Days and nights without you,
Endlessly connect,
That means I have to endure,
Without the comfort that is you,
Love that was clearly engraved,
And all of me is breaking, is disappearing,
It hurts but here's a warm goodbye.
If you take yourself away from me,
I won't be me anymore,
All of us that clearly sparkled,
It's scattering, My love,
I hope you will always be well.
- "Fondly, Goodbye" (by Sung Si-kyung)
Episode 12
Fondly Goodbye
Vegeta has made a heart breaking decision to set Bulma free from their unlikely friendship that has been developed because of lies. In order to protect her from being hurt any longer and from the dangers it would bring her for becoming important to him, for him to focus solely on his responsibilities on being the Crown Prince of the Saiyans, he made a sacrifice to let go.
And offer her the truth he couldn't tell because of his high pride.
"After this, I'm letting you go and you may do as you wish. As I said, I do not regret what I have done. Whatever your decision is, I don't care about it at all but… If you wish for anything, I will give it to you. For now, let me give you a goodbye present, it's right behind you."
Bulma stared at him as if her mind was still on the process of understanding what he meant by those words. She gradually turned her head over her shoulder to see whatever present he was talking about and what she found made her jaw drop and her blue eyes water.
A few feet behind them stood three people whose faces where awfully familiar to her. An old man in his fifties with purple hair cut in a bolo stood in between two blonde haired women. He had a black framed pair of glasses over his big, dark eyes. On his left was a woman with golden curls and huge sapphire eyes while a younger lady with short, layered blonde hair and black eyes was standing on his right.
They were all smiling back at her with wide grins over their lips, but their eyes held unshed tears of deep longing.
"Bulma… Bulma, dear…" They called her name with such endearment as they reluctantly stepped closer towards her.
Recognizing who these people are, Bulma just stared at them, unable to believe what she was looking at. She was thinking if this could only be just a dream of hers but if it was then she wished she won't wake up from this wonderful dream.
She slowly turned her entire body around to face them. They're real, right? They're real? Her family? Her beloved family she thought was long dead since she was brought to this damned planet, was standing there, right in front of her, calling her name, approaching her… with tears of longing in their eyes.
They were alive all this time?
"Bulma," her father said.
"Bulma-chan, my dear daughter…" Her mother reached out her hands to her.
"Bulma-chan…" that was her older sister, already in tears.
Bulma's lips quivered, unable to believe what she was seeing in front of her. All questions on her confused mind have disappeared as her longing for her family burst forth from the depths of her heart and she darted towards them with wide, open arms and her tears falling from her blue eyes.
"Papa! Mama! Neechan!" she cried out as she ran to them. They welcomed her back with a warm group hug as they all weep together.
"Bulma! Bulma-chan! You're alright, thank goodness, you're alive!" cried out her father.
"Bulma-chan! My dear daughter, I missed you alot." her mother sniffed.
"I missed you too, so much! I thought you're… I thought you're all dead… Waaaah!"
Vegeta watched at their emotional family reunion with a neutral expression but deep inside, his heart felt two contradicting emotions once more. Relief is one. Relief that he has finally let go of his secrets and lies and was able to convey the truth without breaking his pride. Relief that he has been freed from those annoying guilty feelings that has distracted his mind these past few days.
The other was…
Heart Break
Now that he has returned her to her family, it only meant one thing.
It's goodbye.
He closed his eyes and smiled to himself. Tendrils of his blue energy begin to engulf his form before he disappeared to the air via Hibiktus.
=~o-O-o~=
Bulma felt very happy to be reunited with her family she long thought was gone. She realized that something was odd. Didn't Vegeta say he killed them a long time ago? What's the meaning of this? She turned around to see that the Saiyan Prince was gone already.
Where did that jerk go?
"What's wrong?" asked her mother in concern.
She smiled timidly to herself as she faced her mother, "Nothing, mom."
Her parents looked at each other as they thought of a possible reason for that reaction from their youngest daughter.
"You must be confused, Bulma. Are you wondering about what happened because you thought we're already dead?"
Bulma nodded, "Exactly, papa."
"Prince Vegeta told everyone that he killed us in order to protect us from his father and the council. When he destroyed the Earth, he took us in because he was curious to meet you. He told us that he did what he did in order to prevent the Galactic Empire from discovering us because if that happens, we'll all be in greater danger than being taken by the Saiyans. The Emperor would destroy us all or enslave us forcefully. The Galactic Emperor seemed very cruel according to what he told us."
"But the Saiyans did that as well."
"Did you experience that kind of cruelty from your slave master?"
Bulma nodded. Her mother's heart ached knowing that and she wrapped her arms around her daughter.
"It's my fault. I was wrong to let you escape when I thought they would be cruel to us. I was afraid." Dr. Briefs said, reminiscing the night he told his young daughter to run for her life after he managed to fit her inside a small man hole. It seems she was caught on her way somehow and was brought by the Saiyans to the slave quarters. "But when Prince Vegeta took us in, he was especially generous. Though he was mad for not being able to see you. I wonder why. When the Prime Minister and the King learned of what he's done, they immediately ordered our deaths. Prince Vegeta took responsibility and we faked our deaths. He told us to escape in a secluded place where no one from the royal palace could find us. We went from place to place while the crown prince tried to keep us safe. He thinks we are going to be useful for him one day. We are lucky to have survived all this time and then we ended up in here. He searched for us and he told us that he's finally found you. It was such a blessing."
Bulma could not believe what she was hearing from her parents. Did Vegeta really do all that because of her? Or did he threatened her family to say those lies? But if that's the case, why did he deny it? He lied to her so many times she cannot determine which is the truth and the lie anymore. But she knew in her heart that her father will never lie to her.
Perhaps, Prince Vegeta really isn't that bad. After all, she has seen most of that soft side with him being Sadara. She realized that Raditz's words coincides with what Vegeta told her earlier about the real reason why he was disguising. He was protecting his proud and ruthless reputation despite wanting to show others that he's not that bad at all.
Her family invited her to come inside their home and they continued to chat about things they did while they were seperated. They also had their first dinner together in thirteen years. Bulma's worries and fear were finally alleviated now that she has reunited with her family.
She contemplated to thank Vegeta for bringing her family back to her, though it doesn't mean that she can easily forgive his sins just like that. He was still the reason why they have no peaceful home planet, why she has suffered until now, why they would run and hide from the Saiyans, and the terrible times she and her family missed towards each other.
Her parents assured her that they will be safe in here and that the only Saiyans who knew of this place are Prince Vegeta and his Generals. She was glad about that assurance though she learned the hard way not to be too complacent.
"Doctor Briefs! Are you in there?" Someone called outside, knocking lightly at the entrance door.
"Oh, that must be Doctor Gero." Dr. Briefs said as he went to open the door to let his guest in.
"Doctor Gero?" Bulma finds the name quite familiar.
"Your dad's old friend, remember?" explained Panchi, her sweet and kind mother.
Her father returned along with a short, older man with long white hair, thick mustache and pale blue eyes. The man called Doctor Gero stared at her with a smile.
Bulma felt something odd about him immediately. Something sinister. Especially when he smiled at her.
"Doctor Gero, this is Bulma. My long lost daughter has finally been found."
"Aah, yes. That is really good to know that you've finally found her."
"The Crown Prince helped us find her. He just came over not so long ago."
"He did?" Gero was astonished.
"Yes. Quite unbelievable, right?"
=~o-O-o~=
Vegeta has returned to his private quarters and quickly removed his robes to change into his Crown Prince's Royal Armor as soon as he did that. Once done, he silently sat on his cushion seat and contemplated whether to join his father in the banquet or not, just to forget his melancholic mood. In the end, he decided to go after all.
When he was closer to the banquet, he was alarmed by a commotion happening there. He heard his father commanding the guards to chase some strange people wearing dark clothing and white masks who were on the roof and immediately leapt away and disappeared. The guests were panicking around, creating a hysterical chaos.
When Prince Vegeta appeared, everyone, aside the King, immediately put their heads down, shutting up everyone. The prince regally strolled towards the platform where his father was standing in front on a lavished chair he was sitting at earlier.
"What's the commotion about now when you were supposed to be having a feast?" he asked no one in particular.
"Somebody infiltrated the palace to cause this chaos during the banquet." King Vegeta answered.
"They don't look Saiyans to me." the prince observed.
The king turned to his son, confused."You saw them?"
The prince let out a humorless laugh, "I saw the guards chasing them a while ago. I realize it was good for them to finally engage in real combat situations rather than their training."
The prince observed everyone and everything in the hall with a critical eye, his vigilant senses on alert. He noticed an arrow stuck on the pillar not far away beside the king. There was a piece of folded paper tied with a black string between the arrowhead and the thin bamboo shaft. Prince Vegeta calmly stepped towards it and reached for the shaft, removing the entire arrow off the post with one swift movement. He carefully took the paper off the weapon and unfolded it to reveal what was a letter written within in a calligraphy with black ink. Everyone apprehensively waited for his reaction. His expression quickly changed into one with great displease at the words on the said letter.
He read it out loud for everyone to hear. "'There are noble beings. Those government officials who sit in the government are noble beings. The people are innocent, their only sins are being weak and powerless to fight back. Those who have the greatest power within them feed off from those who are helpless. The true source of the people's misery is the officials' greediness for greater power.' Tch! Is this even true?! Hmph! Pathetic fools!" Prince Vegeta spat with disgust as he crumpled the paper in his hands. "Why do they point us out for their misery? If they want to say something, they must learn how to become stronger so they can fight back!" he furiously shouted.
Everyone flinched at his anger. They knew it.
"They clearly have no idea how this world works, the strong feed on the weak and the strongest one stands above and conquers all. And then the strongest will be undisputed. They will get everything they want because they have the power. It is their right. It's not like it's my fault for being born the most powerful!"
"Indeed," the King agreed.
"However…" The Crown Prince continued, his confidence overwhelming. "If the strongest continues to feed on the weak despite being too strong enough, that is called greediness. And that is considered as an abusive usage of power. If it causes misery to them, then it's the fault of the King who cannot control his greedy officials!"
Everyone turned to his direction with shocked eyes. Did the Crown Prince just put the blame on his own father?
"Yon! What are you trying to say?" The king growled through gritted teeth. Is his son trying to humiliate him in front of everyone?
Prince Vegeta's cold gaze flickered towards his father. The two royal Saiyans glared at each other like they were having a silent glaring match.
"Why, papa? Is it not true that you cannot control your subjects?" The prince said with a sarcastic tone and a smug look. His dark eyes glinting with arrogance.
"Hm?" Prince Vegeta suddenly diverted his gaze on the direction the criminals and the guards went to, he could sense that the palace guards are in trouble seizing the treasonists. They may not be ordinary weaklings, he realized.
Before King Vegeta could react to his son's disrespectful behavior, the prince commanded gaudily. "Nappa, Raditz, Kakarot, Broly!"
The four Generals of the Crown Prince quickly stepped forward. "Yes, your highness?!" they respectfully bowed down in unison.
"Go and take them to me. Now!"
"Yes!"
The four powerful Saiyan Generals leapt into the sky to do as their Crown Prince commanded.
A few minutes later, three bloody and battle worn men were presented before the Saiyan Royal Family by the four Generals. Their masks were broken and bloody. Their dark hair pulled up in long ponytails were messy and wettish with sweat. All of them wore black robes with a small red design on the left side of the chest. Their arms were cuffed with ki restraints behind them. A few wounded guards followed behind, though their numbers had obviously decreased. The three criminals were forced to fall to their knees on the ground, though they had tried to protest but they proved nowhere near the overwhelming strength of the Generals.
Prince Vegeta marched towards them with a frigid and intimidating gaze upon his dark eyes. He angrily tossed the crumpled letter in his hands on the ground in front of the criminals.
"Do you have any idea what you brought yourselves into?" he growled in a low, deadly voice.
The three criminals looked up and found the most maleficent glare they have ever seen their entire lives peering down at them. So this is the Crown Prince? He looks so small and yet his presence alone felt so overwhelming. The feeling of his charisma emanating such a terrifying air around him made their skins crawl. They quickly brought their heads down, moaning in fear, their bodies quivering with terror. It was obvious they were completely frightened.
"P-Please have mercy on us. W-w-we were j-just f-following orders." The guy on the middle pleaded.
Vegeta's eyes narrowed at those words. What a lame excuse.
"I see that you aren't Saiyans. Who ordered you to act so foolishly as to brashly cause a commotion in the royal palace?"
"W-W-We have no idea. We didn't know his name or his face."
The prince gritted his teeth in annoyance. It looks like these fools will not say any information regarding who was behind this. "Minister of Justice." he called.
An elder Saiyan named Soi, stepped forward. "Yes, your highness."
"Use all necessary means to make these fools confess." he turned around to come up where his father was standing. The criminals pleaded for their mercy, squirming as the Generals pulled them up and forcefully placed them on chairs, before they strapped them once more with stronger ki ropes.
"It's the truth! We have no idea! Please believe us! Please have mercy on us!"
Of course, their pleads fell on deaf ears. It won't even penetrate through a heart as cold as ice.
Six palace guards stood on both sides of the criminals, holding iron rods, that was blazing hot on the point.
"Please have mercy!" The three continued to plead. The Minister of Justice gazed at the guards and nodded his signal to begin the torture. "Gaaaaaaaaaahh!"
Their screams reverberated in the air and everyone around looked on without much of a flinch. After nearly a minute of pained screams and cries, they halted the punishment.
"His royal highness, the Crown Prince doesn't seem to believe your earlier confession." Soi said. "I hope that after experiencing that, you may change your answer. If you persist on lying, then you may experience much excruciating punishment until you tell us the truth. Again, I will ask you the same question. Who ordered you to cause a commotion in the Royal Banquet and send a letter that pertains to a rebellion?"
The three criminals stubbornly refused to speak and so the torture continued. Vegeta watched with an annoyed look, how foolish of these people to stubbornly refuse to tell the truth and instead endure minutes or hours of torture when in the end they will reveal the truth anyways.
Finally getting impatient after nearly an hour later, the crown prince declared, "Stop!"
The guards halted and bowed down in obedience. Vegeta jumped off the platform, approaching the criminals in his intimidating mood. He stopped once he was side by side with Minister Soi.
"I have given you the mercy you pleaded but then you persisted on lying. I am not a fool to believe your claims. I know you know who is behind this."
Abruptly, the three criminals threw their heads back, an invisible force started to choke them altogether. Everyone's eyes widened in terror at the sudden attack, and they all stared at Prince Vegeta in horror. They knew it was him who did that.
Loud gurgles of blood emanated from the three criminals' mouths, before they let out an ear piercing scream. Sounds of cracks and guggles came from inside of them. He was using his ki to torture them from the inside. It was scorching, feeling like they're burning from the inside.
"Tell me the truth now or I'll make you suffer more." the prince commanded in a detached tone. His scarlet eyes glowing.
"It's a scientist!" the one on the right cried out. The prince and the Minister turned to that one. "We address him as 'Doctor' but he never told us his name! He didn't even show us his face. But by his voice, he seems to be an elderly!"
"This doctor. Is he Saiyan?" the Crown Prince asked.
"I have no idea. But he claims that he plans a rebellion once their savior has returned."
"Savior?"
"The one who would bring the Saiyan Kingdom to its downfall!"
Vegeta and the Minister immediately leapt backwards when an unexpected, tremendous and potent blast was fired in their direction. It completely obliterated the three criminals and the six soldiers torturing them.
Vegeta was as startled as everybody else in the banquet hall. Who was that damn bastard that dared to interrupt him while questioning a transgressor?
With his onyx eyes flashing crimson along his rage, he turned to the direction where the blast has come from. There stood the Prime Minister with his right hand raised forward. It was obvious to Prince Vegeta who just did that.
"Paragus!" he roared in seething fury.
Everyone's gaze averted towards the direction of the Prime Minister. The dark skinned Prime Minister turned to the irate Crown Prince.
"They just admitted that they are indeed with whoever is planning a rebellion." Paragus explained.
With a swift dash a hundred times faster than light, the Crown Prince was an inch in front of the Prime Minister, leaving an afterimage from where he last stood.
"Even so, you are in no position to precede the decision of the king and to interfere while we are interrogating them! How dare you decide on your own will and kill recklessly in front me, the Royal Crown Prince?!" Prince Vegeta growled. His wrath seething in his tone.
"It is your job to take care of the threat immediately especially if it would bring danger to your kingdom. You seem to hesitate so I simply acted decisively to destroy them, your highness. Now if you feel that I did not do such a thing, then feel free to slay me." Paragus stated confidently.
With a flash of exploding fury in his scarlet eyes, Prince Vegeta released a force that sent the elder Saiyan floating in the air, choking.
"I've been wanting to do this a long time ago ever since you dared to speak ill about me to your son. I don't care if you are the Prime Minister, you still have no right to precede the decision of the King or the Crown Prince!"
The surroundings' temperature quickly deescalated as the tension between them grew more ominous. Terror filled the hearts of everyone watching.
"Yon! Don't!" King Vegeta pleaded. He knew Paragus was trying to provoke the Crown Prince into killing him due to his rage so the others could use this chance to dethrone him. The same thing that happened with Horenso. "Calm down, Yon!"
"Your highness, please calm down!" The rest of the Ministers pleaded with the king as they all fell to their knees and bowed down as if they praise and worship him. They feared for their lives at the wake of the Crown Prince's destructive wrath more than desiring his dethronement.
"Your highness, please calm down!" The three Generals, except for Broly did the same. The usually quiet, cool and collected Saiyan was staring at the Crown Prince and his father in utmost shock.
"Y-Y-Your highness…" Broly gasped, a chilling, tingling sensation going up his spine.
"Yon! Stop it right now! Let go of the Prime Minister! Now!" King Vegeta ordered anxiously at the tension. His son cannot do this. Not now!
But Prince Vegeta's mind was filled with rage and fury that he could only see in tunnel vision and hear nothing. As he clawed his hand over the air, his eyes blazing red and his fangs bared as if he was a bloodthirsty animal, something within Broly snapped.
"Stop!"
To the Crown Prince's surprise, he sensed a tremendous ki rising. He turned his head towards Broly, who was holding his raised arm, restraining him from killing his father. Distracted, Vegeta lost his concentration on Paragus and the Prime Minister collapsed on the ground, heaving for his breath.
Vegeta turned his now cold eyes fading back from red to its normal onyx color, towards his tall and pleading General. "Let me go." he commanded in a threatening tone that only proved that his anger was still seething dangerously deep within him.
The tension grew stronger, especially to those very few in the Royal Court who exactly knew what might happen if this continue any further. Almost out of breath, Paragus raised his right hand. The green jewel embedded in the golden gaunlet he wore in his right hand glowed. And the green jewel in Broly's crown reacted to it. Paragus knew it isn't time yet. He had to calm Broly or their secret would be busted.
But Vegeta was no fool. He could sense that Broly's ki was stronger than this. Noticing the eerie glow of the jewel in the center of Broly's golden crown, the Prince already knew what it was. A ki restrainer of some sorts. He concluded that it saps Broly's true power. He knew Broly was powerful but he wondered what kind of power he really holds and how strong it is.
Broly's hold on the Crown Prince loosen and he let go. Vegeta's stared at Broly curiously. Remembering a memory of his a long time ago.
=~o-O-o~=
Fourteen years ago…
Young Prince Vegeta was very frustrated upon hearing from Nappa that his father had decided to give him his life-time official battle partner. He knew he would have one but he has no use for such weaklings he could easily obliterate.
What made him even more frustrated was the fact that he was given that disgusting, third class trash who could be the weakest shit the garbage class could offer. What the hell was his father thinking?! How is he going to get stronger 'sparring' with that weakling?!
The low class trash kept following him around and it annoyed him to the core. Most of the time, he will lose his temper and spat back insults to the older boy, Raditz. Sometimes, he would simply ignore him as if he didn't exist.
One day, while napping under the shade of the tree house's roof in the garden that he used as a comfort zone away from the busy and noisy palace after he flee from his studies with his boring Physics tutor. He overheard a hushed conversation from the gossiping palace workers who passed by the tree where his tree house stood.
They speak of the Minister of Personal Affair's newborn being ordered by the King to be slayed tonight by an Assassin. Curious at the reason why his father wanted the baby murdered, the prince listened on. They say that the baby's newborn power level was at the same level as the King's current power level and that the king was threatened by its overwhelming power. He heard that the baby's record was at ten thousand.
Vegeta scowled. When he was a newborn, he was born with a power level of twelve thousand. It was only expected for the son of a nobility to be born strong, but ten thousand sure is impressive. Knowing his father, it could be true that he feels threatened by the baby's power level. Once he matured, he will be very powerful. Possibly much powerful than the King and…
No. He won't let that happen. As powerful this baby was, there is no way he could ever surpass the Prodigy Prince!
Then that thought made him realize the reason why his father gave him Raditz as his official battle partner. His father was worried the baby would one day be able to surpass him and dethrone the royal family. That is not impossible considering how much desire for political power that greedy and ambitious Minister of Personal Affairs, Paragus has. (This was back when Paragus was still that and not the Prime Minister yet.). While Raditz, being the weakest shit among all Saiyans, will never be able to do that.
Vegeta turned his hateful gaze at the oblivious older boy who was leaning on the tree house's wall and looking up the bright red skies like the brainless fool he is.
The Saiyan Prince rose, his action finally catching the low class bastard's attention.
"Where are you going, your highness -?" Raditz asked.
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Stop asking such annoying questions! It is none of your business!" The prince shouted back before he leapt off the tree house. Raditz quickly got up and followed him. The irate prince turned his deadly gaze at him. "Would you stop following me?! Leave me alone, trash!"
Vegeta knew that hit Raditz's pathetic little feelings hard and he gave him one last sullen glare before he turned around and walked away, leaving the long haired older Saiyan devastated in his place.
Vegeta walked towards the throne room but he halted outside the doors when he heard Paragus pleading for his son's life. The guards apologetically told him that it's not time for him to come to the throne room. The prince didn't hear them as he was listening intently on what was occuring in there. Paragus was appealing that his son be given a chance to prove his worth and to serve the Crown Prince as his strongest protector. He sensed his father gather his ki and sent Paragus hollering across the floor. The King ordered that the child whose name was Broly to be assassinated now. He wanted the baby's head to be presented to him. With guards obeying the king's command, Vegeta quickly and silently ordered the guards at the door to keep silent about him with a glare before he dashed into the closest pillar possible to hide.
When the door opened, several palace guards marched out, pulling an unconscious Minister out of the throne room and proceed into killing his oblivious son. Prince Vegeta decided to follow them to the Medical Bay's nursery room where they will execute an innocent child. By this time, Paragus stirred, finally conscious.
Vegeta peeked into the corner to watch one soldier pull the baby out of his incubator from his foot. They were planning to kill the kid in front of his own father! The child wailed loudly. Was he crying for someone to save him? Paragus watched in horror but was unable to do anything as he was completely helpless.
The soldier picked a dagger from his pocket, but before he could use it to stab the innocent child, they heard a sudden command that made chills roll across the Elites' spines and froze them in place.
"Halt!" The powerful Crown Prince adjured.
The soldiers halted at his order and they all turned towards their very young prince and bowed before him. The four year old Prince Vegeta revealed himself from the shadows. The soldier assassin let the dagger he was holding drop to the floor to show his respect.
"Put that brat back to the incubator and leave it alone." he imperiously ordered.
"B-But the king -…" The soldier said.
The callous Crown Prince slowly and dramatically raised his right index finger at him. "I don't care what my old man ordered you to do. I am commanding you to put that child back to his incubator and leave him and Paragus alone." he said in an intimidating tone that made the soldier swallow in fear. He feared the king but the Crown Prince was worse to deal with. Aside from being the most powerful Saiyan alive, the kid will not hesitate to blast them all to oblivion if his command was not obeyed.
The soldier bowed down in compliance and carefully returned little Broly back to his incubator. After that, the heir to the throne diverted his gaze to the side, the silent order for the soldiers to leave. They immediately scampered away, leaving the wrecked Paragus on the floor gaping at the Crown Prince.
"Congratulations on being alive, Paragus." The Crown Prince spat disgustedly. "I would have let them kill you but your brat became something that caught my interest. I hope to see him around when he's grown a little."
The prince turned to see the baby floating within the incubator. Its small, black eyes staring back at him in awe and gratitude. A small smile in his tiny lips. Was he being thankful that he saved his life?
Broly, huh?
When the king learned of what he did from the soldiers, he was summoned in the throne room. Having everyone else leave, father and son argued over the matter. The young prince was screaming bloody murder, about why his father gave him an unworthy battle partner he found useless. About how he wanted Broly as his official battle partner and demands that his father change his decisions. King Vegeta told him the reason why he assigned Raditz, which only confirmed that Prince Vegeta's suspicions earlier in the tree house to be the truth. He didn't care about his father's reasons. He wanted to be stronger and he wanted Broly to be his battle partner but the king's decision was unwavering.
Unable to get what he wanted, Prince Vegeta stormed out of the room like a rampaging hurricane. He went to the medical bay to get a glimpse of Broly when suddenly, Raditz came from nowhere. The detestable boy was surprised to see him there and then he bowed down.
"Didn't I tell you to fucking stop following me around?!" Vegeta yelled hatefully at him with an irritated look.
"I'm sorry but you're wrong, your highness. I did not expect you to be in here. I am here to see my little brother. My mother just gave birth to him a while ago." Raditz answered back.
Feeling humiliated by those words only made his fury boil. He watched as Raditz approached his newborn brother next to Broly's incubator. Vegeta scowled disgustedly, sensing the brat's power level to be the lowest he's ever perceived. He sneered in disgust. Pathetic trash!
Wanting to release his rage, Vegeta told Raditz to follow him in the training room where he pummeled the helpless low class Saiyan to a pulp. He spat hateful insults at him and told him to never show his face to him ever again. He left Raditz beaten and crying alone in the training room.
However, what transpired that evening changed his opinion of Raditz. The fool gave his life into saving him from being poisoned. That event made him feel torn between getting rid of Raditz and inviting Broly himself. He wanted Broly as his official battle partner, but he realized that Raditz's sacrifice was unbelievable. Despite his bitterness on him, deep inside he felt guilty for causing the older boy such misery. He just proved his loyalty to him.
Because of this, Vegeta accepted Raditz to be his official battle partner. Though he still wanted Broly, but being Paragus' son the prince was unsure if he will be as loyal as Raditz.
Three years later, Vegeta met Broly once again. His curiousity of Broly's power never faded since the day he saved his life. He still wanted him. And so he offered the boy a chance to be with him despite their fathers' disagreement. When Vegeta invited Broly to spar, the other boy would still lose. (This was due to Broly holding back and being controlled by Paragus, which the prince has no idea). Still, the prince was impressed by Broly's power.
Broly seemed to be loyal to his prince, the gratitude was there in his heart. But he was torn apart on the inside. Paragus was speaking ill about him. He told him he was meant to dethrone, surpass and kill him. But Prince Vegeta believed in his worth as a meritorious warrior. He likes him more than his father because he was the only one who believed in him.
=~o-O-o~=
And now, these two power houses engaged in a tensed glaring match.
Paragus gulped. He reminisced about the seer he consulted eleven years ago while Prince Vegeta and Broly were playing with Raditz and Kakarot as little children. The four running around in a chasing game, covered in cloaks.
The seer said to him, "I have seen into their future, Master." The seer based his future predictions by sensing the ki energy on people. "The Crown Prince is indeed a very powerful warrior. It is true that he would make a great and wise king and that he will probably become the Super Saiyan of Legend. But…"
"But what?"
"I see darkness enshrouding his future. H-he is meant to die young saving and protecting those he cared about."
"What?!"
"B-b-but I sensed a much powerful energy in one of his friends…"
Paragus became curious. "What is it?"
"H-He's meant to surpass the Legend. And he would make the greatest king the Saiyans had ever seen. A very powerful one. H-he… He would be feared across the entire universe for his power and his name alone."
Paragus shushed him with intimidating eyes, "Who do you mean?"
"I believe it is your son, master." The old seer said.
"Broly?"
"Yes, master."
Paragus became more intimidating. "Hush! Do not speak of this to anyone, understand?"
Paragus couldn't help the evil grin on his face.
=~o-O-o~=
Prince Vegeta haughtily took his arm away and turned around, huffing.
"Hmph!" he snorted bossily. He turned his cold eyes towards the Prime Minister. "I'll pretend your reckless actions didn't happen, Paragus. But next time you precede the royal family's decisions and act on your own will without me or my father's order, I will have your own son deal with your punishment!"
With that, Prince Vegeta walked out of the banquet hall. With the tension finally subsiding, everyone let out a breath they were holding because of the tension. Raditz and Kakarot decided to follow the Crown Prince while Broly just stared at his father who was looking back at him with a stern glare. The king sat back on his chair, feeling stressed. Zorn immediately attended to his majesty's needs. King Vegeta dismissed everyone around to be left alone with his attendant. The Ministers proceeded to their office as ordered by the Prime Minister. The Selected Girls returned to their respective guest rooms and talked about what happened in the banquet. Broly decided to follow his friends to the Crown Prince's Palace.
Broly found Raditz and Kakarot walking on the entrance. He approached them to ask how was the Crown Prince.
"He dismissed us saying he wanted to be left alone for now." Kakarot said.
"Were you worried about him because of what you did? I don't think it's the reason so don't stress yourself with it." Raditz told him.
Broly turned curiously at him before he said, "Since we are dismissed, would you like to come with me somewhere?" he asked.
The brothers turned to Broly in surprise. This was the first time the Prime Minister's son invited them to go out with him.
A pleased smile stretched on the siblings' lips and agreed. "Of course! This is called for a celebration! Is it your treat?" Raditz asked with a silly grin over his lips.
Broly looked away, with his neutral expression. "I didn't say it's going to be my treat."
"Aw come on! Don't be such a grump! Since this is your first time inviting us to go out, this should be called a celebration! It will be my treat! Okay?" Raditz exclaimed as he wrapped his left arm around Broly's nape. He pulled his brother and wrapped his other arm around his nape too. They went out of the palace, joyous and noisy.
"Hey, aren't we going to invite Nappa?" Kakarot asked.
"Forget about him. He's probably busy dealing with our tempestuous Crown Prince." Raditz said. "Plus, he's too old to join us boys!"
The three Generals proceeded to a lavished pub to have some alcoholic drinks and food. It was almost empty as it's already late in the evening. This place is the most popular pub in the royal city, where most of the respected Elites gathered. The waiter told them that it's almost closing time and Raditz paid him a good sum for him to allow them to pass.
They were taken to a V.I.P. suite where the waiter served them everything they desired. After the waiter left them, Raditz finally asked: "So what is the exact reason why you miraculously invited us out?"
Broly let out a breath and gazed at Raditz, "It's about the Crown Prince." he muttered.
"Heh. I thought I already told you not to worry about it. He's not mad because of what you did in the banquet. It's more about his friendship with Bulma. He's…"
"The one who performed that Sword Dance was him, isn't it?"
"Uh, yeah. I'm surprised you didn't notice." Kakarot answered.
Broly smiled a little, "It was a breathtaking performance." he commented, replaying the said performance in his head.
"You bet!" Raditz agreed. "You should have seen him practicing sword flowering and spinning when we were kids. It was really dangerous!" he laughed. "Some fools from the low lands challenged us into a sword dance competition. It was a pair by pair challenge and since we are partners, we decided that we will blow them away. The training we went through was unbearable but Vegeta isn't one to give up that easily. When I thought I just wanted to back out, he wouldn't just let me. Well, he said our Saiyan Pride is at stake, and if I had any shame on him, I shouldn't back out. We didn't win the competition as our opponents were all experts with it and we were just beginners to be exact."
"I bet it was your fault for being clumsy." Kakarot laughed.
"Hey, shut up! It's embarrassing and I thought I was going to die if Vegeta ever sees me again. Instead, he congratulated me on a job well done. I have no idea what he could have eaten that morning and he was in a good mood. I was saved!"
Broly muttered, "I'm jealous."
The laughing Saiyans abruptly shut their mouths up as they turned their heads in his direction with puzzled looks.
"What do you mean?" Kakarot questioned carefully.
The tallest Saiyan among the three put his unemotional gaze down. "You two are very close friends with him."
"Broly, you could be if you wanted to." The youngest General stated.
The cool Saiyan shrugged his shoulders and looked away, muttering "No."
"Why? Is it because of your dad? Or his Majesty?"
Raditz and Kakarot are aware that the king and the Prime Minister are against the friendship Vegeta and Broly were trying to form. Even so, neither of the two are able to avert Prince Vegeta's stubborn and persistent nature. The four of them knows the reason why Paragus was trying to keep Broly away from the prince was due to political competition. Paragus believes that Broly will be the one to dethrone the royal family and he was telling his son not to be friends with the Crown Prince. The king seems to consider Broly a threat to Prince Vegeta either.
"Were you hating me because you believed that you are more deserving to be his highness' battle partner than me? Are you seriously still on with that?" Raditz asked.
"…" Broly didn't answer. He just took a shot of liquor and made a bitter face. "I wonder…" he finally muttered.
"I'm sorry, but I know that his highness still want you to be on his side. You have no idea how much he likes you."
Broly's expression turned melancholic. "I owe him my life. I wanted to be on his side forever, too. He was a person I would want to follow anywhere."
"Then why are you hesitating then?" Kakarot asked.
"Because…"
I was meant to kill him.
Before Broly could say anything, a sudden shout made then jump from their seats.
"Yo~! What do you think you're doing celebrating here without me, huh?!"
=~o-O-o~=
At the Office of the Royal Council, the Ministers were having a meeting about what happened in the Banquet earlier. They concluded that the three criminals who caused the commotion were alien rebels who probably wanted to destroy the Saiyan Empire.
"Isn't it strange that the alien rebels are making their move now?" Paragus stated.
"What do they mean when they say this scientist is planning to start a rebellion once their savior has returned? Do you think it would be enough for them to destroy the Saiyan Kingdom?" Kabu asked.
"Considering the events from tonight, it is possible that their 'savior' has returned since they started to make a move."
"Since it is a scientist, it would mean they have science and technology on their side. If they plan to charge in huge numbers and they have even more advanced gadgets than us then it is possible that they can overwhelm us. You'll never know if they could use tricks such as poisoning the air that would render us all powerless." Nasu said.
"It seems that it is almost time for the Royal Family to be put on their place." Paragus said.
They chuckled malevolently at that conclusion.
"We have to find this 'savior' they are talking about and form an alliance with them." Paragus said. "And after they dethrone the Royal Family for us, we will kill them. Nasu, you and I must convince King Vegeta to allow you and your office to work on more Advanced Technology to prepare against these aliens."
"Yes, Prime Minister." Nasu agreed.
"We should hire some people to search for alien scientists around the planet and bring them to the King's presence. This would lure their 'savior' into coming to the palace."
"Yes, Prime Minister. That is a good plan."
"For now… We have to avert the Crown Prince's attention from this. Knowing him, he could be thinking about the rebels and analyzing the situation. He is intelligent, he might have concluded the same threat as we did. Heck, he's probably thinking of his own strategy how to find this 'savior' and kill him to stop the rebellion. We have to precede his plans."
"But how are we going to do that?"
The Prime Minister rubbed his chin as he think of a good way to do just that.
=~o-O-o~=
"Your highness! We thought you said you wanted to be left alone." Raditz gasped upon finding Prince Vegeta peering behind them with an intimidating look. He was wearing his black and gold General's Armor he used when he goes out as Sadara.
"I did. But I overheard your plans. You're all being noisy out there." The Crown Prince said as he sat next to a tensed Broly.
Vegeta turned to Broly, "So you invited this time, huh? I'm pissed that you counted me out. I wonder how would you feel if I do not invite you in my birthday party?"
"My apologies, your highness." Broly bowed down in apology.
"It's not like we needed your invitation. Being your Generals and bodyguards would require us in there." Raditz mumbled.
"I can ban you or threaten to kill you if you dare to show your ugly face to me." Vegeta growled.
Raditz laughed. It looks like the Prince is in the mood to joke around now. It was a miracle rare considering Vegeta's earlier mood so he decided to go along. "Me? Ugly? Please, we almost have the same face!" he howled in laughter.
Vegeta snorted. "Ha! Don't be too assuming! I'm still more handsome than you!"
The three Saiyans laughed as Vegeta playfully brawled Raditz on the floor. Broly watched at them with resentment in his heart but a neutral expression.
"For how long have you been standing behind us, huh?" Kakarot asked.
Vegeta rose on the floor upon succesfully pinning Raditz on the floor. "What? I'm surprised I was able to sneak up on you. You three were being serious when I teleported in." he smiled. "So what do we have here? Fim? Hmph! Pathetic. Let's get some Mijuresca!" he fiercely declared.
"But your highness, that's the strongest liquor in the entire universe!" Kakarot protested.
"What? The most powerful warrior in the entire universe and his strong Generals should drink the strongest liquor there is! Otherwise, you're deemed as pathetic if you cannot take such a drink!" Vegeta stated as a matter of factly.
"Your highness!"
"Hey, bastard! Offer us your strongest drinks in here! Give us an entire tray of it!" he commanded the waiter, who was shocked to find him inside his bar.
The alien waiter quickly obeyed the Crown Prince's orders. Thirty huge bottles of the Mijuresca wine were placed at the table in front of them, along with a few plates of pasta, cheeseburgers and french fries.
Broly and Raditz could barely finish one bottle, while Kakarot couldn't last one sip before they decided to just chomp down their food. (Maybe because they have already drank before Vegeta came in) while their energetic Crown Prince guzzled the contents of all twenty seven Mijuresca wine. The three Generals watched in utter disbelief at what they are witnessing. Is he alright?
Finally feeling the effects of being drunken too much, his earlier happy mood dissipated and was replaced with a sullen look. A bottle of Mijuresca wine in his hands.
"Hey Raditz, Kakarot." he called groggily.
"Yes, your highness."
"Would you mind getting out for a while and buy me some meds? I feel sick."
Raditz rolled his eyes. "Of course, you'll feel sick after you drink that much."
A fiercing glare fixing at them made the two brothers back off, "Y-Yes, your highness." And then they went out to buy some meds that cure drunkenness at wherever it was available.
Once they were gone, Vegeta finally said, "Broly."
"Yes? Your highness." The tall General responded.
"I am not forcing you to choose between me and your foolish father. You are a warrior capable of deciding on your own by judging what you think is right or wrong. It's all up to you which side you're going to take. Just so you know, I always believed in you and that I trust you. Even if your father dared to go against me, I never cared about you being his son or a possible enemy for the throne just as my father told me. So, don't be resentful and insecure towards Raditz just because he became my official battle partner and my best friend. You just have to decide for yourself of what you really wanted, of what you think is best for you. Do not let whatever you see or hear from other people control your decisions because in the end, the regret is yours if you let it control you. No one holds your decisions in life. Think of your Saiyan Pride. Stand by your choice and stand until the end."
Those words touched Broly's feelings so much, "Your highness…"
"I will be waiting for your decision. Don't disappoint me, Broly."
Broly smiled a little, "Yes, your highness."
=~o-O-o~=
King Vegeta was torn between wanting to summon his son to talk about the rebels who dared to infiltrate the palace or just let him be and leave it for the Royal Assembly tomorrow morning so the Royal Council is present. After all, it is only expected for Prince Vegeta to analyze the threat with him being a strategist and an impatient child.
He just have no idea what his son was actually doing right now.
=~o-O-o~=
"I need to go to the restroom."
Vegeta rose from the sofa and wobbled a little. Broly quickly stood up to hold him steady.
"Are you alright, your highness? Should I escort you there?"
A piercing gaze shot up to Broly who swallowed out of terror. Drunken or not, the prince is as dangerous as ever. Vegeta growled in a groggy voice, waving his hand to silently order his General to get his hands off him, "I'll be fine. Just keep watch on the food."
Broly let him go and Vegeta slowly and carefully went out of the V.I.P. room. He turned his head from left to right, wondering where the restroom was.
The pub was almost empty by now, with probably only a few workers left to do work somewhere. He tried sensing them so he could demand them where the restroom was but then he realized that his drunkenness had dulled his senses. He shut his eyes in annoyance. He regretted drinking too much alcohol tonight.
Vegeta strolled around, searching for the restroom. Not far behind him, Broly stalked him around, worried about his well being. The prince halted to a stop and let out a long groan, feeling as if his entire world was spinning around him. His knees shook and wobbled. He felt like collapsing but a pair of strong hands held him steady.
"Your highness, are you alright?" Kakarot asked. It were his hands that kept the prince steady on the floor.
Vegeta turned around and grinned broadly at his youngest General. Finally…
Vegeta abruptly grabbed Kakarot's arms and pulled him closer as he put his wide forehead against the General's chest plate.
"UUUUUUURRRRGHHHHH!"
A loud sound of retching came out of Vegeta's opened mouth as he literally threw up on Kakarot's armor. Kakarot made a gasp of terror and surprise as he realized what's happening. He could feel the vomit gushed from Vegeta's throat to his armor, down to his pants and into the floor on their feet. Kakarot screamed helplessly.
"Your highness! Stop! Stop it! No!" he cried out as he tried to pull himself free from the Crown Prince's grasp but even if he's that drunk, Vegeta's strength didn't even falter, in fact, his grip gets stronger as he threw up more.
Behind them, Broly was stunned by what he saw. Raditz just came back and was taken aback by what was happening between Vegeta and Kakarot.
After what it seemed like eternity for the poor Kakarot, Vegeta gazed up at him with what it seemed like a grateful look before his eyes rolled at the back of his head and collapsed on Kakarot's arms. Raditz and Broly quickly approached them in panic and Raditz took the now snoring prince from his horrified younger brother.
Raditz carefully carried the prince in his back by a piggyback. Kakarot pouted like a child as he assured the prince was safe before he dashed to the restroom to wash himself.
"What a mess we got here." Raditz sighed. "Perhaps I should pay them extra for the clean up."
"I guess so." Broly muttered.
"ZZZZZZZZZZZZ…!"
Raditz flinched at the sound of Vegeta snoring that loud and long,"Goodness! This is the first time I've heard him snore like this! He overdid it this time." Raditz muttered before he approached the owner and handed him a huge amount of money, admitting about the mess they did in the hallway. When the owner and the waiters seemed to realize the mess was made by the snoring Prince, Broly made a threat to them not to speak of what happened here to anyone. That did it.
Kakarot returned, wanting to go home soon. Raditz told him to follow him on the back where he said that they will use Instant Transmission to return home.
"How about Vegeta?"
"We cannot return him in the palace looking like this. He'll get into trouble once the King finds out he's drunk. His Majesty would surely go after us too."
"That's why I tried to stop him from drinking Mijuresca." Kakarot complained.
"It's not like he would let us stop him like that."
Kakarot sighed in defeat as he put his right index and middle fingers together over the center of his forehead. Raditz and Broly put their hands over his shoulder pads. They disappeared into thin air and teleported over to Bardock's house.
=~o-O-o~=
Vegeta groaned as he woke up the following morning, feeling a terrible migraine pulsing on his skull. The moment he opened his slanted eyes, he let out a curse in surprise when he found Bardock, Raditz and Kakarot's faces peering at him closely with displeased looks upon their faces.
Feeling uncomfortable at the glares he was receiving from the entire family, Vegeta looked away, clearing his throat.
"W-What are you staring at?" he demanded.
Bardock was the first to pull away, "Get up and fix yourself. You're not going back to the palace looking like you've been wrecked by colliding asteroids." he said in an unsympathetic tone.
Vegeta looked around, realizing he was sleeping on somebody's bedroom on Bardock's home. How the hell did he get in here?
"My brats brought you home reeking of Mijuresca. I'm surprised to find out you are such a heavy drinker and a sleep talking machine. Plus, Kakarot looks like a complete mess after you threw up on him."
A faint blush warmed the prince's cheeks as he felt embarrassed at what they were telling him. Vegeta could barely remember what happened last night. The last he remembered was looking for the restroom and finally finding a suitable place to release what he's trying to hold back. He barely heard Kakarot's screeching while he vomitted.
Oh, the shock on his face was priceless.
"Yeah! How could you throw up on me like that?!" Kakarot complained.
Vegeta smirked, feigning ignorance. "I did? Maybe I thought you were already the toilet I was searching."
Raditz howled in laughter. Kakarot pouted, feeling dissed and Vegeta cackled at his reaction.
Vegeta raised a hand to catch a towel Bardock just threw on his direction.
"Go and fix yourself before you return to the palace. Have Raditz come there first so you could follow him there using your Hibiktus." Bardock ordered. "Seriously, if your father learns of your inappropriate acts you might get dethroned!"
"Yeah, I know, I know." Vegeta rubbed his fingers over his disheveled hair as he rose on the bed and went to the bathroom.
As if Bardock knew of what he was thinking, he heard him shouting outside, "Don't compare our bathroom to yours, brat! I'm not sorry that it's not as clean and big as your royal bathroom!"
"Yeah! Yeah!" Vegeta snapped back in annoyance.
He did a very quick bath before he wrapped himself on a towel. When he went out, Kakarot and Raditz were gone. Bardock was talking to them on the scouter.
"They're ready." Bardock informed him.
"Thanks."
But before he could teleport, Bardock grabbed his arm. "Wait!"
He looked up to his Generals' father. Bardock handed him over a pill that cures drunkenness.
"Be careful. I heard of what happened in the banquet yesterday. For sure, everyone was expecting that you're planning something to prevent the rebellion. However, they didn't know what you were actually doing."
Vegeta raised his head and gave the man he treated as his uncle a confident smirk, he gently removed the older Saiyan's hand off his arm. "Hmph! Don't worry about it. I already have a plan in mind."
Bardock's brows furrowed in confusion. Vegeta's smirk gave way into a mischievous grin before his blue aura enshrouded his body and he warped himself back to his private quarters where Raditz and Kakarot waited.
Bardock sat on a chair, amazed at such brilliance. That troublesome brat sure is an amazing strategist.
He's planning to kill two birds in one stone.
=~o-O-o~=
Bulma gladly welcomed the sunshine with a smile. She had a good dream where she has finally reunited with her beloved family after Prince Vegeta brought her back to them.
As if she was still half asleep, she wondered where she was. This place doesn't look like her slave quarters in Broco's place or her room in the royal cook's quarters either. This was a completely different room. It was fully furnished with pink, her favorite color when she was a child. The things in the room looked lavish and high class, somehow. She got up from her bed and went out of the strange room to the hallway. She immediately caught a scent food being cooked. A somehow familiar aroma that made her miss home. She strolled towards where the scent led her. There was her mother cooking breakfast, her older sister helping her while her father was on a chair in the dining table, working on some blueprints of amazing technology.
Noticing her standing on the kitchen door, Dr. Briefs greeted her warm heartedly. "Good morning, Bulma-chan!"
Bulma smiled back, unable to hold back her tears once again. So it is true, after all.
She is finally with her family.
=~o-O-o~=
Raditz asked someone to prepare the Crown Prince's proper bath while Kakarot went to the kitchen to check on the breakfast. But instead of doing his work, he was distracting Chichi as she prepared Prince Vegeta's breakfast.
The royal cooks were looking anxious. Kakarot asked Chichi what was the matter with them. She told him that Bulma was missing since the Sword Dance Performance yesterday evening and everyone was thinking that she was kidnapped by the performer. Kakarot couldn't help but laugh. He knows exactly where Bulma was but was not allowed to tell anyone.
"Everyone's worried about her but we couldn't seek help from the guards as it would just cause another commotion. Especially when the Crown Prince was in a bad mood yesterday after what happened."
"Don't worry about Bulma, Chi. She will be fine." Kakarot assured.
"Why? Do you know where she went to? Is she kidnapped? Is she fine?" Chichi asked.
"She's alright, I'm telling you."
Chichi sighed in relief, "Thank goodness she is alright. But where is she? Why isn't she here?"
"Let's just say the Crown Prince has given her a special order. Something that is classified information."
"What do you mean?"
"It's something like a secret between her and the Crown Prince."
Chichi nodded in understanding, "I see."
Kakarot smiled, "I was wondering if I could ask you to come out tonight?"
"Are you asking me for a date?"
Kakarot grinned sheepishly, "Is going out called a date?"
Chichi laughed, its sound like a chiming of bells for Kakarot who stared at her in awe.
"Of course it is, you dork." she playfully slapped his right bicep. He is such an airhead. A strong man with a naive mind. She couldn't help but feel attracted to this simple minded guy. Plus he's cute, too
"So… What do you say?"
Chichi nodded her head in agreement. "Sure."
Kakarot looked like he won the lottery with his reaction. "Yes! I'll fetch you at your sleeping quarters at 23h, okay?"
"Hmm…" Chichi smiled.
Kakarot left after that, he excitedly returned to his prince, who just finished his real bath.
=~o-O-o~=
Finally rid of the hazardous effects of being drunk all thanks to the pill Bardock gave him earlier, Prince Vegeta was back to his usual royal self.
After he was done eating his sumptuous breakfast, he proceeded to come to the royal assembly where his king father and the royal council discussed about what happened in the banquet yesterday evening.
Just as Prince Vegeta had expected, the Prime Minister thought the same thing about searching and hostaging the alien scientist who led the rebellion, luring the 'savior' to come to his aid and kill both. However, Prince Vegeta knew that there is a hidden plan within what Paragus was proposing. Aware of the Prime Minister's desire for the royal family's destruction, he is more likely to try and find the scientist and the 'savior' in his own will and join forces with them.
Paragus proposed to the king that the Minister of Science and Technology begin preparations in making Advanced Technology that could surpass or par with the rebel's. And to everyone's great surprise, Prince Vegeta agreed to Paragus' plans for the first time.
The King gave his permission upon hearing his son's agreement to Paragus' plan. Meanwhile, the Opposition felt quite victorious at the foolishness of the young heir and his father. They have no idea that Prince Vegeta is simply biding his time playing along their little game until it is time for him to strike.
After the assembly, Vegeta decided to train in his training room, ignoring the Selected Girls he passed by as he walked with his Generals following close behind him. When he passed by the back gates, he found several carts full of different vegetables in there. A familiar little girl was busy checking the vegetables that would be sent to the royal kitchen.
Vegeta commanded his four Generals and bodyguards to keep distance for a while and stay there until he ordered so. Once Nappa, Raditz, Kakarot and Broly were several feet behind him, Vegeta approached the young girl from behind as to surprise her.
"Yo, Eschalotte-chan."
The girl whirled around in shock and once she recognized him she happily called him, "Master!" then upon realizing he was wearing his regalia, she quickly put her head down in respect, "I mean, your royal highness."
Pleased with the child, he gently raised her chin up so she was looking at him. He kindly told her that she can look up to him so long as no one is around.
"So, are you in the palace to see me?" he asked curiously.
Eschalotte giggled, "Yes, your highness. I would like to give you my thanks." she picked something from her pocket. She frowned when she pulled out a white envelope and stared it as if it was poop.
"Huh? What is this?" she wondered as she crumpled it and threw it on one of the cart's trash bin. She picked on her pocket again and finally found what she was looking for. "Ah! Here it is!" she offered him a gift in a small brown sack bag.
"I made those good luck beads for your highness as a token of my gratitude. Thank you for helping me and my father."
He took the small gift and hid it under his chest plate.
"Thank you." he said as he gently pat the girl's head. "So, is your father well?"
"Yes, your highness. In fact, I assisted him in here. He was delivering these to the royal kitchen."
"I see. That's good to know."
A group of palace maids and cooks assigned to bring the chosen ingredients appeared and were taken aback upon seeing the Crown Prince talking to the child so casually.
Sensing their presence, Vegeta's eyes turned piercing as it darted to their direction. They immediately bowed down in respect.
Annoyed at the sudden interruption, Prince Vegeta told Eschalotte, "I'll see you around, girl." before he walked away.
He stopped near one of the cooks he knew was working in his kitchen due to her uniform and whispered in her ear, "Bake some of my favorite milk cookies and give them to that child. That's my direct order." and then he strolled back to the palace.
=~o-O-o~=
Chichi let out a shaky breath she was holding back since he whispered to her. That's the Crown Prince? Goodness, he looked exactly like Sadara-sama but he was especially more terrifying than the Grim Reaper!
Like Bulma, she harbored a deep hatred for the Crown Prince who destroyed her home planet she barely know about. But unlike her friend, she has no plans of revenge or that much bitterness. Probably because she was just a baby when he destroyed the Earth and barely knew who her real parents are. For Chichi, this Planet Vegeta was the planet she treated as her home, even if Broco did punish her most of the time.
Witnessing how the supposedly ruthless and evil Saiyan Prince was casually talking to a small child told her that perhaps, he isn't that bad at all.
Chichi smiled to herself as she did her work and the prince's order.
=~o-O-o~=
Bulma was trying to help out her dad with the blueprints he was working on when a man with dark hair in a bolo cut appeared. He looked like a friendly guy due to his huge, round eyes and a sheepish grin. He was tall, handsome and lean. He could be a year older than she is. He was carrying a box filled with rolls of other blueprints.
"Doctor, here are the other blueprints you asked for." the man said.
"Bulma, this is Yamcha, my assistant." Doctor Briefs introduced. "This is Bulma, my daughter I told you about."
"Hi, I'm Yamcha." he said as he held out his hand in a friendly gesture. A faint blush in his cheeks.
"I'm Bulma." she said, shaking his sleek hand.
"So it's good that you're finally back. You have no idea how your dad, mom and sister missed you."
"I did too." Bulma said.
"So is it true that you surpassed your dad's genius when you were a child?"
After they were done helping Doctor Briefs out, they went into the forest to tell stories about themselves, getting to know each other. Bulma felt relieved having made a new friend who she felt comfortable with, maybe because they were from the same planet and race that she was able to feel that. Plus, Yamcha was a nice guy to talk with. She was sure they will become very close friends eventually.
=~o-O-o~=
Prince Vegeta flipped over the air, while kicking his perfectly toned legs towards invisible enemies as he performed his graceful kata inside his training room. He was only wearing his training gear that consisted of a close fitting dark blue tank top that seemed like a second skin to him as it displays his lean but muscular physique. His body moved with absolute grace as he released precise and powerful patterns of physical attacks and defense.
He was getting the thrill of his power coursing through his body when suddenly, a panicked voice boomed in from the speakers.
"Prince Vegeta, your highness!"
It was Nappa's and the prince could tell the worry in his tone.
"What is it, Nappa?!" he harshly demanded, infuriated that this idiot dared to interrupt his training.
Ignoring the chill that ran up his spine upon knowing that the intimidating Crown Prince always hated being disturbed whenever he was training. However, he has to report a very urgent news.
"Y-You have to come to the royal throne room immediately. H-His Majesty, the king was poisoned while eating his lunch!"
The prince whirled around, shock on his expression, "What did you say?!"
=~o-O-o~=
Vegeta came out of his training chambers like an impending, ominous wave of destruction. Wrath simmered dangerously within him, causing him to release a rumbling, spine chilling wave of invisible energy around him. An intense, frigid gaze in his dark eyes immediately made Nappa and the other three Generals shiver in terror. They cautiously handed him a towel and his royal armor which he snatched away from their trembling hands. As he stormed out after changing his clothes with his threatening mood, the four Generals could only reluctantly follow him.
Everyone felt his outrage as he silently passed by like an eye of a cataclysmal hurricane.
"His royal highness, the Crown Prince has arrived!" Nappa exclaimed as Kakarot and Raditz opened the doors of the throne room for Prince Vegeta to enter.
Prince Vegeta graciously and royally walked inside the royal throne room, over the red carpet on the center of the aisle where the members of the royal court bowed as he passed by. He went up the stairway that lead to the throne and once he was a step in front of the royal seat, he quickly turned around with a swift about-face movement. His facial expression remained as intimidating as earlier.
Paragus declared, "As his Majesty is in no condition to decide as of now, it is only rightful that his royal highness, the Crown Prince, to temporarily take over the royal throne until the King has finally recovered." he faced the Crown Prince. "Your highness, please take a seat to the royal throne and give us your command."
With the permission of the Prime Minister and the royal council, the displeased Saiyan Prince took his seat on the royal throne of the Saiyans and the Planet Vegeta. He didn't feel any joy or accomplishment at seating at the throne for the first time as what he expected as a child considering what just transpired.
"Report the current condition of his Majesty, Minister of Health, Yamu." that was his first command.
The newest council member who followed Doctor Jagaimo, Doctor Yamu stepped up. "Your highness, the King is currently on the state of coma and is being taken care of by Doctor Malaka and his team. We believe that the cause of his sudden collapse is food poisoning. We are still looking into the details along with the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Justice."
He turned his frigid glare to Nasu before he settled them domineeringly towards Soi. He knows something suspicious was carefully planned out here.
"Present the following before me in ten minutes! The cooks who prepared his Majesty's lunch, the taster and the maids who were present as he ate. Also the actual set of the meal the king just consumed!" he imperiously commanded. "Also, have your men check the ingredients in the Royal Kitchen, Minister of Food and Drugs, Daikon!"
The Ministers turned their heads towards the Crown Prince with huge, shocked eyes, unable to believe just how persistent and stubborn the heir actually was.
"Y-Yes, your highness!"
After ten minutes, Nappa and the four Generals returned without anyone to present.
"Your highness, the people you asked for are found dead in the King's royal kitchen." Nappa announced, causing everyone to turned to his direction in aghast.
The scowl etched on the Crown Prince's face deepened. Someone killed them immediately after the incident with the king to prevent interrogation.
A guard suddenly barged into the throne room with a shocking report, "Your highness! A rebel was found outside the palace! The others are taking her in here immediately."
A loud cry reverberated the halls just as the guard stepped aside. Several royal guards came into the throne room dragging a wailing six year old Saiyan girl. The Crown Prince immediately recognized her to be Eschalotte.
"What's the meaning of this?!" Vegeta harshly demanded.
The guard who came in earlier and reported her bowed before the most powerful Saiyan, "Your highness, we found a suspicious letter pertaining to a rebellion within one of the food carts she have." he handed over to Nappa the letter he was talking about, who offered it to the Crown Prince. Vegeta opened it, which was wrinkled due to being crumpled earlier.
Upon reading what was written in the said letter, Vegeta's glare darted towards the young girl. His eyes held a mixture of anger, disappointment, shock, disbelief and betrayal.
"No! Your highness! It is not me! Please believe me! It is certainly not me! I don't know anything about that letter!" Eschalotte pleaded with an outcry of a pure, innocent child.
"Eschalotte…"
Vegeta recalled her wondering about a letter she picked on her pocket and throwing it on her cart when she offered him a gift this morning.
"A six year old child is behind this? Are you serious?" Nasu asked in disbelief.
Vegeta looked at the child, sensing her ki. His senses told him how scared and innocent she actually was.
"Don't screw with me!" he abruptly roared. "Take that child away from my presence! Now!"
"Yes, your highness!"
The guards quickly pulled the pleading child away. Vegeta heard her cries but he tried to suppress his emotions. He has to decide on how he would prove the child is innocent and save her from the gruesome punishment she would suffer after being framed by whoever was behind this rebellion.
"Your highness, please give us your command to severely punish the rebel child." The Minister of Justice suggested.
The Prince growled dangerously, gritting his teeth together as he peered on Soi's direction, "How dare you give me orders when an innocent child is being dragged into this mess? I trust that you and your men investigate things thoroughly. Don't wait until I decide to do my own investigation on this matter myself!"
"Your highness, you must make a decision quickly in order to keep the peace and order in the royal palace. The rebels targetted the King himself, you must immediately give a command to severely punish those who dared to threaten the Royal House." Paragus insisted.
The royal's piercing look shot to the Prime Minister, "Are you implying that I punish an innocent six year old girl who is clearly a pawn to a rebellion she knows nothing about?!" he demanded.
"There is no proof that she is indeed innocent or a daughter of one of the rebels." Nasu stated. "But she tried to threaten the Royal House, her age isn't relevant, your highness."
"Indeed, there is no definitive proof! Which is why I am ordering you to make a thorough investigation on the matter and leave the child alone!"
"But your highness -!"
"Shut up! I will not hear anymore of this until you showed me an actual evidence proving that she is indeed a traitor!" Vegeta was yelling. "Now, if you're thinking that this letter is enough proof, I will not call it that! Someone could have given it to her or put it on her wagon without her noticing!"
The Minister didn't say anything about that. They know the prince was indeed right. They just wanted to make things a lot easier for them if only the Prince obliterates the girl.
"Do as I command you to do! Once I am sure of the truth, I will not hesitate to kill whoever is behind all of this! Do you understand?!" he assured with a hard tone.
The council had no choice but to obey his imperious order, "Yes, your highness!"
=~o-O-o~=
When the emergency assembly was over, Prince Vegeta proceeded to check on his father. The King was on a hospital bed, feeble and unable to move. He ordered for everyone to leave him and his father to talk.
To the king's surprise, he found his first born son taking care of him as if he was a royal doctor. The prince checked on his vitals first and then his physique.
"What are you doing, Yon?" the king asked faintly.
The heir to the throne of the Saiyans smirked at his father, "Taking care of my father, what else?" he answered warmly as he gently fixed a blanket to warm his sire. "How do you feel?"
Since when did his scampish first born had a degree in Medicine and Nursing? The king wondered to himself in amazement.
"I feel… surprised." the king answered with a small smile.
"Don't be. Even if I used to hate you most of my life, you're still my father." The Prince smiled. "Plus, I will not allow it if you just die on me like that, leaving those perfidious bastards for me to deal with. I still want to enjoy my youth being your little scoundrel." and then he chuckled playfully like a child.
"That's not what I mean." King Vegeta said. "I was surprised that you didn't go on a killing spree and murdered anyone in your sight."
"To tell you frankly, I truly wanted to. But…"
The King found the hesitance in his son. This was the first time he saw him being this indecisive. Normally, the prince would act recklessly without any hesitation.
"But what?"
"You see, an impeccable little girl was dragged into this mess. The guards found a letter pertaining to a rebellion on one of her carts. Even if I wanted to destroy anyone behind this, I know that child is innocent. She is merely a six year old third class Saiyan child who barely knows what she is doing."
At this point, the king realized that the prince has changed. His ruthlessness had faltered and made him soft.
"Yon, these rebels might think that her innocence could easily deceive us. We have no idea how many traitors are behind her, biding their time to attack us when we let our guard down. Don't hesitate to make an example of her and punish her severely." the King sent these words telepathically to his son. "They say that something big starts from something little. You must extinguish the small flame before it turns into a bigger fire. The girl tried to threaten the Royal Palace. She could be the key for these rebels to infiltrate the Royal Grounds and endanger the Royal House!"
"…"
The prince didn't say anything back. His father slowly raised his hand to touch his son's hand on his chest.
"I'm afraid to see you become this soft because of a child. Snap out of it, Yon! Remember, you have to be ruthless in order to win. If you hold back and hesitate, it could become your downfall. Don't let foolish emotions drop your guard. Do you understand?"
The Crown Prince frowned at his father's words as he snatched his hand away. The King gasped in aghast as his son's reaction.
"I understand," he reluctantly answered back in a low tone. He rose from his seat to leave his father, giving a few strict orders to the King's medics and then proceeded back to his quarters.
=~o-O-o~=
He didn't know exactly what to do. For the first time in his eighteen years of life he doubted himself. He knew that his father's words were true. He cannot risk dropping his guard especially when he has lots of enemies biding their time to attack him and his father. Now that his father is unable to rule for now, it's up to him to prevent any threat in his Kingdom. He absolutely cannot lose to them.
He knew that the opposition was trying to keep him away from searching the scientist and savior behind the alien rebels, but he let them do their conspiracy with the aliens, planning to make them think he is a foolish child before obliterating them together. It would save him the trouble of hunting the alien traitors down himself.
What he did not expect was that they will drag an innocent six year old child of their own kind, who, according to his intuition and ki senses, has nothing to do with any of these.
Why was he doubting himself? He always had a perfect intuition. He knows who is trying to screw with him just by sensing their ki.
Vegeta changed his royal armor to his black armor and silently strolled towards the prison where the Ministry of Justice kept Eschalotte. He found her curled up over the straws on the floor, wailing endlessly. He could sense just how frightened the little girl was for what would happen to her. She could be wishing for him, or anyone to save her from this hellhole. He felt such heartache gnawing at his chest upon seeing her this way. A child experiencing such trauma. He recalled her hopeful words in the lantern festival. (see Episode 7)
"I have one wish but it is impossible to happen."
"Why do you think so? What is your wish?" Vegeta asked her curiously back then.
"I am just a young girl who belongs to the low class society. There is no way I could ever meet the crown prince and talk to him personally."
Vegeta laughed whole-heartedly at that, he was expecting for her to wish something like for her father to get better but of all wishes, she wanted to meet the most powerful and most ruthless Saiyan of all. The guts of this girl amazed him indeed.
The girl pouted, looking like she was offended by Vegeta's laughter of her wish, "See? You're laughing at me, mister."
Vegeta stifled his laughter and asked the girl curiously, "Why do you wish to see the crown prince? What is it that you want to talk to him about?"
"I hear he's going to take over the throne in his upcoming regency, I just want to tell him to please look down on his people and hear our pleas. I heard many great and bad things about him. They say he is very strong and smart and that he is heartless and evil. I don't believe those bad things. What I believe is that the crown prince is the perfect example of a Saiyan with true Saiyan Pride in him. I also believe that he has it in himself to hear his people."
"So specifically, you want to tell him the condition of your father and personally ask his help?"
"Not exactly, mister. What I'm saying is that I want to ask him to help us from our misery. For him to help us eliminate those who are not doing good to the people, like corrupt officials or the dictatorship of a tyrannical Galactic Emperor. For him to set an example of what Saiyan Pride means to the Saiyans and lead us to become a great race of proud warriors the universe will learn to fear and respect."
Eschalotte's cries broke his heart, he looked down at the brown sack bag she gave him this morning in his right hand. He carried her wish and he planned to grant her wish as soon as possible. The girl had always looked up to him in awe, believing he has good in him and hoping to be the one to save his people. Has he failed her expectations of him? A child who is one of the one-point-something million of his people? People he should be protecting and saving.
Vegeta reluctantly turned around, feeling ashamed of himself. He went to his dwelling place, his comfort zone, the meadow he used to meet Bulma in and sat at the grass filled with the flower he was named after. He silently vowed to himself that he will do whatever it takes to free Eschalotte from this prison and assure her innocence to his father and the royal council.
But how was he supposed to do that?
He tilted his head to look up into the stars, and prayed that his mother help him once again while running his fingers over the child's gift for him. It gave him strength but he felt like it wasn't enough. There is something else missing…
"Bulma…" his eyes filled with deep longing for the woman he admired. How is she doing now? He wondered if she is finally spending a joyous reunion with her family. How are they making up for the times they lost?
"What is it?"
The prince gasped upon hearing a familiar female voice not far behind him. He whirled around to find Bulma standing there, with a wide grin on her lips. She looked gorgeous in her red laced dress that his jaw dropped in awe as he stared at her for nearly a minute.
And then, Vegeta jumped back as if he found a ghost instead, "EEEEEHH?! WHAT THE FUCK IS SHE DOING IN HERE?!" an outcry of disbelief exploded in his mind.
How could she pop out in there like some mushroom without him sensing her? How is she able to do that despite him having very sensitive senses? Was he that distracted that he failed to sense her ki again?! (See Episode 6) Or was his mind playing tricks on him once more? (see Episode 7).
Realizing he wasn't seeing an illusion, he quickly straightened himself and cleared his throat, "Why are you here?" he demanded in his bossy tone.
"You summoned for me, right?" she answered with a smile.
Vegeta's face went red at her words before he turned around and gave her his back, "I-I do not remember summoning you here?!"
Bulma giggled as she walked up behind him, "But I heard you saying my name just now."
The blushing on the Saiyan Prince's cheeks and ears went redder. He huffed in the air as he childishly crossed his arms over his chest, "I certainly did NOT do such a thing!" he denied.
"Well… As you say so… Mister Tsundere Crown Prince…" Bulma sang, teasing him more.
"Ooommph!" Vegeta moaned, blushing even more at being called a - "Tsun -?" before he turned around and barked lividly at her, "Enough of this, woman! I am certainly NOT a Tsundere! What the hell are you even doing in here?! I thought you said you didn't want to see me ever again?!"
'Tsundere' is a term pertaining to people who are proud, cold and volatile on the outside but has a soft side within their hardened hearts. Definitely very Vegeta.
Bulma tried to suppress her laughter but hardly couldn't since the look on the supposedly ruthless and powerful Saiyan Prince was priceless.
"Aaaaah! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Vegeta snapped at her.
After a while of breaking into a fit of laughter, Bulma answered the prince's question. "I just came here to say my thanks for returning me to my family and my decision you've asked."
The prince let out a breath he was holding back with his panic at her audacity to claim that he misses her. (He knows it is true indeed but he denies it because of his oh-so-mighty PRIDE.)
"Fine, what is it?" the prince demanded, tilting his chin arrogantly.
"I am leaving the palace."
Vegeta already knew this was coming and was prepared for it. "As you wish, then. I will take care of your records so you could officially resign from your duty."
"Also, I have a favor to ask of you."
The prince waited.
"Let's pretend that we do not know each other after this."
Now those cruel words pierced his chest like an icicle. As painful as it was, adding to the ache he felt for Eschalotte, he maintained his stone cold expression.
"Please forget about anything we shared together. Forget about me and pretend that I don't exist. I will do the same with you. That way, I might be able forgive you."
She really could not forgive him. He could see the tears in her blue eyes, but he remained quiet.
"Yes, you did make up for the things you did by reuniting me with my family I longed for so long. Perhaps, most of my hatred and bitterness for what you did before had already faltered but it doesn't mean I could easily just forgive you. You are still the reason why I have no home planet and for the thirteen years I suffered.
"But still, thank you for sparing the lives of my family, for protecting them and… For trying to show me that you aren't as bad as I thought you to be. Thank you for all those times you spent with me as Sadara, to be honest, those times were the happiest moments of my life eversince I came to this planet. It was you who gave me hope and made me feel happy. But…"
"When I told you I like you as Sadara and when you revealed to me who you really are, my heart ached so much that I don't know how to feel about you anymore. So please, let's forget each other and pretend that we had never met."
Despite feeling rejected and hurt, Vegeta maintained his dominance and stoical nature.
"I told you I would let you go after I returned you to your family. I don't care whatever decision you come up with and if you wished for anything, I will give to you." Vegeta said with a stern tone. "Very well then, I'll give you what you want. Once you leave the palace grounds tonight, I will do as you wish. Is that all?"
Bulma was dismayed by his apathetic response. She initially thought he would show some kind of regret or would ask for her forgiveness. But given his proud nature, she guessed she was asking for too much. This is not Sadara who showed his concern for her and their friendship. This is the proud and cold-hearted Saiyan Crown Prince Vegeta. Someone who was known for being remorseless and indifferent to others.
"I also wish for you to give us the permission to leave the planet." she stated.
Vegeta's eyes narrowed at that. "Alright, but if you are caught by the Galactic Empire or any of the enemies of the Saiyan Kingdom, and if you work for them, I will assure you that you and your family will be considered as our greatest enemies. I think you already know what might happen to you if you dare to antagonize me and my people."
Bulma's breath was caught by that deal. All she wanted was to get out this planet and be free. To find a new and much peaceful home. Is Vegeta telling her she and her family would be safer if she stayed on Planet Vegeta? Is the Galactic Empire crueller than the Saiyans? How about their other enemies? If they were forced to work for them, then the Saiyans will be their foe. Prince Vegeta, one of the universe's feared man will seriously treat them as his enemies and kill them without hesitation.
"I will order Kakarot to teleport you to the Planet where I sent Tarble and Gure tomorrow morning. After that, you can do as you wish with your lives. Is that all?" Vegeta was still as stoic as ever. Bulma could tell the difference between him and Sadara. They were truly the opposite sides of the same coin. Deep in her heart, she hoped that he at least try to stop her from leaving. Since he's doing no such thing, it only disappointed her.
"That is all. Thank you." she said.
"If that's all then you can go and get your things ready. I will send my order to Celerie and Kakarot in a while."
Bulma turned around and started walking back to the palace where she would get her things and say her goodbye to her friends in the royal kitchen.
Vegeta watched at her go with a heavy heart but he abstained himself from going after her and pull back his words. He didn't want her to go but he wanted to protect her from his father, the council and the Saiyan law. Plus, it were her wishes he promised to abide. He could only hope the Empire or his enemies do not find her.
He teleported himself back to his private quarters to write his orders to Celerie and his permission for Bulma's resignation. He decided that he will give Kakarot his direct order.
As he scribbled down his command, he couldn't help but feel forlorn. Today was a very complicated and tiring day. A lot has happened that tested his incredible fortitude. After this, he wanted nothing but to train tirelessly, hoping to escape the problems he faced today at least for a while.
=~o-O-o~=
Kakarot was excited to fetch Chichi tonight. It is going to be his first date. He tried asking his mother how he would make an impression to the woman he promised to marry. Gine was flabbergasted by her younger son's revelation while Bardock made a disapproval grunt. He knew it was forbidden for the Generals who are assigned to protect the Royal Family to have a mate, much less date someone. Bardock wondered why Prince Vegeta allowed such a thing. Oh well, that rascal was a disobedient brat after all. He must have influenced his sons that badly.
After saying goodbye to his parents and older brother, Kakarot rushed towards the Crown Prince's palace but he immediately noticed that something wasn't normally right.
Why is the Crown Prince's Palace so quiet and peaceful right now? Was it because it's already late in the evening? Kakarot frowned. He couldn't shake a bad feeling in his gut.
Something bad is going to happen tonight.
=~o-O-o~=
Vegeta darted his dark eyes from where he was writing towards the door, perceiving several presences in there, just outside that sliding door in front of him. The energies he sensed were filled with ill intent.
And a frightened one.
He rose from his cushion seat, he just noticed that he couldn't sense Nappa outside or even the guards who are meant to protect him. What the hell happened to those useless bastards?
"I can sense your presence, fools! Come out and show yourselves!" he demanded fearlessly.
Not long after that, the doors flew open that revealed twenty masked men wearing the same black clothes and white masks as the rebels caught in the banquet yesterday evening. Bulma was taken hostage by the tall man in front. His deadly sword pointed at her. The blue haired girl was shaking in utmost terror, with fearful tears on her scared blue eyes.
"H-H-Help… Please… H-help me…" she pleaded the Saiyan Prince.
At the sight of Bulma being in great danger, Vegeta's wrath burst forth and he released his powers almost instantly. His black eyes flashed scarlet as his body became enshrouded by the raging blue flame of his aura.
"Let go of the woman and deal with me, you fucking cowards!" he growled viciously.
