I do not own DBZ
A Father's Fate
The Story of Bardock
Freezing wind blew ice particles and snow around below the glowing entity. The white heat coming from the metal shape made it hard to see with the white backdrop of the frozen waste. The wind swirled and scattered anything not heavy enough to stay on the ground. The rectangular object eventually made its way down, cooling off. Its color became clear, as well as details such as windows and even a door.
As the craft touched down, the snow melted and rose into the air as condensation only to freeze again seconds later. The visible door on the ship groaned, releasing more steam as it began to slowly lower. After a full second, the door touched the ground, showing a set of stairs on the back side. A figure appeared in the doorway and slowly descended, taking in his surroundings.
"Sure is desolate," the figure said, stepping off of the ship. As he did, snow crunched under his feet, compacting into even more dense snow. The bewildering hair on the man's head began to droop slightly, his breathing quickened unnoticeably. A moment later a figure followed him down the steps. As it touched the snow, the figure drooped, falling to her knees.
"Whoa! It's heavy," she managed, wheezing.
"That first step's a... um it's a big one," Bardock said, turning to face Fasha.
"That's one way to put it," Fasha replied, attempting to raise her head. Bardock extended his hand to her, helping Fasha to her feet. Muttering a thanks, she watched as Bardock walked forward, seemingly untroubled.
The Saiyan crunched through the snow for several feet before looking around. As he faced the ship and Fasha, a scream echoed through the area. Shocked, Bardock jumped backwards, facing the direction the sound came from. After a minute of staring, prepared for a fight, Bardock saw the horizon turn from white to blue to finally orange.
"What is that?" Fasha asked, sucking in air as she made it to Bardock.
"Sunrise I think," Bardock replied, watching the orange light creep closer. Seconds passed by before Bardock realized it wasn't creeping, but moving extremely fast. The planet was about twice the size of Vegeta, so of course things would seem slow at a giant size. Gaping, both of the Saiyans watched the line quickly approach.
"Bardock, it's getting warm. Really warm," Fasha noted.
Starting to sweat Bardock watched just beyond the line. Ice and snow melted nearly instantly, becoming vapor thick enough to cloud vision. "I can feel it too."
The small raise in the ground they were on slowly sunk as it seemed to melt beneath them. Bardock stepped backwards, in disbelief how fast the snow melted. Fasha followed his lead and quickly backed up. The line reached them, melting the snow around them instantly, causing them to fall backwards. As they lay there, the line of dawn passed, leaving them in daylight.
Without warning, Fasha jumped to her feet with a look of fear in her eyes. Bardock stared at her for a second before he realized the problem. The air's so thick and hot, it makes it extremely hard to breathe. This test is more than strength or power or even intelligence. It's a test of our mettle. He thought, quickening his breathing.
"Fasha. The air. It's thick. Breathe fast. Don't worry. You'll be. Ok." Bardock managed to say, exhaling deeply. Fasha nodded and calmed herself down, taking in bigger gulps. Bardock pulled himself to his feet, careful not to overdo it when he can't breathe properly. After standing for a few moments they started to walk again.
"Shelter?" asked Fasha. Bardock nodded, leading further into the blinding light.
"Ok Fasha, this cave will do," Bardock said, pointing at the narrow hole in the ground. Fasha stared questioningly at it.
"It's a hole," she said, looking at it.
"No, it's a cave, it's merely a vertical entrance. This is four hours from the ship, if we walk. In an emergency it should be no problem to get back to it," responded the man. The two Saiyans made their way into the cave, watching where they stepped. As they stepped around a puddle, Bardock stopped and drank deeply from it.
"Clean?" Bardock nodded, watching Fasha take a sip.
"I think this is far enough," the Saiyan man said. Fasha nodded and dropped her backpack heavily. The Saiyans searched their surroundings for the next hour, setting up sleeping areas and a bathing area in the pond.
"Bardock, how will we find the ship?" Fasha asked, leaning back and breathing deeply.
"Well, it isn't all that far away. When the time comes to leave, I don't think it will be too hard to find, but if it makes you feel better, tomorrow after we finish I'll go get it," Bardock replied, smiling.
Hours after finding their cave, the two Saiyans started their training. Running a short distance, Bardock jumped forward and flipped once before landing on his feet. Sweat dripped off his face as he slumped onto his knees. Gotta get used to the environment. He continued to tell himself that as he trained lightly, merely calisthenics it appeared to anyone watching.
Fasha jumped backwards, springing from her hands, but she couldn't keep her balance in the heavy gravity and fell to her hands and knees. Perspiration dripped from her face onto the ground, leaving moist circles before they evaporated. Sucking in a large amount of air, she sat down. Looking up at Bardock who had gotten back to his feet and continued to run and jump, acclimating himself quickly. Taking heart, Fasha followed suit.
Several hours were spent merely adjusting to the new situation. Night loomed, its shadow line clearly visible on the flat plains. Bardock wiped the sweat from his face and watched the line race forward as it did before. Gaping, the Saiyans saw ice form several yards behind the shadow line. The temperature dropped around them, fast enough for them both to shiver simultaneously.
"Fasha, get ready. Don't let the cold air shock you, it can be deadly," Bardock warned. Fasha nodded, and mentally braced herself. As she closed her eyes, another loud scream was heard in the distance. Bardock was already watching the direction he thought it came from. Staring, the two Saiyans didn't see anything or anyone but the white in the shadows near them.
As the line passed them, Bardock could instantly feel the temperature drop dozens of degrees. His unprotected flesh instantly began to hurt as ice began to form around them. Bardock stood in wonder as the wind that suddenly swooped in carried snow and ice particles. As they watched the snow move in, Fasha was taken by surprise as her skin began to bleed in tiny portions.
Bardock moved to her side and noticed he too was bleeding. As he stood confounded, he felt a sharp pain on his cheek as a cut appeared. Blood trickled down, freezing as it dripped off of the two. Bardock wiped his cheek on his arm and stepped backwards, pulling Fasha with him. Fasha shielded her face as she looked up at Bardock.
"Fasha! The ice in the wind. It's acting like little blades!" Bardock gasped. Fasha nodded and powered up, creating her aura. Bardock followed her and created his own. Instantly the buffeting stopped, the area around them cleared of the dangerous particles.
"Okay, for a little longer we'll train then we can eat," the male Saiyan said, wiping the blood from his arms with his armband. Fasha nodded and both Saiyans continued to exercise, oblivious to the raise in wind speed.
Another hour passed before the two were out of breath and fatigued. Fasha's aura began to fade as she sat down, puffing in and out, her breath clearly visible in the cold air. Bardock slipped on his final maneuver, cutting his hand on the ice. He looked at it and growled angrily. He walked over to Fasha and sat heavily beside her.
"We did good today. Very excellent start, if we keep this pace up, I have no doubt we can overcome our enemies," Bardock said, comforting Fasha.
"I know." was all Fasha said. She shivered for a second as she rubbed her arms.
"Let's go eat," grinned Bardock. As they stood up, another scream was heard. Fasha looked quickly then continued inside the cave. Bardock stared for a second longer before he decided to head in. As he took a step forward, he felt the hairs on his neck stand up. Shocked, he stood there listening. He quickly clicked on his scouter, turning around.
Bardock began to say something when the wind kicked up, knocking Bardock backwards. The Saiyan raised his arms to shield himself as the wind continued to increase. Bardock's aura flared behind him, forced out of the front by the extreme winds. Gasping, Bardock felt the ice begin to cut his skin again.
The scouter beeped several times before shattering. The last thing Bardock could read was the number five hundred thousand. Bardock froze, pupils shrinking at the shock. Something is creating- was all he had time to think before a large ice sheet lifted from the ground in front of him and flew forward. Bardock moved in time, but the speed of the object increased. It hit the cave entrance and stopped.
Bardock turned to run into the cave but was knocked off of his feet by the wind. As he crawled forward, another gust tossed him into the air. The Saiyan powered himself up as best he could. The wind seemed to come from every direction, shrinking his aura and defeating his sense of direction. Bardock looked around for the cave, but the ice had camouflaged it too well.
The air seemed to pick up again, tearing at his flesh. His armor protected his vital organs, but his face was unshielded and he knew it. Bardock started to worry, he couldn't think of a way out of this.
Fasha had turned to see why Bardock stopped, walking back to the entrance of the cave when a large sheet of ice flew at her, knocking her unconscious. As she lay there, her mind drifted. She could clearly see Bardock floating in the air, more and more cuts appearing on his body. His armor had ice frozen to it, his boots as well. Bardock's arms and legs had numerous cuts, ranging in size from slivers to three inch slices.
Calling out to him, Fasha attempted to help him find his way back. Every time she shouted, Bardock's power drooped. After several seconds she began to fly towards him. As she reached him, her hand went through his chest. Again she grabbed for him, but the results didn't change.
"All of this to die because of a blizzard? No way will it end like this!" Bardock said, losing feeling in his fingers. Slowly he drifted to the ground, toes touching first. Bardock clenched his fists in anger and powered up once again. As he neared his limit, Bardock's mind began to fade. His vision blurred. Dropping to his knees, he shivered, staring at the ice below him.
"No. No. no. no. no. No! No! Not yet!" Bardock began. "There's too much left to do!" again, Bardock stood up, aura whipping around with the wind. Bardock could feel the ice cut into him, but it wouldn't stop him. As he reached for his scouter, he remembered it exploded at the source of the power. Thinking quickly, Bardock began to walk in a slowly expanding circle, searching out his base.
In the distance, a egg shaped rock lifted from the ground and floated on the wind. Bardock turned to see something looming in the distance. He identified it as a rock and continued to search. A second later, the rock surged through the air, narrowly avoiding him. Seconds later, another rock flew by. Bardock stared off in the direction they came from and paused as more and more rocks appeared, whipping through the air.
Bardock began to dodge the rocks, each one closer than the last. As they approached, the Saiyan began to ponder his bad luck when three rocks neared him in a tight space, keeping him from going through the middle or just around each one. Bardock raised his arm and fired a blast at the rocks, exploding the bottom one. Ducking through the space he created, Bardock looked up only to see dozens more rocks falling towards him.
"Is that it?" Bardock questioned the air. Moving his latent energy to his hands, He unleashed a salvo of energy attacks on the rocks, destroying several that threatened him. To his dismay, Bardock saw several of the fragments get pulled into the wind. As he drew upon more of his powers, the Saiyan felt the rocks cut through his armor and create small cuts in his chest. Grunting, Bardock powered up as far as he could, maintaining all of his power.
The rocks continued to rain around him, deflecting off Bardock's aura. He could feel his cuts weep blood as his power began to dwindle. No good. Fasha, where are you? Bardock fell to his knees, keeping his aura in place. Slowly, his extremities numbed. His body stopped fighting, the fatigue he shook moments ago was back, bringing him down.
So drowsy. It's not as bad as I thought. No pain. Hm. Bardock's head slowly lowered until it was on the ground. Bardock began to drift away in his awkward position. He smiled a final time before he closed his eyes. Two faces drifted in his mind. Fasha and Kakarot.
"So that's your limit? Hmph. Useless," a voice said from the darkness. Bardock raised his head from the ground. He looked around, looking for the voice. My cuts? I'm okay?
"Okay? Ha, no you are not okay. You stand for so much, but when there's pressure you just up and die. I'd say that's pretty not okay," the voice said. Bardock peered through the darkness, picking himself up.
"Who's there?" the Saiyan asked the darkness.
"It doesn't matter. Nothing is important if you can't even reach your goals. You want to save the universe, at least you claim you do. Avenge the Saiyans? Hardly, although it is a shame their greatness ends with you," the voice replied.
"What do you know of it?" Bardock countered. "The pressure, the pain of it. Doing what's right isn't easy!"
"You put far too much value on little things,"
"Life is not a little thing!"
"Of course it is. The fight is what's important, you used to know that. Bardock, last of the Saiyans, tell me what happens when a person dies?"
"What's this?" the Saiyan looked surprised. "They go to spirit world of course."
"Is it unhappy there, do you think?"
"No, probably not. But that's besides the point,"
"Then tell me, fool, what is the point?"
"To protect life, serve justice!"
"Ha! Justice you say. Why is your law correct? Who said you could judge people? In the universe you are one and only one. Your justice is yours and yours alone. If you put your justice on others, are you better than those you defeat?" the voice said evenly.
"Why shouldn't my justice be as powerful as another's?"
"Why should it? What makes you better than others?"
"I am not better,"
"You aren't even making sense. If you judge someone then you're saying you're better than them. But if you're not better then how can you judge?" Bardock stood there thinking on the question. Before he could answer, the voice went on "None of it is important. Only the fight is,"
"The fight is more important than life even? The fight that may drag over and kill others, causing pain! If the leader of the enemy is served justice, all other fighting will stop!"
"Wrong. There will always be fighting, always. You're fighting within yourself right now. A choice is a fight in some matter, and whatever is strongest always wins," the voice said.
"Barbaric. There is more to life than strength and fighting!"
"Is there? If you fight justly, then isn't your sense of justice stronger than your other senses? If you fight for vengeance, then isn't your anger the strongest? You fight your enemy, he is stronger, he will win. Your intelligence matters of course, but it's different,"
"How so?"
"It's all in the category of willpower. The strongest willpower will win. There is no doubt,"
"No, that's contradictory of what you just said!"
"Is it? No, Bardock. Think about it. If your enemy kills you, it's because you didn't have the will to be as strong as him. Your will affects the now and the future, remember that Bardock," the voice finished.
"Who are you?" Bardock asked.
"The question is, who are you?"
"I am among the last of the Saiyan. I am Bardock!"
"Bardock, just consider me your guardian angel," the voice said from the darkness. Bardock stepped backwards as he heard footsteps echo. The echo sounded as though it were on concrete inside a large building. Bardock looked at the snow beneath his feet and began to think of the reasons when a figure appeared in front of him. Bardock looked up at the man and froze in his place.
Standing there was a broad man, muscles rippling, aura around him. Even though Bardock couldn't feel anything, he was sure this man was incredibly powerful. It wasn't his features that shocked Bardock, it was the man's face. Me? It was me?
"No. I am not you, it's just coincidence that we look alike," the man said. Bardock studied his face, noting the numerous scars. Bardock's own scar didn't match any on the man's face. The man's armor resembled the oldest Saiyan armor Bardock could remember.
"Bardock, remember what I've said. Only the fight is important. Lives end, people die, but it is never truly the end for them. Hardly a judgement to kill those not wicked. Judge only the truly wicked, as their death will be far more like a punishment. Hell is far worse than the spirit world. Should you decide not to kill, it doesn't matter, you won the battle of wills and defeated your enemy's pride."
"Are you saying all emotions should be avoided?"
"Of course not! But when you are on the field of battle, or even a training ground, there should be only the fight on your mind. Pain and death is the price of this event and everyone pays, but it is worth it, always. The fight is what makes you yourself. There is nothing better than winning and losing is still better than not fighting,"
"What about Fasha?" Bardock asked, thinking of his love.
"Love is an emotion and it is good. There is always a place for love, even with a Saiyan. Remember, the field of battle is no place for it, as its poisons will forever destroy love. Bardock, it's time."
"For what?"
"To shatter the barrier beyond you and your power. Don't let your emotions go to waste. They can be a great tool, as well as your imagination. For example picture a loved one being killed by your enemy. You have a great thing to work with as your anger fuels your power, your will to beat them has grown even stronger and you are more able to do it."
"Anger is the key?"
"If it is your strongest emotion, then yes. We've strayed for long enough. Don't let your body die. Fasha would die too and your rebellion would end on this pathetic planet." Bardock's pupils shrank as he began to see what could begin to unfold.
Fasha woke up an hour after being knocked out. Tears were streaming down her face as she stood up. Confused, she wiped her face and looked at the blocked opening in the door. As she reached for it her dream suddenly flooded back into her mind. After going through it a second time, seeing Bardock's prone body laying in the snow, the tears flowed freely down her face.
"No!" screamed Fasha, her aura erupting around her. The ice on the surface began to vibrate as her power shot upwards. Snow that rested on top of the cave began to melt and evaporate. Fasha reached forward and shattered the ice block stopping her escape.
Bursting out, Fasha raced for Bardock. As she stepped on the ground outside the cave, Fasha saw Bardock's armor sticking out of the snow. Stopping where she was her breathing became shallow.
"No. No. Bardock. No. No! No!" Fasha began to shout. "Bardock? Bardock! Bardock!" she continued saying his name as she began to dig Bardock out. After a second, Fasha realized a layer of ice formed around Bardock. Fasha began to hit the ice, tears streaming down her face.
Seconds later, Fasha cried, leaning against the frozen Saiyan. Fasha had her against it, preparing to say goodbye when she felt something. Fasha stood up, looking down at the ice when she saw it. The snow was moving slightly. As she stared, the snow began to lift up around Bardock.
"What?" Fasha asked, stepping backwards. The snow continued to raise, some of it melting as it drifted. The ice barrier began to crack in random places as stress was forced against the inside of it. Fasha could feel all the hair on her body stand up. She saw snow stop falling in an area around them.
The ground began to rumble, shattering the ice that froze to it. The area warmed up a bit, incidentally causing Fasha to shiver. The rumbling picked up and continued to increase for several seconds. Fasha looked back at the ice form of her love and gaped. Bardock's barrier burst outward, causing the snow withing one hundred feet to suddenly vanish. Fasha shielded her eyes as she could feel power radiating from in front of her.
Bardock exploded in energy, standing up and raising his hands towards the heavens. His aura was flailing about wildly, wider than it had ever been. The tip of it lashed out violently, striking the ground and leaving a small crater. Fasha stepped backwards, watching Bardock intently. The man faced away from Fasha, arms lowered to his sides. His chest sticking out slightly. Power, something the Saiyans had never felt, radiated through Fasha, causing her to blink several times.
"B..Bardock?" she asked timidly.
"Yeah."
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry to worry you," Bardock replied, looking into the distance, a hard look on his face. His white aura waved around, like a beast in a trap. Bardock turned towards Fasha and smiled a wide smile. When he did, his aura dissipated, vanishing upwards leaving only the warmth as a legacy. "Fasha, I could feel your power."
Blushing, Fasha looked him in the face. "When I thought I lost you, I lost control. This image of you dead and frozen was stuck in my mind."
"A tool," Bardock said quietly "let's eat."
"Sire, we have dispatched three squads after the anomaly," said a small man in front of a stained desk. He turned and faced Cooler who sat behind him on a floating chair.
"Excellent. If we find those Saiyans, let me know immediately. I will personally deal with them."