Chapter 5: The Challenge
By TaiBulma
Bardock returned to the ship and informed Nappa of the new situation.
"Say what!?" Nappa shouted as he checked his scouter for Phoenix's and Vegeta's power levels. "How could such a weak half-breed do anything against our Prince when he's tripled like that? Her power is almost at human level!"
"She's injured. Of course her level is low. She's probably as strong as him. with the training they've been doing since he left." Bardock said as he shrugged, bored with Nappa and his stupidity. "Any ways he'll come with us if he loses or might come with us if he wins.. only bringing her along."
"He has no choice to come with us! This is a waist of time!" Nappa barked out at him angrily. "Besides, how does he expect to bring a half-breed to Vegetasei? It's unheard of!"
"What do you intend to do about it? He's clearly far more powerful than you or any army we can get and so is she. Now just calm down, it's only a day of delay. It's not like they can take forever to fight you know. Now go explore the place or something to calm yourself before you blow up our only means to get home!" Bardock ordered and left the control room to go to his.
The two fighters were more than eager to start their battle already both were up well before sunrise. Stretching and flexing taunt muscles for the days festivities. If you could call it that...to begin. Kakkarot was up about an hour and a half later fixing and preparing breakfast. The two fighters decided to stay well away from each other until it was time for their big battle. They came inside both silently eating when the food was ready, both all to ready to begin their battle for supremacy. Only one would be left to stand at the end of this great and glorious battle. These two fighters burned inwardly with the desire for battle. And the moment the sun showed even a sparkling hint in the sky they were both up and headed out.
The battlefield to be, was the charred area of barren wasteland that Phoenix had so adequately desolated. Yes it seemed fit that this desolate piece of wasteland was to be the battleground for determining what shall become of their lives. Who will live and who will walk away victor? All this was about to be determined.
Bardock was to be the referee seeing as how he was the only one who Phoenix didn't exactly hate with a passion. Thus he walked out onto the battlefield knowing that they would both be there early ready and eagerly awaiting the staunch battle to begin. Bardock walked to the middle of the blackened arena and raised his hands to opposing fighters then spoke.
"This fight shall be one to determine who shall and who shall not?! The winner walking away with his pride the self-knowing that they are the most superior and undoubtedly the best. Along with whatever of resolve the two have come to. As Kakkarot had previously informed. There shall be no complete slaughtering. No one is to die. But...", pauses.
Kakkarot's head jerks in his fathers direction with a questioning glare.
"But you'd be surprised what you could live through. There fore you can cut, mangle, brutalize and beat to your bloody little hearts content. Just leave a small breath of life in your opponent.", smiles with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Now that I like the sound of!", Phoenix smirked wickedly.
"Fine by me!", Vegeta smirked back devilishly.
"Then let the fight....BEGIN!!!!!!!!", he shouted.
The first bout of the match wasn't so much for trying to hurt the other one brutally but more so warm up and gage their skill and power.
"Man look at em go.", Radditz said.
"Heh! That's my niece!", Tales smirked proudly.
"They're not even trying right now....They're merely playing with each other.", Bardock stated.
"How can you tell it looks serious enough to me?", Nappa stated.
"I assure you what my father says is true. My young Fino has not even begun to unleash even a fraction of her power.", Kakkarot stated.
"Then this should be really interesting.", Nappa smirked.
"Hmph. Indeed. If they don't kill each other first.", Bardock stated.
"hmm.", was Kakkarot's only reply.
Out in the battlefield...it was just clashes of light and roars of thunder as the two warriors duked it out in heavens above before coming to an abrupt halt.
"Alright young onna. I've warmed up enough. No more games. Time for the real battle to begin.", Vegeta stated.
"Very well...And don't call me onna. My name is PHOENIX! Learn it, remember it, use it.", she stated.
"I'll call you whatever I like. Especially once I have won this battle.", he smirked.
"Hah. If you keep dreaming you'll never beat me sleeping.", she smirked.
"Then how about we both get on with it and see just who emerges victorious from their dreams.", he smiled slyly.
"Let's go motor-mouth.", she stated and flew at him with ramming precision.
He was prepared for her...or so he thought. She immediately faded in behind him which he half expected. But what he didn't expect was for a return pummel from her to his front. Which she executed skillfully. With another quick fade in, in front of him.
"This is to easy. I'd thought for sure you'd put up more of a challenge what with your precious title being on the line young prince.", she stated mockingly.
"Grr. Woman I shall make you pay for your insolence.", he growled.
"then make me pay.", she smiled.
Then it began once again. It was almost like a vicious dance between the two of them. Whenever one would land a solid punch the other would quickly recover returning the blow tenfold. All the while their power slowly yet steadily rising with each move.
"Bardock I don't think my scouter is working.", Nappa stated.
"Why?", Bardock asked tho he knew why he asked.
"Cause the readings on here keep going on and they don't appear to be stopping on either of them. I could understand the prince but that pathetic little...", is cut off.
"Watch it Nappa...She may be half breed but she's still my granddaughter!", Bardock stated with a little more emotion than he intended.
"Heh. Well Bardock this is a side of you I don't get to see so often. Of course you being such a low ranking officer as far as the fighting goes. I can understand why you drip with emotion from time to time.", he stated.
"Yes. Perhaps you're right. Or perhaps your mind just lacks the comprehension to accumulate such knowledge and transverse it to a more reasonable form other than the neanderthalean way that you have become accustomed to.", he stated.
"Wh.. Ahh... I don't know what you just said but if you insulted me I'm gonna make you pay.", he stated angrily.
"Now Nappa. Why would I want to insult such a man of your gigantic proportions into alleviating his pain by performing vagrant actions to my bodily personage?", he smiled slightly.
"SHUT UP AND STOP TALKING UNLESS IT'S IN SAIYANESE!!!", he growled.
"As you wish.", he smiled and turned back to the fight.
Radditz and Tales were listening at the exchange and thoroughly enjoyed their fathers mocking of the large man. Of course they kept this to themselves as they watched the battle unfold before them.
They had flown directly at each other, power shields flaring around them. Each trying to over power the other. But failing. When they tried to force their power onto the other all that ended up happening was their own power shields blowing each of them back causing them to spin for a moment in the air. Before catching themselves and landing firmly on the ground causing massive ripples of the earth beneath their feet to sail out past them to the onlookers before dying down.
"So the prince has a little fight in him does he.", she smiled.
"I have much more than that impudent brat!", he stated trying to anger her.
"DON'T CALL ME A BRAT YOU SAIYAN PIG!!!", she growled angrily.
Vegeta was gonna get mad at her for the insult but instead he started laughing in her face.
Which only served to infuriate her more.
She growled dangerously and before he realized what had happened she landed a solid punch in his jaw.
He stammered back then smirked at her.
"What was that a love tap?", he grinned.
"GAH!!! UH!!! I HATE YOU!!!", she screamed and powered up more for one of her special attacks.
A wave of her hands projected several small orbs of energy before her.
Vegeta was about to redirect her attack when he saw how small they were. How she planned to hurt him with such small amounts of energy was beyond him. He just watched for a moment keeping a slight guard up.
She lowered her head for a moment and closed her eyes he couldn't make out what she was saying but her mouth was definitely moving. When she raised her head back up her eyes looked as tho they glowed a bit. She smiled a sinister look at him then dropped her right hand and raised her head staring directly at him. The orbs quickly turned into daggers of energy that shot out at their target with incredible lightening speed. He was stunned at first and quickly raised an energy shield but not fast enough to stop all of her energy attacks from hitting him. He got two good scrapes on his left arm and leg.
She smiled with an almost feral glint in her eyes. He frowned and quickly realized that regardless to what he had planned at this point at this moment she was truly his enemy perhaps not mortal enemy but an enemy none the less and she would do whatever it took to defeat him. Therefore he knew he would have to do everything he had to do to defeat her if he wanted her for his prize among other things.
"Impressive.", he smiled wiping a small trickle of blood from his leg and arm.
"Now it gets interesting.", she smiled having drawn first blood as she had done with their very first battle before.
Now...now she wanted to taste her enemies blood as he licked the bottom of her boot and tasted the dusts.
They both powered up to their maximum.
"It looks like their about to really go at it now.", Tales stated.
"Yeah. And from the looks on their faces. I don't think neither one of them is going to back down unless their almost dead.", Radditz stated.
"Man Prince Vegeta is in for it.", Tales stated.
"Heh yeah Fino about as abusive in the fighting arena as the prince.", Radditz stated.
"Yeah they'd make good mates.", Tales teased.
"I wouldn't say that to loud if I were you.", Radditz stated.
"Maybe but I bet the prince already has his eyes set on her.", Tales stated.
"Yeah right. Only to use as a beat down toy.", he stated.
"No I think it's more than that.", Tales stated.
"That's always been your problem little brother.", Radditz stated.
"Nani?(What?)", he questioned.
"You think to much.", he smirked and laughed a little at him.
"Har har har. Very funny coming from a porcupine.", he spat back.
"Watch it or...", is cut off.
"KNOCK IT OFF YOU TWO!! I'm trying to watch the fight and your incessant jabbering is distracting me.", Bardock frowned.
"Fine.", they both grumbled and continued watching the fight before another idea struck their head.
"Hey Radditz?", he whispered.
"What?", he said lowly.
"How about a little wager on the fight?", Tales asked.
"Sure...but I get to pick first.", he said.
"Fine.", he frowned.
"My money's on the prince.", Radditz stated.
"Perfect cause I was gonna put money on Fino.", he said.
"Hahaha. ::gets a sideways look from his father and pipes down a bit:: Heh. This is gonna be the easiest bet I've ever made.", he smiled.
"Yeah we'll see.", he said.
They both then paid close attention to the fight.
Fino had somehow managed a strangle hold on Vegeta. She formed small energy cuffs around his arms and legs. They were strong enough to hold him but only for a few seconds so she had to hurry and get it right.
"Time to have some fun.", she smiled. And wrapped her legs around Vegeta holding his body close to hers. This closeness in proximity was enough of a distraction for her to get in a good pile-driver move. Up in the air they both went and down at blinding speed they both came. By the time Vegeta came to the realization of the fact his head was about to take a nose dive literally into the dirt it was to late. ::he growled angrily at himself for letting himself become distracted so easily::
It won't happen again., he growled breaking her ki energy cuffs around his arms and legs.
She jumped back with a satisfied smirk on her face especially since she still didn't have a drop of her own blood on her. Just a lot of sweat.
"You know I was a bit ticked that I had to do this but now...::grins:: now I'm glad...This is the most fun I've had beating up on a guy since well.. since never. All these earth weaklings are no fun. And well dad...can't very well kill him now can I. Tho the thought has crossed my mind from time to time.", she frowned slightly before returning her attention back to the fight at hand.
"Well now that you've had your little fun I think it's time you tasted a bit of your own blood.", he grinned and powered up a massive wave of ki energy.
"FATAL BLAST ATTACK!!!", he yelled out sending a what look like shockwave of light ki energy hurtling rapidly towards her. It was to big for her to move out of the way in time so she did the only thing she could think of and that was to send out her own attack to counter it.
"DEVILS BANG ATTACK!!!!", she yelled out sending a red sphere of energy hurtling back towards the blast Vegeta sent towards her. Unfortunately by the time her blast actually collided with his blast had made it over halfway to her and tho they both got knocked back she took the brunt of the blast flying back until she finally landed on the ground and skidded a few more feet against the already charred and blackened earth.
Well that did it. She was madder than a hornets nest. (::grins::) She jumped up on woozy legs blood trickled from her scraped legs and arm. She looked down at herself and then back up at him angrily. She raised her ki energy enough to heal herself a bit faster. Then she plowed into him like a mad bull. Vegeta was sure that blast would have kept her down longer but it instead only seemed to intensify her need to defeat him.
Inwardly he smiled at the challenge while outwardly he remained a hardened vigil of a warrior. Again they were locked in an ever going battle. Fist flying and ramming against one another knees and legs twisting and maneuvering in ways only a skilled warrior could perfect. And after they tired of that they began their ki assaults upon one another yet again.
"SOLAR FLARE!!!", she screamed out causing Vegeta to go blind for a moment.
"DARK PHOENIX LIGHTENING ATTACK!!!", she yelled out while he was blinded sending a dangerous attack his way. It took on the form of a giant blue and orange lightening bird that moved straight towards its victim with such precision and speed that had you have blinked you would have missed it for certain.
Vegeta could sense the energy wave coming his way but he hadn't the speed to outrun it at least not being blind. So he did the only thing he could. He raised his ki energy shield around him but not fast enough to stop all of the blast. He was knocked back several hundred yards. And to make matters worse Fino was incoming. She flew at him so fast they weren't sure at first what happened. But when they saw Vegeta getting pummeled on the ground like that they realized what was happening.
"I would like my money in small unmarked bills.", Tales teased.
"The fight isn't over yet until the Prince gives up and that will never happen!", Radditz growled.
"We shall see.", he smiled.
Kakkarot stares back in awe and shock at the whole seen.
"Gah...man...Vegeta...what are you thinking? I know you're a better fighter than this.", frowns clenching his hands into tight fists.
You can't let her win...You just can't....If you don't stop her now...Kami....
"VEGETA GET UP AND STOP PLAYING AROUND WITH HER!!! I'VE SEEN YOU FIGHT!! HECK I EVEN USED TO BE YOUR SPARRING PARTNER AT ONE POINT!!! I KNOW YOU'RE BETTER THAN THIS!!! AND SO IS SHE!! SO IF YOU REALLY WANNA PROVE WHO THE STRONGEST IS STOP PLAYING GAMES AND GET UP AND FIGHT!!!", he yelled out the anger evident in his voice.
He said this mostly hoping to cause a stir of emotion in Vegeta's pride enough to get him to fight back.
Well apparently it was enough because the next thing that everyone knew Vegeta had somehow reversed the situation. He increased his energy field enough to blow her off him, then quickly subdue her and have her pinned underneath him.
"YOU FOOL!! GET THE HELL OFF ME NOW!!!", she fumed.
"Now now...you seemed to be having so much fun before I thought you would enjoy it if the tables were turned for a little while.", he smiled.
"HAH! IN YOUR DREAMS!!!", she growled and sent a ki blast from her body some how to his blasting him back off her.
"Nice little trick! Don't expect it to save you again!", he stated.
"HMPH! I'd have had you if my father hadn't interfered!", she growled angrily.
"Foolish girl! you should be thankful he did. What type of Saiyan wants a pitiful defeat! Kakkarot was correct I should not have been playing with you...For a moment once again I had forgotten you were my enemy"...He moved closer and she in-turn moved closer their arms and hands up ready to pummel the other into oblivion.
"You appeared to me as nothing more than an exotic Saiyaness with the power of a queen at your fingertips.", he said the other part just loud enough for her to hear but low enough for none others.
This of course took her into shock for a moment but only a moment.
"SHUT UP!! KEEP YOUR PATHETIC ATTEMPTS AT BRIBERY TO YOURSELF!!", she fumed and began punching furiously at him once again.
He blocked all and gave as good as he got.
The time was quickly drawing to a close...and he had no intentions of letting this fight take place any longer than a day. After all...he had a father's wishes to blatantly crush. And to do that he would have to defeat her as quickly as possible so he could hurry and get off of this worthless rock pile.
They continued this taundry onslaught of punches and kicks for what seemed like hours before Phoenix finally tired of it and decided to blast him to kingdom come.
She flew back, growled, raised her arms up to the heavens then brought them down quickly in front of her.
Vegeta saw that she was preparing for another quick attack and this time he wasted no time in creating his own attack. He pulled his arms back from his body summoning up a massive array of ki energy. Then he quickly thrust them forward in front of him while clasping his hands together in the shape of a gun aimed directly at her.
She had learned from her last mistake this time she had already had two attacks in mind one right behind the other the first attack would slow his attack on her just long enough for her to complete the second phase and blast him once again.
"FIIIIIREEEE BIRDOOOOOOOOOO SLAAAASHHH ATTACKK!!!!", she yelled out and a massage energy wave as before except the coloring was a reddish orange color, it came flying straight at him like a bird as before, its head flying straight as an arrow.
"SUPERRRRRR GALVANIZEEEED GUNNNNNNN DEMOLITION ATTACK!!!!!", he yelled out.
The beam came erupting from his fingertips so massive and so quickly she almost froze in her attack but quickly continued and just in time too.
"DARRRRRRKKKKK JURANAIIIIIIII DEMONNNNN ANNIHILATION!!!!!", she yelled out.
Her entire body had become enveloped in a unified dark blood red aura of energy. Out from her body came several orbs of red surrounded by a golden hue. The orbs then stretched themselves out as before, as they quickly flew at him surrounding him on all sides. Then quickly she closed her arms and the sword like orbs came closing in on him so quickly he had no time to react. He took his eyes off of his own blast. It struck her right as she finished her blast. And she was blown back several hundred yards. But Vegeta was by far much worse off. The explosion that engulfed him when those blades all sphered into his body was enormous. And to make matters worse it was like they were on some type of second trigger because even after they all blew up a dark aura encased him trying to completely crush the life from him. He had just enough energy to send an outward blast to stop it but then he collapsed to the ground for a moment as his body registered all of the pain.
From far away she lay there smiling as she felt his ki energy dropping slowly.
"I.. hehe....I did it...baka...foolish male.....I am the greatest warrior alive...None can defeat me.", she smiled pulling herself up slowly from the ground. She had hurt her leg and side badly and despite the limp everyone knew she had, she did her best to hold in the pain and walk upright and proudly over to her fallen victim.
The pride she felt over this battle was unlike any other battle she had ever faced. All of her past opponents were of no match to her. But finally she had met one who came close to rivaling her own strength and defeated him. The pleasure and thrill of the battle afterwards was great within her. She continued to walk smiling defiantly all the while at the body that she could see getting closer and closer to her.
No...Vegeta...you...you lost....how could you have lost....you of all people...That's it....I've lost my daughter for ever...Now...I have nothing left of my mate...for my own daughter has been turned against me and I can never get her back now..., he sighed sadly.
And had he not have been Saiyan he would have let the tears that threatened to fall leave his eyes...but his pride held him together as he turned and walked off.
"That's twice now I've lost you my mate...my love.", he said and continued walking headed back to the house.
Those standing closest to him heard his words and said nothing.
Vegeta however....he had always shared a special friendship...all be it strange and somewhat twisted at times but a friendship none the less. And that moment was the moment he chose to hear his friends if he would say such a thing...hear his silent inner cries that he being a prince was afforded to do and had the ability to do. And what he heard angered him in some ways and hurt in others. Kakkarot had more faith in him than possibly he even had.
I will not let this female beat me!, his mental thoughts shouted out to Kakkarot who stopped in his tracks and turned around slowly.
"Vegeta...", he said lowly and just watched.
He tried to get up but every muscle and bone in his body ached from the pain.
He laid there a little longer willing the pain away in his mind to continue his torturous battle.
But there now not more than 4 feet from him and closing was Phoenix. Closer she came and closer still, till she had him where she wanted him...flat on his back licking the dust.
She stepped across his body straddling him one hand planted firmly against his chest while the other raised back to power up a blast to finish him off.
Vegeta stared at this creature before him...beautiful as she was dangerous....the perfect combination in a mate....but while he stared at her he looked into her eyes and let his mind reach out to touch hers as best he could. It being quite well guarded. And as he stared into those green embers of burning flames...he could feel her pain inside. It was great...to great for anyone to bear such...he just continued to stare and his expression softened a bit towards her. It being the two of them there, her there where she was and he where he was, he let a smile for her play across his lips every so slightly. The look in his eyes caused her to hesitate a moment longer than she should have...He knew he had to save her from herself...not just for her sake but for Kakkarot's as well...He had heard how the bond between Saiyan mates could be so strong it drove the other to near insanity to the point where they wanted to kill themselves. And obviously the only thing that held Kakkarot together all these years was his offspring. If she was what he needed to have a reason to stay in this world it was the least he could do for him. But he would never tell another living soul such a thing.
In her moment of hesitation Vegeta shot his hand forward into her chest blasting her back off of him. The blast was not strong enough to kill her but it was enough to severely hurt her. She tried to get up but her whole body felt as tho it were on fire. She tried to push herself through the pain. She growled and climbed slowly to her feet. But not before Vegeta rammed her back into the ground. Just hard enough to make her unconscious. And there she lay unmoving.
"Pay up little brother.", Radditz smirked.
"For that it was worth it.", Tales said shocked.
Vegeta...thank you my friend., he thought out mentally to him.
He just nodded his head slowly right before passing out as his body told him it was nappy time.
"Well that's that...The prince won and now we can get off of this blasted rock pile!", Nappa stated.
"Yes but don't forget Kakkarot is to come as well.", he said.
"Of course. Can't very well take the brat and leave her father behind. After all...I'm sure the king will want to deal with him personally for his actions.", Nappa stated.
"Perhaps.", Bardock stated and walked over to them. He picked them both up and headed back to the ship with them.
"KAKKAROT!! GET YOUR THINGS WE'RE LEAVING!!", his father shouted at him.
For a second Kakkarot almost felt as tho he were two years old again....But shook it off and ran and quickly gathered up as many of his things as he could including his daughters things and headed back out to the ship with them loading their things up.
"Good to have you back little brother.", Radditz stated.
"Yeah real good.", Tales smirked.
"Yeah I'll bet.", he stated and continued loading their belongings.
"If you guys want me to have time to fix something to eat before we leave you'd better help me get this stuff loaded and without breakage otherwise no food at all but this ships stuff.", he stated.
They grumbled and did as he asked but only cause they preferred the taste of their brothers food now that he'd actually learned how to cook.
The next morning at the crack of dawn everyone was up and preparing to board the ship and leave.
"Father I have to make a stop first before we go.", he said.
"BOY! it's getting late!", his father stated.
"I'll be back shortly just keep the motor running!", he stated with a slight frown and walked out then flew off quickly through the woods.
Exactly 5 minutes later (him flying so fast took less time to get where he was going), he landed in a small clearing.
"Thundar....Thundar!", he called a little louder.
Thundar growled a bit at having to get up so early. He trotted out to see what Kakkarot wanted.
"Yes boy what is it?", he frowned slightly.
"I just came to say goodbye.", he said.
"What...what do you mean? Where are you going?", he stated.
"Back to my home planet...and I'm taking Phoenix with me.", he stated.
"No you can't! She's all I have left to remember my daughter by.", he stated.
"I'm sorry but we have to go...If I don't take her now I may never get her back.....After all the lies she's been told about me....it's a wonder she hasn't even killed me...And I have to do something to get her back.", he stated with a frown.
"What are you talking about?...What lies what's wrong?", he questioned.
"I guess she didn't mention it to you did she...No sense it drudging it up then. Enough wedges have been placed in this pack...I won't place another.", he said.
"Just...tell the others....We will return one day...and who knows...when we do...she may even be mated herself.", he smiled.
"Kakkarot...I'm not totally sure what you mean by all this...but I do understand the fact that you need to take her and get away from here for a while...Therefore I will not give you any argument but this...if you don't come back to see us one day soon....I will hunt you down and make you pay.", he chuckled lightly.
"Hehe. Don't worry I wouldn't want that. We'll be back. But I'm telling you now...we're going to be gone for at least a year. maybe two.. I'm not sure yet. But I just thought you should know. And if we come back before that time then chances are there was a very volatile and good reason why.", he stated.
"Understood. Now go...and you take care of my granddaughter...I want to see her again.", he said.
"I will. Goodbye and thank you Thundar.", he stated.
"For what?", he questioned.
"For treating me as one of your pack despite how things may have gone.", he said.
He nodded his head then Kakkarot hugged him and quickly turned and flew off.
"Good bye...son.", he said after he was out of ear shot.
He then turned and trotted back inside to rest.