Hey people, Sorrie for the wait (school keeps taking up all mai time :-p) Thanks for all the positive reviews, I appreciate it . Welp on with the story!

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Vegeta burst into the room, annoyed at having his small victory interrupted. As soon as the prince stepped foot into the Main Hall the room grew quiet. Vegeta walked forward 10 paces to the middle of the room and addressed his father.

"What is it this time old man? I have more important things to do than to attend one of your daily gossip sessions," growled Vegeta his annoyance mounting with each passing second. A ripple of whispers went through the room as the Prince blatantly disrespected the King. But the King ignored his son's usual rudeness and proceeded to give his announcement.

"I have something to say boy so I suggest you shut that big mouth of yours and listen closely," said the King, his booming voice echoing across the room. Vegeta suppressed a retort and shifted impatiently. Just what was his father up to?

Smirking at his son's rare obedience The King continued,

"I have called you all here because I have excellent news. My Chief Advisor honorable Lord Son Bardock has succeeded in tracking down the traitors who wounded my son and insulted the Saiyan-jin Clan! They were from our old enemy the Buruma clan!"

The room erupted with angry voices and shouts, But The King put his hand up for silence. After the room settled down the King went on,

"As you know it is the Saiyan custom for the clan to take revenge on anyone who has threatened the wellbeing of our clansmen. And that is why our army, led by honorable Lord Yamacha, crushed the Buruma clan and avenged the Royal Family! No one can stand up against the Might of the Saiyan Army!" The king yelled triumphantly as the room burst into applause and cheers. Everyone was celebrating the Saiyan victory…Everyone but Prince Vegeta.

Vegeta stood immobile in the middle of the room, overcome by utter shock at what he had just heard. Ever since he had been wounded he had plotted out his revenge. Everyday that he woke up and found himself looking into total darkness he vowed to train harder to overcome his weakness, and overcome his enemy. All his goals and hard work were swept away with the snap of his father's fingers. The king had stolen his revenge. Soon shock was replaced by rage and Vegeta found himself overwhelmed with an anger he had never felt before. His legs collapsed under him and he crumpled to the ground, not caring who saw him, and beat his fists against the floor. A shocked silence filled the room as everyone stared incredulously at the enraged prince. The king, puzzled by his Son's behavior, went over and stood in front of him.

"Well I thought you would be overjoyed that I sent my army half way across the world to kill off a whole clan for you but I see I was mistaken," the King said angrily. Vegeta rose from the ground and faced his father's direction.

"You…you BASTARD! You took away everything I had been working so hard to achieve. I was the one who was ambushed in Hakurei! I was the one wounded by the damned Buruma! Me not you! It was my revenge and you…you stole it from me!" yelled the Prince his voice shaking with anger. The King laughed and said simply,

"And what exactly would you have done Vegeta? Asked them all to stand in one spot while you kill them since you can't see? Face it Vegeta, you're an eighteen year old blind weakling who will never fight again, so you should be glad that you have a powerful father to protect you." Vegeta growled and reached for his sword. He heard the footsteps of his father's bodyguards who were rapidly approaching them.

"You'll pay for what you have done Old man, I promise" hissed Vegeta in a dangerously low voice, and before the royal guards could touch him, he walked ten paces back to the door and stormed off to his room.

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Bulma woke up to find herself in a dimly lit room furnished only by the pallet she was on, a lamp and a chest in the corner. She sat up from her pallet on the floor and studied her surroundings with bewilderment. The walls were dull and dreary as small rays of light from the small window hit parts of the wall. Soon her eyes came across her once beautiful blue silk kimono now stained with soot and dirt folded nearly near her pallet.

Tears began to fill her eyes as the memory of what happened the night her home was ambushed. All she could remember was asking yahiko who the intruders were and then the world went black. What happened to everyone? Was she the only survivor? Have they taken her hostage? Will they kill her? All these thoughts ran through Bulma's head as images of that frightful night filled her mind. The sound of the door sliding open interrupted Bulma from her thoughts. But instead of a Saiyan guard, as she had feared, it was her faithful friend ChiChi. Surprised to see Bulma awake, Chichi dropped the tray she was holding and ran over to hug Bulma.

"Bulma! Your finally awake! You've been suffering from a fever ever since we came here, which was three days ago. I was so worried", said Chichi bear hugging Bulma.

Bulma smiled, happy that her friend was still with her.

"Hey Chi, um where exactly is 'here'?" Bulma said looking around confused. Chichi, scared of Bulma potential anger, stepped a safe distance away from the princess and calmly said," We…we are in the house of the Saiya-jin clan"

"WHAT?" Bulma yelped leaping to her feet.

"SHHH! Do you want to get us in trouble? Just calm down ok?" said ChiChi, praying that Bulma wouldn't give her a hard time.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN CALM DOWN? Do they know who I am? They'll kill me! I know they will! I'm too pretty and smart and young to die!" said bulma hysterically pacing the room. ChiChi rolled her eyes at Bulma's hysterics.

"Well if you keep on screeching like that they probably will," Said chichi watching in amusement as Bulma quickly slapped her hands over her mouth, deathly afraid that the saiyan's would distinguish her voice for a buruma and come. After ChiChi had finished telling Bulma how Lord Yamcha had helped them escape, she calmed down.

"Soo…you told them my name is Mariko and now we're both servants? Great, you could have at least given me a better name Chi, like Kaede or Ayeka." said Bulma, trying to make light of the whole situation. ChiChi laughed.

"Or I could have just given them your real name, or better yet a guy's name and claimed that you were a extraordinary kabuki actor who always played the female roles. But then we would be in a whole new world of troubles!" said ChiChi. The two girls collapsed into laughter. Soon the laughter died down and Bulma turned to her best friend.

"What's going to happen to us now Chi?" said bulma fear creeping into her voice. ChiChi placed an arm around bulma's shoulder.

"I don't know but what ever does happen, we'll face it together." And with that ChiChi pulled bulma off the bed and towards the door.

"Now that you're feeling better I'll take you on a tour of the palace, you'll need to learn the layout quick since we'll be ordered to go to different parts of the palace." ChiChi said as she helped Bulma put on her cotton kimono. Bulma nodded and after they were ready the two ladies started off on their tour.

"Right now we are in the Servant's quarters, which are right next to the kitchens and the dining rooms. There's a bath house way in the back but that's for the guests only." ChiChi said matter-of-factly as they continued down the corridor. Bulma curiously watched the other servants going to and fro, all walking as if they have a single purpose they must achieve.

"So is this what it is like to be a servant?" Bulma asked ChiChi in amazement as she studied the servants hard at work.

"Pretty much Kiddo, long hours, low wages and no vacations," ChiChi said as she headed towards the Kitchens where she was stationed. Once the girls arrived there ChiChi handed Bulma a bucket and towel.

"Ok Kiddo, I know that you haven't worked a day in your life so I tried as best as I could to get you something easy. You're chores for today are to clean the main hall floors and the floors of the hallway near the royal family's rooms, ok?" Bulma looked at bucket in her hand like a foreign object and protested.

"I'm suppose to do all that with just these?" exclaimed Bulma pointing to the bucket and towel. ChiChi chuckled at her friend's bewilderment and nodded.

"And there's the water pump out there," ChiChi said pointing towards a door in the kitchen leading outside. Her previous excitement dimmed by her discovery of the meaning of manual labor, Bulma dragged herself towards the water pump, hoping that she'd be able to work it.

"And I thought I had it rough when I was a princess," Bulma grumbled. After several attempts to work the water pump a Saiyan who happened to be on his way to the kitchen, went over to Bulma to get her a hand. After filling both her buckets with water he turned to bulma and introduced himself.

"Hiya, I'm Son Goku. But most people call me by my middle name Kakkarot. How are you?" said Goku with his usual perkyness. Bulma, surprised by his friendliness, replied,

"Hi Goku, my name is Bul-I mean Mariko. Thanks for helping me, I'm kinda new here." Goku smiled and scratched the back of his head.

"No problem Mariko. Hey are you the new cook? I came down here to meet her, the last cook was wounded when The Prince got angry because the rice wasn't warm enough," said Goku shaking his head.

"Oh no, you must be talking about Ch-um Umeno. She just started working here. I think you'll really like her cooking," said Bulma smiling as she remembered just how good ChiChi's cooking was. Goku grinned.

"I'm glad we have a new cook, I never was full when the old cook was here. Us Saiyan's have big appetites you know," Goku said chuckling to himself. As he headed towards the Kitchen Bulma remembered her chores at the Main hall and she turned to Goku.

"Hey Goku, Can you point me in the direction of the Main Hall?", asked Bulma as she watched Goku's retreating figure. He turned and pointed to the opposite side of the Castle.

"Its pass the kitchens and the royal hall, you can't miss it! It's huge," said Goku, slightly distracted by the aroma's wafting from the kitchen. Bulma nodded a thank you and the two went into the kitchen. While Bulma headed towards the main hall Goku went to meet the new cook and hopefully grab a snack in the process.

Bulma looked at the pails in her hand and grumbled to herself.

"I went from princess to pauper in one day, all because of these damned Saiyans," Bulma whispered to herself angrily gritting her teeth. But she keep on walking, refusing to let the Saiyan's get the best of her.

As Bulma continued walking across the marble floor of the castle she came across a dark hallway which had two large doors at the end of it. One of which was crack open slightly. Curiosity pricking her heart, Bulma set down her bucket and slowly approached the gloomy hallway. Just what exactly was behind these two doors? Why did it seem so abandoned? Bulma got closer to the door and, summoning all her courage, pushed the door open. As soon as she stepped in to the room she found herself staring straight at the hilt of a sword.

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Will Goku like the new cook? What is behind the door? R&R and soon you'll find out