AN: This is based on the story "Forced Into Marriage", by mar09mart. It is the first Vegebul fanfic I can remember reading, and sadly has been untouched since 2015. My goal is to retell the story, in my words, and continue on where the plot left off. I hope you enjoy.
Through the hall marched three men, capes blowing behind two of them. King Vegeta, Prince Vegeta, and Kakarot moved with determination as they approached the Earth's King.
"Hey, I'm King Briefs,"
Both the King and Prince Vegeta fought back the urge to roll their eyes at the nonchalant demeanor that the Earth's ruler was known to hold. The two royal saiyans exchanged quick looks, Kakarot lingering behind them.
This was a diplomatic meeting, King Vegeta remembered. While the people of Earth were physically weak, they made up for this tenfold in intelligence. Reputed as one of the most technologically advanced planets, Earth resources would be pricelessly valuable to the planet of saiyan blood.
"I'm sorry for the informality, but Princess Bulma laments that she is unavailable to greet you," Maron stepped forward from beside King Briefs. Having been a member of the castle for quite some time, Maron had spent countless hours advising the royal family on their interplanetary relations. Especially since Queen Bunny had passed away from illness a year earlier, Maron had found a comfortable position as the King's immediate assistant.
"And you are?" King Vegeta dragged his words interrogatively.
"Lady Maron of the King's Court, sir."
King Vegeta actually smiled. This new face actually knew how to conduct herself. "And what keeps Princess Bulma from gracing us with her presence?"
Internally, Maron bit her lip. This was a question she had been wondering herself, for it had been hours since she'd last seen the Princess. Nobody in the court had been able to find her, just as usual when Princess Bulma went missing. But it wouldn't do to admit this to the visiting King, and Maron choked back a nervous laugh. "Princess Bulma, erm, ran late with some prior duties. She is making herself presentable now."
Maron couldn't believe the rubbish coming out of her mouth. But to her relief, the king merely nodded.
"That's our Bulma," King Briefs chuckled. "Always up to something. Anyway, come with me. I'll show you the grounds before dinner."
Laughing apologetically, Maron bowed her head as she backed away from the group. She watched as they began to descend down the hall. And then she turned, storming into the nearest room. Chi-Chi happened to be right behind the door, and Maron lunged for her. Holding her by the collar of her dress, Maron pulled Chi-Chi towards her face.
"Where is that girl?!" She spat. "Find her now! Bulma!"
—-
"Bulma! Princess Bulma!"
The voice was still so distant, as the Princess hid in the shadows of her garden. She was staring up at the moon dreamily, hearing but ignoring the calls behind her.
"Beautiful, as always, even in the dark."
Bulma turned at the voice, seeing the familiar silhouette of a tall man. "Yamcha," She breathed, allowing herself to fall in his arms. "Oh, Yamcha. We don't have long."
The two embraced in a slow kiss, the shaggy man pulling back to eye her in the moonlight. He was the lead captain of the Naval branch of the Earth's military. Having such a high title, he'd been invited to the ball. But not as Bulma's guest, for her father wasn't even aware that she knew the scarfaced man.
"I can't keep doing this," Bulma whispered. Urgency curled in her voice. "I can't keep pretending to not know you, to not be able to look your way."
"I would ask your father for your hand in marriage," Yamcha started.
"No, you can't!" Bulma cut him off. "You know what they'll do to you if they learn about us. Father wouldn't normally mind, but the people surrounding him would. They want nothing but to expand the Earth's power. They will stop at nothing to eliminate anything they deem as a threat to achieving that. Please don't speak of it again. We can't-"
"I don't care about the risks. Your father-" Yamcha started, but he stopped. This was the same conversation they'd had many times before, and it always ended the same. With Bulma crying, and Yamcha promising he'd never do anything that would sever their ties. And tonight was such an important night, she couldn't start to cry now…
"Run away with me," He suddenly said. The thought had struck like lightning, and just as it came did Yamcha know it was perfect. "We'll go away together. Somewhere far, where nobody can stop our love."
"I-" Bulma gasped. For a fleeting moment she almost said yes, but then she dropped her head. "My father is so frail lately. I can't leave him, it would kill him."
"Bulma!" The voice, once ringing from the distant patio of the palace, was now just meters away.
"Chi-Chi," Bulma called in return. She let go of Yamcha, moving away from him as quick as possible. Even Chi-Chi, her most dear friend, couldn't know about the relationship. Nobody could know.
"There you are!" Chi-Chi huffed. She stopped just short of the Princess, catching her breath. "Please, Bulma, it's urgent. Your presence is requested in the ballroom."
Bulma glanced over her shoulder to see that Yamcha's silhouette was already gone. She took a deep breath and nodded. "Right. Let's go."
While Prince Vegeta was annoyed at being dragged into this nonsense meeting, Kakarot beside him was gleeful. Once again he'd get to see Chi-Chi, the beautiful brunette that he'd started courting in secret during his last visit to planet Earth.
Ah, that last trip to Earth…
It had been a fluke. Kakarot had been ordered to land on Mars, but he was thirsty and injured, and Earth looked so inviting with its copious amounts of water that could be seen even from space. When he'd landed, it had caused quite a scene, with civilians gathering around to see what had just created a lake sized crater in the middle of their town.
This was when Kakarot was taken by three knights who had come on the King's orders to inspect the unfolding scene. And the human King had been good to Kakarot, offering him a place to stay while he healed from his earlier expeditions. Offering food and drink. This was when King Briefs learned that the two different planets had something in common - their dislike for the Cold Regime.
Likewise, Kakarot got to witness first-hand the technology that this planet was known for. He observed the computer systems that traced the outside vicinity of the planet for any foreign visitors. No wonder they had come so quickly when he'd landed. It was said that the systems in place were designed by King Briefs himself during his prince hood. And what was even more surprising as a rumor - the Princess herself had followed in his footsteps.
An engineering princess! It was preposterous!
Kakarot would have to see it to believe it. And he never did meet the Princess, not in the week that he stayed to recuperate. She never attended meals, not once was seen on a leisurely stroll through the palace halls. However, her dearest lady ~ Chi-Chi, was tending to the visitor on a daily basis. Oh yes, Kakarot had seen a lot of her, and he enjoyed it immensely…
The sound of a harp snapped Kakarot out of his memory. He looked around and remembered that he was sitting with the Prince and King Vegeta at the great table, awaiting the commencement of the royal supper. The melodic instrument, wherever it was, was stringing a soft song in announcement of the Princess. Prince Vegeta rolled his eyes and looked towards the third-class saiyan. It was Kakarot who had insisted they agree to King Brief's invitation to visit, on the urgency that their intelligence could be of use.
The harp played on, as the double doors of the hall opened, and in walked a pale figure that took Prince Vegeta by surprise. She strolled slowly and determinedly, her head held high as she made her way across the dining hall and to her reserved seat.
"Oh, I wonder if that's the Princess," Kakarot stated dumbly. Vegeta rolled his eyes yet again.
The soft harmony of the harp slowly faded to a halt as the Princess drew even closer. She resembled that Maron girl, in that she had Blue hair, but that was about it. On the Princess' head lay a modest tiara, adorned with shining blue jewels. To compliment the tiara was a blue gown, so long that it had a train flowing behind. The material resembled silk and clung to her figure in a lazy manner - not very tight, but not loose either.
In the back of the hall sat Yamaha, smiling to himself as the room stared in awe. That was his girl. If only everyone knew.
Princess Bulma approached the grand table and gave a delicate curtsy. "I apologize for being late," She said softly. The saiyan King nodded his approval. Despite her father's casualness, the heiress seemed to have been trained in royal courtesy.
The men sitting at the table were speechless - even King Briefs, who looked at his daughter as if he had only realized she was grown up. "No worries, my girl." He said, standing from the table to gesture at the empty seat across from Prince Vegeta.
"I'd like you to meet King Vegeta and his son Prince Vegeta from Vegetasei." Maron said from King Briefs' left. "They're our guests of honor."
The visitors stood abruptly, almost as if threatened to, on cue. Princess Bulma looked and realized that they were quite close to where her assigned seat was. She walked to them, moving delicately. Once across from them, she curtsied again. Holding out her hand, she smiled. "I am so pleased to meet you, King Vegeta."
King Vegeta took her hand and gave it a small kiss, bowing his respect in return. "The pleasure is mine, young Princess. It isn't every day that one meets such an exquisite creature as yourself,"
"Thank you," Princess Bulma smiled, embarrassed. "And Prince Vegeta,"
Prince Vegeta, looking in her eyes, also took her hand. He bowed low as he moved his lips towards it, his eyes never leaving hers. He noticed how soft her skin was. How good her hand smelled as he kissed it, a floral wave overpowering him. A smirk lined his face as he looked up at her. "The pleasure is all mine. Princess."
Through the meal Bulma was pleasant and conversational. She ate slowly, in contrast to the visitors stuffing their faces as if they'd never eaten before. Bulma had heard from Chi-Chi that this was how Kakarot ate, and it seems that it must have been some kind of planetary trait, for even the King and Prince shared this characteristic. She did her best to ignore this, while she carefully nipped at her roast.
It came to pass that nearly everything was discussed during dinner. King Vegeta spoke to King Briefs about Vegetesai's cultures and customs. Prince Vegeta was surprised when the Princess chimed in with many questions - she seemed thoroughly interested in their missions and people. He liked that about her. This wasn't just trivial chit-chat. She was thoroughly invested, and her demeanor became less formal as she lost herself in the back and forth.
Slowly, as the night went on, guests began to leave. Dinner had been over for nearly half an hour. Kakarot, the Kings, and the Prince sipped on red wine. Maron sat beside King Briefs, her own glass filled with the cold drink. She couldn't help but notice that Prince Vegeta had been eying the Princess throughout dinner. He was now watching as she played with her drink, having been the only one to request camomile tea instead of wine. She didn't seem to notice, lost in her own dreamy thoughts.
' Perhaps this is the way ,' Maron smiled, a plan coming to mind. A way to ensure the protection of the saiyans against the Cold Regime. A way to create ties with the royal family of Vegetesai.
After dinner it was requested that the two Kings be left alone to discuss diplomatic matters. Prince Vegeta sat in, having the authority to as the rightful heir to his planet's throne.
" I invited you here because my planet faces a very difficult problem. You know Frieza?" King Briefs was straight to the point.
"Yes, I am aware of Frieza." King Vegeta replied, biting the inside of his cheek. He wanted to add the words you buffoon to his statement, but he restrained. "My planet was at war with him two decades ago when my son was a child."
"Well, he has decided to declare war to my planet if I don't give him what he wants."
"What does he want from you?" King Vegeta asked.
"Frieza wants the unconditional alliance of planet Earth." Maron cut in. Prince Vegeta squinted his eyes at her, wanting to ask why she was there. "What exactly do you want from us?" He asked, directing his question towards the King.
"We want to pledge allegiance to your planet. We want you to send legions of your warriors here. We, in exchange, will provide you with our latest inventions." Maron replied.
"I see." King Vegeta nodded. "Frieza wants to avoid another war with Vegetasai. He would not attack Earth, for it would mean war on us as well."
"Precisely." Maron smiled. "Our military is nothing compared to Frieza's. However, your race is feared all through the galaxy. Our alliance to your planet will provide my planet with protection."
"My son and I need to talk about this alone." King Vegeta said with finality. He was also wondering why he was now talking to Maron instead of the Earth's King.
"Take all the time you need. You are welcome to stay on Earth as long as you wish."
"Thank you for your hospitality. I will answer you tomorrow before dinner. Good night." King Vegeta stood from his chair and walked to the door with Prince Vegeta to his side.
—
"I have thoughts," King Vegeta said, when he and his son were alone.
"That we shouldn't get involved." Prince Vegeta replied. They sat in the elder Vegeta's room, dimly lit by candlelight.
"Speak your mind, son." King Vegeta had been taking his son's opinions in high regards lately, seeing as how the Prince was growing to be of age and would one day take the throne.
"I don't think we should get involved, Father. Frieza's army are not ones to scoff at. We ended with a treaty long ago," Prince Vegeta continued.
"I see your point. But think of the use of the technology." King Vegeta replied. This rendered his son speechless, as he considered the dilemma the two faced.
"I saw the way you were looking at the Princess earlier," The King decided to stray from the subject at hand. "I've never seen you with that look on your face before."
"Oh, shut it, Father."
"She would make a good Queen." King Vegeta pressed. "Her royal training is impressive, and I am not sure where she got it from, all things considered."
"What are you suggesting?" Prince Vegeta furrowed his brows, trying to keep a disgusted look on his face. But it was growing difficult as his Father relayed the Princess' grace.
"A good alternative would be that of marriage." King Vegeta continued. "With the tie of marriage, Vegetesai would not provoke the Cold Regime by forming an alliance. By extension, Earth would-"
"Become part of Vegetesai." The Prince finished. He was trying not to show it, but the idea was incredibly intriguing. His father had been after him for years now about picking a royal mate, but this was the first time he was actually leaning into the idea.
"She would be the future Queen…" Prince Vegeta stated, as if thinking it over himself. If she continued conducting herself with the same grace she did tonight, surely she would be useful in building future ties during diplomatic negotiations. Not to mention - she was quite pretty…
"I guess we'll be staying here for longer than we thought." King Vegeta took a deep breath. It was hard not to be excited that his kingdom would soon unite forces with one of the most technologically advanced races in all of the universe.
