Ok, so it's been like three years lol! I am soooo sorry for my readers. I just kinda quit on writing and I lost all my interest. But for some reason I got back into DBZ and this fic never lost its appeal to me, so I decided to update! ) Well review if you like, I'd really appreciate it!
Disclaimer: Even after 3 years, I still don't own DBZ.
The Heart of a Prince
By: Kasumi Yawa
"You are on strict orders not to even dare move even a toe out of this castle! Do you hear me boy?" Growled the King as his son, Vegeta walzted into the room. Vegeta tried his hardest not to cross his arms and smirk.
"Am I on house arrest?" He challenged his father. His father scowled, "Do not mock me boy or I will be forced to teach you a lesson!"
"What will it be then father? A whipping? Or perhaps you will take my training privlidges away?" Vegeta asked as he leaned against a pillar. K.V.'s blood began to boil. Nothing would get through to his son. It was important to the kingdom that Prince Vegeta master the Saiyan way before he became King. Becoming a Super Saiyan would insure the protection of the Planet and of the legacy. However, the Prince did not care at all and it seemed the throne was in threat.
"I will deny you the crown and declare myself King of Planet Vegeta of all time!" K.V. bellowed.
"Very well! Agreed! I don't want the stupid crown anyway! It is my life and I will do anything I want with it," Vegeta growled. The Queen, who had been sitting silently, listening to the two quarrel rose and walked in between them.
"Now darling you need to understand, you were born to privilege, and with that comes specific obligations. That means training and focusing on becoming a Super Saiyan and choosing a queen of your own." She explained gently.
"I do not understand why it's imperative I must do it! I despise any woman and I do not care to train. I have no interest in this Planet and what it holds. I prefer exploring and travel through space rather than dedicating my life to this Planet of lowlives and a woman who has no mentality equal or superior to mine!" The Prince argued. The Queen sighed and shook her head. What were they to do? The King looked at his wife and bitterly frowned. The Prince then turned and stormed out of the room.
It seemed the kingdom was in doom...
Meanwhile, back at Bulma's home...
Bulma walked into the living room, where her two stepsisters were sitting contently playing a game of dominoes.
"Somebody's in trouble!" Marron sang. Bulma looked at her confusedly, and before she knew it, the wind was knocked out of her as she was pushed into a chair.
"You stupid, stupid wretched girl! How dare you!" Screamed her stepmother as Bulma regained her composure.
"What are you talking about, stepmother?"
"Tell me, Bulma, exactly what happened today?" Lady Melanie asked, her eyes piercing with anger. Bulma looked at her stepmother, speechless. She had no idea how to respond. Did she find out about Maurice? She looked over to her stepsisters. Marron lay back and watched with a smug grin on her face. Chi-Chi looked at her worriedly and made a gesture with her hands. Bulma immediately understood.
"Prince Vegeta stole our horse this morning?" Bulma timidly replied.
"Yes and it would explain why he returned it this afternoon. He also said that you were quite loud with him! What did you say to him? I want to know exactly what was spoken?" Her stepmother demanded.
"Well, I called him a theif... madam..." Bulma trailed. "I did not recognize him."
Lady Melanie laughed. "You did not recognize the Prince? What a fool you are Bulma. That nose of yours always in a book and never alert to the real world. Well then we must make sure that our home is not a pigsty when the Prince decides to show up. He and Marron had quite an interlude and I'm sure he will return." Bulma merely nodded.
Just then there was a knock at the door and they turned around to see Maurice hesitantly at the door.
"What in Kami's name are you doing here?" gasped Lady Melanie.
"I have worked of your- I mean my debt, madam." Gulped Maurice. Lady Melanie just shrugged her shoulders and with a wave dismissed Maurice. She turned and swiftly walked away.
Bulma just sat in distraught. Would her life ever change?
"Her name is Comtesse Bururma. Do you know who she might be?" Prince Vegeta acquired as he and his mother strolled through the Palace Gardens.
"I'm afraid I have never heard that name, my son. But there are so many Comtesses, it's hard to remember all their names. Why do you ask?" The queen turned to her son as he stopped to look at her.
"Never mind," he sighed. Just then they heard footsteps. K.V. marched toward his son and looked him dead in the eyes.
"You will have a week to prove to me you can make something out of your life. You must prove to me you can become great and to choose a mate and if not you must then marry the woman I have chosen for you and you must become the Legendary warrior of Planet Vegeta. Is that a deal?" The King barked.
Vegeta crossed his arms and looked at his father, "Very well. It is a deal."
"Choose wisely, my dear. For you will have to live with your choice for all eternity. Kami knows the consequences of a rash decision," advised the queen as she glanced at her husband who glared at her.
"Any word concerning the Prince?" whispered Lady Melanie. The soldier she had hired to spy on the royal family had come to inform her of any developments.
He looked around to make sure the coast was clear and leaned in toward the cunning Baroness. "It seems the Prince has permission to do as he pleases with his time, but he has a week to prove to his Royal Highness he can achieve his goals on his own. That means the engagement with the foreign princess have been cancelled."
Lady Melanie grinned, her eyes gleaming. She grabbed the soldier's hand and kissed it. Chills ran down his spine as she smiled at him.
"I quite enjoy these interludes we share," she began. "It is quite-interesting. Anything else I might need to know?"
"Why yes, madam. The Prince will be sparring with another Royal tomorrow at noon. An audience is welcome," said the soldier with a wink.
Lady Melanie merely grinned with sinister look in her eyes. This will be quite an affair, she thought.
Bulma and Paulette were outside trimming the hedges as they discussed Bulma's amazing miracle of saving Maurice.
"I would have done anything to see you dressed up, speaking to the Prince that way and freeing Maurice the way you did," Paulette sighed.
"Scolding the Prince is more like it. The man is insufferable." Bulma defended.
"Yes, that's what you've said for the sixth time today!" Paulette answered, with a chuckle. Bulma smiled and wiped the sweat off her brow. "Well his is," she replied and winked, "He and Marron are perfect for one another. For all I care, he can take her away!"
Paulette shrieked, "Heavens no! The only throne I want her sitting on is the one I have to clean everyday!"
Bulma burst out laughing and tossed her hair away from her shoulders.
In the meantime, the Prince had found his way into the wood with his guard, Kakkorat. They had decided to practice sparing, when they came to a lake. They decided it was a good enough place to relax and enjoy themselves.
"Your highness, are you sure a week is enough to find yourself a suitable mate AND do what is necessary for your life?" Kakkorat asked as he grabbed his sword and swung it in the air.
Vegeta looked at the water, how calm it was. He sighed and he wished his thoughts were as calm as the water. "I don't know, Kakkorat. Right now it may seem that it is a distant goal, but I know to obtain what I want, I must work hard and keep focus."
"What do you want in a mate, anyway your highness?"
"A woman with brains. Who has a mind, intelligence, that can keep up with daily conversation. She most be equal in beauty as well. I want a quick witted woman, with a sharp tounge, a strong willed back bone. Who will fight with me and keep me in suspence, in excitment. But that just seems to good to be true, don't you think?"
"Not really, your highness. I believe every man is destined for a mate." Kakkorat answered, swinging his sword around him.
Vegeta paced back and forth. Rubbing his chin he looked at Kakkorat, "How can you be certain to find them? And if you find them, are they really the one for you... ...or do you only think they are? What if the person you're meant to be with never appears? Or she does, but... but you're too distracted to notice? You learn to pay attention. Then, let's say... ...God puts two people on earth... ...and they are lucky enough to find one another. But... one of them gets hit by lightning. Well, then what? Is that it? Or perchance you meet someone new and marry again. Is that the lady you should be with? Or was it the first? When the two of them are side by side, were they both the one for you... ...and you just met the first one first? Or is the second one supposed to be first? And is everything just chance... ...or are some things meant to be?"
"You can't really leave it to fate, your highness. I think you need to take control of it!" Kakkorat announced. He flew up and winked at the Prince. Vegeta watched as Kakkorat flew across the water, sword in arm. He grinned. Kakkorat was a worthy opponent.
Vegeta turned and began to pace once again, but suddenly he jerked his head toward the lake when he heard a loud scream and a splash!
Kakkorat had disappeared and the screaming got louder. There was a lot of splashing and sputtering as Vegeta flew across the water toward the chaos. He dove into the water and pulled out Kakkorat and the screaming maiden. Vegeta stared into her eyes and knew instantly who she was!
Back on shore, Kakkorat warmed by the fire he had sparked with his energy. Bulma stood shivering. She had decided to take a swim, but was interuppted when a flying soldier nearly attacked her! Kakkorat grinned and aplogized, "I thought for a moment you were a fish of some sort. I guess you can say I was thinking with my stomach instead of head." Bulma smiled but her teeth began to chatter. Vegeta instantly grabbed his cloak and laid it against her shoulders.
"Thank you." She said with a smile.
"So Comtesse what brings you here? And it seems you're alone!" Vegeta observed. Bulma gaped at him. How handsome he was!
"Well, yes," she stated. "I gave them the day off and decided to go observing on my own." She turned to Kakkorat with a mischiveous look, "You assumed I was a fish? Do my looks compare to that of a fish?" Kakkorat chuckled. Vegeta smiled as Kakkorat nearly blushed in embarrassment. "Well in my defense, I was flying quite fast and saw you for a split second."
"Yes, before you assumed I was lunch and you attacked!" Bulma defended. Kakkorat opened mouth, then shut it. He opened it again and shook his head when he realized he didn't have anything to say to that. Vegeta laughed, "Finally! Someone who left Kakkorat speechless! It is quite a feat! I commend you!"
Bulma smiled and snuggled into his cloak. "Now tell me," Vegeta began, "You gave your servants the day off?"
Bulma nodded, "Yes, don't you get sick of people waiting for you?" Vegeta looked at her and thought about it for a moment. "Well yes," he answered, "but it's what they do." He shrugged and grinned at her, but she scowled at him.
"I wish I could easily dismiss mine as you do with yours." She stood up and removed his cloak. "I must be going." He moved in front of her.
"Wait! You are upset with me!" He bellowed.
"Well, yes if you must know. Because you are trying to bait me with your snobbery. And it isn't working."
"You, Comtesse Bururma, are a walking contradiction. You spout the ideals of a Utopian society, yet you live the life of a courtier." Vegeta stated.
"You own all the land there is, yet you take no pride in working it. Is that not also a contradiction?" Bulma answered. Vegeta blinked, as Kakkorat blinked. No one ever dared to defy Prince Vegeta. The Prince was speechless. He despised the fact that she had put him in his place, yet he was astonished with her courage and wit.
"You have everything and still the world holds no joy. Yet you make fun of those who would see it for its possibilities." Continued Bulma, not caring if she the Prince was getting angry. At least she was stating what was on her mind.
"How do you do it?" Vegeta finally asked. Bulma looked at him, confused, "What?"
" Live each day with this kind of passion?" He asked, "Don't you find it exhausting?" Bulma shrugged and looked at his eyes, eyes that she could never forget, "Only when it comes to you, your majesty. Why do you like to irritate me so?"
Vegeta stared back into her eyes, fixated with her deep gaze. "Why do you rise to the occasion?" He asked. Kakkorat watched intently as the two smiled. Bulma giggled and looked at the Prince as he crossed his arms.
Suddenly Bulma heard her name off in the distance. Her stepsister, Chi-Chi had come to find her, unknown to the Prince.
"Forgive me, your highness, I've lost track of the hour." Bulma interuppted hastily. Kakkorat stepped forward, "But?"
Bulma didn't give him a chance to answer, "I'm sorry!"
Vegeta desperately wanted Bulma to remain in his company. "I'm sparring tomorrow, it should be worth a fight to see. Say you'll come and watch?"
Bulma shook her head and dropped the cloak at the Prince's feet. She dashed up the hill as she heard her name being called.
"I must go!" She shouted over her shoulder as she disappeared into the winds.
Vegeta turned to Kakkorat and they stared at each other.
"Why does she keep doing that?" He asked his guard. Kakkorat shrugged and went back to swinging his sword as Vegeta continued to stare at the water, now his mind plagued with more thoughts, now concerning a blue haired minx of a woman. He wanted to get to know her and he was determined to find a way! Vegeta pulled his hand into a fist and vowed he'd see her again.
Well there ya go... I dunno how well this is written. It is after all, 2 in the morning. I am definitely taking the movie "Ever After" as is and trying to make a DBZ fanfic out of it. I'll definitely try to add more Saiyan like feel to it. Please lemme know what you think!