The Worlds Smartest

This Is The Enforcer Speaking,

Thank you to all of my reviews. If I have failed to respond personally to you I apologize. This has been seriously delayed due to school starting up for the summer/fall for me.

Now…On To The Story!

The Throne

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

"Hold still woman."

"You hold still."

Bulma bickered with Vegeta as he wrapped her chest in an ever-tightening series of bandages. She looked like a mummy and felt worse. The sun still sat below the horizon and Bulma would have given nearly anything to be able to go back to sleep. The medicine Bardock doped her up with helped her heal faster but not fast enough and the games waited on no man. Pain stabbed through her chest again as Vegeta pulled the last bandage tight snapping Bulma out of her reverie.

"Ouch! Damn it Vegeta." Bulma cursed at her mate as she shoved at his hands.

"Stop being such a weakling woman. You are better than this." Vegeta said as he gestured for her to raise her arms so he could slip her uniform top and armor over her head. Bulma scowled at him but obeyed. She was whining a little harder than she normally would. She'd give him that much. However…

"This is entirely your fault." Bulma snapped. Tired and frustrated she was not looking forward to the last day of the games. On top of the general discomfort she was in Bulma could also still be challenged to another fight. "Stupid Saiyans."

Vegeta merely grunted at her as he finished tugging her armor into place. Gasping at the stabs of pain that shot through her with each tug Bulma realized it was going to be a very long day.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Even with the sun hanging low in the sky Bulma could feel the heat radiating up from the sand of the arena as they marched their way across the field. The King and Queen led the way, followed by Bulma and Vegeta, then finally their retinue of elites and servants brought up the rear. It had been this way every day of the games but always made Bulma feel awkward. Today was no different. The roar of the crowd thundered against her as they entered the arena. Thousands pounded their chests, saluting and calling out to them. Thankfully they weren't expected to wave or return the salutes, one of the benefits of the Saiyan culture.

Bulma new something was seriously wrong when the sent of cooking meat met her nose…and her stomach turned. Taking shallow breaths Bulma did her best to convince herself that it was all in her head, even as the rising nausea made her mouth water.

"Vegeta." Bulma reached out and grabbed his arm reflexively. Dark eyes turned to her, a question written between his brows. "I'm going to be sick."

Vegeta's eyes shot wide but he smoothly slipped her arm through his and continued guiding her forward. The crowd seemed to enjoy the PDA.

"We can get you to our private washrooms if you can hold it in for a few more minutes." His voice was low and smooth.

Swallowing convulsively Bulma said, "It's the meat smell."

"Then breathe through your mouth or something, woman." Vegeta commanded.

Bulma glared at him as she fought down her gags.

They were ten steps away from the stairs leading up to their royal box when Bulma's nausea ramped up.

Doubling over she remembered her broken ribs and thought, this is going to hurt, and threw up everything she'd eaten for breakfast. Her ribs screamed in protest at the violent heaving. After what seemed like ages her stomach took mercy on her and settled down enough for Bulma to straighten and see the thousands of eyes staring at her. Spitting the taste of vomit out of her mouth Bulma looked in Vegeta's direction. If she weren't so horrified the expression on his face would have made her laugh.

Eyes wide, mouth slightly agape, the Prince stood speechless.

"Oops." Bulma whispered. Her eyes shifted to Queen Endeev and King Vegeta. The King's expression mirrored his sons but the Queen's held no surprise. She simply arched a brow at Bulma.

"Well, that was dramatic." The Queen said before carrying on as if nothing happened. They followed her example and continued their march to the podium even as the whispering began.

"She knows." Bulma whispered to Vegeta as they settled into their seats.

Vegeta sighed. "She always knows."

"Everyone is going to figure it out. Why else would I have just barfed in front of everyone?" Bulma crossed her arms over her chest. At least her stomach seemed to have gotten over itself. It also helped that the wind blew the cooked meat smell away from her. She prayed to all the Gods she didn't get sick again.

"Let them." Vegeta spoke sharply. "I will kill anyone who threatens you or the-"

Bulma cut him off before he could finish his sentence. "But won't that make everything I've done up to now pointless?"

Looking away Vegeta spoke.

"No one touches you again." He spoke with finality.

Suddenly the King and Queen stood. The crowd grew silent as they waited for their sovereigns to address them. The King spoke first.

"We have an announcement to make and who better to be the first to hear it than you." He gestured to the masses. "Tonight you will be receiving a new King and Queen."

Bulma's eyes shot wide and she looked over to Vegeta. He returned her confused expression. The coronation wasn't supposed to be for about another four weeks, at the next new moon. The Queen spoke next.

"Your Prince has found his mate. Princess Bulma has proven her strength and intelligence in battle. They will serve you well. It is time." As she finished speaking the Queen turned briefly to glance at them and winked. Winked? What the hell?

"It looks like you're becoming a King tonight." Bulma said.

"And you a Queen." He shot back.

Blinking Bulma felt her stomach turn again. Whether it was the brief scent of meat that wafted past her or the realization she was to become a ruling monarch of an alien race she wasn't sure but she was going to be sick again. Without another word Bulma stood and bolt to the washrooms.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Slamming into her designated bathroom Bulma made it to the toilet just in time.

Retching she threw up mostly bile. Tears streamed down her face and she clutched her battered ribs against the violent heaves. Finally her stomach stopped trying to evacuate her body.

Flushing the toilet Bulma sank back onto the floor. Exhausted, with strands of hair hanging loose from her knot and stuck to her tear stained face Bulma felt like a hot mess.

"Woman." Vegeta's voice cut through the silence of the room and Bulma jumped, her heart beating a mile a minute. She hadn't known he was even in the room or how long he'd been there. Loosing awareness of her surroundings caused her stomach to clench once again. Not from nausea but from fear. Her mate stood near the door, arms crossed, one shoulder leaning against the wall.

"Vegeta." Bulma sighed. Willing her heart to slow. This was Vegeta. If she wasn't safe with him in her new crazy fucked up life then who was she safe with? The irony of that thought was not lost on her.

"Is it over?" He asked, not moving from his position, his face a little green.

"Some big tough Saiyan warrior you are. Grossed out over a little puke." Bulma spoke as she made to stand.

In an instant strong hands were around her as Vegeta helped her to her feet. He looked down at her with his ever-present scowl.

"You are a mess." He growled.

She frowned. "Tell me something I don't know."

Bulma rinsed her mouth out, washed her face off and fixed her hair before deeming herself presentable enough for public consumption. Her nerves were racked.

"What if they figure out about…" Bulma trailed off before putting her hand on her abdomen.

"As my Queen you will be safe from challenges. A challenge to you is answerable by me and no will desire that outcome." Vegeta spoke frankly. It was not an arrogant boast. He was the strongest Saiyan in modern history. Only surpassed by the mythical Super Saiyans. Bulma did her research.

"The assassins are still out there." Bulma looked up in the mirror meeting Vegeta's eyes.

"They continually underestimate you. Carrying my young is dangerous but you are strong, made stronger by our bond. If you are attacked…when you think you have no fight left in you…I want you to think of our young. And defend him. Nothing is more deadly than a mother defending her young."

Mother. It was such a strong word and a word that she still didn't really feel she could apply to herself. But Bulma understood his point and nodded.

"Besides. I did not want to say anything before but after your little display in the arena there is not a Saiyan around who does not believe you are with young. It is nearly the only time our females are sick and they are likely to assume as much with your species considering our similarities."

"Great." Bulma muttered.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Blood soaked the sand as another victor stood alone in the arena awaiting the King to bestow upon him his award. For this particular Saiyan it was a scroll sealed in red wax. The scroll contained his promotion to the elite ranks of the Saiyan army. Prized varied by the particular Saiyans skills and current rank. This one apparently impressed the monarchs enough to earn him a new job. He crossed his closed right fist to his left shoulder and bowed before being dismissed to the victors feast.

The only fight that Bulma cared about was next.

Piccolo and Tien squared up against each other in the center of the arena. The usual shit talking was exchanged before the males began powering up. Ki exploded around them in brilliant waves. Bulma briefly shielded her face and eyes from the blowback of sand that showered the arena. She looked back up just in time to watch the warriors collide mid air.

Energy exploded around them as fists and feet moved in blurs of motion that a lesser human wouldn't have been able to follow. But Bulma was something more. Her eyes tracked the battle as easily.

Tien gained the upper hand in a flurry of movement, sending Piccolo screaming down into the ground. The soil cratered around him with the strength of the impact. Piccolo lay still for a moment before he moved to regain his footing. Unfortunately, that single moment of disorientation was all Tien needed to prepare his next attack.

The ki attacks flew through the air, dozens of bright discs of power unlike anything Bulma had ever seen before, and headed straight for Piccolo's back.

Bulma screamed out to him, fearful for his life in an unexpected way.

Piccolo whipped around dodging the attacks, he was fast but not fast enough. One disc slipped past his defenses cutting through Piccolo's upper arm like a warm blade through butter and the limb feel limp to the ground.

Piccolo blinked down at his arm and then glared up at Tien who hung panting in the sky. His ki was heavily depleted.

"Give up now." Tien snarled down to Piccolo. "And I'll let you live."

A thick silence followed as Piccolos alien blood dripped slowly to the ground.

With his good hand Piccolo grabbed up the turban he always wore and tossed it to the ground. It landed heavily on the ground. Bulma blinked as she felt Piccolos Ki spike suddenly. What the?

When Piccolo whipped off his cloak the sound it made hitting the ground was solid and perceptible over he maniacal laughter. His Ki nearly doubled with the removal of his cloak.

"They are weighted." Vegeta said surprised. "Smart."

Piccolos laughter faded away and he spoke into the strange silence.

"And now for my final trick." He began screaming, loud, louder, his Ki burst out from around him as his muscles bulged, swelling, his power ratcheting up several more notches, before a brand new arm shot out of the stump of the old one. The arm was just as strong as its original. If Bulma hadn't seen the old arm lying on the ground next to him she'd never have believed he'd lost it in the first place.

That's when the laughing started, low at first, barely audible, and then louder, deeper, until Piccolo roared with it.

Either not sensing the spike in Piccolos Ki or not caring Tien shot down to attack him. They collided in a furious explosion of Ki. Sand and dirt exploded through the stadium as each man threw everything he had into his attack. Unfortunately for Tien…Piccolo had more. Bulma watched as Tien disappeared into the white light of Piccolos attack. A millisecond later the attack exploded across the arena briefly blinding Bulma.

Blinking away spots Bulma searched for the males. Piccolo stood panting, looking as though he may collapse at any moment, near the edge of a large crater. Tien lay motionless at the bottom. Bulma's heart clinched at yet another death on her hands. But just as the King declared Piccolo the winner Bulma felt a small spark of Ki coming from Tien. Eyes narrowing Bulma watched as the downed male's chest rose with a sudden gasp of air and he let out a pained groan. Beaten but not dead.

Bulma watched as Piccolo accepted his scroll making him a freedman. Saiyan medics unceremoniously carted off Tien and with a final speech the King and Queen closed the games.

Instantly relieved Bulma finally allowed herself to sag back into her chair. It was over. The games were over and none of her Earthlings were dead because of them. As far as miracles go it was a good one.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Bulma starred at herself in the mirror. She wasn't sure what she'd been expecting to wear to be coronated but she supposed she'd assumed it would be her formal wear. Instead Bulma found herself clad in a royal blue body suite with white armor accented in gold with the royal sigil in red over her heart, a solid crimson cape hung from her shoulders. Matching fabric tied her sword to her waste. It was the formal uniform for the ruling monarchs.

"Do not look so shocked." Bulma jumped at the gruff voice. She looked over to see that she'd let King Vegeta sneak up on her. "What did you think you would be wearing?"

The bigger man eased into the Queens dressing room where Bulma had once gain found herself sequestered. It always surprised her how much larger he was than his son. Personally Bulma preferred her mate's stature to that of his sires.

"I don't know." Bulma shrugged.

"Has anyone told you why having a mate is so important for Vegeta?" The King asked as he leaned against he wall near Bulma, arms crossed across his chest.

Well, at least she knew where Vegeta got that habit.

"Not really."

"Our mates are our other half, our balance, we share our souls with one another. You help him be calm, rational, and feeling the emotions he needs to feel. He offers you what you need in return. I know you have been given his beast. I have seen it flash behind your eyes. That is his gift to you, among other things."

Bulma shifted her eyes over to the man but refused to confirm his suspicions.

With a sigh the King continued, "It is our law that without a mate the heir can not take the throne. A lone Saiyan is an unstable Saiyan. You are vital to the continuation of our line upon the throne and my Queen as seen that you will give us strong heirs."

Blinking Bulma was sure this was the longest one on one conversation that the King had ever had with her.

"Honestly." Bulma said. "I'm not surprised. He's different than when we met…different for the better I think. And so am I. I'm stronger, more confident, and my instincts." Bulma laughed softly. "Well they're on overdrive. That's not a bad thing. Us humans tend to have poor survival instincts by comparison."

The Kings low chuckle startled Bulma. Having a heart to heart with the King was unsettling Bulma because up until that moment he rarely spoke to her except to correct her for some mistake she'd made in royal etiquette or Saiyan protocol in general.

"No offense, but why are you being nice to me?" Bulma asked.

A slow crooked smile tugged at the corners of King Vegeta's lips.

"Blunt are we?"

"I've learned it's the best way to be when dealing with Saiyans."

"Fine. I admit that I have been less then pleasant to you. Mostly it is because I have had a hard time believing a weak human would make a proper mate for my son. However, you have shown a great deal of strength in both mind and body. It also helps that you are carrying my grandson."

Bulma nearly fell over.

"How do you know? Did the Queen tell you? I suspected she knew somehow but…" Bulma let her voice trail off as she felt herself beginning to ramble. A blush covered her face at the look on King Vegeta's face.

"Yes my mate informed me. Mates have no secrets from each other." Striding forward the King wrapped Bulma up in a hug. The combination of shock and a the stabs of pain from her abused ribs caused Bulma to squeak, there really was no other word for it, in surprise. The King let her go and Bulma stood wide-eyed. "I was told that is an appropriate display of affection among humans. Was I wrong?"

"No, no, it's fine, I was just startled is all." Bulma assured him. "Thank you." She finished not sure what else to say.

So awkward.

"I have been studying you humans. You are a strange species but if you are strong enough to give us a future King for our throne then you are strong enough to the my son's mate." He reached out and patted her on the shoulder. "Welcome to the family little human."

And with that the King left. Bulma blinked owlishly after the male. So freaking weird.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

The throne room was once again packed to the gills with the uniformed elite. Bulma willed herself not to vomit as she strode alongside Vegeta toward the King and Queen who sat upon their thrones. Soon to abdicate.

Vegeta looked regal in his royal uniform. It definitely suited him, and while it wasn't the first time for Bulma to see him in the royal blue uniform the solid crimson cape that he wore was as new to him as the uniform was to her in general. It fluttered around him as they made their way toward the thrones.

Things moved quickly. They arrived in front of the their respective thrones. Queen Endeev smiled up at Bulma. The royals stood in unison and placed their hands on their heir's shoulders, turning them to face the mass of Saiyans before them.

"Make your oaths." The King instructed Vegeta.

"I swear that I will, according to the true intent of our laws which govern succession to the Throne of the Realm, uphold and maintain the laws and traditions of our people."

"Will you to the utmost of your power protect them from all threats? Will you to the utmost of your power maintain order of Vegetasai? Will you maintain and preserve inviolably the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established on Vegetasai? And will you preserve unto the strongest of our people, and to the Elites and the mates committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges, as by law do or shall appertain to them?"

"I will." Vegeta replied.

"Then as it is within my rights I declare you to be King Vegeta of Vegetasai."

The King removed the medallion from around his neck and draped it around Vegetas.

The Queen spoke from behind Bulma, nearly causing her to jump.

"Make your oaths."

Bulma repeated the lines she'd just so recently learned.

"I swear that I will, according to the true intent of our laws which govern succession to the Throne of the Realm, uphold and maintain the laws and traditions of our people."

"Will you to the utmost of your power protect them from all threats? Will you to the utmost of your power maintain order of Vegetasai? Will you maintain and preserve inviolably the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established on Vegetasai? And will you preserve unto the strongest of our people, and to the Elites and the mates committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges, as by law do or shall appertain to them?"

"I will." Bulma answered, her voice breathy.

The weight of the medallion settling around her neck was like a brick. Pulse hammering in her chest Bulma swallowed thickly. Willing her not to panic, not to throw up or pass out. What had her life become?

The now King and Queen walked in front of Bulma and Vegeta.

"Take your thrones." They spoke together.

Taking one step back they sat down simultaneously.

Turning back to their people and speaking together once again Vegeta Sr. and Endeev made the royal declaration.

"We present to you King Vegeta and Queen Bulma your undoubted rulers. Show your loyalty and swear your fealty to them this day."

The elites present roared, saluted and fell to there knees. The thunders sound grew until Bulma realized it was coming from outside, all around the castle, perhaps all around the planet, the Saiyans hailed their new rulers.

Shaking, Bulma looked over at Vegeta and whispered.

"Long live the King."

-/-/-/-/-/-/-

A/N: I am so sorry this took so long to get out. I've been struggling with work, life, and school balance. I do hope that some of you enjoy this chapter and I will work on getting the next one out. If I did not individually respond to a review I apologize and thank all reviewers profusely.

~The Enforcer