Authors note: First off: I do not own DBZ. Secondly: This part of the story takes place approximately twenty-two years after the prolog. Prince Vegeta is now just turning thirty. Hopefully that can give you an approximate idea of when this takes place!

I will mention a group call The Imperial Roses in this chapter. I just want to clarify exactly who they are. The Imperial Roses are an all female elite group of warriors who are loyal to the king of saiyans. I may write a fic about their history . . .

Forgive me for distracting you!! I won't bother you very much longer, I just want to thank all of you reading my fic and a special thanks to Digi fan who was kind enough to send a review!! Please enjoy ^.^

Saiyan Means Trouble:

Chapter one:

The Banquet

The wall cracked as big Nappa crashed into it. He wiped a trickle of blood from his chin "You are stronger than the last time we sparred," Nappa popped his arm back into place as he talked, "you're almost ready to face your father."

"That is enough for now Nappa, let me give him a go..." Raditz stood from the crouched position he had been watching the fight in and started to power up.

"No," Vegeta's cold voice stopped Raditz from launching into an tack, "I have to talk to the king, we can finish this later." The prince acknowledged his men's salutes (Nappa's a little unsteady) and left them to spar with each other.

* * * * * * *

"Vegeta, I hear that you are getting stronger" the king sipped from a charming silver goblet a nice cool red wine as he watched his son enter and bow.

"Only as expected my lord."

"Rumor has it that you are almost strong enough to fight me."

"One as exalted as my lord should not be listening to rumors."

"How are the men I appointed to train with you working out?" the king swirled his wine thoughtfully as he watched his son.

"One is a little dim, the other weak, but they are good and loyal men."

"Don't discredit either of them. They are both very talented in their fields."

The Prince's anger finally bettered him as his father talked, "Enough of these pleasantries! What do you want father!?"

King Vegeta drank down the last of his wine and set down the empty goblet before answering. "Can't I simply have a civil conversation with my only son and heir? No, I suppose not. I hear that you are getting stronger, now show me!!!"

* * * * * * *

The prince was not unprepared for an attack from his father. He managed to block the first round of punches but was staggered by a strong left kick.

The king followed his kick up with a weak energy blast. The prince dodged the blast and made an attack of his own. King Vegeta blocked his son's attack, his eyes sparkling.

"Is that all you have? How can you expect to defeat Freeza if you can't even land a hit on your father?!"

Enraged, prince Vegeta dodged a strong right punch from his father and sent a volley of hits of his own. A number of blows landed but the king ignored them and brought his knee up, ramming it into his son's gut.

"I will be the most powerful warrior in the universe!" spluttered the prince through gritted teeth as he tried to catch his breath. He dropped into a low kick suddenly, surprising his father.

King Vegeta dodged the kick and caught his son up in an unbreakable hold "Freeza could easily defeat me and until you can do the same, there is no way you can defeat Freeza!"

Vegeta released his son with a shove, "I am expecting you to attend the banquet tonight. Dress nicely Vegeta, this is in your honor." He said the last to his son's back as prince Vegeta left his father. Vegeta is getting stronger fast. Soon he will be able to defeat me. The wait is almost over...

* * * * * * *

"I don't see why we have to go with you" Nappa would rather just wear a body suit and his armor than anything fancy but Vegeta decided that if his father was making him go, he would make his men go.

"I don't like having to repeat myself Nappa, this had better be the last time I have to tell you. My father invited me to the banquet and I want to make a good appearance. I would not look nice if I went to a party and left my men behind."

"We had better leave now Vegeta, unless your planning on making a late appearance."

Vegeta watched Raditz for any hint that he was being sarcastic "Well if you both are ready then we can go."

* * * * * * *

Their entrance to the banquet hall was not unnoted. Vegeta politely acknowledged bows and salutes as he made his way to where his father was speaking to some official or another. His father belatedly saw him approaching and quickly measured him up with his eyes, noting the presence of Nappa and Raditz.

"It's good that you came Vegeta! Peolple want to know their future leader."

"I am not here to be shown off like a prized trophy father." The king smirked and prince Vegeta's eyes flashed dangerously "I belive that you already know Nappa and Raditz."

"My lord" Nappa and Raditz spoke and saluted simultaneously.

"You brought your training partners! I hope you both enjoy yourselves." The king acknowledged his son's guests and turned back to Vegeta with sparkling eyes. "You should enjoy yourself too Vegeta. It has been a while sense you have attended a formal gathering like this."

"I'm sure I will" Vegeta spoke slowly, unsure exactly what his father was playing at "any ways, I won't distract you any longer, other guests want to speak to the king."

"It is as you say" the king nodded his head and turned away. Prince Vegeta remained watching his father for a moment before turning to see who else was being forced to come to this stupid thing.

"Er... sir?" Nappa had already spotted the group he was interested in. "Would it be all right if I..."

"Yes, maybe at least one of us can enjoy ourselves." Vegeta didn't try to hide the disgust he felt from his voice. Nappa adjusted his clothes and made his way over to a group of Imperial Roses. Nappa loved two things: destruction and women. "I suppose that you will want to head off to?" Vegeta asked Raditz lazily.

"I had been wanting to speak to a few people..." The prince dismissed him with a nod and headed over to the refreshment table for some food.

* * * * * * *

Raditz's father Bardok was among the other guests. He was engaged in a conversation with the Eldest Councilor of the Kings Advisor Council. "Parsnic you must be very proud of your daughter. To be leader of a group as elite as the Imperial Roses at her age is quite a feat! She is so much like her mother. It must be hard for you..."

"I am very proud of my Amato's accomplishments. I know that Tamata would be very proud of her. It has been three years sense Tamata's death and I do miss her but it would be pointless to leave my duties and mourn memories. How long has it been sense you lost your own wife..." Parsnic's and Bardok's attention was drawn to a pair of side doors. A number of others in the room also held their gaze in that direction as an immensely strong energy approached. Suddenly a commotion went up as the doors opened to emit Freeza.

* * * * * * *

This is foolishness. Zarbon was not pleased with Freeza's decision to attend the saiyan's little party. When Freeza had heard about the banquet and realized that he had not been invited, he had been quite annoyed. Freeza decided that he would surprise the little monkeys by crashing their party.

"Look Zarbon, the monkeys seem surprised to see us" Freeza smiled thinly and narrowed his eyes as he noticed the king of the monkeys. Freeza moved his hover throne towards king Vegeta.

* * * * * * *

Vegeta had felt them coming and was not surprised at all when Freeza entered and started towards him. King Vegeta calmly excused himself from the group of saiyans he had been talking to and turned towards Freeza. This was the king of saiyan's court and he was in charge.

* * * * * * *

Vegeta caught the eye of Nappa and Raditz. He noted their strained stances and signaled them to relax. When the prince was sure that his men would not do anything stupid he turned his cold gaze to his father and Freeza.

Vegeta watched as his father turned and headed towards Freeza. He watched as his father bowed low to the pale monster. The prince was to far away to hear what was said but he watched as king Vegeta and Freeza exchanged words.

After a moment of tense words the king of saiyans made a sweeping gesture that encompassed the entire banquet hall and all of it's inhabitants. King Vegeta made another low bow to Freeza and seemed to wait for something.

Freeza barked a cold laugh and turned away from the king. Prince Vegeta thought Freeza might have said something more then but he was too far away to know for certain.

* * * * * * *

"I'm watching you saiyans. Nothing you do escapes my notice. Do not anger me." Freeza said with his back to Vegeta. After a silent moment Freeza smiled again.

"Zarbon, Dodoria," Freeza addressed the two officers he had brought along with him, "you two heard the king. We are welcome to stay and enjoy the banquet. So relax, lighten up a bit. You two are far too stiff! You wouldn't want to spoil the mood of the banquet now would you?"

* * * * * * *

Zarbon had noticed the saiyan prince the moment they entered from his energy signal. Zarbon also knew that Freeza had noticed him too but Freeza made a show of looking around and catching sight of Vegeta.

"Look Zarbon, the little prince is becoming quite the man." Freeza licked his lips as if he had seen something delicious and started over towards Vegeta.

"Vegeta!! How are you? I hear that you had a little trouble pacifying a planet for me recently. I hope it wasn't anything serious." Freeza said as he came up to prince Vegeta.

"I am fine. As to that planet, I had not expected to your henchmen to leave all the work to me. Nor had I been warned of possible resistance."

"I'm glad to here you are doing well. I am terribly sorry for any inconveniences, my men had orders not to get in your way. You're normally so self sufficient, I had no idea that you would require my underling's assistance! I also had not expected such 'resistance' from such a weak planet. Their technology must have been very advanced to have created such powerful weapons. I do hope you can forgive my oversight."

Freeza then inclined his head towards Vegeta and headed off to great others. It didn't take long for Freeza to become bored with the mediocre saiyans, all of whom were stiff as cats ready for a fight. He excused himself and left with Zarbon and Dodoria in tow.

* * * * * * *

"The young prince was very hansom tonight. Don't you agree Zarbon?" Freeza asked his right hand man when they were back on his ship.

"His manners were very surprising. I believe he was wearing what the saiyans consider a suit as well."

"Yes." Freeza said with a light in his eyes, "I think that I will have to take more of an interest in the monkey prince..."

Freeza suddenly waved Zarbon away. Zarbon bowed and left Freeza to his thoughts. Zarbon's own thoughts were running like a well greased machine. He recognized the signs. Freeza had said it himself. Freeza was "taking an interest" in the saiyan prince. Freeza did that sometimes. He found someone who had potential, took an "interest", and the tormented them until they either went mad and died or became a horrible monster not unsimilar to Freeza himself.

Zarbon knew about Freeza's "interests" because he had attracted Freeza's interest when he was younger. Fortunately Zarbon turned out to stiff to keep Freeza interested. Zarbon still held the scars, physical and mental, from that. He still remembered all the horrible things Freeza did and made him do. Often Zarbon wondered why he worked for Freeza. He didn't know and the truth was that Zarbon really didn't know what he would do besides work for Freeza.

Zarbon did not want others to go through what Freeza had put him through and to some extent was still putting him through. If only there was a way he could help Vegeta. A plan suddenly came to Zarbon. He will gain Vegeta's friendship and maybe if he is close to the situation he can find a remedy...