Chapter 5
Punishment
Quote: "Say your prays you traitor!" Nappa
Part 1
It was starting to get dark when Goten and Trunks returned to camp.
"Boy, am I hungry," said Goten, landing lightly on the ground. Trunks landed next to him.
"Yah, me too. I hope your mom cooked something good."
"My mom always cooks good," said Goten with some pride.
"Yah, you're right," agreed Trunks and looked around. "Where is everyone? They should all be back by now."
Goten scanned around. "Don't know. Maybe they're all inside." Goten and Trunks checked in the girls, then the boys' house, but both were empty.
"What's going on?" said Trunks.
"Mom! Pan! Anyone! Where are you?" shouted Goten, lifting his hands to mouth. Trunks hit him on the head.
"Moron, use your head. They're not here, if they were we would be able to feel their ki."
Goten rubbed his head. "Well, maybe they found Gokku and Vegeta. Maybe they're fighting them right now."
"Then why aren't Chi-Chi and the kids here? Surely your mom's not out fighting."
"I don't know," said Goten. "My mom's the only person my dad fears." He smiled at Trunks with his trademark Son smile.
"And with good reason," laughed Trunks. The two boy share a moment of amusement, before Trunks became serious again. "I don't like this. I have a feeling something happened to them."
"What should we do?" asked Goten.
Trunks frowned, looking all the more like his father. "There isn't much we can do. It's too dark to go looking for them. We'll just have to wait and see if they come back."
"What if they don't?"
Trunks frowned deeper. "Then we'll have to go looking for them in the morning."
"One more question," said Goten, raising his hand as if he were in class.
"Yes," said Trunks giving his friend an annoyed look.
"What are we going to do about dinner?" Trunks sweat dropped, then shrugged.
"Raid the cupboards, I guess," said the half Saiya-jin.
"Too bad we can't order a couple of pizzas out here. So much for the prefect world," said Goten, look mournfully at his stomach. It growled in agreement.
Trunks put a hand on his shoulder."Nothing's perfect, Goten," he said with a small smile.
The two went inside to raid the cupboards.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Part 2
Nall watched as Gokku put the two unconscious quarter Saiya-jins down in front of him. Nall sat in what looked like a throne, in a large room, with many long scrolls lining its walls. He smiled in amusement at Gokku. "Well, well, Kakarot. What have you brought me, here?"
Gokku bowed low. "These are two of the intruders we fought the other day, Nall-sama. I thought that you might want to see them."
"Very good Kakarot. I'm pleased." Nall walked down the few steps that lead to his seat and to the twins. He kicked Carrot slightly in the side, and the boy didn't stir. "Overdid it a little, did you, Kakarot," he said, amusement lacing his voice.
"Sorry sir, they put up a bit of a fight." Gokku bowed his head, his mind running to the questions he had thought of earlier. "Sir, may I ask you something?"
"Go ahead," said Nall, still looking at the twins.
"Nall-sama, why do these two look so much like Vegeta? Why do all those stranger look like Vegeta and me? And why," said Gokku, pointing at the two on the floor, "do those two have tails? I thought you said Vegeta and I were the only ones left of our kind?"
Nall scowled at the Saiya-jin. "Those questions are pointless. Don't concern yourself with them."
"But—" protested Gokku, who was rudely cut off.
"No buts, Kakarot. That's an order. Forget those questions now!"
Gokku bowed his head. "Yes, Nall-sama. I'm sorry."
Nall nodded. "Leave me, and take those two to a cell."
Gokku bowed again, then lifted the two up and left. Nall frowned. He had sensed Vegeta was starting to waver in his blind loyalty to him, but now Gokku was asking questions that were linked to the two's real past. Nall wasn't about to let the two Saiya-jins go, he had gone through a lot of trouble to ensure their loyalty to him, and planned on making sure they remained that way. Nall had seen the two in battle. Of all the fighters he had seen, none could compare to them. Even Crono agreed with him on that. He remember watching Vegeta's fights with Lusifer and his men. The passion the man showed when fighting was beautiful in its own way. When he saw the Saiya-jin prince he had decided to add him to his list of items when he was making his New World. He had been surprised beyond belief when Vegeta defeated Lusifer and became the ruler of over 2/3's of the universe, truly an incredible man. Gokku was also amazing, after seeing the insane fight,that resulted in the two Saiya-jins' deaths, he had done a background check on the Saiya-jin with Crono's help. The man had done incredible things in his life, every bit as amazing as Vegeta, maybe even more so. He had come to the conclusion that with those two at his side, no one could stop him from doing what ever he pleased.
He frowned deeper, but there was someone that he couldn't make bow to him; Bra-sama. She was beautiful, almost holy. In his search throughout the universes, he had thought he was the only creature of his kind. The only person that could pass through the gate of time at will, and speak to Crono.
He had been surprised beyond belief, when he felt her. He went to her and asked her to join him, to remake the universes, to become a goddess to all that lived. She had refused, she wished to remain in her world, with her family and loved ones. He had tried to force her, but she fought back, and she was strong, stronger perhaps then him. Nall touched the scar over his eye and frowned. She also had Crono's favor, it was no secret that the force of time was fond of the woman. Bra used her incredible powers to just visit Crono, to speak to the energy of all. It drove Nall crazy. She had so much power, and yet she was happy to remain in her imperfect world. Nall wouldn't have it, so he joined Lusifer's arm to try and force Bra-san to submit to him, but she never did.
She would, he would teach her now, before she realized her true power. He would make her understand make her love him. He frowned slightly remembering Bra's power back in the woods. Crono had said she was reacting to another force. What force? Was there someone out there with their kind of powers, that was lending her strength? It couldn't be, he would have know if their was another like him and Bra.
Nall smiled, he would wait for Gokku or Vegeta to pass too far over the line, then punish him. Any thoughts of disobeying would disappear, when they remember who they were dealing with. Yes, everything was going just fine.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Part 3
As Gokku dumped the two quarter-Saiya-jins into a cell, he knocked a knuckle against one of the bars and shivered as he felt his ki begin sucked out of him. The green stone bars that surround the row of cells, was a special mineral that drank ki. Anyone who stood inside them wouldn't even have enough ki to fly, let alone escape. He closed and locked the door looking for a moment longer at the two. Veggi moaned, soon they would wake up.
Gokku turned to leave but stopped when he saw another cell had prisoners in it. Curious, he walked over and took a look inside. There were three in the cell, a small girl and boy lay unconscious on one bed, and a middle age woman with black hair tied up in a bun sat on the bed across from them. She raised her head and looked at him.
"Gokku-san!" she shouted and ran over to the door.
Gokku frowned. "My name is Kakarot, stupid woman."
The woman scowled at him. "Watch who you're calling stupid, Gokku, or I'll make you repaint the whole house, and you can forget about me cooking for you for a whole week!"
Gokku's mouth dropped open in shock. How dare this weak woman order him around like that, he was Kakarot, one of the most powerful fighters that ever existed. He snarled at the woman. "Watch your tongue, woman, or you won't have it for long."
Instead of frightening the woman, she got angrier. "Gokku! How dare you speak to me like that! When we get home I'm going to make you regret you were ever born! You'll be sorry you ever raised your voice at me. Now I'm not going to cook for you till you starve to death, and you can forget about sleeping in my bed! You're sleeping on the couch until I forgive you!"
Gokku backed away in horror, he didn't have any idea what the woman was talking about, but for some reason he was scared of her. A shiver ran down his spine as she continued to say all the things she was going to do to him.
He took one last look at the scary woman and left at a fast pace, wanting to be faraway from her.
Gokku exist the room, and nearly ran over Vegeta in his haste. "Vegeta! What are you doing here?"
Vegeta and Bulma had left the bathhouse, after Vegeta had gotten dressed. They had been walking towards the prison cells when Gokku nearly ran into them. Vegeta quickly pushed Bulma behind a corner, before Gokku could see her.
Vegeta gave Gokku a half smirk and crossed his arms. "Kakarot, I could ask you the same thing." he said skillfully avoiding the question.
Gokku smiled back. "Caught me some brats, just tucking them in."
Vegeta raised a eyebrow at him. "You found the rest of the intruders?"
Gokku shook his head. "I only found two, but I felt at least two others out there." He pounded his hand into his fist. "I'll get them tomorrow. How about you, did you find that screaming woman back their?" said Gokku pointing behind his shoulder, where Chi-Chi could still be heard yelling at him.
Vegeta nodded. "I found their camp. There were only the woman and four kids. Crono has two of them, one is the girl Nall-sama wanted."
Gokku grinned wider. "Too bad you ended up a babysitter. I'm going to get some sleep, you coming? (Nothing meant by that remark people, they share a room; there is no Yaoi in this fic.)"
Vegeta shook his head. "I will later."
"Fine," said Gokku, walking off, thankfully not in the direction Bulma was hiding.
"That was close," said Bulma, coming out from behind the corner.
"Let hurry up and get this over with," said Vegeta not sounding happy at all. They entered the room just as Carrot and Veggi woke up.
"Bulma-san," said Veggi, going over and grabbing the bars of her cell. She pulled away from them with a yelp, as she felt her power beginning to be drained. Veggi and Carrot eyed the two before them, confused.
"Bulma," shouted Chi-Chi. "Get me out of here."
"Shhhhh" said Bulma, raising a finger to her lips. "Let's not alert anyone, OK." Vegeta reached down his shirt and pulled out a key. He unlocked Veggi and Carrot's cell, then moved to do the same with Chi-Chi's.
"Bulma-san," said Veggi. "What's going on?"
"I'll explain later, right now we need to find Gogeta and Bra and get out of here."
Vegeta finished opening Chi-Chi's cell, and the woman pushed past him, fuming. "When I get my hands on Gokku," she growled, making a fist. Everyone sweat dropped.
"Not now," said Carrot, lifting Pan up. Veggi picked up Uub.
"How do we get out of here?" asked Veggi.
"Follow me," said Vegeta and left the room.
"Can we trust him?" Veggi asked Bulma. She nodded and followed Vegeta's disappearing form. Veggi looked at Carrot, who shrugged and followed. Not having much choice, Chi-Chi and Veggi followed.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Part 4
Gohan, Goshin, and Piccolo all looked at the giant palace before them.
"So this is the place?" asked Gohan.
Goshin nodded. "Yes, I saw Gokku take Veggi and Carrot through those gates."
Goshin pointed at the gate with the dragons carved in them.
"I can't feel Veggi or Carrot's ki, but I do feel Vegeta and Gokku," said Piccolo.
"You don't think they're dead do you?" asked Gohan with fear in his voice.
Goshin looked at Piccolo just as fearfully.
"Don't know," said the Namek sei-jin.
"Well, what should we do?" asked Goshin, his concern for his friends written all over his face.
"We go get them," said Piccolo with a small smile on his lips. "But first we need to get their attention." Piccolo walked up the front gate and powered up a ki blast in his hands.
"What's he doing?" asked Goshin in a panicked voice.
"Looks like we're going to fight. Don't worry, if things get to rough we can hide in the city," said Gohan, powering up.
Goshin gulped and powered up. He didn't like the idea of fighting Gokku and Vegeta.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Part 5
The entire palace shook violently. Nall snapped his head up. "I can't believe they would be foolish enough to attack me in my own house!" Nall got up and walked out of his thrown room. He crossed down a hall and into a room. "Kakarot! Vegeta!" he shouted into the room. Only to see Gokku rubbing his eye, trying to wake up.
"Nall-sama," he yawned. "What's going on, what happen?"
"Some fools are attacking the front gate. Where's Vegeta?"
Gokku looked around the room and shrugged. "Don't know. He must still be awake some where."
Nall scowled. "Never mind him. Go out and take care of them."
"Yes, sir." Gokku yawned again and dragged himself up, dressed only in a pair of blue boxers and a white undershirt.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Part 6
Bulma braced herself against the wall as the palace shook again. "What's going on?!"
"Some fool must be attacking." He glanced at the group behind him and cursed. It was the first time Bulma had heard him do that since this whole mess started. "You guys go, I'll get the girls, and meet you back at your camp."
"I'll come with you," said Bulma.
"No, woman, go with them. You'll get hurt or something if you come with me."
Bulma crossed her arms in front of her chest, stubbornly. "No! I'm going with you, whether you want me to or not!"
Vegeta and Bulma stared at each other, neither backing down for the longest time. The corner of Vegeta's mouth lifted slightly. "Fine, have it your way. I don't have time to argue."
Bulma smiled triumphantly and turned to Chi-Chi and the others. "We'll meet you later, you guys go."
"Bulma, is that wise?" said Chi-Chi.
Veggi grabbed Chi-Chi's arm. "Let's do as they say. Those two understand each other better they any one else. They'll be fine." Chi-Chi nodded reluctantly and the group vanished out the building.
"Come on," said Vegeta and lead Bulma down several more halls till they came to a large room with a disk on the floor. Vegeta grabbed her and stepped onto the disk. The room vanished to be replaced by a playground.
"What the?! Why are we here?" asked Bulma.
"What the hell is Crono doing now?" said Vegeta, looking just as shocked as
Bulma. They watched as two, blue, haired girls ran by with a white haired boy hot on their heels.
"C-Crono," stammered Vegeta. The force of time stopped and smiled at them.
"Vegeta. Bulma. It's good to see you two are getting along finally."
"What? What do you mean by that?" asked Vegeta.
"GRANDPA!! GRANDMA!!" shouted a girl's voice. Vegeta barely had time to turn
his head before a giggling Gogeta rammed into him, sending his flying back.
"Mom! Dad!" shouted Bra and jumped into Bulma's arms.
"Bra-chan," said Bulma, hugging the girl closer. "Are you all right? That terrible man didn't hurt you, did he?"
"Haven't seen him," said Bra, sheaking her head. "I've been playing with Crono-chan and Gogeta-chan the whole time." Bulma turned her head to look at Gogeta and Vegeta. The girl was laughing and hugging his chest, and Vegeta was sitting on the ground, looking like he didn't know what the hell to do.
Bulma giggled at the scene, causing Vegeta to snap back to reality. "Stop
that! I'm no one's grandpa!"
Crono laughed and everyone turned to him. "Oh, Vegeta, but you are." The Saiya-jin prince paled.
"W-what? You mean it's true, Nall did change my past?"
Crono nodded. "His girl," he said, pointing to the happy Gogeta, "Is, will, or would have been your granddaughter. She won't be born for quite some time in Bulma's time line. She's a time traveler, trying to fix what Nall did."
Vegeta looked at Crono like he had turned blue on him. So his whole life was a lie, Nall had been using him all a long.
"Crono," said Bulma. "Can you fix the time line? Can you undo what Nall did?"
Crono smiled. "Of course, I'm time after all. The problem is, I can't use my powers outside of this place," he said, gesturing at his surroundings.
"You're stuck in a play ground?" said Bulma.
Crono laughed. "Oh, I do like you Bulma, that's way I matched you with Vegeta. You two have always been two of my favorite players. No, this is only the workings of Bra-chan's imagination." He thumped his staff on the grass, the playground disappear to be replaced with a vast sea of nothingness.
"Ahh!" said Bulma realizing that there was no floor under her any more.
Crono made one to make them more comfortable.
"Crono," Bulma said, after calming down some. "How do we get you out of here?"
Crono smiled sadly. "Unfortunately their are only two ways. The first is to have Nall release me, and the second is to kill him." Vegeta looked nervous at that statement.
"Well, we'll do that one way or another," said Bulma, nodding to herself.
"By the way what do you mean you matched me with Vegeta?"
Crono grinned like a cat. "I'm time, every soul I ever created I made a match for. It's very rare, but some times one finds the other. It's even rarer for them to be of a compatible species and opposite sexes." Crono walked over and as he walked he grew taller, into his male adult form. He patted Bra on the head. "Thus Bra," he said with a warm smile.
"What do you mean, thus Bra. What so special about her," asked Vegeta.
"Because you and Bulma are matched by soul by me, body by chosen mate, and heart by Vegeta's mental link; Bra-chan is a product of very unusual circumstances. She and Nall are the only two that had parents like that, thus their strange power. They are wild cards, I have no power over them.
They exist outside of time, yet in it. It hard to put to words. That's how
Nall has the power to trap me here."
"No wonder Nall-sama wants her," said Vegeta, looking at the girl in Bulma's arms, still siting on the ground. Bulma and his eyes met, and they held eye contact for a few award moments, before they both turn to look away. Crono laughed at their discomfort of the news that they were matched.
"Wait a minute," said Bulma. "If that's so, then why isn't Trunks like Bra?"
"Trunks?" said Vegeta.
"Our son," said Bulma. "The boy with purple hair."
"Purple hair?!"
Crono laughed again. "Trunks isn't like Bra, because Vegeta didn't forge his
link with you till after your son was born."
"Why not," said Bulma, putting one hand on her hip, the other holding Bra, and glaring at Vegeta. The Saiya-jin scooted a bit away from her.
"Don't get mad at him, Bulma," said Crono, amusement laced his voice. "He's just as stubborn and independent as you. It was a big step for both of you."
"I hate to break up this little chit chat, but we really should get out of here, before Nall returns." Bulma nodded in agreement.
"Thank you, Crono, for taking care of Bra. I guess we will meet again."
"Oh, I'm sure of it," said Crono. He gave Bra a kiss on the forehead.
"Bye Crono," said Bra. "Thank you for your hospitality," she giggled.
"Polite as ever," said Crono, ruffling her hair. Vegeta got up with Gogeta hanging off his neck like a necklace.
"Will you let go already!" Gogeta gave him a kiss on the check and dropped to the ground. Vegeta wiped the spot and grumbled to himself as he walked over to the round disk on the floor. "Well, come on," he snapped as he reached the disk.
Bulma, put Bra down, but held on to her hand as they walked over to Vegeta, Gogeta followed.
"Bye you guys," Crono waved. "Have fun."
"Bye Crono," shouted Bra and Gogeta. They all stepped on to the disk and vanished.
Crono smiled secretly to himself. "They make a good couple, don't they, Bra-sama."
* * * * * * * * * * *
Part 7
Piccolo stood before the palace gates with his arms crossed, as Gokku appeared at the front door.
"How rude, waking people up in the middle of the night," spat Gokku.
Gohan stepped forword. "Father, please stop this. We don't want to fight you, Nall is just using you and Vegeta."
Gokku snorted. "I don't recall having a coward for a son, and you're wrong about Nall-sama. He's a greater man then all of you put together." Gokku widened his stance and power flared around him.
"Gokku-san, please listen to us!" shouted Goshin.
"My name is Kakarot!" shouted Gokku and leapt at them
Piccolo jumped back and Gokku's fist embedded into the ground were he had been standing. Goshin struck out with his fist, but was blocked by Gokku, he was then smacked in the face with the Saiya-jin's own fist. Gokku spun around and aimed a kick at Gohan. To the Saiya-jin's surprise the boy easily catch it.
"Father, forgive me," said Gohan, then powered up and delivered his own kick into Gokku's back, while still holding his leg. Gokku fell forward, then was slammed into the ground by Gohan's interlocked hands. The Saiya-jin growled, flipped back up, and was met head on by Piccolo. The Saiya-jin and Namek sei-jin joined in a combo of kicks and punches. Gokku was hard pressed when Gohan joined his teacher, and even more hard pressed when Goshin jumped in. Gokku spun in a mess of flying fists. One hit his lower back, another his jaw, and one bounced off his shoulder, numbing his arm. Gokku, roared and his power rose in a giant burst, flinging the three away from him. His hair grew long as he changed to super Saiya-jin three.
"So you want to play rough, do yah?" Gokku ran towards Gohan and punched him across the face. He backed the boy up against a wall and pounded his stomach mercilessly, till the wall cracked and broke apart. He raised his fist to strike him again, but was stopped by a green hand.
Piccolo twisted Gokku's arm behind his back and punched the Saiya-jin in the throat. Gokku choked and drew back, only to trip over the Namek sei-jin's leg. Gokku managed to flip back and turn his fall into a flying kick at Gohan. Gohan crossed his arms in front of his chest, and his feet dug into trenches in the ground at the force of the kick. Gokku pushed off Gohan's arms, did a flip in the air, landed, caught the boy by the head, and threw, sending him crashing into one of the decorative ponds. Goshin charged Gokku, but the Saiya-jin was too fast and none of his kicks and punches hit their marks. Gokku laughed and leaped up slamming both feet into the boy's shoulder. There was a sickening popping sound as Goshin's arm dislocated.
Gokku spun around as he heard the Namek sei-jin. "Makkanasapou!" The spiraling beam of light struck Gokku on the side of the neck. Gokku raised a hand to his neck and growled as it came back with blood. (That's the "Special Beam Cannon")
"All right, you over grown snail, now you made me mad!" Gokku charged atthe Namek sei-jin and uppercut him. The Namek sei-jin went with the fall and kicked out with both legs, connecting with the Saiya-jin's chest.
Gokku humfed as the air escaped his lungs. Piccolo fell on his back, and before either of them could recover, Gohan jumped over his teacher with a ki blast in his hand. Gokku countered the blast with his own and the whole front of the gate and door was blown up as the blasts exploded. Gohan fell back and was caught by his teacher. He glanced at Goshin who was holding his arm painfully off to the side. He jerked suddenly when he felt Veggi, Carrot, and the others' ki.
"Piccolo-san," he said, looking back at his teacher. The Namek sei-jin nodded. "You get Goshin, I'll hold off father," said Gohan with a determined look. Piccolo raised a eyebrow at the half Saiya-jin, but left to go to Goshin's side. Gohan turned towards his father.
"All right dad, let see if you know this one. Taiyouken! (Solar Flare)" A blinding light formed around Gohan, and Gokku didn't have enough time to close his eyes. The Saiya-jin grabbed his eyes in pain and cried out.
Gohan, Piccolo, and Goshin disappeared before Gokku recovered enough to look for them.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Part 8
Goten slumped in his seat and yawned. Trunks continuously tossed a can of soda in the air, while balancing his chair on its back legs.
"I'm so bored," said Goten. "I wish we knew where the others are."
"Something must have happened, they should have been back hours ago," said Trunks.
"I wish we'd brought a Playstation or something," Goten yawned.
"This sucks, we're stuck here with nothing to do, everyone is Kami knows where, our dads have turned evil, and—" said Trunks, glancing at the clock on the wall, "we missed Baywatch."
"What?!" Goten looked at the clock. "No! I'm really ticked now."
"At least we don't have to do our homework," said Trunks.
"Wait a minute, you're right," Goten smiled happily. "And I had a test today. Well, that's one good thing that's happened."
Both boys suddenly sensed ki coming their way. Trunks fell back in his chair with surprise, his can of soda thumped him on the head on the way down.
"They're back!" shouted Goten, leaping from his chair. Trunks untangled him self and hurried after him. They watched as Veggi, Uub, Pan, and Carrot carrying Chi-Chi landed.
"Ah, man, am I ever glad to see you guys. Where's Gohan, and the others?" asked Goten.
"They didn't come back?" asked Chi-Chi, starting to worry about her oldest son. Carrot glanced behind him.
"Here they come," he said. They all watched as Gohan, Goshin, and Piccolo landed.
"Good, you guys are OK," said Goten. "We were worried."
"You're the ones that attacked the palace?" asked Veggi. Goshin winced and Gohan went over to him.
"Yah, that was us. Can you help me, Carrot, his arm is dislocated." Carrot moved over to the two and braced Goshin as Gohan slammed his shoulder back in place. The quarter Saiya-jin hissed with pain and rubbed his arm.
"That's going to be black and blue by tomorrow," he mumbled.
"Wait a minute," said Trunks, looking around. "Where's my mom? Where Gogeta and Bra?"
Veggi and Carrot glanced at each other. "There still at the palace," said Veggi.
"What you left them! We got to go back and get them," said Trunks, grabbing the front of Carrot's shirt.
"Calm down," said Veggi, putting a hand on his arm. " Your mom's with Vegeta, they're going to save your sister and Gogeta."
"Calm down! My dad doesn't even remember us and you tell me to calm down! What were you thinking, leaving her with him?!"
Veggi looked away. "I trust those two together. There's something about them."
"Even if you trust them, I don't!" shouted Trunks.
"Don't worry Trunks, your father was the one that helped us escape," said Carrot.
Trunks blinked. "He did?"
Carrot nodded. "They said they would get the girls and met us back here. We just have to trust them."
Trunks sighed, "I hope you're right. I've heard plenty of stories about my dad before he met my mom."
"Well, he met your mom again and now he's a good guy," said Goten. "Funny how history repeats itself."
Trunks shook his head, "I still have a bad feeling that something's going to happen to one of them."
* * * * * * * * * * *
Part 9
Vegeta watched as the two blue haired girls looped happily in the air, gigglingthe whole way.
"Look at me daddy!" shouted Bra as she did several barrel rolls. How could he have spawned such a cute little girl, he wondered. Vegeta shifted his hold on Bulma. He was more then a little uncomfortable with the way she had her arms wrapped around his neck, her body pressed to his. Vegeta swallowed hard. His eyes glanced down at the world below, then halted in mid air.
"What's wrong, why are we stopping?" asked Bulma. Gogeta and Bra noticed the stop as well and waited for instructions. Vegeta wordlessly levitated down, the girls following.
"Vegeta, what's the matter?" asked Bulma again.
"We're almost there, we should walk the rest of the way." He looked at the two girls. "You two go ahead, we'll be right behind you." The two girls smiled and ran ahead.
"Vegeta, is that safe? Why have we really stopped?"
Vegeta turned to her and met her gaze. He turned away, unable to look her in the face long. "I'm not coming with you."
"What?!" shouted Bulma. "You have to come with me. Vegeta, you heard Crono.
We belong together, you can't deny that."
The Saiya-jin nodded. "No, I won't deny that, but I still must go. Nall-sama has done nothing for me to turn against him. I owe him, Bulma."
"You owe him nothing!" shouted Bulma angrily. "He owes you, he owes me! He took you away, and you want to go back!"
"Bulma, I don't know anything about your world, all I know is this one. Besides, I can't just leave Kakarot, he's my friend."
Bulma forgot the anger for a moment with this new bit of information. Vegeta and Gokku FRIENDS! This world was too strange. His Vegeta was too open, too polite, and too nice. He didn't act at all like her Vegeta. It was kind of nice, but at the same time unnerving. They were like two different people, and she found herself missing the rude and arrogant Vegeta, the one that had so much pride, so much passion. Not that this more innocent version of Vegeta wasn't fun, he was so cute when he blushed. She could see why he would hesitate to go with her. What would happen to him when they, if ever, fixed time? He would simple cease to exist. No, he would change. Change back to the person he was supposed to be. What about Gokku, he was right on that one.
"Please don't go," said Bulma, taking his hand. "We'll think of something."
Vegeta shook his head. Without another word, he turned his back, and left.
Bulma watched his form go, till he was out of eyesight. She sighed and once again felt lonely and cold. "Damn you Vegeta. You don't know what you do to me." Bulma turn towards camp and started walking.
She walked into camp and only vaguely heard those around her.
"Bulma, where's Vegeta?" she heard someone ask.
"He's not coming," she mumbled, not raising her head. "He's gone back to Nall."
* * * * * * * * * * *
Part 10
Vegeta didn't return to Nall's city till the next morning. He landed in front of Nall's palace and looked around. The front gate and doors had been destroyed and rubble lay every where. His eyes travel up the stepped to the doorway, where a nervous Gokku stood.
"Kakarot," greeted Vegeta, halfheartedly.
"Vegeta, Nall-sama wants to see you," he looked very uncomfortable. "He seems very mad," he added quietly. Vegeta nodded and the two walked silently to the large room with the round disk that lead to Crono. They stepped on the disk and their surroundings vanished to be replaced with a desert like climate. The place looked barren and lifeless. They could see Crono in his adult male form, and Nall. Their backs were turned to them.
The two Saiya-jins stepped off the disk and knelt down, knowing better to disturb Nall when he was mad.
"Crono," said Nall nodding to the energy that was time. The god looked away, but tapped his staff on the ground once. Vegeta gasped loudly as black vines shot out of the ground and wrapped around him, holding him down.
"Nall-sama!" protested Gokku, looking between Vegeta and Nall.
"Move away, Kakarot, unless you want to suffer with him," said Nall. He turned around and faced them, his purple eyes narrowed in anger.
Gokku backed up and looked at Vegeta. Vegeta nodded to him, and Gokku reluctantly moved away from him. Vegeta's whole body jerked and went tautt when a jolt of pure energy coursed through him. He clamped his mouth shut, and growled through his teeth, to keep from screaming. Long gashes appeared across his back and chest. The fabric of his suit tore and smoke wavered up around him as the jolt of energy ceased.
"Vegeta, did you let the prisoners go?" asked Nall in a calm voice.
"Yes," answered Vegeta emotionlessly. Another bolt of energy ran through him, and he jerked hard against the black vines.
"Did you come here and let Bra and the other girl out?"
"Yes," answer Vegeta, glaring up at Nall. Nall snarled and another blast of energy sheered him. Vegeta was panting hard know and a small line of blood ran down his mouth, where he had bitten his lip.
"Why?!" snarled Nall.
"You know why!" yelled back Vegeta. "Fucking asshole! You stinking thief!"
Vegeta forced his way up, snapping several of the black vines. More sprouted out of the ground to hold him still. Vegeta raged in side of them, then went super Saiya-jin, and destroyed them all.
"Crono!" shouted Nall.
Crono raised his staff and slammed it down on the dirt ground. Vegeta dropped out of super Saiya-jin, all his power drained out of him in a instance, and he fell to his knees, dizzy with weakness. Gokku stood terrified and confused.
"I see you know, don't you?" Nall turned to scowl at Crono. " this is all your fault isn't?"
Crono met his glare head on, "I am time," stated Crono flatly. "He is following what I had originally planned for him. You are the one that's breaking the rules."
"Rules! This isn't a game, Crono!"
Crono smiled." Oh, but it is. You are in control of your own fate, Nall. You are one of two that control their own destiny. You have no one to blame for this but yourself. I let you put me here and take over control of time, because I was curious as to what you would do."
"You're crazy! You let me do all of this because you were bored?"'
Crono smiled wider. "Tell me, Nall, what will you do next?"
Nall snarled. "You think you know every move before I make it! You think I have no control! Well, you're wrong Crono! I have complete control over everything and everyone!" As he shouted that he turned to glare at the kneeling Vegeta, his eyes narrowed. "And, I'll prove it." He started walking toward Vegeta, his hand glowed a dark shade of purple. Crono's eyes widened.
Gokku noted the move, and it unnerved him even more.
"What are you going to do, Nall-sama!" shouted Gokku.
Nall placed his hands on either side of Vegeta's head, and when he made contact, Vegeta's eye grew wide and unfocused. Then the Saiya-jin lifted his head and screamed a soul-wrenching cry.
"NALL!" shouted Crono, horror in his voice.
Gokku glanced back and forth between the two and Crono. He couldn't take just watching any more and ran over to Nall. "Stop it, Nall-sama!" he shouted, grabbing hold of one of Nall's hands. A shock ran through Gokku's head, and he gasped as billions of images flashed before his eyes. Images of the last two days, moving too fast to fully understand. "Who are you?"
"Nothing I haven't seen." "GRANDPA!" "Look at me daddy!" "Purple!" "I'm sure your Vegeta must have loved you a lot." "I'm going to tear you limb for limb." "I'm not going with you." "Get off me!" "Have it your way." "Can't just leave Kakarot, he's my friend." Gokku pulled away with a yipe and clucked his head. Vegeta's screams died down and the Saiya-jin clasped before Nall. Nall turned back towards Crono, with a smug look on his face.
"What do you think of that Crono? I've broken their bond and erased all his memories of her. I'm rewriting his destiny as I see fit." He turn to the still dazed Gokku. "When he wakes up, come get me, and we are going to hunt down those bastards and kill them all, but Bra-chan. I want her alive and unharmed. You!" he said pointing his finger at Crono, "are going to heal him when he gets up and not cause any more trouble." Nall turned and left the three.
When Nall was gone, everything was silent for a few minutes, then Crono's booming voice echoed off the desert plains, in great rolls of laughter.
"That scared the shit out of me!" He laughed harder if that was at all possible. "He didn't even notice!" More laughter. "I'm so glad I did this, for once in my existence I was afraid!" He laughed again.
"What the hell are you laughing about!" shouted Gokku. "What's so fucking funny!"
Crono giggled a little more. "You are, Gokku," he teased.
"My name is KAKAROT! Why does everyone call me that?! And I fail to see why you're laughing you ass off!"
Crono laughed again only softer. "Don't worry, Kakarot. I'm only amused at how close he was to breaking the rules, and screwing up space and time, not to mention my very existence. I have you to thank for maintaining them, but then again, you always were the one to save the day."
"Save the day! I don't know what the hell you're babbling about old man, but I think you lost what little sense you had!"
Crono gained some control over himself. "Don't think ill of me, Kakarot. I made it so you always jump in and fix everything, it's just a lot more exciting when you don't know it's going to happen."
Gokku shook his head. "I don't understand." Their conversation was interrupted by a low moan. "Vegeta?" said Gokku helping the Saiya-jin into an up right position.
"What happened? Why do I feel so weak?" He looked around and blinked. "Why am I in here?"
Gokku looked at him with shock. "What was the last thing you remember?"
"We were training really hard and then went to sleep," stated Vegeta still confused.
"Last time we did that was two days ago," said Gokku. Images he saw in
Vegeta's head popped back up. He doesn't remember anything from the last two days. Vegeta tried to get up but winced and sank back down.
"I don't remember you beating the crap out of me, Kakarot," said Vegeta, touching one of his wounds.
Gokku took a deep breath and looked at Crono. "What do we tell him?"
"The truth," smiled Crono. "Vegeta, you did something that upset Nall, so he punished you, and erased you memories of the last two day." Crono taped his staff on the ground and Vegeta's wounds slowly disappeared.
"What's the point of injuring me if I get healed right after," winced Vegeta. He turned to Gokku. "Just what did I do to make him so mad?"
Gokku shrugged. "To tell the truth I'm not really sure what happened, but you let some important prisoners go."
"I did what?! Man, what was I thinking?"
Crono chuckled off to the side.
"You have something to say, old man?" challenged Gokku.
"No, not really. I will tell you that you'll understand what you were thinking in good time."
Both Saiya-jins stared at him like he'd grow a second head.
"Kakarot, is Crono acting strange or is it just me?"
"No, he's acting strange."
"Okay.... So what are we suppose to do?"
"Those prisoners that got away, Nall-sama wants them killed, and for us to bring back the little blue haired girl called Bra."
"That sounds easy enough." Vegeta flexed his healed arm.
"It's not that easy, they're not as strong as us, but there are lots of them, and they can do fusion."
"Good, I like a challenge," said Vegeta and stood up.
Gokku smiled. "I couldn't agree more."