King Vegeta scanned the crowd again, pleased and disappointed that he didn't see his wife or daughter. While he knew that declaring her son a traitor would harden Cyrane against him, some part of him wanted them both to see the price of defying him. Hearing about it would do them both good, but long experience had taught the King that visual punishment was the best way to impress a point on someone.
Prince Vegeta shivered at his feet, curled tightly into a ball, and King Vegeta felt his lip curl in disgust. What had ever possessed him to think that this brat could succeed him? Of course, there was a pleasure in that thought, in the realization that this brat would be unable to best him for a long time to come. But no; King Vegeta regretfully shook his head. He had a duty to perform as King to provide a worthy heir. He had been foolish to hope that this child would grow into that role.
"If only Bulma had been a Saiyan," he murmured softly, tilting his head back to peer at the too-blue sky above him. It was the same color as her eyes he realized with a frown, and he dropped his gaze. The brat was no longer shaking. Frowning, King Vegeta nudged him with a foot. "Don't tell me you've died on me. I need you to live until your execution. Even you ought to be strong enough to survive that long."
His son twisted slightly to look up at him. "You call me traitor, Father," he hissed, "but you are the one who has betrayed the Saiyans. You're the one who has lied, cheated and betrayed everything about this Empire. So when you kill me, just remember that you'll get your punishment too!"
"Brat, the reason you'll never make a good King is because you don't realize that the King is the law," King Vegeta growled. "What I say goes."
"You're incapable of understanding what I'm saying," the brat sighed and dropped his head against the ground. "Just get on with it, if you're actually going to kill me."
King Vegeta hesitated a moment, startled by the bravery that the brat was showing. Yes, he hadn't begged during the beating the King had given him on the way home, but that didn't mean anything – Vegeta himself could remember holding his tongue while getting beaten by his father, afraid that screaming or showing weakness would only make it worse. But now, when the brat had everything to lose, why was he silent? King Vegeta shook the doubts off. He needed to get rid of this cub, to make way for the heir he would produce. Maybe it was time to search for a real mate, rather than continue with Cyrane. After her son was declared a traitor, he was sure that he could get away with putting her aside for another.
"Your Highness?" one of the nobles moved next to him. "It looks like almost everyone is here."
King Vegeta nodded. Cyrane and Avia must still be at the Blood-Rock. It was a pity, but he would just have to proceed. It would have been interesting, he mused silently, to see if they would have interfered in the prince's execution. "Let's get started," the King answered the noble.
Prince Vegeta drifted in and out the short speech his father gave, hearing about every third word. Silently, he clung to his determination to die in silent honor, but he was nearly undone when his father announced the method of execution.
"The traitor will be crushed to death," King Vegeta announced, making sure that his voice carried to the edge of the balcony. Prince Vegeta felt himself hyperventilate as he watched his father smile at the buzz of conversation from the audience.
"You couldn't even make it fast, could you?" Vegeta hissed to the cold stones. He had intended for his words to be unheard, but to his dismay, his father bent down to address him with a sneer.
"It's better than traitors deserve," King Vegeta spat. "And I'm going to enjoy putting a half-breed Montessi out of my misery. And when I'm through with you, no one will say anything as I put your mother aside and find a real Queen for my kingdom."
"Bastard," Prince Vegeta groaned. "I wish that I could be here to see you get what you deserve. I wish that I could see your bond-heir smash your face into the ground."
"That will be a long time, brat," King Vegeta snapped as he straightened up, "much longer than you have." With a flourish, King Vegeta powered up, the golden aura flowing around him, turning him into the object of Saiyan worship – The Legendary.
Prince Vegeta fought not to shake or show fear, but this close to his father, he could feel the awesome power of the Legendary. His father put his foot against Vegeta's right leg, sending electrical impulses flaring over his legs. The prince bit down on his lower lip, anticipating the pain to come and fighting to hold in his scream.
The tortured scream caught everyone off guard, even the King. As the ruler of the Saiyans spun to see who had cried out, a ki blast slammed the sovereign of the Saiyans into the far wall. The audience twisted to see who had fired the blast, and more than one cried out at the glowing figure standing in the doorway.
Trunks lowered his still-glowing hands, staring at the scene before him, his throat raw from his terrible scream. Throwing the ki blast at his father had been instinctive; his only thought had been to save his brother. Beside him, Avia whimpered, "Vegeta!" and limped toward her brother's bleeding form. Her movement broke Trunks' freeze, and he followed her, his eyes locked on his brother. Behind them, Cyrane collapsed to the ground, weak with pain and shock.
Prince Vegeta was curled on his right side, his fists over his ears. As Trunks came closer, he heard the hissing whimper that Vegeta was making. His stomach clenched as he realized that Vegeta was screaming in the back of throat, swallowing the noise as much as he could. As Avia dropped next to her brother and began to cradle his head, Trunks forced himself to look at his brother's leg.
Bone, tendon and muscle alike were smashed flat, crushed under the Legendary's bloody boot. Trunks stared, trying to see how it could be fixed but he couldn't even see that it had once been a leg. He wasn't sure that Bardock could fix this, and his vision blurred with tears as he realized that his brother would likely lose his leg.
"Get away from him!" King Vegeta roared, throwing himself out of the rubble from the wall. "I am King and I have named this man traitor!"
"I challenge you for the crown!" Trunks screamed back, fists clenched and tears running down his face. "By right of arms and strength, I declare that I am ruler of the Saiyans!" The traditional words flew from his mouth, flowing as if he were meant to say them. He had practiced them with Osper, but they sounded strangely right now.
King Vegeta paused, clearly startled, but he recovered quickly. "A slave cannot challenge for the crown," King Vegeta said, waving his hand dismissively.
"My mother was a slave," Trunks growled, "but my father is a Saiyan royal. I have been tested by battle to the level of elite, and I claim the crown as mine."
King Vegeta frowned, staring at the boy. He flashed back on the memory of the day that he had gone to bring Bulma back to the palace. He remembered hovering over her and Bardock as she told her master that she was with child. On that day, he had heard her say that the father was a human, and he had left, heartbroken that she had so easily gotten over him. But if that had been a lie to Bardock, and this boy's mother was Bulma and his father was a Saiyan noble, then Bulma had betrayed him with another Saiyan.
Rage filled the King as he realized that his woman had been unfaithful with a Noble. A slave of her race he could tolerate, but this was inexcusable. "That… whore!" he ground out, clenching his fists as his heart broke again. His rage crystallized until he thought he would shatter from the heat, and he had to act. There was one viable target, not the focus of his anger but close enough. He threw himself forward at Trunks, but the boy moved faster than the King had thought he could. "The human was bad enough, but another Saiyan!" Vegeta choked. "Who is your father, brat? Who did she spread her legs to?"
"You're a blind idiot!" Trunks screamed, throwing a rage-driven punch at his father. The King dodged it easily, but he couldn't dodge Trunks' words. "She never loved anyone other than you!"
King Vegeta froze blinking at the lad, seeing him in a new light. Yes, he had Bulma's eyes, but the boy's face was familiar, especially twisted with anger. But the ridiculous hair, the lack of a tail – how could this be his child? Had he misunderstood the situation so badly? Had he been so sure that she couldn't be carrying his child that he had ignored all the clues?
There was, he realized, one proof.
"So you claim the crown and that you're the bond-heir? Do you really think I'm that dumb?" Vegeta goaded the boy, seeing building anger flash through his blue eyes. "Saiyans can't breed with humans."
"Fine," Trunks growled, "then I'll prove my heritage to you." He turned slightly to his side. "Avia, can you get the Prince out of here?"
King Vegeta scowled, irritated that the lad hadn't taken the bait. What could he do to anger the brat, to completely enrage him? His eyes fell on Avia as she answered Trunks.
"Gladly," Avia said, carefully gathering her still-whimpering brother up in her arms. With her wounds, it was an effort, but she managed, carefully balancing him as she began to limp away.
Vegeta smiled. "Don't go too far, Avia," he called out to her. "I think that you've surpassed your mother, which makes you the strongest woman on the planet, correct?" Avia jerked to a stop as Trunk's mouth twisted into a snarl, but still he didn't erupt. Vegeta pushed a little harder. "When I'm done killing this brat and the traitorous prince, I'm putting your mother aside. And in her place, I will have the strongest woman on the planet."
Trunks started to move forward, but Avia answered, "I will not survive death of my mate, I promise you that." Her statement was calm and sure; words spoken in simple truth. When Trunks turned to look at her, she gave him a quick smile and a reassuring nod.
Vegeta hid a shiver as history played out before him again. He had been a fool. He should have just defied his father and taken Bulma. Now, he had harder choices. He had to know if the boy was his; he had to be sure that this was his bond-heir. He could start the challenge, but if that happened, only one would survive. And while he had to be sure that this was truly his child, he also didn't want to kill him here. The thought that this was his son from his beloved slave filled him with a terrible hope, one that Vegeta needed to confirm or deny. As he watched the two lovers exchange silent messages, he realized that there was another way: a way to make things up to Bulma and a way to give this child his birthright, if he was indeed Vegeta's child. It would even repay Cyrane for her years of service to him.
"I accept your challenge," he said to the lavender-haired boy.
Trunks tore his gaze from Avia, meeting his father's eyes. Sudden fear flooded him as he realized what was now riding on this challenge. Failure had been easier to contemplate when it was just his loss, but now his death would kill Avia and Vegeta. "Fine," he answered, stealing one last glance at Avia. She gave him that bright, beautiful smile and he felt his resolve harden.
Failure was no longer a possibility.
Review – we're almost done!