A beautiful mix of pinks, purples, and oranges covered the horizon as the sun was beginning to rise.
The green villain Piccolo dipped his cupped hand into the clear running stream of the river and then brought his hand to his lips, drinking away at the cool refreshing water that glittered under the rising sun. The sound of footsteps and a twig snapping behind him immediately got Piccolo's attention.
His heart skipped a beat. In a flash, he turned around and stretched his arm out, hand flat and ready to release an energy blast at whoever was sneaking up behind him.
A blue mother triceratops and her small yellow son beside her looked at Piccolo with frightened eyes. They had never seen anything move so quickly and it had been so unexpected.
It had taken Piccolo a few seconds for him to work out that it had only been the animals making the noise as they were most likely heading for the river to get a drink as he had.
Piccolo's face that had held such great fear seconds ago turned to indignation at himself and he allowed his arm to fall to his side.
He turned from the dinosaurs and walked a little distance away from the river and then sat down on the ground, crossing his legs underneath himself.
Cautiously, the triceratops and her child made their way to the water and began to drink, just as Piccolo started to speak to himself.
"I can't let my fear control me like that." He growled, baring his teeth.
Ever since he had felt that huge power level a few days ago as he had been out flying, looking to a new place to train he had been on edge ever since.
He could remember how the moment he had sensed that power he had stopped frozen in mid-air out of terror, unable to breathe. Afterward, he had been heading ever so slowly to the source of that great power but at a slow speed, trying his best to keep his own power undetected from whoever was the source of that ridiculous strength.
Piccolo clenched his hands tightly into fists, making his sharp nails dig deep into his palms. His purple blood began to seep out of his clenched hands and splatter to the ground.
It just better not be Goku. Piccolo thought bitterly in hatred toward the hero.
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.
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Well, now that's settled. Chichi thought relieved as she hanged up the phone in her room next to her bed.
She had just ended the call to the people that she had mentioned to Vegeta yesterday. The ones who would begin today to start to look thoroughly in their books of such a flower as she had described from the notes she had taken.
The princess brought a hand to her mouth and yawned. She was still in her pink pajamas and her black sleep mask had been pushed up on her forehead.
She had made it her personal mission yesterday that the first thing she would do tomorrow after waking up would be to keep her word and she had.
Chichi smiled to herself, happy with that she had.
She laid back in her bed and stared at the ceiling, thinking about all the information Vegeta had shared with her before they both needed to get some shut-eye.
He had told her just a little about the person named Frieza after she had asked.
Said that he was still out there conquering or destroying planets. He is an evil warlord that Prince Vegeta and some of the other Saiyans had managed to escape from.
Vegeta had also told her he had been attending to business on the planet he had been on when he was ambushed and then stabbed. By some miraculous way, he managed to escape despite his ship being blasted at as it was flying off.
After all that damage his ship which should have died as it was traveling to earth, the nearest habitual planet, it hadn't.
It had lasted hours.
So that had been two unexplained encounters that Chichi was grateful for.
The Ox princess's eyes moved to the card on the nightstand. It was laid beside her telephone.
The name Bulma Briefs was written on the white card in big bold letters along with Bulma's personal number.
Goku's friend Bulma had kindly given her the card after Piccolo had been defeated by Goku at the tournament.
The blue haired beauty pulled out from the red pouch connected to her belt a card and held it out for Chichi.
"If you ever need a friend or someone to talk to here's my number, Hon," Bulma said with eyes full of compassion for the younger woman. "Us girls got to stay together and be there for each other."
Chichi was touched by her kindness and gladly took the card from Bulma.
"You're so sweet! Thank you. I couldn't agree more." Princess Chichi smiled.
Chichi took in a deep breath and slowly released it. Despite the fact that she and Goku had parted as friends, she had really needed that little act of Kindness Bulma had shown her.
Chichi reached over and picked up the phone and then nervously dialed the number on the card.
The phone rang three times before it was answered.
"Hello? Brief's residence." Answered an older man's voice. "Dr. Briefs speaking."
Chichi's eyes grew large and she felt her stomach flip. She hadn't expected him to answer Bulma's personal number.
They had tons of Mr. Briefs books in their library.
The princess's palms began to sweat. She was actually speaking to a very famous scientist over the phone!
Now is not the time to give in to excitement!
"Anyone there?" Asked Bulma's father.
"Er.. Yes. Hello. I'm sorry. Is Bulma Briefs there? Can I please speak with her? This is a friend of hers. My name is Chichi."
"Oh, well... I am sorry to tell you this but she's not. She won't be home for quite a while. Bulma went to be with the rest of her friends as they went off training somewhere. She accidentally left her phone here."
Chichi's heart dropped at the news.
"Oh. I see. Do you know where they all went?"
Perhaps I can travel there myself and tell Goku and the others about Vegeta.
"Uh... well... Bulma did say where they were all going but ... I forgot." Replied Dr. Briefs in embarrassment.
Chichi internally groaned at that.
"Well, perhaps I can give her a message telling her to call you when she gets back?" Nervously asked the professor.
"Yes, please. Tell her to call Chichi and that it's urgent."
Chichi could hear in her ear Dr. Briefs jotting down her message on a notepad.
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"Dearest prince." Frieza mockingly hissed as he dug his foot painfully into Vegeta's chest, eliciting a cry from the battered royal. "I have given you chance after chance to give me a good reason why I shouldn't end your life after your pathetic defeat by such a weakling. Such embarrassment, as you know is not tolerated."
Frieza then lifted the Saiyan off the ground by the neck with his tail.
Vegeta could only look into those sickening ruby eyes with one of his own eyes as his other had his blood dripping into it, making him have to keep it shut.
"Face it, monkey," Frieza smirked at Vegeta and crossed his arms. "You've exhausted all your pathetic reasons and I found none of them satisfactory."
Frieza raised a finger of his slowly in front of Vegeta and the Prince started to struggle to get free, knowing what was about to come.
A tiny amber ball of energy appeared above Frieza's finger.
This was it. He was going to die without fulfilling his destiny.
If only he could speak, then he would tell Frieza how he really had felt about him all these years.
"Say hello to your father for me." Grinned Frieza before throwing Vegeta powerfully into the air.
Vegeta could hear the tyrant behind him as he flew helplessly in the air, laughing loudly.
A second later burning heat hit the back of Vegeta and then enveloped him.
Vegeta screamed in agony as Frieza's energy blast was starting to kill him.
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"Wake up! It's just a nightmare you're having!" Cried Chichi desperately.
Vegeta's eyes snapped open as he woke up with a gasp.
He was panting and drenched in sweat.
The prince's eyes rapidly moved, taking in his surroundings.
He had been dreaming.
It had felt so real. Vegeta thought in astonishment before mentally cursing Frieza.
His eyes moved slowly to the princess who had freed him from the terror that he had been in seconds ago.
Chichi was gasping for air and her long dark hair was wet, clinging to her face. She was wearing a blue summer dress.
She had only recently finished taking a bath and had just gotten dressed when suddenly the castle itself had begun to shake.
Quickly she had run into the room and seen Vegeta screaming as if he was dying while he was powering up in his sleep.
She had tried to shake him awake, but he wouldn't.
It had taken her to power up beyond a level that she knew was possible for her to reach before finally one of her slaps across his face woke him up.
Vegeta could feel his left cheek slightly stinging.
"...Woman?" Vegeta wide eyed awkwardly murmured at her slowly, taking her in.
She was a mere few inches from his face, still heaving and a layer of her white ki covered her. Her hand was still on his cheek after slapping him that final time and concern was on her face.
He could detect that she smelled sweet. The aroma being from the strawberry scented body wash she had used. The prince drank in the splendor of her beauty and couldn't help but appreciate the kind woman's personal strength in that she had managed to make him feel just a twinge of pain. His eyes of their own volition went to her lips, much to his embarrassment.
Chichi became still, seeing where Vegeta's gaze had settled, and just then it fully hit her how close they were.
Her face instantly burned red and Chichi reflexively slapped Vegeta again, before quickly moving and turning away from him. Her hands flew to her cheeks as she was mortified at what had just taken place and how she had just accidentally slapped him.
Vegeta scowled at her slap, but thankful that though it had not hurt him at all it had managed to break him out of the spell he had been in.
"What was that for, Princess?" He loudly demanded, while his face burned crimson.
"I'm so sorry!" Chichi shyly cried out with a face as red as a tomato, before quickly running out of the room.
Author's note: I hoped you enjoyed the chapter and I'd love to hear your thoughts. Question to my readers:
Who's your favorite DBZ character? Mine is Piccolo. :-)