Bulma and the Beast

Authors note:

Yes it's another first timer in that, this is the first fanfic I've ever written. Due to this I'd expect the worst and don't rely too heavily on the characters being in character, sometimes it's necessary to have them out of character to accommodate the story (this is going to be a disaster -_-). I was inspired to write this after watching one of my favourite Walt Disney films 'Beauty and the Beast' (my favourite being 'The Lion King' but that's not important or relevant). Although a lot of this fic will resemble the tale of 'Beauty and the Beast' it is not completely based on it. This means there will be a few changes. So don't expect it to follow the film word for word. With that said I hope you can somewhat enjoy my fic, even if it is the most terrible thing you've ever read. I mainly wrote it cause I had the idea in my head and I had to get it out. Comments and suggestions for improvements are most welcome, just email me ^_^

Disclaimer:

I do not claim to own Dragonball Z or any of the characters, themes, stories, etc that are associated with it. They all belong to Akira Toriyama and Toei Animation. I'm just borrowing the characters and putting them into a story I'd like to see them in

I also do not own 'Beauty and the Beast' or any of the characters, lines, themes, etc that are associated with it. They all belong to the wonderful and brilliant Walt Disney.

I am not making any money off this fic, I am merely writing it for my own piece of mind. Having a story stuck in your head is very annoying.

(I have decided I hate writing disclaimers as much as I hate reading them but it has to be done)

With that said let's get on with the story!!!!!!!!

Bulma and the Beast

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a young prince lived in a shining castle. Although he had everything his heart desired, the prince was spoiled, selfish, and unkind. But then, one winter's night, an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered him a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the prince sneered at the gift and turned the old woman away, but she warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within. And when he dismissed her again, the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful enchantress. The prince tried to redeem himself, but it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart, and as punishment, she transformed him into a hideous beast, and placed a powerful spell on the castle, and all who lived there. Ashamed of his monstrous form, the beast concealed himself inside his castle, with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world. The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom until his twenty-first year. If he could learn to love another, and earn her love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time. As the years passed, he fell into despair, and lost all hope, for who could ever learn to love a beast?

* * *

In a not too far away village the towns people go about their daily lives not knowing of the castle, the prince and all the mystery it holds within. In this quite little village people live the lives of quite villagers and everyone seems to have their place, everyone except the inventor's daughter Bulma. She is anything but normal in the eyes of these quaint villagers. To them she is an enigma and simply doesn't quite fit in. This does not seem to bother Bulma as she strolls down the cobbled streets of the village singing to herself as if no one could hear her. Her blue dress ends mid-thighs and has a low square cut neck. Under the dress she wears a white blouse. White socks stretch up to her knees and her black shoes are perfectly kept. She exchanges small greetings with the locals as she makes her way to the only place she feels comfortable in the whole village, the library. Passing through the door a faint bell tingles to alert the owner of her arrival. He smiles brightly at her as she hands him a book with a velvet-red cover.

"You've finished it already?" He questions her with a smile gracing his face but still unable to hide the shock in his eyes

"Oh I couldn't put it down. I even had to put off several projects just to finish it." She remarks grinning while she climbs up a ladder resting against the bookcase to pick a new book. Her eyes flow over the books spins reading their titles as they go. She reaches out and pulls a dusty blue book from the top shelf. "I'll borrow this one." She triumphantly shows the book to the clerk. He adjusts his glasses on the bridge of his nose and looks up at her with questioning eyes.

"But you've read it twice"

"Well it's my favourite!" She announces while swinging off the side of the ladder allowing it to roll along its tracks. "Far off places, daring sword fights, magic spells, a prince in disguise! I need a bit of fantasy to clear my head while working on my inventions" She smiles and climbs down from the ladder and holds out the book to him. He pushes the book back at her.

"If you like it all that much, it's yours. I insist." He smiles warmly at her as her eyes light up.

"Oh thank you sir! Thank you very much" She walks out of the library holding the book close to her chest. She then makes her way to the Town Square to sit at the side of the fountain. She adjusts the skirt of her dress as she sits down and begins to read.

Meanwhile standing outside the tavern with his shotgun in hand is the devilishly handsome, self centred Yumcha. He is dressed in a deep-red shirt and tight fitting black pants. Brown boots top the outfit off to give him the appearance of a hunter, a well-dressed hunter. He fires a shot into the sky and a goose falls to the ground. Krillin is close at hand to scoop the bird into a sack and applaud Yumcha on his fantastic shot.

"Wow! You didn't miss a shot Yumcha! You're the greatest hunter in the whole world!"

"I know!" He says while running a hand through his hair.

"No beast alive stands a chance against you……………………and no girl for that matter!" Krillin nudges Yumcha in the ribs and grins.

"That's true Krillin and I've got my sights set on that one!" He points at Bulma who is still seated at the fountain's edge reading her book.

"The inventor's daughter?"

"She's the one! The lucky girl I'm going to marry"

"But she's…"

"The most beautiful girl in town"

"I know…"

"And that makes her the best. And don't I deserve the best?" He demands of Krillin as he holds him off the ground by the front of his shirt. "Right from the moment when I saw her I knew I must have her. In town there is only she, who is as beautiful as me. So I'm making plans to woo and marry Bulma"

To the side of Yumcha and Krillin a group of pretty girls are gather round a water pump admiring Yumcha. One sighs.

"Isn't he dreamy?"

"Yumcha is so cute"

"Be still my heart, I'm hardly breathing" One says while she clutches her hand to her breast looking like she's about to faint.

All three of them chime together as they watch Yumcha stride over towards Bulma.

"He's such a tall, dark, strong and handsome brute"

Yumcha calls back over his shoulder to Krillin.

"Just watch. I'm going to make Bulma my wife"

Bulma is no more than a few chapters into her book when a shadow looms over her. She glances up to find Yumcha staring down at her.

"Hello Bulma"

"Oh. Hello Yumcha" There is an obvious tone of annoyance in voice. Yumcha pulls the book from Bulma so she is not distracted from his rugged good looks. She glares up at him. "Give that back!"

Yumcha turns the book around in his hands and screws his face up. "How can you read this? There are no pictures!"

"Some people use their imaginations." She hisses as she snatches the book back furiously.

"Bulma, you really should get your head out of those books and away from those inventions of yours" She looks up at him startled by his words. He doesn't seem to notice as he continues raving. "It's about time you started paying attention to more important things…like me." He smirks down at her, before becoming serious again. "The whole towns talking about it. It's not right for a woman to read and invent, soon she starts getting ideas and… thinking." He trails off with a worried look on his face.

Bulma smirks up at him. "Yumcha you are positively primeval"

He drapes his arm around her shoulders and grins while laughing. "Why thank you Bulma." A look of disbelief at his stupidity crosses her face before he continues. "Hey, whaddya say you and me take a walk over to the tavern and take a look at my hunting trophies."

"Maybe some other time" Bulma remarks somewhat disgusted by his actions as she removes his arm from about her shoulders. "Besides," she continues smirking, "I have to get back and help my father"

Yumcha laughs heartily "That crazy old man needs all the help he can get." Krillin, who has meanwhile caught up with Bulma and Yumcha, joins in the laughter.

Bulma, who was headed in the direction of her house, spins around furiously to confront Yumcha. "My father's not crazy! He's a genius!" A loud explosion erupts from the small building Dr.Briefs and daughter Bulma call home. Yumcha and Krillin proceed to laugh harder while Bulma runs off to see if her father is ok.

She runs up the dirt path leading to their house and makes her way over to the doors to the basement, which serves as her father's lab. She hurriedly yanks open the door and rushes in. "Dad!" She smiles when she sees he is all right. He walks over to her with black soot all over his face.

"I swear Bulma I'm just about to give up on this hunk of junk"

"You always say that"

"Oh I mean it this time. I'll never get this silly machine to work"

Bulma smiles warmly at him and embraces him. "Yes you will and you'll make millions off it selling it to those silly investors at the convention tomorrow. And…become a world famous inventor."

"You really believe that Bulma?"

"I always have" She cocks her head to the side and smirks "Isn't that what's been keeping you inventing all of these years?" He laughs at that.

"Well what are we waiting for! I'll have this thing fixed in no time!" He grabs a spanner from a pile of tools and sets to work on the machine. "So, did you have a good time in town today?"

Bulma smiles weakly before answering "I got a new book." She sighs heavily "I'm not sure I fit in here. There's no one I can really talk to"

"What about that Yumcha? He's a handsome fellow!"

She looks disgusted "He's handsome all right, and rude and conceited and… oh dad, he's not for me!"

"Don't worry too much about it Bulma, this inventions going to be the start of a new life for us. Well, I think that just about does it" He steps back from the machine "Now let's see if it works" He pushes a button and it whirr's into action. Bulma hugs her father and the two dance around the lab. "It works!"

"You did it. You really did it!" She yells, her voice full of excitement.

"Hitch up Tien Bulma. I'm off to that convention!"

Dr.Briefs rides off down the path on the back of their Clydesdale horse Tien. He is light brown in colour, with tufts of white hair hanging down over his hooves. His mane and tail are both white and a white strip runs down the front of his snout. Dr.Briefs invention is strapped into the cart being pulled along by Tien. Bulma stands at the door to their house waving at him as Tien clops down the path with her father on his back.

"Bye dad! Show those investors what the Briefs family has to offer!"

Dr.Briefs turns in the saddle to wave good bye to Bulma.

"Good bye Bulma, take care while I'm gone!" He then turns his attention back to the road as they slowly ride out of the village till it is lost from the horizon behind them. They soon find themselves in the midst of a forest and at a fork in the road.

"Hmmmmmmm. We should be there by now. Maybe we missed a turn" Dr.Briefs glances down at the map in his hands "I guess I should have taken a turn at…wait a minute"

An unreadable signpost looms in front of them. He holds his lantern up to the sign to try and illuminate the writing and make it easier to read

"Lets go this way" He gives a tug on the reigns in the direction he thinks it would be best to go. Tien looks in the direction indicated by the tug on his reigns at a dark and overgrown path. He then looks left down a light and far more inviting path. He tuns and begins to walk down the path to the left. Dr.Briefs gives another sharp tug on the reigns and steers Tien to the right.

"Don't be silly Tien, this is a short cut. We'll be there in no time"

Tien reluctantly begins to clomp down the dark path. A thin mist rises up from the ground and swirls about the bases of the trees and is shifted about by Tien's hooves. Tien grows more and more nervous as they continue deeper into the gloom. Soon the gentle howl of wolves can be heard in the distance only causing Tien to become more jumpy. Dr.Briefs looks up from his map and then around him at the desolate forest.

"This can't be right. Where have you taken us Tien? We'd better turn around and…" He is cut short by a very loud howl. Tien freaks and backs up. The cart carrying the invention collides with a tree behind them and a swarm of bats flies out from a hole in the rotten trunk. As the bats flurry about Tien he panics further, him not being a great fan of wolves howling and bats flying about his head. He blots off into the depth of the forest managing to avoid everything in his way till he finds himself at the edge of a cliff.

"Back up! Back up! Back up! Good boy, good boy. That's good" Tien paws madly at the edge of the cliff desperately trying to get his front hooves back onto solid ground. He manages to back up successfully from the cliff edge. As several more wolf howls ring through the sky Tien begins to really freak out and starts bucking.

"Steady. Steady! Hey now. Steady!" Tien finally bucks Dr.Briefs off and he falls to the ground amongst a pile of fallen autumn leaves. He looks up to see Tien galloping at full pace off in the direction they had come.

"Tien?" He calls out in a weak voice "Tien!" This time a bit louder. Suddenly the sound of wolves growling can be heard. He looks in the direction its coming from and the colour drains from his face. "Oh no!" He scrambles to his feat as quickly as possible and begins to run from the wolves. The pack of bloodthirsty beasts is soon hot on his heels. He struggles up a small hill and pulls himself over a fallen log, only to trip and roll head over heels down a steep slope. He crashes into a huge iron gate of a dark ominous castle. The goulish appearance of the castle does not even cross his mind at this point as thunder claps and rain begins to fall from the dark night sky in torrents. He quickly gets to his feet and grasps the iron gate with both hands and begins to shake it violently. It clangs loudly as he rattles them with all the strength he has left.

"Help! Is someone there?"

The gate opens and Dr.Briefs stumbles through the opening. He slams the gate in the face of the wolves and they crash into it snarling and gnashing teeth together. He backs away from the wolves still clawing at the gate and heads towards the castle as the rain begin to get heavier. He reaches the end of the long stone path leading to the castles main entrance. He finds himself in front of a huge oak door with massive iron hinges and handles. He begins to bang loudly on the door when it slowly creeks open. He looks about him and then enters, cautiously. He walks a few paces into the castle and the door silently swings shut.

"Hello?" Ignoring the fact that the door shut on its own and putting it down to a gust of wind he ventures a few steps further into the castle. "Hello?"

A quite voice, barely even a whisper, floats out from the near by shadows.

"Poor old fellow must have lost his way in the woods"

"Be quiet! Maybe he'll go away" A second voice as quiet as the first but more gruff hisses.

"Is someone there?" Dr.Briefs calls out with uncertainty into the vast corridor he is now slowly walking through.

"Not one word Goku! Not one word!" The gruff voice mumbles.

"I don't mean to intrude, but I've lost my horse and I need a place to stay for the night" His voice is shaky due to the fact that he is shivering from the cold set on by his wet clothes. He rubs his arms as he glances about him.

Still hidden by the shadows Goku looks at the owner of the gruff voice, who is standing next to him, with the expression of a lost puppy. "Oh Piccolo, have a heart"

"Shush! Don't you know the meaning of the words be quiet!" Piccolo hisses while placing a large green hand over Goku's mouth to try and silence him. Goku, not taking too kindly to having a hand over his mouth proceeds to bite down on Piccolos hand. "Owwwwww!" Piccolo growls and promptly takes his hand off Goku's mouth to rub at the bite mark.

"Of course good sir, you're welcome here" Goku bellows, his voice echoing round the corridor.

"Who, who said that?" Dr.Briefs looks around in confusion. Goku steps from the shadows concealing him and taps Dr.Briefs on the shoulder. Dr.Briefs spins around only to step back in shock at what is standing before him. Goku tilts his head to the side in confusion over Dr.Briefs reaction to his appearance. Dr.Briefs runs his eyes over the creature before him. His unruly black hair spikes out at odd angles and cascades to his shoulders, where it is still as unruly as the rest of his hair but less spiky. He is wearing a white tank top and a pair of baggy black pants. The biggest shock factor is the light brown tail that can be seen twitching back and fourth behind him in excitement (basically Goku in SSJ4 form minus the fur, blood shot eyes and wearing different clothes ^_^). Dr.Briefs watches the tail in amazement, unable to take his eyes off it.

"Incredible" His voice is almost a whisper as he looks in wonder at Gokus well-toned form with its animal like appearance heightened by his tail and mane of dark hair.

"Well, now you've done it Goku. Splendid, just great" Piccolo growls while storming from the shadows behind Goku. Piccolo is wearing his usual purple tunic, complete with red sash. He is missing, however, his cloak and hat. His green skin, amazing height and antenna are enough to arouse suspicion let alone the row of red spikes that run from the back of his head right down his back and along the top of a dragon-like tail that drags along the floor behind him. Not to mention the two red horns located on the top of his head. Dr.Briefs gaze shifts from Goku to Piccolo, his jaw almost dropping to the floor.

"You…and you..." He stutters looking from one to the other "What are yu…yu…aah aah aah-chooo!"

"Oh, you're soaked to the bone. Come, warm yourself by the fire" Goku suggests kindly while gripping Dr.Briefs by the shoulders with a grip far too firm to be human.

"Thank you" Dr.Briefs says while smiling at Goku's warms face. He then proceeds to lead Dr.Briefs towards the Den where a huge fire is burning. Piccolo stomps after them with an extremely annoyed look plastered to his face.

"No, no, no, do you know what the master would do if he were to find him here!"

A dark form watches them enter the Den from a landing. It slips off as they move from sight.

"I demand you stop…right…there!" Piccolo bellows as he marches down the three steps into the Den. Goku helps Dr.Briefs into in a large chair in front of the roaring fire. Piccolo slaps a hand across his face "Oh no, not the masters chair. I am NOT seeing this!"

Juunanagou flows into the room with far more grace than anyone Dr.Briefs has ever seen before. He is dressed in the long-sleeved white shirt with black T-shirt on over the top we have come to associate him with. A pair of black pants, black army boots and his red scarf tied around his neck as it always it. You would think him human except for the pair of black demonic wings that sprout from his back between his shoulder blades. And the thin black devil-like tail that waves lazily behind him. (For those who are unfamiliar with what I mean by a devil-like tail, it's a thin tail with a sort of spade, as in the suit from cards, at its end with the point being the end not connected to the tail.) He removes the wet coat Dr.Briefs is wearing and hangs it on a hook in front of the fire to dry.

"Alright! This has gone far enough! I'm in charge here and…" Piccolo is cut short as ChiChi pushes past him. She has long black hair that is held up in a bun with a few strands hanging down at the front on either side of her face. She is dressed in a sleeveless black dress that comes down to just above her knees and has a high neck. Behind her waves a light brown and orange stripped cats tail. Two orange cat ears protrude from the top of her head.

"Quite your complaining Piccolo!" She walks over to the chair Dr.Briefs is seated in carrying a teapot with Gohan in tow. He has scraggly long black hair and is wearing an outfit similar to Piccolo's. He has a light brown tail swinging behind him "How would you like a nice spot of tea sir? It'll warm you up in no time." ChiChi says, smiling warmly at Dr.Briefs. She pours the tea into a cup, which Gohan is holding. He then carries it carefully over to Dr.Briefs and hands it to him while grinning from ear to ear.

"Why thank you," he says smiling as he accepts the cup of tea from Gohan and takes a sip of it.

The door to the Den suddenly slams open and a strong gust of wind blows into the room, extinguishing the fire in the fireplace. Piccolo jumps to the side to avoid being squashed between the door and the wall. Juunanagou seeks the cover of the shadows cast by a bookshelf. ChiChi clings to Goku and begins to shake. Gohan takes refuge behind his mother and father, peeking out from behind them. Vegeta storms into the Den. He stands at the foot of the small flight of stairs and rears to his full height, which isn't much. His form however makes up completely for the lack of scare factor in his height. His dark hair flares up like a frozen flame. From the main flame, unruly hair flows down to his shoulders. His bare upper torso is covered with red fur, all except the very middle, which still shows human flesh. He is wearing tight blue pants white boots and a pair of white gloves. Behind him his dark brown tail swishes back and fourth, clearly expressing his anger. His eyebrows are drawn down in a frown and his mouth is a thin line expressing the same anger as his cold black eyes and swishing tail. (Basically Vegeta in SSJ4 form except with different clothes, those being his usual uniform minus the top half of it but still wearing the gloves) Even without rearing to an impressive height his mere presence is enough to send chills down the spines of everyone present.

"There's a stranger here" Vegeta growls while he glances about the dark room.

Goku steps forward "Master, allow me to explain. He was lost in the woods and he was cold and wet…" He is cut short by a loud growl issued from Vegeta. Goku hangs his head in defeat.

"Master, I'd like to take this moment to say…I was against this from the start. I tried to stop them, but they wouldn't listen to me…" Piccolo is drowned out by a low growl from Vegeta. Dr.Briefs turns in the chair to look at Vegeta. His mouth opens in shock at the sight of the beast before him.

"Who are you?! What are you doing here?!" Vegeta demands of the shaking Dr.Briefs. Dr.Briefs scrambles from the seat and begins backing away from the beast, trembling with fear.

"I was lost in the woods and…" He stares at Vegeta, unable to tare his eye from his monstrous form.

"What are you starring at!?!" Vegeta roughly demands while Dr.Briefs cowers before him.

"Noth-noth-nothing" He stammers and turns to leave. Vegeta sweeps round Dr.Briefs with amazing speed to block his retreat.

"So, you've come to stare at the beast have you!?!" The anger flares up in his eyes and his tail lashes back and fourth to show his apparent temperament. A soft glow begins to surround him as his ki begins to rise.

"Please, I meant you no harm! I just needed a place to stay." Dr.Briefs falls to his knees pleading.

"I'll give you a place to stay!" Vegeta hauls Dr.Briefs up by the collar of his shirt and drags him out of the room, up numerous flights of stairs and down several winding corridors till they reach the top of the tallest tower. There are several cells lining the walls, each with a huge iron door with only a small barred window to allow food to be passed through the door. He opens one and throws in Dr.Briefs who has the wind knocked from him as he slams against the far wall of the small cell. The sound of Vegeta's fading footsteps can be heard descending a flight of stairs and the rain continues to fall outside.

* * *

To be continued…