Chapter 4- The Festival
"I'M NOT WEARING THE GODDAMNED DRESS!!!!!"
"Miss, please! It's a Royal Festival. All women will be wearing nice kimonos like this! Oh please, miss!" Collifla's face contorted with rage. The slave girl cringed against the wall as Collifla's hair flew above her head. Ki flew out around her as she screamed. The slave began to cry.
"RRRRG!!! Shut up!!! I hate the sound of that wretched sobbing!!!" She slapped the slave into the wall. The alien girl went limp. Collifla looked at her, dress still in hand. She softened and walked over to the intercom. Pressing the button with her tail, and speaking into the receiver.
"Vegeta, would you ring for the med techs? I lost my temper again."
"Let her die, it's just a slave," Vegeta's voice said in an almost bored tone.
"Vegeta, you know I don't…."
"Alright, alright. But get your kimono on. They won't let you in if you aren't dressed up and there is NO WAY you're getting out of this and leaving me there myself!"
"Fine! Over and out."
A year had passed. Collifla and Vegeta had definitely gained a lot of power. They endured Tomet and his friends, were tutored by Collifla's mother, and built a strong bond of friendship that no two Saiyens ever had before.
Collifla slipped on her kimono and sighed. If she ran into her brother she would have no chance. She couldn't even run in these stupid sandals. She would just have to fly and let Vegeta stall him…. She smiled at her reflection as she ran a steel brush through her mass of hair. It gradually became quite silky after awhile and Collifla hated to admit that she loved running her fingers through it while it was in that state. She and Vegeta were quite mature for their age. They had an astounding vocabulary and comprehension levels for a variety of situations. It fueled their sense of superiority, but it was knocked flat when they were beat up time after time by their "personal trainer", Tomet. Collifla tied the sash tight around her waist and put the headband the slave girl had given her in her hair.
She walked over to the slave, picked her up, and put her on the bed.
"Damn my soft side," she thought as she propped the girl up on the pillow.
There was a knock on the door.
"COLLIFLA!!! Aren't you ready yet???" He growled.
"I'm ready! Don't get all pissy!" The door hissed open and Vegeta walked through the door. Collifla had gotten taller and had gained an inch on the prince. Although this obviously irritated the prince, it never seemed to get in the way of their training. At the moment he seemed much taller, but that was only due to his blinding arrogance and superiority. He had gotten to wear armor, though far more elegant than his training wardrobe. It was sleeveless, without the shoulder plates. It also lacked the leg plates as well. His cape billowed slightly behind him and he looked as though he fit his role as a prince very well indeed.
"Nice," said Collifla, smirking.
"And you," The prince smirked back. He offered his arm in such a sarcastic way, it would make the world's most cynical person spin in their grave. Collifla took it, and flipped the prince onto the carpet.
"Ow…" The prince half laughed, half moaned from his back. Collifla smirked and walked through the door, stepping on the prince as she went.
"You scuffed my armor!" Collifla stopped and looked at him, eyebrow raised.
"Pardon me, highness." She dragged him to his feet. As soon as he was stable, he flipped her onto the carpet instead.
"Baka! I'm in a dress!" She spun around on the floor and brought her leg under him. He dropped on his back with a thud.
"Kuso. Even in a dress, you'll never have proper lady etiquette."
"Since when do Saiyens of ANY gender have etiquette?"
"Good point." Vegeta hoisted himself to his feet again and offered his hand. Collifla scowled at it.
"No tricks! I promise!" He smirked. Collifla rolled her eyes and took it. What choice did she have? She could hardly walk in her shoes, much less stand up! They walked out the door toward the back palace garden.
When they stepped outside the small girl's eyes widened.
"Wow." Vegeta grinned.
"Yeah. They do a nice job with this. Wait till things really get going!"
The garden was radiant with lights from the bushes and flowers. Booths of music, food, even shooting games, were set up among the plants by the slaves. Even they seemed happy.
The Saiyen children ran to the first booth. They shot targets thrown into the air. If they hit the one that squawked, they won. They received a small badge about the size of an earth penny, plus the satisfaction of the kill.
The food was served by the tons. It took ten slaves to even keep one Saiyen satisfied. Needless to say that the majority of the slaves were at the food stands.
Saiyen music played from a single stand that was emitted from strange instruments. Vegeta and Collifla sang softly under their breath. Vegeta found he had a knack for singing almost as well as Collifla did. However, since it occurred to Vegeta that the "Prince of all Saiyens" would look a little weird enjoying an earthen pastime called "singing", they decided to keep it their little secret. It was actually a very pleasant scene; Collifla would be teaching Vegeta to harmonize, and once they got it right, the sound blended wonderfully. Then, after the music that hung in the air faded, they would head off to the sparring rooms to endure "Tomet's torture time".
"My dear sister, your look lovely this fine evening." Speak of the devil. The little Saiyeness rolled her eyes, and turned into her brother's amber inlay. She might have grown an inch, but so did Tomet. She looked up and scowled.
Collifla hated to admit it in her mind since, well, it was her brother, but Tomet was actually a very handsome boy. He got all the Saiyeness girls he wanted and beat the shit out of all the boys his age. He was fourteen and had a very nice build. His hair was wiry yet silky, just like his sister's. He had triangular spikes in a short upsweep to the side. He had a large chunk that fell slightly to the right from the center of his forehead, and three bangs brushing either side of his face. He brushed the chunk out of his eyes and grinned wolfishly down at his sister.
"I hate it when you do that," she growled up at him. His grin widened.
"Merely a compliment, little sister, merely a compliment."
"Must we beat you?" Sneered Vegeta.
"Two against one? Well, that doesn't sound fair." Tomet's best friend Oiono stepped from the crowd. His hair stuck out on either side with a few spikes sticking up from the back with two bangs on the right side of his square face. The dark brown strands caught the light and made Collifla catch her breath. She blushed slightly when he smirked at her.
"Collifla. You're growing up fast, but obviously not fast enough, squirt." He knocked the front of her head and snapped her out of her little girlish world. She mentally kicked herself for slipping like that and vowed to get over him if it was the last thing she ever did. Kuso. He's not even nice to me! Well, nicer then Tomet, but that's not saying much.
"So, what do you kids plan on doing on this evening of festivity," Tomet said in his over-elegant fashion as always. Well, that's Tomet for you. She thought resentfully.
"Nothing."
"Oh c'mon! You're at least going to dance."
"We don't dance," said Collifla shortly. Vegeta stood in silent agreement.
"Aw c'mon! Highness, royalty must know how to dance." Vegeta scowled and powered up. Oiono and Tomet simply grinned. Collifla put her hand on his shoulder.
"We don't dance," she said dangerously. Tomet laughed and was about to power up as well, but Collifla locked her gaze with her brother.
"Tomet, not tonight. Please," she said softly. Tomet looked into his sister's black eyes and his Saiyen emotions glitched when he realized his true emotions for his sister. Damn it. He thought.
"Come on, Ono," he said. He grabbed a girl with short spiked black hair around the waist. She glared, but faded quickly to a smile when she saw who it was. Oiono looked curiously at Tomet for a moment, then followed his lead. They disappeared into the crowd. Vegeta turned to look at Collifla.
"Aw, what the hell. We can give dancing a try. My father said that if he didn't see me socializing at least once, he'd beat me to a pulp." He sighed, "Fuck it. One day I'll be the king and I won't have to do anything like this." Collifla snorted as they walked side by side into the crowd. Collifla laughed when he began his attempts at the Saiyen dances, and she began to try it too. She certainly possessed more grace than his majesty, but she still was no dancer.
"Dancing sucks. Give me a place to fight and I'll show them a move or two," muttered Vegeta.
"Really now? The little prince don't look like much to me. Literally." Vegeta turned around his eye narrowed. The Saiyeness girl felt a growl emit from the depths of Vegeta's throat.
"Kelis," he muttered. Kelis was the son of the royal guard. He was very respectful to the king, winning him over, and always won the war even if Vegeta won the battle. His brown hair went straight back and down, falling at the nape of his neck, with thick bangs on one side of his face. He had obviously come back from the planet he was assigned to clear off. He had been gone for nearly a full year, and it gave neither Saiyalings any pleasure at all to see him back in one peice.
"Vegeta," he responded with a smirk, "It's been a long time. I see you haven't changed much since then, especially in the height department."
"Get out of here, baka," Collifla snarled, hoping to end it before Vegeta lost his temper again. It backfired. Kelis raised his eyebrows.
"You, Collifla, I see have changed very much so." Vegeta growled again, but this time, it was audible. Kelis's eyes snapped back to Vegeta's. Collifla watched as Vegeta measured his options. The last thing the Saiyalings needed now was trouble, and more so… this was Kelis. No matter what the outcome, the result would be disastrous. The Saiyen prince stood as tall as he could, staring him down. Kelis met his gaze and smiled.
"Come, come, Vegeta. You have to admit; Collifla's quite the looker. You're going to have to get used to it." He reached and took a bit of hair from the side of her face in his fingers. She cringed away from his grip and glared into his smirking face. She shuddered when she met his eyes. She didn't like the way he looked at her. Not at all… Vegeta's growl grew into a snarl. Kelis sneered.
"Aw, come on Vegeta. You knew it was bound to happen some day. She's-"
"-Out of your league," said a voice from behind them. A hand grasped Vegeta's shoulder, preventing him from launching himself across the garden at Kelis that very instant. Vegeta looked up to see Tomet, but it wasn't the Tomet he knew. It was not the one who was the mastermind behind every practical joke ever played upon them, nor the one who would torment his sister without losing a slight twinkle in his black eyes, nor was it their trainer, torturer, or headstrong mentor. Every curve of his face was etched with pure fury and his eyes burned with white-hot flames.
"Get the hell out of here," he said, so quietly he could just be heard over the music. He loosened his hand on Vegeta when he felt him relax, and placed the other hand on his sister's shoulder. She felt a breeze tickle the back of her neck as his tail lashed the air behind them.
"Tomet. I see you haven't changed at all. It's people like you who disgrace-"
"People like me? You're the disgrace to our race! You disgrace our culture! Our government! Our world! It is people like you who disgrace our race. You power-hungry simpletons gifted with authority only to abuse it! Now get the hell out of here, you scrawny little monkey," Tomet snarled. Kelis looked to be in a state of shock.
"You'll get yours one day, Tomet," he said softly and quickly. Tomet gave his familiar flash of fang, but his eyes still blazed.
"I beg to differ, Kelis. I really do." Kelis stared, unable to respond. He looked as though he was about to power up, but stopped when Oiono and the girl Tomet had grabbed stepped from the crowd. They stood next to Tomet, arms crossed with menace in their eyes. Collifla flipped her fan.
"Don't you know, Kelis? It's slimy little boys like you who always get theirs. Always," she sneered.
"Truer words were never spoken. I guarentee it," snarled Tomet. Kelis gave a final glare with a flick of his tail to mask his apparent fear, and disappeared into the crowd. Collifla turned to look at Tomet once more. She met his eyes with a searching gaze, but he carefully kept his face unreadable.
"Thank you," she whispered. Tomet smirked.
"Hn. I hate him so much. But don't worry. I meant it when I said he and the rest of his type would get theirs one day." Collifla nodded.
"Don't worry. One of these days…" Vegeta smirked. Tomet smiled slightly.
"I appreciate it, Highness. However, I'm afraid I don't have that much patience." He clapped both of them on the head and his smile widened to a grin.
"Now, go have some fun and stay out of trouble." He grabbed the girl around the waist again, "I know I will." He buried his face in her neck and growled. The Saiyeness actually giggled and winked at the small Saiyalings. Tomet winked as well as he whisked her off the dance floor. Oiono crossed his arms and sighed. He flashed a smile at them and sauntered toward a group of Saiyen girls. Collifla put her face in her hand.
"Boys."
"Hey!"
"You don't count."
"What???"
"C'mon. For some reason, I'm sick of dancing." Vegeta smiled agreeably and gestured toward a gap in the multitude.
Collifla stomped through the opening as Vegeta walked smoothly behind her.
"That last little crossfire was inspired by a conversation regularly held between me and my friend," Q giggles. She snaps her fingers and appears in the midst of the festival. She snaps them again to don a kimono and color her hair black, "Don't wanna stand out," she says off to the side, "I don't care what Collifla and Vegeta's opinions are! I'm dancing!"
"I'M NOT WEARING THE GODDAMNED DRESS!!!!!"
"Miss, please! It's a Royal Festival. All women will be wearing nice kimonos like this! Oh please, miss!" Collifla's face contorted with rage. The slave girl cringed against the wall as Collifla's hair flew above her head. Ki flew out around her as she screamed. The slave began to cry.
"RRRRG!!! Shut up!!! I hate the sound of that wretched sobbing!!!" She slapped the slave into the wall. The alien girl went limp. Collifla looked at her, dress still in hand. She softened and walked over to the intercom. Pressing the button with her tail, and speaking into the receiver.
"Vegeta, would you ring for the med techs? I lost my temper again."
"Let her die, it's just a slave," Vegeta's voice said in an almost bored tone.
"Vegeta, you know I don't…."
"Alright, alright. But get your kimono on. They won't let you in if you aren't dressed up and there is NO WAY you're getting out of this and leaving me there myself!"
"Fine! Over and out."
A year had passed. Collifla and Vegeta had definitely gained a lot of power. They endured Tomet and his friends, were tutored by Collifla's mother, and built a strong bond of friendship that no two Saiyens ever had before.
Collifla slipped on her kimono and sighed. If she ran into her brother she would have no chance. She couldn't even run in these stupid sandals. She would just have to fly and let Vegeta stall him…. She smiled at her reflection as she ran a steel brush through her mass of hair. It gradually became quite silky after awhile and Collifla hated to admit that she loved running her fingers through it while it was in that state. She and Vegeta were quite mature for their age. They had an astounding vocabulary and comprehension levels for a variety of situations. It fueled their sense of superiority, but it was knocked flat when they were beat up time after time by their "personal trainer", Tomet. Collifla tied the sash tight around her waist and put the headband the slave girl had given her in her hair.
She walked over to the slave, picked her up, and put her on the bed.
"Damn my soft side," she thought as she propped the girl up on the pillow.
There was a knock on the door.
"COLLIFLA!!! Aren't you ready yet???" He growled.
"I'm ready! Don't get all pissy!" The door hissed open and Vegeta walked through the door. Collifla had gotten taller and had gained an inch on the prince. Although this obviously irritated the prince, it never seemed to get in the way of their training. At the moment he seemed much taller, but that was only due to his blinding arrogance and superiority. He had gotten to wear armor, though far more elegant than his training wardrobe. It was sleeveless, without the shoulder plates. It also lacked the leg plates as well. His cape billowed slightly behind him and he looked as though he fit his role as a prince very well indeed.
"Nice," said Collifla, smirking.
"And you," The prince smirked back. He offered his arm in such a sarcastic way, it would make the world's most cynical person spin in their grave. Collifla took it, and flipped the prince onto the carpet.
"Ow…" The prince half laughed, half moaned from his back. Collifla smirked and walked through the door, stepping on the prince as she went.
"You scuffed my armor!" Collifla stopped and looked at him, eyebrow raised.
"Pardon me, highness." She dragged him to his feet. As soon as he was stable, he flipped her onto the carpet instead.
"Baka! I'm in a dress!" She spun around on the floor and brought her leg under him. He dropped on his back with a thud.
"Kuso. Even in a dress, you'll never have proper lady etiquette."
"Since when do Saiyens of ANY gender have etiquette?"
"Good point." Vegeta hoisted himself to his feet again and offered his hand. Collifla scowled at it.
"No tricks! I promise!" He smirked. Collifla rolled her eyes and took it. What choice did she have? She could hardly walk in her shoes, much less stand up! They walked out the door toward the back palace garden.
When they stepped outside the small girl's eyes widened.
"Wow." Vegeta grinned.
"Yeah. They do a nice job with this. Wait till things really get going!"
The garden was radiant with lights from the bushes and flowers. Booths of music, food, even shooting games, were set up among the plants by the slaves. Even they seemed happy.
The Saiyen children ran to the first booth. They shot targets thrown into the air. If they hit the one that squawked, they won. They received a small badge about the size of an earth penny, plus the satisfaction of the kill.
The food was served by the tons. It took ten slaves to even keep one Saiyen satisfied. Needless to say that the majority of the slaves were at the food stands.
Saiyen music played from a single stand that was emitted from strange instruments. Vegeta and Collifla sang softly under their breath. Vegeta found he had a knack for singing almost as well as Collifla did. However, since it occurred to Vegeta that the "Prince of all Saiyens" would look a little weird enjoying an earthen pastime called "singing", they decided to keep it their little secret. It was actually a very pleasant scene; Collifla would be teaching Vegeta to harmonize, and once they got it right, the sound blended wonderfully. Then, after the music that hung in the air faded, they would head off to the sparring rooms to endure "Tomet's torture time".
"My dear sister, your look lovely this fine evening." Speak of the devil. The little Saiyeness rolled her eyes, and turned into her brother's amber inlay. She might have grown an inch, but so did Tomet. She looked up and scowled.
Collifla hated to admit it in her mind since, well, it was her brother, but Tomet was actually a very handsome boy. He got all the Saiyeness girls he wanted and beat the shit out of all the boys his age. He was fourteen and had a very nice build. His hair was wiry yet silky, just like his sister's. He had triangular spikes in a short upsweep to the side. He had a large chunk that fell slightly to the right from the center of his forehead, and three bangs brushing either side of his face. He brushed the chunk out of his eyes and grinned wolfishly down at his sister.
"I hate it when you do that," she growled up at him. His grin widened.
"Merely a compliment, little sister, merely a compliment."
"Must we beat you?" Sneered Vegeta.
"Two against one? Well, that doesn't sound fair." Tomet's best friend Oiono stepped from the crowd. His hair stuck out on either side with a few spikes sticking up from the back with two bangs on the right side of his square face. The dark brown strands caught the light and made Collifla catch her breath. She blushed slightly when he smirked at her.
"Collifla. You're growing up fast, but obviously not fast enough, squirt." He knocked the front of her head and snapped her out of her little girlish world. She mentally kicked herself for slipping like that and vowed to get over him if it was the last thing she ever did. Kuso. He's not even nice to me! Well, nicer then Tomet, but that's not saying much.
"So, what do you kids plan on doing on this evening of festivity," Tomet said in his over-elegant fashion as always. Well, that's Tomet for you. She thought resentfully.
"Nothing."
"Oh c'mon! You're at least going to dance."
"We don't dance," said Collifla shortly. Vegeta stood in silent agreement.
"Aw c'mon! Highness, royalty must know how to dance." Vegeta scowled and powered up. Oiono and Tomet simply grinned. Collifla put her hand on his shoulder.
"We don't dance," she said dangerously. Tomet laughed and was about to power up as well, but Collifla locked her gaze with her brother.
"Tomet, not tonight. Please," she said softly. Tomet looked into his sister's black eyes and his Saiyen emotions glitched when he realized his true emotions for his sister. Damn it. He thought.
"Come on, Ono," he said. He grabbed a girl with short spiked black hair around the waist. She glared, but faded quickly to a smile when she saw who it was. Oiono looked curiously at Tomet for a moment, then followed his lead. They disappeared into the crowd. Vegeta turned to look at Collifla.
"Aw, what the hell. We can give dancing a try. My father said that if he didn't see me socializing at least once, he'd beat me to a pulp." He sighed, "Fuck it. One day I'll be the king and I won't have to do anything like this." Collifla snorted as they walked side by side into the crowd. Collifla laughed when he began his attempts at the Saiyen dances, and she began to try it too. She certainly possessed more grace than his majesty, but she still was no dancer.
"Dancing sucks. Give me a place to fight and I'll show them a move or two," muttered Vegeta.
"Really now? The little prince don't look like much to me. Literally." Vegeta turned around his eye narrowed. The Saiyeness girl felt a growl emit from the depths of Vegeta's throat.
"Kelis," he muttered. Kelis was the son of the royal guard. He was very respectful to the king, winning him over, and always won the war even if Vegeta won the battle. His brown hair went straight back and down, falling at the nape of his neck, with thick bangs on one side of his face. He had obviously come back from the planet he was assigned to clear off. He had been gone for nearly a full year, and it gave neither Saiyalings any pleasure at all to see him back in one peice.
"Vegeta," he responded with a smirk, "It's been a long time. I see you haven't changed much since then, especially in the height department."
"Get out of here, baka," Collifla snarled, hoping to end it before Vegeta lost his temper again. It backfired. Kelis raised his eyebrows.
"You, Collifla, I see have changed very much so." Vegeta growled again, but this time, it was audible. Kelis's eyes snapped back to Vegeta's. Collifla watched as Vegeta measured his options. The last thing the Saiyalings needed now was trouble, and more so… this was Kelis. No matter what the outcome, the result would be disastrous. The Saiyen prince stood as tall as he could, staring him down. Kelis met his gaze and smiled.
"Come, come, Vegeta. You have to admit; Collifla's quite the looker. You're going to have to get used to it." He reached and took a bit of hair from the side of her face in his fingers. She cringed away from his grip and glared into his smirking face. She shuddered when she met his eyes. She didn't like the way he looked at her. Not at all… Vegeta's growl grew into a snarl. Kelis sneered.
"Aw, come on Vegeta. You knew it was bound to happen some day. She's-"
"-Out of your league," said a voice from behind them. A hand grasped Vegeta's shoulder, preventing him from launching himself across the garden at Kelis that very instant. Vegeta looked up to see Tomet, but it wasn't the Tomet he knew. It was not the one who was the mastermind behind every practical joke ever played upon them, nor the one who would torment his sister without losing a slight twinkle in his black eyes, nor was it their trainer, torturer, or headstrong mentor. Every curve of his face was etched with pure fury and his eyes burned with white-hot flames.
"Get the hell out of here," he said, so quietly he could just be heard over the music. He loosened his hand on Vegeta when he felt him relax, and placed the other hand on his sister's shoulder. She felt a breeze tickle the back of her neck as his tail lashed the air behind them.
"Tomet. I see you haven't changed at all. It's people like you who disgrace-"
"People like me? You're the disgrace to our race! You disgrace our culture! Our government! Our world! It is people like you who disgrace our race. You power-hungry simpletons gifted with authority only to abuse it! Now get the hell out of here, you scrawny little monkey," Tomet snarled. Kelis looked to be in a state of shock.
"You'll get yours one day, Tomet," he said softly and quickly. Tomet gave his familiar flash of fang, but his eyes still blazed.
"I beg to differ, Kelis. I really do." Kelis stared, unable to respond. He looked as though he was about to power up, but stopped when Oiono and the girl Tomet had grabbed stepped from the crowd. They stood next to Tomet, arms crossed with menace in their eyes. Collifla flipped her fan.
"Don't you know, Kelis? It's slimy little boys like you who always get theirs. Always," she sneered.
"Truer words were never spoken. I guarentee it," snarled Tomet. Kelis gave a final glare with a flick of his tail to mask his apparent fear, and disappeared into the crowd. Collifla turned to look at Tomet once more. She met his eyes with a searching gaze, but he carefully kept his face unreadable.
"Thank you," she whispered. Tomet smirked.
"Hn. I hate him so much. But don't worry. I meant it when I said he and the rest of his type would get theirs one day." Collifla nodded.
"Don't worry. One of these days…" Vegeta smirked. Tomet smiled slightly.
"I appreciate it, Highness. However, I'm afraid I don't have that much patience." He clapped both of them on the head and his smile widened to a grin.
"Now, go have some fun and stay out of trouble." He grabbed the girl around the waist again, "I know I will." He buried his face in her neck and growled. The Saiyeness actually giggled and winked at the small Saiyalings. Tomet winked as well as he whisked her off the dance floor. Oiono crossed his arms and sighed. He flashed a smile at them and sauntered toward a group of Saiyen girls. Collifla put her face in her hand.
"Boys."
"Hey!"
"You don't count."
"What???"
"C'mon. For some reason, I'm sick of dancing." Vegeta smiled agreeably and gestured toward a gap in the multitude.
Collifla stomped through the opening as Vegeta walked smoothly behind her.
"That last little crossfire was inspired by a conversation regularly held between me and my friend," Q giggles. She snaps her fingers and appears in the midst of the festival. She snaps them again to don a kimono and color her hair black, "Don't wanna stand out," she says off to the side, "I don't care what Collifla and Vegeta's opinions are! I'm dancing!"
