Previously:
"Cooler, it's Bulma. Something's happened and I need your help." Bulma's voice came over the line, sounding urgent.
"What's happened?" asked the Frost Demon.
"Some of my dad's equipment was picking up strange readings coming from up north. Somewhere within the arctic. I asked Goku and Krillin to go check it out and they went with Gohan...I haven't heard from them since."
The news was troubling, three of Earth's fighters going missing at once? It was far from good.
"Are you sure they didn't get diverted in some way?" he asked, not wanting to jump to conclusions right away.
"I thought so at first. But it's been hours! I'm starting to get worried and so is Chi-Chi. Everyone else is out of contact for one reason or another, I was hoping you would go check on things and make sure they were okay." asked Bulma.
"I'll see what I can do. Let Chi-Chi know I'll find her boys and bring them home." said the Frost Demon.
The genius sighed in relief, "Thank you. I hope nothing's happened to them."
Hanging up the phone, Cooler looked over at Eis who was looking back with concern. "Is something wrong, Papa?"
"Goku, Gohan and Krillin are missing. They went to the northern pole of the planet looking for something but never came back." his daughter perked up when she heard Gohan mentioned.
"Are we going to go find them?" she asked anxiously.
Cooler nodded, "Dress for the cold, Eis. We're going hunting."
X
Compared to some of the places he'd been to throughout the universe, the temperature of Earth's arctic circle was barely noticeable to Cooler. Of course, given the species he had been reborn into, such an environment didn't really affect him to begin with. Especially given how it was in the vacuum of space.
Though his daughter had yet to experience such. Hence why the little Frost Demon was currently wearing a purple hoodie and black leggings as she and her father flew to the same coordinates Bulma had given Goku and the others.
Scanning the surrounding glaciers, Cooler stretched his senses out in the hopes of finding their ki signatures somewhere within the frozen tundra. The whole section of the planet was barren save for several small energy levels that belonged to the local wildlife that thrived up here.
So far they've come up empty, but the Frost Demon trusted Bulma's data. It was only a matter of time until-
There!
Cooler stopped in the middle of the air, his daughter beside him as they looked down at the massive glacier below them. It wasn't unusual...but the massive steel door built into it definitely was.
"Papa, I can sense Gohan, his dad and Mr. Krillin." said Eis, "I can also sense that weird old man that stares at Miss Bulma a lot."
"Master Roshi. Looks like whoever took them got to him as well." replied Cooler, the two of them landing before the door while stretching his senses even more and detecting other signatures as well. "There are more inside, be ready for anything Eis."
The little Frost Demon nodded, her face serious as they approached the hidden entrance. When they were within a few meters of the heavy steel door the ground shook just before a dozen small creatures jumped out of the snow and stood defensively.
They were small, and looked a lot like Saibamen except they were a dark, midnight-blue with dark-red lenses for eyes and a mask covering their mouths.
Eye ridge raised, Cooler stood with his arms crossed. "Princess, they're all yours."
Eis grinned before vanishing in a burst of speed, appearing on the other side of the creatures with a light-purple Ki-blade formed around her right arm. Four of the creatures falling to the ground in pieces from her unseen attack.
The remaining eight spun around and lept at the smaller Frost Demon. In response, Eis fired a barrage of energy blasts that reduced several of her enemies to ashes. Only two survived the assault and tried to grab her, one was met with a fist in the face while the other was swatted aside by her tail.
Ki-blade still formed, Eis lunged and sliced the head off one of the creatures. Then spinning around and stabbing the last one through the chest.
Cooler looked on with a grin of pride, watching his little girl take down a dozen opponents in no time flat. How could he not be proud of how much she had grown. "Well done, Princess."
Eis beamed at her father's praise, "Thank you, Papa!"
Both Frost Demons turned to the door, now knowing what to expect on the other side. "Remember what I taught you about being in hostile territory, Eis." Cooler said, now grimly serious as he raised his hand and charged energy to his palm.
"If someone wishes me and others harm, stop them, no matter what." Eis recited.
"Good." The blast left Cooler's hand and obliterated the door as though it were cheap tin. A long tunnel leading into the glacier greeting them as they flew inside. More of the little bio-creatures jumped out of hiding to intercept them, but they were quickly brought down via death beams from both father and daughter as they traversed deeper into the underground facility.
It didn't take long to track down the energy signatures of the others. Locking onto them, Cooler charged another blast and fired straight down. The attack burning a tunnel through the facility and giving the two Frost Demons a shortcut to the others.
The energy blast blew a hole in the ceiling of a large, dome shaped room where the sound of fighting came to an abrupt halt as Cooler and Eis landed on the ground under them. They quickly looked around and saw Gohan, Krillin and Master Roshi fighting two large humanoid beings while Goku was frozen in a block of ice with only his face exposed.
One of the alien-like beings looked similar to Piccolo with dark-green skin and brown spots on his head and dressed in dark-blue armor. The other had pink skin and long hair with spiked shoulder armor, almost resembling Recoome from the Ginyu Force.
All of the fighting had stopped at their arrival, all eyes now on them.
"Looks like we have more intruders, Ebifurya." the green skinned being spoke, bolts of electricity crackling along his arms.
"Heh, then let's put them on ice!" the pink warrior bellowed, thrusting both hands out and unleashing a blast of pure cold at the father/daughter duo. Their forms disappearing when the attack struck. Ebifurya grinned sadistically, only to look stunned when the ice settled to reveal the two Frost Demons exactly as they were.
Eis brushed a bit of snow off the sleeve of her hoodie with a frown while Cooler raised a pointer finger and fired a deathbeam that pierced through the stunned bio-warrior's chest. A second followed that struck between Ebifurya's eyes that rolled over white before he collapsed to the ground, dead.
"Ebifurya!" the other warrior shouted, gritting his teeth and glaring at Cooler while summoning a series of electrical whips to cover his arms. His form fading as he vanished in a burst of speed.
The elder Frost Demon remained still, his senses spread out as he waited. Without warning his hand snapped out, the green bio-warrior now held by his neck in Cooler's grasp.
Struggling, the bio-warrior lashed out with his electric whips. Each strike not showing any kind of effect as Cooler clenched his fist, the loud crunch of his enemy's neck being broken echoed before he dropped the now lifeless body at his feet.
With the threats taken care of, Cooler made his way over to the others where Eis had helped Gohan to his feet while Krillin was trying to break Goku out of the ice he was trapped in. "Having a bit of trouble, Goku?" he asked, channeling ki to his right hand and hitting the frozen surface, causing it to shatter and freeing the Saiyan.
"Heh, yeah. Wasn't expecting to be put on ice like that." Goku replied while scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "Good thing you and Eis showed up when you did."
"Bulma called, said you guys dropped off the grid. Asked us to come find you." said the Frost Demon. "Mind filling us in on what's been going on?"
Gohan spoke up, "Some mad scientists are trying to steal my dad's body!"
"Yeah," Krillin added, "Those freaks nabbed Master Roshi first. And when we got here to check on the energy Bulma told us about they tried to get us too. If you hadn't shown up there's no telling what would have happened."
A loud crash shook the facility, another soon following before one of the walls of the large room exploded inward. All of the fighters turned their attention to the disturbance and found a large, bi-pedal robot towering over all of them.
The main body looked almost alien in design with large pincers for hands, a cord-like tail, and a glass dome that housed a brain connected to wires. Electricity crackled along its frame, giving it an ominous glow.
"Goku." a mechanical voice rumbled from the machine. "Once I claim your body, I will fulfill my destiny. To become the greatest scientist this world has ever known." More energy crackled as it took a thunderous step forward. "As for the rest of you...it will be interesting to make new bio-warriors with your unique abilities."
Goku narrowed his eyes, "Gohan, you and Krillin find Master Roshi and get out of here."
"But dad-" his son tried to plead.
"It's alright. I'll meet up with you guys soon."
"Eis, go with them and provide support." Cooler added, not taking his eyes off the machine. His daughter nodded as she took flight with Gohan and Krillin and disappeared into the facility.
The robot exo-skeleton chuckled, "Resistance is futile. I will have a body and shed this metal shell, one way or another."
Goku and Cooler glanced at one another and smirked. The former exploded in yellow light as he went Super Saiyan while the latter made the change to his final form. "You underestimate us, Wheelo." said the Saiyan.
The scientist turned-machine raised his arms and fired energy blasts from his clawed hands. His targets vanishing into thin air before the attacks could even get close, reappearing a second later on either side of him. Both arms swung out to strike them down, but were both stopped cold by the empowered alien duo.
A quick burst of strength had both mechanical limbs torn from the main body, leaving the Doctor defenceless as Cooler and Goku drove their fists through the chassis.
"W-WHAT?! HOW?!" Wheelo demanded as sparks began to discharge along his frame.
"Simple." Cooler said through his facemask, charging ki to his hand with Goku doing the same. "We're the strongest beings on Earth."
The interior of the exo-skeleton glowed brightly before an explosion blew it apart from the inside out.
X
Outside, Krillin had just touched down with Master Roshi on a glacier a good distance from Wheelo's lab. Gohan and Eis right behind them just as a massive explosion rocked the landscape. They all looked back toward the lab and found a large crater with a mushroom cloud rising into the sky.
A moment passed before Goku and Cooler appeared via the Saiyan's instant transmission technique.
"Well, today's been interesting." said the Frost Demon as the two of them powered down.
"Yeah, really wasn't expecting that. But at least Wheelo and his goons are taken care of." said Goku as they looked back at the destroyed lab. "Thanks again for the help."
"Anytime. Though you and Gohan may want to get back to Chi-Chi, she's been worrying about you two since you disappeared." said Cooler. The two Son men froze and looked nervous.
Goku put his hand on Gohan's shoulder and they disappeared as the older Saiyan teleported them back home. Krillin chuckled before taking flight with Master Roshi back to Kame House. Cooler and Eis were preparing to depart back to their own home when something caught the older Frost Demon's attention.
Narrowing his eyes, he slowly flew to where he felt a slight disturbance. Stopping several meters outside the crater that had once been Wheelo's lab and found the cracked and leaking unit that housed the mad scientist's brain. Unbelievably still functioning despite the damage it sustained after the explosion.
Cooler leered down at the brain before raising his hand, a strong ki-blast launching forward and deatomized it instantly. Task completed, he rose back into the air where his daughter had been waiting before taking off for home.
X
A few days passed after the incident in the Arctic and things went back to business as usual. The Z-Fighters all trained rigorously each day in preparation for the androids, while at the same time enjoying what peace they could along the way.
With all the training they had been doing, Bulma came up with the idea for everyone to get together for a little down time.
After a little planning, Earth's defenders had gathered at Capsule Corp. where a decent buffet spread was set out that the resident Saiyans were happy to dig into. Everyone else were in small groups talking about mundane things and enjoying the moment of down time in their training.
Cooler had found himself talking with Tights who had been happy to see the Frost Demon again. The blonde author bouncing a few ideas for her next book off him while he gave his opinions on them.
His daughter was with Gohan, the two children chatting adamantly with one another while enjoying the food Bulma had provided for everyone. The blue-haired genius not too far away with Chi-Chi who was watching her son and his friend with a smile at how close the two of them had become since the young Frost Demon first arrived on Earth.
Everyone was enjoying themselves...save for one.
In the shadow of the main building, Vegeta stood with his arms crossed and a deep scowl etched into his features. Mentally cursing the people around him, more so at the blue-haired human who had shut down his gravity chamber with the threat of never switching it back on unless he came to this useless event.
The Prince took in each of the so-called 'warriors' around him and wondered to this day how they even managed to get as far as they had. Wasting a perfect day for training on something so useless. The look intensified as he watched Kakarot grinning as he continued to stuff his face and Cooler smiling while talking with the Earth woman's sister.
How? How was it possible for a useless, low-level warrior to gain the privilege of becoming a Super Saiyan? A legend among their people that countless tried to aspire to, handed to a moron like that?! How could it be possible? What made him so special when HE was of the Royal Bloodline?!
Then there was Cooler...the disgraced Prince of the Cold Empire. Whose brother had brought the Saiyans to near extinction. He had slaughtered Frieze as easily as swatting a fly, then strutting around among the human trash as though he had no worries. It infuriated him to no end!
Even worse. Cooler's spawn was here as well. Milling around with Kakarot's brat. His anger continued to mount, what he wouldn't give to have the power to put both his fellow Saiyan and the Frost Demon in their place.
"Still acting grumpy Vegeta?" asked Bulma, approaching the Saiyan Prince with drink in hand.
Vegeta didn't say anything, just continued to glare at Goku and Cooler.
The genius sighed, "Look, I know you wanted to train today. But everyone needs a little down time to decompress every once in a while. You guys will crush those androids. I just know it." she said with optimism.
Vegeta sneered at her, "Shut up woman! You know nothing!"
Bulma flinched before glaring at him, "Hay! Don't forget who's housing your self-righteous ass while you're here on Earth! Not to mention who keeps fixing all the equipment you keep breaking!"
"Good for you. What do you want? A medal?" the Prince fired back, infuriating Bulma even more.
"How about some appreciation?! Especially after what you and your muscle-bound friend did to us when you first got here!"
Vegeta glared harder and uncrossed his arms, "If I had it my way, your pathetic planet would have been nothing more than dust in the wind!"
By this point, everyone was watching the confrontation. Several of them were preparing to step in if Vegeta stepped too far out of line.
"Besides, you should feel honored to even be in my presence, woman." Vegeta said with not less hint of arrogance.
Bulma rolled his eyes, "Oh yes, I'm so honored to be in the presence of the Prince of all TWO Saiyans. Such an honor this lowly Earth woman has been given."
Yamcha and Krillin snickered at Bulma's comeback, off to the side, Piccolo had a slight smirk on his face that he hid well from everyone else.
Vegeta clenched his fists in rage, "You dare…"
"What? Are you going to try and blow up the planet again? Because I'm pretty sure at least two or three of the people here can prove to you that would be a bad idea." Bulma added before looking over her shoulder at the others. "Sorry if I offended anyone."
The Saiyan Prince grit his teeth and was prepared to put the bluenette in her place when Eis suddenly appeared between them. Floating above the ground so that they were eye-to-eye as she glared at him.
"Leave Miss Bulma alone." she said coldly in the Earth woman's defense.
Vegeta sneered at the little Frost Demon, "And what do you plan to do about it, brat?"
Without warning, Eis' tail swung out and connected with the side of the Prince's head. Not expecting the sudden attack, Vegeta had been knocked into the side of the building he had been standing beside and putting cracks in the wall.
Momentarily stunned, Vegeta growled like a feral animal before launching toward Eis with the intention of putting the child down-
Only for the girl's father to suddenly appear between them, stopping the Saiyan Prince in his tracks.
"Eis, go hang out with Gohan." Cooler said, his eyes locked firmly with Vegeta's.
"Yes, Papa." his daughter said, making her way back over to her friend.
The older Frost Demon crossed his arms, daring Vegeta to make a move. "Guess we can't have a simple get together without you starting something, can we Vegeta?"
"Tch. If you and the rest of these pathetic clowns want to waste time instead of train that's your choice. But don't expect me to waste my time." the Prince sneered.
"I know it's a hard concept to grasp given your ego is bigger than your height, but crushing your body into dust won't make you stronger." said Cooler.
"And what would you know?!" Vegeta bellowed.
Cooler remained unmoved, "I know that your pride and arrogance will get you and others killed. I know that the only reason you're training for the androids is so that you can take a shot at Goku an I when it's all said and done." he took a step forward and was almost nose to nose with the Saiyan Prince. "And...I know that no matter how hard you train and put yourself on your imaginary pedestal, you will never be as strong as we are."
The air between them became tense to the point energy could be felt discharging between them. Everyone else had either stepped away from them or prepared to step in at a moment's notice.
After everything that had been happening between the two disgraced princes, this had been a long time coming.
"Then enlighten me." Vegeta said through gritted teeth, "What makes you and Kakarot so special that you think that I cannot surpass you?" Cooler smirked and said only two words;
"You're selfish."
The Saiyan Prince looked confused as the Frost Demon continued, "Goku has dedicated his entire life to protecting the Earth and those he cares about. I renounced my own family and became stronger to protect the rest of the galaxy from them and to keep my daughter safe. That is why we are always going to be stronger, because we fight for more than just ourselves."
"YOU on the other hand, want power only to prove that you're not the weak slave my brother turned you into when he destroyed Planet Vegeta. You care only about your own ambitions and to hell with anything and anyone who gets in your way." Cooler motioned to the other Z-Fighters, "These 'pathetic clowns' you're so happy to write off, they may not match your power level, but they are braver than you could ever hope to understand. Willing to sacrifice themselves for each other and this Planet no matter the odds."
"When was the last time you fought for something other than yourself? When was the last time you stuck your neck out for someone where it didn't benefit you in some way? That's why you'll never be 'better' than us. You can gain all the power you could want, become a Super Saiyan like you desire and finally be king of the mountain...but you'll never be anything more than an entitled brat who uses his title as prince of a nearly extinct race to feel important."
All in attendance had their mouths agape at how Cooler had completely put Vegeta in his place while the Saiyan Prince himself looked on the verge of a meltdown. Veins pulsing on his forehead, teeth gnashed with his fists clenched tight at his sides as the Frost Demon turned his back on him.
"Once, I truly sympathized with what happened to you, Vegeta. You lost everything you had ever known and was at the mercy of Frieza and his followers. Part of me regrets not being able to get you away from him and showing you a better way to get justice for what he had done...but now? I can only pity you."
Cooler turned a red eye over his shoulder at Vegeta. "When you only live for yourself, you'll never find true strength." With his piece said, he walked away.
Vegeta growled almost feraly. How dare that freak act so high and mighty, what did he know?! He knew nothing!
Holding up his hand, a large purple ball of ki began to form. "If that is the source of your strength." he said, causing Cooler to pause and look back at him. "Then let's see how strong you are when it's taken away!"
To everyone's horror, he turned and fired the attack straight at where Eis and Gohan were standing. "VEGETA NO!" Goku shouted, prepared to use instant transmission to stop the attack.
In the blink of an eye, Cooler disappeared where he had been standing and reappeared in front of the kids, grabbing the attack in mid-flight. The ball of energy held in his hand. There was a long pause before the attack began to shrink, once it was as small as a golfball he clenched his fist causing the energy to disperse.
For several seconds, no one moved. Then the Frost Demon appeared in front of Vegeta, his hand clamped over his mouth and lifted him off the ground with little effort. His face a mask of cold, emotionless stone.
"That...was your last mistake."
A/N: Looks like Vegeta crossed his last line in the sand. The question is if he will even survive what happens next.
Many have asked me how powerful Cooler really is, especially with how Frieza had gained his golden form after only a few months of training in DB-Super. I'm here to tell you, everyone will get a good glimpse of just how strong he truly is next time. So don't go too far folks!