I know!!! You probably all thought I died! I'm soooo very sorry, and to
make up for it: Here's the next chapter with two very big plot twists in
it! (at least I think they are ;) Please review this and let me know what
you all thing about this chapter, I have to know!
----
Hinagiku- Hi!! This is hard. I want to answer your question, but I don't know how to word it after writing this chapter. I'm sure once you read through this, you'll figure out why it's dangerous for her. If you need me to elaborate on it, please feel free to tell me in your next review, an I will be more than happy to explain! Thanks!!! ;)
Ccfleursdelys- Hello! I'm terribly sorry it's taken so long for me to update! Thanks for keeping up with my story here, and I hope I hear from you again after this chapter! ;)
DBZ-fan-JESS- Gosh, everyone's gotta be out of patience with me, huh?! stares out window at agrny mob Yep! I'm a dead girl! Glad you like the story, and I hope you keep reviewing! ;)
Daisy31- I've decided, not to make anymore promises, cuz I feel horrible when something comes up and I can't update. I've been trying really hard, and there were a few other ideas I had to get out of my head before I could go on with this story! It worked, thnkfully, cuz I'm back! ;) Thakns for your review!
Seruleyan-Wings- soaking wet from water balloons I could be mean, and tell everyone that I was withholding the chapter because you hit me with a water balloon, but I'm not mean!!! ;) Gosh, I wish I could catch you online, girl! But I understand, you probably have lots of crap to do eand of the year type stuff! anyhow, thanks for all your support with all of my stories. I luv ya! you're the best, and hopefully I'll catch you on AIM sometime soon cuz we've got ideas to throw at one another! ;)
Lauren- Thanks so much for the reviews! ;) glad you like!
Videlchan313- Don't worry! Marron's gonna get hers. I just hope I can come up with a brutal end to her ch aracter that will satisfy all you savages!!! hahaha j/k! Thanks for reviewing all my stories! You're so good to me! ;)
Toxiclover- Hey! Thanks for reviewing and the lovely compliments! It means a lot, and I'm sure you'll do great in your stories! I'll be on the look out for them! ;)
TaiBulmaChan- You brought up a good point in your last review, of which might come in handy for later! Thanks a lot! Hope to hear from ya soon! ;)
Dopey- Akira's mad because the Cold's made a mockery of Vegeta and the saiyans by forcing Vegeta to marry Marron all those years ago. I can explain in detail if you want, but I'm trying to keep these individual responses short so people can get to the story. I have a lot of anxious people, from what I hear! thanks!! ;)
Shades of Crimson- blushes aw, man. You guys always make me feel so happy when I read your reviews! Thanks so much for all the support and praise. I luv ya gal! I still don't even know if I'm to the half-way point yet! Things are definitely getting interesting, huh?! ;)
Lady Frightmare- I hope you like this next chapter! I had major writer's block for a while, and I almost posted the firest half of this chapter just to appease my readers, but then I got to thinking that it would be lacking in some many ways if I did! Thanks for reviewing! ;)
Marie- Hello! Thanks for reviewing! ;)
Mini Nicka- Thanks for reviewing, and I hope you like this next chapter better! I know what you mean about that last chapter. It seemed like a 'filler' kind of thing to me too!
Hanna- Hi again! I'd explain, but I think you'll find if you read the second half of this chapter, that it might clear up some of that for you! ;) Thanks for reviewing! Sorry there hasn't been much Bulma and Vegeta scenes lately. They're coming! I promise!
Draegon-fire- I'm back too! Sorry to keep you waiting so long! Thanks for reviewing! ;)
anoyedshehighsupremeautho- The plot's gonna keep getting bigger, I hope! Thanks for reviewing! ;)
Sorceress Fujin- Thank you, thank you, thankyou!! ;) here's more!
KarineD- Get ready to jump for joy! ;) Cuz here's my update, finally!! Thanks for reading my fic, it's always great to see a new reviewer!! ;)
Rachel Kilowski- Thank you very much for your review! Things will only get more complicated, trust me. I know. I'm the author! hahha ;)
Kiawithia- blushes majorly again gee, thanks! Man, you reviewers are super nice to me! Thank you thank you!!! I'm glad you took the time to read my story. Sorry it took so long for me to update! Enjoy! ;)
Yeahyeah- Why, thank you! Here's my update! ;)
Trinity- I know! I love Vegeta and Bulma, too, and I understand that it must make people uneasy to see Vegeta with someone else, but it'll all work out. Trust me! Everything I do, I do for a reason, however screwed up my reasoning is! hahaha Thanks for reviewing! ;)
Shiro Ryu- Thanks a lot! ;) I'm glad you like my story so much, and I hope you like this next chapter as well!
LucretiaDecoy- I'm such a horrible person for holding out on you guys for so long!!! I'm sorry! So, finally, here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy! ;)
Gravidy- Hi!! backs away slowly as she sees the duct tape let's be civil here, huh?! I'm really really really sorry!!! runs for her life Thanks!!! ;)
AGAIN!! I'm sooooooooooooooo sorry!!!!!
----
Chapter 16: Hunting's a Blast!
Trunks ran ahead with his uncle Cass, who was in fact around the same age as him. The two boys were laughing as they raced down the hill. Arro trailed behind slightly, grateful to just have some time to himself. He could barely remember what it was like to be as carefree as the two ahead of him were acting. The weight of the saiyan empire had fallen on him at too young of an age, even with all the help he received from Akira and the others.
"You should go off with them," a gruff voice spoke up from beside him.
He looked up at his older brother and shrugged. "I'm enjoying the walk. Why? Are you trying to get rid of me?" He teased.
Vegeta didn't respond to the taunt. Instead, he watched his son and youngest brother playing. "You are still a young boy. You should be off playing like them," he commented quietly.
Arro sighed. "It's not that easy. Don't think I'm not grateful you're back, because I am! More than anything!" He paused, staring at the ground. "But. It's hard for me to forget what it was like filling your shoes," he admitted.
"You were never meant to. I should have listened to Akira that night," Vegeta mused. "None of this would have ever happened if I had."
"It's hardly her fault," Arro defended. "And it sure as hell wasn't yours. It's Marron's fault!" He glared up at Vegeta. "I don't understand how you could bring her back here alive after all she has done to our family and our people! She should be killed as father set out to do years ago, and although I don't like it, so should Kakkarot and Chichi. They disobeyed father," he ranted.
Vegeta placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I did not mean to imply that Akira was to blame, and the only reason that Marron lives is because of my son. They are too close, same with Kakkarot and Chichi, and if it weren't for them, the heir to the throne would have been killed, unknowingly, by father."
"I despise having her walk around the halls, brother. I can forgive the others, but what she has done, I can never forgive," he replied adamantly. Arro walked away toward Turlis and Radditz, who were talking as they sat around the campfire. "And neither should you," the young prince called out over his shoulder.
His brother was right. He should never forgive her, and 'I don't plan on it,' Vegeta decided, clenching a fist tightly.
----
Goku cleared his throat from the doorway, gaining the attention of a happy- looking Chichi and an oddly love-stricken June. "Um, what's going on?" He asked suspiciously.
Chichi smiled brightly. "June just received a letter from Lord Krillin. Apparently, he can't live without her, and he's coming here to visit!"
"Great! I've missed having Krillin around," Goku said. "When does he arrive?"
June snapped out of her gaze with a quick shake of her head and tried to compose herself. "He, ah, said he'll be arriving," she trailed off, scanning the letter again. "In two days!"
"Who's coming?" Bulma asked from the doorway, Thealda and Akira by her side.
"Krillin," Chichi relayed as the blond-haired woman dropped the letter and ran to hug Thealda.
The older priestess laughed and squeezed June back gently. "How are you, child?"
"I"m wonderful," she exclaimed. "How was your trip?"
"It was interesting," Thealda answered with a smile. "So, who's this boy that's mangaged to snag the ever hard-to-get June?"
Bulma chuckled. "He was the son of Lord Roshi, who ruled the planet we had settled on."
Akira nearly choked when she heard that. "What?! You were on Merces?" Roshi ruled over the planet Merces, where she had spent all that time in hiding with Arthos. It was a small universe! Almost too small!!!
"Yeah. You know it?" June asked.
Akira exchanged glances with her brother. He obviously remembered her being sent away. "Yeah, I've been there," she answered with hint of sadness in her voice. She pushed it aside and gave everyone a breathtaking smile. "I'll meet up with you all later. There are some things I must see to at the temple."
Thealda sensed that something was wrong, and she quickly spoke up. "I will attend you at the temple, Akira. There is a matter I must meditate over, that and it's been a while since I could properly pray."
The younger priestess looked about to object, but Bulma interrupted before she could. "We'll be right here or in the back gardens when you're finished." She was still a little angry with her newfound mother at the moment and wanted some time to think without the overbearing priestess hovering around.
"Perfect! Come, Akira. Lead the way," Thealda said.
----
"How long will they be on this trip?"
Akira stared ahead at the impressive height of the spires that crowed the temple distractedly. "Um, they'll probably come back tomorrow evening. They usually stay away for as long as they can," she answered slowly, clutching at her skirt anxiously.
Thealda nodded and watched the younger woman's hands with a frown. "Tell me what's troubling you, child."
"It's nothing that I can't figure out myself." Akira pulled open the large, wooden doors and stepped inside.
"I may be able to give you some advice, if you like."
"This is not the proper place to discuss something so trivial as my love- life," the silvery haired saiyan replied. "Or lack thereof. In any case, don't you have some praying to do?"
Thealda walked down the aisle of the empty church. "You keep this bottled up for too long, and it will destroy you." She turned to give Akira an appraising glare. "If hasn't already."
Glaring back, Akira made her way past the other woman and knelt in front of the alter. "I'm perfectly capable of handling my own problems," she replied as Thealda knelt beside her.
"It never hurt anyone to ask for advice or help. Honestly, how have you survived being a priestess when that is one of our main roles in society."
"We are here to do the helping, not to be helped," Akira countered.
"And here I am, offering to help you. I am a priestess, and for the moment, let's just say you're not."
Akira closed her eyes and sighed raggedly. "My situation is complicated."
"So was mine. Perhaps you might feel better if I go first," Thealda offered.
"Maybe," Akira mumbled thoughtfully.
"The first time I met the emperor, I was barely a teen. My parents had sent me to be trained at the temple on Briefsei, and since the temple and the imperial palace were so close, I saw him most every day." She smiled fondly at whatever memory floated through her mind, and Akira moved so that she was sitting in a more comfortable position. "By no means was it love at first sight," she continued with a soft laugh. "We fought the first five years of our aquaintance, and then suddenly one day, we were arguing over something stupid and trivial, and he just stopped." She closed her eyes, a whimsical expression lighting up her pretty face. "And he just stared at me as I went on and on about what a pain I thought he was."
Akira smiled, her face turned toward the ceiling. "And then he kissed you, right?"
"Yes, cutting off a particularly great insult I had just came up with. He took me completely by surprise. From that moment on, we were inseperable, but we were a secret. It put a terrible strain on our relationship, especially when I became pregnant the first time."
"You mean you have another child?!"
"Yes, two actually. Twins."
Akira was majorly confused. "But how is that possibly? Everyone always talks about Bulma and Marron, at least I suspect that is who they are talking about."
Thealda sighed heavily. "No, you have made the same mistake that King Cold made. The truth is," she stated, lowering her voice slightly. "I had two sets of twins, a year apart. The first set was seperated at birth. I was only allowed to keep my baby girl. My son was taken from me and placed in hiding. One of the Kais knows where he is, but I don't know which Kai knows. I may never see my boy in this lifetime."
"June," Akira whispered. "I've thought that her and Bulma shared some similarities in appearance. She's your daughter as well."
"You're good," the older priestess commended. "She thinks she is just an orphan, left at the temple to be taken care of by me and the other priestesses."
"You should tell her. She deserves to know."
"It's not that easy to just come out with all this now. Especially with Cooler and Freeza at odds over who should be in control of the universe."
"Is it fair that Bulma is being misconstrued for the heir to the throne, and that she is the only one in danger?" Akira stood up and began pacing back and forth furiously. "That poor girl has been caught in the midst of too much trouble. She's playing mother to a child that's not even hers, pretending to be the wife of a highly dangerous man of whom the person she's pretending to be selfishly betrayed, and if the Icejins come for her because they think she's the heir, she will be forced into yet another horrible situation!"
"Do you think I don't know all this? I fear for her life every second of every day, but there's nothing I can do about it," Thealda protested.
"Yes, there is. You can tell everyone the truth. You can save your daughter from the hole she's been tossed into!"
"At the risk of June, my son, and everyone around us?! You do know what that will mean for you, I presume?" She held Akira's confused gaze for a moment. "If the truth gets out, if I tell everyone, Vegeta's marriage will be annulled. He'll hold you to your word and make you queen. He still has feelings for you. I can sense it in the very air surrounding this planet." She watched sadly as the young saiyan woman before her became lost in an inner struggle with her emotions. "You won't be able to be with Prince Arthos. You'll be bound to Vegeta forever. You love them both, but I can see where your heart lies, Akira."
"Stop! Get out of my head, human," Akira hissed, tears slipping down her cheeks. "What does it matter anyway?!"
Bulma glanced into the dimly lit room with a concerned look. "Akira?" She rushed into the room and over to her new friend. "What's wrong? Thea-," she stopped and corrected herself. "Mother, what is wrong with her?" She demanded, hugging the sobbing woman as she was pulled down to her knees.
Thealda looked a bit shaken as she gazed back at the two younger women. "I don't."
"I'm fine," the silver-haired sayian spoke, pushing away from Bulma and getting to her feet. She wiped the wetness from her cheeks and brushed off the front of her dress. "Forgive me for loosing control of myself," she apologized to them. "I must go see to dinner. I shall see you both there."
As soon as she walked out of the room, Bulma turned toward her mother. "What happened?"
"We were speaking of Vegeta, and she just fell apart. I'm not really sure what's wrong with her."
"June wished to speak with you in the courtyard, that's what I came to tell you."
"Thank you."
Bulma glared at her mother's back as she walked out of the temple. She knew her mother was lying, and she had to know what happened. She picked up the front of her skirts and ran off toward the palace in search of Akira.
----
"Is everything ready to go? That clearance code I stole is only good for another five hours," Yamcha yelled to Ansolus.
The tall, dirty-blond man limped toward the small ship, still healing from the raid on the saiyan vessel months ago. "Yes, sir. We're all ready to go. Awaiting your orders?"
"Good! It's about time," the pirate leader stated smugly, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. "Soon, very soon, Vegeta. I'm gonna have my revenge on you. You're going to wish you never messed with me," he whispered evilly, staring at the floating sphere of Vegetasei from the safety of his fleet's cloaked orbit around the neighboring moon.
Ansolus frowned. 'This just isn't right anymore,' he thought. 'Yamcha's insane.'
----
The logs were crackling and snapping as the redish-orange flames devoured them. Radditz slapped Turlis on the back good-naturedly, laughing at the the punchline to a particularly racist joke about the Icejins. Nor chuckled to himself as he tossed another log onto the fire, and Nappa passed him a huge slice of freshly cooked meat.
"We're almost out of wood," Arthos commented.
Cass jumped up. "Me and Trunks will go!"
Arro got up and followed the boys into the woods. "I'll come too," he shouted after them.
Vegeta sat back, quietly taking in his surroundings. It was truly good to be back home amongst friends again, but his time in Freeza's dungeon still haunted him. He was afraid if he blinked, he might wake up in that dam, lightless cell once again huddled in a muddy corner caked in his own blood.
"Vegeta?"
The prince's shoulders twitched at the intruding voice he suddenly recognized as his best friend's. He crosed his arms over his chest and sat back against the tree behind him. "What?"
"You're pretty quiet tonight. Everything okay?" Arthos asked.
Vegeta focused on the roaring fire in front of him. "No," he replied honestly. "But I'm trying not to think of all that." He sighed, trying to come up with a distraction. "Why don't you tell us who this mystery woman of your is? That might help," he added.
Arthos suddenly found himself pinned by several intense gazes. He swallowed audibly, causing them to laugh. "If you laugh, there's no way I'm telling you," he shot back.
Radditz bit his bottom lip to stiffle his laughter, as did his two brothers. Nappa and Vegeta simply smirked at each other from across the flames.
"Lady Faolan from Riessei," answered quickly, picking up his drink and downing it in one large gulp.
Vegeta sat up straight. "The one your father wanted you to marry on your eighteenth birthday?"
Arthos nodded. "Yes. Apparently, the old man has keep the poor girl waiting all this time. Anyhow, to make a long, boring story short, I went home after my last visit here and met her for the first time. She's actually quite amazing," he said with a smile.
Nor, exchanged a guarded look with Radditz and Turlis. What was Akira going to think of this when she found out, they all were wondering. Nappa glanced toward the woods, wondering what was taking the kids so long to get back with more firewood, and Vegeta raised his cup to clank against the side of Arthos' cup.
"If you are happy, then so am I, friend," Vegeta announced.
"Good," Arthos replied with mock cockyness.
Nappa stood up and frowned. "Do you all hear something?" He floated about twenty feet into ther air, but stopped as soon as a bright light flashed over their heads.
Vegeta shot to his feet. "Nappa! Get down!"
The hunting party didn't have enough time to shield themselves as a powerful blast leveled the area, catching them all off guard and leaving them unconscious.
----
A huge cliffy, I know, but it had to be done. I really have to know what ya'll think about this one. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE review!!! I gotta know if I still got it! ;)
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PANDORA ;)
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Hinagiku- Hi!! This is hard. I want to answer your question, but I don't know how to word it after writing this chapter. I'm sure once you read through this, you'll figure out why it's dangerous for her. If you need me to elaborate on it, please feel free to tell me in your next review, an I will be more than happy to explain! Thanks!!! ;)
Ccfleursdelys- Hello! I'm terribly sorry it's taken so long for me to update! Thanks for keeping up with my story here, and I hope I hear from you again after this chapter! ;)
DBZ-fan-JESS- Gosh, everyone's gotta be out of patience with me, huh?! stares out window at agrny mob Yep! I'm a dead girl! Glad you like the story, and I hope you keep reviewing! ;)
Daisy31- I've decided, not to make anymore promises, cuz I feel horrible when something comes up and I can't update. I've been trying really hard, and there were a few other ideas I had to get out of my head before I could go on with this story! It worked, thnkfully, cuz I'm back! ;) Thakns for your review!
Seruleyan-Wings- soaking wet from water balloons I could be mean, and tell everyone that I was withholding the chapter because you hit me with a water balloon, but I'm not mean!!! ;) Gosh, I wish I could catch you online, girl! But I understand, you probably have lots of crap to do eand of the year type stuff! anyhow, thanks for all your support with all of my stories. I luv ya! you're the best, and hopefully I'll catch you on AIM sometime soon cuz we've got ideas to throw at one another! ;)
Lauren- Thanks so much for the reviews! ;) glad you like!
Videlchan313- Don't worry! Marron's gonna get hers. I just hope I can come up with a brutal end to her ch aracter that will satisfy all you savages!!! hahaha j/k! Thanks for reviewing all my stories! You're so good to me! ;)
Toxiclover- Hey! Thanks for reviewing and the lovely compliments! It means a lot, and I'm sure you'll do great in your stories! I'll be on the look out for them! ;)
TaiBulmaChan- You brought up a good point in your last review, of which might come in handy for later! Thanks a lot! Hope to hear from ya soon! ;)
Dopey- Akira's mad because the Cold's made a mockery of Vegeta and the saiyans by forcing Vegeta to marry Marron all those years ago. I can explain in detail if you want, but I'm trying to keep these individual responses short so people can get to the story. I have a lot of anxious people, from what I hear! thanks!! ;)
Shades of Crimson- blushes aw, man. You guys always make me feel so happy when I read your reviews! Thanks so much for all the support and praise. I luv ya gal! I still don't even know if I'm to the half-way point yet! Things are definitely getting interesting, huh?! ;)
Lady Frightmare- I hope you like this next chapter! I had major writer's block for a while, and I almost posted the firest half of this chapter just to appease my readers, but then I got to thinking that it would be lacking in some many ways if I did! Thanks for reviewing! ;)
Marie- Hello! Thanks for reviewing! ;)
Mini Nicka- Thanks for reviewing, and I hope you like this next chapter better! I know what you mean about that last chapter. It seemed like a 'filler' kind of thing to me too!
Hanna- Hi again! I'd explain, but I think you'll find if you read the second half of this chapter, that it might clear up some of that for you! ;) Thanks for reviewing! Sorry there hasn't been much Bulma and Vegeta scenes lately. They're coming! I promise!
Draegon-fire- I'm back too! Sorry to keep you waiting so long! Thanks for reviewing! ;)
anoyedshehighsupremeautho- The plot's gonna keep getting bigger, I hope! Thanks for reviewing! ;)
Sorceress Fujin- Thank you, thank you, thankyou!! ;) here's more!
KarineD- Get ready to jump for joy! ;) Cuz here's my update, finally!! Thanks for reading my fic, it's always great to see a new reviewer!! ;)
Rachel Kilowski- Thank you very much for your review! Things will only get more complicated, trust me. I know. I'm the author! hahha ;)
Kiawithia- blushes majorly again gee, thanks! Man, you reviewers are super nice to me! Thank you thank you!!! I'm glad you took the time to read my story. Sorry it took so long for me to update! Enjoy! ;)
Yeahyeah- Why, thank you! Here's my update! ;)
Trinity- I know! I love Vegeta and Bulma, too, and I understand that it must make people uneasy to see Vegeta with someone else, but it'll all work out. Trust me! Everything I do, I do for a reason, however screwed up my reasoning is! hahaha Thanks for reviewing! ;)
Shiro Ryu- Thanks a lot! ;) I'm glad you like my story so much, and I hope you like this next chapter as well!
LucretiaDecoy- I'm such a horrible person for holding out on you guys for so long!!! I'm sorry! So, finally, here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy! ;)
Gravidy- Hi!! backs away slowly as she sees the duct tape let's be civil here, huh?! I'm really really really sorry!!! runs for her life Thanks!!! ;)
AGAIN!! I'm sooooooooooooooo sorry!!!!!
----
Chapter 16: Hunting's a Blast!
Trunks ran ahead with his uncle Cass, who was in fact around the same age as him. The two boys were laughing as they raced down the hill. Arro trailed behind slightly, grateful to just have some time to himself. He could barely remember what it was like to be as carefree as the two ahead of him were acting. The weight of the saiyan empire had fallen on him at too young of an age, even with all the help he received from Akira and the others.
"You should go off with them," a gruff voice spoke up from beside him.
He looked up at his older brother and shrugged. "I'm enjoying the walk. Why? Are you trying to get rid of me?" He teased.
Vegeta didn't respond to the taunt. Instead, he watched his son and youngest brother playing. "You are still a young boy. You should be off playing like them," he commented quietly.
Arro sighed. "It's not that easy. Don't think I'm not grateful you're back, because I am! More than anything!" He paused, staring at the ground. "But. It's hard for me to forget what it was like filling your shoes," he admitted.
"You were never meant to. I should have listened to Akira that night," Vegeta mused. "None of this would have ever happened if I had."
"It's hardly her fault," Arro defended. "And it sure as hell wasn't yours. It's Marron's fault!" He glared up at Vegeta. "I don't understand how you could bring her back here alive after all she has done to our family and our people! She should be killed as father set out to do years ago, and although I don't like it, so should Kakkarot and Chichi. They disobeyed father," he ranted.
Vegeta placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I did not mean to imply that Akira was to blame, and the only reason that Marron lives is because of my son. They are too close, same with Kakkarot and Chichi, and if it weren't for them, the heir to the throne would have been killed, unknowingly, by father."
"I despise having her walk around the halls, brother. I can forgive the others, but what she has done, I can never forgive," he replied adamantly. Arro walked away toward Turlis and Radditz, who were talking as they sat around the campfire. "And neither should you," the young prince called out over his shoulder.
His brother was right. He should never forgive her, and 'I don't plan on it,' Vegeta decided, clenching a fist tightly.
----
Goku cleared his throat from the doorway, gaining the attention of a happy- looking Chichi and an oddly love-stricken June. "Um, what's going on?" He asked suspiciously.
Chichi smiled brightly. "June just received a letter from Lord Krillin. Apparently, he can't live without her, and he's coming here to visit!"
"Great! I've missed having Krillin around," Goku said. "When does he arrive?"
June snapped out of her gaze with a quick shake of her head and tried to compose herself. "He, ah, said he'll be arriving," she trailed off, scanning the letter again. "In two days!"
"Who's coming?" Bulma asked from the doorway, Thealda and Akira by her side.
"Krillin," Chichi relayed as the blond-haired woman dropped the letter and ran to hug Thealda.
The older priestess laughed and squeezed June back gently. "How are you, child?"
"I"m wonderful," she exclaimed. "How was your trip?"
"It was interesting," Thealda answered with a smile. "So, who's this boy that's mangaged to snag the ever hard-to-get June?"
Bulma chuckled. "He was the son of Lord Roshi, who ruled the planet we had settled on."
Akira nearly choked when she heard that. "What?! You were on Merces?" Roshi ruled over the planet Merces, where she had spent all that time in hiding with Arthos. It was a small universe! Almost too small!!!
"Yeah. You know it?" June asked.
Akira exchanged glances with her brother. He obviously remembered her being sent away. "Yeah, I've been there," she answered with hint of sadness in her voice. She pushed it aside and gave everyone a breathtaking smile. "I'll meet up with you all later. There are some things I must see to at the temple."
Thealda sensed that something was wrong, and she quickly spoke up. "I will attend you at the temple, Akira. There is a matter I must meditate over, that and it's been a while since I could properly pray."
The younger priestess looked about to object, but Bulma interrupted before she could. "We'll be right here or in the back gardens when you're finished." She was still a little angry with her newfound mother at the moment and wanted some time to think without the overbearing priestess hovering around.
"Perfect! Come, Akira. Lead the way," Thealda said.
----
"How long will they be on this trip?"
Akira stared ahead at the impressive height of the spires that crowed the temple distractedly. "Um, they'll probably come back tomorrow evening. They usually stay away for as long as they can," she answered slowly, clutching at her skirt anxiously.
Thealda nodded and watched the younger woman's hands with a frown. "Tell me what's troubling you, child."
"It's nothing that I can't figure out myself." Akira pulled open the large, wooden doors and stepped inside.
"I may be able to give you some advice, if you like."
"This is not the proper place to discuss something so trivial as my love- life," the silvery haired saiyan replied. "Or lack thereof. In any case, don't you have some praying to do?"
Thealda walked down the aisle of the empty church. "You keep this bottled up for too long, and it will destroy you." She turned to give Akira an appraising glare. "If hasn't already."
Glaring back, Akira made her way past the other woman and knelt in front of the alter. "I'm perfectly capable of handling my own problems," she replied as Thealda knelt beside her.
"It never hurt anyone to ask for advice or help. Honestly, how have you survived being a priestess when that is one of our main roles in society."
"We are here to do the helping, not to be helped," Akira countered.
"And here I am, offering to help you. I am a priestess, and for the moment, let's just say you're not."
Akira closed her eyes and sighed raggedly. "My situation is complicated."
"So was mine. Perhaps you might feel better if I go first," Thealda offered.
"Maybe," Akira mumbled thoughtfully.
"The first time I met the emperor, I was barely a teen. My parents had sent me to be trained at the temple on Briefsei, and since the temple and the imperial palace were so close, I saw him most every day." She smiled fondly at whatever memory floated through her mind, and Akira moved so that she was sitting in a more comfortable position. "By no means was it love at first sight," she continued with a soft laugh. "We fought the first five years of our aquaintance, and then suddenly one day, we were arguing over something stupid and trivial, and he just stopped." She closed her eyes, a whimsical expression lighting up her pretty face. "And he just stared at me as I went on and on about what a pain I thought he was."
Akira smiled, her face turned toward the ceiling. "And then he kissed you, right?"
"Yes, cutting off a particularly great insult I had just came up with. He took me completely by surprise. From that moment on, we were inseperable, but we were a secret. It put a terrible strain on our relationship, especially when I became pregnant the first time."
"You mean you have another child?!"
"Yes, two actually. Twins."
Akira was majorly confused. "But how is that possibly? Everyone always talks about Bulma and Marron, at least I suspect that is who they are talking about."
Thealda sighed heavily. "No, you have made the same mistake that King Cold made. The truth is," she stated, lowering her voice slightly. "I had two sets of twins, a year apart. The first set was seperated at birth. I was only allowed to keep my baby girl. My son was taken from me and placed in hiding. One of the Kais knows where he is, but I don't know which Kai knows. I may never see my boy in this lifetime."
"June," Akira whispered. "I've thought that her and Bulma shared some similarities in appearance. She's your daughter as well."
"You're good," the older priestess commended. "She thinks she is just an orphan, left at the temple to be taken care of by me and the other priestesses."
"You should tell her. She deserves to know."
"It's not that easy to just come out with all this now. Especially with Cooler and Freeza at odds over who should be in control of the universe."
"Is it fair that Bulma is being misconstrued for the heir to the throne, and that she is the only one in danger?" Akira stood up and began pacing back and forth furiously. "That poor girl has been caught in the midst of too much trouble. She's playing mother to a child that's not even hers, pretending to be the wife of a highly dangerous man of whom the person she's pretending to be selfishly betrayed, and if the Icejins come for her because they think she's the heir, she will be forced into yet another horrible situation!"
"Do you think I don't know all this? I fear for her life every second of every day, but there's nothing I can do about it," Thealda protested.
"Yes, there is. You can tell everyone the truth. You can save your daughter from the hole she's been tossed into!"
"At the risk of June, my son, and everyone around us?! You do know what that will mean for you, I presume?" She held Akira's confused gaze for a moment. "If the truth gets out, if I tell everyone, Vegeta's marriage will be annulled. He'll hold you to your word and make you queen. He still has feelings for you. I can sense it in the very air surrounding this planet." She watched sadly as the young saiyan woman before her became lost in an inner struggle with her emotions. "You won't be able to be with Prince Arthos. You'll be bound to Vegeta forever. You love them both, but I can see where your heart lies, Akira."
"Stop! Get out of my head, human," Akira hissed, tears slipping down her cheeks. "What does it matter anyway?!"
Bulma glanced into the dimly lit room with a concerned look. "Akira?" She rushed into the room and over to her new friend. "What's wrong? Thea-," she stopped and corrected herself. "Mother, what is wrong with her?" She demanded, hugging the sobbing woman as she was pulled down to her knees.
Thealda looked a bit shaken as she gazed back at the two younger women. "I don't."
"I'm fine," the silver-haired sayian spoke, pushing away from Bulma and getting to her feet. She wiped the wetness from her cheeks and brushed off the front of her dress. "Forgive me for loosing control of myself," she apologized to them. "I must go see to dinner. I shall see you both there."
As soon as she walked out of the room, Bulma turned toward her mother. "What happened?"
"We were speaking of Vegeta, and she just fell apart. I'm not really sure what's wrong with her."
"June wished to speak with you in the courtyard, that's what I came to tell you."
"Thank you."
Bulma glared at her mother's back as she walked out of the temple. She knew her mother was lying, and she had to know what happened. She picked up the front of her skirts and ran off toward the palace in search of Akira.
----
"Is everything ready to go? That clearance code I stole is only good for another five hours," Yamcha yelled to Ansolus.
The tall, dirty-blond man limped toward the small ship, still healing from the raid on the saiyan vessel months ago. "Yes, sir. We're all ready to go. Awaiting your orders?"
"Good! It's about time," the pirate leader stated smugly, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. "Soon, very soon, Vegeta. I'm gonna have my revenge on you. You're going to wish you never messed with me," he whispered evilly, staring at the floating sphere of Vegetasei from the safety of his fleet's cloaked orbit around the neighboring moon.
Ansolus frowned. 'This just isn't right anymore,' he thought. 'Yamcha's insane.'
----
The logs were crackling and snapping as the redish-orange flames devoured them. Radditz slapped Turlis on the back good-naturedly, laughing at the the punchline to a particularly racist joke about the Icejins. Nor chuckled to himself as he tossed another log onto the fire, and Nappa passed him a huge slice of freshly cooked meat.
"We're almost out of wood," Arthos commented.
Cass jumped up. "Me and Trunks will go!"
Arro got up and followed the boys into the woods. "I'll come too," he shouted after them.
Vegeta sat back, quietly taking in his surroundings. It was truly good to be back home amongst friends again, but his time in Freeza's dungeon still haunted him. He was afraid if he blinked, he might wake up in that dam, lightless cell once again huddled in a muddy corner caked in his own blood.
"Vegeta?"
The prince's shoulders twitched at the intruding voice he suddenly recognized as his best friend's. He crosed his arms over his chest and sat back against the tree behind him. "What?"
"You're pretty quiet tonight. Everything okay?" Arthos asked.
Vegeta focused on the roaring fire in front of him. "No," he replied honestly. "But I'm trying not to think of all that." He sighed, trying to come up with a distraction. "Why don't you tell us who this mystery woman of your is? That might help," he added.
Arthos suddenly found himself pinned by several intense gazes. He swallowed audibly, causing them to laugh. "If you laugh, there's no way I'm telling you," he shot back.
Radditz bit his bottom lip to stiffle his laughter, as did his two brothers. Nappa and Vegeta simply smirked at each other from across the flames.
"Lady Faolan from Riessei," answered quickly, picking up his drink and downing it in one large gulp.
Vegeta sat up straight. "The one your father wanted you to marry on your eighteenth birthday?"
Arthos nodded. "Yes. Apparently, the old man has keep the poor girl waiting all this time. Anyhow, to make a long, boring story short, I went home after my last visit here and met her for the first time. She's actually quite amazing," he said with a smile.
Nor, exchanged a guarded look with Radditz and Turlis. What was Akira going to think of this when she found out, they all were wondering. Nappa glanced toward the woods, wondering what was taking the kids so long to get back with more firewood, and Vegeta raised his cup to clank against the side of Arthos' cup.
"If you are happy, then so am I, friend," Vegeta announced.
"Good," Arthos replied with mock cockyness.
Nappa stood up and frowned. "Do you all hear something?" He floated about twenty feet into ther air, but stopped as soon as a bright light flashed over their heads.
Vegeta shot to his feet. "Nappa! Get down!"
The hunting party didn't have enough time to shield themselves as a powerful blast leveled the area, catching them all off guard and leaving them unconscious.
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A huge cliffy, I know, but it had to be done. I really have to know what ya'll think about this one. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE review!!! I gotta know if I still got it! ;)
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PANDORA ;)
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