I hope the day I've been dreaming of will come
The day I wanted to badly
On the path that I'm on
I hope tomorrow will come
So I can always smile
Look at me and smile
Since I can't ever see you again
Because my heart will never change
Do you know that I have no choice but to do this?
Because this is love
Because this is love to me
Do you know how my heart burns up?
I've already given you my heart
Because it's you
Tears won't even come
Because it's a love that won't ever change
I have to leave
Don't you know?
Because this is love
Because this is love to me
Do you know how my heart burns up?
Goodbye
- Gavy NV, "Affection"
(Ruler: Owner of the Mask OST)
Episode 28
A Heart Torn Asunder
"Don't come any closer you monster, or I will kill you!"
Vegeta stared at Bulma with his mouth slightly opened, silently waiting for her to fire the electromagnetic ray gun she was pointing at him. The blazing fire upon her fierce sapphire eyes told him she was more than serious.
"Your tongue is as dangerous as you are, Vegeta. With one command from you, my father, my entire family, even myself could be slaughtered anytime! You've changed a lot ever since that night Paragus almost killed you. I know all you think about is revenge against all those who did you wrong. The Prime Minister, Broly, the rebels. Tell me, Vegeta, have you also forgotten who you are for the sake of vengeance? Did you really forget all about me because of that?!"
She stood up against him firmly even if her legs were shaking due to her emotions. Vegeta could smell her fear, and it's not because of him. She was more scared for her family's sake, not because she was face-to-face with the most powerful and ruthless Saiyan Prince. And it's amusing to watch how she's trying her best to resist that fear in order to confront and threaten him. Despite knowing the heartbreaking answer to her questions, she still wanted to hear a response coming from him.
"Answer me!" she shouted.
Vegeta's surprise shifted to his default expression. That cold, mean looking face devoid of any emotion.
"I thought I already told you. I'm not the same person as you've known before. The Vegeta you kept on talking about was already long dead." he responded with an icy tone. Bulma's already broken heart, shattered into smaller pieces with his cruel words.
"I am the beast that has been asleep within him for so many years. The foolish and pathetic child you have met have perished in this world. I am the prince of all Saiyans, the real Vegeta the Fourth. I have no use for foolish emotions and petty attachments which would hinder me from my true potential and what I must become. Perhaps, that is the reason why I have no memories of you at all. Do you even know what that means? I deemed you as something useless!"
Again, the remnants of her already wrecked heart broke once more. She stared at him in shock, completely frozen in place.
A wide, evil smirk stretched across his lips and his eyes suddenly became crazed again, this time, blood lust filled his mind, making his black irises glow an ominous crimson.
"There! I gave you the answer you wanted, woman. Now then, if you are going to shoot that thing, then be my guest... Do it!" he ordered her with a challenging tone, then his voice suddenly went down, a cold, ominous threat. "However..."
With one swift movement, Vegeta waved his right hand. Blue tendrils of electricity snapped off his hands as he manipulated iron dust in the wind and collected them in his hand to create the deadly iron sand sword with his power and pointed its vibrating edge an inch away from her right carotid artery with no hesitation at all.
"...I'll see to it that you are headless before you could pull that trigger!"
Realizing that he was threatening to kill her with no hesitation or regret at all, Bulma felt so terrified her blue eyes widened and her earlier brave composure finally gave way to her fear. She knew that she'll lose to him despite holding a ray gun that could fire a powerful electromagnetic blast at him at the speed of light and has a force capable of destroying an entire island. After all, he had effortlessly dodged her first attempt yesterday. The man before her was hundreds, if not thousands, of times faster than light and holds enough destructive power that could destroy an entire galaxy with just a flick of his finger. For a moment, Bulma began to wonder what kind of foolish demon possessed her to challenge Vegeta, so far as to plan and try to kill him months ago. Back then, Bulma was confident that at least, she could do some sort of damage worth of all the pains of loss and years of slavery and humiliation he caused her. But then, she had once admitted to him that facing that danger on an actual set up felt different from her daydreams. (See Episode 4)
"What's the matter? I thought you said you would kill me? What happened to your anger earlier? If you think you can stand up against me without fearing for your own and your family's lives then I dare you! Do it!" he challenged.
Bulma suddenly remembered Vegeta's words when he revealed to her his true identity. (see Episode 10)
"What's the matter? I thought you said you would kill me when you meet me in person?" that was what he told her back then. "Come along now, don't make me regret the nights I spent training you for this very moment."
For some reason, Bulma hoped that despite his threat, he was not going to kill her. Back then, Vegeta had only revealed to her his true identity so nothing much happened. Looking into his dark eyes, she saw no hesitation nor regret at all. The prince of the Saiyans was serious about killing her if she dared pull the trigger. Her earlier resolve wavered. She cannot save her family if she died here. She has to survive and find a way to mollify the wrathful Saiyan in front her. Bulma lowered her ray gun so slightly.
Vegeta noticed her bravado faltering and he knew he won. His smirk grew more cruel and mocking.
"Finally realized your own foolish mistake, huh? Hehehe... Yes, I can smell your fear..." the prince mocked.
"I'm not afraid of you..." Bulma clarified. She's not afraid of what he was, actually. She knew what Vegeta was capable of and just how fearsome and dangerous his wrath could be. What she feared the most is what would become of him if she lost him.
With her shaking right hand, Bulma reached out to the dangling pendants of her necklace. She raised them to show him directly. Vegeta simply scowled at the pendants she was showing him as if it was the most disgusting thing in the entire universe to him.
"This key... You gave it to me. You told me to keep it with me always because it is the key to your heart. You made a promise to me in the locket. You promised me that you will come back to me. I want you to come back. Please, remember who you are!"
Bulma was desperate now. Her only remaining hope to stop Vegeta's rampage and save her family lies within these pendants. Those were the same things that calmed him down when he went berserk against Paragus and those who tried to kill him. She expected for it to be as effective as it was at that time.
Vegeta raised his free hand to reach out for the pendants, causing Bulma to anticipate that there's still hope.
But once he was able to get his hands on the pair of locket and key, he unceremoniously tore the chain apart.
He might as well have torn her heart for the hundredth time.
As the broken necklace dropped into the floor, seemingly in slow motion, Bulma's tears also fell from her crestfallen eyes as she stared at him with a look of emotional pain and broken-heartedness.
Bulma felt not just her heart break apart, but her entire world. She seemed to have lost all feelings aside from the gnawing pain in her chest.
Now that Bulma has put her raygun down, Vegeta dissolved the iron sword back to its original iron sand form.
"It's over. I already told you so many times. The Vegeta you kept on blabbering about is already dead. And no matter what you do, he won't be coming back. So what if he made you some stupid promise? It doesn't matter to me. Promises are made to be broken and people do change. Forget about him now and stop deluding yourself to the fantasies of your desperate, pathetic emotions."
Those were his cold words that ended it all for her. That's it. That was her last hope. It's really over. She tried reaching out to him, hoping that she could somehow make him remember her, to soften that heart of stone that became filled with so much hatred. Everything she did for him was a failure.
She looked at his cruel face, her eyes filled with her tears of sorrow. Bulma painfully accepted the reality that no matter how much she tried her best, her pleas will never reach him any longer. The Vegeta she knew and loved will never come back to her. He's already dead. There's no chance of bringing him back to her.
"I had enough... You've broken my heart for the third time already. I can't take it anymore..." she said, her voice cracked with her emotional pain. "You're cruel. You're so cruel, Vegeta. Not just cruel, you are evil!"
"I know." he smirked smugly, flattered at her compliments to his unspeakable atrocity. "After all, I am the perfect Saiyan Warrior. I'm always meant to be cold and ruthless."
"If that's what you want, then so be it. Goodbye, Vegeta."
Bulma turned her back on him and walked away. Vegeta didn't say anything as he watched at her leave him inside the Gravity Room. As soon as the heavy metal doors shut, a single, lonely tear fell from his icy, glaring eyes.
"What is this? Why am I suddenly feeling this... heavy thing in my chest? It's sickening. I cannot breathe... I don't like it..."
The moment Bulma turned her back on him, there was this sudden urge within him that wanted to reach out for her arm and stop her from leaving. Those tears on her eyes, that 'goodbye' felt like a horrible sting that gripped his supposedly dead heart.
"Why does her tear-stained face appeared on my mind just now? And why does it feel uncomfortable? Is this guilt? Is this pain in my chest because of that? Why? Why is it that after what I did and told her just now, I have the urge to come after her and stop her? Why does it hurt me so much?"
Feeling the sting in his eyes, Vegeta squinted his eyes. More stinging water came out from them, blurring his vision.
"What is the meaning of this? Am I... Am I crying? What are these tears for? I don't understand. I am the prince of all Saiyans, I am supposed to be the perfect warrior, cold and ruthless, uninhabited by foolish emotions. I don't care about anything. Power is the only thing that matters to me. Nothing else..."
Nothing else matters...
"If it doesn't matter then why can't I take my mind off it?"
Why?
His eyes fell into the torn necklace Bulma left on the floor. There was something about it that's pulling him in, some hypnotic force, telling him to pick it up. He refused to do so. Yet against his own wish, he stepped towards it and bent down to pick it up.
He gazed down at the pair of key and locket pendants dangling on the broken golden chain. Now, he finally had a closer look at it and for some reason, a feeling of familiarity overwhelmed him.
This thing is...
~=o-O-o=~
When Kakarot and Raditz found Bulma walking towards them, with tears flowing like waterfalls from her heartbroken eyes, they already knew she failed, especially when they saw she was not wearing her pendants any longer. They didn't dare to ask her anything. Raditz simply raised his arm, his hands reaching out to her. Bulma walked towards him and asked him, "Can I borrow your back for a moment, please?"
Raditz turned around without any complaint, allowing Bulma to lean against his back. There, she finally broke down and cried in anguish and mourning. She couldn't contain the pain in her chest any longer. It hurts so much.
Not far away from them, Kakarot and Chichi watched as Bulma cried her heart out. If Bulma cannot return Vegeta to them, then who else could?
With tight fists, Kakarot told Chichi to stay with Raditz and Bulma before he turned around and walked towards the training room to face his prince and challenge him to a fierce battle of ideals.
Bulma stopped her tears when she felt a rather calm but furious energy radiating off Kakarot's body. Raditz and Chichi were staring at the young Saiyan in awe.
For Raditz, he was surprised to see Kakarot like this. This was the first time he saw his usually cheerful and gentle younger brother that furious.
"Kakarot..?"
He was really serious about standing against the Saiyan Prince. Raditz could only swallow anxiously, silently hoping that Kakarot won't be getting himself killed. But who else can bring Vegeta back to his senses if Bulma was not enough?
~=o-O-o=~
Someone's coming! His senses immediately picked up a furious energy coming right towards him. Vegeta quickly wiped the meaningless tears from his eyes, kept the necklace inside his fist and faced the opposite direction, away from the door.
As anticipated, a livid Saiyan barged through the heavy, metal doors of the Gravity Room.
"What do you want now, Kakarot-?!" Vegeta imperiously demanded but his words were utterly cut off when Kakarot pulled him around and smashed a fist hard against his right cheek. Vegeta had not anticipated the force of the attack and he was immediately sent rolling backwards on the floor.
"What the hell?!" Vegeta questioned himself in shock as he stared at his youngest General, who was fuming with unspeakable rage, shaking and trying his best to control himself. Vegeta was inwardly surprised to see him in such a ballistic state for the first time.
Feeling the stinging pain on his cheek, Vegeta flinched and snarled as he prepared to retaliate, "Why you..!"
"This has gone far too much, Vegeta. I can't stand you any longer..." Kakarot snarled. Addressing the Crown Prince he used to honor and protect most of his life by his first name inside the royal grounds and in such scathing tone for the first time and without his proper titles and respect only showed how furious he was. "You would always talk about pride and honor, boast about your princely title to our faces and think you are way too superior in every aspect! You loved underestimating, insulting, bullying, beating up and stepping on other people just to appease your own self-esteem and arrogance. Raditz and I lived through all of it because we both had an optimistic view about you. We believed that despite your annoying imperiousness and unspeakable ruthlessness, you still have that soft spot in you. How many times did you yell at our ears, insulted us, pummeled us to almost death, just because of your childish temper tantrums?! How many times have we let your cruelty towards us pass by?! We tried to understand you for years!"
Vegeta angrily picked himself up, cradling his stinging cheek with his hand before spitting haughtily on the floor. "Did you come all the way here just to complain to me about that? Tch! Pathetic! I don't care about any of that!"
With that, Vegeta charged at Kakarot, mercilessly making him pay for that punch he did earlier. However, Kakarot slammed another punch on the same side of the Prince's face.
"You're the pathetic one, Vegeta! You are such a hypocrite! You speak about pride and honor but you have none of it when you treat other people as garbage!" Kakarot roared, slamming Vegeta on his back by the floor.
"Are we wrong about you when we believed that despite all that, you still have a righteous heart? Tell me, how could you break a pure woman's innocent heart like this?! You are no Saiyan Warrior! You are a spineless, honorless bastard! You don't even deserve your title as the Crown Prince of all Saiyans!" Kakarot roared before he hit him with a stomp of his foot however, Vegeta blocked Kakarot's foot with his forearms.
"Enough!" Vegeta roared. His ki quickly spiked and his aura bursting outward, causing waves of pressure around him and pushing Kakarot off him. He lifted himself off the cracked pavement and began to raise his power. "Do you truly have a death wish, fool?! How dare you attack me! I can execute you for treason!"
Kakarot didn't even flinch. He stood firmly against the strength of Vegeta's pressure waves. "What now?! Are you going to kill me because of that! Fine! I dare you! I'll have you know that I do not fear a coward like you who hides at the power of his meaningless royal title! You are no longer the Proud Saiyan Prince I used to honor and respect!"
"I said, enough!"
Vegeta raised his hand to fire a deadly blast towards the insolent General when he felt the necklace in his hand. He had completely forgotten that he was holding into it out of his anger. When he saw the necklace, his aura quickly dissipated. Both Saiyans stared at the pendants, their furor suddenly forgotten.
"So you still picked it up, huh?" Kakarot said in a calmer way than earlier.
"..."
Vegeta didn't say anything. He was caught and there's no hiding it. Why did he pick this thing up in the first place? The confused prince wondered.
"Why don't you look inside and see the vow you, yourself swore not just to Bulma but to all of us?" Kakarot suggested.
Vegeta grumbled incoherently, complaining yet despite his hesitation, he took the key pendant between his right thumb and index fingers and used it to unlock the locket. Once he opened the top, he found a rolled piece of white paper strip inside. He took the paper, unrolled it and read what was written inside.
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.
Vegeta's eyes widened slightly, recognizing his own handwriting. In his mind, flashes of memories began to play once more. The time he saw the set of couple jewelry at the merchant's ship, how he demanded Cabbe to get it for him in exchange for his father's treasured heirloom, how glad he was when he finally got them. The time he spent so much effort and patience in writing these lame words... How he gave Bulma the key pendant... And the words he told her following that.
"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. I'll come back to you. I promise."
"The key I gave you. Keep it with you always. It's the only thing that could save you and everyone else. It's the key to my heart."
For the sake of fulfilling his duty to his people, Vegeta chose to sacrifice his feelings for Bulma and make her wait for him. He promised her that he will come back for her once he's done fulfilling his mission to his people and the entire universe.
So that's why she told him when she showed him the necklace, "This key... You gave it to me. You told me to keep it with me always because it is the key to your heart. You made a promise to me in the locket. You promised me that you will come back to me. I want you to come back. Please, remember who you are!"
He remembered everything now and realized how much pain he's caused everyone, most especially his dearest, Bulma.
He was such a fool...
Kakarot stepped forward towards his silent friend. He grabbed him by his shoulder pads and said, "Vegeta. Listen to yourself. We know you. Don't pretend as someone you are being forced to become just for the sake of gaining power. Someone as prideful and rebellious as you won't be a fool to abandon his ideals and let others control him!"
Even so... This doesn't feel right. The Saiyan Prince do not want to feel this way. He hated this. All these feelings and memories don't belong to him anymore. They belong to the one who he stubbornly believed was already dead... He cannot have such emotions or he will not reach his goal. He has to stop right now.
Vegeta's blank expression quickly changed into annoyance. "Tch!" He slapped Kakarot's hands away from him. "Stop telling me what to do, clown! Promises are made to be broken! I have no time for such petty things! I don't care about that woman anymore!"
Kakarot stared into Vegeta's eyes for a moment before he retorted back. "Liar!"
Vegeta was caught in both surprise and silence by that word.
"You still have your feelings for her. You still cared about her-." Kakarot continued but Vegeta abruptly roared in denial.
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Stop pestering me with your damn accusations! When I say I don't care about her anymore, then I don't care!"
"Do you really believe what you're saying?!" Kakarot pressed.
Like a mighty stone, Vegeta maintained his unbreakable adamance, showing no signs of pliability or vacillation at all.
"Is that so?" Kakarot asked again. When Vegeta didn't say anything, he sighed in disappointment, finally giving up. "Fine. It's really hopeless given how obstinate and prideful you are. I guess you have truly made your decision to completely abandon who you truly are for the sake of gaining power. I don't understand why you changed so much after the night we thought you were killed by Paragus...
"What the hell happened to you?"
"..."
Kakarot waited for an answer but Vegeta didn't gave anything. The prince simply turned his back at him. The younger Saiyan sighed once more, realizing how hopeless it would be to convince the stubborn prince no matter what they do. So he gave up and made a move to remove his armor.
"I'm renouncing my position as your General. Raditz will be coming to you to formally quit as well. We will leave Planet Vegeta along with Chichi, Bulma and our families. We do not wish to see the fall of the Saiyan Kingdom once you begin to take over."
Vegeta quickly whirled around and stared at Kakarot as if the Saiyan just grew another pair of arms before him. "Fools! You swore your loyalty to me! You have sworn that you will live your life to protect me no matter what! You cannot just abandon your duties to me! I will not allow such insubordination!" he yelled.
"You said it yourself, Vegeta. Promises are made to be broken. We don't care about you anymore. A selfish, arrogant prick like you don't deserve any loyalty coming from us."
The Prince's jaw dropped at those words. Why? Can't these fools see why he's doing this? Why he's denying all his feelings, throwing away his ideals, even his pride and honor? Why he's sacrificing everything he has?
He did it all. Everything, for them all.
After all he's done, they're just going to give up on him and leave him to fight alone...
He never felt so betrayed...
"... One point five million... And more..." Vegeta finally uttered.
"What's that?" Kakarot asked, not understanding what Vegeta was muttering about just now.
"One point five million Saiyans and more people across the entire universe... Imagine shouldering all their hopes of being saved from the Galactic Emperor. Now tell me how can I not change because of that! I need to gain the power to save us all from Freeza!"
"Save us all? Do you think killing innocents indiscriminately is a way to save us all?! No! You are destroying the very universe you are supposed to protect!"
"Sacrifices are to be made for the sake of the majority, Kakarot! That is the reason why I commanded Raditz to go to Planet Namek with Bulma to find and collect the Dragon Balls so we can wish those who died indiscriminately back to life!"
Kakarot stared at him with wide, disbelieving eyes. "...You remember that?" he asked, breathlessly.
"Kgh..!" a suddenly flabbergasted Vegeta turned away, ashamed at how his mouth slipped about that.
"Vegeta... Tell me the truth. How much do you remember now?"
Great! Now Kakarot would begin pestering him about it.
"Mind your own business!"
"Stop being so stubborn!"
"Aaah! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! You're annoying me, you worthless clown scum!"
A long silence followed that. Kakarot simply gazed at the Saiyan Prince, waiting for him to say what he wanted to hear. Because of that, Vegeta's stubbornness began to falter. He's too overwhelmed by everything that has happened and it's tiring him out. He couldn't take this idiot's persistence any longer.
"Everything, Kakarot." he finally responded after a few minutes of utter tension and silence.
Kakarot's jaw dropped at that.
"I remember everything clearly now but I fought back to deny it and pretend that I still don't for as long as I could. I thought... That way I can prevent what happened in the cavern to repeat itself. I almost died because of my emotions for Bulma. Both of us nearly lost our lives right there and also my only chance at saving this entire universe from Freeza. I cannot risk my life to that circumstance ever again.
"I was born as the chosen one, the prophesied Legendary Super Saiyan, the hope of an entire cosmos against the Galactic Empire. My entire life, I focused on fulfilling that duty. I trained, fought, killed and destroyed just so I could get strong enough to reach my goal. And I became powerful, so powerful that I now held the power that could destroy entire worlds and galaxies. I am the strongest Saiyan to have ever lived. Never in my life had I anticipated someone would be so stupid to challenge my greatness. I was entirely different from any Saiyan, yet I just wanted to live doing the things I wanted to do. I do not want some stupid prophecy to dictate my destiny or any useless law to stop me from what I want!
"At first, I thought that I was more than powerful enough to fight against destiny. I rebelled so that I could find a different path in order to seek what would make me content. Just as I finally found what I really wanted, it was immediately stripped away from me as soon as I got it? I tried to be the true, honorable Saiyan warrior Prince I was meant to be and yet... There were fools who dared to stand against me, they even went so far as to challenge my superiority! Fools who would dare to mock what I have become, telling me that I lost my edge! They had no idea at all that when they almost killed me, they also killed their last and only hope.
"While I was dying alone by the shore where Paragus ordered to dump me, I thought about how foolish I was for falling into my enemy's trap. If I died there, no one would be capable to stop Paragus and Freeza from their plans. No one will be strong enough to save the universe from the Galactic Empire. I tried fighting against fate, preventing the new visions from happening because I do not wish to lose control. However, all my plans were fruitless. In the end, I had no other choice but to make a decision..."
"You have decided to follow through the new prophecy?"
"That's right. I chose to return to the way I was originally meant to be. Being the ruthless and cold-hearted warrior I used to. I was desperate for power, to fight without caring about anything. I believed that by reawakening the former wickedness in me, I can easily grasp the Legendary power I am desperate about. That's why I recklessly killed anyone who gets in my way. I don't care about how many lives I destroy, I'm going to revive them using the Dragon Balls anyway."
Kakarot shouted in aghast, "You're insane! Have you lost your mind?! That's your reason for breaking Bulma's fragile human heart?!"
"Forgetting about her and breaking her heart wasn't part of my plan! Perhaps, losing my memories of her was the unexpected part of the package I got when I made my decision. I know... Both of you won't forgive me for this any longer... But I regret nothing."
"You know... You're being too hard on yourself, Vegeta." Kakarot finally said in a soft voice. "You could have told us what you're going through. Didn't dad advise you not to keep your problems to yourself? We could have found a much better way for you reach Super Saiyan instead of... Doing these cruel, evil things." (See Episode 14)
"Broly transformed into a Super Saiyan after killing several of my clones." Vegeta pointed out.
"Wait, did you honestly thought Broly transformed because he killed recklessly?" Kakarot was surprised.
"How else?"
The younger Saiyan chuckled. "Actually, Vegeta. I'm surprised to see you get wrong for the first time. Well... Aside from that terrible decisions you just made, I never thought that even you can make mistakes."
"What did you say?!"
"Broly didn't transform out of being a ruthless murderer. Maybe you thought of it that way because of what was on the Legend and that he was forced by Paragus to kill the Atijebu Military Clones. He told me that he transformed for the first time trying to fight against Paragus' orders of killing you. In other words..." Kakarot pointed out.
"Are you telling me that Broly became a Super Saiyan because of me?" Vegeta asked.
"He was trying to protect you all along. The power of the Legendary Super Saiyan, contrary to popular belief, doesn't simply come out of rage and being cold and ruthless or being a bloodthirsty, violent warrior. You need to be of righteous heart and it also comes as a response to a need, not a desire."
Is that so? Is he really doing it the wrong way? Is that the reason why he cannot unleash the power of the Legendary Super Saiyan? Was he wrong to believe that a Saiyan's power originates from being evil, cold and ruthless?
"If you changed this way, what do you think would your mother and brother feel?" Kakarot suddenly brought up, which, in turn, cut though the prince's conscience.
Suddenly, Vegeta heard a voice and recalled the words of a woman from one of his dreams while he was knocked out after his attempt at stopping Freeza from that treaty his father was about to make with the Emperor. That woman whom he lost so early because of his father's selfishness and greed.
His mother...
"Promise me that no matter what happens, you will never forget who and what you are. If you continue to fight for what you believe what is right for your people, then perhaps… that power will awaken soon." (See Episode 5)
And now, because of his own selfishness and greed, he's hurt and lost many of his loved ones. The very reason he hated his father for several years was the same thing he was foolishly doing now. Thinking of sacrificing what's righteous and honorable, choosing to forget who and what he is for the sake of gaining power and revenge.
Since when did he become so twisted?
For some strange reason, Vegeta suddenly felt the soothing presence of that woman. He closed his eyes, concentrating on that presence. He could perceive her being close to him, touching his face, rubbing his hair. He knew it could only just be his imagination because of his sudden longing for her, yet it felt soothing for his very soul.
There was another one, it was smaller. It came forward to wrap its smaller arms around his waste.
"Vegeta..."
"Nii-san..."
Their voices, soft and loving, echoed in his mind. He slowly opened his eyes and saw the pure souls of his mother and younger brother. Both of them emanating a peaceful, calm, white light. They're smiling back at him. Their smiles bringing that unknown but same tranquil sensation as what Bulma radiates everytime she flashed a smile at him.
Slowly, their glowing spirits vanished and Vegeta saw Kakarot in his mother's place.
"Come back. Listen to your heart. Let go of your hatred and fight for what you believe is right, my son." the voice of his mother whispered on his mind.
At that moment, he realized that there were still people around him that would do anything just for him to be on the right path. People who are willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of him fulfilling his original mission. Tarble was one among the many lives who did that, yet he understood it the wrong way because of his own self-anger and bitterness.
"I see." Vegeta finally muttered after nearly a minute of silence.
Kakarot finally smiled sincerely and the relief was evident on his face. "I'm glad that you finally understand." he grunted. He had no other choice but to confront Vegeta about this. If he was not able to prevent the prince from turning to the dark side then Bardock's new visions would eventually come true.
Vegeta turned to him and for the first time since he was revived, smiled just as he used to be before this ordeal even began. Kakarot raised his hand to rub at Vegeta's flame-like spikes as if he was a dog who did a good job. It was a funny sight because Kakarot was a foot taller than the Prince, who was actually five years older than he is. Vegeta is and will always be such a child to him.
"Vegeta, you little rascal. Promise us you won't do something reckless and stupid again. You can be angry, you can scream, yell, throw a tantrum or anything at us. Just don't ever fall into darkness where we cannot find you. If you do so, none of us will ever hesitate to do anything just to bring you back to us. No matter how selfish you become, if you're wrong, we'll stop you. If you're lost, we will find you. We'll fight against you if that's the only way to save you. We will do anything for you so long as it will be good for you. That's the meaning of the loyalty we swore to you no matter what."
"Promises are made to be broken." Vegeta jokingly reminded him.
"Stupid Vegeta."
"Speak for yourself, clown."
"No matter. Since I'm not like you, I will still keep my lifetime promise to you. I'll stay here to protect our idiotic, childish, tsundere Saiyan prince no matter what."
Kakarot chuckled as he playfully pulled and pinched at Vegeta's cheeks.
"Thought you said you're quitting." Vegeta grumbled.
"You want me to quit? Here I thought you were mad about it."
"Idiot."
Kakarot let go of Vegeta's face and tapped the tip of his nose. "I'm sorry for what I did and told you earlier. You should say sorry to Bulma too. You broke her heart again, you cruel man."
Vegeta scowled at that. Kakarot saw the reluctance in his eyes. He knew how exactly terrible Vegeta was at apologizing. He can't even finish saying how sorry he was without stammering or shrinking back in embarrassment. Or perhaps, he was thinking that Bulma won't be able to forgive him after what he just did.
"I'll talk to Bulma if you want. I can explain to her." Kakarot offered.
"Don't concern yourself with that matter, Kakarot. It's my fault so I should be responsible for it. I will do it myself when the right time comes." Vegeta told him.
Vegeta looked down at the strip of paper and the pendants on his hand. He returned the strip of paper inside the locket, pulled it off the chain and took it with him. He put the two ends of the chain where he broke it earlier and fixed it using his power.
"And just when is that right time?" asked Kakarot.
"When I am done fulfilling my mission."
~=o-O-o=~
Kakarot returned to where Raditz, Chichi and Bulma were. Bulma was calm by now after she was able to let out all her pain, though she was still feeling blue about what just happened. They saw that Kakarot was still donning his General's armor, meaning he may have not quit his position just as he swore earlier. For some reason, Raditz hoped some good news from his brother.
"What happened, Kakarot?" Raditz asked.
Kakarot smirked back at him and nodded before he walked towards Bulma, held her hand and returned the key necklace to her.
"I gave him a nice punch to the face, Bulma." Kakarot said, winking. "I hope that can shake him up. Hee hee..."
"Why did you pick this up?" Bulma asked him about the necklace. She didn't want it anymore, not after what just happened.
Kakarot shrugged his shoulders, and made a pout. "Well, you promised Vegeta that you will keep that key to his heart no matter what, right? Just wait a little longer and he might realize it soon." he reminded.
Bulma sighed hopelessly.
"Why are you like that? You said you'll never give up waiting for him no matter what happens, right? Don't tell me you're tired of him already?"
"He made up his mind and there's no way I can get him back after what he told me. It's impossible. Plus, I cannot take it anymore. If he wants me to disappear so badly, then that's what I'm going to do."
"So you are planning on leaving?"
Bulma nodded. She's made up her mind now. After she's found a way to rescue her family, they will leave the planet and never return to this forsaken Planet of bad memories. Saying goodbye to Vegeta was a painful thing to her, but thinking of both their future, it could very well be for the best. Being in-love with him was a great feeling while it lasted, the joyful times and their tribulations as they tried to fight back and be adamant to keep their forbidden and impossible romance almost made her think that their love for each other was as sturdy as a mighty rock and that nothing could ever break them apart.
Kakarot looked back at the training room and sighed. He knows he cannot stop Bulma anymore, not after the emotional pain the prince caused her. Should he tell her the truth now? But Vegeta said not to concern himself into their business. Should he notify Vegeta about Bulma's plan to leave? Will he even stop her?
"But Bulma... How about your family?" Kakarot said.
"Of course, I will not leave without them! I am going to find a way to prove their innocence to Vegeta no matter what!"
"Hm... I don't think that would work." Raditz countered.
"What did you say?!" Bulma yelled back at him.
"You see... Vegeta has killed all aliens across Planet Vegeta, but left your family alive for some reason. Maybe he finds them to be the only reason to keep you from leaving. Also... He thinks they have a general idea about who is behind the alien rebels-" Raditz said but was cut off by Bulma's angry response.
"You heard my father in the cavern! He didn't know that Paragus was making a fool out of them! They thought it was the King's order! They know nothing about this rebellion or whatsoever! They are INNOCENT!" she roared in her high pitched voice, which made the two Saiyans flinch.
"They may be innocent according to you but I doubt Vegeta would easily believe your claims if he's found blueprints and prototypes in your home!" Raditz growled. "Your family was kept on prison to be interrogated for this. If they are truly innocent then there's nothing to be afraid of. Vegeta has spared your family's lives from his rampage earlier where he's killed all other aliens and for that, you still have hope that they can prove themselves not guilty of such crimes. You cannot leave Planet Vegeta unless the Crown Prince ordered for their release. You should be grateful that despite all that, they are still alive and that you are a free woman."
"But how..? What..? What can I do?"
"All you can do is wait until Vegeta's mind changed and orders to free your family. You alone cannot convince him otherwise. Perhaps, it would be a lot easier if he interrogates your family himself so your father could speak to him one on one. I doubt he would easily let them go though, he can make an assurance through follow up investigations once they've found his acquaintance, that one named Gero. If he includes Paragus on the questioning then he could finally get a lead as to who was behind the alien rebels and the death of Prince Tarble."
Bulma shook her head. "If only it was easy to trust him now. After what happened in the cavern, Vegeta suddenly became unpredictable. He could just lose his patience anytime and recklessly kill my family if he failed to find Doctor Gero or any other lead."
Kakarot shrugged and grabbed her shoulders, staring at her eye to eye with a serious look. "Don't worry about that anymore, Bulma." then he smiled, his hands letting go of her shoulders and holding her hand where she was clasping the necklace he just gave her back. "He won't be reckless this time. Not after the punch I gave him earlier. He was completely shaken up. If you only saw his face. Hahaha..."
"I can't believe you did such a thing and survived." Raditz chuckled.
"Well... Honestly... I thought I was going to die right there. But I know I cannot back down, I have to stop his madness before it's too late."
~=o-O-o=~
Prince Vegeta teleported himself on the prison where the Briefs were kept. He commanded all of the guards to stay away and leave. When the guards are gone, the Crown Prince crouched down and watched at the Earthling family of his dearest. They stared at him with such dread, thinking that he was there to do what he did to the rest of the aliens earlier, but he simply watched at them quietly, like a boy silently planning to squash the ants in front of him.
Yamcha was not far away from them. He was leaning against the dirty wall, drained of all energy. His broken legs laid lazily over the straw covering the floor. When he saw the Saiyan Prince, he silently glared at him with a dark look. This was the cruel man who ordered his men to do this to them. Is he here to kill them now?
Dr. Briefs swallowed his fear, letting go of his family and stepped forward. He has no idea if the prince was there to interrogate them or torture them for information or kill them now, but he still walked towards him, so casually as if he was simply approaching a lost son of his.
"I don't know if you can still remember who we are but..." he began but Vegeta cut his words off with a harsh, scathing tone.
"I know exactly who you are, Earthling." the prince answered coldly. "You are Bulma Briefs' family, correct?"
The elder Scientist nodded. "Yes, we are."
"You know what I am here for. Tell me what I want to know. The Royal Forces failed to find the location of your acquaintances and I am beginning to suspect that they have a huge part on this. The three rebels we have discovered during the Selection Banquet mentioned that the rebel's leader is an elder male scientist and there's this savior they were referring to. In which when this savior returns to them, they will begin their move to destroy the Saiyan Kingdom. Do you have any idea who is this scientist?"
"In the past, you have destroyed our home planet because you are threatened by the intellect of the Earthlings. You have ordered your soldiers to take whoever you think would prove useful to your kingdom and killed the rest. There were only a few Earthlings that survived that and were enslaved by the Saiyans for years. Because we got separated from Bulma, you have brought us to your father to work for you but he didn't like it, he ordered that you kill us all. You spared us at that time because you saw our potential. It was you who ordered us to create Blueprints and prototypes of weaponry and machinery which would help the Saiyans on the battle against the Galactic Empire. Due to this, you hid us away from your people, lied about our deaths to your father and decided that you will meet us once again when you found Bulma. And when you did, you would usually come over our house to visit her during your free times.
"But after that, I saw something within you stir. You've become suspicious for some reason, and Bulma would tell me that there were also times you would suspect her or me for planning a revolt against your kingdom. You begin to act that way after you have returned Bulma to us. And worst, that day I introduced you my friend, Doctor Gero, I know how confused you are, not after what you've been through, and being a prince and the heir to your kingdom's throne, I am sure it would be hard for you to trust anyone. One mistake and your people will see you as a traitor to them. When Paragus told Gero to modify the ATIK-903, we thought we were aiding you because he said it was your father's order. But we were betrayed by that cruel man, just as how he betrayed you. And now, whoever was behind the death of your brother, was planning to use your anger against you. Just as how they tried to use your fear when you nearly died in the cavern."
"You're telling me it is not you or this Gero. If that's the case then who is behind all of this? Paragus?" Vegeta asked.
Does Paragus have any other connections aside from Nasu and Kabu? Would the rest of the Royal Council be behind all of this? But there's no other old male scientist among them. Who is it? An alien old man with such scientific knowledge, within the palace and is close to him and the royal family, the reason why he knows everything happening within the royal grounds, even his feelings for Bulma. Someone with enough authority to open the gates so his acquaintances could infiltrate the Palace and attack him.
Vegeta was beginning to realize who this person is.
~=o-O-o=~
Pshew. That was close. I thought I was going to die right there!
A mysterious man trudged against the walls of the Palace. He was heavily damaged, his face and scaly arms filled with blood and burns after suffering the Crown Prince's wrath. Luckily, he was able to find a safe place to hide and activate his ki masking device installed on his watch so the prince won't be able to sense his life force and think he's already dead. He would occasionally stop on his tracks to heave a breath and rest for a while. He did his best to avoid any other Saiyan from finding him too, as he made his way towards the prison where one of his acquaintances was being kept.
After several minutes of hardship, he realized that the guards were all outside the den. He wondered why they aren't inside. He decided to hide and wait for a moment, hiding behind the darkness. A few moments later, he saw the Crown Prince emerge from the building. His heart began to pound hard against his ribs when he saw that ruthless man. The prince looked like he was deep in his thoughts for a short moment before he turned his head to the bowing Saiyan guards and commanded six out of ten among them to check the remains of the aliens he had mercilessly slaughtered earlier and look for... The mysterious man's face fell on a surprise when he heard the prince mention his name. Why is he looking for him now? Did he just realized he had almost killed him earlier? Should he just come out and show himself? No, something within him tells him not to. He had barely survived Prince Vegeta's rampage earlier, what other horrors is he planning to do to him if he finds him now?
If he had only knew it would come into this, he would have followed Paragus' advice to him. Who would have known that after what happened in the cavern, that the Crown Prince would crawl out of the dust and return with a vengeance? If the King wasn't being demanding at that time, he would have injected him poison! Perhaps, that way he was able to save his colleague's life.
Anyways, it's too late for regrets now. When the coast was finally clear after Vegeta and the guards he ordered have left while the remaining four entered the den, he trudged his way towards his secret path, more cautious than earlier after learning that the prince was looking for him. Once he's reached his desired destination, he called out in a low voice.
"Paragus-sama!"
He saw the former Prime Minister raise his eyes to look up at the small, rectangular window where he was peeking.
"So you have managed to survive?" Paragus grumbled.
"Yes, barely." he replied.
"How is the Crown Prince?" asked Paragus, hoping for new information about Vegeta's development in strength than any concern.
"He's getting closer to it. Actually, he's almost there but for some reason, he cannot maintain his transformed state. In just a few hours of training, the amount of his S-Cells skyrocketed at an unbelievable phase."
"I see..."
"Are you just going to react that way? If this keeps up then he will reach Broly-sama's strength within a few days! Not to mention how he's actually planning to surpass the state of the Legendary Super Saiyan."
"What? Surpass the Legendary Super Saiyan? Now that is impossible." Paragus gasped in disbelief. Then he laughed, shaking his head in mockery of the man's words. "That child always loved to dream of impossible things. There is nothing beyond Legendary Super Saiyan power."
"I'm afraid that it is possible."
"Hm?" Paragus glared through the window.
"Do you remember that time when he recuperated impossibly fast? That time we saw his hair flash a vivid crimson red?"
"Come on! You may have hallucinated that time-." Paragus sneered.
"-But I saw it with my own two eyes!" argued the mysterious man.
"How is he going to surpass a Super Saiyan if he cannot even become a Super Saiyan yet?"
"Well... I don't know..." the unknown man mumbled, his voice trailing off.
"Now, do you see my point?" Paragus goaded.
"But he was able to heal himself using that power. It was really mysterious to me at that time so I tried to look for some possible explanation to it."
"And did you find anything?"
"We all know that Prince Vegeta has some special recuperation rate that's why his DNA was used as an important component to the synthetic medical fluid used in the medical tanks." the man pointed out.
"Uh-huh..."
"Did you ever wonder why not even Broly-sama was capable of doing that?"
"How should I know?" Paragus mumbled, rolling his eye.
"It is because there is another Legend aside from the Super Saiyan."
Paragus immediately shoot him a confused gaze. What? Another legend? Impossible! All this time Paragus only knew of one legend among the Saiyans and that is about the Super Saiyan.
"And what is it?" Paragus asked curiously.
"It's the tale of the Super Saiyan god."
"Super Saiyan god?" Paragus repeated.
"Only a few Saiyans know about this, mostly the elderly, because of its unacceptable story that's against the Saiyans' Warrior Ways it was eventually forgotten by most of your people. According to the Legend, a Saiyan named Yamoshi once appeared on Planet Vegeta to rebel and stop the violent Saiyans, who were in a cataclysmal conflict at the time when Planet Vegeta was still Planet Sadara. However, he failed because of being outnumbered and the form's time limit. They say that Yamoshi was also the Legendary Super Saiyan and after he became the golden warrior, he was able to transform even further beyond that when six good-hearted Saiyan comrades of his infused their power into him. Because of that, he became the Super Saiyan god. In that new form, he possessed great divine powers that's unlike of the typical energy of Saiyans. The story described him as having crimson red flaming hair, red eyes and a blazing fire aura. Due to those fiery characteristics, he was also known as the 'Flaming Hair, Burning Eyed Divine Warrior'."
"And how does that connect to Prince Vegeta?"
"I've researched more about this Yamoshi character in the story. Going back through various historical records with the help of the scholars in the Palace that specialized in Saiyan History, there was no such thing about this Super Saiyan god but there was indeed a record of the conflict which led Planet Sadara to its near-destruction. According to the historical records, there was a Saiyan named Moyashi, who tried to stop the war amongst his people and using his strange power, he had also fixed the Planet from its nearly destroyed state before his death. Little was known about him, but the records showed that before that, he was known for his fierce, rebellious and bossy attitude but had a righteous heart. We can say that Moyashi and the Legendary figure, Yamoshi, are one and the same. So anyways, nobody knew if Moyashi had any descendants but I found something that's really strange. The Chief Scholar provided me Moyashi's historical book of records and there I saw a portrait sketch of what Moyashi looked like in his days... And surprisingly enough... He looked exactly like Prince Vegeta himself."
"What?" Paragus gasped.
"If Yamoshi is the Legendary Super Saiyan and that the records say that Prince Vegeta and the Royal Family are direct Descendants to this figure, then Prince Vegeta and Yamoshi are related on some degree. If that's the case then the Crown Prince may have an access to this Super Saiyan god's divine powers as well, which could very well explain the red hair we saw on him during his impossibly fast recuperation after he was beaten to death by the Galactic Emperor's men."
"But you said that six righteous Saiyans must do some sort of power infusion into one among them. That means he has to find five more righteous Saiyans to do this ritual with him. Aside from that, I doubt that arrogant little brat has a righteous heart to begin with." Paragus mentioned.
"He has five righteous Saiyans on his side, Paragus-sama. Bardock, Gine, Raditz, Kakarot and Cabbe." the man denoted.
"Also he's not a Super Saiyan yet. So it's impossible."
"I... I guess you're right. But he's getting closer to it. There's no doubt he can pull it off one of these days."
"Then we better make Broly become this Super Saiyan god. Go and find five righteous Saiyans to do the ritual with him." Paragus ordered.
"I'm afraid that's impossible, Paragus-sama."
"Why do you think so?!" the former Prime Minister snapped.
"Very few Saiyans possess such righteous hearts. The only known Saiyans who do have such good hearted nature are Bardock's family, Officer Cabbe and Prince Tarble. Even if the Second Prince had already passed away, all five Saiyans are surely on the Crown Prince's side. You cannot deny the fact that aside from them, your people are wicked hearted, haughty and selfish."
"Even if you say that, Prince Vegeta is no different from the most of us. He's even worse than any Saiyan in history!"
"That could be. He had his wrong-doings and selfish acts. There's no denying that Prince Vegeta was rotten to the core, especially now that he's completely forgotten his feelings for Bulma Briefs."
"I just think you are over reacting to it. It's entirely impossible that he could be any of the two legendary Saiyan figures."
"Well, I hope I am. I'm just saying this to warn you about the Crown Prince's development. Now, it's up to you how you're going to use the information I just gave you."
With that, the mysterious man left. He trudged his way to a secret underground laboratory beyond the forest behind the Royal Palace, careful not to get any attention from the Palace Guards. Once there, he plodded towards his desk and rummaged through his medical supplies to find something to cure his wounds.
"Well, I'm surprised you survived, doctor." a feminine voice suddenly said behind him. He turned to see the newcomer who is a tall, curvaceous female scientist with black rimmed rectangular glasses and long bushy auburn hair.
"Barely..." he said.
"It's good that you did. Otherwise, our plans would be all but futile. Luckily though, you were able to send in Prince Vegeta's latest information before all of that happened."
"Yes."
"Now then, would you like to see the new batch of the Atijebu Clones?" the woman smirked. "My husband and I took an entire day filling all ten thousand tanks. Since the ATIK-903 has been modified and that Prince Vegeta's data was updated, it would only be a matter of time until the new batch is ready for our plan! Once we are able to find that clone commander, ATI 900l, connect the new clones to his energy system and hack his programming... Aaaaaah! I can already imagine such a wonderful sight to behold! It's a good thing that ATI 9001 was able to befriend Prince Vegeta. I cannot wait to see the fruits of our hardwork and several years of patience and research!"
"Indeed. It would be amusing to watch how our long-awaited revenge would play out. I only hope it would all be ready on the day of the Crown Prince's Annual Power Assessment."
"Yes! Yes! There would be nice fireworks to celebrate!"
~=o-O-o=~
Vegeta began his intense training regimen while he was waiting for any reports about the man he sent the guards to look for him. How could he be so foolish not to notice that right from the start?! How could he not suspect anything from that man?! It's infuriating how much he trusted that guy with everything yet he was using all the information he got from him to make him stronger and also means of revolt!
He furiously attacked the open air in front of him with several combos of punches and kicks. He was using both the enhanced gravity and the artificial battleground simulator of his training room to train under increased gravity levels and changing air density and temperature. Though his movements were sluggish and heavy as compared to his usual attacks, which was caused by the intensity of his surroundings under 30Gs, Vegeta was determined to overcome such burdening weight in order to become stronger. Now that he knows the secret behind the Super Saiyan transformation, felt its raw power and knows that he was getting closer to it, all he needed to do is to prepare the conditions of his body so it could contain the tremendous power output of the Legendary form.
"Just you wait... Paragus! Freeza! You and the entire universe will soon witness and marvel the ultimate Saiyan potential not seen for thousands of years!"
And then he smirked, eyes filled with determination.
