Of the many things she had seen in her life, nothing could've prepared her for this moment. The look in King Vegeta's eyes when he came to her that day had awakened the inner fear she had locked away since the day she had first witnessed death. He was the strongest being she had known so far. But that day…his composure betrayed the true terror he felt inside.
"Frieza has expressed his interest in you."
She had heard the name before. Every time it was said it was accompanied by sheer fright and anxiety. It was a sign; a sign that their worst nightmares had come alive. To see the strongest of all the Saiyans express that exact same feeling terrified her. That meant that there was a being out there even stronger than Vegeta.
"Oh?" she said with a smirk. "What an honor."
Vegeta scowled at her. "An honor indeed. You have no idea who Frieza is, do you?"
"Not a clue," she answered honestly, a sneer upon her face. "However, he must be a force to be reckoned with if you're cowering in your boots. Look at you; your voice hesitating at his very name. How disappointing."
"Hold your tongue, wench!" he snarled. "I will not be mocked by trash such as you!"
"Trash begets trash, your Highness," she spat. "You are no better than the lowly dogs that live beneath your feet. To me, you're not even worthy to hold the crown of these unruly monkeys."
"You dare—!"
"I shall dare all I please. It is such fun to see you squirm like the deceitful worm you are."
He punched the wall, dangerously close to the woman's head. She didn't even blink at the action, not even at the sound of the wall crumbling to pieces behind her. She continued to give him that challenging look, arms crossed with composed confidence.
"Never in my life have I met a woman as tenacious and galling as you," he said. "You fail to understand the gravity of the situation."
"I understand that you're an unsightly coward. That's all I need to know."
Something snapped inside him. His power exploded before her, sending her flying into a wall. She never had time to recover. He was before her, clutching her neck with a fierce grip. She grasped the arm, glaring at him with her ruby eyes. Those eyes then widened with surprise at the sheer anger that they saw.
"A coward, am I? You know nothing of the sacrifices I have made; nothing of the burden I must carry to protect my people! One slip-up and our entire race could be exterminated by that monster! We do what we do because we have no choice. We are nothing but slaves to that devil of an Arcosian! I myself have been reduced to nothing but a toy that Frieza can play with any time he wishes!"
She stared at him, a flicker of pity shining in her ruby pools. He set her down, but held his firm grip on her neck. His other fist began shaking, frustration and helplessness coursing through his being.
"If we could eliminate that tyrant, we Saiyans could once again rise and claim our rightful position as the strongest fighters in the universe. However, no one has the power to overthrow Frieza, not even myself."
"Vegeta…"
"I was careless with you. He knows about your abilities. If Frieza gets his filthy hands on your eyes, then it's over for all of us. No one in the universe would be capable of standing up to him."
"I will not let it happen."
"You do not know that man's persistence. He's like a spoiled child. Whatever he wants, he will get it no matter how dirty the means to obtain it."
"You obviously don't know who you're talking to," she stated with a smirk. "I am Madara Uchiha. I would never give up my bloodline to the enemy. If Frieza wants it, he's going to have to learn the hard way that this toy doesn't play nice with anyone. You yourself have already learned that."
"You are going to get yourself killed."
"It wouldn't be my first time."
He blinked twice at the statement. "What?"
"I have died many times over," she explained vaguely, a distant look in her eyes. "All by the same person. That was my punishment for my sins. I know that I'll never truly live again. Even my life now means absolutely nothing to me. Should I die to Frieza, I'll welcome it with open arms. At least it won't be by Hashirama's hands once again."
"Hashirama?"
"It doesn't matter who he was. His existence is inconsequential now."
He wasn't fooled. He could tell that it pained her to say that name aloud. Perhaps an old love? What a disgrace. Love made someone weak. Saiyans mated, but that didn't mean that they loved each other. Family didn't mean much to them at all. Strength was all that mattered.
Yet…even though it was painfully obvious she had loved this "Hashirama", she still had a spark of fire that refused to be extinguished by anything. Was it her love for that man that made her will to defy him so strong? It seemed preposterous.
Then again, everything about this woman was absurd.
So physically weak, yet so willfully strong. So proud, yet so mild. Never fearing death, but accepting it willingly. Loving…but possessing a hatred that could never be destroyed.
Her name…was Madara Uchiha. An odd name to be sure, but it held a distinct ring that he liked. He had never bothered to get her name. She was just a worthless woman, so he felt that there was no need. It created a distance between the two, ensuring that the woman would remain in her place. Now he wasn't so sure. Stick a tail on her and she could have easily passed as a Saiyan warrior. He had yet to see her fighting prowess, but he had little doubt that she was skilled.
He let out a low sigh as he relinquished his hold on her neck. He wished he had never met the woman all those weeks ago. To be muddling his thoughts to this extent was a bad sign. He was slowly getting attached to her, despite her conceited attitude. He could only hope things wouldn't go as horribly as he envisioned they would be.
If things kept going the way they were…
"You're meeting with FRIEZA!?"
"Calm down, Gine," Madara said, placing her hands on the shaking Saiyan's shoulders. "Scream any louder and you'll wake the baby."
"But Madara!" Gine cried. "Do you have any idea what kinds of things Frieza has done!? He's wiped out entire planets with a simple swish of his finger! Imagine what he could do to you if he can destroy planets with ease!?"
"Your point is?"
"My POINT is that he could KILL you!"
The wails of a child were heard not two seconds after Gine had yelled that sentence. An aggravated growl echoed soon after.
"Gine! Get the fucking brat to shut the hell up!"
"Oh Bardock…" Madara mentally sighed. "Ever the outspoken one…"
When Madara had first met Bardock, she was instantly reminded of the Raikages back home. Coarse language, physically bulky, and a flair for the "shoot first, ask questions later" vibe was all too evident with Bardock. That also meant it would be fun as hell to tease him and how right she was. Whenever she and Bardock got into an argument, it reminded her of the sibling fights she would have with her brothers when she was younger. Madara cherished that feeling and soon made it into a habit whenever she went to visit Gine. The female Saiyan was right when she said that Bardock was loyal. Out of all the Saiyan couples she had seen, Bardock and Gine were a pair that was meant to be. Bardock never outwardly showed it, but Madara could tell that he deeply loved Gine for all that she was. Gine was the exact same way, though she was much more open with her feelings.
Gine groaned at Bardock's demand, going into another room to calm the baby. The cries soon ceased once Gine brought out her son. Madara couldn't help but chuckle whenever she saw baby Raditz. The massive amount of hair he had reminded her of a hedgehog's quills. She jokingly thought that one day he'd be able to curl up into his hair just like a hedgehog once it got long enough.
Gine had told Madara that Bardock was livid with the name Izuna, saying "I ain't giving no backwater name like that to my son! He's a fuckin' Saiyan, not a pansy!" and other such things. Despite his official name being "Raditz", Gine had been secretly calling him "Izuna" when Bardock was out of earshot. Madara could only hope the boy wouldn't get confused between the two names once he got older.
Raditz gleefully cried out when he saw Madara. He apparently understood she was a pseudo aunt of sorts to the kid. With a smile, she took the baby into her arms. While bulkier than most babies since he was a Saiyan, he still was a fragile being since he was so young. With a satisfied yawn, his tail wrapped around her arm and promptly fell asleep on her bosom. Gine giggled at the blush that had spread across Madara's face.
"Never had a baby fall asleep on you before?"
"Never," Madara answered quietly.
Gine blinked. "Really? You mean you've never interacted with any kids before now?"
"No…"
"You poor thing…"
"Don't pity me. I should be blessed that I haven't plagued any more lives with the curse of my bloodline."
"Curse of your bloodline?"
"You know my special ability? Well, only people who are descended from my clan have the ability to awaken it. It is a coveted ability, but it is a cursed one. Because of our bloodline, we can never forget the worst moments of our lives. I've seen people I loved die…and I can remember every detail, no matter how much I try to forget it."
"Oh Madara…I didn't know…"
"But…" Madara smiled. "I have also been able to cherish the moments that meant the most to me. I can always go back to those when I feel like my world is crumbling to pieces."
"Shut it with the sentimental bullshit," Bardock commented offhandedly. "It's making me sick."
Madara glared at the man. "Says the one who constantly spews out bullshit ninety percent of time he speaks."
"Don't even start, Madara. I could easily kick your ass out of here."
"You started it, you overgrown brute."
"Easy, you two," Gine said, hoping to quell the imminent argument. "You wouldn't want to wake Raditz again, would you?"
Bardock scoffed while Madara nodded. The Uchiha held the baby closer to her, lightly pressing her chin into his mane of soft hair. A single tear peeked out of the corner of her eye. Gine frowned, feeling horrible that there was nothing she could do to comfort someone she considered her sister. How she wished she could find the man that broke Madara's heart and give him a scolding he would never forget for making her friend so despondent about life. She deserved to be happy just like everyone else did. What gave him the right to demean her friendship in such a way? Gine supposed she would never know since Madara refused to say anything bad about her old love. She sadly looked at the woman before her, seeing her hold her baby boy as if he were her own.
Time never fully heals old wounds, leaving behind evident scars that cannot be covered up. But the love of another can help the process, even if the scars remain. Gine hoped with all her heart that her family could be the cure to those wounds.
With much reluctance, Madara returned Raditz to the arms of his mother. With an emotionless expression on her face, she gave Gine a curt bow.
"Thank you for hearing me out, Gine," Madara said softly. "It's time to see if the rumors about the 'terror of the universe' have merit to them or not."
"Madara, don't do anything reckless," Gine pleaded. "I want to see you ALIVE the next time we meet. If you don't, I'll drag you back from hell myself and give you the scolding of a lifetime!"
Madara smiled. "I'll keep that in mind.
Gine watched her leave without another word. Inside, Madara felt her heart pounding as she walked towards the ever majestic castle she had reluctantly called her home. She knew not what to expect, except the absolute worst. Frieza was regarded as a demon due his cruel rule over the universe. For a moment, she realized exactly how small she was in comparison to the aliens she had seen. Her home world had escaped the Arcosian's iron fist and it dawned upon her that her world was a paradise in comparison to Planet Vegeta. Yes, people died in wars, but the reigning peace that now existed thanks to Hashirama's ideals had prevailed. The Saiyans were not so lucky. They lived for the moment, knowing that any battle could be their last due to their work in the PTO.
She stopped in her tracks. Did Vegeta have similar thoughts? He was different from most of the other Saiyans. He seemed like he wanted to live; not just for himself, but for his people. He was the strongest of them all. If he should fall…not only would his pride forever be tarnished, but the Saiyan morale would take a harsh blow. They might revolt and Frieza would have a legit reason to destroy them all. She shuddered at the thought. As despicable a race they were, she couldn't bear the idea of an entire people being wiped out.
Her steely gaze focused on her destination. She felt an unwavering resolve spark within her core. She had always loved the thrill of a challenge. She would see how far she could push the Arcosian without actually tossing him over the edge. If he thought he had complete control over her due to fear, he was sorely mistaken. She was a shinobi and shinobi do not show fear in front of the enemy.
When she arrived in the throne room, she was disgusted by the sight that greeted her. A pudgy pink lizard thing with thick purple lips, a green-haired pretty boy, and an androgynous devil creature holding a wine glass were there. They all wore scouters, a trademark of the warriors working in the Planet Trade Organization. The chuckling one in the middle, presumably Frieza, was driving his foot into the back of Vegeta's head. The man was bowing before Frieza, trembling with the rage he could not express. Madara glared at the revolting trio, igniting a fury for the beings that she did not know she had.
"Remove your foot from his head," she demanded, her voice echoing in the great hall.
"Insolent wench!" the pink fatso snarled. "A pathetic woman like you is in no position to speak to Lord Frieza!"
"Calm down, Dodoria," came the sickeningly sweet voice of Frieza. "She is the guest of honor, after all. Isn't that right, Vegeta?"
Vegeta gave a reluctant nod, a fire burning in his eyes as he scowled at Frieza. The Arcosian strolled over to Madara, his eyes scanning her. Madara made no move to deny him of checking her over. She could feel his immense power. Both Vegeta and Gine were correct about Frieza's massive strength. The other two were no pushovers either. One wrong move and she could be blasted into oblivion. She knelt down, bowing her head. As much as she despised this being, she had no choice but to swallow her pride and submit to his authority.
"So you are Lord Frieza," she replied. "Forgive my rudeness. I have only heard stories about you. This is my first time seeing you in the flesh."
"Oh? Such a polite piece of work for a prisoner," Frieza noted, sneering at her. He eyed Vegeta. "You Saiyans could learn a thing or two about manners from this woman, Vegeta. They're such unruly monkeys; wouldn't you agree, my dear?"
"…Not always," Madara answered quietly. "But I have not seen warriors more worthy to serve under you, milord."
Dodoria guffawed. "That's rich! Those monkey-tailed freaks are nothing compared to the elite of our army."
"Be quiet, you overweight ignoramus," Madara ordered, her Sharingan activating. "I was speaking with Lord Frieza, not you. Know your place and stay down like the dog you are."
"You little—!"
He stopped midsentence. A sudden pressure was weighing down on him as those blood-red eyes glared at him. It was akin to having Frieza threatening to kill him when the Arocisan was in a bad mood. According to the scouter, her power level was pathetic. How was she able to instill such a feeling into him, one of Frieza's right hand men?
"Interesting," Frieza mused, grabbing Madara's face and gazing at her Sharingan. "Is this what Vegeta was so interested in?"
"Yes, milord," Madara answered. "Look closer and you will understand."
Like a gullible child, Frieza did so. She smirked as her Sharingan started spinning, catching the creature in a genjutsu. She had no intention of following up on it. There was only one thing she had in her arsenal that could kill the freaks. However, she had a feeling she'd end up killing innocent souls without meaning too. The deadly flames of Amaterasu were powerful, but they would continue to burn for at least a week after they were cast. The castle would be destroyed by that time. Vegeta would kill her for burning his home. Not only that, but Frieza's two cronies would kill her before she could even attempt summoning the black flames.
She figured some mental torture was adequate enough for the tyrant. She dug deep into his psyche, finding an interesting fear. A golden warrior called a Super Saiyan overthrowing his rule was his greatest fear. She raised an eyebrow at the term. What was a Super Saiyan? If she lived after Frieza snapped out of her illusion, she would be sure to question Vegeta about it. Using this newfound information, she showed him his greatest nightmare come to life.
He snapped out of the genjutsu, a seething look upon his face. Her face betrayed no emotion, but inside she now knew a weakness. It was almost insignificant, but it was still enough to give her hope. There could be a chance a "Super Saiyan" could arise and defeat Frieza, freeing millions from his dictatorial rule.
"You…" he growled. "What was that!?"
"What was what, milord?" she innocently asked, a smile on her face. "You should sit down. You look pale."
"Don't lie to me."
"You wanted to know what my powers were. I showed you exactly what it was. I can make people experience their worst fears in their mind through eye contact. It's all an illusion. A simple trick to use to distract the enemy long enough to kill them. Of course, I would never attempt such a deplorable act against our great Lord Frieza."
Vegeta was gawking at her audacity to give Frieza an attitude. Either she was extremely brave or extremely stupid to push the Arcosian's buttons like this. He was half expecting to see her remains on the floor by now. How was she able to keep up her façade without being daunted by the threat to her life?
"You are trying my patience, woman."
"Forgive me if I am wasting your time, sire," Madara apologized, lowering her bow all the way to the ground. "If it pleases you, do with me what you will."
Fireza frowned, still seething at the exposure of his greatest fear. Then again, this woman wasn't even a Saiyan. She was of no concern to him. None of the Saiyans were capable of reaching his power. His scowl soon returned to the sinister smirk that always graced his features. Swishing around the wine in his glass, he thought about what sort of torture he could put the wench through.
"Perhaps I'll have you for tonight," he said, satisfied with watching her form flinch at the implication of his words. "You females are good for nothing else, after all."
"Absolutely not!"
Frieza rolled his eyes over to Vegeta. "Oh? Did I hear that correctly? Is she your woman, Vegeta?"
"Of course not!" he snapped. "But I won't allow it! She is my—"
"Vegeta. Don't."
He turned towards the woman, seeing her stand up. Her eyes had returned to the coal-black they always were. Her delicate features were popping out more to him in light of the events that had just transpired. She did not deserve such a fate. Defeat was etched into her face, her head hanging low so her bangs shadowed her eyes.
"You know as well as I do that I'm not worth it," she said. "I gave my word. Stay out of things that don't concern you."
"Wise words for someone who understands her place, unlike someone else I know," Frieza chuckled. "Don't worry, Vegeta. I'll make sure to take good care of her and bring her back in one piece."
Of all the times he wished he could punch that man in the face, he never wanted it more than right now. Frieza was always taking something away from him: his rank, his pride, his authority. Now he was taking someone who wasn't even involved with the PTO to satisfy his own desires. He clenched his fists, watching all four of them exiting the room. She was under his protection and he let her be taken away. No. She was his prisoner and his alone. Frieza was going to learn that the hard way.
He blinked at his thoughts. When did things become so complicated for him?
I am so cruel to Madara. But this IS Frieza we're talking about. His evil knows no bounds.
Anyway, King Vegeta begins to become possessive of our dear Mada-chan. What will happen next? Wait and see in the next chapter!