When the thick darkness covers the sky
Without knowing, tears fall
I couldn't get any closer as if I was a shadow
I pity myself for being so upset
Now I finally comfort myself
Though I held out my two hands
Nothing could be grasped
My foolish wanderings
My long sighs
Are shouting, don't go, don't go
I shout out to the empty air
Because though I tried to deceive it numerous times
I couldn't hide it
My criss-crossed fate
My sad hopes
Are scattered in the sky in just one moment
Now outside the shadow
Outside the shadowed world
If it's a destiny that is given to me
Even if it's not permitted
I must have an empty heart
Tears are filling up inside my bruised heart
My heart that has been shunned by the world
Just like a shadow cast under a dark sky
Disappears when the sun sets
- Monday Kiz, "Shadows"
- (Moon Embracing the Sun OST)
Episode 25
Fade Away
"Vegeta…" she said with a broad, silly smile. "You little dummy." and then she sobbed as she scurried towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Idiot! How could you make me so worried about you? You scared me out there! Promise me that you won't do that again, huh."
The blank expression on Prince Vegeta didn't change as she cried for him on his shoulders. He slowly raised his hands, looking like he was quite reluctant to hug her back.
Then all of a sudden, Bulma was flying back towards Kakarot and Raditz. Bulma had barely felt Vegeta's fast and powerful hands pry her arms off him and pushing her violently backwards, Raditz and Kakarot stared at the flying Bulma in astonishment but Kakarot was quick to snap out of his shock to catch her on his arms.
The pain of hitting her back on something that felt like concrete brought Bulma back to her reality, wondering what the hell just happened to her. That was too fast for her to perceive at all!
"Wha-..." was all she could mutter as confusion hit her. One second she was hugging Vegeta, then the next she was on Kakarot's arms. Did Vegeta just pushed her off of him and without even controlling his strength?
"What the hell was that for, you jerk?! Are you trying to kill me by throwing me back like that?!" Bulma suddenly screamed at Vegeta, completely incensed at his nerve to push her away with that much force. Suddenly, she winced, finally feeling a pinching pain on her arms where he must have grabbed them. She gingerly rubbed her hands over them as she fought tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
Finding that horrifying, rage-filled murderous look on Vegeta, Raditz was suddenly in front of Bulma. "Shh.. Quiet woman. Calm down. Just calm down." he said in a low voice. However, it didn't stop the woman from her angry tirades.
Vegeta cut her rants off with a rather shocking demand and an ominous glare, "Just who the hell do you think you are to touch my royal body with your filthy, common, alien hands?!"
Vegeta's furious question made Bulma quiet. She and the two generals all shot their heads up to him with a confused and questioning look.
~=o-O-o=~
Meanwhile, Malaka directly reported to the King once again after checking up the prince's condition upon waking up. He arrived at the King's Executive Office where the King awaited for news about his heir.
"Your Majesty," Zorn announced. "Doctor Malaka has come to report his Royal Highness, the Crown Prince's condition."
"Let him come in," the King commanded.
The doors slid open and Malaka entered the office, bowing humbly and in respect to the ruler of the planet sitting on a high backrest executive chair behind a mahogany table. There was a tray of scrolls over the table and King Vegeta was scanning through them.
"Your Majesty," Malaka said, his head remained lowered.
The King didn't look up from what he was reading as he ordered the royal doctor, "Report."
Malaka hesitated at first, reluctant of the news he bore but decided to simply swallow back his fear and relay the news to his master.
"Your Majesty, as of my latest examination to His Royal Highness, it appears that the lesion on his brain has a direct effect on his emotions, behaviour and memories."
"What do you mean? Does the Crown Prince have amnesia now?"asked the Saiyan ruler.
"Yes, your Majesty. But I have no idea which memories of his have been affected by his trauma. Also, his behaviour since he rose from the medical tank has been odd. I cannot sense ki like the Saiyans do, but I feel that something is wrong."
This time, King Vegeta lowered the scroll he was reading and finally looked at the kneeling doctor before him, his eyebrows creased together. He knew Malaka's hunch was correct as he sensed it first hand when he saw his son before the blood and gore left by Malaka's assistant, Doctor Planthorr who received a gruesome death from the newly awakened Saiyan Prince. The Crown Prince's energy was filled with enormous malevolence, desire for bloodshed and vengeance. In his mind, he recalled the words of the royal seers about the new prophecy.
Has the Crown Prince finally been reborn into his true self?
~=o-O-o=~
What does he mean by that? Can't he tell?
Bulma, Raditz and Kakarot were utterly speechless as they gaped in complete bafflement at the actions and words of the Saiyan Crown Prince. Vegeta clenched his teeth together, a low, menacing, angry growl vibrating through as he glared threateningly towards the woman who just dared to strangle him. The nerve of this woman to carelessly touch him like that! It's completely unforgivable to him. And if the Generals knew better, the expression on his face could only imply that he was about to murder anyone within his vicinity.
Raditz decided to cut through the tension and silence by responding to the Prince's question. "Your highness… This woman is Bulma Briefs. Can't you recognize her?"
His gaze never faltered. "Bulma Briefs?" Vegeta repeated the name with a rather disgusted sound. His expression changing from incensed to a lack of interest. "What is that? Her name?" He paused for a moment before continuing. "Why does she have such an ugly name that seemed to come from underwears?"
Out of the blue, Bulma suddenly smacked his head forward. His words had pissed her off and made her temper explode right there. If there was anything she hated the most, it was when people compare her name to underwear. She actually never liked her name and wondered what her parents were thinking when naming her and her older sister.
Not far away from them, Raditz and Kakarot screeched with stupefied looks. It was pretty obvious that Prince Vegeta was in a terrible mood, and so was Bulma after he dared to hurt and mock her. Both of them were angry enough and if this squabble goes on and their fiery tempers clash, one of them is going to receive a horrible death.
"Say that again or I will kill you!" she yelled in fury at Vegeta's face. "Stop messing around, you jerk! We're not playing games in here! I am in no mood to play with your stupid jokes right now! I was so damn worried about you and this is what you're going to tell me?!"
Vegeta slowly raised his head and glared indignantly at her in deadly silence. When she finally saw that fearsome gaze, Bulma suddenly realized what she just did. Her anger lost, she subconsciously backed away from him, shrinking back at that virulent look on his face. "Damn... If looks could only kill then he would have already killed me a million of times over." she thought grimly. Her heart trembled with unnecessary terror at that downright murderous glare upon his dark obsidian eyes. Her body felt like being submerged into an icy sea as thousands of icicles mercilessly pierced through her down to her every cell.
And then, she saw how the things within his room shook as invisible waves of wrathful power rolled out of the prince. He was just glaring back at her with such fearsome, murderous gaze, like a bloodthirsty animal wanting to eat her alive.
"Vegeta… Stop joking around. This isn't the time. Calm down." Bulma pleaded with a sheepish smile.
With unbelievable speed as quick as lightning, he roughly grabbed one of her wrists with his right hand and harshly pulled her towards him, glaring at her eye to eye with threatening darkness and seething rage.
"Do I look like I was kidding you around? Just who the hell are you to come in here?! I ordered only for my Generals to come. Are you Raditz's woman? Or maybe Kakarot's? And how dare you call me by my first name alone without the proper title and honorific? You got some nerve touching my royal body with your filthy, common hands by attempting to strangle me and then you dared to smack me with the same hand. Me, the Crown Prince of all Saiyans! I should kill you where you stand, woman!" he growled at her.
With huge eyes and panicking at what Vegeta was about to do to Bulma, Raditz and Kakarot quickly cut in.
"Your highness." Raditz cut in. "Please quell your anger. I assure you that she doesn't mean any harm."
"Are you blind?! You saw what this woman did to me! She tried to kill me by strangling me with her filthy, common hands!"
"Don't you… Don't you really remember her?" Kakarot asked.
"Am I supposed to?" Vegeta responded with a threatening sound.
"Please… This isn't funny… Let me go! You're hurting me! You'll break my arm, Vegeta!" Bulma pleaded.
He snarled in rage as raised his right index finger and pointed at her. The tip of his glowing finger was only an inch away from between her big, blue dilated eyes. It was sparking with bluish white electricity. Bulma stared back breathlessly in trepidation. For some reason, this scenario closely reminded her of that night she met Vegeta on the Burokorri bridge as Sadara.
Vegeta smirked wickedly at the sight of her fear. He snorted as he let her wrist go and pushed her back away from him just as roughly he just pulled her a moment ago. His murderous eyes narrowed as he shoot his Galick Beam at her direction without any hesitation at all. Time seemingly slowed down for her as she stumbled backwards and stared at the seemingly invisible, electromagnetic cannon blast coming right at her with lightning speed. Raditz pushed her out of the ray's path, causing Bulma to fall face-first on the floor while Raditz was barely able to evade that deadly energy blast and it hit his left shoulder, causing a hole at the left shoulder pad of his armor and a deep, bleeding circular wound on the front of his deltoid.
Bulma stared up at the injured Raditz, whose blood started to drop on the floor and was horrified to realize that Vegeta just tried blasting her with unwavering resolve. He was really going to kill her! Oh, the shock on her face was unmistakable as she turned to look at Vegeta's cold and cruel face.
"Vegeta…" Bulma muttered his name in disbelief, eyes wide.
Vegeta and Raditz were having an intense, yet silent glaring match. After a while, Raditz pulled away and lowered his eyes.
"So it seems that this woman is rather important to you." Vegeta assumed.
"Apologies, your highness." Raditz said.
Snapping out of her shock, she yelled at Vegeta, completely aggravated. "You..!" but her furious words were cut off by his intimidating stare.
His earlier savage gaze at her flared greater, "Tch! You annoy me! Get lost before I decide to blast you again!" he growled back at her in disgust.
But it only made the infernal woman even more upset. Tears were beginning to form on the corner of her big, blue eyes as she gazed at the Saiyan Prince with an aghast look. Raditz noticed that Vegeta was about to snap again, and if this goes on then it could become the end for her so he pulled Bulma with him.
"...As you wish, your highness." Raditz immediately muttered and he quickly dragged Bulma out of the room.
However, Bulma protested against Raditz's grasp as she shouted back, "You cannot just forget about me! I'm the one you love the most! Your dearest Bulma!" she cried.
Growling lividly, Vegeta grabbed the nearest thing he could find, a cushion. "Don't mess with me!" he roared as he unceremoniously hurled the thing to her face, causing her to stagger back in pain.
"Ow!"
"How dare you claim that I have such feelings?! I am a Saiyan Warrior, uninhabited by foolish emotions meant for the weak! I hate loud, snivelling, flirting bitches like you who thinks that the Prince of all Saiyans would fall for them! Get lost and die!"
Bulma couldn't believe what he just said to her. Those were the most vile, hateful words she had ever heard from anyone ever. After he had bothered her with his pushy and demanding nature, forcing a romantic relationship with her despite the times she told him how unsure she was of her feelings for him when she learned about his true identity. And now he dared to claim that she was the one who flirted with him?
Then his glare fell on his battle partner. "What are you standing there for?! Get her out of my sight immediately! That is a royal command!" Vegeta roared.
"Ye... Yes, your highness!" Raditz hitched.
Bulma was still in shock as Raditz dragged her out of Vegeta's quarters. As soon as they were outside the Crown Prince's Palace, Bulma's tears finally fell like rain.
"How could he…" she seethed. "I never liked him either! He was the one who pushed me into liking him back in the day!"
It's not like she never really liked him. Back when she doesn't know who he is, she truly fell in love with him. She thought of him every day and every night. She wanted to spend her time being with him, listening to his vain comments about himself and usually annoying attempts at jokes. But when she finally knew of his true nature, she became afraid of him because of his merciless reputation and his dangerous abilities. Even if she knew that he has good in him, she refused to admit her feelings for him because she was hurt by him in the past and was fearful of him and the future. She tried to avoid him by all means, ignoring his direct orders and royal commands, treating him as if he never existed, said her goodbye and decided to leave him. But then... this cruel destiny had put them together once more. She gave him a chance after she was gnawed by guilt when he almost died saving her from being hostaged. Their friendship slowly returned and the more time she spent with him when she was building his Gravity Room, the more the feelings she thought was long gone, appeared and grow. But fear had gotten the best of her. Fear about the future had far surpassed her love for him. She was unable to trust him, not even her growing affections for him. This made Vegeta really upset despite the lots of times he told her to just put her faith on him. At first, she thought he was the type who never gives up on anything, be it a fight or what he wanted, but on that day she learned that even the determined and hardened warrior Prince has his limits. His father tried warning her about it.
Vegeta almost gave up on her once. She knew he did that not because he wanted to. It was because of her, she hurt his pride that day. Those days without him felt so empty. He even broke up with her at the Gravity Room. She thought that he might never forgive her for doing that. That's when she realized that she cannot live without him any longer.
But Vegeta never actually gave up on her. He was putting on a show so he could protect her from the scandals he was getting her involved. In the end, she confessed her feelings for him the night he came to her room. That's when they finally became an official couple.
But things aren't going to be easy. Despite their acceptance to each other, Vegeta's responsibilities as the future King of the most powerful warrior race in the entire universe is an important matter he has to do. He was their only hope against the Galactic Emperor after all. He said he'll come back to her after he realized the prophecy of his people. It was a promise he gave her.
And after all of these... He had to go and lose all of those precious memories they shared together? Why? Has he given up on her? Was he angry that she stopped him from killing Paragus earlier? Was he only acting like an amnesiac? She couldn't tell. He looked so serious.
"He's not lying," Raditz told her with a heavy heart. "He really cannot remember you at all."
"But how sure are you about that? Vegeta told me that he was a good liar. He could only be kidding around."
"He's not joking. I'm telling you that and I am sure about it because there is no reason for him to just forget about you, tell you those cruel words and shoot that Galick Beam on you. If he was your Vegeta, he wouldn't do that. Something's wrong about him. He's not acting like his normal self at all. His ki felt as if he just snapped and returned to his old, cold and ruthless self. It was horrible."
"Does this mean that he has amnesia? How... How could he forget about me of all people? Why me?" she sobbed.
"I don't know... But don't you think it would be easier for you?" Raditz said. "Earlier, you were worried about him if he finds out that you were ordered by his Majesty to stay away from him. Now, he has completely forgotten about you, he wouldn't care about you leaving him."
Bulma sniffed once. Raditz was correct. With his memories gone, Vegeta will not suffer the pain of heartbreak once she obeyed the King's Royal command to stay away from him. He won't rebel against his father or feel heartbroken and depression at all.
"Yeah... You are right. I think that's better, too." she agreed. "Do you think Vegeta's memories will return one day?" she asked. "If he does, will he go and search the cosmos for me? Or is he going to just leave me be?"
Raditz didn't know how to answer her question. There have been several cases of amnesia in Saiyan children who never regained their past memories at all. Kakarot was one example. However, unlike Kakarot who lost all of his memories, Vegeta has only forgotten some part of his. He has no idea of the extent of damage on the Crown Prince's brain at all that it even caused Vegeta to regress to his cold and ruthless self.
"I am sure that if he remember you one day, he will find you wherever you may be. He gave you a promise so I think he will do everything to see you again." Raditz assured.
"Are you still going to come with me to gather the Dragon Balls on Planet Namek?" she asked.
"I'm not quite sure about that." Raditz replied. "If he indeed has amnesia then there's no doubt that he had forgotten about that order. I don't know if he'll still allow me to go."
"Yeah. I guess it's all up to me then." Bulma stared down on the bleeding wound on his shoulder. "We should get going so we could fix that." she said.
Raditz grunted. "Forget about it. It's nothing really serious."
"How could you say that? You're bleeding!"
"This is nothing compared to what Vegeta would usually do. We're lucky we are able to get out of there alive."
Kakarot came out of the Prince's quarters and walked towards them, an unhappy look on his face. Once he was with them, he slowly shook his head in dismay.
"What did he tell you?" Raditz asked.
"He became completely livid when I questioned him why he did that to Bulma. He told me to get lost and to never talk to him again."
"He can't be serious. Now he's pushing us back now? First, it was Broly and now he's turning on us?"
"I tried to get into his mind to know what he's actually thinking but like always, it's completely futile." Kakarot said.
Kakarot has a strange ability to read other people's minds if he concentrated enough. It works to almost everyone else whose mind barriers were weak or inactive. Vegeta was one exemption to the rule though. Oddly, the Crown Prince can completely nullify all abilities related to the mind by default. If other people had to build a strong mind barrier to protect themselves from mind powers, Vegeta was completely opposite. In that, he has to open that barrier in order for it to work, like how he does when he uses his telepathic powers to communicate through mind.
"So I decided to feel his energy..." Kakarot said. "His ki felt unusual from before."
Nappa returned after he was summoned by the King for a while. He found Bardock's sons and Bulma at the hallway and he cautiously approached them. Raditz and Kakarot raised their hands and made salute to the higher ranked General.
Nappa sighed as he scratched the back of his head. "I need to tell you something. Follow me at the office."
Bulma, Kakarot and Raditz followed the bald headed General into the office where they last ate their lunch just yesterday. After closing the door behind them, Kakarot and Raditz reached out to their superior.
"What's wrong, Nappa?"
"I was just summoned by His Majesty. I was told of an update of the Crown Prince's condition. It appears that Prince Vegeta is currently suffering a terrible brain damage which greatly affects his emotions, behavior and memories. Although it is clear to me how it's affecting his behavior and emotions - it is still a mystery to us how much of his memories are affected."
"So it's true that he has amnesia?"
"No wonder why he cannot remember Bulma."
"Wait. You mean he cannot remember her?"
"No. He doesn't even recognize her at all."
"Just her?"
"No idea, but he does recognize us right?"
"Yes... It seems. Because of what happened, His Majesty also gave me a strict order never to allow Bulma Briefs visit or see Prince Vegeta ever again. His Majesty told me that he's going to send a spaceship for the Briefs to leave with tonight. It is set on the Planet they are going to live peacefully in and was given as collateral for the Crown Prince's wrongdoings in the past. I heard you have accepted it in the throne room, Bulma."
"Yes..."
"But can you really leave him like this?"
Bulma did not answer immediately. In her heart, she really didn't wish to leave her Prince this way. She was hurt and upset enough to just let him forget about her like that and treat her like dirt. Not after everything they have gone through. He never gave up on her, so it was only right that she must not give up on him either. But... If giving up on him was the only way for him to stay alive, then what other choice does she have?
"I gave my word to the King. If I stayed here, I would only bring more harm than good anyways. I think it's better this way. I don't have to worry about Vegeta anymore."
It was obvious how fake that smile and determination was. Deep inside, she didn't really like how things turned out.
The three Generals only stared at her, knowing how she was lying to them yet they decided not to press the situation even further.
Kakarot decided to leave it be. "Raditz, Let's go back for now. I need to talk to dad."
~=o-O-o=~
"What?! Amnesia?!" Bardock repeated in disbelief. Raditz filled Bardock in with what just happened to Prince Vegeta once they have returned to the Briefs' residence with Kakarot and Bulma. Bardock and his family decided to take a walk around the mountain to have this conversation.
"Yes. Quite an odd one because he knows who we are but there were things he cannot remember, mostly things that has something to do with Bulma. He cannot even recognize her at all." Raditz said
"That's a very selective amnesia, I could say." Gine commented.
"How pathetic for a Saiyan of his age and calibre to get some sort of memory loss!" Bardock scoffed in disgust.
"Yes. I was actually doubting him at first but I think there's no way for the Vegeta we know to hurt and kill her. If you only heard the cruel things he told her. I don't blame Bulma for being upset." Kakarot said.
"But why only her? Of all things he could forget, why just her?" Gine wondered.
There was a momentary silence while they think of a possible explanation as to how the Crown Prince of all Saiyans acted that way. Kakarot was the first to speak his thoughts.
"Could it be that his memory loss was caused by trauma?" Kakarot guessed.
Bardock made a bitter face and snorted loudly, displeased evident on his face and words, "Hmph! Pathetic, really. I never thought that the royal brat could ever be traumatized."
"But we cannot cross out the fact that he actually died for who knows how many minutes before he was miraculously revived by the full moon's light." Raditz pointed out.
Bardock suddenly stopped when he found something on the ground that caught his eye. He scowled as he picked the small thing up with his fingers and observed it. It was a locket with a beautiful cresent moon and three stars design over it. Whatever it was attached to had been snapped and only this locket was left behind.
"That's Vegeta's locket." Raditz recognized. "It's partnered with the key pendant on the chain Bulma wears."
"A pair of couple's jewelry, huh?" Bardock muttered. He was unimpressed that those two lovebirds were so childish they wear ridiculous things such as couple jewelry. But then, Bardock thought that the locket is something that could be beneficial to their current situation. He closed his eyes, relaxed his mind and concentrated his psychic powers into the locket, using his abilities to see visions of the past related to this locket.
He saw the awe and curiosity Vegeta had when he first laid his eyes on the pair of jewelry at the Merchant's ship. How disappointed he got when he learned of its price tag. Cabbe trading the jewelries and surrendering it to Vegeta. The prince peeking at it once he was alone and wondering what he was going to write and keep in the locket. Vegeta being mad about Bulma's distrust of him. His coldness and disappointment towards her. His loneliness during their two week long break up. Vegeta waking up on his room after he was knocked out by his Clone. Vegeta returning from somewhere and deciding on what to write. Vegeta writing on several long strips of paper, reading and editing it several times. Sometimes going angry, impatient and feeling ridiculous at such words of weakness and soft-heartedness he was mumbling and rehearsing to himself - later throwing some childish temper tantrum before deciding not to give up and continue writing. He didn't stop until he was finally satisfied by the result.
"I, the Crown Prince of all Saiyans, Vegeta-sama is making a lifetime promise to Bulma Briefs. This will serve as a symbol of my vow that no matter what happens, everything that I am belongs to her and only her. Only she holds the key to my heart, which will be kept for her forever. When I am done with my mission and duty as the Chosen One, I will find a way to return to her and make her my Queen as I belong to her and no one else."
The vision changed and Bardock saw Vegeta embracing Bulma from behind.
"Like I told you in the coffee shop, I have a duty to my people. So long as I am on that mission, I cannot give myself to you entirely. But since I love you so much, I cannot bring myself to just let you go and have anyone else take you away from me. You are mine, no matter what you belong to me and no one else. That's why I'm ordering you to wait for me. Don't go to another man because you'll only break me. Wait for me, and I promise you that I will do my best to fulfill my mission as soon as possible so you won't wait long."
"No matter how long it would take for you to fufill your mission, I will wait for you because I love you. I'll be waiting." Those were Bulma's response.
Wait for me, Bulma.
Bardock opened his eyes, turning over the locket with his fingers. So this is the vow Vegeta gave to Bulma before he decided to go to some kind of mission. Bardock knew that the mission the prince was talking about were the fulfilment of the original prophecy in which he was meant to destroy the Galactic Emperor to save the Universe and also his duties and responsibilities as the Saiyan Crown Prince. Despite being in-love with Bulma, Vegeta still felt that his affections for her would only serve as either a distraction to him or a weakness. He had already decided when he gave the key to her that he would set his feelings aside so he could be done quickly with his duties.
Yet, even after that resolve, Vegeta was unable to resist his emotions when Paragus threatened to kill her. Bardock was able to see Vegeta's last moments with Bulma before his 'death'.
"Perhaps, at some point, he was thinking of his inability to protect her. The woman was too important for him to forget but the pain of his failure caused him to lose his memories of her." Bardock surmised.
Kakarot verbalized of his thoughts of the matter too. His observation of Vegeta's change in energy and behavior earlier. "His ki also felt different from what it used to be. It feels like his cold and ruthless nature had returned as well. He appeared to be remorseless when he tried to kill Bulma earlier. He's not the same Vegeta anymore. He's completely changed. It's like... How it used to be when he was younger. It felt cold, vengeful, dark... But worse and even more powerful."
Bardock raised his head to look at the clear red sky, watching at the white, fluffy clouds over the horizon. He sighed and said, "That may be the result of his regrets."
"Regrets?" repeated everyone.
"Understanding his psyche, he probably felt regret at the fact that he has become soft. Perhaps, he thought that his foolishness and soft-heartedness brought him and Bulma to the inevitable. For that reason, he has changed and for the worse I could say. There's no telling what he's thinking or what he's planning to do but his newly awakened powers is an ominous thing we must watch out. Sooner or later, he might go on another berserk rampage and start on a killing spree again."
"The new prophecy will soon be realized." Kakarot said, breathlessly.
"Somehow... We must do something to bring his memories back..." Bardock said, clutching the locket on his hand.
Raditz doubted his father's suggestion. "Do you think it would work? I mean, look at Kakarot here. He also has amnesia yet he's never regained his memories."
"Yeah, I doubt it too. Amnesia is a rare condition among us Saiyans. I never heard of one regaining his memories ever again." Bardock turned his head to the direction where Bulma stood alone. "But this locket and that woman are our only hope."
~=o-O-o=~
Meanwhile, Broly was waiting for Beets to return on the woods outside the cavern where he last saw his father. He sent his attendant to look for his father and hear any news about the Crown Prince. He knew that Vegeta was alive and he was relieved about that. Beets went to the royal city in a disguise to search for what his master wanted. After a few hours, Broly sensed the Crown Prince's ki spike up, the ominous feeling he felt made him turn to the direction anxiously. He had never felt Prince Vegeta's ki this way before. It felt pure evil, as if he could perceive the Prince's thirst for blood. That feeling caused Broly's heart to jolt, and his knees fell to the soft ground. There was it again, the uncontrollable desire to fight someone strong. The Prince's ki was causing Broly to feel fear at first but it eventually turned into an urge for a challenge.
"Broly-sama!" Beets called out loud as he sprinted through the trees. That snapped Broly out of his trance and he looked up at the man before him. "Are you alright?" Beets asked him.
Broly smiled as he picked himself off the dirt. "Yes, thank you."
"General Nappa brought Prince Vegeta back to the Palace after he was calmed down by Raditz and Kakarot. Paragus-sama was brought to prison. I hear he will be deposed as the Prime Minister and be punished by death. The live video of what happened on the cavern was enough evidence of his treason and everyone in the Palace was a witness to his betrayal."
The smile quickly disappeared on Broly's face. His expression suddenly turned vacant as he looked away. He felt hurt by his father's arrest. Despite the cruelty he suffered from Paragus, he still loved his father dearly. He cannot do anything to save him from his death punishment. He knew that what his father did was high treason against the royal family. And basing on Prince Vegeta's mood and the nature of his ki just now, he knew he'll be in no mood to show mercy to the one who tried to kill him.
After a few seconds, Broly finally broke down as he was once again torn by his loyalty to his best friend and his love for his father.
~=o-O-o=~
Prince Vegeta sat on his cushion seat with a vacant look on his face. He was unmoving, like a life size doll. When Kakarot and Raditz left him alone, suddenly he felt empty. It felt completely different than the heart-pounding excitement when he was hunting for blood that night. He felt alive back then, so alive he had never felt such a thrill before. He cannot forget the rush of blood and the drumming of his heart on his ears. After all, he was just awakened to his true nature of being a wild, blood thirsty Saiyan warrior. He felt the same as when he rose from the medical machine just now. But after all that rage calmed down, his bloodlust somehow satiated - he suddenly felt nothing. Annoyance, maybe, especially when it comes to that woman and his Generals' endless questions with regards to her. He didn't know why but he felt strangely agitated by her presence, mad enough he wanted to kill her right there. Questioning her nerve to touch his royal body, call him by his first name alone, call him a jerk and an idiot and smack him at the back of his head. Just who does she think she is to do that to him? He rudely told her to go away and when he did that, he suddenly felt... this empty.
All the rage and bloodlust had gone, leaving him cold... Dead. He was like a reanimated corpse without a beating heart. Well, not literally, though. Vegeta closed his eyes, reached a hand to his left chest to feel his heart beating. It was pumping normally, yes. He was as warm as any Saiyan alive. He was back from the dead. He could see, hear, speak, smell and feel, but he realized that his senses were a lot different than his usual. They were heightened, sharper than his normal capabilities. He was also stronger and faster. He could feel that all his abilities had grown more powerful. Those were the good things that happened to him.
But there were bad things as well. Due to that strange emptiness he was feeling, he knew that there was something missing, something really important but his guts were telling him to simply ignore it and let it be.
He shook his head, why was he wasting time thinking about lost memories anyways? For some reason, he felt the urge to just go to his training room. He wanted to test his new abilities after all. Yes, he would just do that.
~=o-O-o=~
Vegeta walked out of his Palace, with Nappa and his servants following behind. When he passed by the royal courtyard in front of the throne hall, he saw that there was a crowd gathered there. He could hear agonized screaming among those people which he recognized to be the voice of the Prime Minister. Suddenly, out of the blue, his rage and bloodlust had returned at the mere thought of the traitorous bastard, Paragus.
King Vegeta was sitting on a throne-like chair on an elevated platform as he watched with furious eyes at the guards who mercilessly tortured Paragus and Nasu, who were apprehended and binded on torture chairs by some ki enhanced ropes. Their energy sealed by ki restraining devices. They were surrounded by a crowd of angry Saiyans crying out for justice at their Crown Prince's sufferings.
"Your highness," Nappa said behind him. "Do you see your people's outrage on what Paragus did to you? They want him dead, but his Majesty wanted to give you the satisfaction to avenge yourself by killing him on your own hands."
The Prince frowned as he recalled what remains of his memories last night. That someone who tried to kill him... The one he was hunting... It was Paragus! He could feel the rage of the beast boiling under his skin at the thought of the man. Despite his missing memories, Vegeta felt that Nappa was telling him the truth. He could feel the desire to kill the bastard within him.
"I'm going to kill that rotten old bastard!" he growled, trying his best to control himself from making a violent entrance, yet his ki skyrocketed dangerously. Nappa took a step back as he swallowed fearfully, feeling the invisible waves of power rolling off the Crown Prince's body.
"Your highness... Do... Do you truly wish to do this now?" Nappa asked.
Vegeta's eyes narrowed and he gave a warning growl as a response.
"...Ye-Yes... A-As you wish... Your highness..." Nappa hitched. He swallowed once again, trying to muster up his confidence as he raised his voice to announce the crowd who were oblivious of their presence.
"His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince has arrived!"
The crowd turned to their direction and once they found their resurrected Crown Prince, they parted away from his path to give him way and they all fell to their knees to kneel and bow down before him. Vegeta sauntered forward with an austere look with Nappa and his servants tailing behind him. He walked the path towards the elevated platform where his father sat in a velvety throne while Nappa and the rest of his servants stepped on the sides below the staircase. Once in front of his father, he swivelled around with a swift about face movement and gazed down at the people bowing down before him with his frigid look.
And then, his portentous glare fell upon Paragus. The Saiyan traitor was beaten and bleeding heavily. He was slumping backwards with a blank gaze at the skies. His spine was shattered from Vegeta's rampage earlier so he was paralyzed and limping against the backrest of his chair. His ribs, arms and legs were broken. His swollen face, with the blood, open wounds and injuries, couldn't be recognized at all.
Nasu, who was on his side, was no better. At least Paragus still had his limbs. His daughter, Kinoko, was watching on the side with strange indifference.
"Yon, I have deposed Paragus from his position as the Prime Minister, for the crimes of rebellion, high treason, attempts of regicide against me, and murdering the Crown Prince. Everybody in the Palace have seen his betrayal and that is enough proof for him to be punished by death. Now that you are in here, I will give to you the pleasure of getting your revenge against them. You may do as you wish and punish them as you like. Your people are here to witness your vengeance."
When Prince Vegeta was about to give his royal command, he heard a single outcry from behind the silent crowd.
"Your highness!"
Everybody turned his head on the newcomer's direction. Broly was dashing towards them while Beets chased him not far away. Broly pushed through the crowd, who recognized him being Paragus' son and he instantly received bitter and harsh comments about him and his father.
King Vegeta harshly ordered his attendant and General, Zorn who was standing behind him, "Seize that boy and bring him to me!"
"As you wish, your Majesty." said Zorn as he turned to the King's Royal guards and silently nodded. They quickly obeyed the King's order. Broly was surrounded by several royal guards. Broly let them restrain him with ki ropes without as much of a struggle and they forced him to his knees in front of the Saiyan Royalties. Beets was pushed back to the crowd.
"Broly..." Paragus moaned his son's name in a groggy voice from the chair he was restrained at.
Broly lowered himself against the floor and cried out. "Your highness, your Majesty! I know that I am being impudent for showing myself to you. I am here to humbly beg for your mercy and consideration! I appeal that you spare my father from his punishment of death. I am willing to do anything that you ask of me, even if you must punish me instead of him, I will do it. Just please, give him a chance to change his ways."
Everyone couldn't believe the nerve of this son to ask that his father be shown mercy after what he had done against the royal family. Paragus' sins were absolutely unforgivable and Broly has received the outcry of his kind.
"What an absurd request! For your information, you should be included with this punishment along your father because you are part of their treason! How dare you think that you will be shown mercy after all of that?!" King Vegeta furiously roared.
Prince Vegeta, on the other hand, was listening. As much as he wanted to kill the bastard Paragus, he thought that the traitor could be useful for something for now. Despite his hatred against the former Prime Minister, Vegeta felt that he still wanted to satisfy his own uncontrollable impulse to fight a powerful opponent. He began to think about his choices. He had the chance to destroy Paragus now and have his revenge, but on the other hand, if he killed Paragus now then he won't have anything to wrap Broly around his fingers with. Vegeta knew how much affection Broly has for his father and that his current powers, even after being fully awakened by the moonlight, were still no match against Broly's claim of the Legendary Super Saiyan form. He knew he still needed time to be able to surpass that gap between them. It would be better if he use Paragus as a bait to force Broly into submission to his demand.
"Very well, then." Prince Vegeta cut in, causing his father to snap his head towards him with wide eyes. Vegeta crossed his arms across his chest. "One week. I will keep your father and Nasu alive in one week on the condition that you will fight me at your full power on our match at the Annual Power Assessment."
Everybody looked at the Crown Prince as if he just grew a second head.
"Yon, are you still anticipating on fighting him?! Are you on your right mind?!" King Vegeta quickly protested.
Broly was surprised as well. He cannot believe that after everything that has happened, the prince still wished to challenge him like this. Broly shook his head, hesitation lingering on his broken voice as he pleaded, "Your... Your highness. I do not wish to fight against you. I never intended to do so in the first place. I... I'm not..."
Vegeta, feeling rejected, roared indignantly. "I didn't tell you to make a choice! It is a royal command! Fight me at your best on that day, Broly! Then I might spare your beloved father from my wrath!"
"I... I don't..."
This only made the prince even more pissed. From a furious look, his expression shifted to cold and emotionless.
"I see that you have no true intention of fighting me. Don't worry, I have other ways to make you. I will give you a damn good reason to do so!"
King Vegeta cut in, "Yon, stop playing your childish games and just finish them already!"
An abrupt shockwave of powerful energy erupted from the indignant Prince Vegeta and pushed everyone away while he instantly raised his ki in an explosion of massive power. His father, who stood closest to him, received its full force and he was hurled back with unrestrained might. Among all, it was Broly who remained still, like a tough statue glued on the pavement. The prince raised his hand and without any hesitation and mercy, fired a deadly blast into the crowd of bystanders. It was too fast for everyone to react and the people on its deadly path, which included Broly's personal attendant, Beets, could only widen their eyes as the flash of energy hit them.
An explosion erupted on that spot, silencing the screams of those caught on that deadly burst. The rest of the Saiyans surrounding them picked themselves up and watched in utmost horror at the savage scene before them. Eighty of their kind were dead on the spot, several others were injured, either burned or lost parts of their bodies, bleeding and crying out in pain. Cries, screams of suffering and terror and the scent of burning flesh filled the air. Vegeta's earlier stone cold expression changed and twisted into a sinister one. Scarlet eyes lit with fearsome malice as it gazed down at the frozen Broly, his lips stretched into a wide, cruel smile.
King Vegeta, Zorn and Nappa's startled reaction were no different than the others. Bewildered by Prince Vegeta's sudden violence, they just stood there with terror-stricken, pale faces and stiffed bodies as they stared questionably at their homicidal prince.
Broly stared at Beets' remains with consternation, unable to know what to do. Tears formed at the corner of his eyes, he wanted to go over there and check if his attendant was still alive... Yet he knew... He could clearly sense that Beets was already dead, and by the hands of the man he considered as his best friend nonetheless. Why? How? Broly slowly turned his pained and betrayed eyes towards the Crown Prince, who had that heart-wrenching fiendish smile upon his lips.
Why?
Vegeta chuckled darkly at the look of terror and shock on Broly's face. "What's the matter, boy? If that wasn't enough to make you agree to my terms then..." he lifted another hand, charged another ki orb on his palm and directed it on Paragus. "I shall proceed to your father's punishment!"
The Saiyans in that general direction quickly dispersed away from that path like they were scampered mice, fearing their own deaths if they get caught on that blast. Broly opened his mouth but no other sound came out of it other than sobs as his tears finally fell from the corner of his eyes. His father's words suddenly came to his mind...
"Do you honestly think he'll still treat you as his friend after all of this? Son! Open your eyes! Wake up from that delusional dream! Prince Vegeta was never meant to be your friend! In the end, after all of this, he will come after us and kill us both for what we did. Friend or not!"
Broly refused to believe that. For some reason, he could understand why Vegeta suddenly changed and harbored such hatred. He wanted justice, revenge for what they did. He cannot blame Vegeta for that, after all, he was utterly betrayed, used and nearly killed yesterday by Paragus. The only way he would be satisfied is if he had his revenge.
Broly couldn't understand why Vegeta still wanted to fight him instead of just finishing them off. Yes, he did plead for mercy on his father and surprisingly enough, Vegeta was showing them mercy, on the condition of Broly fighting him on his Power Assessment, which would proceed in one week. But when Broly downright refused, why does Vegeta have to snap, go on a berserk rage and kill his own people in cold blood and sadistic delight? Was it just to provoke him? Why must he kill Beets and those innocents and threaten to blast people one more time just for the sake of getting what he wants? Why?
Broly felt a jolt on his chest, it wasn't out of fear. It was the same as that of earlier before Beets arrived. He could hear a silent voice in his head as his primordial Saiyan drives threaten to come out. It was as if the challenge the prince issued on him was exciting that primal desire in him. 'Accept it, fight him, kill the crown prince...', it whispered like a demon beside him.
Only then Broly had realized the answer to his question. Vegeta was only following his primal urges as a Saiyan Warrior. Has this same voice tried to tell him the same thing? Can Vegeta feel what he also feels whenever that primitive mind tries to take control?
"Your highness... Please... Stop this already..."Broly muttered as he looked up and stared at Vegeta's icy, scarlet eyes.
King Vegeta, also tried to question himself for his son's violent actions. Was this the vision the seers saw? That new prophecy? He wanted to ask his son what has gotten into him all so suddenly but recalling Malaka's words to him earlier about the brain damage affecting both his emotions, behavior and memories he understood what brought this sudden change. Still, he knew he had to control his son from this unacceptable behavior. He strolled towards the heir to his throne and grabbed his wrist, the one with the ki sphere.
"Enough of this, Yon!" he hissed. Prince Vegeta's bloodshot eyes turned to him angrily and he snarled back at his father like he was some wild animal. "I told you to stop it this instant, boy! Stop involving others into this just to provoke Broly into agreeing with your terms!"
After an intense glaring match, Vegeta finally opened his mouth. "Isn't this what you want, father?" his voice was noticeably low, cold and harsh.
"What?" King Vegeta gasped, surprised for two or three seconds, taken aback by his heir's words. Confused, he quickly retorted, "What are you saying, Yon?! I told you that you may do as you wish with Nasu, Paragus and Broly only! You are involving the innocent people with your rage! Stop it!"
"You know that's not what I meant."
Abruptly, an image flashed on the King's mind, a memory of his son. It was so clear the prince must be the one projecting those things through telepathy.
"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. This was the night after he was poisoned by a rebel in the Palace, whose identity was still unknown to them yet they suspect as being Bulma Briefs. That time, a Saiyan child of six years old was being accused of doing that to the King and Prince Vegeta, who temporarily took over the throne, was hesitating to punish the child, saying she could be innocent. However, the King was disappointed at his son's reluctance and show of mercy. He found his son's overconfidence a problem and that his former ruthlessness had slowly faded. "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!"
"…"
"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 image changed, and the King recognized it to be the scene after the prince had pulled Nasu's arms off and blinded Paragus' left eye in the throneroom when he found out about the Project Denzetsu and Broly's betrayal to him.
"Do you regret saving their lives now? This is what happens when you show mercy to your enemies. I told you so many times that you have to be ruthless in order to win. You must forget and set aside your emotions during battles. You are such a stubborn, cocky brat."
And finally, the last words he told the prince before his near-death.
"Don't be a fool! Listen to me! I know you wanted to save them but if this will put you in great danger, you have to restrain yourself. Remember, you are the Crown Prince of all Saiyans, the next King of Planet Vegeta! You are the prophesied one to become the Legendary Super Saiyan. Your people need you. The entire universe needs you to save them from the Galactic Emperor! If you are killed in there, then there will be no one to stop Freeza. I'm sure that Raditz, Kakarot (?) understand that sacrifices are to be made for the cause of the greater good. 'Their' lives meant nothing in comparison to those you could save if their sacrifices are able to push you to become a Super Saiyan! You cannot save everyone, Yon! You have to make sacrifices! Harden your heart and become cold and ruthless! Your emotions could only make you reckless and foolish! Let it go or you will be killed!"
King Vegeta stared incredulously back at his son as he realized how the prince took his words. Has he finally learned his lesson after he nearly died yesterday?
"That... That's-..."
"My near death experience was a waking call to me. When I was dying there, all alone, because of my own foolishness, I thought it was already too late for me to do what I should have done right from the beginning. I painfully realized that I was not doing what I was meant to be and the mere thought of never going to get another chance to fight for my birthright was unforgivable. I was a childish fool. I was overconfident of my own abilities that I was blinded of the foolishness I was making. I learned my lesson then, and that's when I have decided that I must return to the way I was before... I will not let anything distract me from my destiny any longer. I will never let another chance to slip by my fingertips ever again. If I could destroy my enemies right here and now, then I shall never hesitate again. Just like the cold and ruthless perfect Saiyan Warrior I was meant to be, without petty emotions and attachments to anyone... I will never let anyone stop me. Not even you."
Diverting his scarlet eyes to the side, he sent the shocked king flying across the platform with a powerful psychokinesis. King Vegeta violently crashed into the nearest wall. The terrified screams of the surrounding people quickly revived when Prince Vegeta outstretched his right arm on Paragus' direction with a glowing deadly energy orb coalescing on his hand.
"Your highness! Stop!" Broly cried out with a shrill, broken voice of terror.
"Don't you ever try to stop me!" the prince roared back, his desired target immediately changing from Paragus to Broly then back to Paragus again. Glowering with crazed, crimson irises, Vegeta demanded once more. "Now, Broly. If you truly wish to save Paragus' life then you will fight me like a true warrior at your full power, with no holding back at the Annual Power Assessment Opening. If you do not show yourself... You know what I will do to your beloved father."
He fired the destructive ki sphere towards Paragus and Nasu's direction. Broly and Kinoko were too much in shock to move and react to do something about it.
The blast detonated on Paragus' left side where Nasu was, reducing the former Minister of Science and Technology to a grisly, churred corpse. His entire abdomen had exploded, leaving a gaping hole of gore that dripped below him. Nasu's face was also caught, leaving it skinless, red and bloody. It was a grotesque sight to see and Kinoko, despite her uncaring attitude towards her father because of her ambitions to become future queen, was unable to believe what her father was reduced to in his death. However, the feeling of shock was only momentary for her and she was eventually impressed at her future husband's display of cruelty. She knew he needed to summon forth his old ruthlessness in order to win against someone like Broly.
The rightful Saiyan Prince has returned.
Broly tried to pick himself up despite his shaking form and reached out to his mad best friend.
"Your highness... Please... I beg of you... Please don't do this. Please... Listen to me." Broly whimpered. The royal soldiers stepped forward, blocking Broly away from the Crown Prince. Vegeta turned around to exit, like a catastrophic typhoon leaving behind a trail of blood and destruction on his awake.
"Your highness! Your highness!" Broly cried out but his words were blocked by the ears of his cold-hearted best friend. His knees hit the ground as he stared hopelessly at Vegeta's back as he left. He had no other choice but to accept that challenge.
King Vegeta rose from the rubble and glared at the boy below him as he returned to sit on his chair one of the guards just fixed. "You should feel lucky that the Crown Prince is still feeling merciful despite the betrayal you and your father did. I shall abide by his wishes then. I will spare your father until you fight the Crown Prince on the opening of the Annual Power Assessment."
If it was him, King Vegeta would have already killed Paragus, but he understood the worries of his son. He was not a fool either.
~=o-O-o=~
Vegeta was astounded at the sight of his training room. It was completely new to him. He approached the Gravity Console at the center of the spacious room and ran his hand over the numerical pad and black screen, reading the white letters on the led screen as 1G. He cannot remember it but he strangely felt as if he knew how to operate this thing. He followed his hunch and he removed his royal armor and his blue long sleeved shirt to place it on a small cabinet under the simulator, took his training tank top from the same cabinet to change. When he was finished fixing himself, he returned his attention to the Gravity Machine and activated the simulator by fifty times normal gravity. The machine immediately whirred to life as the white lights dimmed into red while the computer announced the activation of the gravity room. He quickly felt the pressure of the gravity on his body as it got heavier each passing second. Flexing his arms on his sides and clenching his shaking hands into tight fists while he crouched down into a tight stance, he fought against the powerful pull, slowly raising his ki to strengthen his body. When it stopped getting heavier, he familiarized himself with the feeling of the crushing weight of his body under this gravity pressure.
It didn't take him long to get accustomed to his environment though. So he began his warm up exercises. After a while, several floating bots appeared above him, awaiting to deflect his powerful energy beams back at him.
He glared at the bots with seething hatred, seeing faces laughing at him. He saw Paragus, Freeza, Zarbon, Dodoria... All faces of his sworn enemies. Among them was a gargantuan shadow whose face was hidden in the mist of darkness, seemingly floating above a several and towering mountains of corpses with his own facial features. The shadow removed his mask and revealed his face to be Broly, in his so called Legendary Form, grinning sadistically back at him.
These illusions his mind made up made his rage spiral out of control and he quickly snapped!
"Uuuurggh!"
He stooped forward, his hands over his face when a dark mist of pure evil power engulfed him and began to burn his surroundings, a loud cry escaped from his scorching throat.
"Graaaaaaah!"
Throwing his head back, a destructive maelstrom of fear, dark energy immediately surrounded him, melting all the bots around him to crumpled tin scraps and so as the gravity machine.
Once he calmed himself, suppressing the destructive power he just released, he breathed. The destroyed bots fell into the floor with a loud clanking noise. Finding the bots crushed like crumpled tin cans and the Gravity Simulator almost completely ruined, Vegeta scowled deeply. Was he supposed to train with these toys meant for children?
Feeling upset that his toys were unable to withstand his power, he yelled at the intercom, "Nappa! Get Huiston over here! NOW!"
Nappa knew that the prince was in his worst mood, so he hurried to find the head of the CPRD Department. Doctor Huiston was quick to appear before the completely displeased and irate Saiyan Prince.
"Why you incompetent fool!" those were the prince's words as he hurled the crumpled bots in front of the cowering scientist. "Can't you do anything right?! These damn bots are too fragile to withstand my strength! How am I going to become stronger when you can't even do your jobs right?!" Then he unceremoniously kicked the bot into Huiston's face as if it was a soccer ball, causing the old man to roll across the tiled floor, crying out in agony and with a bleeding face.
Vegeta glowered at his scientist and murmured with a sudden bored tone, "Hn... No wonder why your inventions are all useless, you yourself is horribly pathetic..." then he raised his voice, anger exploding. "Every single one of you is nothing but a worthless weakling meant to perish in this damn world!" He stepped closer towards the suffering scientist on the floor. He viciously stomped his right foot over the old man's face as he grinned with such sadistic glee. Not far away from them, Nappa watched in terror at the Crown Prince's vindictive acts.
"What's your worth to me if you cannot even make me strong enough to become the Legendary Super Saiyan?" he asked, still with that wicked smile across his lips. "None!"
Huiston's screams of agony and pleas for mercy could be heard as Vegeta slowly crushed his skull under his boot until it burst outward like a squashed fruit. Brains, eyeballs, viscera, muscle and bones erupted across the floor, painting it with gore. Nappa's eyes widened in utmost shock as Vegeta rolled his tongue around his lips in satisfaction at the sight of the callous murder he just did.
"Hmm..." the prince murmured in satisfaction like he just tasted the most gratifying food. Sensing the fear rolling off Nappa's gargantuan form, he addressed the man behind him. "Nappa."
"Ye...Yes, your highness..." even Nappa was unable to hide the stuttering sound that escaped him as he tried his hardest to take a step back from his ruthless prince.
"Find a suitable replacement for Huiston. I want a true mechanical genius who is competent enough to give me what I want. That Gravity Machine is quite adequate but I want to train in an environment of even greater level of Gravity so that crap over there needed some upgrading."
Nappa knew who the best one to recommend but he was getting second thoughts about it since King Vegeta banned the Briefs from entering the Palace – not to mention that Bulma's earlier appearance before the Crown Prince was without permission.
"There was someone I know, your highness..." Nappa notified. "But... The King has banned her from coming to the Royal Palace due to... reasons."
Nappa was informed of the Crown Prince's condition through Zorn and he was ordered by the King never to mention anything about the Briefs to Prince Vegeta ever again.
"And who is that?"
Nappa hesitated. "Uh... My apologies, your highness. I... I am not allowed to..."
In a blink of an eye, Nappa found himself crashing on the wall across the room. His back hit the thick metal wall hard, which buckled upon his intense impact. He didn't see Vegeta move with blinding speed and punched him hard on the left side of his face. When Nappa finally felt the stinging pain on his cheek, he flinched.
"That's not an answer I was expecting, Nappa. Don't make me repeat myself or you will never be allowed to speak of anything again." The completely displeased Vegeta growled warningly at his attendant.
Nappa stared at his prince with a look of shock and betrayal. What the hell happened to him? Despite knowing much about the Crown Prince's violent temper, he didn't know why he felt this kind of fear that's unlike he had ever felt before. Back then, Vegeta would make violent temper tantrums and beat the lights out of anyone he deemed worthy of feeling his wrath. That was normal. Everyone feared him for it. Even though he was stormy at times, he was never this rabid and paroxysmal. This new Vegeta will never hesitate to kill and destroy without second thoughts nor a slightest bit of mercy or regret. Nappa thought he was being lucky he's not yet a pile of blood and gore like Huiston is but he knew he would be soon if he does not satisfy the prince with his answer.
Even if his face burned with the pain, he had no other choice but to respond. He reached out for his cheek where it hurt him and found it already swollen. He rubbed his large fingers gingerly at that part, eventually finding it hard to open his mouth and speak coherently. He still tried his best to respond even if his words only came us a forced, blurred mumble. "Her name is Bulma Briefs. In fact, she and her father were the original inventors of the Gravity Simulator and the CPRD bought the plans for your training facility. She was contracted to lead the CPRD until the Gravity Room is finished."
"Bulma Briefs?" Prince Vegeta repeated the name with a questioning tone and a surprised look, finding the name familiar to his ears. His eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Do you mean the same woman who appeared in my room with Kakarot and Raditz earlier? That crude, loud-mouthed bitch who dared strangle me with her filthy, common alien hands?"
Nappa was surprised at the abhorrent words Vegeta spat.
"Uhh... Yes, your highness. She's the one who invented the Gravity Simulator, in case you don't..." Nappa hesitated at first before his voice trailed off as he continued. "...Remember." Nappa reminded him. "Your father will send her off Planet Vegeta tonight with her family. If you wish to summon for her then..."
Vegeta didn't know why but when Nappa mentioned that she was leaving tonight, he felt something odd in his chest and his earlier scowl deepened. Nappa decided to shut up when he saw that reaction for he feared he might end up with the same fate as Planthorr and Huiston.
Yet the Saiyan Prince considered his suggestion. "Tell Raditz to bring his woman to my Palace in ten minutes." he ordered with a cold look.
The bald and burly General bowed down in submission, "Yes, your highness."
With that, he told Nappa to get lost and leave him alone to change his clothes. Once done, he decided to return to his Palace to meet the woman he thought was his General's.
~=o-O-o=~
Bulma stared blankly at the open field before her. Her mind wandering through her upset thoughts and feelings about Vegeta's sudden treatment to her.
She recalled Nappa's words earlier, "It appears that Prince Vegeta is currently suffering a terrible brain damage which greatly affects his emotions, behavior and memories. Although it is clear to me how it's affecting his behavior and emotions - it is still a mystery to us how much of his memories are affected."
Of all things he could forget, why only her? She cannot understand it. If she was truly important to him, why does he have to forget her like this?
She recollected the events that lead into this. She felt her body went cold when she remembered the look he gave her earlier. It was virulent she felt like he was stabbing her body with thousands of icicles. His eyes were seemingly much darker and colder than what she could remember. They were full of hatred, disgust and an unquenchable thirst for blood. There were no more emotions aside for that. The look of rage on his face reminded her of the way he glared at his enemies as he sauntered forward to make them feel such hellish agony. He was like a rampant beast on a berserk, finally freed from his years of repression. Her earlier fear had become an undeniable reality, which she has no idea about what she must do about it.
If he cannot remember her, there was no other way she could deal with him. Even with the training she received from him months ago in preparation of her fighting or attempting to kill him one day, she knew that she held no chance against him. While he could probably hold back on her back then, this new Vegeta will never have that kind of mercy if she dared to challenge him. She'll not last a second against him at all.
Bardock, Gine, Raditz and Kakarot returned to the Briefs' capsule house. As soon as Bardock saw Bulma, he immediately approached her.
"You don't have to look so glum, woman." Bardock said, noticing the still melancholic look on her face. Bulma blinked her eyes, snapping herself out of her thoughts. She forced a smile at him.
"Hmm... Yeah."
Bardock reached out his hand to her, his palm open. Her eyes widened when she saw what he was showing her.
"Recognize this thing?" he asked with a cocky smirk.
"That's... That's Vegeta's locket." she said. She picked up the locket and stared at it between her fingers.
"Why don't you open it up? I know it could help you feel better." Bardock suggested.
She turned her eyes to him with a confused look and she reluctantly nodded. She pulled out her key pendant, inserted it on the keyhole of the locket and twisted it. The lid opened up to revealed a rolled piece of paper inside. It quickly reminded her of the vow the Saiyan Prince gave her when he gave her the key pendant. Tears suddenly formed on the corner of her eyes as she pulled out the paper, unrolled it with her fingers and silently read the words written in there.
"I, the Crown Prince of all Saiyans, Vegeta-sama is making a lifetime promise to Bulma Briefs. This will serve as a symbol of my vow that no matter what happens, everything that I am belongs to her and only her. Only she holds the key to my heart, which will be kept for her forever. When I am done with my mission and duty as the Chosen One, I will find a way to return to her and make her my Queen as I belong to her and no one else."
Bulma's tears fell like rain after that. She cried her heart out as he clutched the key, the locket and the strip of paper closer to her heart.
"That thing is the lifetime vow the Crown Prince of all Saiyans gave to his chosen mate." Bardock said. "Hold on to that vow no matter what. It is your key to his heart. That is the hope we are looking for and you are the only one who holds it. The Crown Prince may not remember you now. He could lose all memories he have of you. His personality and behavior could change but I know... That inside his heart that has been consumed by hatred and darkness, somewhere deep within it still lies his feelings for you."
Bardock's smirk widened. "Believe me, woman. My intuitions are always correct. After all, I can see the future." he winked.
Kakarot and Raditz sprinted towards them. "Dad! Dad!" they called. Bulma wiped her tears with the back of her hand as she faced the two Saiyan Generals.
"What is it?" Bardock demanded.
"Nappa just called us through the scouters. He said that Prince Vegeta wants to meet Bulma at the Royal Palace immediately. It is a royal command." Kakarot said.
"What?" Bulma asked breathlessly, surprised. She turned to Bardock, confused. "Why?"
"Nappa said that the Crown Prince wanted to speak to you about the Gravity Simulator Project you have developed on his training room. He was going to offer you to make some upgrades to the Gravity Machine accordingly to his wishes."Raditz answered.
Bardock shrugged his shoulders, "Well, look at that. Your chance." and then he smirked. Bulma finally let out a smile of hope.
"Really? Is that true?" she asked, trying to reconfirm. Unable to believe it.
"Yeah. He told me to quickly return you to the Crown Prince. Prepare yourself." Kakarot assured.
Like an excited child about to meet her best friend in a long time, Bulma quickly sprinted to take a quick bath and dress up properly, one that is proper and more formal. This dress was not exactly the same clothes she wore when she first dated with Vegeta at the Burokorri Bridge but it has the same color.
When she came out to meet with Kakarot and Raditz gaped when they saw her dress while Bardock scoffed disgustedly at the color. Bulma was dressed with a bright pink dress made with cotton. It has a plunging neckline that gathers on the shoulders of this sleeveless dress, showing off the cleavage of her beautifully shaped breasts. Her skirt perfectly contours the sexy shape of her body before flowing into a waterfall-style hem. A thin leather belt wrapped around her slim waist, adding definition to the shape of her body before falling into an asymmetric handkerchief hem. On her feet are silver colored strappy sandals. Her beautiful face was enlightened by a simple make up, her hair was cleared from her face by a pink headband.
She looked some a greek cotton candy goddess.
"What?" she asked, suddenly feeling awkward at the gawking men in front of her for their stupendous reaction.
Bardock cleared his throat, snapping his sons from their intrusive thoughts. There's no wonder she caught the Crown Prince's eye, she was indeed gorgeous. If she continue to dress up like this, he was sure the Crown Prince would be head over heels on her in no time once again.
"Did I overdo it? Sorry. I don't really intend to make this to be flirty but this is the only dress I could find with the same color as the one I wore when I first met him at the Clock Tower. I was hoping I could... trigger a memory in him."
"I don't think you'll be able to trigger some throwback memories on him, it's going to be something else." Bardock thought to himself.
"Well... You look... Stunning." Raditz commented with an uncomfortable look as he pulled his gaze away. A flush of red in his cheeks. Goodness the old Prince Vegeta wasn't here or he would have ripped his eyes out of his sockets.
"Should we go now?" Kakarot drawled with a tired tone, looking like he was getting rather impatient.
"Yes." Bulma said. As she walked up next to Kakarot, Bardock grabbed her arm.
"Wait. Before you go. Listen to me first, woman." Bardock said. She turned to look up to his stern face. "This is your only chance. Don't lose it. For now, do not antagonize him even further. Try to remember how you caught his interest. Use those memories to warm up his heart to you. Try doing it slowly and carefully. When he finally open up to you, that's when you hit him with your biggest chance. Show him the key he gave to you and make him open up his locket so he could see and hopefully remember. Did you get it?"
"Hmm... Yes." Bulma nodded. "Thank you. Everyone."
She held up Kakarot's hand who took it gently. Kakarot put his fingers over his forehead and said, "We're off!" before he and Bulma disappeared into thin air.
~=o-O-o=~
"Your highness, Bulma Briefs is here to meet you as you commanded." Nappa exclaimed at the door where Kakarot and Bulma appeared and startled the attendant who doesn't seem to get used to the Teleportation technique Kakarot always used.
"Let her in." that was the imperious voice of the Crown Prince.
Bulma entered the Crown Prince's Private Quarters with her eyes lowered on the floor. As soon as the doors behind her closed gently, she immediately felt an ominous feeling within her that the sound of the door made her shriek. It almost made her want to step back and run away. The surrounding atmosphere abruptly went cold at the domineering presence of the Crown Prince of the Saiyans. She shook her head, tried to get the uncomfortable feeling out of her system. There's no turning back now. She has to do this. She reached out to her key pendant to draw some courage from it before deciding to face the music.
She slowly and carefully looked up to see Vegeta standing straight with his back on her in his usual proud and regal glamour a few feet away from her. Yet, there was something fearsome about him. That kept her from reaching out to him and embrace him tightly. She reminded herself that this was not the same man she fell in love with.
Vegeta turned his head over his shoulder before slowly twisting around to face her.
"So, you've come." he finally said coldly, a hard, angry expression on his face.
