And now, the conclusion.
DBZ belongs to many people, such as Akira Toriyama, the good folks at FUNimation, and others, none of whom happen to be me. :_(
**************************************************************************** ** Things Best Forgotten Part 2 by NansJns
Running from the mirror (Running from the mirror) How long can you last? How long can you last? How (How) Long can you last? (Can you last?)
"Still Alive" by Leslie Fish
Ch.6: Battle's End - A Happy Birth and a Sad Prediction.
Vegeta pulled out his IV and forced his way out of the bed. He was still half dead, he knew that, his entire body still ached terribly, and he couldn't make his eyes focus all the way, but that didn't matter. Bulma was in danger, she needed him. Dr. Botic moved up to him and caught his shoulders.
"Mr. Vegeta, please! You're still very ill and shouldn't try to move too much!" Dr. Botic said . Vegeta's response was a scowl, a low growl, and a hard shove that sent the doctor slamming into the nearby wall. Dr. Botic let out a small gasp of surprise and pain. "Though, obviously, you are well on your way to a complete recovery," he observed. Vegeta ignored the man and stumbled over to Goku, who had managed to sit up and stare at him like he was insane.
"Vegeta, what in Kami's name. . .?" Goku started slowly.
"Kakkarot, Bulma's in danger. . .teleport me to Kami's Lookout. . .now!" Vegeta demanded, grabbing Goku's arm. Goku hesitated, and then nodded. He removed his own IV and raised a weak, slightly trembling hand to his forehead.
"Now, see here! Neither one of you should move too much! You need a lot of rest to recover from what's happened to you!" a second doctor, Dr. Michael Scope, snapped at them. Goku and Vegeta ignored them, as Goku strived to make his mind clear enough to pick up Bulma's ki. He gave a strained attempt to teleport himself and Vegeta, but it failed.
"Goku, are you sure you should do this? You don't have much strength right now," Chi- Chi said, her voice alive with worry. "What if your power gives out half way there? What will you do?"
"We'll go!" Tien and Chiao-Tzu said, and blasted out the window.
"I really must insist that you return to bed, Mr. Vegeta!" Dr. Botic tried again, rubbing his bruised arm that hit the wall.
"Later!" Vegeta barked over his shoulder at the doctors. Goku tried again, and failed again. He panted lightly, sweat glistening down his cheeks. "Damn it, Kakkarot! Take me to Bulma!" Vegeta turned on his fellow Saiyan.
"I'm trying, Vegeta, but I'm still really weak and tired, like you are!" Goku answered, and then tried again. This time, the twosome disappeared.
"They'll be back for their bed rest a little later," Videl told the dumb-founded doctors, who were trying to figure out where the two patients just went.
"How long has he been able to do that?" Kari wondered aloud.
"Oh, years now," Gohan answered quietly from his own bed.
The Z-Fighters could see the lookout in the distance, and quietly prayed they weren't too late. They could feel Dende, Mr. Popo, Yajirobe, and Bulma's kis, which was a relatively good sign, but the assassin's kis, the two they could feel, were moving away from the lookout, and that confused them.
Goku and Vegeta appeared at the lookout, and Goku fell to his hands and knees panting. His body ached and felt about ready to pull apart. He lifted his head slowly to look around, and gawked at the damage done to the building. There were cracks and burn marks everywhere. Vegeta stumbled forward a bit, but was obviously having terrible difficulties staying standing. Dende, Mr. Popo, and Yajirobe walked up to them, Dende having healed the worst of their injuries
"What happened here?" Vegeta demanded of the trio.
"Believe it or not, your wife!" Mr. Popo answered, and Vegeta stared at him for a moment.
"It's true! They were about to inject her with that poison to kill the baby, and. . ." Dende started.
"What?!" Vegeta yelled, and nearly toppled over with the exertion.
"No, it's okay, they didn't succeed! She just let off this huge explosion of ki and knocked them all away!" Dende finished.
"It was something else!" Yajirobe said, but his comment went ignored by the two Saiyans.
"Bulma?! A ki blast?!" Goku cried, his shock written all over his face.
"A ki blast that did all of this?! Bulma?!" Vegeta said at the same moment, trying to keep on his feet.
"Vegeta. . .?" Bulma's voice suddenly wafted up to them, and Vegeta turned and stared at her. She was a bit pale, and stumbled a little when she walked, but she was otherwise okay, and he ran to her as best as his weakened legs could. "Vegeta! You're better! Or a little better, anyway. . .how did you know to come?" she looked overjoyed and ran to him in turn. They reached each other and promptly fell to their knees, unable to stand any longer. He held her to himself in deep relief, feeling his baby's ki, still strong and well, move toward him again.
"I heard you scream through the Bond, I had to come. . .the doctors found a cure just in time. . .you're all right? The baby's all right?" Vegeta said quietly by her ear.
"Yes, we're both fine. . .I don't know how I did what I did, it just happened. . .oh, Vegeta, I'm so glad you're all right! And Trunks? He's better now too, isn't he? He got the antidote too?" Bulma asked in return.
"Of course he did! He was waking up when I heard you scream. We all got it. We're all going to be. . ." Vegeta almost laughed into her hair, but his light mood was cut in half by the sound of engines. He jerked away from Bulma and watched as Bosen, Vac, and Halter reappeared on the bikes, burned, hurting, and obviously _pissed_.
"YOU?! It can't be!! You should be dead by now!!" Halter screamed when he saw Vegeta, who moved protectively in front of Bulma. Halter's eyes held a crazed look as he then turned his attention to Goku. "You, too! How are you here?! You should be writhing in agony as you slowly die!"
"I got better!" Goku answered, for a brief moment inflicting a British accent.
"They're still mostly dead, we can take them now!" Bosen said quickly. It was quite clear that neither Saiyan could fight at the moment.
"Bosen's right!" Vac nodded. They didn't notice how those before them suddenly perked up and looked past them.
"You might be able to handle them, but what about us?" a deep, growling voice they recognized as belonging to the older Namek asked behind them. They froze for a brief moment, and then looked behind them. There floated the Z-Fighters, their faces locked and grim.
"Oh, fu--" Bosen hissed, and they quickly pulled out laser weapons from compartments on their bikes and just as quickly turned all the way around to open fire into the crowd. The Z- Fighters separated in several directions to avoid the rays, leaving the lasers to slice harmlessly through the air, and then the Z-Team lunged at the assassins. Vac, Halter, and Bosen knew better than to remain stationary targets, and split apart as well, dodging blows as best they could. Bosen fired a shot that burned Yamcha's shoulder, and Yamcha fell back for a moment before charging in again with Tien. Piccolo grabbed Vac from behind, but Vac simply pressed his palms into Piccolo's arm and turned up the heat. Piccolo let go with a small roar as his flesh burned and blistered. Krillin and 18 took turns laying into Halter, who only managed to fire two shots before Krillin knocked his gun from his hand and 18 stepped on it, crushing it. One shot had burned her arm, but she ignored the sting. They paused for a minute to see if he would surrender peacefully. Blood trickled from the Col's mouth as he glared at them, his eyes glowing with hatred and confusion.
"Why are you doing this? Don't you understand? The Saiyans are monsters! They've killed so many, hurt so many! Why do you defend them? They deserve no loyalty. . .no kindness or protection. . .they deserve only death! Can't you see that? Can't you see. . .all of the blood on their hands?" Halter asked in a quiet, even tone that unnerved Krillin and 18. They sent glances to each other uneasily.
"You've got it wrong; these Saiyans don't have blood on their hands at all - except Vegeta, and he's mending his ways," Krillin said. "Look, just take your friends and leave." Halter shook his head.
"No. The Nightmare ends here and now. They have to die!" Halter turned and tried to attack Vegeta, Goku, and Bulma, but Krillin and 18 barred his way, and their fight began again. It was ridiculous; the three aliens stood no chance against all of them, no matter what weapons or inborn powers they possessed, but they wouldn't give up.
"Listen to us, this isn't necessary! They're not. . ." Tien tried with Bosen, only to have to avoid a laser to the face.
"You've been blinded by their lies!" Bosen snapped as he fired.
Mr. Popo and Dende pulled an unwilling Bulma out of the way, as Yajirobe tried to help Goku and Vegeta get to a safe distance. Vegeta was cursing, angry at how weak he still was, but was otherwise not fighting the movement. Bulma bit her lip as she watched the fight. The Z- Fighters were holding back, knowing that these three could well be the last of their respective species, much like the occupants on Kari's ship had been. None wanted to be responsible for genocide. She turned back for a moment as Popo and Dende pulled her around a corner and more-or-less out of sight. She looked down at her hand then, and again wondered how she had called up all of that ki. If she had a sleeping power, surely Vegeta would have realized it by now, and done something to help bring it out. But he had been as surprised as she to learn she let off such a powerful ki blast. A scream pulled her attention away again, and she turned to see Yamcha stumbling back, gripping his chest painfully as blood seeped between his fingers. A fraction of a second later Tien shrieked and grabbed his forehead, where Bosen had shot his third eye. Bosen was a crack shot, and made ready to shoot the defenseless Saiyans in the back. A bolt of panic ripped through Bulma and the baby started kicking furiously, and power began to flow into Bulma's hands.
Somewhere in the back of Bulma's mind she now understood - she'd had the potential to raise her ki all along, like any other living being, but it was the baby who was causing this new power surge. The baby, a half-Saiyan child still attached to her, was, intentionally or not, sending her power and unlocking her own power at the same time. A ki ball formed into her palm in the same second she realized all of this, and she flung it at Bosen with all of the strength she possessed before she even fully realized what was happening. It smashed into him and sent him flying sideways into Vac, and both flew into Halter, like bowling pins after a strike. The three crumpled into a pile, unconscious. The Z-Fighters turned and stared at Bulma, Vegeta pushing away from Yajirobe to move up to her, and she smiled weakly, and then fainted dead away into Vegeta's arms. He fell to his knees again, still too sick and sore to hold her and himself up. He cradled her gently as the others looked back to the three aliens. Dende ran up to Yamcha and Tien and placed a hand over both wounds, a soft light glowing from his palms.
"They're still alive. . .what should we do with them?" Krillin asked as he gave Halter's arm a small nudge with the toe of his boot.
"My first reaction is kill them," Vegeta answered with a low growl.
"Then we are what they think we are," Goku murmured quietly, and thought he saw Vegeta twitch.
"There's no convincing them otherwise, Kakkarot. . .they're too far gone," Vegeta answered over his shoulder, and Goku found himself lost in surprise as he realized that Vegeta actually regretted that fact.
"Still, they're not evil. . .just desperate," Chiao-Tzu observed.
"The Mists of Illusion might help. . .let them think they succeeded, so they'll just leave," Piccolo offered. The others looked at him.
"Mists of Illusion? What's that?" 18 asked.
"One of the various potions around here. Once inhaled, you can make a person believe anything. . .but it's dangerous. Too much can leave them locked in a fantasy world forever," Dende explained.
"Still, it seems to be our best alternative; if we just kill them now, more will come later," Mr. Popo pointed out, and everyone nodded.
"Go and get it, Mr. Popo. Hurry, before they wake up," Dende told him, and he ran off. He flung open the cupboard that held their various potions and examined the bottles carefully before choosing a tall, thin yellow bottle with a crystal stopper and returning to the outside. He knelt down and poured a few drops of the misty liquid on each of the assassins. They each inhaled deeply and then gave a short cough.
"Your mission succeeded," Piccolo told them. "During the fight with the Saiyans' friends, Bosen and Vac managed to shoot the two male pure bloods and kill them. The rest died of the poison. You also managed to give some of the poison to the Saiyan Prince's wife and it killed the baby in her womb. A complete victory, the Saiyans are no more." They stared as the three aliens visibly relaxed, like a great weight had been thrown off their shoulders. They all moved out of sight, Dende helping Vegeta get Bulma somewhere where she could lie down. Eventually, close to an hour later, the three woke up, and after sitting up and looking dazed for several more minutes, they let out joyous cheers and whoops, and hugged each other in complete jubilation, tears of happiness glistening on their cheeks. They mounted their bikes again and flew off, still cheering. From Kami's Lookout, they watched the star ship lift off and go.
"It's over. . .for them, too. They won't live in fear and hatred anymore," Krillin smiled a bit.
"We should tell Goku and Vegeta," Tien answered. They all turned and went back inside, and went to the rooms they had left the Saiyans in. Goku was soundly asleep in one bed, and Vegeta was sleeping with Bulma, his body curled against hers.
"We should probably return them to the hospital," Yamcha observed.
After Vegeta and Goku were returned to the hospital, the Saiyans all stayed there for another two days (despite multiple escape attempts) and then were deemed well enough to return home. The rest of the Z-Fighters returned to their normal lives, and all became peaceful and calm again.
2 months and 5 days later. . .
Vegeta sat in the waiting room anxiously, waiting for word on Bulma and the baby. She had gone into the first stages of labor five hours ago, and he had been sent to wait outside after threatening a doctor if anything happened to Bulma or their child. Trunks sat next to him, fidgeting uncomfortably. He glanced at his young son quietly as the violet- haired youth turned to Gohan. Gohan's whole family was there, his parents, brother, and mate.
"Was it like this while you were waiting for Goten?" he asked the older boy.
"Yeah, more or less," Gohan nodded.
"Kind of nerve-wracking, isn't it?" Goten said.
"Why are you even here?" Vegeta asked shortly.
"Well, Trunks called me to tell me that the baby was coming, and I told the rest of my family. . ." Goten offered almost meekly. Vegeta intimidated him just a little when he was angry.
"And seeing as Bulma's been one of my best friends since we were kids, I just felt like I ought to come, and Chi-chi, Gohan, Videl, and Goten all wanted to come too," Goku finished for his youngest son. Vegeta let out a low, tense sigh. Deep down, it always made him feel a little edgy that Kakkarot had known Bulma first, and had been and still was quite close to her. He didn't know why, it just did. For now, though, he chose to be gracious. This was a happy day, no need to stir up trouble. He inwardly marveled at his greatly changed attitude, but nothing showed on the surface, as always.
"Fine," Vegeta muttered hotly. "That explains you five, and I'll accept it. But what about the rest of you?!" he cast accusing eyes at the other people in the room. Sitting by Goku was Yamcha, who tried to hide behind a newspaper, by him sat Kari, striving to look innocent as she flipped through a magazine, then Krillin and 18, and then of all people, Piccolo, and beside him was Tien and Chiao-Tzu, both trying to keep a low profile.
"Ahh, well, I passed Goku and his family in the air on their way here, and we stopped for a brief moment to talk, and they told me Bulma was in labor, and. . .damn it, she's my friend too, and we used to be close. . ." Yamcha fumbled for an explanation as he lowered the newspaper. Vegeta glared at him in a way that would make most people cringe and try to escape, but Yamcha managed to hold steady - barely. Kari looked up from her magazine and gave a small smile.
"I heard the news in the office and ran over. A new Saiyan baby is being born, you think I'd be anywhere else?" Kari said.
"I was on the lookout and realized it there; I just. . .I don't know. I came to see the new kid on the block, I guess," Piccolo muttered. He honestly had no idea what compelled him to come.
"We were just passing through when we came across Goku et all coming here and followed," Tien said. "Heck, we all worked so hard to help protect the kid, we should at least get to see him." The others nodded.
"Mr. Vegeta?" a woman's voice suddenly said, and they all jumped, Vegeta literally to his feet, and faced the nurse who was leaning into the room.
"What is it?" Vegeta said quickly. The nurse smiled a bit.
"The baby hasn't come yet, but it's close, and your wife wants you there. The doctor says it's okay so long as you stay calm and don't threaten him again," the nurse explained. For a moment, Vegeta thought about refusing, but stopped himself before he did. He strode forward, head high, and walked past the nurse into the hallway beyond. "This way," the nurse said, but Vegeta didn't need a guide. He knew exactly where his mate was, and he could feel her pain and exhaustion. The nurse pushed open the door and Vegeta walked in and to Bulma's side. Her face was locked up in pain as another contraction hit her, and as it passed she opened her eyes. She reached for him and he took her hand.
"Vegeta," she sighed. He just gazed at her with his soul-piercing eyes, offering her comfort and his strength through the Bond, as he had been doing before in the waiting room.
"Just a little more, Mrs. Vegeta. I can see the head!" the doctor called up to her, and Bulma made ready to push with the next contraction. It came and she pushed, letting out a little cry of pain and effort as she did.
"Very good, one more ought to do it," the doctor said, and Vegeta felt her grip on his hand tighten as the next contraction came. She again grimaced as she pushed, and a few moments later a shrill cry filled the room. "There! That's it," the doctor said happily, and Bulma leaned against Vegeta, who smiled at her fully. As the doctor helped get the placenta out, the nurse cleaned the baby up, cut its umbilical cord, and wrapped it in a blanket before coming to Bulma.
"Congratulations," the nurse smiled at them warmly. "You have a beautiful, healthy little girl." They nodded, and then froze.
"Say what?" Vegeta and Bulma both blinked.
Some time after Vegeta had left, another nurse stepped into the waiting room. "Trunks? You can come see them now," she smiled at the boy, who quickly got up to follow her.
"What about us?" Goku asked.
"Well. . .I suppose you can all come, but only for a few moments!" the nurse answered, and they all jumped up to follow her. She led them down a different hall than the one Vegeta had originally led down, to the room where Bulma and the baby had been shifted to.
"So my mom's okay?" Trunks asked the nurse quickly.
"Yes, she's just fine! Tired, of course, and a little sore, but in a few days she'll be fine again," the nurse nodded.
"And my baby brother?" Trunks pressed. The nurse chuckled in response.
"Your _sister_ is fine and healthy. She's eight pounds even, twelve inches long,. . ."the nurse prattled off the usual details. Trunks had stopped listening at the word "sister." That word had also gotten the attention of the others.
"Sister? The baby's a girl?" Goku spoke up before Trunks could.
"Yes. Why are you acting so surprised?" the nurse asked with a half- smile. "The odds were even, you know."
"Oh, no reason. . .we just all. . .really expected it to be a boy," Kari said, her voice only hinting at her surprise.
"Not this time," the nurse answered. She then stopped and motioned them to a door. Trunks pushed the door open, stepped inside, and saw his mother in bed, his father sitting on the bed's edge, and in his mother's arms was a tiny bundle. His parents turned at the sound of the door.
"Trunks, come here and see!" Bulma said, and he ran up to the bed and leaned in to get a look at the baby. She appeared to be asleep, her little eyes closed, and her face was flushed.
"The nurse said it's a girl," Trunks said quickly, seeking confirmation. On some level, he still felt that had to be a mistake.
"Yes, it is," Vegeta replied, and Trunks finally accepted it.
"What's her name?" Trunks asked next.
"Bra," Bulma answered, and Vegeta gave a tiny sigh. Vegeta gently reached for his new daughter, and Bulma offered her up freely. He took her from her mother's arms carefully, and just as carefully positioned her comfortably in his own arms. Trunks took the opportunity to give his mother a quick hug. The others came in then, slowly and quietly, and Vegeta didn't notice them. Vegeta gazed at the half asleep infant, who suddenly stirred and blinked her eyes open at the change in the feel of the arms holding her. Vegeta found himself staring down into a smaller version of Bulma's eyes; the same deep blue pools his mate possessed, and this time, even their shape was the same. Trunks' eyes had his mother's color, but his father's shape. He smiled the way he had the first time he held Trunks as a baby, a warm, loving smile that few ever saw.
"The first princess born to Vegetasei in. . ." Vegeta paused as he tried to recall the number. "Ten generations. . .and close to a thousand years," he finally finished.
"That long?" Goku's voice snapped Vegeta out of his reverie and he stared at his fellow Saiyan in annoyance.
"Kakkarot?! What the hell. . . this is supposed to be family only for a while!" Vegeta hissed as he stared at the crowd in Bulma's room. He felt his anger flare at having been caught being so soft and emotional.
"We're just here for a quick look, and then we'll go. The nurse won't let us stay long," Chi-Chi informed him.
"It won't hurt anything, Vegeta," Bulma observed gently. Then she ran her tongue over her dry lips. "Vegeta, could you get me a cup of water?" she asked. Vegeta gave a small nod and placed the baby back in her arms. The Z-Fighters crowded in to get a look as he headed out the door.
As fortune would have it, there was a water cooler with decent sized paper cups by it a short distance from Bulma's room. Vegeta filled one of the cups with the cool fluid, turned, took three steps, and then stopped dead in his tracks. About ten feet from him and moving to Bulma's room was a figure he recognized only from his memory, someone he hadn't seen since he was a boy. She stood tall and straight, save for the slight hunch of her shoulders, which had a long cloak wrapped about them that dragged a bit on the floor. The hood was up, but he could see wisps of silver-white hair on the edges, and she walked with a tall, red walking stick.
"You!" Vegeta snapped, and the woman turned. He found himself once more looking into the clear, bright purple eyes and lined old face of the prophetess who had appeared to him when he was a child.
"Greetings, Prince Vegeta! I'm surprised you remember me," she said, tilting her head to one side in near-amusement.
"What are you doing here, Old Woman? Where did you come from?" Vegeta demanded lowly, quickly closing the gap between them. The old woman just looked at him, no fear on her face or in her eyes.
"The vision came surprisingly quickly for this child," she answered, and proceeded to turn back around and headed again for Bulma's room. Vegeta moved in front of her too quickly for the human eye to see and scowled deeply.
"Stay away from there!" he snarled.
"You cannot stop me, Prince," she said.
"Watch me!" Vegeta barked back, and this drew the attention of the crowd in Bulma's room. Goku stuck his head out the door and watched the strange confrontation. ((Who's that woman?)) Goku wondered. It was obvious Vegeta didn't like her and was trying to keep her from getting somewhere. The woman vanished and Vegeta swore. Goku spun around and stared at the same woman, who now stood in the center of the room. Vegeta burst in and scowled at her. "Leave now, old woman, before I blast you to Hell!" he yelled at her.
"Vegeta, who is this person?!" Bulma's voice betrayed her panic as she held her baby closer. The old woman's purple eyes glowed.
"The Daughter of the House of Vegeta shall know great pain for her power, and have many trials to overcome. . .her father's sins will be washed away with her blood," the old woman declared in a voice that seemed to echo across the room. The Z-Fighters let out exclamations of surprise.
"NO!" Vegeta screamed, and readied a ki blast.
"Who are you?!" Gohan demanded of the woman.
"Nothing but a messenger. Put that ki ball away, you cannot kill me, and even if you could, it would change nothing!" the old woman stated sharply, and Vegeta knew she was right. He took his ki back into his body and stared at her with hate-filled eyes.
"Why are you doing this? Who sent you?" Vegeta demanded. She looked at him evenly, and seemed to relent a little.
"You have your great-grandfather to thank for this, Vegeta," she said.
"What?" Vegeta said, and the sentiment was echoed by the others in the room.
"Your great-grandfather angered a wizard, who placed a curse on the entire Vegeta family line - that you would not only have painful futures, but that you would know about them ahead of time and not be able to truly change them," she said calmly. They stared at her for a moment, stunned.
"Well, how do we break the curse?!" Trunks asked quickly.
"I don't know," the old woman answered with a shake of her head.
"We need to find the wizard," Krillin pointed out, but the old woman shook her head again.
"You can't. He's long dead; Vegeta's great-grandfather killed him. That's why he was so angry. It was a right-before-he-died curse," the old woman explained.
"Can't you, I don't know, find his spirit and ask him, or something?" Bulma asked desperately.
"I could, but why should I? I have no reason to," the old woman answered, and they stared at her in anger and surprise. She then continued. "You know, the curse never seemed to have much effect anyway; none of your family ever listens. You're great- grandfather didn't listen, your grandfather didn't listen, your father didn't listen, you didn't listen. . . I doubt Trunks will listen when his time comes."
"Why? What's going to happen to Trunks?!" Vegeta bellowed.
"What's going to happen to me?!" Trunks said at the same moment.
"That is not for you to know," she said to Vegeta. "And I don't really know yet," she said to Trunks. "I had a vision for you, but it was averted somehow. I saw that you would never know your father, would know only fear and pain as you grew, and that the Saiyan race would die with you. But then it all. . .changed. I still await a new vision for you." The Z-Fighters felt themselves go cold at the description of that vision; they knew all too well what had happened. That vision was for Future Trunks, but he changed history, and this Trunks didn't have that life. "Well, I've done what I came to do. Must be off, there are others I need to talk to in this Universe," she said crisply, and made ready to leave.
"WAIT!" Vegeta's voice rang through the room and made the walls shake. "You have to find that wizard and learn the cure for the curse!" he demanded.
"I say again, 'why should I?'" the old woman answered, facing Vegeta alone. Vegeta stared at her, his eyes boring into hers. His fists were clenched at his sides and every muscle was tense. He knew attacking her would do no good whatsoever. He looked at his family; his beautiful and brilliant mate, strong son, and tiny daughter, and drew in a slow breath. He wished the other Z-Fighters weren't in the room, but there was nothing he could do about it. The others watched him carefully, curious as to what he was going to do.
For a moment, they were all certain they were seeing things. Every set of eyes in the room went wide with shock. Vegeta had gone down on his knees and lowered his head.
"Please, find the wizard. . .I deserved my part of the curse, but my son and daughter don't! I. . .I. . ." Vegeta gritted his teeth and forced the words out. "I. . .I. . .beg you. . .ask the wizard how to undo this curse." Vegeta felt ill to his stomach, being forced to beg like this, especially in front of everyone. It was humiliating and degrading, and he could feel his skin crawling with shame, but if it got him what he wanted, then he could live with it. The old woman was completely shocked, and it showed. She had not expected such a display of love and fear for his family from Vegeta, and it warmed her heart to see it. Then she smiled a warm smile.
"Very well! I shall seek him out," she declared, and promptly disappeared. Vegeta was back on his feet before anyone else could blink. No one knew what to say.
"Vegeta. . ." Goku started.
"Shut up, Kakkarot, I don't want to hear it," Vegeta cut him off. Goku pressed his lips together, but couldn't keep the small smile from tilting the corners of his mouth. He pulled Chi- chi into his embrace, and they quietly waited for the old woman's return.
They weren't sure how long it was, not very though, before the prophetess returned, still smiling. "Good news!" she beamed. "The curse is already broken!"
"What?!" they all cried together.
"It was set to break only when "A member of the House of Vegeta humbles him or herself for the sake of others." When you begged for your family but not yourself, you broke the curse!" she told them, and they all smiled and sighed in relief.
"Oh, Vegeta!" Bulma sighed as Vegeta wrapped his arms around her, the baby, and Trunks. He didn't say anything, but she knew how he felt, the Bond told her everything.
"That was a close one!" 18 observed.
"I'll say! Good thing Vegeta thought of that," Yamcha murmured quietly.
"Remind me never to piss off a wizard," Kari chuckled quietly. The old woman suddenly cleared her throat. She wasn't smiling anymore.
"There's. . .just one small problem," she said. "The curse was still in effect when I came here and gave the girl her prophecy; it shall still come to pass."
"What?!" Vegeta all but lunged at the woman.
"However, now that the curse is broken, you can try to avert it," the old woman said firmly. "Now, I must be going - I'm late for another appointment."
"Just out of curiosity. . .what did you tell my father?" Vegeta asked before she could leave. She looked at him in a strangely cold fashion.
"I had that vision shortly after you were born. My exact words were, "Your son will never have the throne. You shall betray and be betrayed by a false ally, and your kingdom and people will be lost!" He didn't listen, of course. Good day to you, Vegeta," she said, and disappeared, leaving them to contemplate her words.
"It can be averted, and it will," Vegeta said low in his throat.
"We'll see to it," Bulma agreed.
The End **************************************************************************** ** Share your thoughts! E-mail me at NansJns@aol.com!
DBZ belongs to many people, such as Akira Toriyama, the good folks at FUNimation, and others, none of whom happen to be me. :_(
**************************************************************************** ** Things Best Forgotten Part 2 by NansJns
Running from the mirror (Running from the mirror) How long can you last? How long can you last? How (How) Long can you last? (Can you last?)
"Still Alive" by Leslie Fish
Ch.6: Battle's End - A Happy Birth and a Sad Prediction.
Vegeta pulled out his IV and forced his way out of the bed. He was still half dead, he knew that, his entire body still ached terribly, and he couldn't make his eyes focus all the way, but that didn't matter. Bulma was in danger, she needed him. Dr. Botic moved up to him and caught his shoulders.
"Mr. Vegeta, please! You're still very ill and shouldn't try to move too much!" Dr. Botic said . Vegeta's response was a scowl, a low growl, and a hard shove that sent the doctor slamming into the nearby wall. Dr. Botic let out a small gasp of surprise and pain. "Though, obviously, you are well on your way to a complete recovery," he observed. Vegeta ignored the man and stumbled over to Goku, who had managed to sit up and stare at him like he was insane.
"Vegeta, what in Kami's name. . .?" Goku started slowly.
"Kakkarot, Bulma's in danger. . .teleport me to Kami's Lookout. . .now!" Vegeta demanded, grabbing Goku's arm. Goku hesitated, and then nodded. He removed his own IV and raised a weak, slightly trembling hand to his forehead.
"Now, see here! Neither one of you should move too much! You need a lot of rest to recover from what's happened to you!" a second doctor, Dr. Michael Scope, snapped at them. Goku and Vegeta ignored them, as Goku strived to make his mind clear enough to pick up Bulma's ki. He gave a strained attempt to teleport himself and Vegeta, but it failed.
"Goku, are you sure you should do this? You don't have much strength right now," Chi- Chi said, her voice alive with worry. "What if your power gives out half way there? What will you do?"
"We'll go!" Tien and Chiao-Tzu said, and blasted out the window.
"I really must insist that you return to bed, Mr. Vegeta!" Dr. Botic tried again, rubbing his bruised arm that hit the wall.
"Later!" Vegeta barked over his shoulder at the doctors. Goku tried again, and failed again. He panted lightly, sweat glistening down his cheeks. "Damn it, Kakkarot! Take me to Bulma!" Vegeta turned on his fellow Saiyan.
"I'm trying, Vegeta, but I'm still really weak and tired, like you are!" Goku answered, and then tried again. This time, the twosome disappeared.
"They'll be back for their bed rest a little later," Videl told the dumb-founded doctors, who were trying to figure out where the two patients just went.
"How long has he been able to do that?" Kari wondered aloud.
"Oh, years now," Gohan answered quietly from his own bed.
The Z-Fighters could see the lookout in the distance, and quietly prayed they weren't too late. They could feel Dende, Mr. Popo, Yajirobe, and Bulma's kis, which was a relatively good sign, but the assassin's kis, the two they could feel, were moving away from the lookout, and that confused them.
Goku and Vegeta appeared at the lookout, and Goku fell to his hands and knees panting. His body ached and felt about ready to pull apart. He lifted his head slowly to look around, and gawked at the damage done to the building. There were cracks and burn marks everywhere. Vegeta stumbled forward a bit, but was obviously having terrible difficulties staying standing. Dende, Mr. Popo, and Yajirobe walked up to them, Dende having healed the worst of their injuries
"What happened here?" Vegeta demanded of the trio.
"Believe it or not, your wife!" Mr. Popo answered, and Vegeta stared at him for a moment.
"It's true! They were about to inject her with that poison to kill the baby, and. . ." Dende started.
"What?!" Vegeta yelled, and nearly toppled over with the exertion.
"No, it's okay, they didn't succeed! She just let off this huge explosion of ki and knocked them all away!" Dende finished.
"It was something else!" Yajirobe said, but his comment went ignored by the two Saiyans.
"Bulma?! A ki blast?!" Goku cried, his shock written all over his face.
"A ki blast that did all of this?! Bulma?!" Vegeta said at the same moment, trying to keep on his feet.
"Vegeta. . .?" Bulma's voice suddenly wafted up to them, and Vegeta turned and stared at her. She was a bit pale, and stumbled a little when she walked, but she was otherwise okay, and he ran to her as best as his weakened legs could. "Vegeta! You're better! Or a little better, anyway. . .how did you know to come?" she looked overjoyed and ran to him in turn. They reached each other and promptly fell to their knees, unable to stand any longer. He held her to himself in deep relief, feeling his baby's ki, still strong and well, move toward him again.
"I heard you scream through the Bond, I had to come. . .the doctors found a cure just in time. . .you're all right? The baby's all right?" Vegeta said quietly by her ear.
"Yes, we're both fine. . .I don't know how I did what I did, it just happened. . .oh, Vegeta, I'm so glad you're all right! And Trunks? He's better now too, isn't he? He got the antidote too?" Bulma asked in return.
"Of course he did! He was waking up when I heard you scream. We all got it. We're all going to be. . ." Vegeta almost laughed into her hair, but his light mood was cut in half by the sound of engines. He jerked away from Bulma and watched as Bosen, Vac, and Halter reappeared on the bikes, burned, hurting, and obviously _pissed_.
"YOU?! It can't be!! You should be dead by now!!" Halter screamed when he saw Vegeta, who moved protectively in front of Bulma. Halter's eyes held a crazed look as he then turned his attention to Goku. "You, too! How are you here?! You should be writhing in agony as you slowly die!"
"I got better!" Goku answered, for a brief moment inflicting a British accent.
"They're still mostly dead, we can take them now!" Bosen said quickly. It was quite clear that neither Saiyan could fight at the moment.
"Bosen's right!" Vac nodded. They didn't notice how those before them suddenly perked up and looked past them.
"You might be able to handle them, but what about us?" a deep, growling voice they recognized as belonging to the older Namek asked behind them. They froze for a brief moment, and then looked behind them. There floated the Z-Fighters, their faces locked and grim.
"Oh, fu--" Bosen hissed, and they quickly pulled out laser weapons from compartments on their bikes and just as quickly turned all the way around to open fire into the crowd. The Z- Fighters separated in several directions to avoid the rays, leaving the lasers to slice harmlessly through the air, and then the Z-Team lunged at the assassins. Vac, Halter, and Bosen knew better than to remain stationary targets, and split apart as well, dodging blows as best they could. Bosen fired a shot that burned Yamcha's shoulder, and Yamcha fell back for a moment before charging in again with Tien. Piccolo grabbed Vac from behind, but Vac simply pressed his palms into Piccolo's arm and turned up the heat. Piccolo let go with a small roar as his flesh burned and blistered. Krillin and 18 took turns laying into Halter, who only managed to fire two shots before Krillin knocked his gun from his hand and 18 stepped on it, crushing it. One shot had burned her arm, but she ignored the sting. They paused for a minute to see if he would surrender peacefully. Blood trickled from the Col's mouth as he glared at them, his eyes glowing with hatred and confusion.
"Why are you doing this? Don't you understand? The Saiyans are monsters! They've killed so many, hurt so many! Why do you defend them? They deserve no loyalty. . .no kindness or protection. . .they deserve only death! Can't you see that? Can't you see. . .all of the blood on their hands?" Halter asked in a quiet, even tone that unnerved Krillin and 18. They sent glances to each other uneasily.
"You've got it wrong; these Saiyans don't have blood on their hands at all - except Vegeta, and he's mending his ways," Krillin said. "Look, just take your friends and leave." Halter shook his head.
"No. The Nightmare ends here and now. They have to die!" Halter turned and tried to attack Vegeta, Goku, and Bulma, but Krillin and 18 barred his way, and their fight began again. It was ridiculous; the three aliens stood no chance against all of them, no matter what weapons or inborn powers they possessed, but they wouldn't give up.
"Listen to us, this isn't necessary! They're not. . ." Tien tried with Bosen, only to have to avoid a laser to the face.
"You've been blinded by their lies!" Bosen snapped as he fired.
Mr. Popo and Dende pulled an unwilling Bulma out of the way, as Yajirobe tried to help Goku and Vegeta get to a safe distance. Vegeta was cursing, angry at how weak he still was, but was otherwise not fighting the movement. Bulma bit her lip as she watched the fight. The Z- Fighters were holding back, knowing that these three could well be the last of their respective species, much like the occupants on Kari's ship had been. None wanted to be responsible for genocide. She turned back for a moment as Popo and Dende pulled her around a corner and more-or-less out of sight. She looked down at her hand then, and again wondered how she had called up all of that ki. If she had a sleeping power, surely Vegeta would have realized it by now, and done something to help bring it out. But he had been as surprised as she to learn she let off such a powerful ki blast. A scream pulled her attention away again, and she turned to see Yamcha stumbling back, gripping his chest painfully as blood seeped between his fingers. A fraction of a second later Tien shrieked and grabbed his forehead, where Bosen had shot his third eye. Bosen was a crack shot, and made ready to shoot the defenseless Saiyans in the back. A bolt of panic ripped through Bulma and the baby started kicking furiously, and power began to flow into Bulma's hands.
Somewhere in the back of Bulma's mind she now understood - she'd had the potential to raise her ki all along, like any other living being, but it was the baby who was causing this new power surge. The baby, a half-Saiyan child still attached to her, was, intentionally or not, sending her power and unlocking her own power at the same time. A ki ball formed into her palm in the same second she realized all of this, and she flung it at Bosen with all of the strength she possessed before she even fully realized what was happening. It smashed into him and sent him flying sideways into Vac, and both flew into Halter, like bowling pins after a strike. The three crumpled into a pile, unconscious. The Z-Fighters turned and stared at Bulma, Vegeta pushing away from Yajirobe to move up to her, and she smiled weakly, and then fainted dead away into Vegeta's arms. He fell to his knees again, still too sick and sore to hold her and himself up. He cradled her gently as the others looked back to the three aliens. Dende ran up to Yamcha and Tien and placed a hand over both wounds, a soft light glowing from his palms.
"They're still alive. . .what should we do with them?" Krillin asked as he gave Halter's arm a small nudge with the toe of his boot.
"My first reaction is kill them," Vegeta answered with a low growl.
"Then we are what they think we are," Goku murmured quietly, and thought he saw Vegeta twitch.
"There's no convincing them otherwise, Kakkarot. . .they're too far gone," Vegeta answered over his shoulder, and Goku found himself lost in surprise as he realized that Vegeta actually regretted that fact.
"Still, they're not evil. . .just desperate," Chiao-Tzu observed.
"The Mists of Illusion might help. . .let them think they succeeded, so they'll just leave," Piccolo offered. The others looked at him.
"Mists of Illusion? What's that?" 18 asked.
"One of the various potions around here. Once inhaled, you can make a person believe anything. . .but it's dangerous. Too much can leave them locked in a fantasy world forever," Dende explained.
"Still, it seems to be our best alternative; if we just kill them now, more will come later," Mr. Popo pointed out, and everyone nodded.
"Go and get it, Mr. Popo. Hurry, before they wake up," Dende told him, and he ran off. He flung open the cupboard that held their various potions and examined the bottles carefully before choosing a tall, thin yellow bottle with a crystal stopper and returning to the outside. He knelt down and poured a few drops of the misty liquid on each of the assassins. They each inhaled deeply and then gave a short cough.
"Your mission succeeded," Piccolo told them. "During the fight with the Saiyans' friends, Bosen and Vac managed to shoot the two male pure bloods and kill them. The rest died of the poison. You also managed to give some of the poison to the Saiyan Prince's wife and it killed the baby in her womb. A complete victory, the Saiyans are no more." They stared as the three aliens visibly relaxed, like a great weight had been thrown off their shoulders. They all moved out of sight, Dende helping Vegeta get Bulma somewhere where she could lie down. Eventually, close to an hour later, the three woke up, and after sitting up and looking dazed for several more minutes, they let out joyous cheers and whoops, and hugged each other in complete jubilation, tears of happiness glistening on their cheeks. They mounted their bikes again and flew off, still cheering. From Kami's Lookout, they watched the star ship lift off and go.
"It's over. . .for them, too. They won't live in fear and hatred anymore," Krillin smiled a bit.
"We should tell Goku and Vegeta," Tien answered. They all turned and went back inside, and went to the rooms they had left the Saiyans in. Goku was soundly asleep in one bed, and Vegeta was sleeping with Bulma, his body curled against hers.
"We should probably return them to the hospital," Yamcha observed.
After Vegeta and Goku were returned to the hospital, the Saiyans all stayed there for another two days (despite multiple escape attempts) and then were deemed well enough to return home. The rest of the Z-Fighters returned to their normal lives, and all became peaceful and calm again.
2 months and 5 days later. . .
Vegeta sat in the waiting room anxiously, waiting for word on Bulma and the baby. She had gone into the first stages of labor five hours ago, and he had been sent to wait outside after threatening a doctor if anything happened to Bulma or their child. Trunks sat next to him, fidgeting uncomfortably. He glanced at his young son quietly as the violet- haired youth turned to Gohan. Gohan's whole family was there, his parents, brother, and mate.
"Was it like this while you were waiting for Goten?" he asked the older boy.
"Yeah, more or less," Gohan nodded.
"Kind of nerve-wracking, isn't it?" Goten said.
"Why are you even here?" Vegeta asked shortly.
"Well, Trunks called me to tell me that the baby was coming, and I told the rest of my family. . ." Goten offered almost meekly. Vegeta intimidated him just a little when he was angry.
"And seeing as Bulma's been one of my best friends since we were kids, I just felt like I ought to come, and Chi-chi, Gohan, Videl, and Goten all wanted to come too," Goku finished for his youngest son. Vegeta let out a low, tense sigh. Deep down, it always made him feel a little edgy that Kakkarot had known Bulma first, and had been and still was quite close to her. He didn't know why, it just did. For now, though, he chose to be gracious. This was a happy day, no need to stir up trouble. He inwardly marveled at his greatly changed attitude, but nothing showed on the surface, as always.
"Fine," Vegeta muttered hotly. "That explains you five, and I'll accept it. But what about the rest of you?!" he cast accusing eyes at the other people in the room. Sitting by Goku was Yamcha, who tried to hide behind a newspaper, by him sat Kari, striving to look innocent as she flipped through a magazine, then Krillin and 18, and then of all people, Piccolo, and beside him was Tien and Chiao-Tzu, both trying to keep a low profile.
"Ahh, well, I passed Goku and his family in the air on their way here, and we stopped for a brief moment to talk, and they told me Bulma was in labor, and. . .damn it, she's my friend too, and we used to be close. . ." Yamcha fumbled for an explanation as he lowered the newspaper. Vegeta glared at him in a way that would make most people cringe and try to escape, but Yamcha managed to hold steady - barely. Kari looked up from her magazine and gave a small smile.
"I heard the news in the office and ran over. A new Saiyan baby is being born, you think I'd be anywhere else?" Kari said.
"I was on the lookout and realized it there; I just. . .I don't know. I came to see the new kid on the block, I guess," Piccolo muttered. He honestly had no idea what compelled him to come.
"We were just passing through when we came across Goku et all coming here and followed," Tien said. "Heck, we all worked so hard to help protect the kid, we should at least get to see him." The others nodded.
"Mr. Vegeta?" a woman's voice suddenly said, and they all jumped, Vegeta literally to his feet, and faced the nurse who was leaning into the room.
"What is it?" Vegeta said quickly. The nurse smiled a bit.
"The baby hasn't come yet, but it's close, and your wife wants you there. The doctor says it's okay so long as you stay calm and don't threaten him again," the nurse explained. For a moment, Vegeta thought about refusing, but stopped himself before he did. He strode forward, head high, and walked past the nurse into the hallway beyond. "This way," the nurse said, but Vegeta didn't need a guide. He knew exactly where his mate was, and he could feel her pain and exhaustion. The nurse pushed open the door and Vegeta walked in and to Bulma's side. Her face was locked up in pain as another contraction hit her, and as it passed she opened her eyes. She reached for him and he took her hand.
"Vegeta," she sighed. He just gazed at her with his soul-piercing eyes, offering her comfort and his strength through the Bond, as he had been doing before in the waiting room.
"Just a little more, Mrs. Vegeta. I can see the head!" the doctor called up to her, and Bulma made ready to push with the next contraction. It came and she pushed, letting out a little cry of pain and effort as she did.
"Very good, one more ought to do it," the doctor said, and Vegeta felt her grip on his hand tighten as the next contraction came. She again grimaced as she pushed, and a few moments later a shrill cry filled the room. "There! That's it," the doctor said happily, and Bulma leaned against Vegeta, who smiled at her fully. As the doctor helped get the placenta out, the nurse cleaned the baby up, cut its umbilical cord, and wrapped it in a blanket before coming to Bulma.
"Congratulations," the nurse smiled at them warmly. "You have a beautiful, healthy little girl." They nodded, and then froze.
"Say what?" Vegeta and Bulma both blinked.
Some time after Vegeta had left, another nurse stepped into the waiting room. "Trunks? You can come see them now," she smiled at the boy, who quickly got up to follow her.
"What about us?" Goku asked.
"Well. . .I suppose you can all come, but only for a few moments!" the nurse answered, and they all jumped up to follow her. She led them down a different hall than the one Vegeta had originally led down, to the room where Bulma and the baby had been shifted to.
"So my mom's okay?" Trunks asked the nurse quickly.
"Yes, she's just fine! Tired, of course, and a little sore, but in a few days she'll be fine again," the nurse nodded.
"And my baby brother?" Trunks pressed. The nurse chuckled in response.
"Your _sister_ is fine and healthy. She's eight pounds even, twelve inches long,. . ."the nurse prattled off the usual details. Trunks had stopped listening at the word "sister." That word had also gotten the attention of the others.
"Sister? The baby's a girl?" Goku spoke up before Trunks could.
"Yes. Why are you acting so surprised?" the nurse asked with a half- smile. "The odds were even, you know."
"Oh, no reason. . .we just all. . .really expected it to be a boy," Kari said, her voice only hinting at her surprise.
"Not this time," the nurse answered. She then stopped and motioned them to a door. Trunks pushed the door open, stepped inside, and saw his mother in bed, his father sitting on the bed's edge, and in his mother's arms was a tiny bundle. His parents turned at the sound of the door.
"Trunks, come here and see!" Bulma said, and he ran up to the bed and leaned in to get a look at the baby. She appeared to be asleep, her little eyes closed, and her face was flushed.
"The nurse said it's a girl," Trunks said quickly, seeking confirmation. On some level, he still felt that had to be a mistake.
"Yes, it is," Vegeta replied, and Trunks finally accepted it.
"What's her name?" Trunks asked next.
"Bra," Bulma answered, and Vegeta gave a tiny sigh. Vegeta gently reached for his new daughter, and Bulma offered her up freely. He took her from her mother's arms carefully, and just as carefully positioned her comfortably in his own arms. Trunks took the opportunity to give his mother a quick hug. The others came in then, slowly and quietly, and Vegeta didn't notice them. Vegeta gazed at the half asleep infant, who suddenly stirred and blinked her eyes open at the change in the feel of the arms holding her. Vegeta found himself staring down into a smaller version of Bulma's eyes; the same deep blue pools his mate possessed, and this time, even their shape was the same. Trunks' eyes had his mother's color, but his father's shape. He smiled the way he had the first time he held Trunks as a baby, a warm, loving smile that few ever saw.
"The first princess born to Vegetasei in. . ." Vegeta paused as he tried to recall the number. "Ten generations. . .and close to a thousand years," he finally finished.
"That long?" Goku's voice snapped Vegeta out of his reverie and he stared at his fellow Saiyan in annoyance.
"Kakkarot?! What the hell. . . this is supposed to be family only for a while!" Vegeta hissed as he stared at the crowd in Bulma's room. He felt his anger flare at having been caught being so soft and emotional.
"We're just here for a quick look, and then we'll go. The nurse won't let us stay long," Chi-Chi informed him.
"It won't hurt anything, Vegeta," Bulma observed gently. Then she ran her tongue over her dry lips. "Vegeta, could you get me a cup of water?" she asked. Vegeta gave a small nod and placed the baby back in her arms. The Z-Fighters crowded in to get a look as he headed out the door.
As fortune would have it, there was a water cooler with decent sized paper cups by it a short distance from Bulma's room. Vegeta filled one of the cups with the cool fluid, turned, took three steps, and then stopped dead in his tracks. About ten feet from him and moving to Bulma's room was a figure he recognized only from his memory, someone he hadn't seen since he was a boy. She stood tall and straight, save for the slight hunch of her shoulders, which had a long cloak wrapped about them that dragged a bit on the floor. The hood was up, but he could see wisps of silver-white hair on the edges, and she walked with a tall, red walking stick.
"You!" Vegeta snapped, and the woman turned. He found himself once more looking into the clear, bright purple eyes and lined old face of the prophetess who had appeared to him when he was a child.
"Greetings, Prince Vegeta! I'm surprised you remember me," she said, tilting her head to one side in near-amusement.
"What are you doing here, Old Woman? Where did you come from?" Vegeta demanded lowly, quickly closing the gap between them. The old woman just looked at him, no fear on her face or in her eyes.
"The vision came surprisingly quickly for this child," she answered, and proceeded to turn back around and headed again for Bulma's room. Vegeta moved in front of her too quickly for the human eye to see and scowled deeply.
"Stay away from there!" he snarled.
"You cannot stop me, Prince," she said.
"Watch me!" Vegeta barked back, and this drew the attention of the crowd in Bulma's room. Goku stuck his head out the door and watched the strange confrontation. ((Who's that woman?)) Goku wondered. It was obvious Vegeta didn't like her and was trying to keep her from getting somewhere. The woman vanished and Vegeta swore. Goku spun around and stared at the same woman, who now stood in the center of the room. Vegeta burst in and scowled at her. "Leave now, old woman, before I blast you to Hell!" he yelled at her.
"Vegeta, who is this person?!" Bulma's voice betrayed her panic as she held her baby closer. The old woman's purple eyes glowed.
"The Daughter of the House of Vegeta shall know great pain for her power, and have many trials to overcome. . .her father's sins will be washed away with her blood," the old woman declared in a voice that seemed to echo across the room. The Z-Fighters let out exclamations of surprise.
"NO!" Vegeta screamed, and readied a ki blast.
"Who are you?!" Gohan demanded of the woman.
"Nothing but a messenger. Put that ki ball away, you cannot kill me, and even if you could, it would change nothing!" the old woman stated sharply, and Vegeta knew she was right. He took his ki back into his body and stared at her with hate-filled eyes.
"Why are you doing this? Who sent you?" Vegeta demanded. She looked at him evenly, and seemed to relent a little.
"You have your great-grandfather to thank for this, Vegeta," she said.
"What?" Vegeta said, and the sentiment was echoed by the others in the room.
"Your great-grandfather angered a wizard, who placed a curse on the entire Vegeta family line - that you would not only have painful futures, but that you would know about them ahead of time and not be able to truly change them," she said calmly. They stared at her for a moment, stunned.
"Well, how do we break the curse?!" Trunks asked quickly.
"I don't know," the old woman answered with a shake of her head.
"We need to find the wizard," Krillin pointed out, but the old woman shook her head again.
"You can't. He's long dead; Vegeta's great-grandfather killed him. That's why he was so angry. It was a right-before-he-died curse," the old woman explained.
"Can't you, I don't know, find his spirit and ask him, or something?" Bulma asked desperately.
"I could, but why should I? I have no reason to," the old woman answered, and they stared at her in anger and surprise. She then continued. "You know, the curse never seemed to have much effect anyway; none of your family ever listens. You're great- grandfather didn't listen, your grandfather didn't listen, your father didn't listen, you didn't listen. . . I doubt Trunks will listen when his time comes."
"Why? What's going to happen to Trunks?!" Vegeta bellowed.
"What's going to happen to me?!" Trunks said at the same moment.
"That is not for you to know," she said to Vegeta. "And I don't really know yet," she said to Trunks. "I had a vision for you, but it was averted somehow. I saw that you would never know your father, would know only fear and pain as you grew, and that the Saiyan race would die with you. But then it all. . .changed. I still await a new vision for you." The Z-Fighters felt themselves go cold at the description of that vision; they knew all too well what had happened. That vision was for Future Trunks, but he changed history, and this Trunks didn't have that life. "Well, I've done what I came to do. Must be off, there are others I need to talk to in this Universe," she said crisply, and made ready to leave.
"WAIT!" Vegeta's voice rang through the room and made the walls shake. "You have to find that wizard and learn the cure for the curse!" he demanded.
"I say again, 'why should I?'" the old woman answered, facing Vegeta alone. Vegeta stared at her, his eyes boring into hers. His fists were clenched at his sides and every muscle was tense. He knew attacking her would do no good whatsoever. He looked at his family; his beautiful and brilliant mate, strong son, and tiny daughter, and drew in a slow breath. He wished the other Z-Fighters weren't in the room, but there was nothing he could do about it. The others watched him carefully, curious as to what he was going to do.
For a moment, they were all certain they were seeing things. Every set of eyes in the room went wide with shock. Vegeta had gone down on his knees and lowered his head.
"Please, find the wizard. . .I deserved my part of the curse, but my son and daughter don't! I. . .I. . ." Vegeta gritted his teeth and forced the words out. "I. . .I. . .beg you. . .ask the wizard how to undo this curse." Vegeta felt ill to his stomach, being forced to beg like this, especially in front of everyone. It was humiliating and degrading, and he could feel his skin crawling with shame, but if it got him what he wanted, then he could live with it. The old woman was completely shocked, and it showed. She had not expected such a display of love and fear for his family from Vegeta, and it warmed her heart to see it. Then she smiled a warm smile.
"Very well! I shall seek him out," she declared, and promptly disappeared. Vegeta was back on his feet before anyone else could blink. No one knew what to say.
"Vegeta. . ." Goku started.
"Shut up, Kakkarot, I don't want to hear it," Vegeta cut him off. Goku pressed his lips together, but couldn't keep the small smile from tilting the corners of his mouth. He pulled Chi- chi into his embrace, and they quietly waited for the old woman's return.
They weren't sure how long it was, not very though, before the prophetess returned, still smiling. "Good news!" she beamed. "The curse is already broken!"
"What?!" they all cried together.
"It was set to break only when "A member of the House of Vegeta humbles him or herself for the sake of others." When you begged for your family but not yourself, you broke the curse!" she told them, and they all smiled and sighed in relief.
"Oh, Vegeta!" Bulma sighed as Vegeta wrapped his arms around her, the baby, and Trunks. He didn't say anything, but she knew how he felt, the Bond told her everything.
"That was a close one!" 18 observed.
"I'll say! Good thing Vegeta thought of that," Yamcha murmured quietly.
"Remind me never to piss off a wizard," Kari chuckled quietly. The old woman suddenly cleared her throat. She wasn't smiling anymore.
"There's. . .just one small problem," she said. "The curse was still in effect when I came here and gave the girl her prophecy; it shall still come to pass."
"What?!" Vegeta all but lunged at the woman.
"However, now that the curse is broken, you can try to avert it," the old woman said firmly. "Now, I must be going - I'm late for another appointment."
"Just out of curiosity. . .what did you tell my father?" Vegeta asked before she could leave. She looked at him in a strangely cold fashion.
"I had that vision shortly after you were born. My exact words were, "Your son will never have the throne. You shall betray and be betrayed by a false ally, and your kingdom and people will be lost!" He didn't listen, of course. Good day to you, Vegeta," she said, and disappeared, leaving them to contemplate her words.
"It can be averted, and it will," Vegeta said low in his throat.
"We'll see to it," Bulma agreed.
The End **************************************************************************** ** Share your thoughts! E-mail me at NansJns@aol.com!
