IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I decided to merge "Shounen Galaxy: Return of Planet Vegeta" into this fic.
With this chapter being largely a "copy and paste" of that story's Dragon Ball Z Storyline. With a minor change being, Frost Demons now only lay one egg at a time, however with their ridiculous lifespans, they still have trouble supporting their population.
Not sure if I'm going to turn the Naruto stuff, from the above story, into it's own fic, or add it here, much later.
Shenron, was happy, as he always was. Living in a realm of eternal bliss, he had little reason to ever be anything but.
Then, he felt it. The call. Sighing, he decided to get to work.
Stepping into the mortal plane, he created his usual light show, and fanfare.
The sky grew black, while lightning sparked in the unnatural clouds. Then he burst from the 7 orbs, gathered together. A quest to prove the worthiness of those who summon him.
The Eternal Dragon appeared back on Earth Kai. Ready to grant the summoners heart's desires.
Looking down, he saw the Dragon Balls. Ancient artifacts, crafted by the Kami of this world. 7 golden balls, scattered across the planet. But when brought together, and the key phrase is spoken, they summon the mighty Shenron.
Nearby the artifacts that willingly bound him, he saw a boy with a monkey tail.
The boy just stared at him. Waiting for his friends to join him.
"What is your wish?" Shenron asked the boy. Who reeked of innocence.
His friends quickly reached him. Before looking at each other.
The boy shrugged, "It's not my wish." And looked back to his friends.
Shenron gave a rare smile. At least, rare for when he was out of his bliss dimension.
This boy was willing to sacrifice his wish for another. He was worthy of... an old clause. One he could give at his own discretion.
A blue haired human walked up, awing at the dragon. "You're real..." She spoke as if she hadn't expected it.
With her was a small, bipedal, pig, and a flying... blue thing. It looked a bit like a cat, but not quite. Then there was a long haired, rough looking teenage boy, about the girl's age.
An odd assortment of people.
"Well," Blue hair smiled at monkey tail. "Aren't you gonna make your wish?"
Goku blinked, "Didn't you want a-"
Bulma quickly covered his mouth. "I think you deserve this more then me." they were all so Glorious. It warmed an old Dragon's heart.
"Somebody make a wish!" Shenron demanded, pretending this wasn't getting to him.
"Right," The boy, with the monkey tail, looked up at the eternal dragon. Clearly thinking about what he wanted. Then Shenron saw it click, just before the boy spoke the words. "I wish I had my family back!"
Immediately, Shenron understood the boy ment his adoptive grandfather. That shouldn't be hard... but he said family. There was wiggle room to make him truly happy. Shenron loved doing his best, to grant wishes that would please the little mortals that worked so hard to reach him.
"Doable," was all Shenron said, as his eyes glowed red. And 4 individuals appeared out of the light of the Dragon Balls.
He repressed a smile, as He felt gods of death curse his name.
"Grampa?" the monkey boy whispered. Running into an old man's arms. Before looking at the other three people... with monkey tails, and quils for hair, much like his own.
There was a Woman, in pink, bronze, and black armor. A tall man, looking much like the small boy. Then, there was a teenager, although he barely qualified as such, being around 19.
The teen was the only one who looked confused.
"Dad?" The teen realized, "Mom? How... how is this possible?"
The tailed man waved off, "Wish granting dragon god." Before looking at the little boy. A proud smile on his face. He had been watching both his sons, through the veil of the afterlife... and was particularly proud of this child.
His mate got on her knees, and hugged the child. Pulling him away from the old human, which the man allowed.
"Hello Kakarot," She whispered. "I'm your mother."
The boy froze in the grasp. "I think you got the wrong person lady," Denied the boy. "I'm Son Goku."
"That's your adoptive name," His mother patiently explained. "Your birth name, is Kakarot. I don't particularly mind which you choose to call yourself."
"I do," Grunted the father.
The mother rolled her eyes, "Ignore him. Your father is just an argumentative man by nature."
The father looked up, eying Shenron. "You still here?"
Shenron scoffed. But realized he could be seen as intruding on a precious moment. "Once every millennium. I can choose someone to grant three Wishes, instead of one. I think your boy has earned that right."
The father's eyes widened, before looking back at his boy. "Do you mind if I make a few wishes of my own?"
The boy gave a hesitant nod. Well... that backfired, but the offer was already made. Shenron would have to grant the wishes.
"Speak," The Eternal Dragon, grumpily demanded.
The father smiled, "I wish Frieza was dead."
Those around him, who didn't know what a monster Frieza was, gaped in horror.
"That is not within my power," Shenron shrugged. "I cannot kill those stronger then myself."
The Father scowled, "What then? Do I wish Frieza saw the error of his ways!" He spat out.
Although Shenron knew he was being sarcastic... that could actually end up doing a lot of good. And inevitably resulting in a lot of Happiness for the boy. "It is done."
The Father gaped, "I didn't actually WANT that! What uselessness is that!"
"Then you should avoid the phrase 'I wish' if you don't wish it." Shenron snorted. Fully knowing he cheated. "One wish left."
The father growled. Though he took a moment to think. "I wish Planet Vegeta, and all it's inhabitants, was brought to this Star Cluster, in an uninhabited Mega System." That was more thought out... and technically two wishes, but Shenron decided to allow it. To make up for cheating a bit. He even decided to use some creative thinking, for maximum happiness.
Suddenly, Goku and his family disappeared.
The dragon's eyes glowed red. "It is done," before stepping back in his realm of pure bliss.
Once Shenron disappeared, The orbs, his "Dragon Balls", flew into the air, before once again scattering across the world.
Leaving some truly stupefied mortals behind.
Frieza jerked awake, his body in a cold sweat. The faces of all the people he's killed, the world's he's enslaved... the very solar systems he's destroyed... each face was haunting his mind.
Shaking his head, he tried to banish the nightmare... but it lingered.
Growling in irritation, Frieza got out of bed. Walking to the bathroom. He splashed his face with some water. Raising his head, he sneered as he caught sight of himself in the mirror... at the tears running down his face.
Brought to tears by a dream. Cooler would never let him live it down.
Splashing his face more. He didn't understand what he was feeling. Nor why it came on him so suddenly.
That was one hell of a nightmare.
He growled, hearing his com chirp. Keeping it on Audio only, he answered it.
"W-what do... do you want?" Frieza tried to keep the sob out of his voice... and failed... badly...
"My lord?" The voice spoke more from bewilderment, then concern... why would it... not even his own father, ever showed genuine concern for his well being. "Are you alright?"
Those words, so close to concern, from one of his abused slaves... broke him. "Like you give a shit if I'm Alright! You mewling little worm!!! Now tell me what you want, before I decide to feed you your own spleen!!!"
For some reason, such a threat, which came naturally to him... it felt wrong, vile, as if he couldn't believe he actually said that. He had a nagging desire to apologize, but forced it down.
What was wrong with him?
"SIR!!!" the voice was clearly panicking. And blurted out news, that probably should have been given more tactfully. "The Saiyans have vanished! They were training in the gravity room, when all three of them just disappeared."
"Vegeta..." Frieza froze.
The Saiyan prince was, without a doubt, the favorite of his pets... his favorite to torment.
Frieza suddenly found himself kneeling before his toilet, vomiting up stomach acid.
"MY LORD!!!" The voice exclaimed, somehow showing true concern now, for such a monster.
Cooler calmly stepped into the infirmary. Well, at least he looked calm. In truth, he was quite worried.
Frieza might be a Sociopath, but he was still Cooler's little brother.
The alien Doctors were panicking, as they just couldn't figure out what was wrong
Frieza was shivering, sweating... crying.
Cooler eyed his brother. Before the younger entity exclaimed, "What the hell is wrong with me!" Completely falling apart, at the sight of family. "I can't-can't stop thinking about them!!! All those pathetic little nothings!!! They're NOTHING!!!" He begged Cooler to believe him...
Cooler calmly looked over at the Doctors, "Leave us." he ordered. They immediately obeyed.
Cooler levitated a chair over, and sat by Frieza's head, "Did you suddenly develop a conscience, runt?"
Frieza could only snarle in frustration, "It's the Saiyans, it has to be! They must have smuggled in some witch to curse me!"
Cooler thought on that a moment. True magic users were rare, but it did seem more likely then Frieza suddenly gaining a conscience. Plus, the way the Saiyans just disappeared. It was a very real possibility, magic was involved
"Shall I hunt down this witch?" Cooler offered, "And force her to remove the curse? I can be very... persuasive."
"NO!!!" Frieza screamed, then buried his head in his hands. "By the All-Mother! I can't even plot revenge without feeling nauseous!!!"
Cooler thought on it more, "Knowing Vegeta, if he is involved. He probably killed the witch, anyway. To ensure she couldn't remove the curse. After all, You did raise him."
Cooler blinked, as Frieza actually puked at the observation. Then, he decided to push more. "It does seem a fitting curse. And it's hard to remove a dead mage's spell. A lesson, I recall you teaching Vegeta, yourself. After all, you did invite me to the demonstration."
Frieza was shivering, as if so cold, it froze the blood of a Frost Demon. Tears running down his face, and dripping onto the medical table. As he made a strange noise. Clearly choking back a sob.
But Cooler didn't stop. "Making you feel true empathy for lower lifeforms? Yes, I suppose I can appreciate the irony of this curse. Considering how much you enjoyed cleansing worlds father has you conquer.
"Our people live for over 10 thousand cycles. With such a large population, living so long, it is a necessity we claim the rare habitable planets, for ourselves. And while I admit, mere Sapients are inferior to us. You took joy in eradicating their populations.
"I wonder, how many planets have you full out destroyed? I mean, killing the population wasn't always enough for you. How many worlds, which father wanted you to conquer, did you decide to atomize instead?
"We are in the real estate business, and dead worlds aren't nearly as valuable. Yet you went out of your way to destroy at least two a year. I never understood how father could tolerate that.
"Over the course of so many centuries... I wonder how many billions of lifes you've taken. You might even have a body count in the trillions."
"SHUT UP!!!" Frieza raged.
"And then there is Mu'ghn'um." Cooler shrugged, and Frieza immediately knew why Cooler was torturing him like this. "Do you remember him, Frieza? I got him when he was just an egg... he called me 'daddy'. Do you remember what happened to him?"
Frieza didn't answer.
"No?" Cooler raised a rubbery eyebrow. "I remember. You killed him, eventually, it took you a few hours but you got there. Do you remember why?"
Frieza began full out sobbing.
Cooler continued to speak calmly... far too calmly. "He called you 'Uncle'. That was his crime. He dared to show you love... such a lowly creature as he... do you at least remember what you said to me afterwards?"
Frieza finally spoke, "I told you it was your own fault for getting so attached."
Cooler, finally, glared. "I thought of Mu'ghn'um as a pet, Frieza. And as any good pet owner, it brought me infinite joy that he saw me as his 'daddy'. I LOVED him. And because of that... you spent Hours, HOURS!!! Killing him. Just to make a point." Standing up, Cooler informed, "You deserve this." Before leaving the room.
Freiza stared at the closed door, even as it opened to allow the Doctors entrance... he stared at it for several minutes. Before finally saying, "I know..." which the healers ignored, as more of his mad ramblings.
Prince Vegeta had been sparring with his bodyguard, and guardian, Nappa. With Raditz nearby, struggling to support himself in the enhanced gravity.
It was a shame, one of the few Saiyan survivors, was a weakling like Raditz. He barely qualified into the Warrior Cast.
Nappa may be weaker then Vegeta, but at least he reeked of Saiyan potential. So as long as he remained useful, Vegeta would tolerate his crude jokes, and severe lack of intelligence.
None of that mattered, because right now, Vegeta appeared to have been relocated... and standing before-
"Father?" Prince Vegeta felt his body go numb, trying to hold himself with dignity... but could only stare dumbly, as the king got off his throne, and walked over to his teenage son.
"Am I dead?" the prince couldn't stop himself from asking. His eyes never leaving his father, while still taking in all of the grand throne room. The very room he used to play in, before Frieza stole him from his parents.
The King merely held out his hand. "Tail!" He demanded. Getting the young Prince to flinch. His mind suddenly going back to his first few years of life.
Nervously, his tail unwrapped itself from around his waist... and hesitantly put itself within his father's grasp.
Immediately father got a firm grib around the tail. The young prince fell to his knees, gasping and groaning in pain... and blushing at the humiliating way his father chose to discipline him. While still not understanding why his father was punishing him.
"Does this feel 'dead'?" his gruff Elder demanded.
The Prince growled, shaking his head.
"I expect an answer, cub," The King grunted. "Surely you haven't lost all your manners."
"No Sir!" The Prince exclaimed, feeling all of 5 years old.
"What's in your head, cub!" The King growled. "Why did you stay by that monsters side!? Even after he destroyed our planet!? You should have went with Nappa, the second that idiot tried to get you out. Not pull rank and dig in your heels!!!"
"I..." Vegeta struggled to talk through the pain. Having forgotten where that usually leads. "I wanted... avenge our people!" he tried to explain. One of the teenager's eyes forcing itself shut, and refusing to open. All well he spoke in broken sentences.
Unfortunately, the Prince remembered too late. Talking back always got his father to squeeze harder... and longer. As he added to the lecture. And despite being dead for so long, the King hadn't gotten any more lenient.
The Prince gave out a brief yell, before clamping his mouth shut. Insisting on taking this like a man.
"You should have focused on restoring our people! Not threaten to destroy What's left of it!" King Vegeta, pointed at someone nearby. "Look at your brother!"
Prince Vegeta was shocked to see Tarble, his little brother, was actually standing nearby. The boy was a good few years younger then his elder brother. So not quite a teenager, himself.
The boy was covering his tail, as if expecting to be next.
Vegeta hadn't seen his little brother since they were toddlers. The boy had been sent away, due to being weak.
Regardless of that fact, their King and Father, spoke in pride of his youngest, to shame his elder.
"Tarble not only managed to get away, from the Planet Trade Organization, but he spent the years after our world's destruction, finding as many survivors as he could. He turned his space ship into a mobile colony. Staying out of Frieza's way, as our people prepared themselves for a counter strike."
Tarble felt he should point out, he wasn't involved in the attack plans. Those were more the ideal fantasies of the Saiyans he found.
There were thousands of Survivors, that had been off world when Frieza destroyed their home. And while Tarble hadn't found all of them, or even most of them, he never stopped looking... and never stopped hoping his big brother would find them... but maybe it was best he hadn't.
"Meanwhile, you talk down to the few Saiyans in your care. Do tricks for that Sociopath that killed off your people. And abandon every scrap of honor I tried to insteal in you! You didn't even find Broly! Our ultimate hope, The mutation I sent off to train, due to his power level surpassing Frieza as an infant.
"If you had just gotten that cub, and trained him yourself, FRIEZA WOULD HAVE DIED A DECADE AGO. Everything you've done, these past 9 years, has brought me nothing but SHAME!!!"
The young Prince finally began to weep. Not from the pain in his tail, but from the sheer words his father spoke.
The King released his son, before forcing the cub to his feet... and giving him a hug.
"I still love you," The King swore, hugging his son tightly. "But we really need to get that monster's lessons out of your head. You're going to start listening to Nappa. As you should have from the beginning. He is your instructor, I don't care how much more powerful you are compared to him. You aren't grown yet, and you need to learn respect before you can expect it."
Patting his son's shoulder, The King broke the hug. Then looked over at his youngest.
"Tarble?" Spoke the King. The smaller cub eeped, as his father walked over to him, with purpose. The boy relaxed, as his father pulled him into a hug of his own. Their tails coiling around each other. "I knew, if given the chance, you'd grow up to be a great Saiyan."
Parting slightly, though still hugging his cub. The King looked into his eyes. "You might not have grown into the warrior I wanted you to be. But you are a hero none the less."
Tarble blushed, "Father..." not knowing what to say.
King Vegeta gently gave his son another squeeze, before parting. His tail untangling itself from the cub... and pretending not to notice the boy's tail trying to weakly pull it back.
Tarble was always more emotional, then generally thought appropriate, for Saiyans. Regardless-
"I'm proud of you," The King said the words Tarble had never gotten to hear.
Once the personal matters were gotten out of the way, the King return to his throne, and explained what was going on.
Apparently, A giant wish granting dragon, had been used to restore Planet Vegeta.
Bringing all of the families, back in their old Estates. Who were now celebrating, not only their return from the dead, but their reunion with the members that survived. Welcoming the several thousand hybrid children, that had been born since Their planet's destruction. Even welcoming the alien partner, and the parents that adopted Saiyan children.
The afterlife... wasn't exactly as simple as that. For one thing, it was not truly eternal. Not for most, anyway.
Gods of death, Or rather a "Shinigami", were born as a Sapient dimension. They grow more powerful, the more souls they collect.
King Yama, the first Sapient to ever die, was chosen to regulate the Shinigami. Assigning which species, of what dimensions, they may watch over.
As Shinigami are rare. They tend to hold jurisdiction over several thousand universes, and their pocket dimensions.
Passing Judgment on their souls, based on the morals of each individual species.
King Yama's wife, Hela, was Shinigami to the various humanoids of the main universe. Allowing their young son, Koenma, to look after the souls of The Doctor's Refugee Star Clusters... which the Saiyans just declared themselves a part of.
Prince Koenma, was much more merciful then his mother, who was already known for her fairness.
Due to treaties, between all Shinigami, Reincarnation is a thing, with souls eventually getting reborn, based on their Karma... after around 10,000 years, in an afterlife.
Shinigami hold onto souls, temporarily, using them as a way to sustain themselves, and trading out souls to be reborn. In order to give those souls the chance to do better.
The more pure a soul, the more energy it feeds the Shinigami. With Pure evil souls tasting vile to them.
Most Shinigami, gods of death, would put "Evil" souls through "Rehabilitation," for when they get reincarnated. In an attempt to improve them.
Very few souls were actually considered vile enough to get sent to hell levels, within their Shinigami's dimension. With the worst offenders, not even being sent to a hell dimension, but rather, they were fed to devils. Which led to them simply stop existing, after taking thousands of years to digest.
However, even with this system, some species were incapable of being used as devil food.
For example, the entirety of the Saiyan race... wasn't actually hell bound. As each species is graded on a curve. Like how Kender are considered too innocent to be sent to hell, despite their entire species being made up of the most troublesome thieves. Saiyans were considered, instinctively, too violent to truly understand their normally unforgivable acts.
Their afterlife was a more neutral one, despite your average Saiyan being responsible for multiple counts of genocide. More then enough to feed most souls to a devil.
But rest assured, Hitler, being from a slightly less malicious race of humanoids, was fed to devils. As he was a bastard, by his own species standards.
Gohan never really understood the point of grading species on a curve, as evil was evil. But Saiyans were a grey area, even with his view point. As they were largely forced to do terrible things. To the point when they rebelled, their entire planet was vaporized.
Of course, truly wicked souls, weren't the only ones not to get reincarnated.
Gohan had lived truly well, and after uncounted lifetimes of doing so... he earned his spot in "Heavan". It was his retirement plan. Finally allowed to rest, after so many lives of protecting people.
Essentially, he was put in a type of control group. So Koenma could feed off his excess energy. While the old man trained, to increase his power, to feed Koenma even more.
He was never supposed to be reincarnated. He served his time, in the mortal verse... the one true hell.
Now Gohan no longer remembered his other lives, as he wasn't dead anymore, but he still had a vague Awareness of them. A physical brain could only recall things that happen to it directly. So now that he was back in his old, thankfully healthy, body... he couldn't really recall the previous versions of himself.
Gohan gave a sigh, as Goku finally fell asleep... cuddling up in the old man's lap. The boy had refused to leave his side. Much to the chagrin of his biological father.
Gine, the boy's mother, was pressed up against the old man. So she could better admire her youngest... and gently pet his quills.
"I spoke with Bardock," Gine smiled, as her hand moved through her son's hair. "He'll stand down, and submit to what you decide is best for our child."
Gohan eyed her, "How'd you swing that?"
Gine shrugged, "It was fairly easy. We Saiyans may have a king, but we are a matriarchy. He is obligated to listen to me, as the head of the family. The females rule the homes, and own the land, while the males protects it.
"Both my Mate, and eldest son, wanted to challenge you, for the role of Alpha Male. But your Power Level is so far above their's, and while they have been improving their own Ki, you've been training alongside gods. They wouldn't stand a chance against you. So I denied them the right to try."
Gohan sighed, "Anything, in particular, I'm expected to do?"
Gine shrugged, "You're role is largely as my enforcer, bodyguard, confidant, and adviser.
"You can choose to boss the other males around, and they are obligated to submit to you're authority. But if they feel you are abusing this privilege, they will inform me, and if I find it's true, I will demand you submit to me, and you are expected to cooperate. Even though you are far stronger then me."
"'Submit' meaning," Gohan eyed carefully.
The Saiyan shrugged, opening her mouth, then suddenly closed it... eying the lack of tail. "I honestly don't know," She admitted. "Normally, that means I demand your tail, you give it over, and I squeeze it til I deem your sufficiently remorseful.
"Without a tail of your own. I may have to be forced to give you a slap with my tail. But that is usually reserved for the more extreme cases of disobedience. Like refusing to submit.
"True fights, for discipline, is considered a last resort, within the clan... although it's your primary tool, outside of it.
"Saiyans may love a good fight, but it's more important to show respect to authority figures, in the family. So all the members of the clan, should willingly submit to you.
"If someone acts up, male or female, in any way you find inappropriate, including little Kakarot here, just demand their tail and squeeze it. If they refuse to give you their tail. Then you can kick the shit out of them until they do.
"If one challenges you, and fails to beat you, demand their tail, and squeeze. Don't just reach out and grab it, that's considered an abuse of power...
"And don't expect any apologies. That is considered something very personal in our culture. A display of vulnerability, only appropriate towards a mate or parental figure...
"Personally, I think Kakarot is too quick to apologize... I realize that is just how you raised him, with human values. But it's the equivalent of a toddler crying and begging over every little thing. It might get him a good deal of bullying from the other cubs.
"So it's a good thing you taught him how to fight," She chuckled. "I imagine he's got a lot of scrapes coming his way... oh! And don't punish the cubs for fighting. They aren't expected to be able to hold back, until they enter puberty. That is when their parents, big emphasis on parents, start teaching them restraint.
"Saiyan children are little more than feral beast, and it is considered too cruel to expect them to act civilly. Kakarot only adjusted to that, because he has literal brain damage... his Saiyan instincts are diluted... which again, will get him bullied.
"He needs to toughen up some," Gine nodded adamantly.
Gohan sighed, "I like Goku the way he is."
Gine smiled, "Honestly? So do I... I just worry how the other cubs will react to his gentle nature. Kak... Goku is already looked down on for being so weak, by Saiyan standards.
"I'd like to send him off on a few missions, to help toughen him up."
Gohan glared at her, "You still intend to do... 'Missions'?"
Gine shrugged, "I doubt they will involve nearly as much genocide. The curve has changed, for us Saiyans... largely thanks to Prince Tarble, and his more merciful nature. We need to adapt to the new standards, the gods will judge us by."
Gohan's glare intensified, "Doing good, for the sake of reward, won't get you into heaven."
Gine shrugged, "No but it will keep us out of hell."
"What do you mean, I'm not the Heir!!!" Prince Vegeta raged. "I'm your first born!!!"
The King could only sigh. "Frieza is a closed minded bigot. He knows nothing about Saiyan Culture. While Nappa is a coward, who didn't contradict any of that monsters, inaccurate lessons. Your lessons on all things Saiyan, my little Cub, are all wrong.
"The Heir of the Saiyan Empire, is the Strongest Saiyan. You might be powerful, but you aren't the strongest. Not by a long shot. So shut up, and be content with your place. Not like you even have the right temperament for ruling, anyhow."
The 16 year old Prince, crushed the glove he was wearing, as he glared at his father. Feeling his anger explode, his fist lashed out, attempting to bash the old man's face in.
However, the moment the fist was in range, The King snagged it out of the air, and glared at his disrespectful cub... until he noticed the look of horror on the boy's face... as if he was scared his father, his own father, was about to kill him.
The King sighed, "We are a warrior race, but we are not without compassion... you need never fear me, my son."
The Prince's tough guy facade reemerged. Scoffing as he jerked his fist out of the grasp.
"You have much to learn, cub," The king gave another sigh. Deciding to ignore the attempted punch, and continue his lecture.
"Saiyans instinctively respect the strongest. It is how we were so easily conquered by the Frost Demons, and the Tuffle before them. We submitted to their rule, willingly, because they were more powerful then ourselves.
"While, with the Frost Demons, this may have been more literal, for the Tuffle... we saw their superior technology, which could best our strongest warriors, and were too primitive to understand the difference.
"No my cub, while you were once the Heir. That was not because you were my blood, but because you were the strongest child born. But Another child was born a few years after you, which far surpassed your own power. But, if you want, when he reaches the age of challenge, you may put yourself against his might. To see if you can become the proper heir."
"The age of Challenge?" Vegeta sneered, although it was clearly fake. As the boy was still a bit nervous.
Tarble spoke up. "Pumpki, my tutor, told me about that," With Prince Vegeta's outburst, the King had nearly forgotten his other Cub was here... Vegeta junior was always over-shadowing his brother. Even when he was a disappointment. "The right of challenge comes in three stages.
"First, when you turn 4 Cycles (Author's Note: that's around 15 Earth Years Old), you can start refusing orders, like from an elder or commanding officer, but ya gotta beat them in a fight, in a formal duel.
"Then, when you're 5 Cycles (That's 18 Years Old), you can challenge your clan's Alpha Male, to a duel for his position... but you still gotta listen to the Alpha Female." Tarble stressed, for his ignorant older brother.
"And Finally, At 7 Cycles (That's around 25 years old), you can challenge the King for his position... although that's the only one that commonly results in death of the Challenger. More rarely the King, as they tend to be more graceful about losing."
King Vegeta gave his youngest a proud nod. While Prince Vegeta glared at his know-it-all little brother.
The King decided to sidestep that as well. "Just because the current Heir, Broly, is more powerful then you, doesn't mean he is guaranteed to beat you in a fight... another thing you don't understand." The king gave a disappointed sigh. "Power levels aren't everything, technique and skill matters just as much, if not more. The one to win a fight, is more often then not, the one with the most guts.
"You may prove to be more skilled then Broly. But you must earn your role as 'Heir'. Until you do, you will always be a Prince."
Vegeta Tsk'ed.
The King continued, "So for now, Broly is the proper heir. I sent him away, in secret. Trusting his father would train him. So we could one day use his might to kill Frieza. This cub... his power level surpassed Frieza even in the womb. His birthing was so intense... it killed his mother... I should have considered that before trusting his father with the boy.
"Paragus has... not treated the boy as a worthy heir... he has committed crimes, and manipulations, unforgivable in our culture.
"Broly was once the hope of our world, but his father chose to run his own agenda, instead."
Prince Vegeta eyed his father, still a little nervous that he dared to strike the man... though slowly relaxing, as their father just continued the lecture... instead of killing him... as Frieza would have... as Prince Vegeta, himself, would have.
"How do you know all this?" asked Prince Vegeta. "You've been dead for nearly 3 cycles."
The King smiled, "You think I spent my afterlife on some cloud? I spent most of it training under the god of all Saiyans, Beerus, himself. With my leisure time spent, watching over the surviving Saiyan race...
"It was truly heart breaking to see so many of them lose their way... we were once a proud, honorable, race of Warriors. Yet now we grovel in the streets... killing each other over scraps... and even over our own amusement..."
The King eyed his eldest, "You weren't even 2 cycles, when taken from us... with Frieza killing your mother, for refusing to hand you over... As a result, all you know about Saiyans, is the twisted things Frieza told you... I intend to put a great deal of effort, in your re-education."
There was a knock at the chamber doors.
"Come in," The King growled.
Pumpki, Tarble's former tutor, stepped in, and gave a low bow. The young man had been given a respectable job, as the King's secretary. As reward for doing such a good job raising Tarble.
Pumpki was a low class Saiyan. Too weak to be a Warrior, but that didn't mean he couldn't have a respectable position in their society.
Most of the Saiyans, that had originally survived, had been either the strongest... or the weakest... mostly the Weakest...
"They better have found Broly," King Vegeta glared. As he had given orders, not to disturb his sons' lessons, otherwise.
"They have Sire," informed Pumpki. "Unfortunately, Paragus managed to escape off world. But the High Class Warriors were able to save Broly... He's not in good shape sire. Paragus used his son like a weapon, to buy him time for his escape."
King Vegeta closed his fist, as well as his eyes. "That thing really is without honor. It is no longer Saiyan." Then looked back at the young man. "Did the High Class have to hurt the boy too badly."
Pumpki snorted, "They barely landed a scratch on him. His very skin was too tough for them to even bruise. No the cub just started crying when he realized his... father," He growled the word, not thinking the thing worthy of even that title. "Left without him."
King Vegeta sighed, "So you mean he is in poor shape, emotionally."
"No my Lord," Pumpki shook his head. "He has numerous old scars... a shock collar, surgically grafted to his nervous system... and... his tail..." not wanting to say it in front of the cubs.
The King waved for the man to continue. He was already aware of all this, which was the reason he ordered Paragus be found and captured... as that thing was not worthy of a Saiyan's right to die fighting.
However the King's sons would learn of all this, soon enough. As the King intended to bring his Heir to the Palace. To be raised beside his own cubs.
Pumpki gulped, not wanting to say it, but obeyed his king, "He cut off the Cub's tail."
Both boys gasped, and it pained Pumpki for having to put that look of horror on Tarble's face... he thought of the boy as his own cub. Which was part of the reason the King allowed him to stay so close.
Even Prince Vegeta, was horrified that anyone would cut off a Saiyan's tail. Much less their own family... their own father. He'd expect King Vegeta to kill him, sooner then cut off his tail.
"He did worse then cut it off," King Vegeta explained to the three survivors. Who, for obvious reasons, were unaware of what the other survivors had gotten up to. The ones who died, had cheated a good deal, and watched from Beerus plane.
"He surgically removed it," King Vegeta explained. "So that it can never grow back."
All those unaware, turned green, Tarble even ran over to the waste bin... to vomit.
Pumpki forgot all decorum, and ran over, rubbing circles on Tarble's back.
King Vegeta just sighed, as his eldest glared at their father.
"Did you really have to explain that in front of him!" Prince Vegeta pointed at his brother. "He's just a cub!"
"So are you," The King eyed. "and you both need to be aware, of just what this boy has been through. He is still the heir, still our hope. I expect you both to help him on his road to recovery."
• Meanwhile, With the Frost Demons.
"Planet Vegeta... is back..." King Cold frowned, listening to the report.
"The transmitters have reactivated," Explained the comm's expert. Whose name Cold never bothered to learn. The other races lived far too short lives to care about their names.
This alien had 6 arms, and the head of a spider, with eyes going all the way around his head... yet Cold found it no uglier then any other lower species.
Each of it's 20 eyes, were looking off in a different direction. Absorbing information from all around him.
It's what made this species so valuable. They might have low power levels, but their ability to rapidly absorb information, from various sources, simultaneously. Well, it made it worth maintaining the species. Whom were placed in various data interpreting fields.
The arachnid explained, "The old observation network, your grace deemed necessary to install in secret." He said, probably due to correctly guessing his king had no memory of ordering such a trivial thing. "Has reactivated. We are receiving images of the Saiyans celebrating in the streets."
"Sure this isn't old footage?" Cold asked.
The alien shook his head, "The time stamp is clear. It's from earlier this very day. At the exact moment Frieza fell ill, and his Saiyans disappeared from the fleet."
Cold considered the coincidence, and agreed it couldn't be anything of the sort. He finally asked, "What could resurrect an entire planet?" though more to himself.
The arachnid's mandibles twitched, "Well... the signal is coming from the Doctor's Star Cluster."
Cold scoffed, "Even the Doctor can't resurrect an entire world. Else he would have brought back his own."
"Do you wish to send a fleet to investigate?" The arachnid asked.
Cold just laughed, "I would sooner go into hell, to kick Satan's Puppy. The Doctor has defeated armies of Creatures, far more powerful then even the Frost Demons. And I have no desire to break our delicate truce."
The Doctor gave his word he wouldn't interfere with the Frost Demons, so long as they stayed out of his Refugee Star Cluster. It was obvious, the placement of Planet Vegeta, within this cluster, Was no accident. It was purely a strategic move.
... with the Doctor only tolerating the Frost Demons, because they had some important role to play in history.
It was Obvious, the entity was looking for a reason to commit yet another genocide against an "Evil" race. Cold was smart enough to stay away from that. Even the Daleks feared the Doctor. Gods and Devils begged him for mercy... only to find not an ounce in his hearts.
The Frost Demons would not make that mistake... for they were not truly "Evil". No... they were desperate.
They lived for over 10,000 cycles. So even if they could only lay one egg at a time, like all god created lifeforms... their population was far too extensive. They had to not conquer other worlds... and even then, there weren't enough resources to support them.
"Keep an eye on the Saiyans... maybe tell Frieza of their return. That may cheer him up." Cold sighed.
