wore ruffled in the wind, making him appear bird like. Vegeta couldn't make out the person's features. He wasn't sure that it was one of the soldiers that had been searching for him.
"Oh no!" Vegeta exclaimed dropping his firewood. The person started to descend. Vegeta had realized that Tuce was all alone in the clearing. Vegeta didn't know what that creature was. For all he knew it could be more powerful than himself. If that was the case then Tuce didn't stand a chance. Vegeta quietly ran towards the clearing, slowing as he saw that the figure was scanning the perimeter. Tuce and his things were gone.
Vegeta crept up behind a bush for cover. The figure had his back turned to him. Vegeta watched its actions intently. He was disturbed that his friend was now missing. Tuce hadn't made a sound. Vegeta hoped that he found a good hiding spot.
The Person turned slightly to the side. Curious as to who or what it was, Vegeta edged closer to the bush he was hiding behind. He didn't feel the branch he stepped on until too late.
The snapping sound alerted the figure to the Prince's location. Vegeta gasped as it whirled around to face his direction.
"Vegeta?!"
"Mother?" Vegeta wondered. It had sounded like her. He peered over the bush to confirm his suspicion.
Recely had just pulled the hood down allowing her son to identify her.
"Mother!" Vegeta cried out, burst through the bush, and ran to her. He threw himself into her outstretched arms and immediately started bawling.
"Are you hurt?" Recely asked while hugging him tightly. Vegeta choked out a negative to her question and continued to cry.
"Oh, I was so worried!" Recely exclaimed and gave him a squeeze. "Why didn't you come home, weren't you scared wandering around all alone?"
"I was with Tuce." Vegeta replied and pushed himself away from her in order to locate his Friend. "Tuce!" He called and started running towards the Forrest.
"Vegeta, wait! Where are you gong?" Recely exclaimed fearing the animals that would be wandering around, it was almost nightfall.
"I hafta find Tuce." Vegeta explained then took a deep breath. "TUCE!"
"I think I saw him running away, Dearest." Recely said as she advanced towards her son, who had given up at that statement. She noticed something on the ground and picked it up. Vegeta saw what it was and took it from her.
"He left this for me." He mumbled, turning the action figure over and over in his hand. He flopped down on his rear in the dirt. "I'll never see him again. " He rubbed his eyes trying to wipe his tears away. Recely sat down and pulled him against her body.
"I'm sorry I ran away, mother, but I…I. didn't know what else to do. Father said that he was giving me to Frieza!" Vegeta lifted his face from his mother's tear soaked chest. "Tuce didn't believe me but you believe me, don't you?"
"Yes." Recely replied and put her hand against his cheek. "I know."
"Then it is true. I didn't hear wrong." Vegeta squinted his eyes trying to suppress the tears trying desperately to escape.
Recely rose the hand to her scouter and activated the transmitter.
"I've found him." She said aloud. "He's safe with me."
After getting a confirmation form Argo. She took the device off and tossed it aside.
"Mother?" Vegeta asked. "When am I going to Frieza's?"
"In two days, when Tasbah is occupied." The queen replied.
Vegeta panted a few times in desperation. He grabbed at his mother's shirt and pulled himself up right under her nose. "I'll be good! I won't ever do anything bad or complain again I swear! Just don't let father send me away, I promise I'll try harder."
Recely started to cry devastated by her son's desperate plea.
"Vegeta, you did nothing to deserve this and your father knows that. He didn't offer you up to Frieza, Frieza demanded that you be given to him." Recely gasped then pushed her child away in order to look him straight in the eyes. "Father is as upset about this as we are. He has no idea how to prevent this from happening, but I know that he's trying to think of something."
Vegeta scowled at the thought of his father. "He's not trying. He'll do what ever Frieza wants." He trembled in frustration. "I hate him! I hate him and I don't want to be his Prince anymore! I just want to be normal and have a normal life. I didn't even get to see half of this planet! It's not fair!"
Recely held on to him securely and shot up into the air, through the canopy of trees and into the pink evening sky. She then flew in the opposite direction of the palace. Surprised, Vegeta clung on to her tightly.
"Where are we going?"
"To see some of the planet." Recely replied and ran her hand through his hair affectionately. "I haven't seen it in a long time."
Tuce stopped running when he was sure he was far enough away from Vegeta. He looked at the cape he held firmly in his hand.
"I'm sorry, Vegeta, but you can't run from your father forever. Might as well give up now before you dig yourself in deeper."
"Who are you talkin' to kid?"
Tuce's head snapped up in surprise, he was sure he'd been alone. Argo walked out of the dark into his view.
"Oh, it's you sir. You frightened me." Tuce sighed in relief, recognizing Sala's father.
Argo smirked. "A young kid like you shouldn't be wandering around alone at night. Why don't I escort you home?"
"Thank you." Tuce replied. "But I don't have a home to go to."
Argo lowered his eyes comprehensively. "I see. Well, I'll take you home with me. Come on." Argo beckoned Tuce to follow as he levitated into the air.
"Th...thank you, sir. But I don't want to impose." Tuce called up after him from where he remained on the ground.
"The names, Argo, Tuce. " He chuckled. "And don't be absurd. Sala and I will be pleased to have you stay with us. Our Palace needs another person in it. Besides, I need someone to keep an eye on my daughter, she seems to find trouble wherever she goes."
"Well, that's true." Tuce laughed and followed Argo. They flew in silence for a few minutes. "Umm, Argo?" Argo turned to Tuce expectantly. "Vegeta believes that his father is giving him to Frieza. Is that true?"
"I'm afraid it is." Argo replied. Tuce looked at him completely astonished. "Don't worry." Argo continued reassuringly. "The Queen won't let that happen. "
Vegeta awoke as his mother touched down in a forest very far away from the city. He rubbed his eyes and looked around. This forest looked different from the one he and Tuce had been walking through. The trees were a different kind and it smelled different. He looked up to his mother when he noticed that she wasn't moving.
"Mother?" he asked, not understanding why she was just standing in the middle of the forest motionless. He joined the direction of her gaze and saw something most peculiar.
Recely was shocked by what she saw there. What once had been her home was now reduced to nothing but a tattered frame and foundation embedded in the ground. She remembered the yard being tidy. Now it looked much like the palace's garden, overrun with weeds. The fact hat her once happy memories could be so reminiscent of her now sad ones disturbed Recely.
Vegeta saw his mother's melancholy expression and decided not to interrupt her thoughts. He squirmed out of her arms and curiously, he strolled to the disheveled little hut and pushed open the front door.
Inside, three was a great mess. Broken furniture, fallen shelves and scorch marks on the floor. Vegeta could only imagine what had happened there, but he guessed what this place was. He cautiously walked into another room and found a small bed with moldy bedclothes covering it. He instinctively tugged at the coverings, angering the small creature that had made it's home there. Vegeta jumped startled and watched the critter scurry across the floor and out through a hole in the wall. Disgusted, Vegeta moved on to the next room.
Instantly, something on the floor caught his eye. It was lying underneath a pile of papers and splintered wood. He grabbed the shiny object and pulled it from under the rubble. He gasped a s a sharp pain shot through his hand. A thin line of blood promptly began to ooze from his palm. He wiped it on his pants and continued to carefully edge the object out.
"Wow!" Vegeta exclaimed as he grabbed the objects handle. "A sword."
Outside, Recely was sitting cross-legged before three rock piles. Two smaller piles flanked either side of a slightly larger one. Vegeta approached silently. His mother was talking to herself and he was curious as to why she was doing that. As he drew nearer, he realized that she was not speaking to herself, but to the rock piles. He took his place beside her, letting the sword fall from his hand as she gently took his hand and led him to her lap.
"And this is my son." She stated with a smile as he sat down on her leg.
"Mother, to whom are you speaking?"
"Your uncles." She replied simply and smiled in fond recollection.
Vegeta did not respond, realizing that the rock piles before them were graves of his mother's brothers that had been killed. She had told him the story of Letta's incredible journey to the palace months before he was born. Vegeta recalled it in his mind, appreciating his aunt's flight more now that he knew exactly how far she'd traveled.
The yard was silent for a few moments. Recely was deep in thought, and Vegeta was just enjoying his mother's company. Recely's pleasant chuckling broke the silence.
"I see you've found my sword." Recely observed.
"Yeah, and it still works too, see." Vegeta held up his bloodstained palm for her inspection.
"Oh, Vegeta!" Recely exclaimed in concern. She ripped off a strip of fabric from her cloak and wrapped it around his hand.
Recely smiled as Vegeta examined his bandage. "I was just saying to your Uncle Sage that he would be very proud of Letta." Her face then fell into sadness. "And I was saying how I wish he could've met you while he was alive."
Vegeta merely responded by resting his head back against her chest.
"Mother?" he asked seriously after another few moments of silence. "Am I worth this?"
"Pardon?" Recely asked not quite understanding the question.
Vegeta faced her and took a deep breath thinking about how he was going to rephrase his question.
"You loved your family so much, and now they're gone. I was just wondering if I am worth their sacrifice."
Recely pulled him close to her chest, letting tears drip into his wild black hair that was so much like that of his father's.
"Oh Vegeta! If by some strange chance I had the opportunity to go back and change the course my life has gone; I wouldn't for fear of losing you. "
"But Mother, " Vegeta protested gently. "Why shouldn't you change such horrible events? Since you're going to lose me anyway."
She held him tighter. Vegeta could feel her heart beat through her chest, it was getting faster and faster every second. "I'm not going lose you, Vegeta" Recely announced determinedly. "You hear me? I'm not going to let that happen. I promise!" She moved one hand to the sword Vegeta had dropped beside her and grasped the hilt so hard her arm trembled.