Alternate Timeline

Book one: The Saga Begins

Chapter Two: Welcome to the World of Saiyans

"Prince Vegeta!" a voice called from behind and the boy before me turned to investigate. A Saiyan about 18-17 years of age came running up looking relieved to know the Prince was alive. "Prince Vegeta," he said, "what are you doing out here? And who is she?"

"Not now Nappa," the boy growled. "I'm tired. I want to go home and rest. And she's coming with."

There was a sudden change in Vegeta; he hadn't acted like this around me. The tone in his voice was harsh, his posture changed altogether. He wrapped his tail around his waist, crossed his arms, stuck out his chest, narrowed his eyes into an icy glare, and frowned his lips. He looked meaner, formidable.

Nappa cast a questioning glance at me, but replied, "Yes, Prince Vegeta," and turned to lead the way back. "Raditz! We found him!" called Nappa to another Saiyan scouting the area. This one was a boy, no more then a few years older then either Vegeta or I, 10-9 years old.

Raditz was tall, taller then me at least, about twice my size. He wore the same Saiyan armor that they all wore and tightly pulled fabric covered his body. A device clung to the left side of his face with a glass that reached over his left eye. Around his right arm was a golden band that hung just loose enough that he would have to push it back up every so now and again. His hair, which was thrown every which way, reached to just below his butt.

All three Saiyans had jet-black hair that did whatever it pleased, stuck out in any direction or angle. Unlike my hair, which just hung down to my shoulders; I self-consciously tugged at it. Would they notice I was different? My hair was jet black as well, but held white streaks. Surely they must. I shied away behind Vegeta hoping he wouldn't let them question me.

"What do we have here?" Raditz asked bending over to look at me and holding his armband in place. "Well I'll be damned. So this is why the prince is always running off; it's for this pretty little pet he's got here."

I let go of Vegeta's arm and smacked Raditz hard across the face. "I AM NOT A PET!" I wasn't entirely sure of what he meant, but the way he carried on and the way he said it was enough to tell me I should be insulted.

Vegeta grabbed my wrist to keep me from attacking further. "Raditz," the prince growled at the older Saiyan boy as he pulled himself up, "You say something like that again and I won't hold her back!" Nappa was rolling on the floor with laughter the whole time.

"Did you see the look on his face? Did you see him? His eyes were THIS BIG when she attacked him! Oh, by the king's name, he was asking for that! Oh he was! Oh, he was....."

"Shut up Nappa," hissed Vegeta as he pulled me away toward the direction we had been walking. Nappa had to smother laughter by biting his lower lip and holding his sides, but he got up and followed behind us with Raditz shuffling along in the very back. The boy's tail was wrapped around his leg and his left cheek was now red and swollen. Walking backwards, I trusted that Vegeta would not lead me into any danger, I stared fiercely at him. Every time he looked up he would see me and scuttled to hide behind Nappa. The memory of that sting wasn't going anywhere fast.

"This is it," Vegeta said while stopping. I turned around and looked up, wide-eyed. It wasn't the very first time I had seen a Saiyan city, but it was the closest I had ever been. A shiver ran down my spine and I impulsively wanted to turn and run back; Vegeta's hand held me in place and his fierce expression vanquished the idea. Nothing bad could happen to me while near him. Right?

It was almost like an over turned bowel with a lot of tall buildings sticking out. They all looked about the same color; the dust was what gave a burnt-orange coloring to it, creating more interest then when the entire thing had stood newly built. Each had a random number of circular windows that were either red, or purple.

Vegeta pressed a button and the large gates that held out any wild intruders swung open. The prince led us through the streets. Few Saiyans wandered about 'outside' their homes, most stayed inside playing music, talking and laughing. Vegeta took little notice of anyone around him; he just concentrated on getting wherever it was he was heading. The destination came in sight, a rather large building and one that looked of high importance. It was nearly pure white with gold accents running like an outline for it. Its windows had the usual red and purple, but they were richer in color and along with them were blue and green windows. Tall stained glass ones as well.

Vegeta pushed a button and the doors swung open. I jumped back as far as I could but the Saiyan boy still holding my hand pulled me through the doorway and through a few more halls before stopping at another set of large doors. He finally let me go and turned to face Nappa and Raditz. "Listen, she'll be staying here in the palace with me so while I'm talking with my father, I expect you two to prepare a bath and bedroom for her. Make sure the bedroom in near mine! Pull out a complete wardrobe for her and make sure there is a meal prepared if she gets hungry, understand?"

"Yes Prince Vegeta," the two boys replied. They turned and left without saying anything more.

I jumped again when Vegeta opened the doors behind me and pulled me in through them again. He walked up a red carpet to the thrown, where the king was already up and running towards him. In an instant, Vegeta was swept into his father's arms and pressed closely to the man's chest. I was left to stand awkwardly out in the open, with no one to shy away behind and surrounded by Saiyans who stood unnaturally still, glaring down at me like I was something that didn't belong. Which I was with my torn leather clothes, dusty bare legs and arms, no armor, no scouter, no boots or gloves or even the tight clothe that they wore. My only comfort came form knowing that Vegeta looked almost exactly like me.

"Vegeta, you gave me such a scare! What were you thinking, running off like that?" asked the king letting go of his son to look him in the face. The prince shrugged. "Well, don't do it again, okay?" Vegeta still didn't answer his father. "Listen to me Vegeta, this is very important: Don't go off on your very own. There's a good reason I send Nappa with you everywhere and you can't just keep ditching him whenever you feel like it-"

"But do I always have to have someone watching over me? You never used to worry about me before, in fact it was the exact opposite a few years ago! You'd freak out if I didn't want to go somewhere by myself! Why the sudden change? I want to know, tell me now what's going on!"

"You wouldn't understand Vegeta. It doesn't concern you."

"It must concern me in some way, other wise why would you be going through all this trouble to know what I'm doing, where I am all the time!?"

"Vegeta..."

"And if I don't understand, then make me understand!! As a matter of fact, I'll bet you anything I'd understand it and you just don't want to tell me; is that it? Huh? What's so top secret you can't tell me anymore? You use to be able to tell me everything, but now all you do is go to those boring old meetings with that stupid Frieza guy-"

"VEGETA, THAT'S ENOUGH!!!" the king said standing up to his full height and looking down on his son sternly. The prince stared back fiercely, trembling slightly from rage; there was going to be a fight.

"Vegeta," I said sounding very meek. "I'm a little hungry." Okay, so that was a flat out lie, but at least it got the attention of the feuding Saiyans to focus on something other then the topic at hand.

"Who is this?" asked the king.

The prince stared at me a moment then turned back to his father and said, "her name is Tyme. I met her while I was out. She.....she saved my life from a water beast out in the woods."

The king looked at Vegeta as if to say, 'See? Wasn't I right about you being on your own?' but he didn't address it fully and instead said, "well Tyme, it seems that I am in your debt for saving my son's life-"

"It's my debt," Vegeta mumbled. "I can pay it off. Besides, I want her to stay here with me."

"She's not a pet Vegeta, you can't just keep her as one," the king said patting his son's head. "If she wants to leave then we can't stop her. But you are welcome to stay as long as you like, Tyme. If there is anyway we can possibly repay you-"

"Thank you, King of Saiyans," I say, using what manners my mother had taught me and curtsying before him. "But, I seek no favors in return for saving the prince's life. It was but reaction to the situation. I didn't mean it, really. If you truly insist on repaying me, a meal is all I require."

"And then what?" Vegeta said. "You're just gonna go back to living in that old, smelly cave all by yourself? Why don't you want to stay here? With people? You get lonely, don't you?"

"I do. But truly Prince Vegeta, it's nothing you should worry about."

"Well, I do! What's so special about that cave anyways? And why do you hate Saiyans so much? You think we carry some disease or something? We don't, you know! We just-"

"You're cold-hearted killers!!" I shouted, and instantly wished I hadn't. There was a long awkward silence; I wanted to run away so bad my knees shook, I could feel my whole body trembling. Every Saiyan was staring at me, every last one. What was I to do now?

"So why did you save my son then?"

"Be-because-" I stuttered. "I didn't know who he was! He was just a boy to me; an innocent little boy who didn't deserve to die! I just saved him, that's all. I didn't- I don't want- I don't need-"

Vegeta began laughing. I stopped and stared at him. What was going on inside that mind of his; was he hitting an early puberty? So many frickin' mood swings in one day. "I got you good this time father, didn't I?" he said over his giggles. "You really believed everything this girl told you, didn't you? Everything I said? Tyme, stop acting now, it's okay, the joke is over."

I forced myself to laugh along with him. I was still so confused, but the king was laughing a little too and petting his son's head so there was something going on that Vegeta had control over.

"I met her in the woods, yes," Vegeta began to explain. "But she didn't really save my life so there's no real debt to pay. However, we had such a good time playing I asked her to come back to the palace with me and stay here. It's still okay if she stays, right father?"

"Well, again, you can't keep her as a pet. But yes, if it's a playmate you want Vegeta, I see no harm in granting that wish. As long as you stay inside the palace walls."

"City," Vegeta bargained. "And I promise I'll never venture outside of it ever again."

"Okay," the king replied slowly. "But the minute you get into any unnecessary trouble, you'll be restricted to the palace, agreed?"

"Agreed."

"Good. Go play now, I have some things I need to take care of." He petted his son's head one last time and kissed his forehead before turning him to face me and pushing him a bit. Vegeta took my hand and led me out of the room at an almost run, stopping briefly at the door and the half skipping down the hall with me in tow.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Where do you want to go, we've got the whole city to explore!" he said letting go of my hand. "Are you still hungry? I'll race you to the palace kitchens!" And he took off down the hall at full fledge speed. I ran after him wondering about this boy. There was so much to think about. But, for the moment, I put my thoughts on hold. I could examine them later at a less fast-pace time. For now, it was probably better just to play along with Vegeta and have fun while doing it.

End Chapter 2!