For almost two days Princess Bulma stayed in her chambers. There was a comfortable balcony for her to sit on and get fresh air. And with the servants delivering food and having the attached library, bathroom, and comfortable bed, she found it easy enough to stay. It wasn't until her third day when she became too stir crazy with boredom that she decided to venture out.

The first part of the palace that Bulma found herself in was, naturally, the kitchen.

"It smells so good in here," She said happily when she walked in. She meant it to be a compliment to the woman who was standing over the stove, but the proclamation seemed to only scare her instead. The woman jumped and accidentally smacked herself with the wooden spoon. "Ouch!"

"Oof!" Bulma cringed, "Are you okay?!"

"Pr-Princess!" The woman fell to her feet, her head bowed nearly to the floor. "Was there something wrong with your breakfast? I'm so sorry, my lady, please-"

"No!" Bulma interrupted. "Please stand. I appreciate your formality, but it isn't necessary."

The woman looked up at Bulma nervously, as if she thought it was some type of trick. The Princess was saddened at this - what had happened to her to make her so fearful? "I promise this isn't a ploy. Please, please stand up."

Hesitantly the woman rose to her feet. And she kept her head bowed. And so Bulma said what she thought was best. "I'm Princess Bulma. Please tell me your name,"

"Why, but of course you are Princess Bulma," The woman looked up now, stunned. "Everyone knows who you are, my lady."

"And why is that? I haven't met anyone." Bulma asked.

"Why, your striking eyes and your prominent hair, of course. They are just as beautiful as the stories."

"You are too kind." Bulma blushed. She couldn't help but wonder who had spread stories complimenting her appearance. Was it perhaps the King? Surely it hadn't been Prince Vegeta… Even if he thought such a thing, he'd never admit it. "And who are you?" The Princess asked.

"Bobble, my lady." Another bow.

"Well, Bobble, I've come because it smelled good in here, and I fancy a meal. Is it a convenient time for me to eat?"

"Of course, my lady!" Bobble ran for the stove. She took a look at her wooden spoon and placed it on the counter, grabbing a clean one from the rack. That was when Bulma saw her arm.

"What happened here?" Bulma asked,

"Oh, I was being clumsy and hit myself with the spoon,"

"You mean this happened just now?" Princess Bulma approached and took hold of Bobble's arm, looking at it closely. "Oh, Bobble. I am so sorry!"

Just then the door swung open, and in walked Nova. Bulma internally groaned.

"What are you doing in here?!" Nova snapped, and it was unclear whom she was addressing.

Bobble jumped, which was unfortunate because Bulma was still holding her arm. This led to Bulma accidentally tugging on the skin where the burn was, which in turn resulted in Bobble letting out a pained cry.

"Servant! What are you doing fraternizing with your mistress?!"

Suddenly it made sense why Bobble was so nervous. Bulma turned, her hands on her hips. "Excuse me! But who asked you to speak on my behalf!"

Nova wasn't waned. "It is my authority to punish the servants for inappropriate conduct."

"And it's my authority to tell you to stand down!" Bulma snapped. "I came in here on my own accord and I don't need you prying in!"

Bulma was still holding Bobble's arm, and she could feel the poor cook trembling. Nova continued to glare.

"Now, as Princess of Vegetsai, the wife of Prince Vegeta, I order you to get some medical wrapping and healing balm. Now!"

Princess Bulma knew what she was doing when she phrased her sentence. And the look in Nova's eyes at the word 'wife' only affirmed that her goal was met. Without a word Nova strode out of the kitchen, leaving the door swinging in her wake.

"I'm so sorry about that," Bulma finally let go of the cook. "Are you alright?"

"Ma'am." Bobble sniffed. "Why I, I am unworthy of your kindness."

"Everyone deserves kindness," Bulma said softly. And in her head she thought 'some more than others …'

"You are a most gracious Princess!" Bobble sniffed again. "You will make a wonderful Queen!"

"Oh," Bulma bowed her head shyly. Once again she found herself saying "You are too kind."

And then she looked back up at the cook and gave her a more serious look. "Bobble. What is it that Nova does to frighten you so bad?"

"Oh, milady…" Bobble sighed. "I receive regular whippings when I have displeased the masters."

" Nova whips you?" Suddenly Bulma was incensed.

"Yes my lady, she does not have any powers like the others. She can't make energy with her hands. But it is her duty to reprimand us servants-"

"Not anymore!" Bulma exclaimed. Bobble jumped and let out a whimper, and the Princess immediately softened her posture. "I'm sorry Bobble, I didn't mean to frighten you. I am relieving Nova of that duty as of right now. Please don't fret."

"Oh my lady!" Bobble dropped to her knees again. "Is it true?! You are such a noble Princess! So noble indeed!"

All Bulma could do was blush.

—

The three saiyans were flying across the red wasteland of a planet that made up Seiko. They had landed a few hours earlier and hadn't located the King's pod yet. As more time elapsed, the prince became more stressed. His father shouldn't have landed here. And it certainly shouldn't be taking so long to locate him.

"Up ahead! Prince!" Raditz called. Vegeta looked the where the warrior was gesturing, and he saw it. The crater that was a tell-tale indicator of a pod's landing. They landed quickly, Raditz and Nappa acting as Vegeta's cover while he raced to jump in the crater.

The Prince approached the pod and clicked the button to open its door. Nothing happened. He tried again with the same result. It was then that he peered through the foggy glass. "Nappa!"

The bald saiyan jumped in the crater to join his master. "Work with me." Vegeta ordered, an the two used their combine strength to wedge open the pod door.

"You'd better be alive, old man." Vegeta growled. His father, pallid skinned, was hunched over to the side with his eyes shut. His crown had fallen in his lap, and his chest was stained with blood.

"Speak to me!" Vegeta barked at his father urgently, but the King did not respond. "Father!"

"He's still alive." Nappa, having more medical training of the two, observed. He had checked the king's pulse.

"Then get him out of here! Nappa!" Vegeta turned. "Take him to my pod. He must be sent back home now. He needs a regeneration tank immediately!"

"Sir." Nappa nodded in agreement. Carefully he pulled the king from his seat, the crown falling to the floor. Vegeta watched it roll into the dirt. There was something dreadful about that image, and he felt a sinking feeling in his chest.

He was just about to pick up the crown when he heard a blast come from above.

"No!" He jumped into the air.

Ahead he saw Nappa dodging an energy blast, and Vegeta growled. The rebels had planned this. It would be stupid if they weren't aware of the saiyan's entrance into the planet's atmosphere, and those bastards had specifically waited for the king to be discovered before moving in for the kill.

Vegeta fired a blast to the direction the energy attack had come from. "Nappa!" He shouted, when the bald saiyan looked over his shoulder. "Raditz and I will take care of this. Go!"

"He isn't much for this life, anyway." A voice laughed. And in front of Vegeta appeared a tall green alien.

"Who the hell are you?!" Vegeta snapped. "What did you do!"

"My, my," The alien grinned. "That's no way to greet me, Prince Vegeta."

"I demand you answer me!" Vegeta barked. By now Raditz was at his side, turned the other way to make sure nobody could ambush from behind.

"My name is Pikon, and that's all you need to know." He smirked. "And it will be my decision if you leave this planet dead or alive."

"Bullshit!' Vegeta shouted. " We will be the ones determining who lives or dies!"

"We'll see about that," The smirk remained on Pikon's face. "Men…"

Four men appeared out of thin air, surrounding Pikon. His grin widened. "Shall we have some fun with this spoiled Prince?"

"Good luck with that!" Vegeta spat. "I shall seek vengeance for what happened to my father!"

"It is politics, boy." Pikon replied. "And you…. We shall make an example of you."

The four rebels that had appeared on Pikon's command descended on the saiyans. With a punch and several kicks from the Prince, two of the men were sent straight to the hard ground.

"Oh, how pathetic." Pikon rolled his eyes. And then he pointed his palm at the place where the two men lay, and a white beam erupted at them, leaving only a smoldering pile in their place. "They are useless to me if they will be brought down so easily."

Five more men appeared around Pikon, and Vegeta backed into Raditz.

"Sir." Raditz said, and Vegeta stole a quick glance over his shoulder. Six more men were approaching from behind.

"Keep watch of my back," Vegeta ordered to the lower class saiyan. "We must keep them from going after Nappa."

Raditz nodded, already posed to fight.

"Ready?" Vegeta grumbled to his friend. Raditz grumbled his affirmation.

And then both saiyans charged.

—