I do not own DBZ
A/N: This chapter will be slightly different than the preivious ones. The overall flow is not standard, but I think it works well.
A Father's Fate
The Story of Bardock
Time darted forward on the frozen burning orb. Freezing winds had sculpted rocks around the cave where two bodies resided. The two figures that stayed later and later, the cave empty for longer spans every day. Every day for thirty days, the two had always come back, sleeping for a short amount of time before eating and drinking from the sitting water.
The Saiyans had returned to the ship one time for supplies and to make sure the ship was still intact. When they left the ship, it was covered in a thick tarp with a large pole extending from the top.
"Well, we should be okay until we need more supplies. What we have should last at least two months, no?" Bardock asked, tossing a box into the air.
"Hopefully, with the way you eat I'd say our chances our slim," Fasha joked. Bardock sighed, catching the box in one hand, scratching the back of his head with the other.
"This past month hasn't been intense enough I think. Well, except for the first day, but after that-" Bardock stopped, taking in a deep breath. "It's been boring actually. I don't feel any stronger, the only plus is our ability to move around freely here."
"That's not nothing," Fasha reminded.
"No, it's not. But it's not a lot either. I think we need to test out what we can really do, see what we need to improve on."
"Hm, what are you thinking?" Bardock slowed, walking to Fasha's side.
"Now that we are in a place where we can raise our power levels freely, I think we should do just that. The whole point was to reach a new level, not learn to breath thicker air or whatever we have done so far,"
"What would raising our powers do?"
"We can know just where we stand. Consider that Frieza's full power has never been recorded, no instruments go that high. We have a starting point." This time Fasha slowed, turning to Bardock.
"You want us to, um, not be able to scan ourselves anymore?"
"Precisely! Our scouters have a limit of detection, but if we find out where they stop functioning we have a start, and that is much better than random power jumps," Bardock finished, concentrating on the box in his hand.
"How can we gain that kind of power?"
"Well, instead of just training at a minimum power level, we do it at full power for as long as possible. Our training may only be a few hours long, but think of it like condensed training," the man said, ducking into their temporary home. Fasha quickly followed, making sure the box in her hand didn't break on the ceiling.
"How is that better? How can that raise power more than an all day training session?"
"Fasha, I'm not saying we simply exercise. I'm thinking of sparring. Our Saiyan heritage makes it ideal. Think about it, after every battle we grow stronger. If we fight at full power, we are battling to our best ability, then we are peaking out. Every time we reach our peak, we know just what to do to pass that limit."
"I'm not getting it, sparring has never been a key to gaining power,"
"Correct, but sparring doesn't mean going all out. This is our new training for now, we bring all we can to the fight, and it sharpens us. At the very least, we recover from the fights stronger and we have just that much more experience." Bardock finished. Fasha sighed deeply, looking around for a moment.
"I can't fight on your level, Bardock," Fasha guiltily said.
"Fasha, I need you to. I'll limit myself until you think your up to it," Bardock rested his hand on Fasha's shoulder. "Together we can do this."
"Ok, start early next week, okay?"
"Alright, when you're ready."
Fasha we have to do better! Bardock can't have a weakling with him! You will hold him back if you don't gain strength. Fasha's mind raced as she continued to avoid ice shards that plummeted downward. Every few seconds when the ice would slow, Fasha fired a blast into the planet, sending more ice and frozen ground into the air.
Fasha jumped side to side, watching the jagged objects rain down. Every nick or cut on her body was a failure. Each time she failed her mind continued to doubt herself. Fasha stepped backwards, avoiding the last few shards of her last salvo before powering up more energy. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Fasha fired several small blasts into the ground, sending up more shards then she had tried yet.
For several seconds, Fasha avoided everything. After a few seconds at top speed, the Saiyan female felt fatigue arrive. Every bound slowed her by hair's widths. In her frenzy, Fasha realized a cut appeared along her face. Wincing she continued to dodge, leaving several fabrics behind. Fasha jumped forward, avoiding a large volley, but failed to move her legs forward fast enough.
Fasha cried out as several spikes embedded themselves in her legs, toppling her. The Saiyan lay on her back, staring at the hundreds of needle like icicles closing the distance. Bardock!
Bardock lifted a boulder from the ground and threw it into the air. After a moment he jumped after the chunk of earth. As the Saiyan landed on it, he slammed his hand downward, shattering the boulder into four equal parts. Bounding from the falling part, Bardock rushed towards a distant piece.
As the Saiyan stopped just before the rock, he instantly began to pummel the fragment. The rock exploded into dozens of smaller ones, seemingly floating in mid air. Bardock flipped backwards in the air, swiping his foot through the rocks vertically, destroying a straight path. As Bardock righted himself, he shot his foot to the side, slicing through the rocks horizontally. Satisfied, Bardock rushed to the next boulder fourth.
As Bardock reached the rock, he could feel something. It felt as though it was on the back of his mind, just a noise, or maybe a thought. Turning, the Saiyan saw a bright light in the distant appear and disappear within a second. Fasha must have a new technique I'll have to watch out for. The man thought, smirking to himself.
Get up, Fasha. We aren't done yet. There's still much to do today.If we still have energy to save ourselves we aren't done. A familiar voice buzzed in Fasha's mind. Rolling to her side, Fasha could feel the hundreds of tiny cuts all over her body. As the Saiyan pushed herself to her hands and knees, she felt four twinges of pain on the back of her legs. Fasha turned and saw four fragments of the ground sticking out of her legs. Wincing, she pulled the shards free and tossed them away. Big deal. That would be more lenient than Frieza would let you off.
"Bardock, I hope you know what kind of power we're going up against," Fasha thought out loud. "I know I do,"
Not the time for that Fasha. The past is stuck there, in your memories. Don't let them out and they can't hurt you.
"But Father was killed by Frieza!"
It's only a memory.
"That doesn't mean it didn't happen! Father was strong!"
Yes, I know full well. You loved him. Bardock's strong and you love him. Trust him.
"Frieza is a demon! Father was too strong to lose and he still did!"
Demon or no he has a limit. We are not giving up now. Father would not allow it, and neither will Bardock! If you love Bardock you will strive to avenge Father.
"Father. Frieza you killed my father. Frieza. You killed my mother."
"Lord Frieza! That's not acceptable!" a man shouted, his red cape following slowly behind him.
"Oh? I don't think a powerless figurehead can even begin telling me what I can and cannot do," Frieza replied, malice dripping from his words.
"You cannot destroy a colony just because they don't meet your quota! My whole family lives there," the man continued.
"Get to the part where I care."
"How dare you!" the man shouted, turning away quickly.
"Omash!" Frieza called after the man.
"What?" the man said turning.
"Don't think you will be let off the hook for that," Frieza grinned evilly.
Fasha get up right now. A voice buzzed again. Fasha slowly climbed to her feet, arms limply hanging at her sides. You know what to do. Fasha nodded, walking over to a thick box and pulling out four black objects. After a moment of rest, Fasha put on the wrist and ankle weights. She reached into the box again and pulled out a black vest. Raising it slowly with all her might, the Saiyan put the weighted vest on as well, drooping forward.
This weight, it's nice. The voice said again. Fasha huffed, smiling. After a few seconds of mental preparation, Fasha powered up to her maximum, allowing her to stand straight up. Pointing her hand downward, she gulped.
"Fasha! Get into the ship!" Omash shouted through the smoke and falling debris. Fasha was crying in the corner, her pig tails drooping down.
"Matsum! Get Fasha to the ship!" Omash shouted at a blonde woman who was looking fearful.
"Fasha, come with mommy," the blonde woman gently called. Fasha got up on unsteady legs, walking by the tables and chairs in the room, all of which were taller than she was. Matsum quickly picked up Fasha and headed out the back of the room. Fasha looked over her mom's shoulder as Omash smiled at her.
"Dada!" Fasha cried out as they slowly went out the back of the building. Fasha watched her dad take off his cape and step into a fighting stance. Through the smoke and haze, Fasha saw a figure with two horns appear.
"Frieza! You will pay for this!" Omash shouted, running forward. Matsum stepped down several stairs, obstructing Fasha's vision of her father. The two women continued around, dodging burning debris and falling buildings. Matsum ran up to their royal ship, opening the doors as fast as she could.
Matsum carried Fasha to a chair and buckled her in. The woman leaned down and kissed her daughter's cheek before heading to the console a few feet away. While the woman punched in codes for a local planet, a bang sounded several hundred feet away. Fasha looked out the window of the craft and saw a pillar of smoke rising out of the royal mansion.
"Omash," Matsum sobbed quietly.
"Where's dada?" Fasha squeaked.
"He can't come this time sweety. He said he wants you to be strong for him. He...he loves you Fasha. I love you too," Matsum said as cheerily as she could. Without warning, the nearest wall to the ship exploded with a figure flying through it. "Omash!" Matsum said, engaging the auto pilot.
"Mommy?" Fasha asked as Matsum rushed by.
"I'll be right back sweety." Matsum closed the door behind her, wiping the tear from her cheek as she stepped off of the ramp. Fasha stared out the window as what she knew to be her father stand up shakily.
"I'm impressed," Frieza said from behind the smoke, his outline visible.
"You bastard," Omash said, blood dripping from his mouth.
"I won't forgive you!" Matsum shouted, running forward. As she neared Frieza, the changeling merely slapped her away, sending Matsum tumbling. Omash growled, powering up an energy orb in his hand.
"Do you intend to stop me? Omash, you are a fool. I give you power and you tell me what I can't do?" Frieza condescended.
"I'll give everything to stop you!" Omash shouted as he threw the energy orb at Frieza. Frieza began laughing, catching the orb in his hand. Laughing even louder, Frieza forced his own energy into the orb, causing it to triple in size instantly. Frieza shifted his arm to the side slightly, pointing at the nearby ship.
"No!" Omash shouted, dashing forward.
Fasha fell to the ground, sweat dripping from her face. Every muscle in her body ached. Her hair lay flat against her head. Fasha rolled as best she could to her side, groaning as she sat up. It felt like every inch of exposed flesh had a cut on it, especially her shoulders. Sitting up, Fasha's mind raced.
"Is that enough?" she asked herself after several minutes.
Not if you can afford to ask questions.
"Bardock, I do this for you," Fasha said, standing up as best she could. Her legs shook horribly and it took all of her concentration to keep her hands raised. Fasha sprinted up to a large rock, she guessed to be four times her height. When she got to it, Fasha got to her knees and grabbed at the base of the rock.
No good, Fasha. Thirty seconds at full power is enough for what we are doing. I know we have energy somewhere around here. Nodding, Fasha powered up, her aura appearing around her. Before long, the aura began to fade, flashing as it did. Now! Fasha used all of her might and flung the rock into the air. Waiting a moment for it to reach full height, Fasha focused her energy.
Fasha crouched low, and jumped upward with all of her power, closing the distance on the rock. The rock hit its apex and began to fall, picking up speed. Fasha closed her eyes and drove her fist forward, slamming into the rock with all of her being. Her mind cleared at the moment of impact. Her thoughts slowing and stopping as her body fell from the sky. Fasha opened her eyes, smiling. The rock had exploded into thousands of pieces, meaning Fasha had finished for the day.
"No!" Omash shouted, sprinting towards Frieza and the large attack pointed at his daughter. Fasha stood in the doorway of the ship, seatbelt straps hanging off her uselessly. In that second, Matsum appeared in front of the energy attack. Everything seemed to stand still for an eternity.
Fasha tried to move in that eternity, but felt as though she was tied down. Omash gasped, whispering a very rushed prayer. Frieza gulped as the blonde woman suddenly appeared, arms in front of her. As eons seemed to pass, a bright light emerged from Matsum's hands. Frieza's energy attack left his hands, mere inches from Matsum.
"Die!" Matsum shouted, firing all over her power into the orb in front of her. The resulting explosion was so bright that Omash fell to his knees, both arms blocking his face. The Saiyan man's armor slowly deteriorated as the wave of energy ripped at him. Fasha was ripped off of the ramp of the ship, sent tumbling into the air.
The next thing Fasha knew was that she was in a boy's arms, standing behind her father. Omash looked at the person holding her and nodded. Whoever saved her nodded back and headed inside the ship.
"Let's go some place safe," the boy said, setting her down in a chair and launching the ship. Fasha looked out the window and saw Frieza standing there, a look of astonishment on his face. Blood flowed freely from nearly his entire front side. In the air around Frieza was a piece of black cloth. A black kimono's belt.
"Mommy," Fasha said, tears streaming down her face. Omash smiled at the ship as it lifted off. When the ship was safely away, Omash rushed forward, his scream still lodged in Fasha's mind.
Fasha fell from the exploded rocks extremely fast. Her weighted body felt unstoppable to her own powers. Tears flowed freely off of her face, dangling in the air just above her body. Fasha closed her eyes, feeling the searing energy of her mother's attack, the terror of the moment. Everything was far beyond a four year old's range, and she hated every single second of it.
Father died so you might live. Mother sacrificed herself so you can survive. They died like true warriors, in defense of someone. You are dying in defense of what? A thought? Dream? Love? It's all fleeting,, in your mind Fasha. You don't even know why you're dying. You are a warrior, and the only way a warrior can die is to fall in battle. In defense of someone or something. Be it ego or love, it's still a battle of defense. That is the only reason to fight. But if you die now, it will not be a warrior's death. It is just suicide.
"Ha, I don't plan on dying," Fasha said to herself resolutely.
Often times plans are laid to waste by necessity. Is your death here necessary? No. It's not even allowed. Not yet. Fasha passed out with that thought running through her head. Her unconscious body giving up the will to stop herself. No! Fasha's mind fought to wake up.
Without warning, Fasha was pulled away from the ground and into the air. What? We didn't slam into the ground? Her mind trying to figure out the impossible. Still unconscious, her mind felt freely for energy. She replayed the fall once before her conscious mind took hold again.
"Bardock?"
"Let's go some place safe."
Fasha sat bolted upright. Looking around for an instant, her body suddenly reminded her of its existence.
"Fasha, don't be so hasty, you'll open your wounds."
Fasha coughed, looking around the dim settings. "Bardock?"
The voice answered immediately, "Yes?"
"Are we back at the cave?"
"Yeah. I'm glad to see you're okay."
"Ha, yeah. I overdid it," Fasha said, stretching her arms delicately. "Yesterday was a busy day, huh?" Bardock looked over at her, concern written across his face. "What?"
"Fasha, you were out for three days," Bardock said, crossing his arms.
"Really? I really overdid it."
"What exactly were you doing?"
"Training, to the extreme, like you wanted." To reach your level.
"That's not what I meant. Killing yourself is probably the worst thing ever. If I hadn't got this sudden feeling, You would have died," Bardock said, a gloomy look on his face.
"What's important is I made it. And I'm stronger for it, no?"
"Yeah, you WILL be, but you aren't yet. You used up some of your life force." Fasha sat, unable to respond. "Spirit world would have mourned, even if they were getting such a wonderful person." Bardock walked up to Fasha and kissed her cheek.
"Sleep now."
I could feel Fasha then. Her pain, her thoughts. All of it. The urgency is what really hit me. It was so overwhelming, I practically moved automatically. Bardock thought, leaning against the wall, staring into the darkness.
"Fasha," Bardock sighed. "Don't kill yourself on my account." I guess I have no choice. I have to hide my true power for a while more.