Chapter 6 - First Impressions
The battleship's arrival was met with fanfare and festivities. Whenever the prince returned from a trip in space to conquer a planet, they celebrated. This time, they had no reason to celebrate, seeing that Earth was not destroyed, but once the drinks started going around, there was nothing stopping the common folk from having a little fun. As the battleship touched down on the landing dock outside of the palace, the crowd settled to a hush to await the disembarking of their iconic prince.
Prince Vegeta waited next to the ramp that led to his home planet. He really disliked all of this public attention, but his father insisted that he tolerate it to keep up his oh-so-precious image. He crossed his arms and tapped his foot waiting for the ramp to fully extend. It seemed like forever to the impatient prince, and he momentarily though about blowing up the whole damn ship. Ha, that would take care of things. But is it really worth another prolonged lecture with my good-for-nothing father? He pondered if for a few seconds. Probably not. He inwardly groaned as Nappa appeared next to him polishing his breast plate and shoulder guards. Oh please. Not the idiot.
The ramp touched the ground and the crowd waited in anxious silence. The prince, badly wanting to get this over with, stepped out of the ship, and the crowd let out a roar that could be heard to the far reaches of the continent.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Sereki glanced up at the guard standing in front of her. She finished brushing her hair and, it fell freely almost halfway down her back. She readied herself for the humiliating disgrace of touching her home planet. She was sure the prince would make an announcement as to who she was and what a disgrace she was as soon as he had the crowd's attention. She flicked a stray hair out of her face and decided that although she had to be submissive, her spirit would not be broken. She would make a statement. She would be confident. Her hair succumbing to gravity alone would capture their attention. She would make her father proud of her… eventually… however long that took.
Her brother's memory filled her head. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!" Goku chanted in a sing-song voice to Krillin as he danced around him waving his arms in the air. Everyone promptly did an anime sweat-drop as they watched the powerful warrior act like a little boy. Sereki remembered being clearly confused by the actions of her brother. No one on any of the other planets she had been to after she had left Earth for a number years acted like that. Now, she understood the meaning behind the childhood saying.
"Words will never hurt me." She mumbled under her breath. The guard in front of her turned around and gave her a weird look. Sereki glared at him and raised her eyebrow, as if to challenge him. He was about to lunged at her when the roar of the crowd stopped him. He turned quickly around and acted as if nothing had happened. Sereki chuckled. "Scared?" she challenged him. Boy, was she in a mood.
"You are skating on thin ice, woman." The guard spoke out of the corner of his mouth.
"I think someone has a little temper…" She added, chuckling more. At least this took her mind off of everything.
"Shut up, woman!"
---------------------------------------------------------------
Vegeta walked across the landing dock confidently, raising a hand to the crowd. Nappa walked two steps behind him. "Ahem, your highness, aren't you going to mention the scum that you brought along on this trip."
"No." was his curt reply.
"But she is a b–" He was cut off my the back of Vegeta's hand.
"Don't question me general, or I'll send her to beat you up. And don't try to get out of that one. You know she would beat you if she so much as holds a candle to my ability. Wait, why do that when I can have the pleasure of beating you up myself?" He retorted arrogantly and walked away towards the palace.
"Damn. Bardock's spawn is going to be humiliated if it's the last thing I do." Nappa huffed and stalked away.
Vegeta had been planning on saying something to the crowd about the fact that Chikyuu still breathed, but that plan was put down as soon as he saw "the woman" staring at the floor of the ship before he set foot on his future kingdom. She deserved all of the public humiliation that he could dish out, but would she even be in her element to fight him after that onslaught? He had been mulling over that, and then Nappa showed up and annoyed the crap out of him. She's a female. I better 'spare' her from the 'pain,' he thought mockingly in his head.
He had just reached the palace doors, when the sudden silence in the crowd stopped him in his tracks.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Sereki descended the ramp from the ship confident, even though she was wearing slave colors. A strong image makes it harder for a person to bring me down. Her hair caught the light of the sun, and a breeze began as soon as she set foot on the ground. Some woman from the crowd loudly shouted. "Look! Who's that???!" The crowd grew quieter in waves, the men and women transfixed by her hair and her confident gait. She turned around in a circle as she walked towards the place, taking in the wonders of the tall, colorful buildings and breathing in the air that she knew so long ago. If feels like home, even though I know I'm not accepted.
As she walked, she noticed the looks she was receiving. Men were drooling… such a rare female Saiyan… with almost exotic attributes compared to most of her kind. A few gathered the courage to cat-call, while others just stared speechless. It was a little unnerving. Of course, she was considered beautiful by most species' standards, but her hair combined with her frame stood out amongst all of them. The Saiyan women were taller and more built that she appeared. They had rougher features as well – all of the struggled to tame their wild hair while hers danced softly with the breeze.
Sereki looked towards the prince, expected him to announce to the whole world her shame, but instead, he just simply stared, blinked and walked into the palace. Meanwhile, Bardock decided to take the opportunity to one-up Nappa and protect what was his.
"Attention, everyone." He projected his voice. "This is my daughter. She was the disgraced one who deserted her people." He paused, and the crowd was turning a little hateful towards the beautiful brunette. "All who mess with her will deal with me." A few snickers were heard through the crowd. People obviously didn't believe him, and he expected that. "That is," he added, "if you can get past my daughter first. She is the prince's new sparring partner, after all." He smirked at the shocked faces before him and laughed at Nappa who was about 100 feet away. He walked towards his daughter and continued to the palace side-by-side with her, the envy of the crowd. Sereki stared at him in shock of his show of support. "Don't get me wrong, kid," her father said, "this is not going to be easy for you or for me in the days to come."
Nappa's jaw dropped. Bardock said the humiliating words about his daughter, but spun them in such a way that the crowd did not hate her. In fact, they were impressed! Crap. Bardock, I will get you.
The crowd was mixed with jealousy and a real admiration for the woman that appeared before them. She faced the crowd confidently, never hung her head, and proudly walked into the palace with the support of her own blood. Even has a disgraceful Saiyan, she appeared strong. Perhaps they would give her a chance to redeem herself in society.
However, she had gotten on the wrong side some of the most important, beautiful, and powerful females on the planet with saying a word. She was invading on their territory, and they didn't like that. She would be watched, and she would pay. No one gets in the way of them and the Prince.
The Duchesses would make her pay.
A/N: Review please! I really want to know what you guys think!