Disclaimer: Ok does anyone else think it's completely stupid that we have to put these in here? I mean really, if I owned DBZ the stuff I write would (theoretically) be new episodes, not fan fiction… All right, so where was I… ah yes: I do not own DBZ or any other Anime either. So sue me and you will be sorely disappointed, because I have nothing worth taking…
Shadows of the Past: Chapter 3
The small, dark chamber where he had been left was a holding cell on the ship's security deck. Vegeta was already no stranger to space travel he had accompanied his father on several off world attacks, and he was fluent in a dozen languages, the second one he had been trained in, was the one Frieza's empire spoke as Common. As Dodoria had led him along, Vegeta had already begun filing in his memory all the doors and passages for later use.
But for now, he sat on the uncomfortably stiff bed and glanced at the clock on the video screen across the room. 1630. Frieza and his lapdogs had no manners, but he was determined not to complain, he hated being called spoiled, and he didn't care if he starved to death, he wasn't about to ask them for anything. The same with his little holding cell, they wanted him to hate it, and while he did, he wasn't about to give them the satisfaction of knowing it. Etiquette training had been hell for him, he remembered with a smirk, but it was going to come in VERY useful, he could see that already. He was determined to be a courteous guest when in the presence of Frieza and his two lapdogs, because he would show his defiance in other ways, all the while maintaining the facade of perfect etiquette and dignity. It was not going to be easy, but he was sure that it was possible, knowing that they would despise the formal manners and speech as much as he would, it would give him something to do, something to concentrate on besides the emptiness in his heart. This was a little game that he had turned on his father when he had insisted that he attend court for two hours of every day when court was in session. True, this would be constant, and no matter how much he wanted to he wouldn't be able to lash out whenever he felt like it, but that only made the game more challenging. He loved a challenge, and this would be good practice for when he was king, someday, after all, he was determined to make a better king than his father had.
It came as no surprise to him that he had been kept waiting for so long, after all, he was sure that his father had tried to fight Frieza during his supposed audience with the pink and lavender alien. It was only his father's vast combat experience that allowed him to defeat Vegeta they both knew it. And he knew that he couldn't defeat Frieza, whose power level when at its maximum was supposedly one million. Vegeta didn't believe it. He sensed Frieza had incredible power, but one million? The very idea was inane, no planet should be able to support life capable of such destruction… or so the theory went. But, on the other hand, Frieza's race could breathe without air, allowing them to survive in space for extended periods of time, there were other known races capable of such a feat, but only the ice-jin were such powerful fighters, and the Kold Empires had forbidden war on their home planet, that was the reason the reason they conquered other worlds, allowing their rulers to compete with each other in other ways, who ever gained the largest empire between Koola and Frieza would inherit King Kold's vast empire eventually. But for now, King Kold was still stronger than his two sons, and was content to over see his own empire, and make certain that his sons did not fight over it, not in one on one battles, and not through their vast armies either.
Vegeta often wondered what it would be like to have a brother, or even a sister… He knew that the Queen had suffered two miscarriages during the first part of her reign. The first two would've been daughters, so, it was probably just as well that they had not been born. The loss of what would've been his older brother was a bit harder to take. An assassin had broken into the palace, and attacked the Queen less than a week before the unborn prince was to be removed from her and placed safely into a growth chamber. No one knew to this day what had killed his sisters, but Zarbon knew more than he was letting on about the death of the other prince. Vegeta was certain of that after all, it had been Zarbon that told him about his three siblings that were never born.
Zarbon was a very strong fighter, but it was his intelligence and polished manners that made Frieza place him at the Saiyan royal court, he was assigned to help guard the king's palace as many of the Elite guards had to be sent on purge missions to meet Frieza's outrageous demands, and Dodoria was often there as well. But it was Zarbon that relayed Frieza's instructions and demands to the king, and the Prince had seen that the handsome amber-eyed alien had no qualms about asserting himself into conversations that he considered of interest to Frieza.
Vegeta still could not remember what had happened the night he had gotten out of the tank, and he was starting to wonder if his memory of it was being repressed somehow. He had met Frieza a few times, and knew what he looked like, but couldn't recall ever actually talking to him. Sometimes when he concentrated on remembering the meeting he felt as if there was something blocking his mind from bringing the images to his mind. The only thing he knew for sure was that there had been a fight of some kind. But if someone was playing mind games with him, why wouldn't they have made certain that he was fully healed before he woke up… unless wondering was also part of the game, he was supposed to know that he had lost, but not what or why…
The heavy door of the cell slid open silently, interrupting his thoughts and revealed Zarbon, silhouetted against the hall lights filtering into the still dark room. " Prince Vegeta, I trust that you have acquainted yourself to your new room? "
" Yes, thank you. " Vegeta said with a lot of sarcasm.
" This will be adequate for you, I trust? "
" Yes, so nice of Lord Frieza to give me a private room, don't you think? " Vegeta said in mock surprise and innocence.
Zarbon's amused little smirk fell, as he stared at the Saiyan prince for a moment. Knowing what was going through his mind, Vegeta smirked. He was right, they had hoped that he would complain, wanting to humble him. " Did you want to see me about something, Zarbon? Or are you just there to let some light in? "
Zarbon laughed, he couldn't help it, one it was actually funny, and two, he had expected to enter and be assaulted by a five year old flame-haired little demon demanding to see Frieza at once, furious at their obvious lapse in hospitality, his pathetic cell, the fact that it was dark, and there was no light switch and wondering where his bodyguard was. This was the first time he had ever thought of the little prince as being something besides a spoiled brat. He knew that the prince had to be seething inside, but if he was smart enough to know he was being goaded into complaining without Napa telling him, well, Zarbon thought, then this was going to be interesting. Zarbon wished that he had been as clever as the little brat grinning at him so innocently. He shivered not wanting to remember the things he had been put through… " Well perhaps you might like to join Lord Frieza for dinner, if you are feeling up to it. "
" I would be honored. " Again there was too much sweetness in his tone, but Zarbon couldn't chastise him for trying to be nice when he wasn't really feeling it. Frieza had said to drag the brat to him if he wouldn't come, and to make him show the proper respect. Frieza had said nothing about what to do if he was already minding his manners.
" Would you like to see Napa, and do you need anything before I take you to see Frieza? "
"Thank you, but no to both questions. "
" Come this way then, my Prince. "
' Finally, you idiot ' Vegeta wanted to say, but he didn't preferring instead to talk back in his thoughts rather than out loud. He fell in step behind Zarbon, and soon found himself in front of a large pair of double doors. The doors slid open to reveal a very large chamber it was sparsely decorated, but obviously a throne room of some kind. Gathered in this room, were at least one hundred warriors of various sizes and descriptions, and while he found himself wondering what their power levels were, he knew better than to activate his scouter and check. He was not here to fight, and checking power levels was considered an aggressive act. Adjusting his cloak about his shoulders, he entered proudly, ignoring the presence of the other warriors, he felt each of them glaring at him as he passed through their ranks. Any lesser creature would have been paralyzed with fear, but Vegeta held himself up defiantly under their obvious hostility and made his way to the front of the room where Frieza waited on his oversized throne. Vegeta smirked, noting that Frieza looked like a child sitting on the massive throne, a pouting child, for that matter, and Vegeta wondered what he had to be upset about, he wasn't the one that had been taken from everything he knew and cared about.
" You sent for me, Lord Frieza? " His voice was strong and commanding, yet polite, even though Vegeta let it show in his eyes that he hated the small pink alien before him.
" Down on one knee when you speak before Lord Frieza! " Growled a guard standing close to him and the throne. When the prince made no move to comply, the guard tried to attack, but if he thought he was going to surprise him, he was mistaken. The guard was enormous easily as large as Napa and probably even a bit bigger, but Vegeta hadn't flinched, he simply narrowed his eyes into the most evil look he had ever given anyone.
" I am a prince in my own right, peasant. " Vegeta growled as the massive guard flinched under the weight of his glare. " Had I been properly announced, you would know that. "
Frieza sat up a little on his throne and stared in amazed curiosity at the five year old that had just stared down a high-ranking officer in his personal guard. The slightest hint of a smile settled over the doll-like features of the alien lord. He chuckled softly as the guard took a step away from the young prince, the display of courage from his latest acquisition was impressive, but he could not allow the men on his ship to fear anyone before himself. " Indeed, Captain Balder, this is Prince Vegeta, he and his guard Napa will be joining us. I expect both of them to be treated with the utmost respect and courtesy it has been a long time since we have been graced by the presence of Saiyan royalty, but not long enough that we should have forgotten our manners. I apologize for the oversight, young prince; I know that I can speak for all of my men when I say that it will not happen again. "
' Sure it won't ' Vegeta rolled his eyes, finally releasing the guard from his sharp look. Forcing himself to regain his composure as he turned his attention back to Frieza, he nodded curtly. His annoyance at being slighted in his entrance was secondary to his relief that his first impression with Frieza's men would go a long way toward keeping them away from him. Zarbon and Dodoria would not have backed down, and he knew exactly how lucky he was that neither of them had been close enough to do that instead of the guard. Since he wasn't announced it would've been their duty to force him to kneel. The idea of kneeling before that tyrant was infuriating, but he had played his cards perfectly and Frieza had not. Still, he knew that round one was far from over in this battle, and he prayed that Frieza would continue to play by the rules of etiquette. He was outnumbered badly enough that he was dead in a single second if he angered Frieza too much, but this was his only defense, and he was not going to give it up without a fight.
" Come, Prince Vegeta, I would like you to join me for dinner. " Frieza said suddenly, rising from his throne. He was led into a smaller room adjoining his throne room, it was a formal dinning room, and while its table would seat twenty easily, it was set for two now. " Please, sit down. Do you understand why I have decided to train you? "
" Not really. " Vegeta admitted, with some hesitation, drawing a chuckle from his host.
" You are shrewd and intelligent enough to know when you are about to reveal a weakness, but still honest… quite a contradiction. You will be far greater than your father. "
" I know. "
Frieza laughed outright. " In the next 20 years I will mold you into a warrior and leader of rare power, some of these lessons will be difficult, even painful for you, but I am fairly confident that you will survive. Especially after that little display in the other room, tell me, did you know that you were going to be slighted, and the consequences or did you just react? "
" I don't see why it matters now, things went in my favor but you still hold all the cards, set things up a little differently and your little lesson for me in humility would've gone much differently. "
Frieza's garnet eyes took on a sinister glint. " Answer the question, and then I will tell you why it matters. "
Vegeta rolled his eyes and stopped eating long enough to consider his words carefully. " I… noticed that I wasn't being announced, but I just reacted. "
Frieza shrugged nodding slightly, settling back in his chair watching him for a moment.
" Just out of curiosity, why aren't you eating? "
Frieza chuckled, finally picking up his fork and began to eat. " You are perceptive and have excellent instincts, I can see already it will be hard to fool you or distract you. Don't worry; I have worked too hard to get you here to poison you already. I was wondering when you would notice that. "
" It is very good, I noticed immediately, I was wondering if I could have yours if you didn't want it. "
Frieza chuckled again. " Finally decided to say something befitting a five year old? I have to admit, I was beginning to wonder… As for your reception in my throne room, I want you to know that it was not purely a lesson in humility. There may be times where you will be purposely slighted by those you will deal with, and depending on who is around, you may be forced to act to defend yourself. Today you managed it without a fight you might not have been so lucky had someone else been closer to you. But you already mentioned that, so I do not think there will ever be another repeat of that incident either privately with a small gathering between us or in another large gathering…besides, I'm sure my former guard captain and his embarrassing display have made the rounds throughout my ship and halfway to his home planet by now… Along with the tale of your icy glare… I don't think we could get the same effect the second time. "
" I was under the impression that you were just out to embarrass me. " Vegeta said, coldly, obviously not entirely believing his host.
" You don't trust me, but I assure you that you will, in time. "
' Time… ' Vegeta sighed, loosing his appetite. ' That would be the one thing I still have, and the one thing I don't particularly want. But you are wrong about one thing… I will never trust you. '
Frieza smirked almost imperceptibly at that, until Vegeta learned to guard his thoughts as well as he guarded his expressions, even in his mind he was not safe arguing with his new teacher. ' We'll see, little prince, we shall see. '
Well… questions, comments? Please know that this entire story is still in it's FIRST DRAFT stage so far, and I was hesitant about posting it, but after I put up the prologue, and read your excited comments I decided to post a little more. With this section though, things get a little tricky because no one really knows exactly how Vegeta and Frieza reacted to each other when he was growing up. Remember, sometimes caution is the better part of valor, and Veggie-Chan is easily smart enough to know that, especially because he hasn't had a whole lot of experience kicking a$$ and taking names. Besides, he's only five and he's just spent the worst day of his life completely alone, I think I'd be a little occ too, after all that. And, uh, now that I'm done babbling, I think I'll go immerse myself in a nice big lemon fic for a while… Please r/r, but be kind, please…