Chapter 5: Sartorou be well.

"Hurry up! We'll be late for the party!" I yelled behind me, dashing through the halls of my palace. My best friend, Sartorou, was falling behind, short of breath. His black hair flying behind him, he sprinting behind me. Today was my mother's birthday, February fourteenth, and it was vital everyone showed up.

Sartorou suddenly stopped and shouted, "look out!" I gave him a confused look just before I ran into someone's legs. I fall backwards, hitting the ground hard. My eyes shoot open, expecting to see the eyes of Zarbon or Dodoria; worst case scenario, Frieza. But instead I gazed into Mother's azure eyes, candlelight giving them a graceful shine.
"Mother! I-" I began to say. But instead my mother began to laugh softly. Her eyes portrayed no hatred, not even a shred of annoyance. She smiled, holding out a hand. I refuse it, getting up of the carpet myself. I dust myself off and look at Sartorou. He just looks at my mother as if he has seen the most beautiful woman on the planet. After all, he is only a second-class saiyan, rarely gaining entry to the palace. I'm sure he's never seen a royal other than myself, so his shock comes to no surprise.
"Q-queen Sprout! Weird to see you here, in front of one such as I!" my best friend stammered. Honestly, sometimes I wonder how I met this boy.
"Ah, hello, Sartorou. Are you the boy Vegeta told me about?" Mother asked, bending to his height.
"Um, yes, your Highness. Mah'ni!"
"There is no need to apologize. You're fine! Come, follow me. The party is soon to begin!" My mother flashed a smile and grabbed Sartorou's hand and looked at me. "Are you coming, Veggie-kun?" I nod. She offers her hand once more to me, but I start walking in the direction of the throne room.
Just as I was halfway, my mother scooped me into her arms, carrying me on her shoulders. My cheeks turn a fiery red, embarrassed that I'm being lifted in the air like a child! Even though I was four, I didn't act like a foolish toddler! Nonetheless, it was her birthday and I could do nothing to stop her actions. I was carried on her shoulders, my blush deeper with every step we take. The view was incredible though, seeing as my mother was a good height. I looked about the corridor, the gold and red flashing out at me.
When we reached the doors to the throne room, I tapped my mother's shoulder urgently. She put one hand against the door before looking up at me, tugging Sartorou back to indicate the stop.
"Yes, my little prince?" She asks.
"Can you pit me down? Lord Frieza will be here, and I want to look strong in front of him."
"Alright, down you go," she says, putting her arms around my thin waist and setting me down on the marble floor. She gives both me and Sartorou a smile, then opens the large doors. What I see makes my heart drop to my boots. Lord Frieza, Zarbon, and Dodoria had actually decided to come to her party.
I try to go and stay away from their contact, but Zarbon found me eventually. He put a hand on my shoulder and whirled me around to face him.
"Ah, Vegeta. I was absolutely elated when I heard it was your mother's birthday today. February fourteenth was it? Anyways, Lord Frieza wishes you and your family good fortune on this momentous occasion." he flashed a fake smile and mercifully strutted over to Frieza's side. I growl silently at his retreating figure. I wanted to crush him to bits, make him feel all the pain I've suffered at his hands. But because of my small form and power level, I knew I had no chance of beating him, much less landing a serious blow. After all, he did always have is other monstrous form...
I stop as I see my father staring at me, a look of urgency. I notice that my hands are clenched into small fists, probably meaning that I had raised my power level higher while thinking about his destruction.
Calming myself, I exhale slowly and walk where my father was standing, next to Mother. He gives me a sad look, a small hint of worry igniting his features.
"Son, I do not think you should contradict Zarbon. You could get seriously injured." He bent down to my height, laying a hand on my shoulder. I look him in the eyes, staring him down with a cold determination.
"I will kill that horrible, avaricious green being. You won't stop me Father. I won't fight him now, but when I'm older, so you don't have to worry." My father still didn't want to believe me, but nonetheless backed away. He gave me a disdainful look, but I broke eye contact with the king and strode off to find Sartorou. When I found him, I nearly stopped dead in my tracks. He was gorging on food like a complete pig!
I stormed over to him and slapped him upside the head. He nearly got whiplash. He instantly spit out the food he was eating, looked at me, and got on his knees.
"Vegeta! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to act so indecent! Please forgive me! Please don't give me to Frieza!" Now he was getting hysterical. Tears were rushing down the boy's face, making him look like a total pansy.
"Sartorou, why would I give you to Frieza?"I ask quietly. "I hate that freak!"
"SHHH! Vegeta, someone might hear you! Whisper, okay?" Sartorou gave me a pleading look. I swear this Saiyan should have been banished when he was a child for acting like such a weakling, begging for mercy. I push the thought aside, looking down at the begging boy.
I hated being told what to do, but I shut my mouth and whispered instead.
"Sartorou, I will not give you to that freak lizard. I hate him! Your a fool to think I would hand you over."
"Really?! I am so grateful! Thank you, Vegeta-sama!"
"G're, Sartorou, just get up and wipe your tears. People are looking." He looks at me with admiration highlighting his eyes. He puts a hand on one knee and pushes himself up, back to his normal, short height. We both made our way to my mother, who's celebration was beginning to start.
Now, our Saiyan birthday celebrations are not like normal earthling customs. Nowhere near it in fact! There is no "cake" or the singing of "happy birthday" like on earth. No, as I am sure you know, we are Saiyans, a proud warrior race. Fighting is our nature. It isn't abandoned even on the date of your birth.
What I am also aware of is that my mother's birth date is on the earthling custom of "Valentines' day". This is one holiday that I will never be able to understand. To my perspective, this holiday will be known as "make the male do all of your crap day". Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but that stupid holiday is just about pampering some female, the weaker gender, and give them praise and act like a weakling while doing so. Why my mother was born on such a slavish-like holiday, I don't know.
We all made our way out to the courtyard, fanning out in different places to prepare for the traditional custom. I, even though I was only four, also prepared for the sparring. My clueless friend followed me and cocked his head to the side in confusion, seeing as he has never witnessed a birth spar.
"Um, Vegeta? What's going on?" I sighed, and began to explain.
"You see, on a birthday, Saiyans are supposed to honor the person-of-honor by sparring with them. This custom shows the appreciation of their willing fighting spirit, the commitment to Lord Frieza, who will be supervising this.
"All of the attendees will have to spar with the honored once. Though if you succeed in victory against the honored, you are immediately brought to shame for disrupting such a holy ceremony by being executed or banished. It all depends if it was a fatality or injury, or the level of damage done.
"Also one thing different from the regular type, is that in a royal one you are supposed to bring the honored an offering, symbolizing the time when the honored has done something kind for you. If they have not done anything for you, then you give them a present symbolizing your appreciation for this day of their birth, acknowledging that you are grateful for their existence." I look at Sartorou, his face slack with shock.
"I have to spar with your mother?! But she's the most nicest woman in the world!"
"Yes," I reply, beginning to stretch. "I will also be sparring with her."
"That must be horrible, sparring with your mom! You might hurt her!"
"What? It would be disgraceful if I did not give her this one offering! Also, I wouldn't be able to hurt her! She is much too strong for me to comprehend, someone of my size and age."
"Oh, sorry. I didn't know this was so formal..." Sartorou said sheepishly. I shake my head and look about. I certainly knew I that I could outclass a female, easily in fact. But I knew I would be executed instantly for disgracing my mother. Also more so because I was only a child, making the dishonor of it even worse. The very notion of the dishonor brought a bad taste to my mouth.
About five minutes later, everyone was done warming up and stretching. I merely stood there, examining the crowd. I saw several people that I had seen from previous celebrations, all of them built with strong physiques. My mother had not stretched at all, most likely thinking of all of her battle tactics. Frieza and his men were talking to my father, Frieza's red wine sloshing around in his glass.
We all gathered to the middle of the spacious courtyard to start the summoning of the attendees in the order they will spar Mother. It's all categorized by age, date of birth, and your fighting potential. My mother was supposed to choose what order in goes in: lowest to highest fighting stats. In the end, she had chosen the lowest, in courtesy for all of those in that category. I could tell many were not happy with that decision.
The first one up was, coincidentally, Sartorou. He jumped when his name was called. He slowly weaved through the surrounding people, finally stopping in front of Mother.
"Um, it is an honor to spar with you, Queen Sprout..." he gave a small bow. Mother smiled and nodded. As I looked about, I could see many people snickering and grinning across from me. I don't blame them, this was quite amusing, the size and age of Sartorou against my extremely intelligent mother.
Mother prepared in her usual stance, preparing for a spar. I could she wasn't to tensed, knowing Sartorou was not experienced much. Sartorou just stood there, unsure of whether or not he should do what the queen was doing.
"Hajimeru sayou no yai!"(A/N:Means "Let the battle begin!") said the caller, telling them to begin in the usual Saiyan. I watched as my mother jumped gracefully over Sartorou and hit him unknowingly but mercifully in the back of the neck, causing him to fall face forward into my mother's awaiting arms. Funny, it was over in a matter of seconds, yet the next took a single second.
Men in white and yellow armor came to collect him and Sartorou off of the court. The other boy at the age of five that had gotten beat in a shorter time then Sartorou had blood gushing from a severe wound in his head. Mother looked concerned. Unfortunately, it would bring dishonor to her name if she left the party in such a state and she knew that. She pursed her lips and tore her eyes away from the boy.
I was next. The confusing thing was that I was the second strongest Saiyan. The conclusion come to my head that I am the strongest child at this age. Many parents did not allow their children, knowing they would get the whole family executed for playing around.
I stepped up and smiled. Usually, I would smirk, but at this tender age I hadn't yet gotten accustomed to being cocky. Though I was, I didn't smirk to often at formal occasions, or at my mother.
I took my stance taught to me by Father. I wasn't going to go easy! Who cares if I defy my mother? I won't kill her, not at all. I plan to merely show my power, defeating my mother, showing I was more than a mere four year old. Though if they do plan to execute me, they'll have to die trying.
"Hajimeru sayou no yai!" said Nappa, who decided to step in, replacing the other caller. I rushed at my mother, taking her by surprise. She regained her senses and made to deal a blow to my stomach. I was expected this and twisted myself and instead hit her in the stomach. She winced, regaining her balance.
"Vegeta, you certainly are strong. This is the son that your father created, cunning as ever." she said, smiling genuinely.
Mother came shockingly fast, using the same tactic she used against Sartorou. I felt the horrible blow to my neck, sprawling forwards. Luckily it wasn't broken. I rose, knee after knee. I rolled my head, regaining circulation. My mother stood patiently across from me, watching my movements intently. As her indigo eyes probed me, I debated what to do next. After all, all of these people wanted a good fight. No blood had sprayed yet, making people anxious and bloodthirsty.
I looked at Mother, and immediately sprang forward. I jumped high, but aimed low for her legs. She quickly kicked me aside, right in the jaw. I go flying back, landing hard on the tiles, hearing two sharps beneath me.
Mother comes rushing, concern in her eyes. Tears are forming in my eyes, blurring her image. I have broken my arm, but that is not why I shed tears. I cried because I knew I had failed. Mother called over a team, my spine aflame. So I had broken my spine as well. I had failed. I shamed myself in front of everyone, in front of Father. I have been dishonored.

I open my eyes, night falling outside. I look about my spacious infirmary room, noticing I was placed in the same room as Sartorou. Right next to me his bed was placed, his sleeping form underneath the covers. I take in the scent of medicine, death, and, the most encumbering, the metallic scent of blood.
Rolling over, I decided to go back to sleep, finding no reason to stay awake. My spine and arm are still broken, but miraculously I am not paralyzed by the spinal rupture. It still hurts when I roll, nonetheless, wincing softly. Just as I am closing my eyes, the door opens. As I am facing opposite of the door, I only hear the cruel, cutting voice of Frieza.
"Oh, little children. How sweet it is. Now, whom was the son of the father Pinto, Zarbon?"
"I believe it is the child there, Lord Frieza." Who was this child? Who is Pinto? I can only feel the cold Frieza summons in a room, chilling me even with covers. I hear the steps of Frieza's feet tapping on the marble floor. He is so near I can hear his breath with my Saiyan ears. But he was not facing me. He was facing the child next to me:

Sartorou.

Almost every fiber in my body commands for me to rise and cuff Frieza in the ear. Weighing my options, I decide to eavesdrop. I even my breathing into slow, sleep-sounding breaths. I train my ears onto every rustle and every breath, concerned for Sartorou's life.
"I feel bad for you, little one, I do," Frieza says, laughing cruelly, "but because of your idiotic father you must suffer of the blood pieces ritual."
The ch'ete! The ch'ete is a ritual where a traitor is punished by being handed the chopped up pieces of his first born. He is then exiled and never to return to planet Vegeta. So what this meant for Sartorou, was that he was going to be cut up with his father, Pinto, holding them. Pinto will have to live with the guilt of his crime as well with the death of his son. Sartorou being an only child, no one else was available.
I hear the rustle of covers and Sartorou being lifted silently. I hear the door creak, being left open by a crack. I shoot up, determined to save my best friend, but instead am face-to-face with Frieza. Oh Saiyan gods, why do you plague me so, bestowing upon me this horrible confrontation with Frieza?
"Good morning, Vegeta. You have been awake for a while. Since you are special, I will let you follow. Come on, now. We don't want to keep Pinto waiting," the lizard said.
He walked to the door and faced me. "Well? Are you coming or not? Get out of bed." I did so and reluctantly followed him out of the door, my spine in agony. I grit my teeth against the pain, not awarding Frieza the prize of seeing my pain.
We went to the left, where several of Frieza's officers stood guard. Honestly, I wasn't really paying attention when I attended a ch'ete. I have only gone to two, but I was spoke to Mother during all of it, not giving much care to the ceremony. But now I had to attend Sartorou's...maybe I could get away when that horrible pink lizard or his men weren't looking. I looked about the soldiers, most of them I didn't recognize. I expected Zarbon and Dodoria to follow along or be with the soldiers, but did not find them at either place. I pushed on ahead, not caring.
We went to the courtyard, ascending the steps that lead to the main ceremony area. I trudged on ahead, taking in the stars glistening in the sky, the breeze, and the wonderful scent of the lilacs planted yesterday nearby. It was sad that while I was taking in the beauty of the night, Sartorou was destined to die.
Frieza's henchmen dumped the sleeping Sartorou on the ground, waking him up. He looked around, frightened and cold. He shivered and started to tear up when he saw Frieza. Then he looked at me with the pleading stare that stains my mind.
"You lied! You said you wouldn't give me up to him! Why did you lie,vegeta?! Why?!" were the words he screamed up at me, his voice going hoarse. I could only stand there when the realization hit me. My best friend was going to die. And I was going to watch.
I was forced on my knees by some powerful force, causing me to cry out in pain because of my spine. I tried to turn my head to see who was restraining me, but I already knew in my mind I had no escape, for I knew who was behind me.
"Thank you, Zarbon. Now, make sure he doesn't turn away from this." Frieza ordered. I heard a small laugh behind me.
"Yes, Lord Frieza." Zarbon is on my hit list for the one hundredth and ninetieth time now. Frieza is on there for the three-hundredth and fourth time. Dodoria is still going one hundred and twentieth time. I had to kill all of them...
My head was suddenly forced up, and I saw Sartorou's hateful glare, burning at my very core. He thought all of this was my fault. That I had handed him over. So that one very thing, that Sartorou blamed me for his death, is one main factor that haunts me. That hateful glare, his screaming proposal...
Somewhat I do believe it is my fault, for Frieza never wanted me to be happy. He was always out to destroy any ray of hope that dawned on me. He's destroyed all of my inspirations, all of the things I could have done to keep me happy. I've never been able to draw, but I always liked to doodle in one sketchbook; that sketchbook was destroyed. I once liked music, playing a guitar-like instrument, something like the guitar on earth, but that too was destroyed. Now he was going to murder my best friend as well...but that friend now hated me, and it leaves yet another scar on my twisted heart.
Dodoria finally reared his ugly pink head, making his way towards Sartorou, a sharp object in hand. He bent down near Sartorou, holding a knife to his heart.
"Now you're going to die, kid. You should at least be grateful that Frieza is here to attend a ceremony for you, a low-class saiyan," Dodoria said tauntingly. I wanted to kill him. I tried twisting out of Zarbon's iron grip, only making my broken arm more worse by hitting it against him.
Dodoria first cut a finger, Sartorou screaming out in pain. I could barely take it. I watched the blood spill as he was cut on the lower abdomen. He screamed on and on, limb after limb being cut into small pieces, right through the bone. Soon both arms and both legs were merely chunks. I held back the bile rising in my throat. Sartorou still screamed, not yet dead from blood loss or shock. I could see the tears in his eyes, rolling down his cheeks, mixing with his warm blood. My own tears fell, Sartorou still hating me.
"I...I will n-never for...give you...ve..get...a...!" I felt a sharp pain in my heart as I was once more adorned with a scar on my unforgivably unstopping heart. I continued to hear Sartorou scream my name, calling me a dog and a unforgivable bastard.
Why do I have to live through this pain? Why can't all of this just end? Do I have to endure this pain forever? Can't I just end all of the screaming in my head...forever? I could stop my scarred heart...prevent it from getting scarred any longer. Just whisk away all the pain, be happy...

Dead.

At that moment, I wanted to take my own life...grab the knife from Dodoria's hand and thrust it into my own heart. End all of my abuse, misery, and sadness. I was tired of living like I was then. Four I may be, but it didn't mean I was oblivious to suicide. But because, and thankfully of, my pride I never did kill myself. But as I grew older into teenage years, the thought became exceedingly overwhelming. But at this point in time, I will not yet experience the want of death yet. Not yet.
My shoulders shook with tears, wanting so badly to die. I know I can't bring myself to die, but I can still think of it, can't I? Either way, I'm sure Frieza had already thought of it anyways. I try to push my suicidal thoughts away. Also the fact that I was four made it sad that I wanted to die already.
All of a sudden, the screaming stops. I watch as Sartorou is beheaded, his head rolling across the tiles. One of Frieza's henchmen stop it with his boot, looks at me and laughs. The next thing I know was that Sartorou's head was broken into a gory mass of...I can't bring myself to describe the bloody mess that befell the tiles that night.
The rest of his body is chopped into pieces, the two suns rising. The smell of the blood sends a metallic taste to my mouth. My small body shakes from my experience as I am left alone. They collect the bloody pieces that was once Sartorou. I am left with the blood stains on the courtyard, sitting there for hours, sobbing, crying for the loss of Sartorou and myself. I am beyond myself, the loss of my only other outlet of happiness.
I feel gentle hands clasp my shoulders. Soft lips touch my cheek, arms wrapping around me. I smell the rich lilac adorned on her skin. I needed her more than ever. Mother was the one thing that probably kept me sane, but I'm not entirely sure. She was not my ray of hope, but my sun. My father was my other sun, except he it the killing one. My mother was the life giving sun that hangs in the side next to her murderous counterpart.
I bury my head into her chest, sobbing until I could produce no more tears. She lifts me up like a small child, careful of my arm and spine. As I am a small child, this isn't out of the ordinary. I wrap my arms around her neck as I am carried into a room I don't know of. I am put on soft covers and kissed on the forehead one more time. A few seconds later, I hear the door close. Somehow, finding more tears, I cry myself to sleep and stay that way the rest of the day.

Sartorou...

You give me a dirty stare,
I can see you don't care,
But what you can't see,
Are the scars that have been dealt to me,
I only have witnessed things,
Screams of loved ones is what constantly sings,
You never know what made me this way,
For you haven't seen any of my days,
You judge me for how I act,
But have you seen the deaths that are fact,
Don't judge me by my cover,
Because I have endured things that for you will remain undiscovered

A/N: sorry that got a little graphic and all, but you know how Frieza is! Also the whole suicide thing im not too thrilled about, but oh well. I hope you have enjoyed this chapter! Also I have now decided to add a poem to each memory so yeah. Not chapters, memories!

~Dbzultrafan