Age 514, Planet Sadala, Universe 7
Three weeks had passed since the fight to end their rivalry, and everybody noticed the difference in the relationship between Peparia and Lottus. They were friendly toward each other, talking without shouting, laughing at each other's jokes instead of getting enraged by them, and all around just interacting in a more pleasant manner. Everyone was so relieved that a new feud between noble houses wasn't about to begin with these two.
But even with all this peace around, there was still trouble in paradise. Due to a lack of experience, Peparia and Lottus weren't as discrete about their budding romance as they thought they were. Any time they were close together, they would lock their tails together in a show of affection for each other, sometimes without realizing they'd done so, and that did not go unnoticed.
Some adults said nothing; so long as they weren't hurting anybody and being safe, they saw no reason to get involved. Besides, it's not like they could accidentally get pregnant if they were sexually active, so there would be no conflict within the noble houses about that either.
But some people saw a relationship between two girls to be an abomination. Peparia's grandfather, especially, the old lord of the house, Pumpki. Peparia heard them shouting one day after school was over.
"It's not right, I tell you," Pumpki said to Okara. "Two girls going about like that."
Peparia rolled her eyes when she heard this, knowing what her grandfather meant. Saiyans weren't meant to feel that way about anyone, much less for someone of the same sex as them. They were a warrior race, and sexual activity was meant solely for creating offspring.
"You've as out of touch now as you were on my wedding day, dad," Okara responded. "Having feelings for someone isn't a weakness. Sometimes, it can grant you power."
Peparia smiled at her dad, thankful that she had his support. But her grandfather wasn't done.
"Rage can grant power, so long as it's controlled," Pumpki said, and Peparia knew he was talking about Yamoshi. Yamoshi's rage caused him to transform into the Legendary Super Saiyan, a form that ended up destroying himself. And even though that form had shown up once or twice since when a Saiyan lost control, and they had a system set up to prevent that form from destroying the Saiyan who achieved it, it was considered a mark of shame for a Saiyan to have lost control like that.
"Love?" Her grandfather continued. "Love makes someone weak in the knees. It ebbs away at their warrior spirit, makes them weak."
"Cassa and I would disagree," Okara said. "How we feel about each other has made us stronger. My logic and her charisma have given us what we need to move toward peace with the Chilli."
"The Chilli should be destroyed, not placated," Pumpki said, beginning his rant about their longstanding feud once again. "That woman has made you weak if you think otherwise."
This gave Peparia reason to back away from that room, not wanting to hear her grandfather rant once again. And while the old man was right about conflict being necessary for growth, too much blood had been spilled over the last century between these two houses.
As Peparia prepared to call Lottus and tell her the great news, she thought about the Chilli heir, Arugu. He was a boy about her age, smart, courageous, and attractive. She'd almost consider him a friend if their families would accept that. This feud between their houses would end within Peparia's lifetime, she was certain of it.
