Chapter 69

We meet at the end, Zarbon murmured, his voice so weak Vegeta could barely hear it, then his eyes glazed over and the body in his arms went limp. The words that had been spoken were ancient and Saiyan, and hearing them come from his friend's mouth struck him to the core. Suddenly it didn't matter that he had lost his tail, or that they were most certainly going to be killed. All that was important was that Zarbon, the only man in the universe he considered a friend, was dead.

he screamed, voice raw, gripping the slack body in his arms with all his strength. He didn't care that he was smearing blood all over himself and was only dimly aware of movement around him.

Kakarott said quickly, crouching beside him.

It's too late, Radditz replied, the words breaking as he spoke them.

Vegeta felt a hand on his shoulder and shrugged it off angrily, staring down at the now-peaceful face of the man in his arms. he shouted again, voice hoarse, feeling as if the sound was pulled from deep inside him. He hadn't realized how much his friend had meant to him until he was gone. Zarbon was one of the few people that had stood up to him and had always been completely honest. He needed Zarbon, how else was he going to run his Empire? The tall, green-haired man had always been there, it seemed, golden eyes calmly weighing him. Why, oh why wouldn't those eyes look at him again?

It looks like he wasn't good enough, after all, Freeza snickered, standing before them, hands on hips. Best throw him out with the rubbish.

You'll pay for this, Radditz hissed, lowering into a fighting stance.

Vegeta felt rage bubbling through him, the feeling even more powerful than the soul-rending sorrow he felt at Zarbon's death. He had never experienced such fury before, never felt such fire running through his veins. Gently laying Zarbon down in the grass, he tenderly closed the man's eyes and arranged the thick green braid just so, wiping away the blood from his face. Goodbye, brother, he murmured, and fixed his burning stare on Freeza. Freeza's eyes narrowed as a smile spread across his pasty face like a stain, his features wrinkling, and Vegeta had never felt the need to end a smile so quickly in his entire life. Taking a step forward, he only glared at the small warrior a few paces away, letting the burning feeling consume him. You took him from me, Vegeta growled between clenched teeth.

You took my pride from me and humiliated me.

I have an idea, he heard Kakarott whisper to Radditz, every sense of his oddly heightened. Get Zarbon's body, collect Piccolo and Gohan, and get out of here.

What? Are you crazy? What about you? Radditz hissed.

Go back to Arlia and talk to Bulma. She'll know what to do with the dragonballs. We'll escape somehow, Kakarott murmured.
Vegeta had no idea what the Earth Saiyan was talking about, but he thought it for the best. Radditz had served him well, and he trusted his mate to give Zarbon the respectful burial he deserved. Do it, he snapped, not turning around. He was only satisfied when he heard Zarbon's weight lifted from the grass and felt Radditz's ki recede in the distance.

What party poopers, Freeza sneered. I was just getting warmed up.

You have taken everything from anyone, and have never been punished! Vegeta intoned, his wrath growing ever more steadily. A thousand scenes played themselves out in his mind, of Zarbon's laugh, of Bulma's smile, of his home planet being blown to bits, of his father dying at Freeza's hands. The diminutive being in front of him was the cause of all the pain and suffering he had ever felt in his life and there was no way in hell he was going to let him do the same thing to someone else. As he had the thought it was as if a floodgate inside him had opened and he felt a white heat sear his insides. I will stop you now! he screamed, letting loose the anger and pain that had been building up inside of him. A lifetime of frustration and rage spilled forth from his body, filling his lungs and head, and his black eyes flickered turquoise.

What's this? Freeza asked, narrowing his eyes, and Vegeta's heart soared, for in those eyes was a hint, just the tiniest indication, of fear.

Vegeta laughed, thrilled by the terrible certainty that filled him. No, he would not die, not until the monstrosity before him had been rent into pieces by his own two hands. This, Freeza? Vegeta roared. This is your doom!

he heard Kakarott gasp behind him, but it was too late. He felt power surging against the inside of his blood vessels, the power that Zarbon had always warned him would burn him out and leave him a mindless shell. Instead he embraced that seemingly-endless power, allowed it free reign over his body and soul. He prayed for it to take him, to give him the power to destroy Freeza, for he would not be satisfied with anything less.

Freeza gasped, eyes wide and posture defensive as he took a step back.

Vegeta curled his fists and felt himself consumed with power, but instead of being destroyed, he felt oddly light. He looked down at himself and noticed his aura had turned golden, that his body actually seemed to be emanating a honey-colored radiance. A laugh of maniacal delight escaped him and he powered up, pleased as Freeza was pushed back several dozen yards by the force of his aura alone. Yes, Freeza! he proclaimed. I have fulfilled my destiny! I am a Super Saiyan!

Freeza screamed, throwing his forearms in front of his face and struggling his way through the gale created by Vegeta's transformation. They don't exist!

I believe him, Kakarott shouted. Vegeta, you have a real chance! Give it everything you've got!

I intend to, Vegeta growled. You have a lot to be punished for, Freeza.

Freeza's answer was an inarticulate yell, throwing his whole weight into the force of the wind. His three-toed feet dug into the soil, clawing for better purchase, and he began to throw up his own ki shield. he screeched. I am the strongest being in the universe!

We'll see, Vegeta spat, and attacked.

Vegeta relished the sight of seeing terror written across Freeza's pasty features as he closed in upon him, immediately aiming his punches towards his opponent's head. Freeza bared his teeth and scowled, dodging quickly and bringing up his own fists to block Vegeta's furious offensive. Vegeta waited until Freeza launched an attack of his own, then grabbed the white fist in his own, pulling Freeza toward him and ramming his elbow into the pasty face. Freeza did not recoil, instead sinking and attempting to grab Vegeta's ankles with his feet, but the Saiyan nimbly avoided capture and kneed him in the stomach. A smile stretched Vegeta's face as blood from Freeza's mouth spattered his chestplate, the desire to see more of Freeza's blood on his hands growing within him. Finally, after so many long, long years, the chance to punish the tyrant was within his reach.

Damn you, Freeza snarled, freeing himself with a mighty twisting motion of his body. Vegeta smiled and advanced in return when suddenly Freeza turned tail and took off. Ignoring Kakarott's shouts of surprise, he hardened his resolve and began his pursuit, following the blazing ki trail Freeza had left behind in his haste. He flew for several minutes when the trail suddenly turned dead, and for whatever reason he couldn't sense any sort of ki above his own. Drat, he was at such a high level that he couldn't feel anything but his own power. There was nothing he could do about that, however, and so he began a manual search, flying low between the rocks.

Vegeta shouted, hoping to goad his enemy out of hiding. Show yourself! Only silence met his ears, and Vegeta decided that perhaps he hadn't flown far enough. Freeza was incredibly fast, after all, and could have possibly gone further. With a snarl he started forward again, only to go plummeting into a lake as he was struck sharply from behind.

You monkeys were always so easy to fool, Freeza hissed, and then Vegeta hit the water. He smacked against the rocky bottom of the body of water, dazed at first and then relaxing against the bottom. He couldn't really see Freeza from so far beneath the surface, but he could guess his position. Lying perfectly still and careful not to create any bubbles, he slowly began to gather energy and waited. He figured that with his newfound increase in power he was on a level with Freeza, and he needed every advantage he could get in order to tip the scales in his favor.

When he felt that he had enough energy, he slowly moved across the bottom of the lake, working his way around to Freeza's backside without generating a single bubble. When he figured he had gone far enough he rocketed upward, breaking the surface with a gasp just in time to see Kakarott engage Freeza. A chuckle escaped him as he realized the fool was actually trying beat Freeza on his own, but he was coming in useful nonetheless. Take this! Vegeta shouted, releasing the ball of ki. The energy sailed at the tyrant, who was busy engaging the other Saiyan, and hit him square in the back. Both warriors cried out as the light engulfed them, but Kakarott, who hadn't been the object of the attack, immediately reappeared and zoomed away. Freeza, however, was vaulted forward, his angry screaming audible even as he faded away in the distance.

We'll have to track him down, now, Kakarott mumbled.

Leave it to me. I will destroy him for killing Zarbon or die trying.

Don't die. That's not what Zarbon wanted. There was silence for several moments, then Kakarott cleared his throat and spoke again. I have an idea that should give you the advantage, but it'll take a while. Can you keep him distracted?

Vegeta scowled, not liking that Kakarott was presuming to give him orders, but he wasn't going to take Freeza lightly. He was listening to Zarbon's advice now, just as he always should have done, and wasn't about to let his arrogance rob him of a victory. It didn't matter if he had help, so long as Freeza died. The end was more important than the means. Of course I can, fool, he snapped.

Kakarott grinned his idiot's smile, nodding vigorously. I just need you to keep in the vicinity so I can get a clean shot at him when I'm ready. I don't know if this planet can give me enough to kill him, but even if it doesn't I think you'll be more than able to handle it.

Vegeta studied his reflection in the other warrior's dark eyes, liking the way his hair was shining golden almost as much as he liked the raw power pulsing through his body. Fair enough, he grunted. Let's go find Freeza.

It didn't take them long to locate him, for Freeza was apparently after them as much as they were after him. They spotted him from some distance away, his aura flaring angrily, and he sped straight towards them. With a scream he bore down upon Vegeta, and it was all the Saiyan could do to block the blow. He felt his bones shudder with the impact, sending shocks of pain up into his shoulders. Damn monkey! Freeza screamed, spraying saliva. Vegeta grunted and dodged the next blow, countering with his own. His fist sailed past Freeza's head as he dodged it and he felt something shatter in his chest as Freeza brought up a knee.

Vegeta hissed, and saw that the other Saiyan nodded, lowering himself to the ground and throwing his hands up in the air.

The more time, the better! he heard his ally shout, and he nodded grimly.

You will not beat me, Vegeta growled at Freeza, whose doll-like face twisted with dark rage. With a yell his closed in on Freeza again, his legs pumping as he delivered his most powerful kicks. The first several were blocked, but he could feel Freeza's body shaking with the impact, and he finally managed to land a heel right in the center of Freeza's midsection. Freeza snarled, baring his teeth, and clamped both hands on Vegeta's ankle. Vegeta's eyes widened as Freeza gripped him and began swinging him in wide arcs in the air, but before he was released he managed to ready a ki blast and fire it past his own let and straight into Freeza's face. The hands that held his ankle opened and he went sailing through the air, but he was soon able to rebound off of a cliff and shoot straight back toward his opponent. The light and smoke from his blast was beginning to disappear, so he let off a second round. Freeza shouted and held up his hands, releasing a volley of his own. Vegeta dodged most of them, a few glancing painfully off of his back, and he stuck his fist in front of him like a battering ram, hitting Freeza for all he was worth. Freeza, however, managed to twist under the blow so that it only struck his shoulder, coming across with his other hand and hitting Vegeta behind the head with his fist. Stars exploded in his vision and Vegeta faltered, drifting toward the ground. Freeza wasted no time, grabbing Vegeta by his hair and speeding to the ground, pounding the Saiyan's face into the dirt. Vegeta heard bones crack and blinked through the earth loosened by the impact of his head, struggling to get free. Lashing out blindly with a foot, it hit something and he rolled away, wiping blood away from his nose with the back of a glove. Freeza staggered a few steps backward, clutching his stomach, his face twisted with rage.

Vegeta felt pain wash over him, and he knew he was worse for wear. His armor was cracked in several places and his bodysuit was torn. The odd calmness that had taken him over since he transformed began to waver, replaced by an irrational fury and the need to pound Freeza's skull in. Ignoring his condition, he roared a battle cry and sped forward, landing a good, solid strike across Freeza's face. He bounded away quickly, firing a ki blast from a distance. Freeza countered with his own blast, the light blinding Vegeta. He threw his arms up in front of his face to shield him from the light, but in doing so left himself wide open. A grunt left him as he was hit solidly in the stomach, blood rising in the back of his throat as he sailed backward through the air. He could barely see Freeza as the white alien raised his hands and released a gigantic amount of ki straight at him. Twisting out of the way as best he could, he still took it in the shoulder, the impact making his body spin out of control and he landed heavily, creating a furrow in the earth several meters long. Gasping for air, he tried to sit up, but was pressed back down into the dirt by Freeza's foot on his forehead. I will never be beaten by scum like you, Freeza hissed, face dark with anger. It didn't even have to be like this. If you had simply cooperated with me from the beginning, none of this unpleasantness would have happened. You could have risen to the top of the ranks, just like Zarbon, worthless as he was.

Zarbon was a hundred times the person you are, Vegeta spat, gripping Freeza's ankle and trying to force it off of his skull.

And he still died like an animal, Freeza said, shaking his head. It's almost a shame that your death will be as meaningless as his was.

He died to save me, Vegeta growled, reaching past Freeza's leg and punching him solidly in the pelvis. Freeza took a step backward and Vegeta began to stand, but his opponent recovered more quickly and lunged forward, grasping him around the neck. Freeza shook his head and bared his teeth, crushing Vegeta's windpipe with his hand. A gurgle escaped the Saiyan's throat and he clawed at Freeza's wrist, lashing out with his legs in an attempt to escape. A cruel smile warped the tyrant's full, dark lips, then the expression on his face went slack.

he whispered, wide-eyed.

Vegeta smiled as the grip around his neck loosened. You were right to be afraid of Saiyans, he wheezed, landing on his knees in the dirt. When we band together we're a force to be reckoned with.

In truth, he hadn't had any idea what was going on. All he knew was that there was an unbelievable ball of energy floating in the sky before them, far above Kakarott's head. The other Saiyan was standing perfectly still, eyes closed as he sweated profusely. When did he have the time to gather that? Freeza cried, horror written across his pasty features.

Kakarott's eyes snapped open and he shouted, the ball of energy above his head immediately tripling in size. Vegeta could just barely see the small particles of the planet's ki trickling in to join the energy of the ball. Genki Dama! Kakarott screamed, releasing the energy. Vegeta and Freeza stood, stunned, as the attack approached. The diameter of the thing was enormous. Vegeta estimated it was a good half-mile across, and it was coming straight for them.

Freeza shouted, throwing his hands out in front of him and firing off his own attack, a solid beam of ki. Vegeta watched Freeza's beam absorbed by the ball as his strength drained from him. He would be destroyed by the thing as well, and it didn't look as if Kakarott was in any condition to help him out. The other Saiyan had collapsed onto his hands and knees as soon as he released the thing, head hanging and obviously exhausted. Suddenly blue eyes appeared in his mind's eye, eyes that he had looked into millions of times before ever seeing them in real life. Remembering them gave him strength, and he hit the dirt, rolling to the side as quickly as he could. He forced his body to continue moving, heedless of the pain that screamed through his limbs and threatened to take his consciousness from him, and finally he could stand it no longer, coming to rest facedown in the grass. His strength was so drained that he could hardly find the will to breathe, but he did manage to turn his head to the side just in time to see Freeza's shrieking form swallowed up by the massive ball of blue energy. As soon as was enveloped the ball took off across the land, the entire planet shaking with the energy's movement, and it wasn't long before there was a gigantic explosion in the distance. Vegeta closed his eyes as the ground beneath him pitched and rolled, a deafening cracking noise echoing across the land. Great rifts opened up in the earth all around him, water hissing with steam as it poured into the cracks and was evaporated by the lava working its way to the surface.

he heard someone say, and felt something shoved into his mouth.

Vegeta slowly crunched the bean up and swallowed, all his former strength rushing back to him and then some. He stood, flexing his muscles and taking a deep breath of air, then looked down at Kakarott, who was sitting in the grass with a stupid grin on his face.

the younger Saiyan asked.

Vegeta said with a wicked smile.

It wasn't enough to kill him, Kakarott said sadly, But I'm afraid it was all the energy the planet could muster. This world is doomed, I'm afraid.

Its fate was sealed the moment Freeza set eyes on it, Vegeta replied calmly. It didn't stand a chance.

Well, it doesn't have much longer. We have to kill him quickly and get out of here or we'll be dead as well.

Vegeta glanced around, watching plumes of lava shoot into the air as the world became increasingly unstable. Understood. I'm going to have another go at him. Make sure he doesn't try running away again. We don't have the time to track him down.

Yes, sir, Kakarott replied, saluting in a clumsy imitation of his older brother.

Vegeta smirked and shook his head, then zoomed off after Freeza.

It didn't take them long to find him, bristling as he was with energy. He was still very much alive, and twice as angry as he was before. When they encountered him he couldn't even speak, only splutter and growl like a wild animal. Before they knew what was going on he pounced on Vegeta, taking the Saiyan by the shoulders and head-butting him as hard as he could. Vegeta grunted with the impact and tried to blink the blood out of his eyes, but finally had to take his hands from Freeza long enough to wipe away what he could. Freeza took the opportunity to land a blow on the pressure point in Vegeta's shoulder, sending him plowing into a cliff creating by the planet's breakup. Kakarott immediately stepped in, releasing a ki volley, but Freeza merely swatted him out of the way and bore down on Vegeta with both feet, pummeling him about the head and shoulders. Vegeta's hand shot out of the rock and gripped the back of Freeza's skull, holding it steady as he pounded Freeza's face with his fist, pushing away the pain that raced through his body with each impact. It was hurting him, true, but it was hurting Freeza as well.

With a grunt Freeza pulled Vegeta out of the rock, frothy saliva tricking from the corner of his mouth. His eyes were wide and bloodshot, and Vegeta could tell that he was teetering on the brink of madness. I will not be beaten by a Saiyan! Never! Freeza giggled rapidly, the corner of his eye twitching. Freeza pulled back a fist and prepared to deliver a blow, but Kakarott appeared out of nowhere, latching on to Freeza's arm and twisting with all his might. Freeza growled and tried to shake him off, taking his attention away from Vegeta, who used the time to disengage and gather energy. He waited until he caught Kakarott's eye, the other Saiyan pushing away from Freeza with all his might, and then he released his attack. Freeza screamed and a ki battle ensued, each man pushing the other backwards with the force of their energy.

Kakarott shouted, catching Freeza in the side.

Vegeta wrinkled his nose at the smell of seared flesh but wasted no time, diving at Freeza and kicking him as hard as he could under the chin. Freeza's head snapped backward and he flipped over, landing on his back in the dirt. Vegeta moved to follow, but was instead clipped by a surprise stream of lava shooting out of the ground beside him. The heat was becoming unbearable as the planet's surface broke up into shelves of rock. The sky had turned an ominous black color and all around him was the smell of burning. Gripping his shoulder, Vegeta floated to the side in time to see Freeza attack Kakarott, pounding the other man into the ground. There was a cracking sound and a few clicks, Freeza shoving off and hovering at a safe distance as Kakarott blinked around through a swollen eye, dazed. Vegeta spat a curse and zoomed in, catching Kakarott by his gi and lifting him free just as the rock he was on broke and disappeared under the lava. Watch yourself! Vegeta snapped, resisting the urge to slap the other warrior for his carelessness.

Kakarott mumbled, rubbing his head and wiping blood out of his eyes.

We don't have much time, he growled, looking around for Freeza. Releasing Kakarott, he sped toward the being he hated with all his soul, tackling him and forcing him to the ground. You die here, Freeza, he spat, pounding Freeza's face.

Freeza laughed and dug his nails in Vegeta's shoulder, red trails of the Saiyan's blood working their way down the pale flesh of Freeza's arm. The Prince cried aloud, feeling the strength in that arm leave as Freeza's black nails shredded the muscle. His vision swam as he felt his bones snap with a new impact, and while he was dazed Freeza knocked him onto his back. Who dies? Freeza hissed, punching Vegeta in the chest and shattering his sternum. Vegeta immediately thought of his lungs being punctured, but didn't have the luxury to dwell on it. He rolled out of the way as Freeza brought his foot down, the appendage sinking several inches into the rock in the spot that he had just barely vacated. It didn't matter if his lungs were punctured if he was dead, after all. Hold still! Freeza growled, readying another attack, when he was tackled by Kakarott.

Vegeta blinked as the two rolled away, Kakarott placing his foot against Freeza's hip and vaulting him over his head and toward the lava. Freeza extended his ki and stopped mere inches from the surface of the molten rock, turning on the Saiyans in a rage. I'll stop this right now! he giggled. I'll destroy the planet!

Kakarott cried, jumping out of the way as another lava stream opened up beside him. That'll kill you, too!

Freeza laughed maniacally, the sound audible even above the rumbling of the planet's breaking up. he chortled, eyes wide and alight with madness. I can live in the void of space!

Kakarott turned to Vegeta, surprise written all over his face, and Vegeta nodded slowly. It was true. If they didn't kill Freeza before the planet was destroyed, he would walk away. We have to hurry, he shouted to the younger Saiyan.

Kakarott nodded and attacked while Vegeta tried to find the strength to move. His bones were already trying to heal themselves, but every single breath and beat of his heart sent agony through his entire being. Still, he had to find a way. he breathed, closing his eyes and finding his center of balance. He remembered his friend's cool eyes and smooth voice, instructing him how to focus and move beyond the physical.

he could have sworn he heard Zarbon's voice say, and something clicked in his head. He went perfectly calm, his vision clear, and felt his golden aura flare all around him. He was a Super Saiyan, and he wasn't going to let Freeza get away with the death of his friend and of his people, nor for the tortures Vegeta had been forced to endure as a child. Taking a deep breath, he joined Kakarott in the attack, both of them going at Freeza fast and furious.

You're starting to annoy me, Freeza hissed. Let's see how you like this game!

Vegeta gasped and moved out of the way, the edge of the red disk of ki just nicking his cheek. Warm blood ran down his face and onto his neck, and he realized that if the thing touched him again, it would expand and slice him all the way through. Kakarott had also managed to dodge, looking at the disks in confusion. Don't let them touch you! Vegeta screamed. If they do, you'll die!

Yes, yes, run! Freeza cackled, spreading his hands wide. The disks followed his hand movements, and suddenly were chasing the Saiyans.

Vegeta shouted at Kakarott, and soon the two of them were speeding through the air, mere feet in front of the spinning death that chased them. Kakarott dodged behind a pillar of rock, but the disk just expanded and cut right through it without even losing speed.

We're in trouble! Kakarott cried.

Vegeta felt a snarl curl his lip. Of course they were in trouble. He zipped this way and that, hoping to shake the disk off his trail, but he couldn't manage it. No matter which direction he went, it followed, and with his injuries he wasn't strong enough to put on a burst of speed. Still, being Super Saiyan, he was doing much better than Kakarott, who was having difficulty staying in front of his disk at all. Vegeta clenched his teeth and turned around, flying directly toward Freeza and hoping that the foolish Kakarott would see what he was doing. Summoning all his energy, he sped towards Freeza. When he was close enough to see the veins in Freeza's eyes he pulled up, the disk continuing on its path for just a split second more.

Freeza laughed, throwing up an arm and deflecting the disk, simultaneously reaching up and grabbing Vegeta. The tyrant switched his grip to Vegeta's neck and began to beat him savagely, rearranging already-broken bones inside the Saiyan's body. Vegeta screamed in pain, barely able to stay conscious, when he saw Kakarott speeding up behind Freeza, both disks on his trail. Freeza must have noticed the look on his face, for he turned and stared as Kakarott pulled nearer. You're as stupid as your Prince, Freeza snarled, throwing up a hand and deflecting Kakarott's flight path with his aura. Vegeta stuck up a hand and Kakarott grabbed him, towing him out of Freeza's astonished grip. Freeza growled and reached out, trying to snatch him back, but the second disk chasing Kakarott sliced Freeza cleanly in two, his torso coming to rest several feet from his legs. The first disk zoomed towards them, obviously out of control, and Kakarott dipped his flight to avoid it, losing control and sending them both tumbling to the ground. He heard a hollow thud and saw Kakarott plow into the planet head-first, a low groaning coming from his bruised and battered body. Vegeta, for his part, didn't even think he could move, but he stood and trudged slowly toward Freeza's upper body, a hand on his bleeding broken shoulder and taking shallow breaths in an attempt to ease the agony in his lungs.

Freeza, however, was laughing. Freeza chortled. As if this was enough to kill me! This planet will die, and you with it, while I live on in the depths of space!

Shut up, Vegeta snarled, glaring down at Freeza's mangled torso.

Then I'll go to that Earth of yours and blow the whole thing up! If your wife isn't dead already, that is. That way I'll have the satisfaction that I hurt everything you ever cared about!

Vegeta bellowed, blind rage and hatred building within him once again.

With you dead and your empire destroyed there will be no one to stop me!

This was it, he realized. Even Super Saiyan he was hard-pressed to kill Freeza. He only had one option. I know I promised you, he muttered, thinking of Zarbon and Bulma. I just don't know any other way. I did my best.

he heard Kakarott scream behind him.

So, the fool was up and moving. Ignoring the screaming agony in his body, he reached down with his good arm and pick up Freeza by the neck, staring straight into the evil, red eyes. Tell Bulma I'm sorry, Vegeta shouted, knowing Kakarott could hear him. Tell her I did everything I could to avoid it, but there was no other way. Tell her I wanted to live to see her again, that I wanted to be with her, but protecting her was more important.

He heard Kakarott's footsteps come to a halt. What? What?

I'm sorry, Vegeta repeated, and clenched his teeth.

Kakarott screamed, but it was too late. Vegeta reached deep inside him, pulling up all the energy he could. He used his pain, which was strong, and his hate, which was stronger, working past the anger in his soul and adding it to his strength. Then, buried in the pit of the soul he had doubted he even had, he was surprised to find the greatest power of all, buried so deeply he hadn't ever been aware of its existence. He loved his mate, he realized, and he had loved Zarbon. Those feelings were the strongest of all, and as he used those emotions to fuel his power it felt as if a thousand suns burned inside of him.

Die, Freeza! he roared, relishing the panic in fear in the tyrant's eyes, exact replicas of how his eyes had looked as a child's, and he knew that all the pain that Freeza had ever caused him was being repaid in that moment. He released the power he had been building inside of him, channeling it directly into Freeza's body through his taut fingers, reveling in Freeza's screams of pain and bulging eyes. Slowly, Freeza's pale skin began to bubble and blister, the black fingernails working bloody trails in the skin of Vegeta's brawny forearm, and the world exploded around him. Blackness swallowed him up and he could no longer see, his vision a blur, but his hearing was still perfect, even though he was aware of the trickle of blood from his ears. A single scream pierced his consciousness, and he knew with absolute certainty that it was the last noise Freeza would ever utter. He had won.

No, don't die, he heard a hushed voice above him. You have things to live for.

A smile stretched Vegeta's face, his face feeling raw and burned. So, he lived still? The earth shook beneath him and a short, barking laugh escaped his ruined chest. Even in his condition he could feel the heat of the lava around him, and he knew they had only minutes before the planet's instability overwhelmed it and the world exploded with them still on it. It was too late, they were doomed, but at least he had defeated Freeza.

Hold on, a voice said, cutting through his delirium. His mind was starting to wander, and it was almost as if he was back on earth, laying eyes upon his Bulma for the first time, Zarbon at his back. He could feel his mate's beautiful blue eyes upon him, and he could swear she smiled, face full of faith. A hand clasped him on the shoulder and he didn't even have to turn to see Zarbon, aware of his pride without looking. Dimly part of him was aware of someone in the real present, the owner of a deep masculine voice, calling his name, and rough, strong, hands laid themselves upon his body. He was lifted into the air, and although the jostling should have sent pain racing through his entire system, he felt nothing at all. No, that wasn't true; he could still feel, but it was a sense of peace, not of pain. His objectives had been accomplished, and for the first time in his life he realized he didn't have to be alone anymore. The Prince had found his kingdom and died an honorable death, and that was all that Vegeta needed. He felt strong arms close around him, sheltering him, and he smiled, feeling heaviness spread through his limbs.

The end, he murmured, and everything went black.