Thanks for the review Maia; this chapter's for you! winks
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Chapter 3: The Prince's Retreat
Bulma smiled pleasantly around at the newest group of guests. "Well, if you all will come with me, I can show you to some rooms."
Acel gasped a little and shook her head. "Oh no Bulma. Midnyte is in fine condition, and we're well on the way to repairing Starchaser anyway. We'll sleep on the ships from now on."
Bulma rolled her eyes. "Don't be silly, it's no trouble. We have plenty of guest rooms here, plus it's close enough to your ships for convenience and we have the materials you may need to repair them. That's why Chichi and I decided you and Annika should stay here in the first place, Acel."
Acel started to protest, but then she caught a glimpse of the firm expression on Bulma's face and sighed. "Well, all right then Bulma, we'll stay…but just until we get the ships fixed."
Just then, a harsh, angry voice cut in from behind the newcomers. "They're not staying here."
Bulma looked at her mate in shock. "Why not, Vegita? I've invited them to be our guests."
"They're traitors," Vegita said bluntly. "And there's nothing worse than a Saiya-jin who has given up their honor to betray their species."
Several voices spoke at once. "We aren't traitors!" Jago called out. "We would never betray our species," Acel seconded, a touch more calmly. "Saiya-jins? Vegita, what are you talking about?" Bulma asked, completely confused.
"They're Saiya-jins, Bulma. But they're dishonorable cowards and I won't let their stench stain this house." Vegita's regality was in full form; his strong posture made him seem taller than he was and his squared shoulders and lifted chin illustrated the unavoidable superiority of the elite. It suddenly seemed that proud brow sported a circlet of ultimate authority, and he somehow gave the impression of being in full royal regalia rather than a simple blue training suit.
It was a shame no one present was inclined to be impressed.
Bulma sighed. "Vegita, I've offered them my hospitality. I won't revoke it now because you have some absurd notion that they're renegade Saiya-jins." Eyeing her mate for a moment, she stepped forward and dropped her voice to a whisper, tenderly laying a hand along his strong jaw. "Vegita…you told me yourself you and Goku were the only Saiya-jins left—all the others died on Vegetasei. How can they be Saiya-jins, love?"
Vegita tensed under her hands and stood firm. "They are, Bulma. Ask them if you choose not to believe me."
Bulma glanced uncertainly at the others, equally unwilling to hurt her mate and to offend her guests. "I…."
Acel sighed and, again taking on her mantle as captain, stepped forward to speak for her people. "We are Saiya-jins, Bulma. He's right in that much. But we're not from Vegetasei…that's why we weren't killed."
The blue-haired woman stared, disbelieving. "But…how? There are Saiya-jins other than those from Vegetasei? But…why didn't Vegita mention you?"
Acel gave a slight, sardonic grin. "I doubt he knew about us. In our dealings, we refer to ourselves as Arelians rather than Saiya-jins, so it's—"
"Areli!" Vegita growled. "That's where you come from! So she and her band of rebels survived…damn. We were sure they were destroyed."
Takarra smirked. "Oh, so you all do still remember, then? It's nice to know we weren't forgotten. Heros such as the Lady Areli should never be forgotten."
"Areli was no hero! She was a rogue, a traitor! Sister to the king, and she abandoned her people to run and hide!"
"She did not hide! She stood for truth and right!" Takarra replied hotly, eyes blazing.
"She was a coward! Had I been king I would have had her tail ripped from her body so that it would reflect the weakness of her soul." Vegita's tone was cutting and cold, his expression of rage ruthlessly genuine.
"She was braver than her brother! A great Vegita, kowtowing to Frieza as though he were worthy! She would have stood against him, but the king was too ridiculously afraid of Frieza's power and blindly awed by his offer." Takarra's tone lost heat rapidly, dropping to a frigidity matching Vegita's, but her scorn remained as vivid as ever.
As most present felt the kis of the pair climb to near combat levels (even Bulma could sense the level of tension), Annika and Jago moved to restrain Takarra while Gohan grabbed Bulma to aid him in soothing Vegita. Jerking away from the touch of his mate and even more strongly resisting the efforts of his rival's son, Vegita glared coldly down his nose at the whole assembly. "As long as they stay in this house, I will not." Gathering his dignity around him like a shroud, the Saiya-jin prince turned sharply on his heel and left…without looking back.
Bulma fought to keep her hands from shaking as she poured herself a cup of coffee. Clutching the comforting warmth like a drowning woman, she sat down on the sofa with great care and, marshalling her nerves, met the concerned eyes of the Saiya-jins around her. Saiya-jins…they're Saiya-jins! Vegita's race isn't dead! I wonder why he can't take pride in that…perhaps they know.
"All right," she began firmly. "I want to hear the whole story."
Acel bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement. "As you wish." Breathing in a deep, steadying breath, the captain obligingly began. "When Frieza first approached the Saiya-jins with his 'offer'—really more a veiled threat—of partnership that was really servitude, our people were divided. Some, the king among them, felt that accepting Frieza's offer was the only acceptable course of action. The king's sister, Lady Areli, led the opposing camp—they felt that no technological advance could be worth condemning our race to eternal servitude. When it became apparent that the king would not be moved or persuaded, Areli resorted to what dire measures she felt necessary—she, and many of her followers with her, left Vegetasei. They were hounded and fired upon when they left, but they managed to survive, find a suitable planet, and settle there. They chose to have Areli rule as queen…and there has been much hatred between the two groups ever since. It was lucky Areli was queen though—she continued to fear and grieve for her brother and her lost people for all of her life, and she taught those same attitudes to her people. Many accepted it." Acel glanced at Takarra's frustrated pacing and sighed. "Some, of course, did not…and many willing to forgive the people would not forgive the royalty. In any case, we knew that whether we cared for our Vegetan brothers or not, we could not, in good conscience, allow them to harm the universe. Hence the continued fighting between the two factions."
As Bulma processed the information, she slowly sipped her coffee and watched Takarra pace. She looked just like Vegita when he was frustrated…how remarkable. They had the same way of pacing like a big cat barely restrained, the same fire glowing in darkened eyes, even the same imperious scowl. Thinking on Takarra, Bulma looked back at Acel, cocking her head with curiosity in her eyes. "Why does she react so much worse to Vegita criticizing Areli than the rest of you?"
Acel glanced over at the redhead and smiled wanly, affection and frustration sharing equal parts in her expressive eyes. "Because Areli was her great grandmother, and her idol. Takarra is our crown princess."
Bulma gave a slight, ironic smile in reply. Suddenly it made sense—the same mannerisms, the same temper, the same pride evident—two branches of the same royal line. Prince and princess. Mirror images…and bitter enemies. Bulma found it hard to imagine anything more sad.
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Okay, rather short chapter, but as I understand it, readers on this site tend to prefer short chapters put up faster over long chapters that come less often so, there you go. Now you know why Arelians and Vegetans don't get along. grins Next chapter: more royal mischief as Veggie-kun and Princess Takarra clash yet again.