AN: Hey peeps! Little sidetrack here... I got a review asking about Piccolo from Omnipotent Porunga. Now, I've thought about my alternate universe here a lot. I thought about Goku's childhood adventures involving Pilaf, the Red Ribbon Army, and the like. Now, since our lovely Saiya-jin arrived on Earth when Goku (Kakarrot) was only a year old, Goku never got to have the childhood hunt for the Dragonballs or spend time with his Grandpa Gohan or anything of the sort because Bardock reclaimed his son.

Piccolo came to be because Pilaf released Kami's dark side, Piccolo Daimoa, to aide him in his dark ambitions. Goku killed Piccolo Daimoa, but not before he hatched the baby Piccolo we all know and love today. So, first and foremost, the Saiya-jin made a treaty with the Humans that in order to cohabitate with them on Earth, they would offer their protection from any harm. So, essentially, Earth hasn't had any wars since the Saiya-jin have arrived. Earth is focusing its efforts on preparing for the galactic battle that will be at hand.

So, if Pilaf did attempt to become Emperor of the planet, the Saiya-jins would have bitch-slapped him back down, and probably killed him. So, my guess is that Pilaf, and even the Red Ribbon Army, haven't ever had the chance to cause trouble. So Piccolo Daimoa is probably still sealed in a jar somewhere and Kami is keeping his shiz on the down low. But there is a possibility he can always be set free...hmm...

So...Bulma hasn't even yet found one of Dragonballs in her father's cellar, and I in fact killed off Dr. Breifs by means of emphysema. He was seen constantly smoking in the show, and that just goes to show you guys how bad smoking is for you! I just quit...is anyone proud of me? ...no? Okay then. Anyhow, I did kill off Dr. Breifs, and Bulma has been raised devoting her life to technology and science and the Saiya-jin cause, so she doesn't really have that carefree girlish attitude she had when we saw her in Dragonball series.

Anyhow, big questions I'm raising here are the following:

A) Am I going to bring Piccolo into the mix?

B) Are the Dragonballs going to be a part of the story?

To be honest, contemplate that. Wonder, if you will, what crazy schemes I will include in my tales of valor and strength. And, as always, please enjoy Long Way Home, review, and have an awesome day!

And ages are, since a year has passed, the following: Vegeta 22, Bulma 21, Kakarrot 17, and the demi-Saiya-jin that have been in previous chapters are mostly 15 at this point. I also kind of estimated Radtiz to be about ten years older than Vegeta, so I'm going to say he's 32, for sake of literary license.

But, I am trying to follow DBZ facts as closely as possible. I'm getting all of my resources from MY FAVORITE GAMES DOT COM. Check it out!

Long Way Home

"SHOULD WE GO after him?" Bulma questioned anxiously, her brow furrowed with worry as she watched the Prince hurtle off into the distance. She tensed, as if ready to snap into action the moment Kakarrot bade her leave. Vegeta's obvious outrage and extreme reaction simply could not be ignored.

Kakarrot grabbed the heiress's shoulder, effectively stilling her. "No. Let him be." he advised her gently. He too, was concerned for Vegeta and his welfare, mental and physical. Though this was the first time he had met the Prince, he felt a strange pull towards the man. As if he and Vegeta-ouji had perhaps been comrades in another life and the friendship had carried over into this one. But, still, a man needed and deserved his privacy, and now was one of those times where such privacy could not be invaded.

Nappa and Raditz remained silent, probably surprised at their Prince's reaction to the horrible, and yet, wonderful news. And, it was likely they were in shock themselves from the turn of events. Neither had expected any of this. But, then again, who would?

Bulma bit her lip, fighting the urge to protest against Kakarrot's mandate. She had her aircar and a scouter; she could, by all means, go and find Vegeta. "He needs somebody." she finally said softly. Perhaps she was being overly maternal, but going after Vegeta felt like the right thing to do. Her cerulean eyes pierced Kakarrot's own obsidian and he softened.

"He doesn't know you, Bulma-san. It is very likely he will ignore your advances, or even possibly injure or kill you." he told the older woman solemly. Though he did doubt that the sovereign would truly harm her, there was always a possibility...one Kakarrot did not want to explore the outcome of.

Raditz stepped forward, gaining Bulma and Kakarrot's attention. "I have never seen the Prince in such a state before. Kakarrot is right, there is no telling what he would do if you were to confront him." the warrior confirmed faintly. He loved his Prince deeply, worried for him greatly, and wished fervently that perhaps this was all some sort of nightmare from which he was about to wake.

Kakarrot's eyes met those of his brother's and they shared a nod. "It is best to return to our base for the time being. King Vegeta will want to meet you both, as would Bardock. And we must breif you on our operation and the like."

"But, Vegeta-"

"He will be able to locate us with his scouter, or contact our scouters. He will find us." Nappa gruffly informed Bulma, his disdain for her weakness apparent on his face.

Bulma heaved a sigh, jumping into her aircar so that they could leave for the Capsule Corp base. The three Saiya-jin jumped into the air and she wordlessly followed them. Though Vegeta and his greif weighed heavily on her mind, now was not the time to run after him. She stared ahead, the three warriors in her line of vision. A sudden, sly smirk twisted her lips. Yes. Now was not the time to run after him. But...Kakarrot would be busy getting Raditz and Nappa up to snuff on the Saiya-jins' doings...and thus would not be able to keep an eye on her.

She quickly plotted which of Capsule Corporation's methods of transportation would be both discreet and quick.

VEGETA FLEW RECKLESSLY towards a destination unknown. He couldn't think logically, he couldn't breathe steadily, he couldn't feel anything but his own heart furiously pumping hot magma through his veins.

His whole life had been one great big farce. A lie. Pointless, meaningless events of suffering melding together into one vague, repeating moment: Freiza, standing above him, his crimson eyes alight with vindictive pleasure in Vegeta's pain. Clawing, tearing, burning...a pain that he had felt like no other, a shame deeper even more than the physical extremity of it all. His sibilant voice mocking him, his father, his people.

Vegeta fought back. He always did. Each time Freiza sunk his proverbial claws into Vegeta's smaller frame, he would snarl, claw, bite, hiss, do whatever he could to fight the overpowering lizard, if only verbally or mentally. Though his attempts were feeble at best in comparison to the Changling's awesome strength, Vegeta always fought him.

And each time afterward, injured and in a pool of his own sweat and blood, he fought the mental strain that came with Freiza's physical, sexual abuse. The trembling, the nausea, the panic; Vegeta fought that too.

He had fought his whole life, it seemed. He purged, fighting the inhabitants of the planets on his list of galatic conquerings. Those faceless victims, fighting him in return, desperate to save their doomed planet and people. He fought to maintain his own honor and pride. He fought to keep himself and his two vassals, Nappa and Raditz, safe from as much harm as possible. He fought that ivory tyrant everytime he gave Vegeta an order he didn't like, everytime he forced Vegeta to his bed for his own sick, sadistic pleasure. He fought the obvious signs of post traumatic stress that occured each time Freiza mercilessly raped and tortured him. He fought the nightmares, the incessant need to curl into a fetal position and cease to be.

And it was for nothing. The past fifteen years of suffering and pain had all been for nothing. The constant ache of knowing your homeworld and people were all but dust to be scattered throughout the galaxy had been, for the most part, unnecessary and untrue.

His father was alive. A small portion of his people had been evacuated. They had resided on this backwater planet named 'Chikyuu' for the better part of fifteen years, hiding like cowards in wait for the storm to hit instead of rescuing Nappa, Raditz, and himself from their unfortunate fates.

Vegeta's fist clenched so tightly that his nails drew blood from his palms, piercing the material of the white gloves he always wore. His father had neglected to rescue him. He had left him alone to rot in Freiza's possession. He had abandoned him.

Vegeta knew that his father had loved him when he was a child. He recalled the breakfasts and dinners he had shared with his father where the elder Vegeta had inquired what his plans would be for the day, how his day had gone, or what he had learned. He even recalled the odd nights where, in his sleep, he would sense a presence. He would open his eyes only too see his father sitting on the edge of his bed, watching over him as the Gods of War might watch over soldiers on the battlefield.

But clearly his father had not loved him enough to rescue him. To try to get him back. Vegeta was the Crown Prince, necessary for the Saiya-jin Empire to flourish. Why did Vegeta-ou abandon him? Wasn't he, the younger, worth something? To the Empire? To his own father?

Never before had Vegeta felt so unneeded, unloved, unwanted. He had not even known he could feel such a way. Nor should he care to feel this way. It was un-Saiya-jin, unseemly, and unnecessary. But he felt it all the same. It was a deep ache, an acute physical pain, deep within his breast. Wetness touched his cheeks, and Vegeta pressed his gloved, bloodied fingers to the source of liquid.

He was crying.

Never before had he cried over anything else. Not when he'd been beaten by Freiza's lackeys who found amusement in his shame and indignant anger. Not when it had been announced that Vegeta-sei had met its demise due to a meteor storm. Not when Freiza calculatingly and cruelly took his young body for his own pleasure and delight. No, one of the things Vegeta had prided himself on was that no one could ever make him cry or invoke such emotion. No one was worth that much.

But now...his own father's thoughtless dereliction, as if the Crown Prince meant nothing more than a bargaining chip for treaties, this had made him cry. He wiped angrily at the hot marks of shame that trailed down his chisled face and dripped off his chin, wetting the ground at his feet. He looked around, wondering when exactly he had touched down on the earth once more. In his swirling emotions, he had forgotten his own physical presence, and had failed to realize he had landed from his flight.

He was on a beach, the sand giving way to his feet with each step he took. Palm trees swayed from the breeze that came from the ocean. The waves crashed upon the shore, a sound both soothing and tormenting. Vegeta heaved a tremulous sigh, collapsing to his knees, his fingers fisting in his upswept hair. Why? Why had his father forsaken him? Why had he suffered so needlessly for nearly two decades?

And now, here he was, upon the land of the planet that Kakarrot was supposed to have purged. That was what Vegeta had expected upon his arrival on Chikyuu. A planet, devoid of life, save for one Saiya-jin and whatever wildlife had prevailed in Kakarrot's infant purge. But instead, Chikyuu was teeming with life; that of Chikyyu-jin, and, unexpectedly, Saiya-jin.

The very people that Vegeta had thought were long dead, and that Raditz, Nappa, Kakarrot, and himself were the sole survivors of. It was, in a warped way, a dream come true that his people, his father especially, were alive and as well as could be in the sitatuion as it were. But, because they were alive, it had also wrought a deep wound that Vegeta felt physically in addition to mentally. They had continued on without him, leaving him to the whims of his cruel master.

How very ironic. Vegeta wiped at the remaining tears that had begun to dry on his face. His whole life was nothing but irony, it seemed. The mission that had been at hand was now null and void. Why bother to retrieve Kakarrot from Chikyuu and plan to defeat Freiza? It was quite possible that Vegeta could remain on Chikyuu for many years to come without Freiza ever posing a threat. The tyrannical lizard probably believed that Nappa, Raditz, and himself had perished on a purging mission, since they had staged it to appear that way. And if Freiza believed his favorite pet to be dead, then he would never bother to look for him. Vegeta could, in all probability, live out the rest of his life on Chikyuu peacefully, cohabitating with the humanoid, though oddly colored, Chikyuu-jin.

But, no. Such a life was not for him. Not after all he had lived through. Vegeta would not allow all of his suffering to be for naught. He would train, here on Chikyuu-sei, and not rest until he had done the impossible: He would become the legendary Super Saiya-jin, as was his birthright. He would toil tirelessly until he achieved his goals. And once he did, he would seek out Freiza and kill him for every injustice he had made Vegeta suffer. He would kill Freiza for destroying his homeplanet, his birthright, his pride, his childhood, his sense of self, his everything.

Revenge was his new purpose. Everything else be damned.

"WHEN THE SAIYA-JIN arrived on Chikyuu-sei, they landed here, in Japan. Not far, actually, from where your space pods landed today." Kakarrot informed Nappa and Raditz as they landed at the Capsule Corporation compound. Bulma capsulized her aircraft and followed them silently. Kakarrot quickly typed a code into the panel at the entrance and the door opened. "We were immediately contacted by Breifs-san, the man who owned and ran the company Capsule Corporation. He also was Bulma-san's father. He, in turn, put us in contact with the the King of the Earth. We ran negotiations for several days, and a treaty was drawn up. We, the Saiya-jins, could gain Chikyuu-sei's citizenship and cohabitate with Chikyuu-jins if we contriuted to Earth's society and offered our protection. They, in turn, would offer their resources and technology for our means regarding Freiza and the war the was bound to come to Chikyuu."

Nappa snorted, drawing attention from both Raditz and Kakarrot. "Why didn't we just conquer them instead? These Chikyuu-jin sound weak and would not put up much of a fight from our warriors." he argued derisively. Bulma scowled at the tall man's remark, but held her tongue. She did not know what he was capable of, and he was too large for her to be comfortable around.

The younger son of Bardock sighed softly. "Since I had not completed my infant purge, the Chikyuu-jin knew nothing of the Saiya-jin race or the galactic warfare that was at hand. Bardock and Vegeta-ou decided it would be better to come in peace and offer our protection instead of dominating and conquering the Chikyuu-jin. This way, they would willingly give every effort for our cause and gain something in turn. An alliance yeilds more prospects than servitude does." he explained to the brute carefully.

Nappa snorted once more, obviously scoffing at the idea of peaceful Saiya-jin. Quite frankly, he viewed it as an embarrassment. Raditz remained silent, deciding it was better not to argue with the hard-head about the issue. Kakarrot led them through the various passageways, deep into the center of the compound, and continued with his monologue.

"Saiya-jins were stationed throughout the various countries of Earth, each station becoming a base of sorts, where the Saiya-jin could live, train, and carry on their daily duties. Ours is the largest station, settled here in Japan and working closely with Capsule Corporation for war technology and advances."

They approached another door, and Kakarrot quickly typed in a code, allowing them entry. Raditz and Nappa's jaws dropped when they saw Saiya-jin milling about, heading to and from the mess halls, the training rooms, the barracks, the medical center, and various other rooms with various other purposes. It was, literally, an exact copy of how their society had been built back on Vegeta-sei.

"Before the destruction of Vegeta-sei, King Vegeta managed to evacuate a little under five thousand warriors. Less than half of them happened to be women, and of those women, many were older, battle scarred warriors who had their child-rearing years far behind them. Afraid of our people's imminent end, King Vegeta bade his soldiers leave to bed Chikyuu-jin women if they wished. At the time, he was not sure if procreation was even possible. However, nine months hence, we had proof that a Chikyuu-jin could have a viable pregnancy by a Saiya-jin and that the babe born was alert and healthy. As of late, the eldest of the demi-Saiya-jin are coming of age and have proved themselves both strong and clever."

Raditz arched a brow. Never before had there been a child born of less than full Saiya-jin blood among their people. Although raping was not common when Saiya-jin purged planets and enslaved the people, it did occur, and any half-breeds that had resulted were always put down for means of racial purity. Ou-sama had much gall to not only allow half-breeds to live, but make it permissable for them to come about in the first place.

Although, Kakarrot had claimed the half-breeds were strong and not an embarrassment to their fore-fathers, so in the end, it was not likely to matter so much. Strength and power was what mattered the most, and they would need it once the time to wage war with Freiza came.

Nappa, however, was becoming more and more displeased with the turns of events here on Chikyuu-sei. He kept his mouth shut, however, figuring he could list his grievances with King Vegeta when he saw him once more, for the first time in over fifteen years.

Bulma cleared her throat, momentarily distracting the men from their conversation. "If you excuse me, Nappa-san, Raditz-san, Kakarrot. There is work to be done in the laboratory and I must tend to it. I bid you adieu, and hope to see you soon." she bowed slightly, turning and leaving the men standing in the congested hall of the compound.

Kakarrot schooled his features so that Nappa and Raditz would not see a faint smile on his lips. "If you will, please follow me to King Vegeta's personal chambers. He is eager to meet with you." he led the men to the aformetnioned location, knocking politely on Vegeta-ou's door.

"You may enter." the King responded, his voice muffled from behind the door.

Kakarrot opened the door, one of the few that was not electronically activated, and bowed deeply. "Ou-sama, I come before you with Nappa-san and Raditz-san, the guardians of Prince Vegeta." he rose from his bow, taking note the his father was at King Vegeta's side, paperwork laid on the desk before them. Bardock and Raditz shared a look of fond greeting discreetly.

Vegeta took note of the two soldiers that stood at attention before him, each rising from his individual bow and a low, respectful utterance of their Leige's name. "Where is my son?" he questioned forwardly.

Kakarrot, having known the King personally since his infancy, remained calm. "My Lord, when Bulma-san and I informed him of the Saiya-jin's actions, he reacted adversely and flew off."

Vegeta growled softly, he was severely dissappointed. He had been eager to see his son once more. It had been too long, and truth be told he had missed him dearly. "And you did not go after him?" he queried harshly.

Raditz stepped forward, finding it strange that he was so quick to jump to his brother's defense. "Forgive me, Your Eminence, but Nappa and I thought it best to allow the Prince his time alone. This news came as a shock to him, and there was no telling how he could have reacted had we gone after him." he intoned carefully.

Vegeta scowled. "If he does not return by this evening, I want you to go accompany Kakarrot in locating him."

The three men bowed deeply. "Yes, My Leige."

"Now, sit. Brief me on your years of servitude to that white demon." They obliged, sitting and telling the King of their tales and experiences.

BULMA ENTERED HER lab briskly, grabbing the essential items she knew she'd need and left just as quickly. None of her techs questioned her, for she was prone to unpredictable and, oftentimes, odd behavior. She left the compound from her own private living quarters, which had been sectioned off from the Saiya-jin side for both her privacy and safety. The Mastertech decapsulized one of her more discreet aircrafts, starting it up and taking off. The compound quickly became a pin-point from an aerial view, and she smirked to herself. Nobody could tell Bulma Breifs what she could and could not do!

She fixed her scouter over her ear and turned it on. It had recorded Vegeta's ki signature, and his power level when his emotions had erupted. She verbally commanded it to locate the Prince, and she saw that he had not gotten too far. She wasn't surprised, for the young Prince had been far too emotionally distraught to really make any ground.

She sped to his location, making sure to set her scouter on tracking mode in case the Prince decided to move. As she flew she thought back the that afternoon when she and Kakarrot had wated impatiently for the trio's arrival. He had become intense, almost like the hero of a romance novel, if she did say so herself. And for a heartbeat, she thought he was going to kiss her.

Did that mean that the younger man liked her? Or was it some sort of Saiya-jin 'heat of the moment' type of thing? There had been times when she had suspected Kakarrot of harboring a crush, but he had never acted on it and Bulma figured maybe she was just becoming narcissistic or something.

Oh, damn that Saiya-jin! There was just no telling, and she supposed she would have to confront Kakarrot once she returned to base with Vegeta in tow. Speaking of which, her scouter beeped to tell her that the Prince was within a mile radius. An island loomed ahead, and Bulma descended. She landed her vehicle on the shore, capsulizing it quickly. Her scouter indicated Vegeta was half a mile away and she began trekking up the beach to the sanctuary of the palm trees.

He must have sensed her even before she saw him, for he materialized in front of her, his expression grim. Bulma hid her surprise and looked upon the Prince of all Saiya-jin, not certain of what to say now that he was before her.

"You're the woman who accompanied Kakarrot today." he spoke, his voice like gravel.

She nodded. "My name is Bulma."

He took a step closer, inspecting her, and she remained still, though she watched him carefully. Perhaps this had not been a good idea after all...

"Bulma of Chikyuu." his voice was half sneer, half melodic. He reached out, taking a lock of her aquamarine hair in his gloved hand. "Are all of you Chikyuu-jin so strangely colored?" he raised the lock, taking a cursory smell of the strands he grasped.

A smile touched Bulma's lips. "Well, sometimes. We're very diverse here on Chikyuu-sei, I suppose." she answered indulgently.

He nodded, and she studied him in turn. He was handsome, and actually resembled his father quite closely, save for his shorter stature and lack of facial hair. He was young, close to her age probably, and he had the air of royalty about him. His widow's peak and upswept hair made him several inches taller than her, but they were just about the same height regardless.

"I know things are not as you expected them to be." she said conversationally, feeling strangely affected by this foreign Prince.

The Prince scowled, dropping her locks, looking away from her. "Did they send you to retreive me?" he questioned sullenly.

The Capsule Corp heiress shook her head. "Do you honestly think they'd send one woman to retrieve you? I can't make you do anything that you don't want to." Bulma chuckled at the mere thought of even attempting such a feat.

Vegeta remained silent for a moment, and he gazed upon her, his deep onyx eyes boring into hers. "I suppose not." he removed his bloodied gloves, dropping them carelessly. His hands, as tanned as his face, touched her hair once more. His brows furrowed as he took in the texture. So unusual. "Why did you come here?" his fingers combed through her hair, much like a child would curiously stroke an animal; a new, unaccustomed sensation to be explored.

"I don't know." she murmured, lost in the Prince's eyes. There was just something about him. something intriguing. Alluring. Inexplicable. He arched a brow in query, and she grinned wryly. "I guess I just wanted to be here. Maybe you need a friend."

"A friend." he repeated, as if turning the word over in his head. As if it were a strange concept, an unheard of anomaly. She nodded and his features contorted with emotion. "I have no use for such paltry-"

She pressed her fingers, petite and dainty in comparison to his, to his strangely soft lips. "It's not for my personal gain. I'm already involved as it is with the Saiya-jins and their cause. I'm offering it for your own gain." she could feel his breath, warm and even, on her fingertips. Bulma fought a shiver.

Vegeta's hands captured hers, removing her fingers from his lips so that he could speak. "I neither decline nor accept." he said slowly, as if he were still pondering his answer even as he spoke.

She smiled, unaware that it dazzled him momentarily. Unaware that he had never truly had an interaction with a woman who wasn't on a planet he was in the midst of purging. Unaware that he was so affected by her, for he hid it well. "That's okay. You don't have to decide now."

He gazed upon her porcelain skin, her oval-shaped face, her delicate nose. This woman...he felt a pull towards her, but felt an aversion at the same time. If he allowed her to be his 'friend', what would become of it? Would she seek to undo him from his heart outward? He feared the type of man he'd become, should he allow himself to fall victim to this woman's wiles. Or was she truly just extending her genuine friendship?

She had been raised on this seemingly peacefully backwater planet. Such things as rape, bloodshed, and suffering were something she knew nothing of, most likely. And if she did, she hid it well.

"Well, the sun is setting, and it's getting cold. Do you want to ride with me in my aircraft?" Bulma inquired gently.

He numbly nodded, following her back to the shore, watching her frame, still clad in jeans and a Capsule Corp shirt, walking in front of him. She decapsulized her vehicle, climbing in with ease. He followed her example, sitting beside her in the strangely designed vessel, and they flew in silence back to Capsule Corporation.