Chapter Thirty-Four
No Going Back
v
The King stood restlessly, occasionally paced from his chair back to the window, sipping his drink. A couple of guards marched into the throne room and informed the King of the 'good news'.
"Sir… we've just been informed that the Planet Earth was destroyed…"
The King grinned wickedly and turned his back on them, speaking,
"Good…"
He waved his hand up, dismissing them all from the throne room and out to continue fighting off his own traitorous kind. He didn't really care about them anyways. He was so fixated on the thought of just getting me back into his life that nothing else around him matter; not even his own safety. Gohan wandered the halls, secretly, not wanting to go out and fight. He instead wanted to find out what the King was up to.
v
Garth shot through space like a comet, holding Marissa safely in his arms; the force-field around him was staying stable enough. He growled loudly as his grip on Marissa's body tightened, but not too much that he'd crush her. His eyes burned as bright as star's and his aura grew hotter on the flamed outside while it stayed moderately cool on the inside.
He grinded his teeth together and gripped his claws into Marissa's clothes, tearing them slightly, but making sure not to scratch her. Tears threatened to break free, but he held them in, for this was the one moment, where want to bottle everything up, just so he could explode out in rage at that bastard King Vegeta.
Garth flew like a shooting star through space and reached Planet Vegeta within minutes. He soared through the planet's atmosphere, seeing his army attacking the heart of the Capitol. He grinned momentarily, before focusing back to the top of the palace, crashing down right into the roof of the palace, the throne room; right where King Vegeta was. The King flinched back as the loudness of the blast through the roof startled him, turning away slightly and coughing from all the dust and rubble.
As the dust cleared, he looked closely to see the silhouette of an unusually tall Saiyan holding someone in their arms. Garth's eyes glowed white as the King tried to make out who it was. The King swept his cape behind his back as he took a step forward.
"King Vegeta…"
The low voice spoke; he kneeled down, gently laying Marissa's body of the floor. He stood straight up again and stepped over her towards the King. The King noticed his unnaturally long legs and figured out quickly that it was a Marapee.
What? No, that's… that's impossible…!
He thought as he slowly stepped down the few steps that led to the window overlooking the city.
"Remember me…?"
He stared at him angrily, but silently and then realized it was Garth.
"General…?"
Garth grinned wickedly and stepped forward.
"Oh, yes… and now, it's time to end this… To end everything that you have ever given a shit about…!"
The King studied Garth as he was now a totally different being. He stood almost taller that the King now, looked even more like a beast, and the biggest change of all, he had wings; something no Marapee had been able to grow since the dark ages of their timeline. It was the first time in roughly ten thousand years. Wings on a Marapee was something unheard of, unknown, unreal; it hadn't been seen in hundreds, thousands of years. The King swallowed, hinting out slight nervousness, but quickly disregarded it and kept a slow, simple pace towards the beast. They stared each other down and the King slowly reached around to his back and pulled out two double-edged, glowing swords from their sheaths, hidden under his cape.
"I don't want to kill you, Garthshin… but I certainly will enjoy doing it…"
He said as he stepped forward slowly.
"In your wildest dreams, you sadistic fuck…!"
The King chuckled lowly as he stared at the lifeless form of Marissa's body and then back to Garth.
"Good luck… your highness…You'll certainly need it."
King Vegeta grinned wickedly at Garth and replied with,
"Let's dance… General."
The King stopped and stood proudly and tall as did Garth. They stared harshly at one another for a few seconds before, suddenly, there was an immediate charge and a bright flash of light. Glass from all the windows blew out and shattered. Cracks rippled through the stone pillars and walls as dust fell from each crack forming among the walls and ceiling. They were both thrown back from one another and slid; Garth's claws digging into the floor to try and stop himself while the King just used his hand, burning his palm against the floor. The King jumped up and whipped his two double-bladed long-swords down, intending to land into Garth's wings, but Garth managed to flip back and get out of the way just in the nick of time.
Garth snarled and lunged at the King, claws bared and landing into his chest plate. He threw the both of them into the farthest wall, meters back. The King mistakenly let his swords go and they were now snuck in the floor on the other side of the throne room. Garth had the King pinned to the wall and started throwing his fists into his face repeatedly, punching him as fast and hard as physically possible. The King eventually had enough and used his aura as a boost to throw Garth off and away from him. Garth flew up and landed gently as he watched the King glow in a golden aura and his eyes go white. Garth saw two swords off to his left, just a few feet away, and decided to charge for them.
The King flashed and appeared in front of Garth, grabbing both. Before he could pull them out of the ground, Garth beat his wings once and harshly at the King, sending a massive gust of wind and echoing vibrations. The floor rippled from the intensity of the gust. The King kneeled, gripping the hell out of his swords and looked away as the wind tore away at his cape and some of his armor. He screamed out in pain as the gust did significant damaged to his sight, hearing and upper-body strength. Garth charged down right as the gust dissipated and the King pulled the swords up from the stone floor to block Garth's immediate attacks. Garths claws were like daggers, ringing against the metal of the King's blades every time they hit.
Garth eventually powered up energy solely into his right arm and tore his fist through the air and down onto the metal of one of the Kings' swords. It cracked; the King's eyes widened and Garth grinned at him, only inches from his face, and the sword shattered into a million shards of metal, glass and energy. The King jolted back, dropping the bladeless hilt to the floor. Garth chuckled almost maniacally, feeling that he now was gaining the upper hand. The stretched out his wings again gloatingly and praised himself prematurely of the fight. His tail flicked back and forth as he watched the King's disgruntled face furrow more. The King growled as he crouched slightly, baring his teeth and one final sword, showing he wasn't backing down. Garth wiped the grin from his face and flew forward in an immediate charge and blare of light energy.
King Vegeta ducked under Garth's punch and tried to slam a fist into his face, only to have Garth disappear from under him and kick him viciously in the ribs. King Vegeta growled, dropping his sword again as he leapt into the air at Garth, managing to hit him twice in the face before he was battered away by another ferocious kick to the stomach. He watched as Garth leapt at him again, his face contorted in rage and King Vegeta easily slipped under his punch, punching him with all of his strength in the stomach from underneath him and sending Garth flying across the throne room.
King Vegeta followed him across; hitting Garth in the stomach again as he tried to stand, and kicking him once he'd hit the ground again. Garth convulsed and coughed up blood, trying to pull himself to his feet, but King Vegeta kicked him yet again, sending him crashing into the wall of the throne room, cracks appearing on the wall around Garth's battered body.
He slumped onto the ground, feeling the brutality of weakness and pain. King Vegeta waited for the General to move again, knowing that he wouldn't be out for the count just yet.
Slowly, Garth pulled himself to his feet, breathing heavily. Blood seeped from a deep-looking cut above his eye, down his face and around his mouth. Garth licked the blood dripping down the corner of his mouth as his red eyes burned arrows into the Kings'.
"What's wrong, Reey? Can't take the heat?"
Garth growled, straightening up to his tallest on both legs, still coughing up some more blood.
"You should never have even bothered to fight me… You should've just stayed behind with that little mate of yours and died on Earth like all those other worthless humans."
King Vegeta looked at Garth and laughed rather suddenly.
"Why, if you'd only stood up and killed her in the first place, then maybe you wouldn't be begging for death at my feet…"
King Vegeta continued to taunt without mercy as Garth began to grit his teeth to the point of his molars chipping.
"Come on, Garthshin… Why fight me? You'll never win. You are a worthless soldier now… Nothing, but a beast… a monstrosity…"
He paused and grinned more.
"…a Marapee…"
Garth growled and yelled out as he came up to try and attack the King again. King Vegeta laughed and ducked under Garth again as he charged him. This time he charged up a ki blast and sent it at him, the blast hitting Garth dead-on and knocking him down to the ground. His left wing shaking in withering pain as the pearl-colored feathers and cartilage sizzled in blackness as they slowly burned. He swallowed back the urge to scream out.
"Weakling… You're nothing anymore… You were a General before, but after you found that worthless human… You became worn and less valuable… Like rusting metal; a worthless gem stone…"
King Vegeta dropped to the ground and waited for the dust to clear, not surprised when he made out the shape of the General's newly founded form, getting to his feet again.
"I'm not going to let you beat me…"
Garth ground out roughly. His wings spanned out harshly and a small gust of wind blew the last of the lingering dust away while he clenched his fists and lowered his head.
"You can't stop me, Garthshin… I'm King Vegeta… I am the most powerful Saiyan of our race… AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO STOP ME!"
King Vegeta bellowed as he began to gather his ki again, watching with only mild interest as Garth attempted the same. The King's ki grew red with black electricity fluttering about it. It was pure evil energy. Garth squinted slightly as he watched the King's power grow larger and larger. Being too hurt and being a Marapee, it was too difficult to do, but he was running out of ideas.
King Vegeta's power began to glow and frazzle around him as Garth continued to gather his ki in an attack that King Vegeta had never seen him use before. King Vegeta's energy peaked, his hair turning gold and his eyes glowing white; his aura burning like fire on his skin and armor and he leapt at the General, hurling the ball of energy at him just as Garth finished his and shot a beam of ki at him at the same time from his weak, feeble arm.
The world flashed a brilliant bright white around them, both of them realized that they had underestimated the others attack; the light grew brighter and brighter.
v
King Vegeta opened his eyes to see his one sword that hadn't been shattered next to his head. He felt a burning sensation in his chest, but when he tried to move, he felt almost paralyzed. He stared at the blurred ceiling, felt the pebbles of crumbling dust sprinkle down onto his weakened body. He hadn't had to actually go to his maximum power ever since his wife had passed in battle. It'd been years.
Slowly, the King felt the pain numb and tried to sit up again, managing to hold himself up on his elbows and forearms. He winced as his abdominal region was twisted in a mangled, bloody mess. King Vegeta stared down at his chest and felt a wave of pure nausea sweep over him. His entire chest was a mess of blood, gore, and bone; it was a wonder he was still alive.
He suddenly heard the sound of rustling and turned to see Garth, limping out of the crumbled pillar and heading towards the King. He was holding his left arm to his chest while gathering what little energy he had left in his right. His right was his dominant arm, and that's when the King got an idea on how to beat him. He grinned as he stayed lying in place, seeing the hilt of his sword out of the corner of his vision. Garth, only feet away, glared down at the King and held out his right arm towards the King's head.
"Die… Bastard…"
The King chuckled under his breath and waited as Garth gathered all his energy into his hand before, faster than Garth's weary eyes could make out, the King grabbed his sword, letting his ki flow into it and slid under Garth's out-stretched arm and tore his sword up, burning with ki, under Garth's armpit and ripped through the flesh. The arm fell to the ground, along with the King, who weakly fell backwards, dropping his sword again. Garth froze momentarily, before screaming out in agony, dropping to his knees and gripping his hand over the bloody, oozing circle where his right arm had been. The energy Garth had gathered disappeared into thin air and was now gone, wasted. Garth screamed again and again, in agonizing pain.
The King moved to his elbows again, in an attempt to get up. He momentarily concentrated his energy into an even flow throughout his body and levitated himself off of the ground. He landed on his feet, shakily holding himself up; one hand over his torn apart chest and the other gathering ki. Garth shook in shock and pain as he looked up to see the King gathering ki and slowly aiming it towards him.
He still won't give up… He's just as crazy as I am…
Garth thought as he used the assistance of his weak wings to help support him into a standing position. His wings stayed drooped down against the ground. They were too weak to assist in fighting anymore. On top of that, he was now missing an arm and has never felt as weak as he did at that very moment.
"Any final words…"
Garth breathed hard while the gurgle of blood choked up his throat and seeped down his chin.
"I'm not giving up…"
The King slightly lowered his hand as he stared at the beast.
He really isn't going to give up…
"He-he; well, then…"
The King turned away slightly, giving off the illusion he was done, only to come flying back at Garth at an astonishing speed.
"AHHHHHHHHH…!"
King Vegeta's battle cry echoed around the remaining crumbled ruins of the throne room, reaching Garth's ears seconds after King Vegeta's fist had connected with his face. Blood sprayed through the air as Garth soared across the room with the King's fist crushing the side of his face.
How is he still this fast? How does King Vegeta manage to become so strong even after taking a ki blast straight in the chest? How…?
Garth dodged under the next punch his King threw at him and launched himself into the air; gathering his ki into small balls of burning light at his fingertips, and then halting mid-flight and slamming his fist and the ki balls they contained into an unsuspecting King Vegeta who had been chasing him.
As King Vegeta was flung back to the ground from the force of his unexpected attack, Garth quickly flew down underneath him and kicked him back into the air. Preparing to attack again, Garth crouched on the ground and powered up a small bit again, but before he could fly after his arch enemy, King Vegeta disappeared and the next thing Garth felt was a piercing pain in his head as King Vegeta reappeared behind him and dealt him a stinging kick to the head. Blood seeped form Garth's ear and he flinched away, shaking his head like a dog that had just been struck by his owner. The King chuckled weakly, coughed up some blood as he approached the beast that was Garth slowly.
The fight wore on and on, slowing at a drastic rate from how much damage both parties had taken in; both of them sweating and grunting as they followed their body's instincts and fought as they never had before. All the while, two glinting, black eyes watched in secret through the cracks on the doors, leading inside.
Dust blew about and rocks crumbled as vibrations from each hit shook the entire palace. It was a battle more than 'to the death'; it was more than anything they'd ever faced before. Their attacks became fiercer, more animalistic and less controlled and thought-out. Their defenses improved beyond either of them had expected, but their attacks became sloppier and more beastly. The King growled viciously at Garth as his skin burned harshly, hair mangling into thick fur, slowly growing in over his arms and shoulders. Garth saw it and saw that the King was finally cracking and losing control; giving into the forbidden transformation of the beasts.
The King's fangs grew and his eyes burned brighter. He hunched over; pausing their fight as the transformation ate away at his being. A brief moment of true fear struck Garth when the King stayed hutched over, but began to chuckle maniacally, knowing what he had done was forbidden, but the power was unfathomable. When the King stood straight up again, he looked even more fearsome than ever before.
With equal screams of pain and rage, they were both swallowed by a swirling mass of bright lights of red and white; it whirled around them with the fury of a tornado; whipping and tearing at their bodies, armor and clothing. They levitated up and charged together, gripping each other's hands, cracking the bones in each other's hands, in an electric ball of flames. Garth used summoning energy to hold back the King's left hand for he didn't have his right anymore to use. It manifested around the King's hand and arm, holding him back, but his left was skin to skin with the King's right, and it burned like the surface of the sun. They screamed louder and louder; their screams quickly turned into bellowing roars.
When their energies began to fade at an even rate, the King flung himself out of Garth's grasp and flew down for the floor; Garth right on in tail. They both landed, created rounded-out craters around their feet. The King used his energy to forcefully summon his sword to him. As soon as the hilt was in his hand, Garth jumped and spun, letting his left wing scoop the sword loosely from the King's grip. As he spun around, he reached for the hilt himself and grabbed the sword. It felt as though the whole world had slowed down just for that one moment as Garth knew what he was about to do. His wings splayed back, revealing himself to the King's frightened gaze as Garth brought the blazed sword's blade down.
The sword sliced through the air and he landed in a kneeling position, slowly standing and stepping forward. He dropped the King's sword and gripped his hand up into the King's hair, at perfect eye level with the Saiyan and said roughly,
"See you in Hell… your highness…"
The King's blank stare stared blindingly into Garth flamed red eyes when his body fell limply to its knees and then down to its side. Garth held the decapitated head of their King up, inches from his own face, growling lowly, as now, it was all done. He was thankful the fight was over and that he'd finally gotten his revenge. He served that frozen dish of death and the King took it plenty. He lowered his weak arm to his side, still holding the King's draining head by the hair.
He stepped, stumbling slightly, towards where Marissa was laying on the floor. He dropped the King's head to the floor before he crouched down next to her and gently picked Marissa's surprisingly untouched from the fight body. He cradled her close and whispered as a lonesome tear rolled down his blood splattered face,
"It's okay… It's all over now…"
Gohan watched from around a cracked pillar, astonished by everything he saw, but knew that no man, no Saiyan in a righteous mind would ever want to live that way; as a Marapee. He knew that if he confronted the General about it, he'd probably say yes, but would he say yes to someone he barely even knew… or perhaps someone he knew fairly alright. He closed his eyes and focused hard.
v
Garth heard the crackle of rocks and turned to see none other than the Prince himself. The Prince stepped slowly towards Garth as he held his mate in his arm.
"General Garthshin Reey… You've come so far, and yet… here you are… as a Marapee… I never thought ever see that…"
Garth breathed hard as he stared at his Prince and then looked down at the fallen King's severed head.
"Prince Vegeta… I… I had to… I'm so sorry…"
"Save it, General… I don't need an explanation…"
He held a hand up in a gesture to stop talking and just listen. He grinned slightly, while keeping his brow furrowed, so certain suspicions wouldn't be raised.
"I could care less about the…"
He cleared his throat momentarily and then continued,
"Uhh… my… my father…"
Garth couldn't shake what had just happened and all he wanted was this internal pain and struggle to end. He wanted to be with Marissa, he wanted to see her again; he couldn't take it.
"Prince Vegeta, please… can… can you…?"
He hesitated to ask, but it needed to be asked. He gripped Marissa closer to his chest. He didn't want to live out the last of his days not only as a Marapee monstrosity, but without the woman he loves. He looked back up at the Prince with glassy-looking eyes. He didn't dare try to cry to the presence of the Prince.
"Prince Vegeta… Take my life… Rid me of this form… I wish to spend eternity with the one I love rather than a burning world of rebels and scientists… Please, I beg of you, sir…"
The Prince studied him for a moment, hearing the plead in his words. He didn't even have to ask; Garth just came out and broke down.
"You're the first known Rare-Marapee; the first Ultimate, let alone one of the most intelligent and strongest ones I've ever seen before in my life… Your powers and body could be used in ways you couldn't possibly ever imagine… A weapon in battle, for good and evil… You could change the future of Saiyans forever… and you want to die…?"
The Prince knelt to Garth's level, still feet away, but sympathized with the General. He saw the woman in his arm; she reminded him of me; Taylor. He closed his eyes, looking down and thinking. Garth wept quietly into Marissa's shoulder, gripping her shirt in his hand. The Prince slowly stood back up, running and hand through his hair. He swallowed as though he were nervous, but then started gathering energy in his hand. Garth watched as he did so. He slowly lifted his hand and aimed it at him.
"You were a proud, noble warrior… One of the best our race has ever had. You were probably the bravest one I knew… May you rest easy, General…"
Garth shook in place, grinning slightly as he was going to get his wish.
"Thank you, sire… I consider it an honor… to die at your hand…"
"Shhh… Just relax… Close your eyes, and be with your mate…"
He smiled slightly as the ki grew stronger and brighter. Garth lowered his head, closing his eyes and relaxing every stressed and tore muscle in his body. Blood dipped down his face and oozed from his body. He swallowed and mouthed the words 'thank you' softly as Vegeta gritted his teeth and shot the blindingly bright blast at Garth. All went white and nothing was left, but dust.
Three guards finally managed to get out of the city and back to the palace to see if the King was still okay. After seeing the palace shack and blow apart the way it did, they all knew that the King was most likely fighting someone. Surely, he would have won… right? They barged into the throne room to see the King dead, blood everywhere, the place in ruins, and Prince Vegeta was the only one left standing there.
He turned and grinned at them rather evilly, immediately blasting up into the sky.
"HALT! PRINCE VEGETA, I ORDER YOU TO STOP!"
They all tried chasing him immediately, but he was too fast. He flew out of the palace and over the burning, screaming city. He flew out to the edge of the mountains, miles from the Capitol, and grounded within the trees. His eyes fixated on the three guards coming down from the sky; he had to act quickly.
When the men landed, one heard a rustle in the bushes, but saw that it was only a Salus; a type of large bird that resembled an eagle. He grunted and they all kept their guards up and looked around. The bird flew off and back towards the edge of the city, leaving the guards way out in the wilderness, confused and fuming for believing everything, all of it was Prince Vegeta's fault.
The bird landed on a lower rooftop; his eyes darkly flashed around to make sure no one was around to see him, and he quickly transformed back into Gohan's main form. Gohan grinned wickedly, knowing now that the Prince was going to be getting everything he deserved and more. He chuckled to himself under his breath, and slowly made his way back into the northern edge of the city, fighting for what was right. He jumped from rooftop to rooftop like an assassin and then down to the ground. The Prince was now a suspect, an outlaw, a criminal; he was a dead man.