Destiny catches me
We followed Frieza and his gang of pirates for a good ten minutes,
until we reached a small village full of Nameks. I'll be damned if it
didn't look like Piccolo's family reunion, there were Nameks of every
height and age, it seemed, although they all appeared to be male. I had
not seen one female Namek since we had been here. Of course, since these
were the first Nameks we'd come across, other than Kame or Piccolo, that
wasn't saying anything. Besides, my mind wasn't exactly focused on the
local inhabitants of this planet. I was more concerned with its newest
tourists.
He hadn't changed at all. He was still as ugly as before, when I had met him for the first time as a frightened six year old holding the oblivious infant Chisa, and he still had those imbeciles, Dodoria and Zarbon, working for him. God, I hated those two, especially since Zarbon thought he was gift to all womankind, when everyone knows he's just a monster. Dodoria, the best thing I could say about him was that at least he knew that he was ugly. He tormented and taunted me as a child, offering vague hints as to what the future would hold in store for me. The only one I didn't see was Cui. Seeing them brought back years of repressed memories, and I couldn't help but shudder. Devon placed a comforting and supporting hand upon my shoulder, and I began to relax a little.
We watched with morbid fascination as they tortured those poor Nameks for the fourth dragon ball, and Dodoria leave for some unknown mission. Then I saw them torturing the children of the village, and that was when the proverbial shit hit the fan. Neither Gohan nor I could take it anymore, although Gohan had considerably less to lose, while I had everything. I looked from my husband to my son, and I knew that they wanted to act as much as I did. Devon and I made eye contact. He has always known what I was planning to do almost before, and he could see what I was going to do in my eyes, I knew it. He shook his head vehemently, but I just nodded even more firmly. Before he could speak, I was kissing him with what would turn out to be our last kiss. Then I hugged my son one last time, and prepared myself to face my destiny.
I powered up just enough so that they would pick me up on what was left of their scouters. Gohan and the Namek child he had saved landed next to me, and I told him and the others to go, and leave me here. I would provide enough distraction while they get away with the little Namek child they had saved. Then I flew off without a second glance back, and landed in front of the creatures that had for so long haunted my nightmares.
"Frieza!" I shouted as I landed. "Leave these Nameks alone. They can do nothing to you or your men. They are but a peaceful people, unlike the race that I was cursed to be born in."
For a few moments, I don't think that Frieza recognized me, but Zarbon did. "Well, well, well," he said, placing the dragon balls down so that he could circle around me, "if it isn't the little lost Monkey Princess consort to Lord Frieza. So after all these years, she has finally decided to return."
"Get away from me you monster. I came to make a bargain with Lord Frieza, not you." Oh sure, my words and actions were brave, but I was more afraid than I had been when my life hung on a simple decision that my brother was forced to make when I was six years old. I turned back to Frieza. "I offer myself in payment for these Nameks. Spare their lives, and you can do what you want with me." I closed my eyes and waited for the verdict: a slow painful agonized torture that would leave me pleading for my death, or one that was quick and merciful. I had a feeling I knew which one it would be. I mean, this is Frieza we were talking about, not my father. My father had shown mercy, Frieza never did, especially to those who had disobeyed him or his men, and in my life, I had done both.
I waited for what seemed like an eternity, but was probably closer to mere moments. When I opened my eyes, I could not help but laugh, even though I knew my life expectancy had just shrunk to a few days at the most. When I was six years old, Frieza towered over me as much as I tower over my son now, and now years later, I stood a good half foot taller than the purplish pink horned freak who had haunted my nightmares.
"I pray, Princess Shitaka, what is it that you find so amusing?" Frieza asked. I stood my tallest, and in my smuggest voice, replied, "I just can't believe that the freakish creature that has been in my nightmares since I was six years old is no taller than an eleven year old Saiyan."
Zarbon walked up to me. Obviously, he still towered over, and still scared the shit out of me, and he wasn't laughing. He slapped my face so hard that I spit up some blood, and one tooth, but I managed stay on my feet. Man, I forgot what it felt like to be the weaker one. That one really hurt. Suddenly, I got a call from Piccolo on King Kai's planet.
HAVE YOU TOTALLY LOST YOU'RE MIND??? YOU'RE A ROYAL PRINCESS, NOT A ROYAL PUNCHING BAG!!!!!!
"Wow, comedy from the stoic Namek, and can ya tone it down, I've already got a headache!" Oh man, I could barely speak, that slap was more than a love tap.
Sorry, but we all think you're being incredibly stupid. You're the one who always yelled at us not to give up, and that's exactly what you are doing.
"First of all, it's a little late for this pep talk, I've already done it, and second of all, I can't keep running any more. Besides, they were hurting the Namek Children and they all reminded me of Chibi Piccolos."
Uh, Shitaka, it's King Kai.
"What happened to Piccolo?"
You're little comment made them all face vault, including Bubbles.
"Riiiiiiiiight."
"My, my, that little punch of yours must have dazed her a little." Frieza was saying. "She seems to think that she's talking to some dead Namek."
"I'm sorry, you're ugliness, but I had think of something else, or I would have passed from the stench the both of you give off."
Frieza laughed. "I see you still have that fiery personality that both you and the imbecile brother inherited from your father. Always thinking that you can take me on when you're really no match for me."
"Leave my family out of this, Frieza, or."
"Really, dear, you're not really in the position to make any threats, now are you, Monkey wench?" He interrupted. I bristled at his insults. Not only did he call me a monkey, but also he compared me to a common serving wench. I have killed for less than that, I am, after all, a Saiyan Warrior. However, Frieza had a point; I really wasn't capable of taking him on by myself. In fact, I don't think a whole tribe of Saiyans could take him on, and win. Freiza looked at me, then smiled that evil smile all evil villains use when they are about to condemn a person to a fate worse than death. "Really child, did you really think I would take you back?"
"Uh, how can you take me back if you never did have me to begin with?" I shot back.
He ignored me, and continued, "However, Zarbon is in need of a plaything while we are stuck on this miserable planet."
Zarbon smiled wickedly. "Lord Freiza, you're too kind. It's been weeks since I've had anybody to torture, and this rebellious Saiyan should do nicely. I have some new techniques that I've been dying to put to use."
Okay, that was not expected. Man, can't my plans go right for once? Why me God, Why always me?
Freiza sat back down in his hover throne, and smiled. "Let's take her and the dragon balls back to the ship, Zarbon. You can play with your toy when we get back." He started to fly off, but he turned back around. "Oh yes, I almost forgot." Then he proceeded to kill every Namek left standing in the tiny village.
I looked back at the Nameks, then turned back towards Freiza, shock, and rage warring for a place on my face. "You Bastard! We had a deal!"
"My dear, you are far too trusting. I never even said we had deal." He began to fly off once again. "Oh, and my dear Princess," He called over his shoulder, "I wouldn't try to escape if I were you, since Zarbon is so much faster than you could ever be."
I sighed, holding back tears, for the dead Nameks, and for myself. My life was over. I would never see Devon or my son again. I had given up everything I had worked so hard to achieve to save the lives of complete strangers, because I can't stand any kind of injustice. I only hoped that my sacrifice wouldn't be totally in vain, and that Gohan and the others had gotten the child away unharmed.
To Be Continued...
He hadn't changed at all. He was still as ugly as before, when I had met him for the first time as a frightened six year old holding the oblivious infant Chisa, and he still had those imbeciles, Dodoria and Zarbon, working for him. God, I hated those two, especially since Zarbon thought he was gift to all womankind, when everyone knows he's just a monster. Dodoria, the best thing I could say about him was that at least he knew that he was ugly. He tormented and taunted me as a child, offering vague hints as to what the future would hold in store for me. The only one I didn't see was Cui. Seeing them brought back years of repressed memories, and I couldn't help but shudder. Devon placed a comforting and supporting hand upon my shoulder, and I began to relax a little.
We watched with morbid fascination as they tortured those poor Nameks for the fourth dragon ball, and Dodoria leave for some unknown mission. Then I saw them torturing the children of the village, and that was when the proverbial shit hit the fan. Neither Gohan nor I could take it anymore, although Gohan had considerably less to lose, while I had everything. I looked from my husband to my son, and I knew that they wanted to act as much as I did. Devon and I made eye contact. He has always known what I was planning to do almost before, and he could see what I was going to do in my eyes, I knew it. He shook his head vehemently, but I just nodded even more firmly. Before he could speak, I was kissing him with what would turn out to be our last kiss. Then I hugged my son one last time, and prepared myself to face my destiny.
I powered up just enough so that they would pick me up on what was left of their scouters. Gohan and the Namek child he had saved landed next to me, and I told him and the others to go, and leave me here. I would provide enough distraction while they get away with the little Namek child they had saved. Then I flew off without a second glance back, and landed in front of the creatures that had for so long haunted my nightmares.
"Frieza!" I shouted as I landed. "Leave these Nameks alone. They can do nothing to you or your men. They are but a peaceful people, unlike the race that I was cursed to be born in."
For a few moments, I don't think that Frieza recognized me, but Zarbon did. "Well, well, well," he said, placing the dragon balls down so that he could circle around me, "if it isn't the little lost Monkey Princess consort to Lord Frieza. So after all these years, she has finally decided to return."
"Get away from me you monster. I came to make a bargain with Lord Frieza, not you." Oh sure, my words and actions were brave, but I was more afraid than I had been when my life hung on a simple decision that my brother was forced to make when I was six years old. I turned back to Frieza. "I offer myself in payment for these Nameks. Spare their lives, and you can do what you want with me." I closed my eyes and waited for the verdict: a slow painful agonized torture that would leave me pleading for my death, or one that was quick and merciful. I had a feeling I knew which one it would be. I mean, this is Frieza we were talking about, not my father. My father had shown mercy, Frieza never did, especially to those who had disobeyed him or his men, and in my life, I had done both.
I waited for what seemed like an eternity, but was probably closer to mere moments. When I opened my eyes, I could not help but laugh, even though I knew my life expectancy had just shrunk to a few days at the most. When I was six years old, Frieza towered over me as much as I tower over my son now, and now years later, I stood a good half foot taller than the purplish pink horned freak who had haunted my nightmares.
"I pray, Princess Shitaka, what is it that you find so amusing?" Frieza asked. I stood my tallest, and in my smuggest voice, replied, "I just can't believe that the freakish creature that has been in my nightmares since I was six years old is no taller than an eleven year old Saiyan."
Zarbon walked up to me. Obviously, he still towered over, and still scared the shit out of me, and he wasn't laughing. He slapped my face so hard that I spit up some blood, and one tooth, but I managed stay on my feet. Man, I forgot what it felt like to be the weaker one. That one really hurt. Suddenly, I got a call from Piccolo on King Kai's planet.
HAVE YOU TOTALLY LOST YOU'RE MIND??? YOU'RE A ROYAL PRINCESS, NOT A ROYAL PUNCHING BAG!!!!!!
"Wow, comedy from the stoic Namek, and can ya tone it down, I've already got a headache!" Oh man, I could barely speak, that slap was more than a love tap.
Sorry, but we all think you're being incredibly stupid. You're the one who always yelled at us not to give up, and that's exactly what you are doing.
"First of all, it's a little late for this pep talk, I've already done it, and second of all, I can't keep running any more. Besides, they were hurting the Namek Children and they all reminded me of Chibi Piccolos."
Uh, Shitaka, it's King Kai.
"What happened to Piccolo?"
You're little comment made them all face vault, including Bubbles.
"Riiiiiiiiight."
"My, my, that little punch of yours must have dazed her a little." Frieza was saying. "She seems to think that she's talking to some dead Namek."
"I'm sorry, you're ugliness, but I had think of something else, or I would have passed from the stench the both of you give off."
Frieza laughed. "I see you still have that fiery personality that both you and the imbecile brother inherited from your father. Always thinking that you can take me on when you're really no match for me."
"Leave my family out of this, Frieza, or."
"Really, dear, you're not really in the position to make any threats, now are you, Monkey wench?" He interrupted. I bristled at his insults. Not only did he call me a monkey, but also he compared me to a common serving wench. I have killed for less than that, I am, after all, a Saiyan Warrior. However, Frieza had a point; I really wasn't capable of taking him on by myself. In fact, I don't think a whole tribe of Saiyans could take him on, and win. Freiza looked at me, then smiled that evil smile all evil villains use when they are about to condemn a person to a fate worse than death. "Really child, did you really think I would take you back?"
"Uh, how can you take me back if you never did have me to begin with?" I shot back.
He ignored me, and continued, "However, Zarbon is in need of a plaything while we are stuck on this miserable planet."
Zarbon smiled wickedly. "Lord Freiza, you're too kind. It's been weeks since I've had anybody to torture, and this rebellious Saiyan should do nicely. I have some new techniques that I've been dying to put to use."
Okay, that was not expected. Man, can't my plans go right for once? Why me God, Why always me?
Freiza sat back down in his hover throne, and smiled. "Let's take her and the dragon balls back to the ship, Zarbon. You can play with your toy when we get back." He started to fly off, but he turned back around. "Oh yes, I almost forgot." Then he proceeded to kill every Namek left standing in the tiny village.
I looked back at the Nameks, then turned back towards Freiza, shock, and rage warring for a place on my face. "You Bastard! We had a deal!"
"My dear, you are far too trusting. I never even said we had deal." He began to fly off once again. "Oh, and my dear Princess," He called over his shoulder, "I wouldn't try to escape if I were you, since Zarbon is so much faster than you could ever be."
I sighed, holding back tears, for the dead Nameks, and for myself. My life was over. I would never see Devon or my son again. I had given up everything I had worked so hard to achieve to save the lives of complete strangers, because I can't stand any kind of injustice. I only hoped that my sacrifice wouldn't be totally in vain, and that Gohan and the others had gotten the child away unharmed.
To Be Continued...