Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ!!!
Shadows of the Past
Chapter 22
" But Daddy!! " Bra cried desperately. " Frieza didn't really take the little princess away!! Did he?? "
" Are you ever going to stop with these interruptions or don't you want to know what happened? "
" I'm sorry. " Bra pouted. " You can keep going… "
**
Dawn came and went, and Blaze let the two of them sleep, rather than help wake Shani up to play her salute to the morning, and while Vegeta was up before Shani, he too awoke considerably later than normal…
Blaze had curled herself around the back of his favorite chair and was already having her breakfast, an emerald the size of her head. He snorted, she even ate like a girl, chewing it daintily and quietly.
" I still can't believe you eat rocks, Blaze. " He chuckled, as he got up off of the floor and stretched, looking at Shani, still asleep on his bed. He rolled his eyes. After their late night kitchen raid, she still insisted she wasn't tired, so they had snuck out onto the roof and sat up on top of the tower that formed the far corner of his room and watched the stars. He never knew she knew the stars so well, but she could find all of the stars whose planets he had been sent to so far and she could didn't need the star charts to do it, either. While they had talked, she had fallen asleep out there, so he had brought her in, and put her in the bed and settled down on the floor with a couple of blankets and his pillow…
" Not rocks, Vegeta." Blaze corrected, drawing him from his thoughts. " Pure minerals and gems in particular collect traces of magic in the of thousands of years it takes them to form. The more natural magic it was exposed to, the higher the gem grade, and the better it tastes. I love emeralds from the mines of Calash. "
" Better than Elda's Triple Chocolate Cheesecake with caramel, huh? " Vegeta purred mischievously, knowing the tiny dragon loved what she called 'people food' especially chocolate; anything with chocolate, but she didn't get it very often.
" Nothing's better than that, " Blaze admitted with a laugh. " Believe me, I've been counting the minutes till suppertime since last week, actually."
" I know, " He chuckled.
" Don't you and Shani have to go out to the square this morning? I thought you were having that weird practice outdoors all day today? "
" What? "
" You remember, it's a drill or something that will keep you guys out of classes all day today and tomorrow? I knew I let you two stay up too late last night… "
" Oh… yeah. " Vegeta growled, turning abruptly and heading for the shower. " We'll be ready. "
But when he returned, Shani was still asleep, and Blaze was gone. Vegeta spent a moment looking for the tiny dragon, but it was getting pretty late, so he turned his attention to Shani with a shrug.
" Come on, " He purred, tickling her nose with his tail. " Wake up! "
"Mmmm. " Shani growled, waving him away sleepily. " Go away, Veggie. "
" Can't this time, you're in my room, remember? " He purred mischievously. " Come on, we gotta be down at the square in 10 minutes. "
" The square? " She blinked sleepily. " Oh that's right! I suppose we'd better go then huh? "
She bounced out of bed and took a moment to stretch before she performed the grooming spell, and smiled sweetly at the glare he sent her. " What's the matter, silly monkey, still can't get your ki to give you a bath or change your clothes? "
" At least I always wake up in time to take a bath. " He grunted. " Come on, we already missed breakfast. "
" Hey, where's Blaze? "
" I don't know, but I'm sure she's fine and she was the one who reminded me that we were supposed to go outside for that stupid thing today. "
" I'll just be glad when it's time for the play tonight. "
" I still can't believe you would ever put on that stupid costume!! How can you do that to yourself? "
" It's just for fun, Vegeta, and it's just this once. "
" I've seen you in that ridiculous costume at least three times, Shani and I hate it more every time I see it. As if the legend itself isn't stupid enough, you just had to be the yellow rat?? "
" But you are going to come and watch tonight, aren't you? " She asked, her silver eyes shimmering as she smiled. " Please? I really want to… "
" You don't need me there… "
She stopped and grabbed his arm, but her expression was pleading. " Please? "
" Oh, alright… " He growled, and he was about to stalk off sulking when she surprised him. She giggled, kissing his cheek lightly. For a moment, he wasn't sure what to say or do, but Shani was already gone, scampering lightly down the long marble corridor to the doors closest to the square. Finally he growled, making sure he rubbed the little peck off of his face and trying not to look like he was blushing, he stalked outside after her and hung back a bit from everyone else.
Luckily everyone else was already gathered around Zarbon and Dodoria, and a large box curiously. "Oh good, " Zarbon chuckled, casting a pointed glace at Vegeta. " You decided to join us after all. "
Dodoria snickered coldly. " Yeah, I was afraid I'd have to come and find you. Come here, Prince Vegeta, you're first. "
" First for what? " He growled distrustfully.
" Our friends from Kwanzaa have graciously sent us a few of their toys. These are Ki bracers. These are the same restraints that they use on the gladiators who fight in the arenas and down in the pits. With these on, we can control the strength of your Ki blasts to make them stronger or stop you from using them entirely. " Zarbon said, snapping one on each of Vegeta's wrists.
The Saiyan Prince crossed his arms over his chest, feigning disinterest, but wearily stayed out of Zarbon and Dodoria's immediate reach.
" Why are you putting these on us? " Gunnar wondered, tugging vainly at the two heavy metal cuffs. " We weren't slaves the last time I checked. "
Dodoria laughed. " As warriors you must be ready for any situation that may arise. A lot of our missions lately have been dealing with the Killjarinn Sector and they have Ki disrupting weapons and armor too. "
Zarbon nodded. " If you should ever encounter this type of weaponry or restraints then it will save your lives if you are already familiar with your limitations in them. Vegeta, I am going to lower your Ki, and the rest of your class is going to try to catch you. I want you to be thinking of two of your classmates that will also be the hunted. Now, I hear a lot of giggling. Let me assure you. This exercise will not be as easy as it sounds. Even without being able to fly, use super speed or blast you, Vegeta is still a Saiyan, a natural hunter. He and his two fellows only have to evade you until suppertime to win. The rest of you have to capture and keep all three of them prisoner until supper, if you want to win. Vegeta, pick yours first, and Gunnar, you will lead the others. "
" Why me? " Gunnar asked suspiciously.
" You're the two strongest in this class, you are the other team leader, Vegeta already has several hundred points, this is your first chance to catch up. "
" So where's Captain Ginyue? " Vegeta wondered and Gunnar nodded.
" He's on a mission for Frieza. That's why Dodoria is here. "
" Yay. " Vegeta growled sarcastically. " We have the fat pink marshmallow standing in for the purple jerk. "
Gunnar tried not to laugh. "Yeah, really. So, who are you taking, Vegeta? "
Vegeta growled, his first choice was obvious, Shani. The second was harder. Lynx and Wires were the next fastest runners, but they were even weaker than Shani. Lynx was a little faster, but Wires was easier to get along with… " Shani and Wires. "
Shani giggled, bounding over to him. " You picked me? I promise, Vegeta, we won't let you down. "
"Uh-are you sure you want me on your team, Vegeta? " The little Zarovian squeaked.
" Yeah. " Vegeta shrugged, even though he wasn't sure of anything at the moment. " Zarbon… these guys out number us by 10 to one. If any of them should straggle a little can we even the odds a little, other wise, how are we going to have any fun? "
" Actually, we usually wait and have that be part of the exercise the next time we do it, but I suppose if you want to… If one of these three capture you, you are to leave the game and will return to study hall in the library. Now, Vegeta, take your team and get ready. I will be informing Gunnar and his team on the rules they have to follow. You three will have one hour until we start the game. I suggest you use it to prepare your evasion strategy. The entire school grounds are open to you, but never inside the buildings. Gunnar will have the only scouter, and if one of you is captured, you may try rescuing them. "
" How far are you going to lower my power? "
" Check your bracer read out, Vegeta. " Zarbon smirked.
Vegeta glanced down curiously, and growled. The digital numbers read 500. He wasn't even sure he could fly with it that low. He glared at Zarbon and lead Shani and Wires away, heading out into the woods.
Shani grabbed his wrist and dragged it over to where she could read it. " Woah! That's like 4,500 points they took away from you, Vegeta! This isn't going to be fair at all! "
"More like 4700, but that's the point, Shani, it isn't supposed to be fair. At least he didn't take it any farther than that. He could have, you know. " Vegeta swung himself up into a tree. " Besides. I'm still not helpless. I can still fight, I can't blast or fly, but I'll take down anyone in that group except Gunnar and Kor pretty easily. "
" Unless Zarbon is going to amplify the ki of some of the other kids, Vegeta, you have to be careful. We need to work together. " Shani sighed, absently pulling leaves off of the tree limb they sat on.
" Would you quit that? Those leaves down there will give away our position, Shani. Come on, Wires let's find another tree to wait in. Preferably one that Shani can't pull all of the leaves off of. Some tree hugger, huh? There she goes, despoiling nature again. " He purred mischievously, but Shani just stuck her tongue out and giggled.