Dragon Ball Z: Dynasty – Prince Vegeta's Struggles with "Friendship"

Written by: Feraligreater328

Overseen by: StevenBodner and SparkerLightning

Chapter 13: Summer Festival

In East City...

Vegeta sighed as he and Bulma walked down the crowded streets of East City, looking for their accompaniment for the evening. The Prince gazed through the crowd, picking out several faces he recognized. "Hm. Kakarot and Raditz are here with their wives...Yamcha is here with his...the three-eyed fellow and his dwarf are here too..."

Bulma smiled. "Maybe we should try to get everyone together for chilled soba later on~! Mom and Dad are watching the kids, so we can stay late~"

Vegeta grunted. And then he adjusted the sleeves of his dark blue happi. "So, this is traditional dress for an eastern-style festival, eh?"

Bulma smiled, wearing her warmly-colored yukata and carrying a paper parasol. "Yeah. I've only ever been to this festival once or twice, but Krillin insisted that we come seeing as he lives here. Apparently, he invited everyone, if Goku and the others being here is an indication~"

"Yeah, I did!"

Bulma and Vegeta both turned and saw Krillin and Android 18 walking up to them. Krillin was also wearing a happi, with a cotton-rope headband tied around his head. His robe was emblazoned with the sigil for the East City Police Department. "Me and the guys down at the precinct are going to be a part of the parade this year! I wanted everyone here for the fun~"

18 stood next to Krillin. She was dressed in a silken kimono marked with several dragons flying amongst what appeared to be some kind of lily flower. Her hair was done up in a done and she had a paper fan gripped tight in one hand. "Hey Vegeta..."

Vegeta nodded. "Android."

Bulma looked from 18 to her husband. Krillin looked from Vegeta to his fiancée. The two of them smiled and Krillin cheered. "Okay! We have a bit of time before the parade! And then we're going to meet up with everyone and enjoy a nice dinner while the fireworks go off! So, let's just go and have fun until then~"

And have fun they did. The four of them moved from stall-to-stall, taking part in all of the festivities. They bought masks at a stand: 18 buying a kitsune mask, Vegeta buying an oni mask, Krillin buying a jizo mask, and Bulma buying a tengu.

They went to the game stalls and won several prizes, from Vegeta successfully catching several goldfish with a paper net, to 18 gathering an entire bag of plush sea critters due to her skills with a pop-gun rifle. The Saiyan Prince gorged himself on treats from every food stall from oden, to tempura, to candy-floss and candied apples. 18, meanwhile, enjoyed several bottles of Itami Onigoroshi.

After a few hours of meandering and enjoying each other's company, 18 stuck around with Bulma and Vegeta while Krillin went to prepare for his big moment. And when the parade came, his dancing was noticed and cheered by all of his friends.

Finally, the evening ended with everyone gathered on a hill to watch the fireworks. Goku, Chi-Chi, Gohan, Raditz, Launch, Gine, Yamcha, Suno, Tien, Chiaotzu, 16, 17, Bulma, Vegeta, 18, and Krillin all sat in a circle, laughing and making merry as they bonded over their chilled soba dinners.

The concept of danger or peril didn't exist that evening, just simple enjoyment of the life they all shared on Earth. The promise of friendly smile and the echo of joyous laughter a perfect accompaniment to the fireworks.

18 held Krillin's hand tight, chugging her third bottle and finally feeling a bit drunk. She smiled down at him and he kissed her with passion. And then, 18 slumped over onto Vegeta's shoulder. The Prince was taken slightly aback, but he didn't budge. 18 looked up at him and smiled warmly. "Thanks for coming and hanging out. It's been a fun evening~"

As cranky as he was, Vegeta looked to all of the fools whom he spent his time with one Earth. And to his shock, the inside of his chest felt warm. He adopted a small smile that he immediately concealed. "Yes. It has..."