SHONEN ALLIANCE
RE:BIRTH
OPENING THEME: KU ZEN ZETSU GO (Dragon Ball Z Kai: The Final Chapters)
Valeria couldn't help but feel like a fool. While the modestly designed armor and full pink body suit she favored wearing didn't make the fact immediately clear, she had never minded showing off some skin. The gold and silver plated bikini that had been carefully molded to her curves even felt like something she might have made to cosplay or LARP with her friends. Unfortunately, the shackles that kept her wrists pinned behind her back and the thick metal bit held in her mouth by a strong cord served as a constant reminder she wasn't having fun with her friends right now.
It took her great effort to hold back a tear as this thought crossed her mind. It wasn't being captured that bothered her. No, she hadn't planned to wind up shackled and gagged , forced to wear a barely adequate bikini, or be forced to wait alone while a Dark Saiyan, for whom the word pervert was far to kind, decided where the best place to display her was, like she was one of the action figures Val loved to collect, but the outcome could have been worse. She knew her mother was alive, and she knew Karina was alive as well, and she knew rescue would come soon. However, her concern for her sister and mother had prevented her from fully processing before now everything she'd seen in Lunaria.
So many were dead, possibly everyone she'd known before the Dark Saiyans had begun their invasion. The friends she had enjoyed so many weekends with, the friends she'd played games with and stayed up late talking about comics with, the first boy she'd ever kissed… they were all dead now. Debauchery, Corruption, Devour, and all the other Dark Saiyans had taken everything from her and her family, and she knew if given half a chance, they'd take her family too. Whether it was Debauchery taking their freedom or Corruption taking their lives.
The door of Valeria's temporary prison opened and a woman entered. She looked to be a bit older then Valeria, closer perhaps to Teresa's age, with smooth, fair skin and dark brown hair. Her eyes were a pale shade of green and looked to Valeria to be empty, devoid of any kind of will. It made sense. Everyone here was someone Debauchery had stolen away from one conquest or another. Valeria could only guess what must have been taken from this poor woman before she was reduced to this state.
The woman carried a metal collar, though it was hardly necessary. Valeria couldn't escape and there was no advantage to her to resist following wherever she was to be taken.
/\/\/\/\/\/\
Teresa and Renee were both investigating Karina's lab, concern very apparent in their expressions.
"Damn it," Renee cursed, "I really hope she just slipped off somewhere to buy a new game or something."
"Do you really think she'd do something like that in these circumstances?" Teresa questioned her hot headed younger sister.
"Of course not," Renee hissed back, "but where the hell did she go!"
"That's one important question," Teresa admitted, "here's another. Where is Karina? If she were killed, wouldn't she have returned with everyone else?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Renee asked, not sure of her elder sister's point.
"We thought Karina dead. If that were true, though, the Dragon Balls would have restored her to life as it did everyone else," Teresa revealed, "unless…"
"Oh my gosh… unless she wasn't killed!" Renee realized, "oh hell! Do you think Val…!?"
"Valeria and Karina have always been close," Teresa admitted, "Valeria would be likely to behave very rashly if she had reason to believe Karina was alive and in Debauchery's clutches, especially with the rest of us preoccupied."
"Damn it," Renee cursed, "this just keeps getting worse."
"Calm down," Teresa ordered, "we know where Debauchery is. We could never mount a counterattack against him before, but that is no longer the case."
"Then what're we waiting for!? Let's counterattack!"
/\/\/\/\/\/\
Goku couldn't help but feel restless. The promise of fighting another Dark Saiyan was right in front of him and he was eager to go. He wasn't the kind of guy who really cared about something like the "counsel of war" that Teresa had insisted upon. He wasn't alone in that line of thinking either. Anyone with even the smallest amount of observational ability could tell Naruto and Luffy were impatient too, but they were outvoted so had no choice but to wait.
The princesses had finally found a chance to change out of their damaged body suits and Teresa and Silphia, now wore armor over fully repaired body suits of their corresponding color, with Renee wearing a white breastplate over a red tank top and shorts. The armor was similar to Saiyan design, making Vegeta wonder if the design had been brought to this world by the princesses' Saiyan father.
"It would be reckless to teleport directly into Debauchery's palace when we don't know what awaits us there," Teresa admitted. A grizzled old soldier stood beside her as both observed a map that showed the area around Debauchery's castle.
"Martial our forces behind this mountain and we can prepare with minimal chance of discovery before we're ready," the grizzled old war veteran declared in a deep voice, "give my troops the order, Princess Teresa. My men and I are ready to pay that bastard back in blood, or die again in your service should that fail."
"As ever, General, your dedication and valor is appreciated," Teresa complimented the man, "we will pay Debauchery back for every wrong he has committed against us, and this time I will stand at your head and lead our army to battle." It was difficult to miss the fact that her eyes were locked on Vegeta as she continued. "I swear, I will not allow my pride as a Saiyan to be tarnished any further by the cowardice of retreat. Some things are far worse then death."
What few of the others registered was the pleased smirk that spread over Vegeta's lips. The girl had a long ways to go to be sure, but if her actions proved as courageous as her words, she might prove yet that she was worthy to call herself a Saiyan princess.
"What're we waitin' for!?" Naruto shouted, "let's go already!"
"I agree with the boy," the general admitted, "let's not delay our queen's rescue a moment longer!"
"And what exactly do you plan to do?" Vegeta demanded of the general, "this Dark Saiyan already massacred your entire army once. What makes you think this time would be different?"
"It is an honor for a Knight of Lunaria to die for their queen and princesses!" the general declared firmly.
"Even so, if you die again, we won't be able to use the Dragon Balls to bring you back again," Gohan revealed, "your forces should stay here and leave dealing with Debauchery to us."
"I cannot agree to that!" the general declared firmly, "our queen and our princesses are in peril! The knights of Lunaria will not remain idle!"
"Sounds like he's determined," Moka admitted, "no sense wasting time arguing."
"You heard Gohan though. If any of the knights we brought back with the Dragon Balls die again, that's it," Ichigo cautioned.
"It'll be fine," Luffy declared optimistically, "we just won't let any of them die!"
"I can't tell if he's hopelessly naïve or just an idiot," Clare admitted with regards to Luffy's suggestion.
"You say that like you don't think he can be both," Moka teased.
"I'd say it doesn't really matter either way," Yami admitted, "if they're determined to fight then I say we stand together."
"Right! The more the merrier!" Jaden declared enthusiastically, "sounds to me like we're all ready to throw down!"
"We're all ready when you are Teresa," Miria promised, Kakashi nodding in agreement.
"Heh, let's see what this second Dark Saiyan can do," Zoro challenged, tying his bandana over his head as Sanji lit a cigarette.
Piccolo and Toshiro both waited quietly, but they were clearly ready to go as well.
"Then let us delay no longer," Teresa ordered, " today, we end Debauchery's terror and free his captives!"
"We stand ready, Princess!" the general shouted, "to arms, brave knights of Lunaria!"
/\/\/\/\/\/\
The map provided by the scouts who had located Debauchery's kingdom could not have truly prepared Teresa for what awaited her forces. Aside from the immaculate crystal palace that she looked down at from the top of the hill they had decided to arrive upon, the entire area was barren and lifeless, as if the palace was absorbing all of the life force from the land around it.
"Well, I don't think there's any question where the bad guys are," Jaden admitted.
"Maybe not," Piccolo admitted, "but we still have no idea what's waiting for us in there."
"We should proceed cautiously," Kakashi warned.
Yugi was looking down at the castle when a voice caught his ear, causing him to look around to see who was addressing him.
"Did you hear that?" he quietly asked.
I did, Yami's reply echoed in his mind, it's faint, but I believe it's one of Valeria's duel spirits.
It is, my Pharaoh, now it was Dark Magicians voice that sounded in Yugi's mind, their connection to this world has been weakened, meaning Valeria's deck must have been taken from her.
"YU-GI-OH!" Yugi shouted, swapping out with Yami.
"It's weak, but I can hear Valeria's duel spirits calling out," he admitted to Teresa, "she's alive, but her captors have separated her from her deck, weakening her connection to her companions and reducing their ability to manifest in our world."
"Damn it, what was that idiot thinking coming here alone," Renee growled, "I swear I'm going to tan her hide for this."
"You'll have to get in line," Teresa admitted, "we can worry about that once Debauchery is dealt with.
"Well, what're we waiting for them!?" Luffy demanded, "let's go already!"
"Can't shut up for even a moment, can you," Clare sighed.
"Maybe not, but he's got the right idea," Moka admitted, "no point waiting any longer."
"Don't forget, Debauchery has all the women he's kidnapped as hostages in there," Ichigo cautioned, resting Zangetsu on his shoulder, "we need to be careful that they don't get hurt."
"Right, and you can just leave the Dark Saiyan to me!" Goku declared excitedly.
"Not a chance in hell, Kakarot!" Vegeta shouted angrily, "you've destroyed all the Dark Saiyans you're going to! The rest of these bastards are all mine! Is that clear!"
"Huh!? Ah come on Vegeta! There're six left, so it's only fair we get three each!"
"This has nothing to do with what's fair and what isn't! These abominations are an insult to the pride of the Saiyans! As the prince of Saiyans, crushing them is my privilege and mine alone!"
"Hey! I'm a Saiyan too! Aren't they an insult to my Saiyan pride too?"
"As if you have an iota of Saiyan pride for them to insult!" Vegeta shouted back, his tone showing his increasing anger, "now stay the hell out of my way!"
"I'm glad those two are here, because I wouldn't want to have to take on another creature like that Devour guy," Ichigo admitted, "they can fight over who gets to take the rest of them down as much as they want."
"We can leave the Dark Saiyans to them," Yami admitted, noticing a swarm of the Dark Saiyan's monstrous soldiers emerge from the palace's front gate, "we'll focus on rescuing Debauchery's captives."
"Looks like they know we're here," Miria observed.
"Then let's go!" Naruto shouted, leading the charge!
"Yeahhh!" Luffy replied, following the knucklehead ninja's lead.
"Annoying as they are…" Clare sighed.
"…they have the right idea," Moka finished the thought as the female warriors leapt into the fray.
"Heh, even you can't try ta explain this away, Kaiba," Joey heckled confidently.
"Don't push your luck, Wheeler," Kaiba threatened, his expression easily as sour as Vegeta's, "come forth, Battle Ox and Lord of Dragons!"
"Not lettin' ya show me up! Right, Gearfried the Red Eyes Iron Knight and Flame Swordsman!"
"Jaden!" Yubel ordered.
"On it! Come on Neos and Flame Wingman! Let's throw down!" Jaden replied.
"Come out, Stardust Dragon!" Yusei ordered.
"Descend and destroy our foes! Slifer the Sky Dragon!" Yami called out as a red pillar of light fired into the sky from his duel disc. The light snaked it's way around the sky as dark clouds gathered. Soon, the light solidified and formed into the snake-like body of Yami's Egyptian God! It's roar shook the heavens as it's head descended below the cloud cover and glared down at the enemy army!
"To arms knights of Lunaria!" the general roared, his soldiers letting out a war cry as they prepared for war.
/\/\/\/\/\/\
Valeria knew it was futile to struggle, but she couldn't help it. Eleven pillars had been erected in the Dark Saiyan's throne room, and with Karina and herself chained, wrist and ankle, to the pillars on either side of their mother who was herself chained to the center most pillar, it didn't take much imagination to guess the remaining pillars were waiting for the complete set of what Debauchery clearly thought of as the most valued set in his collection. Before the battle was through, he intended for all of her sisters to join the three of them. The queen and princesses of Lunaria would be Debauchery's prize possession. While the thought made Valeria shudder, the extra pillar bothered her. The three captives and her seven sisters preparing to battle outside only made ten. One sister was missing and Valeria doubted Debauchery had her hidden. Where was she?
This question would have to wait for an answer, however. A large, crystal screen showed the battle outside that had only just begun. Debauchery sat on his throne, watching with a wicked smirk. He was certain that within the hour, he'd have his victory.
Valeria was certain her face was surely the same color as her hair by now, but her anger, frustration, and despair amounted to very little. Between her chained wrists and the metal bit secured in her mouth, all she could do was silently pray. Pray for both her friends' victory and her own deliverance.
Debauchery did not share Valeria's restrictions, and his wicked chuckle made her blood freeze.
"Bring me the princesses. Slaughter the rest."
ENDING THEME: BACCHIKOI (Naruto Shippuden)