An immoral choice

The majestic creature filled the air, his aura ominous and promising at the same time.
Whenever Bulma sees the dragon, it is a painful reminder of how inferior her entire existence truly is.
And now, tired of fighting back, Bulma let herself loosen in the arms of her captor. This was the moment she had fought so hard for. It was finally here, now the madness could finally stop.

'It's over,' she muttered, though she wasn't quite sure if she was saying that to herself or the Saiyan holding her. Raditz didn't respond, taken back by the large, fascinating creature before them.
As Kami wanted to speak, a Ki-blast passed him. Dodging the attach, Raditz flew up, still holding Bulma in his arms.

It seemed Vegeta was trying to interfere but Kakarot stopped him. Halting the prince's actions, and his always menacing grin plastered on his face, he threw a couple of punches but missed. Vegeta had enough of this fight and didn't even allow him to utter a single word. His fist came in hard, making other the Saiyan meet the ground several times before halting.

'Dragon,' Raditz yelled when seeing that Kakarot no longer held the upper hand in the battle, 'I wish— 'Shut up!' Bulma screamed, finding her last bit of energy to fight back. Her blue eyes stared desperately at the hollow red eyes of the Dragon.
'Don't listen to him!' she pleaded.
But the Dragon only let out a growl of annoyance. It was obvious he had been summoned by beings that did not realize his greatness and the power he held. He did not acknowledge his creator or the woman he met before. None of them mattered in the end.

Sensing that Dragon cared little about who or why he had been summoned, Bulma tried to squirm out of Raditz arms, trying anything to stop him from making a wish. Getting annoyed Raditz hissed at her to hold still. Her head had been a blur ever since he struck her. Thoughts swirled through her head and suddenly she remembered the last capsule left in her pocket. Using her good arm to get it out of her pocket, which was a struggle with Raditz iron grip. Yet her hand managed to grab it and with a poof, a laser-gun appeared in her hand.
'Not this shit again,' Raditz said noticing the gun immediately, adding pressure to her body so the pain would make her immobile. Bulma let out a scream of pain.

Having more than enough of the antics of the Earthling woman, Raditz reached for the gun but Bulma snatched out of his grip, and in a desperate attempt, shot in him in the side, harming herself in the process too. The blast damaged through her already broken arm and both yelled out in pain.
Despite being hurt now, Raditz refused to let go. 'You stupid, bitch!'

Meanwhile the dragon reminded them he shall grant them one wish but only if they speak up now.

Kakarot had gotten back up and followed Vegeta, who was flying towards the Dragon again. The prince looked over his shoulder and snickered at this foolish attempt. Turning around, he readied himself to end the lowlife's existence. Creating a massive Ki-ball, he threw it at the Saiyan.
Not being able to dodge it in time, Kakarot was send flying. It all ended in a huge explosion that brightened up the dark sky.
Bulma felt Raditz tense up. His eyes went wide and without thought, he simply dropped her and flew after his brother. As Bulma fell, Kami came in view. He was on the ground, his lips were moving and though she could not hear him, she knew the Dragon had. She could read her wish from his lips.

'Your wish has been granted,' the Dragon simply stated before disappearing as always and spreading the Dragon Balls all over the Earth again.

While the dark sky cleared up, the Earth came closer and Bulma closed her eyes, realizing that this was it for her. She could feel a wetness on her cheeks, but her heart accepted what was to come. It wasn't the dead she had envisioned, and it certainly wasn't a pretty one either.
She apologized to her parents once more but felt proud that perhaps she had given Earth a chance to fight back and take back the planet.

Then suddenly a pair of arms snaked around her. The wind stopped howling. Everything slowed down. Except her heart, that was beating so erratically and fast, that even her new captor could probably feel it underneath his skin.
Bulma's eyes went back open and the green grass of the Earth was closing in on her slowly now. Her perspective changed and suddenly felt the ground underneath her feet. A soft landing.

'Woman,' he growled in her ear, 'What did you wish for?'

His voice was tense, obviously sensing something had changed. He did not let go of her, but his grip wasn't tight or intimidating. But that could be because of the wish…
Still having the gun in hand, Bulma realized she could take him out before telling him. But that would be a cowardly thing to do after he had just saved her life. Again.
Slowly turning around, the gun aimed at his face, which amused him at first, she explained the wish. His expression became unreadable and Bulma briefly wondered if falling to her death wouldn't have been less violent than the wrath of the Saiyan Prince.

'You are no longer stronger than any fighter on this Earth…' Bulma added, her voice didn't sound angry, taunting or mean. Monotone. Perhaps a little tired. Truthfully, she didn't quite know how to feel at this point. Her emotions had been drained from her just mere seconds ago. Perhaps they were still floating aimlessly in the sky. It all had happened so fast.

The grip around her waist now tightened. His aura became instantly threatening.
'You fool! Do you realize what you have done?' he screamed. He let go of her and turned around in search of Kakarot and Raditz, aware that they would not let this opportunity pass them by.

'What do you want from me?' Bulma asked him in a shaky voice.
Perhaps it was the turmoil of events and the emotions that were slowly tearing her apart, perhaps the need to finally understand something she knew had no real explanation. But her mind ached to know, like her body ached to rest. However, the prince didn't answer her question.

'Summon that Dragon again! Now!'
'I can't… It takes a full year for the Dragon Balls to be used again.'
'I'll kill the Namekian,' Vegeta threatened, aiming at Kami.
'You'll only end up destroying the Dragon Balls,' Bulma flatly answered, not able to feel anything other but the tired state of her mind and body at this point.

The prince seemed to be torn by decisions; kill her, kill the Namekian, kill them both.
Bulma felt likewise. Again, she was presented with opportunity of killing the leader of her agony.
But it was a man who she was indebted to. Twice now. And it wasn't a small debt either. Life, the most valuable to all creatures.
Her mind went blank and her hand kept shaking while aiming at his head. Her left arm hanging limp by her side, knees trembling from all the adrenaline rushing through her body.

'Why did you do something so foolish, woman? Are you aware what this means? I have no control over them now!'

Them? Did he mean Kakarot and Raditz? Or the entire Saiyan army? Tears blurred her vision, not understanding why in the pit of her stomach she felt guilty towards him. In a rage he stepped towards her grabbing the weapon and then twisting her arm, making her realize that no matter what she wished for, he would always be above her in physical strength.

'You wasted a perfect chance for me to destroy Frieza!' Vegeta hissed, his eyes full of untamed anger. They bore into hers, trying to understand how and why she would do such foolish things. Didn't she understand she was powerless against them?

'Don't you understand?' Bulma whispered. Her eyes didn't turn away, though he frightened her to no end. More than he ever had before.
'To me… you are Frieza. What would you do in my place, Vegeta?'

That silenced him and dismantled the threatening rage that was out to devour her. He seemed somewhat taken back by her words and her manner of speaking. His name had come off her lips without thought and she realized she had never called him anything before, not his title and most certainly not by his first name. He only stayed quiet for a minute.

'I have your parents.'

The simplicity of the threat echoed loudly in her ears and it took her a minute to realize he was not about to show her any sympathy. As she was about to speak, Raditz flew towards them. He was screaming he'd destroy them both. Vegeta pulled her closer to him, surprising her, and threw another huge Ki-ball like he had before. But unlike with Kakarot, it did not cause a huge explosion. But it did stop Raditz. The other Saiyan flew back and was left silent on the ground. Bulma's eyes stayed on his still form. She could feel her body trembling against the prince's, and though she had always sworn she wouldn't let any Saiyan know of her fears, it seemed she couldn't control her own body anymore.

That is the third time he has saved my life... Three times indebted now.

'Do you see what you have done, now?' Vegeta asked her again, his voice stern but less angry. 'You've made me weaker…'
'I didn't have a choice,' Bulma stubbornly answered, not wavered by the threatening undertone.
'I could easily fight a war against you and your people for over a year,' Vegeta explained calmly. 'I could extinct your race while patiently waiting to use the Dragon Balls.'

Bulma knew all that. She had measured and weighted her options ever so carefully when thinking of the ideal wish. The truth was there hadn't been an ideal wish, the situation had been too grim for that. It wasn't as if she thought she had won the war against the Saiyans just yet…

'But at least, it would be a fair fight,' she simply said to him.

He let out a growl, 'There is no such thing as a fair fight!'
She flinched in his arms and closed her eyes, ready to receive his wrath. For a moment he wanted to hurt her but then decided against it. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to grasp the calmness he was trying to impose on himself. His dark eyes flew open when he heard a sound. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the scared old Namekian who was warily looking at him and the woman. The other Saiyan was still lying unconscious on the ground…

It irked him. This had been nothing but a dud. He couldn't quite fathom that he had wasted so much time on this mudball planet because of… Supposed opportunities.
His body relaxed while his eyes went over the woman he had yet to let go off. When he saw her trembling in his arms and was disgusted by the sight of her. She was a puny, pathetic mess.

But also talented and smart, he noted. She had been the first one in years who had made some progress worth getting credit for. Unlike Ilkm or any other scientist, her inventions had managed to aid him during his trainings to become stronger.
Even though inventions to help during training had always been something he had been rather skeptical about, she had proven to him that they were worthwhile and effective.
Personally he had always believed true power was found in experiencing battle, but he had to admit she had had proven him more than just wrong.
Above all, she defied him more than any creature he had encountered and for some reason, it didn't infuriate him half as much as it should. To conquer her spirit, would be a great victory. Like conquering certain planets had been. The thought almost made him want to smirk.

'From what I understand about your wish, once I leave this planet, I'll have my powers back. Which means I can destroy you and this entire planet from a distance…'
When she heard him say that, her hand grabbed on to a shred of his clothing and she desperately clung to him. The laser-gun touched his chin.
'Then I won't let you leave!' she quickly said, understanding immediately this was a severe threat.

One that she hadn't thought of. But in her defense, she couldn't have ever known how far their powers could reach. After all, this had been the first time she had seen the prince fight.
His hand twisted her wrist again, reminding her of her weak state. She hissed in pain and glared at the man before her.

'I have your parents,' he reminded her again. His calmness unnerved her more than his anger. He sounded so very much in control, as if there was no escaping him.
'That won't change anything,' Bulma started but he cut her off, 'I have them imprisoned because I was aware you were going to try and escape after I gave you that Dragon Ball.'
Having enough of this, she tried to hit him but he effortlessly grab hold of wrist.

'Then what the hell do you want from me!?'

Again he stayed quiet for a minute or so, his dark eyes brooding on a plan she wasn't quite sure wanted to know of. Out of the corner of her eye, Bulma suddenly saw Kami aim for Vegeta but she shook her head and instead commanded him to run, hide, leave this place! If he died, the Dragon Ball would vanish too!
Startled Kami took a few steps back. When Vegeta turned his head to look at him, the Namekian couldn't hide the obvious fear he was feeling. The prince smirked but made no attempt to attack him.
Despite being more equal in power, Kami was very much aware that this man was a young warrior and a far better one than he had ever been. This prince lived for battle; it honored his lineage.

'B-Bulma,' Kami stuttered but she didn't allow him to talk.
'Kami, listen! In a year, we'll use the Dragon Balls again! We'll wish that no alien life can ever find us again! This planet will become untraceable to anyone outside of this world!'
Her noble idea of kind alien life had fleeted at this point. She wanted peace. Freedom.

Turning her head, her eyes rested on Vegeta who first remained unfazed by her outburst. Yet his expression then gave away he was rather impressed with her ideas.

The prince wasn't a fool. He was aware she had outsmarted him. And that made him think about his options. Either he indeed stayed here on this planet and battled her pathetic race, an utter humiliating idea. Or he had to forget of the existence of the Dragon Balls and leave. Neither option was very appealing to him in all honesty.

But then an idea hit him, and he inwardly started to smirk, realizing it wasn't this planet that was responsible for the Dragon Balls, but the Namekian was. She had unknowingly told him something very essential. His eyes went back to the pathetic green man on his right. The woman was obviously unaware of the fact that he too was an alien. So, should he go to Namek than…
He made up his mind and with a determination, he looked back into the blue eyes of the woman. He couldn't hide his delight since she was still completely unaware of what he was planning of course.

'I will leave your planet alone if you come with me.'

'W-what?' Bulma couldn't believe her ears and gave him a confused look.

'Don't make me say it twice, you are neither deaf nor stupid. You heard me the first time.'

His voice was cold like always, but she had seen a glint in his eyes that send worry in her heart. And the guilt from earlier now felt like foolishness. Trying to get her mind to work properly was impossible at this point so she decided to think with her heart instead.

'What about my parents?' she mindlessly asked, while not fully comprehending what his words meant.

'Perhaps they should pay for your actions…' He simply said, his voice sending chills down her spine while making her head spin.
'NO! I…' Not able to find the words, she fell silent. Her mind went back to what Forog had told her, how he had pleaded with the Saiyans, and in the beginning it had been hard, but they had managed and now their planet was at peace. And in one piece… she grimly added.

Deciding that one sacrifice was all that was needed to save her precious home, Bulma agreed to take the chance but not before she tried to reason with him first. This was something she couldn't quite wrap her head around but what choice did she have at this point?

Either she saved all of Earth or just her own skin for now, with no guarantee of Earth ever being save.

The first option was an obvious choice. But she could hardly bare the last option. Staring into his dark eyes, she realized she simply couldn't bare the idea that she'd be stuck with him forever.

This whole thing is immoral…

'Set every Earthling free,' the words left her mouth without a second thought, while her body shrank in shame and despair. She couldn't believe she was doing this. She had worked so hard to break free.
Yet again, it took her mind only second to decide her next plea, and while her heart could not even stand the words she was about to speak, she knew this needed to be done.

'And free my parents.'

She rather be alone in her misery. Her mother would never be able to cope with imprisonment and her father would never be able to live without his beloved wife...
But their daughter? She had gone off on adventures plenty of times... Perhaps this was another adventure. They knew she would always return home safely.

And perhaps one day she truly would.

Her eyes went back to Vegeta's, wondering if he could indeed be capable of mercy and one day let her go. She couldn't believe her thoughts, only hours ago she had debated about wiping out their race… And now she was going to work willingly for the very man who was the cause of all this misery? All so he would obey her deepest wishes. She wanted to shake her head in shame, but her body remained immobile, unable to react appropriately.

Vegeta smirked as he let go of her wrist and the rest of her body, making her eyes widen in alarm.
He didn't want to waste another minute on this forsaken planet that had now drained him from his power. And he surely didn't want to be further humiliated by her but...

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Namekian run off in the distance. He contemplated for a second if he should kill him or not. But none of it mattered anymore. He would have his victory.
Focusing back on the woman, Vegeta saw her trembling like a leaf.
Her body was bruised and in no condition of going anywhere. That gun she had threatened him with, lay uselessly at her feet now.

It was a delightful sight that made him smirk. However, his amused expression fell when realizing he had never been brought to his knees quite like this. It took every fiber of his body not to kill her.

But he had to be wiser. He had to be smarter in order to defeat Frieza one day…

Balding his fist for a moment before reaching his hand out to her. He wanted her to come willingly with him. There is a way of taming such spirit, he thought and smirked again, reveling at the unforeseen triumph.

'Come with me.'

He saw how her body tense up in respond, making it finally stop shaking so violently.
Only a moment she hesitated before the look of defeat was evident in her eyes and her hand reached out to his. When she placed her small hand onto his, the Saiyan Prince felt triumphant.

He had won now that she was going to be his pawn willingly. After all, he had given her a choice, hadn't he?
His instinct had told him she was the key to success. Because of her, he would become stronger.
They would leave this planet, go to Namek and obtain the Dragon Balls there. And then, as the ultimate warrior, he would finally kill Frieza.

Almost 50 reviews! Thank you for all the support! And thanks to all the silent readers too, I see you ;-)
I was struggling a bit with this chapter, so I hope you liked it! Thanks for reading x