Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Elayia.
Author's note: Warning: Possible tearjerker and some cuteness. This basically goes in-depth about Salza and what he was like at home with his family.
* * * *
Soon it was getting dark, and Elayia needed to find a place to rest for the night. There was only one place she could think of that would be safe for her: Lord Cooler's ship.
It took her a while to search the dense forest for the ship. She was still suffering from grief of her dead father, and it didn't help she was in unfamiliar territory. She fought back tears as she pushed on through the thick plants.
She saw a flash of white and pushed towards that direction. She was rewarded with the sight of Cooler's ship. She walked around the ship until she found the entrance. There she also found the keypad to open the door. She paused, her hand hovering the keypad. She couldn't remember the access code! She had watched her father type it in many times, she had even memorized the code. But now, because of her emotional state, she couldn't remember it. She tried to remember back to when she would sit and say it over and over.
"Maybe it was… No, that's not it. It was… that's not it either! Oh father, why can't you be here now?!"
Tears threatened to spill because of frustration and grief. Her hands balled up into fists and she pounded the keypad in anger. She was startled when the door opened with a hiss.
Her eyes opened wide as she stared at the door. She moved her hand to see the words "Access Allowed" on the keycode panel. She slowly walked into the ship. As soon as she was a few feet in the ship, the door shut behind her with a hiss. As soon as her feet touched the ground again, she scolded herself quietly.
"Get a hold of yourself Elayia! It's only been a few years since you've last been here, so stop acting like it's haunted!"
She wandered around for a few minutes until she found the main control room. As if she was in a dream, she stepped in front of the main viewscreen. It was sectioned into quarters, just as it always had been. She looked around until she found a chair a short distance away from the screen. She slowly walked over to it and sat down. Her mind drifted back to the first time she had actually been on the ship.
'Come on daddy, this way!'
A four-year-old Elayia came running into the main control room, father in tow. She pulled Salza into the room and in front of the main viewscreen. Her eyes scanned the room.
'Wow…'
Elayia's mother, a woman with long blonde hair, stood by the doorway, smiling.
Salza smiled and looked down at Elayia. 'Do you want to see where I sit?'
Elayia looked up at him with her big bright eyes and nodded furiously. 'Uh huh!'
Salza lead her to a chair a short distance from the main viewscreen. 'This is it. This is where I sit.'
Elayia looked up at the chair with wonderment. 'Wow! Can I sit too?'
Salza laughed. 'Sure.' He gently picked her up and set her down in the chair. 'Do you like it?' he asked her as he stepped back.
Elayia, obviously enjoying herself, looked up at him with a victorious grin, then imitated her father by looking straight ahead and putting her hands up on the armrests, saying 'Set course for home! I want to go see mommy and Elayia!'
Elayia's mother, who had moved to Salza's side, laughed along with her husband at their daughter's antics. It took a few moments for their laughter to die down. After they recovered, Elayia's mother looked at Salza.
'Salza dear, supper is probably done by now.'
Salza nodded, still smiling from Elayia's act. He stepped forward and gently picked Elayia up and held her with one arm. 'It's time to go home. Supper is done.'
Elayia wrapped her small arms around Salza's neck as all three of them left the room.
'Daddy?'
Salza turned his head to look at his daughter as he continued to walk. 'Yes Elayia?'
'When can I sit in your chair again?'
Salza smiled. 'When you're older. It might even be your chair someday.'
Elayia pulled her face out of her hands long enough for her to wipe away a tear with the back of a gloved hand. Her shoulders shook at the memory. She wiped away another tear, then looked down at the chair she was sitting in. When she was four, her feet barely came over the edge of the seat. Now her feet were sitting firmly on the ground. Years ago, she had to reach up just to put her hands on the armrests. Now her forearms rested easily.
She stood up and out of the chair. That chair would never be hers. It belonged to her father and her father only. She turned and walked out the doorway. This time she turned right instead of going straight, and walked into a long corridor. She walked by many doors, but she didn't even look at them. Until one door caught her attention. She abruptly stopped walking and looked at the door curiously. Why had it grabbed her attention like that? She slowly walked over to it, opened the door, and stepped in.
She was immediately overwhelmed by the distinct scent of her father. Elayia knew this was her father's quarters. She felt the wall and found the light switch. She turned on the lights and looked around. The room was small, but had the basics. It had a bed, a nightstand, a small closet, and, through a doorway, a small bathroom. She took off her brown cloak and folded it as she walked over towards the bed. Underneath the cloak she was wearing an outfit much like the one Salza wears when he's on the ship. She carefully sat down on the bed and saw a book sticking out from under the pillow. Curious, she gently pulled it out. She opened it.
"Father's journal…"
She opened it to the last entry and began to read.
I just want to hurry up and toast this planet. Lord Cooler says as soon as Earth is done, I can go see my family at home. I haven't seen Elayia for so long, and it's been awhile before I've visited my wife. Sometimes I wonder if Elayia would recognize me, it's been so long. Ever since her mother died, she got more and more interested in fighting. I started to teach her when she was about six. As she grew up, I saw so much of her mother in her. The same flowing hair, the same intelligent look in her eyes. At one point I would almost start crying when I looked at her. Then I was called from Lord Cooler and she had to stay at my brother's house. He even continued her training. I suppose the next time I see her, she could probably teach me something! At least I managed to teach her my Energy Blade attack. I guess I should get some sleep. We're going to visit earth tomorrow. I just hope that Elayia knows that no matter where I am, I will always be proud of her.
Elayia slowly closed the journal. "I know, father. I know." She silently put the journal back under the pillow. She paused to take off her armor and gloves, leaving the purple jumpsuit and boots. It was now she looked up at the nightstand to see it full of pictures, each in their own frame. She carefully reached and picked one up to look at it.
In the picture, Salza was wearing a green shirt with the top two buttons left undone. His sleeves had been rolled up. To his right sat Elayia's mother, wearing a sand-colored T-shirt. In front of them sat a four year old Elayia, wearing a pretty pink dress. Elayia remembered when they got this picture taken. They were at the park with her uncle. He's the one that took the picture. The sun was out, they had all sat in the grass, and they were all happy. Memories like that were meant to be treasured.
She put the picture back and took another one from its spot. A small smile appeared on her face, even though tears were threatening to weld up in her eyes. It was a picture of her mother and father on their wedding day. The photo captured the moment of them exchanging their vows. Elayia pulled out the necklace she had taken from her father's lifeless body. It was a simple chain link necklace. The chain was looped through Salza's wedding ring. He had put it on a necklace when his wife had died. Tears brimming her eyes, Elayia put the picture back and picked up another one.
Elayia was too young to remember when this picture was taken. In the picture, Salza was sitting in a brown recliner, footrest out. He was wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans. In his arms was a peacefully sleeping baby Elayia. Her head was resting on his right shoulder, a thin line of drool running from one corner of her mouth. Apparently Salza was asleep too, because his head was also tipped to the right side, his eyes closed as he too slept peacefully.
When Elayia put the picture back, tears were streaming down her face. All the memories of her now-deceased father and his scent that clung in the air were taking full force on her emotions. Nearly throwing herself down on the bed, she hugged the pillow as it soaked up her tears as she sobbed.
"Daddy…"
A few minutes later she had cried herself to sleep. Her dreams plotted out her course of action for vengeance. She dreamed herself standing in a barren wasteland, nothing but sand as far as the eye could see. There were evident signs of battle. The most noticeable was the three bodies lying in the sand. One was a small boy with a brown furred tail. His short black hair was all messed up and dirty. Another was a small, green-skinned boy wearing a dark blue fighting gi. Another was a grown man, with spiky black hair and a tattered orange fighting gi. In her hands was a full grown namek wearing the same type and color of fighting gi as the smaller one. He was begging for mercy, begging that she spare him or kill him quickly. Elayia smirked, lifted him up with one arm, and powered up her Energy Blade with her other hand. With a swift motion, she plunged the Energy Blade into his vulnerable stomach, all the way up to her wrist. The namek writhed for a moment, then went limp. She dropped him to the ground and walked away. She got a few steps away before she saw a figure walking up to her. She stops, but the figure keeps walking closer. Once the figure was a few steps away, it stopped. Elayia couldn't make out who it is until it spoke.
"My daughter…"
"Father!"
She jumped into her father's arms, who held her tightly.
She woke up the next morning, the dream still fresh in her mind. Her dream had told her: Destroy them.
* * * *
Author's note: I warned you about the cuteness. This chapter was longer than I expected. I hope you liked it. Next chapter: Gohan and Goku.
Author's note: Warning: Possible tearjerker and some cuteness. This basically goes in-depth about Salza and what he was like at home with his family.
* * * *
Soon it was getting dark, and Elayia needed to find a place to rest for the night. There was only one place she could think of that would be safe for her: Lord Cooler's ship.
It took her a while to search the dense forest for the ship. She was still suffering from grief of her dead father, and it didn't help she was in unfamiliar territory. She fought back tears as she pushed on through the thick plants.
She saw a flash of white and pushed towards that direction. She was rewarded with the sight of Cooler's ship. She walked around the ship until she found the entrance. There she also found the keypad to open the door. She paused, her hand hovering the keypad. She couldn't remember the access code! She had watched her father type it in many times, she had even memorized the code. But now, because of her emotional state, she couldn't remember it. She tried to remember back to when she would sit and say it over and over.
"Maybe it was… No, that's not it. It was… that's not it either! Oh father, why can't you be here now?!"
Tears threatened to spill because of frustration and grief. Her hands balled up into fists and she pounded the keypad in anger. She was startled when the door opened with a hiss.
Her eyes opened wide as she stared at the door. She moved her hand to see the words "Access Allowed" on the keycode panel. She slowly walked into the ship. As soon as she was a few feet in the ship, the door shut behind her with a hiss. As soon as her feet touched the ground again, she scolded herself quietly.
"Get a hold of yourself Elayia! It's only been a few years since you've last been here, so stop acting like it's haunted!"
She wandered around for a few minutes until she found the main control room. As if she was in a dream, she stepped in front of the main viewscreen. It was sectioned into quarters, just as it always had been. She looked around until she found a chair a short distance away from the screen. She slowly walked over to it and sat down. Her mind drifted back to the first time she had actually been on the ship.
'Come on daddy, this way!'
A four-year-old Elayia came running into the main control room, father in tow. She pulled Salza into the room and in front of the main viewscreen. Her eyes scanned the room.
'Wow…'
Elayia's mother, a woman with long blonde hair, stood by the doorway, smiling.
Salza smiled and looked down at Elayia. 'Do you want to see where I sit?'
Elayia looked up at him with her big bright eyes and nodded furiously. 'Uh huh!'
Salza lead her to a chair a short distance from the main viewscreen. 'This is it. This is where I sit.'
Elayia looked up at the chair with wonderment. 'Wow! Can I sit too?'
Salza laughed. 'Sure.' He gently picked her up and set her down in the chair. 'Do you like it?' he asked her as he stepped back.
Elayia, obviously enjoying herself, looked up at him with a victorious grin, then imitated her father by looking straight ahead and putting her hands up on the armrests, saying 'Set course for home! I want to go see mommy and Elayia!'
Elayia's mother, who had moved to Salza's side, laughed along with her husband at their daughter's antics. It took a few moments for their laughter to die down. After they recovered, Elayia's mother looked at Salza.
'Salza dear, supper is probably done by now.'
Salza nodded, still smiling from Elayia's act. He stepped forward and gently picked Elayia up and held her with one arm. 'It's time to go home. Supper is done.'
Elayia wrapped her small arms around Salza's neck as all three of them left the room.
'Daddy?'
Salza turned his head to look at his daughter as he continued to walk. 'Yes Elayia?'
'When can I sit in your chair again?'
Salza smiled. 'When you're older. It might even be your chair someday.'
Elayia pulled her face out of her hands long enough for her to wipe away a tear with the back of a gloved hand. Her shoulders shook at the memory. She wiped away another tear, then looked down at the chair she was sitting in. When she was four, her feet barely came over the edge of the seat. Now her feet were sitting firmly on the ground. Years ago, she had to reach up just to put her hands on the armrests. Now her forearms rested easily.
She stood up and out of the chair. That chair would never be hers. It belonged to her father and her father only. She turned and walked out the doorway. This time she turned right instead of going straight, and walked into a long corridor. She walked by many doors, but she didn't even look at them. Until one door caught her attention. She abruptly stopped walking and looked at the door curiously. Why had it grabbed her attention like that? She slowly walked over to it, opened the door, and stepped in.
She was immediately overwhelmed by the distinct scent of her father. Elayia knew this was her father's quarters. She felt the wall and found the light switch. She turned on the lights and looked around. The room was small, but had the basics. It had a bed, a nightstand, a small closet, and, through a doorway, a small bathroom. She took off her brown cloak and folded it as she walked over towards the bed. Underneath the cloak she was wearing an outfit much like the one Salza wears when he's on the ship. She carefully sat down on the bed and saw a book sticking out from under the pillow. Curious, she gently pulled it out. She opened it.
"Father's journal…"
She opened it to the last entry and began to read.
I just want to hurry up and toast this planet. Lord Cooler says as soon as Earth is done, I can go see my family at home. I haven't seen Elayia for so long, and it's been awhile before I've visited my wife. Sometimes I wonder if Elayia would recognize me, it's been so long. Ever since her mother died, she got more and more interested in fighting. I started to teach her when she was about six. As she grew up, I saw so much of her mother in her. The same flowing hair, the same intelligent look in her eyes. At one point I would almost start crying when I looked at her. Then I was called from Lord Cooler and she had to stay at my brother's house. He even continued her training. I suppose the next time I see her, she could probably teach me something! At least I managed to teach her my Energy Blade attack. I guess I should get some sleep. We're going to visit earth tomorrow. I just hope that Elayia knows that no matter where I am, I will always be proud of her.
Elayia slowly closed the journal. "I know, father. I know." She silently put the journal back under the pillow. She paused to take off her armor and gloves, leaving the purple jumpsuit and boots. It was now she looked up at the nightstand to see it full of pictures, each in their own frame. She carefully reached and picked one up to look at it.
In the picture, Salza was wearing a green shirt with the top two buttons left undone. His sleeves had been rolled up. To his right sat Elayia's mother, wearing a sand-colored T-shirt. In front of them sat a four year old Elayia, wearing a pretty pink dress. Elayia remembered when they got this picture taken. They were at the park with her uncle. He's the one that took the picture. The sun was out, they had all sat in the grass, and they were all happy. Memories like that were meant to be treasured.
She put the picture back and took another one from its spot. A small smile appeared on her face, even though tears were threatening to weld up in her eyes. It was a picture of her mother and father on their wedding day. The photo captured the moment of them exchanging their vows. Elayia pulled out the necklace she had taken from her father's lifeless body. It was a simple chain link necklace. The chain was looped through Salza's wedding ring. He had put it on a necklace when his wife had died. Tears brimming her eyes, Elayia put the picture back and picked up another one.
Elayia was too young to remember when this picture was taken. In the picture, Salza was sitting in a brown recliner, footrest out. He was wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans. In his arms was a peacefully sleeping baby Elayia. Her head was resting on his right shoulder, a thin line of drool running from one corner of her mouth. Apparently Salza was asleep too, because his head was also tipped to the right side, his eyes closed as he too slept peacefully.
When Elayia put the picture back, tears were streaming down her face. All the memories of her now-deceased father and his scent that clung in the air were taking full force on her emotions. Nearly throwing herself down on the bed, she hugged the pillow as it soaked up her tears as she sobbed.
"Daddy…"
A few minutes later she had cried herself to sleep. Her dreams plotted out her course of action for vengeance. She dreamed herself standing in a barren wasteland, nothing but sand as far as the eye could see. There were evident signs of battle. The most noticeable was the three bodies lying in the sand. One was a small boy with a brown furred tail. His short black hair was all messed up and dirty. Another was a small, green-skinned boy wearing a dark blue fighting gi. Another was a grown man, with spiky black hair and a tattered orange fighting gi. In her hands was a full grown namek wearing the same type and color of fighting gi as the smaller one. He was begging for mercy, begging that she spare him or kill him quickly. Elayia smirked, lifted him up with one arm, and powered up her Energy Blade with her other hand. With a swift motion, she plunged the Energy Blade into his vulnerable stomach, all the way up to her wrist. The namek writhed for a moment, then went limp. She dropped him to the ground and walked away. She got a few steps away before she saw a figure walking up to her. She stops, but the figure keeps walking closer. Once the figure was a few steps away, it stopped. Elayia couldn't make out who it is until it spoke.
"My daughter…"
"Father!"
She jumped into her father's arms, who held her tightly.
She woke up the next morning, the dream still fresh in her mind. Her dream had told her: Destroy them.
* * * *
Author's note: I warned you about the cuteness. This chapter was longer than I expected. I hope you liked it. Next chapter: Gohan and Goku.