A/N: In this story Goku personality is a mixture of Kakorrot and Goku…because to be very honest had not Goku received the blow to the head as a child he'd be like any other boy. Remember of course that he was raised on a farm away from most of society so that where his Gokuness comes in. P.S. I will write another chapter and have it out in less than 3 days of this post if and only if I receive 20 reviews- within the first four days but dont worry I'll update either way I thought I'd give the challenge for fun!o.o Well enough talking enjoy

Chapter 10

Ox King sat on his throne his daughter to his right and Prince Absalom on the left. It had been weeks since the forefront of the army went out to survey the land and to also meet with the King Augustine, finally a messenger had returned. It had been a daunting factor in the king's mind for the past weeks of what word would return. Tension between his kingdom and Aga Kingdom was high and they were nearly an equal match in their army. He had no desire to go into war now or in the near future not when they were just beginning to heighten their trades and alliances.

He glanced over to his daughter who had placed her small hand on top of his massive one in assurance. She was his joy and hope in this dreary time and at times the only reason why he even rose from his bed. She was a near replica of her beautiful mother that he missed dearly; her strengths were her mother's. He had known from the moment they had placed her in his arms that he loved her and that she was going to exceed any expectation he had had for a son. She had surpassed nearly every man in her weight in the skill of martial arts, and certainly in wits. She could hold her own and that was exactly why he thought she'd be a fair match for Absalom. He didn't want to endanger the promise of security for his daughter with the rumors of war.

The throne room trumpets sounded and in walked a slender man with a royal purple tunic and black pants. The colors of the kingdom on his large sash a small letter sealed in hand, he walked briskly to the troubled king. It had been days of travel in the heated sun with no rest he was eager to bring word back to the king. He bowed to the king when he was only a few feet away awaiting the king's command.

Absalom narrowed his eyes at the tired messenger a smirk upon his lips. He could feel the joy bubbling inside at the messenger's arrival his anticipation of the news killing him. It had been two weeks since his stroll of the town with the princess and his knowledge of her lust for the guard and finally the end to it. It had took hours of thought and Demetrius help to accomplish the way of the foolish guard's demise till they had come to the greatest and most secure of all.

He glanced up to the large King and then to the lovely ChiChi who sat in loving concern for her father. He nearly despised the princess for everything she was but he lavished in the thought of crushing every bit of fight she held within her. He had come with an open heart to the arrangement and in hopes of evading his father's past with a new beginning but she didn't want that. She was a venomous woman that wanted a man to treat her as no more than a wash rag and leave her empty, he would oblige her.

The silent guard stood at close proximity to the princess with his eyes constantly roaming the throne room. In only a little while Absalom would have his desire and the guard would be face down or up; dead with no word. He had every little detail in motion and there was no way of escape for him, he would have his way.

"Bring the letter to me," Ox King Command.

The messenger stood his eyes shifted nervously to Absalom and then back to the King. He extended his shaking arm giving the king the sealed letter. Ox King frowned at the messenger and took the letter eagerly. "Prepare this man food and a bathe for he has had a long journey."

A woman to the back of the room scurried out followed by two others at the kings command. All the others in the throne room stood awaiting word from the King of the General. Inside the throne room were a handful of the richer patrons in town and two judges and a few servants. "You have brought this letter directly to me with no tamper?"

Licking his parched lips his eyes evading direct contact with the king he nodded. "Yes I…I have sire."

Ox King weighed out the man's word and with no more waiting broke the seal. He unrolled the letter and begun to read, every word he read troubling him more than the previous one. He swallowed a breath of air his eyes sadden and when he found his voice he looked to the messenger. "Is all this that has been written true? How did you get away?"

"Sire we had seen the torches coming in the night and the army prepared for the battle. The general begun to write, we had seen an army earlier that we believed to be from the Aga Kingdom and assumed it to be them. The general was the first out and the second in command finished the letter and told me to rush out. Many were dying when I left and the second in command had returned back to battle, and I hurried as he made the distraction."

Goku's attention shifted from the crowd of people to the messenger his heart tightening. All the color in his face had drained and he wanted to yell out and ask the man to repeat. He even wanted to yell out that he was a liar there was no way his brother died! He could see the sweat beading on the man's forehead and as he nervously licked at his lips.

"Go," shouted the Ox King. "Today we have lost the best of our army in war. The general has written that an army with the colors of our own raged against them. They were in complete confusion and the enemy looked as if they were our own. The gates to exit this city will be sealed and plans for battle will be drawn. Citizens you are to go home and await word from the third in command. We will need help from everyone please do not go out and speak any word said in here or else you will be placed in prison or to death."

Every one of the aristocrats and servants in the room face's turned paled white at the Ox King's word. They were distraught about the findings but no one spoke a word as the exited the throne room leaving the grieving king and the royalty, solders and guards inside. It was a silent tension in the room and all eyes were set upon the king.

ChiChi was winded at the words and she wanted to cry, so many of her people died. So many women and children would be without their husband and father. They had gone on a mission of promise and had been slain before they had arrived. She bite back the tears that wanted to come, she didn't want her father to dismiss her because of her emotions. Who could be so evil to replica their army's uniforms and murder soldiers so cowardly?

"We must seek out new recruits to fight alongside the soldiers left behind. A huge portion of the army went in that division and they did not make it out, we need an army. Send word to whomever will join the army and the first born of all the men in the town must join! Only those with one child are exempt if they wish. We need to find out who was behind this!" Ox King roared.

"Sire, might I send for some of my men to come and help you with this battle?" interjected Absalom.

"It is not your place as of yet, and I hope it doesn't need to remote to that. I hope the men we gather will be good enough," he answered. He smiled down at the younger man happy for his kindness. "Your quickness to aide us is truly a wonderful depiction of your character and a great show of who you are."

"Sire I want nothing more than to help in whatever way I can. Can I make a suggestion?" Absalom grabbed hold of the large goblet resting on the tray the slave held near him and took a sip.

"I'm always eager to listen," he said.

Goku felt numb inside from the moment the messenger had spoken and his mind was miles away from the castle. How could his brother be dead? He had just seen him only a couple weeks ago and he was healthy and fine. There was no way that could be true he never felt any disconnect, wouldn't there be one when someone you loved died? No his brother couldn't be dead!

He wanted to vomit everything he had ever eaten, he wanted to cry. He couldn't lose his brother, they were a family and they were always together. How could he just die, his fist tighten till all the color in his knuckles drain. The hard slam of the goblet on the tray drew him from his thoughts and all he heard was the Prince's inviting words.

"Ask some of your guards here if they'd like to help by joining that way you wouldn't have to invest much time with them for they have already been train. That way they can be at the forefront with the soldiers left behind while the new recruits are training," he suggested.

Goku had forgotten of his duty to the princess at his suggestion, he owed it to his brother to get revenge. He owed it to his brother to find out what happened and the only way that he could was by going with the army. …wait it is not your battle, wait… The voice winded Goku and he nearly swung his tighten fist in shock. He was starting to become rather annoyed by the voice and how it liked to speak only when he wanted to do something.

"That is a swell idea, tell all if they'll like to abandon their post to help they can and they will be greatly rewarded," Commanded Ox King.

Goku stood conflicted now; he needed to find out what happened to his brothers but he needed to protect ChiChi. His grand and grams always said that they were each other's keeper they were all that was left of their family and maybe even their people. The voice was right though, well in the sense of becoming ChiChi's guard. It was just a voice though! Plus maybe it was wrong now.

A few guards in the back room came and knelt before the King and Goku shattered. It was his duty to protect his brother and his brother would do the same for him. ChiChi was well protected in the castle and it would only be for a little while and he'd return. If he didn't return she would still be fine, but what if he didn't return and she wasn't? What if she married Absalom and he treated her horrible? What if he put his hands on her the next time because he wasn't there? Or what if- he shook away all the thoughts.

He left his post and made his way over to the King but before he could kneel he seen ChiChi's face. She looked as if a sword ran through her heart. "No," she shouted, tears welling in her eyes as she shook her head. "No you can't," she yelled. She stood from her seat and flung her arms around Goku before anyone could reach her.

He felt the knots in his stomach again at her touch and his heart was breaking at her tears. She didn't care what anyone would say of her display of affections, she wouldn't lose him. She cared too much for him, she couldn't lose him. "This isn't your battle," she cried, and those words sent him in a daze.

Launch had come quickly with the aid of a few others and pulled the Princess away from Goku. He with the distance they shared in the physical still felt her as if she was still holding him, her face stained with tears. Was she the voice in his head? He shook that thought away because it wasn't a woman's voice-it wasn't hers'. She stood fighting Launch and the four other women that tried to restrain her; her strength was evident as they fell.

"Stop!" Ox King bellowed halting her assault. "Did you forget your place?"

ChiChi inhaled a large breath of air as tears welled in her eyes, and her bottom lip quivering. She stood eyes locked with her father's mingled with anger, hurt, and fear. She stood the other women backing away in fear of the princess. ChiChi's shoulders jerking in pain, gasping for air. "It is not his place its mines to give, he works for me…he is for me."

"You look like a fool," Ox King scolded.

ChiChi winced in pain at her father's reprimand; he had never spoken to her like that before. She looked over to Absalom and then to Goku. "On this day if you join my father's army you have resign your place as my guard, and you will not return to it. And I…I," she cast her eyes from his, " I will hate you! I will hate you with all I am and never want to see you again! I will hate you too Father!"

"Then hate me you must," Ox King shouted. "Take her out of here the choice has already been made he shall go. You have forgotten you are the princess and you do not make the decisions, you will have plenty time to remember."

Goku's eyes never left the wounded princess as she was escorted out of the room. Had he made a mistake? She had told him that she hated him! He had never imaged that she'd say those words to him. Why had those words cut him so deep? His brothers had told him that he hated him before and so had others but it never held the magnitude it did as ChiChi said it.

"Goku I'm sorry for my daughter's show she gets carried away at times," Ox King informed. "She will get over this and you will have your position again or another if need be." Goku remained silent as he knelt before the disturbed king, fighting the regret of joining. A total of ten of the guards in the room made their way forward taking their place by Goku and the other two.

"I'm pleased that you men would stand to this dire call," exclaimed Ox King. "Each of you must report to David's arena for some vigorous training. You must each be at top shape to go to battle and each of you are more than capable. Prince Absalom I must leave and take care of these manners immediately. I do hope that you pardon my daughter for her show; she becomes attached a little too easy." Each of the guards stood side by side now their attention on the over sized King.

Absalom forced a smile and nodded his joy bubbling in the inside. "Of course, I can understand that. A woman sometimes finds comfort in the help for a short time." He glanced over to Goku's direction his eyes meeting his, Absalom was happy with the pain in the soldier's eyes. "I will be certain to tend to her every need while you are away, Sire."

Ox king walked to Absalom and rested his large hand on Absalom's small shoulder a smile on his face. "Thank you, thank you. I'm glad that you are so understanding and that you are so kind to take my daughter. I know that you will cause her no harm, you are certainly not as your father was."

Had it been the tone of the King that stroke Absalom's conscious or the words? It made no difference what the source was only that he now felt convicted. The Kings words had been filled with love and gratefulness that he didn't deserve. Had he been wrong to stir the King? He could feel the lump in the back of his throat that tried to suppress his voice. He could have been more patient with the princess, maybe even spoken to her alone and let her see who he really wanted to be. He could- wait he wasn't the one that judge and flaunted one of his female servants about. He had brought her gifts and promise and she had done everything but spit in his face.

He nearly growled at the thought of the bratty princess in the arms of the guard. It didn't so much bother him if they'd have an affair as it would the embarrassment of being refused by a princess because of her lowly servant. The slight change of mind had quickly vanished and his anger fueled again. "It'd be a shame if I let your kingdom fall at the whim of a princess."

He watched intently as the King exited out of room followed by the soldiers and lastly the guards his eye never leaving Goku. An unsettling mischievous laugh erupted from the prince as the room finally emptied leaving only him and Demetrius.

"What tickles you so?" said Demetrius.

"That fool has just given the princess into my hand and sealed her fate and his. Watch the show, Demetrius, watch the show."

ChiChi sat at in her room near the window staring out at the city of unbeknownst people carrying on their daily lives. Her hair was in a tangled mess and her eyes puffy from days of tears and she had lost weight from her withdrawal of food. She had lost all spark and hope the moment she had lost Goku.

"You need to eat." Launch stood a few feet from ChiChi a tray of food in hand and worry evident on her face. She had spent years complaining about the princess' flirting ways and free spirit it was ironic that she had now wish to see that same spark again. "You will become very ill if you don't eat."

"Why? Isn't this what you wanted?" ChiChi's voice strained to be heard, her eyes never leaving the window.

Launch felt the pang to her heart at the hurtful words and she couldn't blame ChiChi. She had never meant to hurt her only to protect her. She placed the tray down on the night stand and took the seat next to the sulking princess. "I deserve that, but despite what you think I only wanted what was best for you."

The lifeless onyx orbs of the princess met her blue ones and Launch wished she could take back everything she ever done to cause her pain. She felt like she had murder every joy in the once bountiful princess. "I'm sorry I…," Launch broke her gaze with the princess, " my father chose a husband for me. I was young and I didn't want to settle down and I made sure to let him know. His name was Tien…Tien, he did everything for me. He loved me he said the moment that he had seen me he knew he would forever. I fell in love with another man and I thought the world of him, he abused me and Tien came to my rescue. He showed me a love I was too young to understand, and off I was again for the latest fling. I lost him…I lost a love so pure because I didn't want to be forced into a marriage by my father. He was the best man I knew, and I lost him because of my foolishness. I just didn't want the same for you."

ChiChi looked back out the window, she felt numb inside. She had once dreamed to know more of Launch and why she had so much bark but now hearing her long hidden secret it stirred nothing in her. She had no turn of compassion no change of heart, she had lost something that couldn't be replaced just as she lost her mother. It wasn't only the brokenness she felt from losing Goku but the words her father spoke to her as well. Her heart had been broken by two men she had cared deeply for and in the moment it shattered her fight had too. "Your mistakes are not mines, you had no rights to try and shape my choices. Just because you were foolish and lost your love it didn't mean I was. You made your bed so lay in it."

ChiChi had thought seeing the pain on Launch's face would break her numbing but it didn't. She felt hollow inside even as tears welled in the blue hair woman's eyes and as she hurried out of the room. She stared back out of the window, the door ajar and she thought it had been Launch returning. Instead in her place was a tall slender woman with a letter rolled and sealed. She hurried over to the motionless princess and bowed her head in respect extending her hand forward with the letter.

"You may leave," ordered ChiChi, as she took the letter. She opened the letter and skimmed the letter that was address to her, it seemed a letter of truce from the Terioken prince. It was in that moment she decided she would give him the desire he had longed for and she would stop her protest. Her father had wanted her to marry him, Goku, Launch, and the whole city- so why fight? She would give everyone exactly what they had wanted all along- she would marry the prince.

A/n: So this chapter is over. I have a deal, I just kind of want to see how motive you the reader can be. I will write another chapter and have it out in less than 3 days of this post if and only if I receive 20 reviews- within the first four days. I know it sounds a tough challenge but it can be done. So let the race begin!