There will be 10 chapters plus an Epilogue! And I'm pretty much done :)


Chapter 9

The three girls finally found themselves at the mouth of the cave and the two senshi turned to look at the princess who had been leading them.

"She is definitely in there."

The three girls exchanged glances and all reached into the well of power they knew hovered just below the surface and pulled it forward.

"She will not catch us off guard this time."

They entered the tunnel cautiously, Rei trailing her hand along wall leaving black scorch marks so that they might find their way back. It was completely silent and before too long the only light was from the soft glow each was able to produce.

It did not take too long for them to come to a large cavern where Beryl stood, waiting for them. Her ruby lips were curved in a smile but her eyes radiated the intense hatred she held for the petite blonde in the middle.

"Well, well what have we here. Come to apologize for ruining my life little princess?" Beryl did not even wait for a response for she plowed forward. "I bet you've gotten everything you've ever wanted. And I couldn't even have this one thing." The woman's hands trembled at her sides, her rage evident.

"But.. he's not mine anymore." Usagi finally interrupted. "I broke it off. Now, can you please come with us and just tell me mother. She'll understand," and I can be rid of him for good, she thought.

Usagi was shocked then to see that instead of pleased the other woman looked even more furious and she stalked towards her only to stop when the two senshi stepped forward. Beryl practically growled as she stared down the shorter woman.

"You little fool," she hissed "you have only gone and made things worse. All I had to do was wait until he convinced you that it was fine for him to take a mistress and then he and I could have been together." Beryl raised her hands to her own wild red hair and clenched her fists in the mane about her face and pulled in frustration.

Usagi on the other hand could not have been more surprised. This woman actually wanted to be a mistress? That was what she felt she was missing out on? She barely had time to for all of this to register when suddenly from the shadows blackened figures appeared speeding towards her and her guardians. They tried to fight them off but were smothered beneath the number of them, and once all three were on the ground they felt cold, burning manacles snapped around their wrists.

Beryl hardly looked pleased even at this development, she was pacing the dirt floor muttering to herself, shaking her head. It was moments before she finally turned to pay attention to the three girls that were now her prisoners. Usagi had a cut above her eye that dripped blood down the side of her face. Rei and Makoto were both worse for wear having thrown themselves on top of their princess once they realized that the numbers were too overwhelming.

"I am supposed to keep you alive little princess. My new master wants to use you, as a bargaining chip I suppose." She shook her head as if she could not believe anyone would want her. "Soon your beloved castle will be under siege and before your mother can use her blessed crystal to save your people my master will easily hang your life in the balance." Beryl chuckled darkly though there was a tightness around her eyes that betrayed her lingering anger. She turned to look back at the blonde princess who had now been chained to the wall along with her friends. "He did not specify, however, as to what condition you were supposed to be."

Before any of them could react the wild red hair around Beryl's grew rapidly and entangled itself around Usagi sending bolts of dark energy into the trapped princess. The blonde screamed in pain as her friends struggled to break the bonds around their wrists.

"Keep trying senshi! My master made those specifically to hold you." She cackled as she smugly looked down at the collapsed girl at her feet. Just as she was ready to attack her once more a large blast of energy threw her body across the cavern with a loud thud.

The Saiyan Prince stood in the entrance his black gaze murderous. Nappa and Raditz charged in from behind him slaughtering the creatures that flowed from the shadows to attack them. Vegeta cut through them to Usagi who was struggling to stand. He reached out and snapped the metal cuffs around her wrist before crushing her to him. His tail wrapped firmly around her waist as his hands tangled in her hair.

She leaned into him resting her head on his chest listening to the rapid pounding of his heart. The air around them crackled with unrestrained energy as he struggled to control the outpouring of rage caused by the sight of her slumped on the ground in front of that mad woman.

Raditz and Nappa quickly freed the other two girls who told them what Beryl had planned.

"We have to go then, quickly."

"Too late." Beryl's voice was shaky but she stood firmly in the entrance to the cavern her slim hand wrapped around staff topped with a garnet gem. She raised it before any of them could stop her and blasted out part of the ceiling completely sealing their way out.

Vegeta loosened his grip just slightly on the Moon Princess as he looked around their prison. They were deep enough underground that blasting a hole in the ceiling could cause the whole thing to come down. And as soon as the dust had cleared they had heard the collapsing of the rest of the tunnel.

"We have to try." Usagi's voice was muffled since she was still partially pressed into the Saiyan's chest.

"Not a chance, even we couldn't survive all the rock falling in on us if the whole thing comes down." Raditz said as he pushed off the ground and flew up towards the top searching for any crack or crevice that might provide a way out.

"If we do not get out then there is a chance my mother will hand over the crystal to some monster to try to save my life. I cannot live with that, I will not."

Vegeta finally let go of the small blonde and joined Raditz close to the top of the cavern. "If we concentrate small blasts we may be able to work our way out without causing a cave in. Remember when we came in the ground began to rise in front of us, perhaps we aren't that far underground and the top of this is the hill that we saw when we entered."

"That sounds right. I do not remember the ground sloping all that much when we came in. We may just be dug into the hill." The fire senshi spoke up as she tried to remember more precisely the lay of the land where they had discovered the tunnel's entry point.

"It will still take some time. I won't endanger your life rushing this." Vegeta finally spoke as he looked down at the Moon Princess who stood impatiently waiting his decision.

"Umm.. what about the rest of us?" Raditz joked as he floated back down the ground preparing a small ki blast. Vegeta scowled down at him before studying the ceiling once more before pointing to a spot. As Raditz began firing the precise blasts Vegeta came back down to stand beside Usagi.

He pulled her to him once again, brushing his thumb lightly over the cut above her eye before wiping away the blood on her face.

"Are you okay?" His voice was tight and she could only nod before looking down at the ground. Once more he pulled her into him.

"It seems I'm never around to protect you when you need it. We'll be changing that soon." Usagi looked up at him, her eyes hopeful but guarded.

"You're not mad at me?" Her voice trembled just barely.

"Of course I'm mad at you. That was one of the dumbest thing.." he trailed off when she ducked her head again this time accompanied by a sniffle.

"I did not think.."

"No you didn't. However, I can understand wanting to take care of something on your own. Just next time, take a little better back up."

"Hey!"

"What?!"

Vegeta smirked at the two senshi, "give it some years and then I'll take it back." They both glared at him but then turned their attention skyward when an ominous rumble thundered though the cave. Raditz dropped to the ground to stand near Rei while Nappa took a stance beside Makoto. If the ceiling came down they'd do their best to protect them.

The rumbling died away though and Raditz glanced at Vegeta for confirmation to continue. The Saiyan Prince nodded.

It took far longer than they would have liked but finally the soft rays of the dawning sun filtered through. Raditz flew down to wrap his arms around Rei and carry her up. Makoto held onto Nappa who waited for his prince to give the final word.

"Finish it Raditz and let's get out of here."

The other Saiyan blasted the final shot and the group darted upward as cracks began to zig zag across the roof. Nappa and Makoto were the last to clear the hole when the side of the hill caved in where they had been only moments before.

Dawn was just beginning to break. Vegeta jerked his head in the direction of the kingdom and the other two warriors took off with their companions giving their Prince a moment alone. Usagi looked up at him confused.

"Before we go I just want you to know I don't care what your mother says, my father, your former fiancée.. you are mine Usagi." His hand cupped the side of her face and leaned her cheek into it.

"Oh really, just like that?"

He nodded firmly and pulled her to him. She easily went a small smile curving her lips up. His mouth captured hers, gently at first and then more fiercely as her hands came up to tangle in his dark hair. His arms went around her waist as he pulled her in more tightly and he kissed her until they both had to pull back for breath.

Her eyes were dazed but happy, his gaze was hungry and possessive.

"We need to go." He said, reluctance heavy in his tone but he could sense the army that was amassing at her kingdom's gate. Her mother would need to see her before this unknown master could try to use her as a pawn in their game.

She sighed and nodded her arms going around his neck as he scooped her up and flew quickly along the path the other four had taken.

It didn't take them long to overtake the group as Raditz and Nappa had been holding back waiting for their Prince to catch up. They too could sense the army that had formed seemingly out of nowhere in front of the Moon Kingdom's front gate. They could also tell by the energy signatures suddenly blinking out of existence that the fighting had already begun.

"When we get there we need to Usagi to the Queen." Vegeta began, looking at the other Saiyans. "We can access the Queen's gardens and then head to the throne room."

"She will not be there." Usagi answered.

"Where then?"

"She will be out there. With our army. She will be at the back of course, but she will be with them."

Vegeta's respect for the Moon Queen grew. He knew that she would be well protected at least, if Bardock's constant presence at her side meant what he thought it did. Not to mention the outer senshi with their battle experience would be there protecting her. And most likely frantically keeping a lookout for a certain missing princess.

"Then we'll come in from the side, near the stables." Vegeta finalized, adjusting their course just slightly so they were flying towards the massive barn that lay on the outskirts of the courtyard. They could skirt around that towards the back of the front lawn where the battle was most likely taking place.

"Should be land and walk or keep flying. Won't they see us coming?" Makoto asked as they got closer to the high walls surrounding the castle.

"The battle has already started, the six of us do not pose enough of a threat for them to be worried. They'll probably think we are scouts just returning." Vegeta replied as he glanced down at Usagi who looked visible shaken to hear her home was already under attack.

Finally they were close enough to see the walls. The sounds of fighting drifted over them and caused the three girls to pale slightly. Despite their training and teachings they had never come face to face with war.

The Saiyans carried them up and over the walls before they all landed and took off running around the stables and through the courtyard. The scene on the front lawn made them all come screeching to a halt.

As far as they could see a surging blackened mass of bodies swarmed upon the bloodied green grass. The Saiyans were scattered throughout the fight being assisted by the Moon Kingdom's warriors. At the back the Queen stood tall her white knuckled grip on her staff betraying her anxiety. In front of her the guardians of her were four of the senshi, Uranus, Nepture, Mercury, and Venus. The wielded their weapons gracefully any time an enemy managed to get past the others fighting and try to make it to the Queen.

The most terrible sight was further back, a swirling black tornado of dark energy with Beryl at the bottom. Occasionally she would send out a blast to try and decimate part of the defending army and each time the Moon Queen who shield the warriors as best she could. But it was beginning to take a toll on the aging monarch.

"Mother." Usagi whispered before bolting around the chaos towards the silver haired figure.

"Raditz, Nappa find my father. Makoto, Rei come with us." Vegeta took off after the Princess on foot conserving what energy he could by not flying. He knew he would need all the strength he could muster to defeat the monster before them.


As I am finishing up this story I would love to hear what you loved, didn't love, any constructive criticism! And thank you so much to those of you who've been hanging on since the beginning!