The light that is fading in the clouds
Falling at the window is too noisy
The cooling memory is just like the sound of the rainwater
Capture my heart, refuse to leave
That increasingly strong
Lock in the nostalgia
Couldn't I step back in time
Back to the time when you give me a hug
Everything now doesn't matter
I follow the tortuous path that is wet
Look back at our memories together
In the rain that obscures the vision, I think of you
In my tears, you emerge in my mind
That increasingly strong
Lock in the nostalgia
Can I step back in time
Back to the time when you give me a hug
Everything now doesn't matter
All dissipated, whether it's the time we spent together, or the look of you and me at the time
Let's back to the time when I am in your embrace
Couldn't I step back in time
Even if this is the only chance, or the last chance
It doesn't matter
- "Back in Time" by Lyn
(The Moon Embracing the Sun OST)
Episode 4
The Strong Stands Above all
"Prepare yourself, Yon, for you are to take the throne very soon." King Vegeta informed his son, which made the Crown Prince whirl to face him in utmost shock.
Prince Vegeta spat back in disbelief, "What?!"
"I know you heard me, boy! You are to be crowned as the new King of all Saiyans and the Planet Vegeta in the next seven days whether you like it or not!" the King shouted indignantly at his son's response.
Prince Vegeta could only stare at his father in desperation, completely at a loss of words at that shocking revelation.
~=-o-O-o-=~
Inside the Royal Council's Office, the Ministers discussed about the prospect of the Crown Prince's upcoming declaration as Prince Regent.
"Judging by our Crown Prince's attitude, I think he would react negatively about the news. His rebellious attitude would allow him to go against it without proper excusable reason." said the Minister of Government Affairs, Horenso.
"But then, Prince Vegeta has always prided himself with his capabilities, what if he accepts the prospect of becoming king? If he does, we'll be under his watch. Unlike his father, the crown prince is wise and is never afraid of anything. It would be hard to control him for he knows he could destroy us all."
"What are you so afraid of? We councilmen are protected under Saiyan Law. If he kills anyone of us, it would be much easier to dethrone him and cast him out of Planet Vegeta. Once that happened, King Vegeta will not return to take the throne due to shame while Prince Tarble is not fit to become king at all." Paragus smiled. "And remember just how temperous our little prince is, it's only a matter of time before we could make Broly the ruler of all Saiyans."
The Minister of Finance, Kabu snickered, "Yes, yes, Minister Paragus. Hehehe..."
"Though, I doubt that Prince Vegeta will not actually show up on Lord Frieza's arrival tomorrow. If he does and his explosive temper sparked the ire of Lord Frieza, then he might be killed without ever taking the throne. Once Prince Vegeta is out of the way, it would be easier for us to overthrow those two remaining royal blood and have Broly as our new king!"
"Ah! Good idea! Good idea! We could only hope that he does appear though. I am actually expecting him to make a troublesome scene before the Emperor!"
Paragus turned around to face the window and smiled evilly to himself, "Soon, very soon..."
~=-o-O-o-=~
Back to the Crown Prince's Palace where the King and his heir were arguing about the Crown Prince's attendance to the arrival of the Galactic Emperor.
"As the current king, I command you to come and appear to the welcoming ceremony for the Galactic Emperor tomorrow morning. You are to be introduced before Lord Frieza and will be announced as the upcoming ruler of the planet."
That was all what the King said before he turned around and walked out regally. Vegeta barely snapped himself out of his shock when he answered back rather childishly.
"I don't want to!" He spat rather childishly, looking like a spoiled brat who was being forced to do something he refused to do so.
His father's footsteps halted and slowly turned his head over his shoulder to glare at him with a hard look.
"This is not something you do because you want to or not! You are the future King of all Saiyans and yet, you have been irresponsible with your palace duties as the Crown Prince! You will go to welcome Lord Frieza tomorrow!"
"I said no!" Vegeta yelled back. "I will not attend to welcome that overgrown lizard to my planet knowing that he is here to enslave us all! I will not do it and you will not make me! And it's not like I chose to become a Crown Prince!"
King Vegeta became blinded with rage and he vanished from his position to appear right in front of his stubborn son. He raised a palm and slapped his heir once again, "Do you wish to be dethroned from your position as the heir to the throne, brat?!"
Prince Vegeta recovered quickly and bared his teeth at his father, "No! Of course not!"
"Then do your duties properly instead of wasting your time going on lollygag!" King Vegeta scolded.
"Don't tell me what to do! I will decide whatever I do as Crown Prince whether you like it or not!" The Saiyan Prince roared before he turned around and strolled away indignantly.
"Vegeta Yonsei!" the king shouted. "Don't you dare turn your back and walk out on me when I am talking to you!"
(Note: Yonsei, meaning 'The Fourth')
Vegeta jeered in return, not entirely affected by his father's threats, "Too bad, I'm going to do just that, old man!"
That did it.
"You disrespectful brat!" The King finally snapped as he charged at his impudent first born, completely blinded by his ire.
Vegeta immediately perceived his father's upcoming attack and so he quickly dodged out of the way. He found his father gliding across the floor, spinning around to unleash a potent backhand but the prince was able to avoid it. He cannot miss the look of animalistic rage on his sire's face. He looked like he was ready to kill him. He easily sidestepped every furious assault from his old man. A punch slid past on his right side and hit him square on the face. It didn't even make him flinch. He grabbed his father's wrist and smirked at him, his eyes reflected such mockery and his obvious displease of his father's combat capabilities.
"Heh! So you want to teach me a lesson, father?" Prince Vegeta said in a disparaging grin. King Vegeta was glowering at him with his bloodshot, rage filled eyes. The prince's smile melted into a displeased scowl. "Too bad, you're not fast and strong enough to make me obey you!"
Using his hold on the king's arm, Vegeta hurled his father so hard he sent him propelling across his palace hall.
King Vegeta rolled into the marbled floor that cracked upon his impact and crouched down, preparing to launch himself forward to attack back at his son but he immediately froze when he found his heir pointing a finger charged with purple deadly ki towards him.
The look on the crown prince's face was intense and piercing, malevolent even, like an icicle piercing through his heart. One that emanated the aura of an unreluctant murderer, "Get lost..." Prince Vegeta commanded with an icy tone. "Now..."
King Vegeta was appalled to know that his first born would not hesitate to destroy him if he continued to force him into doing things he didn't want to do. He could not miss the unnecessary cold hatred creeping within the boy's hard, sharp onyx eyes and the lack of respect in him. It sent chills rolling up his spine. What could he do to make his boy listen to him?
Vegeta saw the fear and disbelief on his father's looks and he wanted to spit in disgust of it. It took his greater powers and sheer ruthlessness to make his father cower before him like a scared dog and it maddened him to the core. Despite his disgust of his father's actions, he could feel such guilt creeping in his hardened heart about scaring him to death and so he dissipated his ki and put his finger down.
"Stand up and get out of my face! If I feel like it then I will go and welcome the Galactic Emperor tomorrow as you wish, just don't step down your throne... I know I'm not yet ready to deal with your stupid treaty."
The king was too shocked and ashamed of himself for being defeated by his son, and he wished to leave as soon as possible. He stood up to leave the crown prince's palace without a word. But before he could stroll out of the door, he turned around to look at his first born's back. The king could see a thick invisible wall in between them. He wanted to reach out for his son, to beg him to stop being so troublesome, to be more responsible in his duties, to listen to him but he knows his words would only be blocked away by his heir's unbelievable stubbornness and hardened heart.
In his chest, the proud king felt broken at the way his crown prince acts around him. He wanted to ask him directly what his problem was, to make up for whatever the boy thinks he was lacking at. Most of all, he wanted to see him look up to him the way he did as a child, back when his mother the queen was still alive. That look of worship, of fondness, of a child who completely trusts his father, a look that says he wanted to become like his beloved father. He can't deny that he missed the wide, warm smile of his first child running towards him with open arms. But then, he was afraid that his son would see it as a weakness after he has tried to teach him that soft-heartedness was meant to make a warrior fall. He cannot risk making his son hate him more because of that. Or hear Vegeta scoff at his words and shut him out again. He let out a loud, heavy sigh before he walked out to leave his son alone.
Vegeta felt his father's reluctance. He could sense how much his father had wanted to tell him something else, something he guessed he always wanted to hear from him but immediately hesitated before he could utter a word about it. He shook his head. His father had always been like this. A stoic, guarded man. Vegeta knows exactly where he got his own cold hearted and prideful side. He was very much like his father when it comes to being too proud on showing emotions that's considered as being soft and weak, like helplessness, pain and defeat. Other than his physical looks and the proud, aloof attitude, Vegeta takes on his mother's side. That he was an unstoppable force of nature, someone who would stop at nothing until he gets what he wants. He's extremely stubborn, rebellious and wanted everything to get in his way. He got his fierce, tempestuous temperament and smart mouth from her that could literally burn anyone down to ashes. That is why he despised his father for acting like a coward and do nothing about something he should do.
Vegeta silently snorted to himself before he decided to go to his training chamber to release his frustration there.
Just as he unleashed his anger by furiously and relentlessly punching and kicking imaginary images of the black hooded person who killed his mother and made his father cower when he was a child, flashes of memories of him with his mother and her death replayed in his mind.
~=-o-O-o-=~
Fourteen years ago...Queen Saya and her four year old little boy were at the royal balcony watching at the stars across Planet Vegeta's night sky.
"Yon, my son. If I die, would you ever miss me?"
The young crown prince Vegeta looked up to his mother and huffed arrogantly,
"Why should I?" The boy already had his father's coldness, she saw. "No! Of course not!" The boy scoffed, frowning at his mother.
The queen was dumbfounded by her son's cold answer. She knew it, just like his father, he doesn't mean those words in reality. The boy was already too proud for his age.
"Heheheh… Just like your father," she said.
It's not like Vegeta was actually being cold towards her back then, he loved his mother dearly. He only said that because he strongly believed that it would take a long time before his mother dies. He swore to himself that if anyone dared to hurt her, his father, or his younger sibling, he would make them suffer the consequences of his wrath. He would protect them no matter what and if he could, he would definitely stop death from taking their precious lives away.
"Anyways, even if you say so, I know you would one day miss me. If you do, just look into the sky and I will be there, watching you through that star." She pointed at one of the stars in the sky.
Despite his low opinion of his mother's sentimentalities, he decided to go along, "Why?"
"Because that is my star."
The young prince Vegeta looked up to where his mother was pointing at and frowned."Your star? But that's Riyel, how did it become your star?"
"Eh?" The queen was struck by her son's words. Her son just named that star! Must be the astronomy books he was reading yesterday.
"W-w-well… T-That one!" the queen pointed into another star.
"That's Sugui."
"No, that one!"
"It's Sairil."
"That one!"
"It's Yusui."
The queen pointed at every star visible in the sky but Vegeta was able to name all the stars she pointed out.
"Mama, stop being so ridiculous. How can you own a star? Did you conquer it? If so, how did you conquer it if it's a ball made of gas?"
His mother was shaken to the core by her son's smart mouth.
"Then I can be the whole sky!" the queen exclaimed as she spread her arms wide.
Her son only scoffed at her. "The sky? No it doesn't belong to you alone. It belongs to all living things in this planet as well. "
The queen could only sigh in defeat. Being outsmarted by her four year old brat was shameful on her part but as a mother, it made her very proud of him.
Vegeta knows of this and he laughed at his mother's words but was cut off when he felt her arms wrap around him."You're growing up to be a proud, strong and wise future king. I'm glad. You made me so proud of you, my son."
Vegeta blushed awkwardly in his mother's arms, feeling quite aggravated by her softness. But just like the child he was, instead of turning away he snuggled on her chest and purred, smiling in satisfaction.
"When I die, I entrust your father and your brother to you. Always be there on their sides, especially when they needed you the most, protect them from any harm that would come in their way and love them just as I do. As for you, become a royal who your people would see as a brave and proud warrior, a wise ruler and with a heart that hears the cries of his people for help. Don't become too arrogant with your power and use it to make your subjects cower in fear for if you do that, no one will respect your authority and they will never follow your lead. Remember that a ruler is nothing with no one for him to rule over. Those who are blessed to be born strong and powerful should use that gift to defend and protect those who are weaker than them. I want you to become a crown prince and future king who would fight to protect what is good and right. You are the only one who could bring about a change to our people, their only hope. You must return the Saiyans to the way they were always meant to be. The proud, mighty and honorable warrior race and Kingdom the Universe will surely admire. Do you promise me that you will do that? Hm?"
Vegeta has no idea why his mother was saying those things to him at all. He didn't know that it would be the last night he would be this close to his beloved mother but then since she sounded annoying when she becomes so soft and lecturing him like this, he was forced to say, "Fine, I promise."
~=-o-O-o-=~
Young Prince Vegeta heard of the palace workers going in a panic and worried of the king and queen. He decided to sneak out of Nappa, who tried stopping him from going to his parent's palace but his raw strength had overwhelmed his attendant and he ran towards where he could sense his parents in the throne room. He found a small figure in a black hooded cloak with glowing red eyes lifting his struggling mother in the air while his father was not far away, on his knees and literally cowering before the unknown figure. Young Vegeta was immediately blinded with rage and showed up before the enemy while his parents looked at him in shock, silently ordering him to back down.
King Vegeta quickly jumped to restrain his son from attacking the enemy.
"Let me go, papa! I have to save mama!"
"Yon, calm down and stop this! Your mother will be safe!"
"How is she going to be safe if you're not doing anything to save her?!"
"Restrain yourself from attacking, it would make matters worse! Yon!"
"So you are the crown prince I heard so much about." The voice of the offending man was horribly unpleasant to young Vegeta's ears. It sounded calm and soothing but he could not miss the deadly poison beneath it. "You poor little thing, you have to witness this terrible scene. Do you even know what your fool of a father has done in order for me to do this?"
"If it is my father's fault then punish him, stay her out of it. She's definitely out of this."
The enemy laughed disparagingly, "Too bad it doesn't work that way, young one. You see, your father has stolen something for himself and sent my lord the less better one. So in order for him to compensate, I was ordered to take away his most precious person in his life. His queen. However..."
Vegeta cannot see straight anymore and he was barely aware that his father's grip on him became more desperate and tight because he was losing control of his own power. He could barely hear his mother's plea for him to run.
"...I could sense that a mere child like you has such ominous latent powers. Should I let your mother go and finish you first before you are able to tap into that power out of rage?"
Vegeta snarled animalistically at those words from the bastard, a warning.
"Stay my son out of this, you bastard!" Queen Saya shouted as she tried to kick the enemy off her.
Vegeta's rage rose when he saw the cruel bastard break his mother's leg and he felt something snap inside of him. He wanted to kill this insolent bastard, rip him from limb to limb, burn his flesh and drink his blood! The beast within him roared, tempting him to satisfy its intense bloodlust. However, it just happened in a blink of an eye before he felt his strength ebb away from him as he perceived his father gripping on his tail. As he felt the weakness reign over his senses, everything turned black for him.
By the time he opened his eyes, he found Nappa sitting next to him on his bed. The first thing he asked about was his mother. Nappa didn't say anything at all, but that sorrowful look upon his attendant's eyes told him something. Realizing what it meant, an uncomfortable feeling crept up within young Prince Vegeta's heart and he rushed in panic towards the Queen's Palace, which was located on the Western side of the Royal Grounds, next to the King's Palace. Nappa and several court ladies chased after him, with the huge general trying to catch the quick prince.
Vegeta saw his father standing at the balcony of his palace, with Zorn and Paragus talking to him in a hushed voice. For a moment he caught on what they were saying...
"Our deepest condolences to you, your Majesty. Please do not feel bad for her Majesty, the Queen because she sacrificed her life for the sake of the Royal House. She is a Queen and a Warrior worthy to be honored."
"It doesn't matter. Saya chose her own death." The king said with a disinterested tone. His face hard and cold. "What matters now is that we are able to protect the Crown Prince from that monster. Zorn, take care of the Queen's funeral and no matter what happens, do not tell Yon about what really happened. That boy might go on a berserk rampage to hunt down Frost. It will be problematic if the Galactic Empire learns about his latent powers and the prophecy. I do not wish for them to take away the chosen one and our only hope."
"As you wish, your Majesty." Zorn responded.
King Vegeta dismissed the matter after that and decided to return to his quarters but... He immediately halted his steps when he found his four year old first born son standing right behind him.
"What did you just say?" the young prince asked, his voice was wavering with both shock and suppressed anger. Tears beginning to form as his lips quivered, "Sacrifice? Funeral? T-The Queen... M-My mother..?"
"Yon..." King Vegeta raised his hand and stepped towards his son. The prince automatically stepped backwards to distance himself from his father.
Prince Vegeta shook his head, the tears finally falling down, drop by drop, down to his cheeks and into his armor, "Y-You... W-Why are you..? Are you trying to... hide this from me?"
"Yon - listen to me and just calm down... Your mother -,"
Before the king could finish, Vegeta unceremoniously stormed out of the King's palace, crying out in tears, "Mamaaaaa!" as he dashed towards the Queen's quarters.
He sprinted across the spacious courtyard outside the King's Palace which would lead to the Throne Hall and the Queen's palace, as Zorn, Nappa and the royal guards chased him once again.
Prince Vegeta unexpectedly and surprisingly tripped out of his panic and he slid on the ground with a thud. Because of this, Nappa was able to finally catch him and pulled him closer to his arms.
"Let me go!" the young prince bellowed as he punched his attendant on the chin with an unrestrained uppercut to break free from the giant man's grasp but Zorn quickly grabbed him by his tail in order to weaken him. "I said let me go, you bastards! I'm going to my mother! Mamaaaa!"
He was throwing tantrums now just as his knees hit the ground once again and a wave of weakness made him dizzy.
King Vegeta strolled towards his son. "Let him go, Zorn." he commanded. The General did so and they stepped aside as he walked forward towards his crying son. Vegeta shook his head in distaste before trying to escape again but the king harshly grabbed his small arms and pulled him in place, facing him.
The child could only stare back in terror and shock at the strength of his father's iron grip on his arms before whining aloud, "Mamaaaaaaaa..!"
King Vegeta shook his son, causing the prince to hitch in fright. He glared at his son directly in the eyes and hissed, "Stop those tears this instant, boy! You are a warrior, the most powerful among the Saiyans. A Crown Prince of a proud and mighty warrior race must not cry over frivolous matters! Your mother is dead and there is nothing you can do about it."
"I could have saved her if only you let me do it!" the prince yelled.
"What's done cannot be undone, and there's no need to dwell on something that cannot be changed. Your mother chose to sacrifice herself for us."
"Shut up! If you weren't such a coward then she shouldn't be dead!"
The king shook his son once again, harsher this time. "Watch your mouth on me, boy!"
Vegeta simply hicoughed back as he stared fearfully at his fearsome father, the poor boy couldn't keep his tears from dropping. "Mamaaaaa..." he whined.
Finally losing his patience with his son, King Vegeta growled. "Fine. Do as you wish. I will let you see your mother for the last time. Cry all you want for this day until there's nothing left of your tears. This will be the last time you will shed any tear for the rest of your life. That is an order."
The King grabbed the prince's right arm and dragged him towards the Queen's palace where Saya's remains were. He showed his son the urn of his mother's ashes. He explained to his child that his mother's body was reduced to powder after she used all her ki to create a devastating explosive wave and obliterated the enemy, which proved futile. Frost was able to escape by teleportation.
Vegeta stared at his mother's urn, not listening to his father's words any longer. How was such a beautiful woman be reduced to powder just like this? How did this happen? He was just on his beloved mother's arms yesterday. Why? He felt anger at the fact that he could have saved her if only his father did not knock him out. He did blame his father for the death of his mother but he never dared to speak about it again.
However... It didn't stop his wrath from exploding that day. Whoever was that enemy responsible for her so called 'sacrifice' shall pay dearly with his blood. In his rage, the planet began its fearsome tremors due to Prince Vegeta's awakening dormant powers. The young heir to the throne felt his latent powers burst outwards like a raging firestorm as he let out a long, ear piercing outcry. Much to the king's and everybody's shock. This was the first time the Saiyan Prince became so enraged that everyone felt his ominous inate bloodlust - which was the most fearsome they had ever felt. He attacked his own father in a berserk rampage, and the king had a hard time calming him down until the prince regained his control.
Since then, Vegeta swore that he will hunt down the killer of his mother. He searched across the galaxies, while he satiated his primordial bloodlust by killing other entire races and destroying worlds. He was sure that if that guy knew and sensed his power, he will come after him. This was how his powers and cruel reputation became a fearsome legend across the galaxy as the Destroyer of Worlds.
He also made sure that he will make his father pay the price for his actions. He swore to himself that he will make his father feel how much his respect for him had been thrown away for his foolishness. As the years gone by, Vegeta's relationship with his father turned worse the longer it takes for his sire to realize it.
~=-o-O-o-=~
The Saiyan King sat on his throne and ordered for everyone, aside from his right hand man, Zorn, to leave him alone. Once he and Zorn are alone, his stone cold expression melted as he slid down on his throne and slumped forward, looking very stressed and tired. The exhaustion on his face was so obvious, he looked like he was ready to give up on his life already.
Zorn watched at the desperate king with a sympathetic look. "Your Majesty, do you wish for me to hear whatever is troubling you?"
King Vegeta raised his dark eyes to look at his most trusted soldier, he's like a child seeking the comfort of his parent, "It's about Yon. I don't know what I should do to make that boy to listen, Zorn. The council was right about him that being such a prodigy has made him too arrogant and rebellious for his own good. I'm afraid the opposition might use this as an opportunity to dethrone him."
King Vegeta was well aware of the fact that his councilmen were so against him and his son but decided not to do anything about it in order to keep his sons safe.
"They wanted Yon to take over the throne temporarily in order for them to see his faults and use it against him to dethrone him as crown prince and I can't let that happen."
"Your Majesty, I am very sure that you are well aware that Prince Vegeta's capabilities are definitely superb that he was the best among all Saiyans, he is wise and he will not be dethroned as easily as the opposition would think. But we should not ignore the fact that he is young and his view of politics is different from the perspective of his elders. It is very amazing that he was able to analyze things from his own point of view and sees differently than others. The only problem he has was the fact that no one was present to see these things with him. Someone to believe in him.
"If ever there was a person who did that for him, it was the late queen, your Majesty."
"Come to think of it, he started acting strangely since Saya's death fourteen years ago. I always knew that he still blames me responsible for her death, but he never dared to utter a word about it again. Do you think that his rebellious and disrespectful attitude towards me is because he still blames me for that?"
"Your Majesty, my great apologies for I have no exact idea. But have you ever wondered why the Crown Prince is being so troublesome? Why he usually disappears without even telling anyone where he's going?"
"Do you think he's seeking attention to himself?"
"Exactly, sire."
"Tch! He's being such a child!" scoffed the king.
"Yes, your majesty. He does act like an immature, spoiled brat. But have you ever thought why he does that?"
"Because he is indeed an immature, spoiled brat who wants everything to go his way!"
"Your Majesty, I ask that you try to see things in the Crown Prince's perspective. I am not in the place to say something about how exactly he feels towards his life or how he perceived things. For me, the Crown Prince may have become an adolescent physically, but he's indeed a child in mind and in heart, because no one was there to guide him rightfully to adulthood. Nappa, Bardock or his Generals could be there for him but what he actually needs the most... is a father."
~=-o-O-o-=~
Vegeta walked out of his training chambers after he was done ripping the place once again. He realized it was already night and he looked up to see the stars twinkling across the dark violet sky. He was reminded of his mother's words once again and stared at the constellations in sorrow.
Not far away from him, Bulma was also looking up at the constellations.
It was such a solemn moment in between them and yet neither realized each other's presence until Vegeta looked down and saw her standing ten meters away from him. From his perspective, she looked absolutely gorgeous looking at the stars, quite a wonderful scenery to watch. He stared at her breathlessly for quite some time, taking note of her face, her eyes that stared into the stars with such longing. Her soft, rosy lips partly opened making him wonder how it feels. Her skin pale at the luminiscent glow coming from the two half moons that hung above the dark violet sky.
"Your highness!"
"Ah Gushopeya!" Jumping out of surprise, Vegeta turned to see Nappa next to him. Knowing this might get Bulma's attention, he pulled Nappa in front of him like he was a giant doll of his, in order to conceal himself on his attendant's burly physique.
"Nappa! You idiot! Don't startle me like that!" he scolded. His burly, bald attendant's eyes widened in shock. Since when did the powerful Crown Prince become startled by a mere call?
"My apologies, your highness." Nappa bowed. "But why are you-?" Noticing the uncomfortable gaze the prince has, he curiously turned his head to see a blue haired girl looking in their general direction. "Hey you! What are you doing looking over here?! This is the Royal Crown Prince of all Saiyans and the Planet Vegeta, put your head down and show him proper respect!"
Bulma's eyes widened at the General's words. The Crown Prince? That Prince Vegeta? He's there, right behind that big burly guy? She tried to see but the General's titanic build was blocking her view of the Crown Prince. The only thing she could see was his blue, battle torn pants and shabby white boots. He looked very small in comparison to that bald guy, she noticed.
"I said put your head down, woman!" Nappa harshly growled and Bulma quickly put her head down in terror.
"M-my apologies, master." she muttered shakily.
Vegeta curiously peeked from Nappa's elbow and found Bulma bowing down, she was shaking. Was it from fear or anger? He wondered how much her pride was hurting right now after being forced to show respect to the man who destroyed her home planet and killed her family. He felt bad for her, knowing how that might feel. Oh well, that way she won't be able to see his face and he felt thankful for Nappa.
"Nappa," he called his attendant's attention, his gaze not leaving Bulma's form.
"Yes, your highness?" Nappa responded as he returned his humble gaze at him.
"What is it that you want to tell me earlier and you dared to interrupt my thoughts?" Vegeta demanded.
Nappa doubted that though. He was sure the prince was looking at the slave girl with... with a look that tells him something.
"General Zorn awaits for you at your palace, your highness." Nappa responded.
Vegeta was displeased. "Zorn? Tell him I don't have time to see him-."
"I know you might say that, so I decided to follow General Nappa to come before you in here, your highness." Zorn's voice abruptly came from behind him.
Vegeta did not even turn to see his father's General as he spoke in a cold, imperious voice, "What do you want, General? Did my father send for you to convince me to come tomorrow to welcome Frieza? Or did you come to tell me how he's been after I sent him barreling across the halls?"
"My apologies, your highness but I came before you without being ordered by his Majesty. I came on my own accord." Zorn said. "I know I am in no place to be putting myself in between you and your father, but... how long do you intend to turn your back on him and shut him out of your life?"
"For so long as I'd like." Vegeta answered heartlessly.
"I think it has been too long, your highness."
"You think so?"
"Yes, your highness."
"Too bad, I couldn't care less about it. I intend to do it for all eternity."
"But your highness, your father needs you so badly. A king is not a king without a queen on his side. Since the queen has been deceased for fourteen years already, he only had you as the Crown Prince and Prince Tarble left to support him. Please know that his Majesty has been pretty stressed lately due to the upcoming treaty and his doubts of opposition in his councilmen and with his personal matters with you. As a servant for the royal family, I humbly ask that you help your father by being responsible to your duties as a Crown Prince. He can't take everything by himself, he needs you to understand his burdens and help him. Please open up your heart and hear my pleas, your highness!"
Vegeta's eyes narrowed at Zorn's words, he was reminded by the half hearted promise he gave his mother the day before she died.
"I implore with General Zorn, Vegeta-niisan. Please listen to him, Niisan." Vegeta heard Tarble behind him and sensed him and Zorn fall to their knees.
Nappa and Onio also fell before him and bowed, "Your highness! Please listen to General Zorn."
Kakarot and Raditz arrived and also fell down to their knees.
"Please hear our pleas, your highness!"
Vegeta never looked at any of the kneeling Generals and his younger brother as he said coldly, "No." before he strolled away regally. Nappa, Kakarot and Raditz quickly stood on their feet and chased their hard hearted prince, leaving Zorn, Tarble and Onio stunned, looking at each other in disappointment.
"Your highness!"
Vegeta entered his palace like a storm that left his path completely devastated.
"You three leave me alone and come back to me when I ordered so. I needed to think alone." he commanded his Generals.
Nappa, Kakarot and Raditz looked at him with hope. They guessed there's still a chance for him to change his mind.
"As you wish, your highness." They bowed before him before Vegeta slammed the door to his room on their faces using psychokinesis.
Prince Vegeta stood on his room looking at the wall across him as if it was his greatest enemy. Then he turned to take his black armor and changed.
~=-o-O-o-=~
Bulma let out a sigh of relief as the crown prince finally left and came inside the palace. Kneeling and having your head down for long is a pain in the neck after all. She saw the crown prince enter the palace, but because it was already dark, all she saw was his flowing red cape. Nappa, Kakarot and Raditz all followed him like fearful shadows while Tarble, the second prince, General Onio who she met already and another Saiyan General stood up from the ground. The three looked really down and disappointed.
According to what little things she heard from them, it seems that Prince Vegeta have a rough relationship with his father. She felt bad for the king for having such a hard hearted son.
Nappa, Kakarot and Raditz reunited with Tarble, Onio and the other Saiyan General, Zorn a minute later.
"He said he needed time to think. Don't worry about it, I'm sure his highness will attend the Galactic Emperor's arrival..." she heard Kakarot say.
"Ah, there goes Kakarot again with preceding the Crown Prince's decisions..."
Bulma gasped at the voice that suddenly murmured behind her. She quickly spun around to find Sadara watching at the Generals and Prince Tarble talk.
Before Bulma could say anything, Sadara put his finger over his pouting lips. "Come with me."
"Where?"
Sadara did not answer her question, ignoring her and strolled away without saying a word. Bulma sighed and followed him to wherever he wants to take her.
They were back in the forest like garden again, but they took a different route than the other night.
"Uh... Sadara-sama, isn't this quite far away from the palace? I need to go back to work soon."
"Forget about it. The Crown Prince wanted to be left alone unless he ordered for us to come back. He may not want to eat for now."
"B-But..."
"Don't worry, woman. You'll be fine. I promise."
Bulma was halted by the way he said those words. It sounded so assuring to her. Why does it feel like she feels secured and glad to be around him?
"But then of course, I cannot let my poor little puppy get hurt by our almighty Crown Prince."
Bulma jerked and glowered at him, growling like a vicious little dog, "What did you say?!"
Bulma's angry protests sounded like a dog barking in Vegeta's ears though.
"Quit your barking, woman. We're here!"
Her breath was taken away by the wonders she found on the clearing Sadara has taken her. A meadow filled with tall, blue green grass that blows gently in the cold, evening wind. The endless, dark violet sky above them gleamed with shining constellations like they were diamonds.
"Wow!" she breathed, completely stunned by the magnificent view before her. She has never thought Planet Vegeta had such a jaw dropping scenery like this her entire life.
"This is my secret dwelling. Be honored that you were the first living thing who I brought in here." Sadara said as he lay on the grass, and stared at the dazzling stars before him with soft eyes that showed how he longed for something.
Bulma sprawled across him and stared at the constellations too.
"So why did you bring me in here anyways?" she asked him.
"It's because I saw you looking at the stars not so long ago so I thought you might want to gaze at the constellations with me." he replied as a matter of fact.
Bulma was surprised to hear that from him, she tilted her head to look at him as if he was a guard who just told her he just caught her stealing on act, "You did?"
"Hn..." he murmured.
"I just remembered my planet and my family."
"Do you miss them?" Vegeta asked her.
"Of course, I do!"
"Ahh..."
"I was wondering how my life would have been if only my planet was not invaded, a life with my family. It's sad to think that I won't have that kind of life anymore. I will forever be a slave, and serving the Crown Prince who is completely responsible for my life's sorrow."
Vegeta did not react to her words, knowing that he was the reason for her sadness.
"Look up into the stars." he told her. There was a serene silence in between them for almost a minute or two, quietly observing the stars dazzling above. "When I was a child, my mother once told me that if you ever miss someone, look up into the stars. Whoever deceased loved one you long for, is surely watching down over you from one of those stars in there."
Listening to Sadara's words, Bulma stared at the stars as tears came rushing from her blue eyes as she reminisced whatever memory she had with her family. The dazzling smile of her proud father. The warm hugs and sweet kisses of her loving mother. And the playful laugh of her older sister.
"Papa, Mama, Neechan... If you're up there, please do look after me."
Vegeta rolled his eyes at her sentimentality and simply looked up and wondered to himself, "Mama, if ever your words were true and you're really watching over me from one of those stars, which I highly doubt though, I wish for you to tell me what to do with your idiotic mate. If you're only alive, what would you do in this situation?"
For several silent minutes, Vegeta and Bulma just watched at the night sky.
~=-o-O-o-=~
"I saw the Crown Prince earlier," Bulma sniffed as she wiped her tears away.
Vegeta's eyes widened at those words that brought him back to reality. "R-Really?"
Bulma nodded, "Not really, but I was so close in his presence. I saw that he's not as big as I expected him to be."
Vegeta tensed and he averted his eyes away without saying anything. She was so close to realize the truth earlier.
"Too bad I did not get a glimpse of his face. I just saw his feet since he stood behind his burly bodyguard. But to be in his presence... It feels like I've been shaken inside."
Vegeta asked, "You've been trembling?"
"Yeah, I was shaking but I didn't know which emotion it has originated from. Was it from fear or anger? When I was forced to put my head down to bow before him and show him respect, I felt anger at myself for doing so. I was sure it was indeed from anger, but when I heard him speak... It was replaced by overwhelming fear. I was completely frozen in place. The way he spoke to his subjects sounded sharp, icy, commanding, cruel and simmering with a quietly boiling wrath that tells me he won't hesitate to destroy anyone without any mercy. I was so scared, I thought I was going to die. I thought he might lose control anytime and kill everyone within his vicinity. I heard he's always been like that when he's in a bad mood and he sounded like he was indeed in a bad mood earlier."
Vegeta frowned, he never thought of it that way. Was it really the way he speaks or his presence or the pressure he emanates or the sheer knowledge of his ruthless reputation that made her so scared?
"He just spoke and you thought you are going to die? Hahahaha!" Vegeta laughed at her. "And here I thought you are a courageous girl. When you were drunk, you sounded so confident when you told me and the other Generals who work for the crown prince that you will kill him. You even demonstrated it on me! And now you're saying you're scared of him? I'm disappointed." he teased.
"Yeah, I guess it was a different feeling when you are in the actual situation. I never thought that being in his presence felt so overwhelming."
Vegeta raised an eyebrow and thought to himself, "Ha? Really? Well, how about now?", but then he realized that maybe it was because she has no idea that he is the crown prince himself since she only see him in his disguise as the Grim Reaper, Sadara. It was then he concluded that this close relationship they shared would change drastically once Bulma finds out the truth. It only made him feel frustrated at the fact that he knows she won't look at the real him the way she does with him disguised as Sadara.
Aside from that, he was also disappointed at the fact that the girl he was so amused with being so feisty, has trembled in fear before the real him. He really did expect much from her that he wanted to see her actually go through her threat of facing him on a battlefield and kill him as the one responsible for destroying her life. He wanted to see her do that before him, being the crown prince, his real identity.
"So just because of that, you're giving up already?" Vegeta snorted, sounding disappointed.
"Hey now, who says I'm giving up? I guess I needed time to be ready until I am able to face that kind of pressure." Bulma excused.
Vegeta rolled his eyes. He can't really understand why she saw him differently. Did she get too comfortable with him as Sadara?
"Saiyans are typically ruthless and we give the impression of being scary to other races. So why is it that you feel so comfortable around me now? Huh?" he teased.
Bulma blushed at his question, not knowing if he meant something by that "I-I have no idea either!"
"Ho..." Vegeta murmured before he snorted out loud. "Ha! I guess I was a good master that I finally gained the trust of my cute, little puppy! Hahahaha. I can say I did a pretty good job taking good care of you! Ahahahahaha!" and then he laughed boisterously.
Bulma abruptly got up from the grass and sneered at him, offended by his laughter and mockery, "Shut up! How many times do I have to tell you that I am not a puppy! Do you want me to bite you again?!" and she snapped her teeth at him in warning.
But Sadara doesn't seem to take her threats seriously. "Ahahahahahahaha!"
"Raargh!" Bulma playfully snapped her teeth again and Vegeta got up, looking like he was afraid.
"Oh no, did the puppy get offended?" Vegeta mocked, cooing at her like she was indeed a puppy.
"I am NOT a puppy!" Bulma shouted as she leapt at him and pinned him down the grass.
Vegeta was startled that Bulma was able to push him down and it upset him so much that he shoved her away from him and rolled her down against the grass so he was the one dominating her and pinning her down on the ground, much to Bulma's shock. Vegeta growled like an alpha beast at her as he did that.
They stared at each other for a while. Bulma looking so appalled at being pushed down but when she saw the playful smirk upon Sadara's lips, she felt something that made her heart pound fast and loud on her chest.
"What now, woman?" He growled on her ear in a voice that sounded so sexy for her to hear enough to make her skin crawl and the hair stand on end with the chills. "You think you can dominate me, huh? How can you expect to beat the Royal Crown Prince if you can't even win against me?"
Vegeta stared down on Bulma and found her face looking so red. He didn't know why he felt like his heart was throbbing at the sight of her under him. Using his sheer dominance over her, he instinctively lean towards her, slowly getting his face closer to hers.
Bulma shrieked as he realized that Sadara was about to kiss her, "S-S-Sadara-sama? Sadara-sama, please get a hold of yourself!" she stuttered awkwardly. As soon as Sadara was an inch away from her, their lips barely touching, she shut her eyes and gritted her teeth defensively.
"What the hell am I doing?" Vegeta wondered to himself as he surprisingly stared at the fearful servant underneath him with wide eyes. She looked so damn scared about what he's planning to do. He smirked as he lightly tap his index finger on the center of her forehead.
"Ah!" Bulma yelped as she felt him tap her forehead painfully. She opened her eyes and glared at Sadara, looking very offended.
"Idiot woman! What the hell are you thinking, huh?" He grinned at her playfully. He pulled away from her to sit on the grass in front of her.
"That hurts!" Bulma shouted as she picked herself up from the grass.
"Hmph!" Vegeta snorted. "Does that hurt the little puppy?" He teased as he reached his hand out to pat her head. "My poor little pet, how are you going to beat the Crown Prince now if only a simple tap on the forehead hurts you?"
"Aargh! You're annoying!" Bulma growled.
"Hahaha..." he laughed at her as he stuck his tongue out towards her.
Bulma's eyes flashed indignantly, feeling completely pissed off and abruptly punched him on the face with all power she could force out of her body.
Vegeta stared at Bulma, completely taken out of surprise by her intent to hurt him. He instinctively became defensive as her punch connected to his face.
A light crunching sound lingered in the quiet air.
And then an anguished scream followed.
"Gaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!"
Vegeta watched in amusement as Bulma frantically jumped around him, screaming a string of curses and hissing in agony as she cradled her throbbing hand.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk..." Vegeta snickered in amusement as he shook his head.
"Damn it, Sadara! How dare you attack me like that?!" Bulma hissed at him.
Vegeta rolled his eyes, "Foolish woman, I did not do anything to you. You were the one who throw punches all of a sudden. Nobody even told you to punch me."
"Why you..!"
"Now, now... Would you stop dancing around and let me take a look at that."
"Don't touch me!"
Sadara growled impatiently and he took her right hand forcefully to see the damage she did to herself. "Tch!" he grimaced. "You broke your thumb because you kept it inside your fist. Naturally, if you punch a hard target, it will break." he told her. He shook his head in disappointment. "How could you expect to defeat Prince Vegeta if you can't even throw a punch properly?"
Bulma looked like a whining puppy to him when she looked at him with unshed tears on her eyes. She didn't say anything, realizing that hard truth in Sadara's words. She cannot throw a punch well, and it felt as if she just punched the hardest wall in the universe when she hit Sadara, who's not even powered up.
"I know... I'm hopeless." she murmured.
Vegeta's eyes went up to her and saw the hurt on her eyes. It could be the pain of her broken thumb or her realizing that no matter what she do, she won't be a match against him.
"No, you're wrong." Vegeta told her.
Bulma looked at him in question, "What are you really trying to tell me? You kept on mocking me and now you tell me I am not hopeless! Are you bipolar?"
"Idiot woman! Would you like to think outside the box?" Vegeta sneered at her. "I don't mock you because I want to discourage you! I say those things to challenge you! Have you ever heard of reverse psychology?"
He sighed, feeling extremely annoyed at this female, "Now, what happened to your high spirits? Just because I told you you're hopeless, you believed me that easily? Just because you were once in the presence of a ruthless crown prince and realized just how powerful he is, you're already giving up? I know you're not a fool but I thought you are a fiesty, courageous woman. Don't prove me wrong! Find a way to defeat the crown prince! Don't give up. Do not let anyone tell you that you're hopeless and most especially, do not trust anyone. Not even me!"
Bulma flinched because of the sharp pain on her hand, "W-What do you mean for me not to trust you? I thought you are my friend."
Vegeta sneered in disgust at her word. "Friends? Since when did we become that?"
Bulma felt hurt by those heartless words coming from him. It hit her heart like icicles piercing through her chest. Why is she hurting? Was it because she was expecting him to consider her as his friend just as the way she sees him? "If we're not friends, then what are we?" she asked carefully, her lips quivering.
Vegeta raised an eyebrow at the question. Why does she look like she's hurt by his reply? Does she think he considered her as his friend already? It took a long time before Vegeta answered, "Master and Pet." he grinned at her playfully.
She just frowned back at him, offended by his answer. Does he think she's joking around when she's being so serious around here?
"Don't forget that my loyalty is still to the crown prince. I swore that I would protect him with my life. If the day comes and you faced Prince Vegeta in the battlefield, I'm sure I will be there to defend him and become your enemy."
Bulma gulped, already imagining herself facing the Crown Prince's five most powerful protectors and the unfaced ruthless Prince Vegeta himself in the battlefield where she would fight alone and without anyone to fight alongside her.
Vegeta watched as Bulma looked down, she looked pessimistic, completely hopeless and depressed.
"Hmmm... Let's see... If I have the time and patience, I guess I'll train you."
Bulma's blue eyes shot up at him in shock. "You'll train me?" Bulma gasped in disbelief. Is he being serious?
Vegeta smirked in her direction and nodded once. "It would be boring if you fought us sloppily. The Crown Prince gets bored easily fighting enemies with such sloppy techniques. You won't even last a second."
Bulma laughed once and without humor, "Whatever. So when do we start?"
Vegeta's smirk widened at her question, now he likes that look of determination burning in her azure eyes. "We start the night after tomorrow. Meet me here every night at 26h. Don't be late, if you are just one second late then I won't train you until then."
"Woah! Now you begin to sound like the Crown Prince!" Bulma complained.
"It's only proper etiquette, woman. And don't get too excited. My training won't be easy. I will train you until you puke blood! And once you agreed to start on it, you will finish it no matter what. I hate doing things halfway and I don't want to hear any complains. Whine and I'll severely punish you! I won't hold back just because you are a woman. Got it?"
Bulma nodded with understanding.
"You still have time to think it over and back down. Remember when you come to me the night after tomorrow and decide to train, there's no turning back! Just like in a real battle."
"Alright, but I won't be turning back! Thank you!"
The prospect of being trained by Sadara was an encouragement to her hopeless dreams. He looked like a very strict teacher and was equally as scary as the crown prince when he becomes this serious.
"You sound so sure of yourself, good. I wonder how long will you last without crying out and begging me to spare your life?" Vegeta mocked her with a disparaging grin.
"There you go with underestimating me again!" Bulma pouted.
"Heh! For now, let's go to Malaka and have your broken thumb checked." Vegeta offered.
"Malaka?"
"The royal doctor."
"Eh?"
"Follow me."
Vegeta led Bulma off the meadow and towards the royal clinic where everyone's eyes widened when they saw his presence. Bulma became confused when she found everyone looking at the two of them as if they had seen a monster.
Vegeta motioned his eyes towards the exit door and had everyone leave the vicinity, looking at each of them with a wide, warning glare that prevented them from calling him "Your highness."
"Malaka!" he called out, looking like someone looking for trouble rather than help.
A small green skinned reptile doctor with orange mohawk hair and large black eyes wearing black armor with a flowing white cloak stumbled towards them and fell to his knees.
"Y-Y-Your h..." the reptile called Malaka said humbly but was immediately cut off as Vegeta's malevolent gaze glowered at him. "You're here, master. W-What is it you want from me and you came here at this hour?"
"Stand up!" Vegeta ordered coldly and Malaka shot up as if his butt has been pricked by a needle.
"Y-Yes!"
"You see this puppy here?" Vegeta pointed at Bulma. Malaka turned to look at where the crown prince was pointing and raised his thick brows in confusion.
"I am not a puppy!" Bulma screamed, which made the royal doctor's eyes almost fall out of its sockets. The audacity of this royal servant to yell at the crown prince was astounding.
Vegeta ignored Bulma's complains. "She broke her thumb. I want you to help her or she might not get to work on the crown prince's kitchen tomorrow."
"As you wish, master." Malaka curtly obeyed as he begin his work as ordered by the Crown Prince himself.
"Hmm... What happened and you broke your thumb, miss?" asked the doctor politely as he applied a white cream over Bulma's skin that felt as cold as ice. It felt good on the searing pain of her broken thumb.
Bulma was about to lie that she tried punching a wall when Vegeta cut in, laughing in amusement.
"She tried to punch me," he said with an amused smirk. Malaka's jaw dropped at that as he looked over the Crown Prince and the girl in puzzlement.
Malaka shook his head in disbelief and snickered, "You don't just punch him unless you want to be killed, miss." he informed her.
"I learned the hard way. I thought I punched the hardest wall in the universe instead of Sadara-sama's face!" Bulma admitted with a frown.
"Bwahahahahahahaha!" Vegeta broke into a loud fit of laughter.
"Sadara-sama?" Malaka asked in question, which made Vegeta's laughter abruptly stop.
There was an awkward silence in between them.
Malaka turned to the Crown Prince in confusion and found him glaring at him with a threatening gaze like he wants to eat him alive.
"Oh! Oh yes! Sadara-sama! Hahahaha! He's strong. It's good you only ended up with a broken thumb. Hehehe..." Malaka said awkwardly as he shakily wrapped a bandage around Bulma's hand. He gave her a bottle of the cream and advised her, "Apply this healing cream over the bruise every three hours for the entire day. It will be healed by the day after tomorrow."
"Whoah! Really?" Bulma gasped in disbelief, ignoring the doctor's fearful reaction. Malaka smiled at her uncomfortably and nodded. "That's amazing!" She giggled. "I will follow your orders, doctor. Thank you very much."
"Enough of this, let's go, woman." Vegeta commanded, giving Malaka an icy look. Malaka bowed curtly and quietly dismissed himself per the prince's silent order. Bulma bid goodbye to the kind but odd royal doctor as she followed Sadara out of the royal clinic.
"Return to your quarters and rest. I have to go and check if the crown prince has ordered for us to return." he told her before his body was engulfed by blue aura and disappeared.
Bulma just stared at where Sadara last stood and smiled to herself.
~=-o-O-o-=~
Vegeta teleported himself inside his private dressing room and changed his clothes back to his royal battle armor. Spending time with the blue haired woman made him feel a lot better and was able to make a decision.
When he came out of his dressing room and was inside his bedroom, he called out loud, "Nappa!"
The door slid open and his bald and burly attendant came in, "I'm here, your highness."
"Tell my father that I made up my mind not to attend to greet the Emperor tomorrow morning." Vegeta declared with an imperious voice.
Nappa's eyes widened at the Crown Prince's command but since he knew better than to question the Saiyan Prince he deliberately obeyed the command and sprinted outside to relay the message to Zorn.
Vegeta put his red lens scouter over his left ear and pushed the button on the gizmo's side.
"Kakarot, Raditz! Get your stinking asses over here NOW!" he harshly growled. The next instant, his two generals materialized before his eyes, bowing down before him.
"Prepare yourselves, both of you." The crown prince ordered imperiously.
~=-o-O-o-=~
A massive, saucer-shaped spaceship came down low and fast across the red skies of Planet Vegeta and landed on a spacious receiving port where Saiyan Royal Elite Soldiers lined up behind the proud and tall Saiyan King, his second son, their guards and the royal council waited. The hatch of the vessel opened with a loud hum and from the ship came out several soldiers dressed in armor who lined up before the exit in attention.
The king looked around for any signs of his first born but didn't see any.
"So he didn't really come after all," the King whispered to Zorn in disappointment who could only nod slowly. One could not miss the look of hurt and sadness over his eyes that appeared for only a few seconds.
The council overheard their conversation and talked to themselves using telepathy.
"So Prince Vegeta didn't show up after all." Horenso said quietly.
"Yeah, just as we expected of him." Kabu said.
"Too bad. He's such a coward." Horenso snickered.
"Tsk, tsk... Even Prince Tarble and Broly are here." Nasu noticed.
"Such a useless Crown Prince."
"Don't fret. This is something we can use against him in order to dethrone him." Paragus murmured.
"Yes, yes..."
Everything seemed to slow down and completely halted when they found the Galactic Emperor was finally coming out of his highly advanced space vessel, riding on a black hovering throne.
The Galactic Emperor was incredibly hideous in appearance. A white lizard humanoid with long black horns on the sides of his head. His glowing red eyes looked into the Saiyans awaiting for him with cold disinterest but his black lips was curved in a twisted, creepy smile. The pressure he gave around him was freezing, his presence emanating the terrifying aura of a ruthless murderer and destroyer of worlds. Everything about him speaks pure evil, a devil incarnate.
As soon as the Galactic Emperor stepped out, everyone around him immediately fell on their knees, including the Saiyans, as if they worship this abomination to the highest.
"Welcome Lord Frieza," King Vegeta said with the most humble greeting he could give. Frieza smiled pleasantly at the kneeling king before him.
"Thank you for your pleasantries, King Vegeta. I am flattered. Hohoho..." Frieza said politely. He looked at every single Saiyan before him and his eyes fell into Tarble, who shrugged and trembled in fear when he sensed that the Emperor's eyes watched at him.
"I assume this boy is the prince." Frieza smiled.
"Yes, milord." King Vegeta replied in humility.
Frieza watched at Tarble curiously, the boy was trembling on the ground like a scared puppy. "You poor little thing, you look scared. Don't worry, I don't bite. Why don't you formally introduce yourself to me since from this day onward, your daddy and I will be friends forever?"
Tarble gulped, swallowing his fear as he introduced himself shakily, "I-I am Tarble, t-the second prince, milord."
"Second prince?"
"Y-Yes."
"I have two children, milord," King Vegeta said.
"I know that much, Vegeta. Where is the Crown Prince? I am most especially curious to meet him." Frieza asked with a creepy smile.
Silence.
"My apologies, milord but the Crown Prince had an important matter to attend to, that is why he's not present in here before you." King Vegeta responded in shame. Frieza's raised one eyebrow, if he had.
"My, my. So the rumors I heard about him was right after all." Frieza chuckled darkly. "He's one rude child."
"Forgive me for not having able to convince him, milord."
There was a sudden commotion behind the Saiyans, which made everyone present to turn his head towards the fuss. A few Saiyan Elite guards stood defensively and turned around to draw ki swords towards the uninvited newcomers, Kakarot and Raditz.
The two Generals halted upon the threat and glared at the Elite guards to give them an order, "Put down your swords. The Royal Crown Prince is here."
At that announcement, all Saiyans looked completely bewildered and they watched as their unpredictable Crown Prince made his totally surprising, glorious appearance to welcome the Galactic Emperor.
Vegeta walked proudly, confidently and royally towards the Galactic Emperor with his two Generals walking beside him. As soon as he was face to face with Lord Frieza, Kakarot and Raditz fell on their knees and bowed before the Crown Prince while Vegeta remained standing proudly in front of the man considered to be the most powerful and ruthless in the entire Universe.
Vegeta smirked arrogantly at Lord Frieza, glaring at him directly eye to eye.
"I am Vegeta the Fourth, Crown Prince of all Saiyans and of Planet Vegeta," he said haughtily. "So, you're Frieza, hello."
