Videl put her hands on her hips and laughed hysterically, until tears came to her eyes.

"You call that a ki blast?!" The recruits in front of her all looked confused, and frightened. Videl stopped laughing and crossed her arms, glaring at the young man who had challenged her.

"This is the military, not a day care." The boy's face flushed red, from his dark brown hair to his thick neck.

"I'd like to see you do better, human!" Every sound faded to silence as time seemed to stop. Videl's eyes narrowed and a silvery blue aura flared around her.

"What did you call me…?" The boy's nervousness disappeared and he smirked, feeling like he was in control.

"You heard me." Videl's frown twisted into the cruel smirk that she wore so often.

"Tell me, could a human do this?" She lunged forward and grabbed the boy by the neck, slamming him into the wall of a nearby building.

"Or this?" she asked, driving her knee into his crotch hard enough to make him scream.

"Or how about this?" Videl threw the boy into the air and balled her right hand into a fist, gathering her energy until a small white sphere formed in her palm. Videl opened her hand, palm facing toward the falling Saiyan, and snarled as a wave of white hot ki exploded outward. The unconscious recruit fell to the ground, bleeding, bruised, and burned, as Videl brushed her hands off.

"I don't think any humans can do that."

Gohan grabbed Videl by the shoulder and growled, "What did I tell you about beating up the recruits."

Videl's voice was cold as ice as she jerked her shoulder free and retorted, "What have I told you about sneaking up behind me?" Gohan snarled and spun Videl around by the arms. He was getting tired of the way she was treating him. Ever since Skye and Trunks' wedding, Videl had been giving him the cold shoulder, only talking to him when she absolutely had to, and doing her best to piss him off when she did.

"I asked you a question Videl!"

Videl's eyes narrowed and she spat back, "Well, so did I!" A hushed murmur ran through the troops, and a few snickered. Videl and Gohan both glared at them, then turned their attention back to each other.

"Today is the Queen's birthday, and she'll be coming by to do inspections. Behave, Videl." Videl sneered.

"Oh, don't worry captain, I will." Gohan's eyes narrowed and he clenched his teeth.

"Fine. That's all I came to tell you." Videl feigned surprise.

"What? No apology. No 'I'm sorry, I should have believed you. Then you wouldn't have had to kick my ass?'" Videl held her nose and imitated Gohan's voice, smirking as he started to shake.

"I'm not going to apologize because you were being a self-absorbed bitch." For the second time in less than an hour, time seemed to freeze. Videl's blue eyes seemed to turn a steely gray as she pointed towards the Royal Palace.

"Better run dog. I think your mistress is calling."

Gohan snorted and countered, "Sorry, but I don't slink around with my tail between my legs, the way you do." Videl's eyes widened and Gohan knew he'd hit home.

"Oh wait, you lost your tail, so you can't do that any more, now can you?"

"Shut up!!!!!" Videl balled her right hand into a fist and punched for Gohan's nose. Of course, he easily blocked the blow and countered, catching Videl on the temple. He felt a grim satisfaction as Videl stumbled back and fell to the ground.

"No hissy fits, little girl."  Gohan turned and walked away, cracking his knuckles, while Videl clutched her head and glared daggers at his back.

Skye threw her hair over her shoulder and rode her horse closer to the soldiers, glaring at each of them before moving on. She knew she was intimidating, in her royal blue cape and black armor, with her queen's crown reflecting the midday sunlight. And, to be perfectly honest, she found it rather fun, leaning nearer and nearer to their faces while the soldiers nearly pissed their pants.

"You there!" A slightly larger soldier jumped and swallowed the lump in his throat.

"Y-yes, your highness?" Skye smiled sweetly and indicated him with her hand.

"You look like a solid, competent soldier." The soldier smiled and made a sweeping bow.

"Thank you, your highness."

"Try to hit me."

"Huh?"

Skye's grin widened and she cooed, "I just want you to try and hit me. Surely, a soldier of your caliber could do it." The color drained from the man's face as Skye snickered in amusement.

"I d-don't really think-"

"Are you questioning my judgment you ignorant buffoon?!" The soldier shrank back like a cornered rabbit, shaking and mumbling gibberish.

"Weakling. Captain Gohan!" Gohan strode over and bowed.

"My Queen?"

Skye glanced at the troops casually and asked, "You would hit me on my request, wouldn't you?" Gohan straightened, but avoided her eyes.

"If it was a request, your highness, I would obey you, however, seeing as you are an elite fighter and a Super Saiyan, I would be wary of your counterattack." Skye was beyond amusement now. Gohan knew how to flatter his superiors, that was certain.

Gohan felt Videl glaring at him. Hell, he could have felt it a mile away, she hated him so much. It was sort of strange, but Gohan was so caught up in the game of tit-for-tat that he never wondered why he could feel Videl's emotions so well. He just turned around to look at her, the sneer on his face almost matching hers. Skye followed Gohan's gaze and smirked, delighted. This was ideal for paying that little bitch back.

"So, you would fight me if I asked?" Gohan turned his back on Videl and bowed again.

"Of course, Your Highness." Skye tossed her hair over her shoulder and smirked, staring right at Videl's eyes.

"Then, for my birthday, spar with me this afternoon. The King is too busy and no one around here is as powerful as you." Gohan looked confused but nodded in consent.

"I would be honored." Skye smirked and turned her horse around.

"This afternoon then."

"Yes your highness, this afternoon."

Videl was about to explode. This time, she was the one coming up behind Gohan and grabbing him by the shoulder.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Gohan shrugged nonchalantly and answered, "She asked me to spar. Why would you be mad about that?" Videl's eyes narrowed and she hissed, "You know exactly what's wrong with that." Gohan got the idea and smirked.

"Oh, you're jealous?" Videl's face reddened, and not from anger.

"Of course I'm not jealous! I'm just pointing out that she is married!" Gohan shrugged and turned away. "Oh well, huh?" Videl lost control then, yelling loud enough for Skye to hear halfway back to the palace. "OH WELL?! OH WELL?! YOU'RE HITTING ON SKYE!!" Gohan shrugged for the millionth time and looked over his shoulder at her.

"There's no one else worth hitting on." Videl was stung. She knew she was acting like a bitch, but she had a perfectly good reason, didn't she? Wasn't she entitled to be angry with him? Did he truly hate her now? Videl tried to hide her hurt and snapped, "Fine. Get beheaded. I thought you would have enough brains to save your ass, but apparently you're just an idiot. So I don't really care." Gohan started towards the palace. "Neither do I." Videl spun on her heel and stalked back to her quarters.

"And I mean it when I say I don't care!" She didn't know whether she was saying that to Gohan, or to herself.