Anyhoo, reason I haven't updated recently is simple. College. Yup, had exams and everything. PITY ME FOOLS!

I don't own anything related to DBZ and probably never will.

The halls were filled by the sound of running feet and clicking heels. Guards dodged out of the way as the couple charged down the corridors of the palace. Buruma, confused on why such a rush, was starting to fall behind. Eventually she slipped; the broken heel of her shoe stranded beside her. She let out a small whelp as she felt the throbbing pain identified as a twisted ankle. She looked up and saw Vegeta, still running ahead. Though she had not expected him stop she was still disappointed in his lack of concern. The most surprising emotion she felt, though, was jealousy.

Vegeta had not noticed the lack of his fiancé. Hell, he didn't even pay attention to where he was going. He had such caring for this "witch." Caring she knew he would never hold for her. A guard stepped out of place to help his newly appointed princess recover, risking death sentence as one as lowly as himself should not dare to touch a member of the royal party.

"Are you alright my princess?"

Buruma looked into the face of her, well, somewhat rescuer. She was met with dark black eyes that held warmth she had never encountered in a Saiyan. "Yes…a twisted ankle is all…uh."

He was quick to aide her, "Brolli, your highness."

"Brolli? Well, thank you so much." She tried her best to walk away, but her limp was apparently visible to the naked eye. Especially by those trained in combat and used to seeking out the enemies weaknesses.

"Shall I escort you to your room princess?" She looked over her shoulder, surprise etched on her face. Such kindness was rarely, and believe me, rarely found on this planet.

"Uh, actually, I need to find the quarters of a servant…Esmonda?"

Brolli cocked his eyebrow. "I am not allowed to enter those premises, your highness."

Buruma scowled, "Well then I am giving you royal permission. You have my word no harm shall come your way."

Brolli sighed, what had he got himself into. But there was the curiosity that lingered within him. He would be the first non royal to meet the elusive witch. In fact, he would be the envy of all his comrades. However, her word meant nothing to him as hundreds of royals before him were known to go back on their word. Was seeing the Saiyan king's prized possession worth death itself?

"Then, your majesty, I have no choice but to take you to where you desire."

Eventually the princess' limp became too much to bear. Though she was trained in every deathly combat and could handle maximum amounts of pain, somehow walking seemed like thousands of daggers assaulting her very being. Brolli, noticing her discomfort, offered to carry her, to which she reluctantly accepted. They arrived, bridal style, at the doors leading to Esmonda's private quarters. As he was about to place her back on her feet, as to save them from questioning moments later, a certain Saiyan Prince exited the doors. If his scowl wasn't prominent before, seeing his fiancé in the arms of another Saiyan, especially a palace guard was enough to increase his displeasure.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?" He yelled before he could contain himself. Buruma, startled, ended up clinging to Brolli's neck while Brolli himself waited to be blasted into another dimension.

Of course, when Vegeta screams, people listen. The entire hallway was soon filled with guards, ambassadors, servants, and the king himself. Staying a distance away, only the Saiyan king had the nerve to step up to the scene and address the situation. "My dear princess, what on earth have you gotten yourself into this time?"

Buruma, being one to control a situation, motioned for Brolli to set her down. He complied, but let an arm stray behind her so that she could correctly balance herself.

"Your highness," Buruma made sure to only speak to the king as she knew Vegeta would never let her explain. "I found your son and delivered your message. As we were leaving, no, running to meet with you, I slipped and fell. Your son," she said making sure to give a glance to Vegeta for emphasis, "was so preoccupied with finding you that he failed to notice my distress."

Bejita raised his eyebrow so Buruma continued her explanation, "A twisted ankle, my lord." She motioned to Brolli, "However, this man was so kind as to aide me." He saw the death look Prince Vegeta gave him and remembered the law, "After I commanded him to of course."

Brolli looked down to her, stunned she would lie to the royal powers just to save the life of a servant. Buruma, not noticing, continued. "My ankle was so badly hurt that I could barely walk. Still is as you see. I asked that he personally take me to you, knowing full well that he was not allowed near these premises. But I took the authority issued to me and commanded it to be so. Since time was of the issue, I made him carry me."
Buruma looked over to Brolli who simply nodded, going with her story. Buruma smiled and looked to her king, "So you see, your highness, I was simply trying to return to your company in the utmost haste. I am sorry for disturbing you as I know our previous disposition was most unbecoming."

Prince Vegeta simply snorted, not buying any her story while the king pulled on his goatee thoughtfully. "Well, Princess, it seems you have a knack displaying authoritative power. Well done, you could learn a thing or two from her, son." Vegeta growled loudly at his father.

"Well, father, I don't buy any of it. In fact, I believe they should both be destroyed for treason!"

Buruma stepped forward, "I did nothing that was out of my rights. In fact, I think you should be punished for leaving the future queen of Vegetasei in tremendous peril." She turned to the king, "What if there was a plot on my life and I, being unable to defend myself, was left alone when the prince himself could have protected me?"

"A good point, princess. Vegeta," Bejita turned to his son, "You will meet me in the drawing room in thirty minutes to discuss your proper punishment. In the meantime, I would like you to explain to the princess your next mission." He turned to Buruma and Brolli, "as for the guard, see that he is rewarded for risking his life to ensure the princess's' safety. In fact, I would like to see him promoted to a general! Uh…a high ranking one in fact!"

There was an audible gasp from the crowd as Brolli was escorted away to carry out the kings order. "Princess, my deepest apologies for my son's crude behavior. I ask that you can see past this incident and view it as a one time only sort of thing." He suddenly clapped his hands together, "Well then, that is that. Vegeta, remember to explain to her what we discussed earlier. Ta Ta for now!" With a dramatic swish of his cape, the king strode down the hall leaving the rest of the crowd to ponder the sanity of their fearless leader.

Vegeta was livid. Worse than livid, he was utterly pissed off enough to kill an entire planet. Buruma, sensing the tension, simply turned to him with the biggest smile she could muster, trying to hide her obvious delight in his discomfort. "Well then, what's our mission?"

Vegeta, after cooling down (by spending the last three minutes ki blasting, cursing, and even killing members of the remaining crowd), began his explanation. "Esmonda had an attempted assassination on her life. She requires something called 'Dragon Balls' to heal her wounds. We have less than two months to acquire them on the planet Namek." He walked down the hall to his room. "We have till tonight to pack."

She watched him leave, a bit confused on what was happening. She heard her name whispered, and she turned towards the sound. It came from within the room before her. Cautiously, she entered.

"Sit before me my child; I do not have much time to explain what your prince lacked to cover."

Buruma did as told, questioning was not important suddenly. It was almost as if she was compelled to sit and listen rather than let her curious nature take over.

"As you know I have been attacked, stabbed multiple times and my body has only hours to live. However, I have placed a spell that will, in simple terms, freeze time for myself only. Kind of like, freezing my body. The spell will last 6 weeks, and then I will be too weak to perform it again. There is only one thing that can save me, and those are the famed 'Dragon Balls' of Planet Namek. I have chose you, the most intelligent being in this side of the galaxy, and Prince Vegeta, the strongest, to acquire them for me. When you return, make sure you bring a young Namek called "Dende" for he shall perform the ritual. There are seven you must find as quickly as possible. I have cast spells on your ships so that it will only take two weeks to travel there and two weeks to travel back. You have two weeks to find the dragon balls and be on your way home." She let out a cough. "My life must be saved or all shall be lost. I can not explain that now, but you must trust me."

Buruma nodded and stood to take her leave. "I will do as you ask."

Upon her exit, a different form appeared before the witch.

"Fate, it's been so long since you've come to see me."

The figure towered over her, "Do not play games with me Esmonda, you know why I am here."

She smiled, "To demand an explanation." He nodded, "Then I have been caught in my scheme."

"It's funny how no one notices that a figure as powerful as yourself could easily heal stab wounds. Or how no one in this side of the galaxy even uses such primitive weaponry. Tell me, why did you do it?" Fate began to fade away, "Why have those two go out on such a wild goose chase?"

The old woman smiled, the frost beginning to accumulate on her skin as the spell began to work. "Because, my dear friend, sometimes fate needs a little shove."