Hi everyone! Hope you like the update! A big thank you to all my reviewers! (distributes cookies and fruit punch)

Yeahhwwn… man is it late… go ahead—read and enjoy—please R&R, and I'm gonna go over here and get cozy…zzzzz lol

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Seraphim reclined on the pitched roof of her house, and dangled a sandal lazily off the edges of her toes as she watched the stars come out. It had been a good day, albeit a busy one—the outsiders were good guests, but it was also good to see them go. She had a feeling that this was going to be the last such tour for quite some time.

She gathered up plenty of leftover roast griffin for Bardock earlier, and was keeping it warmed up in the fire pit in her yard. She sat up to throw a small energy ball on it to keep the fire going, and looked toward the palace and the village square a few miles away…no sign of him anywhere…

Her thoughts strayed to that mysterious, handsome man she met outside the palace. She wondered what his story could be—not everyone dared crossing the Sea; everyone knew there were great monsters in the Farir that leaped out to eat careless travelers. Especially the weaker ones. What could have made him so anxious to get there—especially since the safer way of circling the Sea only took a couple more days?

'He had such a panicked look about him…' She mused. 'Maybe he came here for the same reason I did…mother always thought it was because I needed protection or guidance, so I came to the palace without thinking about it.'

Her earliest memory occurred only eight years ago, and it was of shivering in front of the Palace…cold, hungry, and frightened because she had no idea how she got there, or why she decided to go, or where there was. All she knew was her name. The little, elderly priestess of the village came upon the hill, discovered her, and raised her as a daughter from that day onward.

'I know--if he really is in that kind of condition, I'll invite him to stay with me and I can show him how the world works. I'll tell him the story of the Beginning first, and then he wont be nervous about nightfall like I was at first. I have it memorized too, so its not like we have to stop what we're doing to get the book.' She realized that she was blushing furiously, which made her blush even more.

Idly, she recited the story in her head…

'In the beginning, there was Bolero, and his wife Ophelia. Bolero enjoyed creating living beings, and Ophelia delighted in creating lush gardens for them to live in. For eons, there was harmony between the two, and then they both wished to further themselves.

'Ophelia created the deserts, jungles, mountains, and the vast oceans. She learned to make them small, and as fabulous pearls, so that she could wear them with her favorite jewels.

'Bolero decided to create truly remarkable beings, so he made several of them, and bade them to fight one another. With every lesson he learned from the winner's design, he would create more. He wanted to prove his greatness by creating a being as nearly as great as himself.

'One of his favorite creations were the Oozarong. They were great and mighty creatures who quickly put all his other creations to shame. They never ran out of energy, or got hungry or sick, or lost a single battle.

'Eventually, of course, they too, grew weary in their own way, and demanded better creatures to fight with, seeking a true challenge. Bolero was amused by their antics, and created countless powerful beings for their amusement and His own. But one day, the Oozarong approached Him, and wished to challenge Him directly, for all of his other creations were as nothing to them, and they felt that nothing else could compare.

'Bolero flew into a rage, insulted by their pride, and cursed them all to forever lose their powers. To become small and weak beyond measure. To grow old, and eventually die. He then cast them all at the feet of their enemies—who were all of His other creations, and told them to show no mercy, so that he could find favor with them once again.

'When Ophelia saw this, she was aghast. And she asked her Husband how He could hate them so—when they had finally become the creatures He had set out to make in the first place. He told her such was the fate of all who questioned or challenged Him, and left the fallen Oozarong to their suffering.

'Ophelia watched over them for a time alone, and noticed that while some of them ran about and hid, trying to preserve their lives, others fought hopeless battles. She also saw some of them trying to protect one another. She watched as they learned the meaning of true courage, wisdom, and honor.

'At last, one day, when the time was right, she created a large pearl, and upon it she made her finest garden. She filled it with countless plants, vast waters, good soil and all manner of glittering stones, and it was good. She placed upon it countless beasts, both weak and strong, and went to the fallen Oozarong.

'She gathered them up from the wrath of their enemies, and placed them all inside the new garden. She then went to them, and they were afraid, for they knew not what She would do.

'She separated all the fallen Oozarong that had been too quick to run from their tormenters. She gathered them at her left hand, saying that they would henceforth be known as the Tuffle, and would remain tailless and powerless, as they were, but live long if they used their senses correctly and learned their lessons well.

'She gathered all the other ones at her right hand, and said that they would henceforth be known as the Saiyan. She told them that they had learned their lessons well, and so She blessed them with long life, good health, and a measure of their former glory.'

'They raised their voices joyfully, and praised Her name, and fought in celebration, for they knew they were also free to become as mighty as their want. Seeing the joy of her children, and telling them that she would ever watch over them, and protect them from the wrath of Her Husband, She left them for a while, and put their garden in her jewelry box, calling it Vegeta.

'And so each day she opens the box to admire her jewels and watch over us, and when she closes the box securely at night, all we see are the bright, glittering jewels inside.'

The wind riffled her long, white hair, and she sat up, brushing it out of her eyes She almost leaned back again before she realized… that there was too much activity. Normally everyone who lived in the village was on the isle to the east battling or heckling by this time of day… but she saw people running out of their houses, and joining a growing crowd that marched down the road. She saw wood thrown on the massive bonfire, and the bones and leftover griffin she had left behind being taken away…

She stood up in alarm…her mind racing…this was the punishment for the most severe crimes in the Kingdom. But being the Priestess of the village, she would have heard if anything had been done to deserve it! And she or the King would have to be in attendance for it to be legal---

Her thought was cut off as she felt a huge energy spike near the island to the east the fights were always held on. It was a signal that could only mean two things. King Pellinore was on his way, and she had to move…this had just become serious.

Even as the last tendrils of this thought blew across her mind, she was halfway there.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

'Excellent' the lead guard had said…and even though he couldn't see his smile, Bardock could hear it.

'Excellent?' Oh good God no…his blood turned to ice water in his veins. I didn't even DO anything! He renewed his frantic, useless struggle to get away, but to no avail. The crowd of guards pressed in all around him, half carrying half dragging him toward the fire he had smelled earlier. He heard knocking on doors, and a rising babble of mingled voices and shouts…

"Hey what did he do? I didn't think anyone was due for a trial today…"

"Wow look at all those guards! Whoever that fella is he must be really strong—"

"I knew letting all those outsiders in was a bad idea—I was telling Lenord the other day—I said 'Lenord….'"

"Dad look! A parade! Can I watch?"

Staving off panic by a grim act of will, he knew he only had one last good escape plan in him before he lost his mind all together.Perhaps if he went limp…and made them believe he passed out—then maybe his captors wouldn't bother to bind him with energy chains, before…before--and he'd have at least a chance to fly for his life.

He tried…he really, truly did. But he couldn't do it—he was wound up too tightly. He heard a crash and thud as a huge log was tossed on the fire…it was getting closer. The few stars that he could see were blacked out by glowing smoke. And even as he saw the dancing embers swirling up into the sky his mind was still running uselessly. He was thinking about how the very bottom of a candle flame is blue, and couldn't burn a finger passing through it. 'Just tuck and roll…just tuck and roll and you'll be ok. Please, please don't let this happen…at least…at the very least let me tell someone…don't let this be for nothing…ok Ophelia? Ok…'

And then something amazing happened…a bright white energy aura flashed above them all, dispelling the smoke in an instant. His captors stopped their march, and a few of them even staggered back. He could see why…because never in his life had he seen something so beautiful and filled with wrath. He saw a mixture of surprise and understanding in her expression for just an instant, as she regarded him, before she focused her full attention on the leader of the guard. "JENNER! STAY THIS NONSENSE!" It wasn't a plea… it was a command.

"Lady Seraphim!" Jenner screamed up to her, powering up a little bit. "THIS is the DEMON from BEFORE! The one who took the STAR—the actual STAR! I SAW HIM DO IT! HE HAS COME TO DO IT AGAIN! DON'T PERMIT HIM TO ESCAPE WITH HIS WORTHLESS LIFE AS YOUR MOTHER DID!" Bardock noticed that the guard that had grabbed his tail earlier was loosening his grip a little, but not quite enough for him to make a break for it yet…

She landed, and stalked toward the guards, and stopped inches from his face, her ice blue gaze filled with contempt. "Are you questioning my mother's judgment?" They exchanged looks and drew back from their captain, looking at him as though he was already dead. "Tell me, Jenner," Her voice still had a commanding edge to it, and she spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. "If he truly is a demon, why hasn't he gotten away by now?"

Jenner didn't reply right away. "Because he can't."

"Ah, ha… I see. You think that you can stop a 'demon' capable of stealing a star, but he can't get away because one of you rabble are holding onto his tail? Let him go. This instant. This mockery has gone on long enough."

Jenner gave a little laugh, that sickening smile was back in his voice. "And, why would I give that order?"

Seraphim closed her eyes for a moment, as though praying for strength, or restraint. She didn't dignify Jenner's question with a response. "Do you really, seriously know what I think?" Her pale eyes blazed, "I think that there are only two reasons why you've done this. And I can't decide which disgusts me more. I think that you saw me speaking to him earlier—I sensed you nearby." At this Jenner gasped. "Don't deny it. And I also think its because he's obviously from one of the kingdoms farther south. So you thought that you could incite the public against him by using those ridiculous myths about how all the people there are in league with demons, and in doing so get rid of someone who you felt was competing with you for my attention. I never could stand you, Jenner. And this dishonorable behavior is precisely the reason why. Now I'm telling you as Priestess to get away from Bardock, and as Seraphim, I'm telling you to get away from my mate, before I kill you. Do I make myself clear?"

As she spoke, she gradually powered up, and the guards released their hold on Bardock at once. He powered up immediately, and before the shocked Jenner could say another word, he was spun around. Bardock shot him point-blank in the face with an energy blast, and danced out of the way before a fist swung blindly throughempty air with devastating force, meant for his head. He landed low a few yards away, and then launched himself mercilessly back at the injured guard's midsection. He was determined to pay this asshole back for what he had put him through no matter what the cost.

First Seraphim thought that he was trying to hit Jenner in the stomach, but she uttered a gasp of surprise along with everyone else as Bardock caught his tail in both hands, and bent it back on itself with a loud crack!

Jenner screamed and doubled over, several of the men in the crowd passed out, and Bardock leapt out of the injured man's reach. "And that's what happens when…when that happens." He finished lamely, with a sheepish grin on his face and a happy, ruthless gleam in his eye. 'At least I got some of my pride back', he thought 'and it looks like I impressed Seraphim—bonus!' She was watching him with wide eyes…but…

She was looking from his face to an area over his head…a few feet higher up. With a tense look on her face.

Almost against his will, he craned his neck up. The huge man loomed above him, covered in scars. He wore the skins and razor sharp fangs of some unimaginable beast, and even without seeing the star of the royal family tattooed on his arm, he knew exactly who he was dealing with. King Vegeta's older brother…

"Ah, well met, King Pellinore."

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Its late, and I cant think of anything too witty to write in this space right now lol—so like I said before please r and r, and Ill have the update out for you all—fresh baked---in a week or so )

Take care now, all! (kisses+hugs) lol