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3.

How it all started


The Asters have already disappeared behind the horizon and the artificial lights have been turned off. It's the middle of the night. If I had a minimal chance to retire to meditate and rest, especially after my outburst, all hope is completely vanished after meeting Cooler. I feel exhausted but I could never sleep and waste my time now that I know what to do.

My goal quickly becomes my obsession; I can't help it when it happens. The only chance I have when a thought becomes so insistent is to go along with it without too many fuss. So, driven by a strange tension, I leave my father's Palace and set foot on the planet's soil.

I can't stay around here. Since I would risk destroying the training room and the entire Palace with my attempts, I prefer to go to a different place, and I exactly know which one.

As I slowly hover towards the sky I inhale the icy air of planet Cold Number One. The more I rise, the more the enormous mountains that line the only habitable valley of this mass of land and water delineate. This world is not at all large nor welcoming, but few planets have such low temperatures, indeed: of the hundreds that my father owns, most are too close to their stars, others have large nuclei that make the temperatures rise from the inside, others have mild and cool climates, but none is like this. And my father has always been a nostalgic type. Although he doesn't and will never admit it, this small, uncomfortable place reminds him of Arcos.

In fact, even if Arcos was much larger and more hospitable, planet Cold Number One vaguely mimics its appearance, certainly much more than any other in the System. We have never talked about it openly but I'm sure that this was the reason why, after the first visit as a guest, my father decided to conquer it and place here the capital of his immense kingdom.

What was it called before? Dramantis, Dramaris… it doesn't matter. It is now called planet Cold Number One, and none of its stupid, pale inhabitants would ever dare deny that it has always been called that.

I catch a glimpse of my target not far away and I increase my speed. I can't wait to express my potential and find out if Cooler has solved all my problems with his advice. If so, as a thank you, I might even think of saving his life when I conquer all his possessions. He may aim to be Lord, but I will become Emperor of the Universe. And there can be only one Emperor, but he will learn this the hard way.

The journey to the chosen place seemed to me shorter than I expected. I put my feet on the frozen ground and a shiver runs through me as I watch the chasm that stretches before me. It's amazing how the mountain splits perfectly in half, plunging sheer towards the depths of the planet, and this is exactly why it enchants me so much: the vision of this oblivion intoxicates me. After all, I'm a bit nostalgic too.

Since I discovered this place I have spent almost all my days here testing my powers or just meditating. I spent countless hours contemplating the precipice and enjoying the thoughts that my imagination painted: first of all, the idea of having my own, totally faithful army. An army that is ready to die rather than fail, that would actually make me the Great Frieza, not just in the noble title. An army that would allow me to conquer what was always rightfully mine, and that I can't have now because of my father's prohibitions.

That's how I feel… chained. Repressed. The power that boils in my body is so alive and pulsating that court life has become unbearable to me. Perhaps weakening myself will also help me in this.

I inhale and the fresh air stings my lungs. The starlight bounces off the ice that covers the distant mountains and the reflections light up my closed eyelids. I abandon myself to silence, letting me be lulled by the night, and while my eyes are closed I seem to hear the rustle of the wind caressing the snow, slipping among the crystallized leaves, which comes to wrap me in its polar embrace. For a moment I feel at peace.

Frieza…

The quiet creaks, the mistake has been made. Before I can stop them from reappearing, the memories overwhelm me and the chills on my skin become intense, but this time they are not because of the cold.

Fear…

I will never have peace.

I open my eyes deluding myself that in this way I can undo what I have just seen. My breath breaks, I gasp, suddenly the same wind that once rocked me seems to scratch me like a whirlwind of sharp blades.

That moment of calm turns out to be what I should have imagined from the start: a vile illusion that slowly vanishes, leaving only the indecipherable feeling that's in the depths of my being: a mixture of anger, hatred, frustration. And shame. I am ashamed of myself. I've always been, even though I know I'm not to blame if I've once been afraid. I can't convince myself that, after all, it could even have been positive. What I am today is the product of my past; even if I can't admit it, that fear has shaped me. I promised myself to erase that feeling, to forget it… the only fear I accept now to see is that in the eyes of others. But yet…

Frieza

I clench my fists and exhale, dispelling those thoughts for good.

Idiot.

I knew it would happen if I let my guard down, but I couldn't resist. The only positive note is that over time I have learned to manage this situation and now I pull myself together quickly: the memories touch me but they no longer destroy me.

That's enough. I have only one purpose tonight and I'll not allow anything to distract me.

I recall all my power and, as I do it, I feel a tremor growing around me along with the energy that bubbles inside me.

Focus.

The ground beneath my feet begins to shake. I get on my toes and then slowly lift myself off the ground.

Be focused!

The muscles vibrate, tense in a painful spasm. Energy heats every fiber of my body and flows faster than blood. I feel it piling up in the palm of my hands and becoming difficult to hold. It presses to exit and I can't fight it. How am I supposed to keep so much power confined?

As my aura becomes more and more intense and my muscles begin to stretch the light that increases around me lights up the sky. I hope it will annoy anyone who's looking at the stars right now.


One day, I said. I'm proud of myself: it took me only a few hours.

The most complex part was the beginning, of course. I admit I underestimated how difficult it would be to relegate all my power to the edges of my conscience; I understood it only when I noticed that, paradoxically, I had to use for this purpose the same aura that I had to shut down. After a few hours of trying, however, I managed to do it.

I have experimented with different forms. Initially I could not make my body small and slender due to the overflowing power, so I realized that hiding it all in a single mutation would be impossible: that's why I decided to use three transformations and in each one to decrease it more and more. Only on the third attempt I managed to create a form similar to the first, which satisfies me particularly and which in fact I choose as my favorite.

As I become familiar with my new body, I realize that the difference between the second and third transformations, large and powerful, and this much more delicate one, is truly incredible.

For this experiment I was inspired by my father's original form. I have maintained, as far as possible, the features of the body and the height of my real form; also, in order to increase my speed, I decided to reabsorb the exoskeleton. Where the latter has disappeared the muscles have become visible, streaked and pink, and the purple bioplaques have momentarily disappeared.

The part I like most, however, are the two sharp horns that emerge from my skull. Who knows how easily they could penetrate the flesh…

I'm still moving, becoming familiar with my new power, when the light of the First Aster comes to disturb me. After a while the Second also arises, just as I realize that I can easily break the rocks around me just by stepping on them, despite being weakened.

Who knows… maybe in this form Cooler would be able to hit me.

I smile. The Third Aster begins to peek on the horizon when I hover in flight. I'm once again surprised by how light I am: I think it will take me a bit to get used to it.

The eagerness to show my success becomes all-consuming. Without wasting any more time I launch towards the building with all the power I can bring out… not even one percent of my real potential.

Now you can no longer deny me what is mine!


The first ones who have the honor of seeing my new form are the guards on duty in front of the Throne Room, and apparently they are very surprised. Initially they block my way, perhaps believing I'm a stranger or a particularly elegant local. A glance of mine is enough for them to notice who they are facing and the insult they have just made. They retreat, petrified.

«Prince Frieza?» one of the two whispers, widening his eyes behind the helmet to observe me better. I don't know whether to be pleased or irritated by such surprise.

«Who else? Let me through. I have to meet my father.»

They move without opening their mouths and I go forward, gently pushing the immense door of the Throne Room. That suddenly opens wide.

As always, my father doesn't get upset: he remains seated on the throne with his legs crossed, his face resting on the palm of his hand. Only his eyes move, settling on me, and narrow as if to look at me better.

I walk towards him. I feel the gaze of everyone in this room on me, from my father to his personal guards to the attendants intent on cleaning up the crumbs of breakfast.

«Good morning, father.» I smile. I open my arms, showing him my new body in all its splendor. «As you can see, I took you literally.»

«What does it mean?» he asks in a neutral, almost bored tone. The smile dies on my face but I will not allow him to annihilate my enthusiasm.

«I have considered your words. You were right, my power was so vast to be uncontrollable. That's why I had the brilliant idea of relegating it to a remote corner of my being, thanks to this new shape.»

I await an answer but he seems more interested in observing. I wonder what's so incredible in all of this. Did I leave him speechless?

When he looks up from my body to my eyes, a smile is painted on his face.

«Unimaginative, but beautiful transformation, Frieza. Who knows you're not really gaining some sense.»

Sooner or later. Sooner or later I'll make you swallow all these words!

I do not respond to the provocation.

«Well, father. I did what you told me and also in record time. I am now in full control of my powers. I am waiting for nothing but your blessing.»

He's still watching me, but this time he seems to be thinking. He has not denied: this raises me from the fear to hear that I'm not yet ready. This time, weakened or not, I'm not sure I would be able to hold back the fury.

He looks away and points it up, towards the sky that begins to lighten.

«There's a planet that I conquered a few days ago. Not too big nor too important, to be honest, but full of resources. You could give it a try there.»

I can't believe it.

«Father, you're offending me. I deserve a planet at least at the same level as Cooler's, if not better.»

I see him snort.

«You're of a deadly boredom and insistence, my son. All right, since you've put in so much effort I'm going to give you planet Cold Number Eight. Are you happy now?»

This time I can't help but smile. I cross my arms behind my back, joining fists against each other. This is a big hit, even Cooler will envy me.

«That's fine, father. When will I be able to leave? »

«Any answer other than 'now' would lead to complaints, and I'm honestly done of hearing your whining. Now, Frieza. Take your men with you and leave.»

The weight of the horns surprises me when I lower my head in a quick and mocking reverence, and it's the only thing I can think of. Without even a word more I launch towards my rooms, already figuring my triumphal entry on planet Frieza Number One.

I'm about to close the door behind me when a voice surprises me.

«You're really unfair to make him believe it was your idea.»

His tone is neither nervous nor angry. He's just kidding me, as always, but this time I don't have time for him.

«If you expect me to thank you, you'll be disappointed» I say as the door clicks, closing.

And get ready, Cooler, because I'll be visiting you very soon.