It's a courtroom drama in Nav!
Sorry for the delay in an update. It's at this point in the story that some details are still evolving, and I needed more time finalizing this chapter (I'll be spending more time on future chapters, too). Add to the mix a visit from my sister (whom I spent all my time with because I love her and hadn't seen her in forever), a birthday, the upcoming Easter holiday and a venture in costume design and I found myself a bit swamped.
AnonymousDBZFan, Thank you for reading! I'm happy you enjoyed their confrontation! Hoo boy, did I ever analyze the heck out of Nappa and how he could potentially react upon seeing Vegeta again. Yes, we have GT's reunion, and while I don't really care about canon vs non-canon, that particular 'reunion' felt very shoehorned. It was a sort of 'hey look, it's Nappa!' and Vegeta just offs him again, this time to protect Earth. Nappa was an evil bastard, sure, and some justify Vegeta killing him in Z for just that reason. The fact of the matter though, was that Vegeta was a BIGGER bastard at the time, and that was underscored by the fact that he killed his own man. He shocked all the Z warriors when he did that. I love Vegeta, but I don't make excuses for him: once upon a time he was stone-cold evil.
The Trial
Touketsu awoke with a startled grunt to the sound of knocking on his door. He quickly drifted back off. In spite of skipping dinner in favor of sleep, he had been unable to sleep at all. He ended up spending the better part of the night flying across the planet and far from the kingdom, training in remote areas with the intention of exhausting himself. The sun was up by the time he made his return, and he had only just managed a half hour of sleep. The knocking persisted, and the muscles of his bare, white back bunched with tension. He threw a pillow over his head, muffling his growl of irritation.
"Mr. Touketsu, you have been summoned. It is a matter of urgent importance."
One of those officious little attendants. He moved the pillow just enough to shout at the door. "Get lost, servant woman! I don't operate on your queen's hours!"
The door all but exploded off its hinges. Touketsu sat up in bed in surprise and looked up at the three headed giant that had at last returned. Zeygorn stepped in and glowered down at Touketsu, annoyed that he had been combing the better part of Nav for the demon only to find him back at the palace. There you are, you slippery little runt. "Get up, Touketsu. Now. You are being summoned for a court hearing."
Court hearing? He glared up at the dragon man. "What, I'm not going to get served papers first? What the hell is this about?"
"An emergency meeting concerning your dubious origins was held last night and a court hearing called at sunrise. Had you been present you would have known this. Why were you not in your chambers earlier?"
"Ha! There is no law stating I can't come and go as I please."
"The law of Nav does however require you to answer to a court summons, especially if you're a defendant. Now, you can either walk to the courtroom under your own power, or you can be dragged there in chains. What is it going to be?"
Touketsu bristled with indignation. "Are you forgetting just who sent your ass into the f-"
Touketsu was thrown into a wall before he could finish getting out the last word, the onyx reliefs shattering upon impact. Zeygorn grabbed the dazed demon prince by the arm and hauled him to his feet.
"I CERTAINLY HAVEN'T!" Zeygorn's three heads shouted in his face. "And I'll have you know that you're not the only one to become stronger after enduring trial by fire, Saiyan." Touketsu's eyes widened fleetingly in surprise. Zeygorn shoved him towards the doorway. "Move. The assembly has waited long enough on your account, beast."
Touketsu glanced surreptitiously over at the attendants, embarrassed that they were witness to his thrashing. The piebald equine women simply regarded him patiently, their hands clasped in front of them and their hooved fingers lightly interlaced. With as much dignity as he could muster, he strode out of the room. Zeygorn could hide his power level, and his strength could be at untold heights now. Touketsu argued with his pride that he could well lose if he got into a brawl now; he had been combating the persistent, draining symptoms of the ki blockages, and the fact that he hadn't eaten and barely slept could be enough to tip the scales in the behemoth's favor.
Touketsu was led to the room across from the palace entrance. It was not a throne room as he had originally assumed, but a courtroom. Head held high, Touketsu walked through the vestibule leading to the oppressive, circular room, the sconces of blue-green fire lining it only adding to the gloominess. An expansive, coffered dome ceiling stretched overhead, its open central oculus a spot of white in the darkness. Tiered, concentric seats of ebony lined the room, and just as in the stadium they were filled with Familia.
At the head of the immense room was a towering, triangular dais of black tourmaline, three thrones carved directly into its base. In each one sat Marenna's somber looking daughters: Zeema on the left, Likha at the center, and Kuma to the right. At the very top of the structure sat Marenna. Staff in hand, she was wearing a black kimono embroidered in silver. The towering backrest of her tourmaline throne gradually tapered off from polished to rough as though the designer had given up carving. The black mineral's vertical crystalline structure gave the impression of charred wood.
Zeygorn and Touketsu walked across the floor of black stone, the flecks of silvery mica within it glittering like stars. They stopped at the broad circle of inlaid white chalcedony at its center. "My queen. We apologize for the wait," Zeygorn said, taking a knee and bowing his three heads. The left head glared at Touketsu who hadn't moved, then it jerked forward indicating him to follow suit.
Touketsu eyed him with disdain out of the corner of his eye before crossing his arms and looking up at Marenna. "Alright woman, what is this about that it couldn't wait until after my breakfast?" Grumbles over his disrespect rippled throughout the courtroom.
Queen Marenna completely ignored him. "Court is again in session," she announced as Zeygorn moved to stand on the outskirts of the circular inlay. Touketsu inwardly frowned at her dismissal of him. "Familia of Nav, I have heard your opening statements. As agreed, Queen Zarkala will represent the Familia associated with the alleged Inimicus." She turned her attention to Touketsu, spotlit by the white light glaring down on him from the central oculus like a baleful eye. "Mr. Touketsu. You stand accused of committing crimes under the alias 'Prince Vegeta' that would qualify you as Inimicus." The room began to darken as the light above steadily eclipsed.
Touketsu's eye twitched. Goddamn it, Nappa. He glanced down when the stone beneath his feet likewise waned to black. Like a lunar eclipse, it quickly bled into a glowing, sanguine carnelian. He looked back up at Marenna, his features underlit by the red-orange stone beneath him. He slowly uncrossed his arms. He had accepted this remote possibility, but he rankled when he took in her cool, imperious expression. Whatever her motivation for attempting to seduce him, it was obvious to him that her pride had been hurt the night he spurned her; she was taking pleasure in having him kicked out.
Petty, two-faced bitch. She had offered him umbrage from the Shin, and she chose to remain ignorant of any crimes he had committed as Vegeta. Now here she was, putting him on trial and pretending she wasn't equally guilty by aiding and abetting a criminal. Her hypocrisy and superior attitude were pissing him off.
"What's this? The wise queen of Nav didn't know she was harboring a felon?" he drawled sarcastically, parroting her words to him.
Marenna regarded him with that same, infuriating placidness that greeted him upon his arrival in the throne room. His eyes flicked to the boline atop her staff when it flashed; it quickly began waxing into a disc. With a barely audible gasp he turned his head, his features tense as he clenched his fists at his sides. What the hell is she doing? Has she gone completely mad?! He was quickly reminded that he didn't really know her, much less her motives.
"I do not question the background of refugees when I open my doors to them," he heard her say, her voice authoritative and cold. He bit down on his response, a trickle of sweat rolling down his temple. "You have gained a reputation for being the strongest in the arena, Mr. Touketsu. However, I will remind you that there are many gods stronger than you…many stronger than me."
There was a noticeable play of tensing muscle across his chest when his fists tightened. She was reminding him that he could be overpowered; she'd turn him over to the Shin if he didn't keep his mouth shut, her position be damned. If this Zeno turned out to be real, he could kiss his very existence goodbye. His strong survival extinct screamed at him to back down.
"We are not in the arena, we are in court. Speak out of turn again and I will find you in contempt. Do you understand?"
She was calling his bluff. He swallowed as though to swallow his pride, and he nodded. "Yes," he answered gruffly. The boline scepter again waned, and he let out a breath. Scowling, he turned to face her once more.
Marenna looked to a silver skinned, regal looking woman. She was middle aged, dressed in an elaborately embroidered purple dress and flanked by two young men similar in appearance. "Queen Zarkala, Prince Izo, Prince Chisto, please step forward and state your case."
She stepped up to him. Her silver face was framed with long, straight, white hair, the golden circlet of royalty encircling her head. He frowned at the sight of her accusing, crystalline eyes. Blue. Pink was fast gaining a contender for most hated color. He was suddenly in his bedroom again, a cornered, defensive animal as Bulma lay into him for nearly getting their son killed. Zhernobog had claimed him after that incident. Something within asked him if he was going to respond the same way.
His heart hardened as the condemning energy from her eyes and the courtroom seeped into his being. SHE isn't HER. I don't give a SHIT about this woman. This wasn't the same scenario, but he would still apply something he had learned: He wouldn't flee this time.
"Queen Marenna," Zarkala announced, not taking her eyes off him, "I would like a word with the defendant first."
"Of course."
Zarkala seemed to be visibly holding herself back, her anger palpable. "Do you remember me?" She asked, her voice trembling. He shook his head a little and gave a careless shrug of a shoulder.
His head barely moved when her hand met his face, but his eyes snapped wide in outrage as audible gasps tore through the room. With a terrifying roar he raised his fist to her when Zeygorn quickly moved in to grab him by the wrist, yanking him back. The entire room erupted in a panic as the princes grabbed their mother by the arms and pulled her out of harm's range, stepping in front of her.
"YOU DARE TOUCH ME, YOU BITCH?!" Touketsu screamed, straining against Zeygorn's grip. His dark energy pulsed as he attempted to wrest himself free. "Let go of me, you lizard!" Zeygorn only tightened his grip as Touketsu's hellish aura flared, deadlocking them both. The daughters traded highly amused looks over the kerfuffle.
"Order!" Marenna's voice rang out. "There will be no physical altercations within the palace walls! That is reserved for the Volkfangr Arena! Queen Zarkala. We understand your anger, but if we are to proceed you must not strike him again. Please. State your case."
"Yes! Care to elaborate?" Touketsu snarled as he wrenched his wrist free from Zeygorn's grip.
Tears of rage welled in Zarkala's eyes. "How dare you play innocent! I knew it. I knew it was you! Older and far more twisted, but I had a feeling the first night I laid eyes on you." She looked up to the court attendees. "My family and I were murdered by a sadistic monster disguised as a young man. This man," She said, pointing an accusing finger at Touketsu as a ripple of murmurs coursed through the jury. "A Saiyan teenager, his hair like a black flame and his eyes just as dark, cornered me and my family while our planet was being razed. He introduced himself as 'Prince Vegeta the Fourth' before maliciously slaughtering our men and making a game of killing my family. I can corroborate my claim that my assailant and this man are one and the same. On the night of his arrival, the princesses spoke of how he took on a different form."
"My daughters," Marenna announced. "You are being called to witness." The daughters stiffened in their seats and glanced at each other. Reluctantly, they stood from their thrones and approached the center of the floor. Marenna was looking sternly at them, and it was apparent to the three sisters that they were suddenly now also on trial. "Zeema," Mareena addressed her eldest. The blonde looked up at her mother, her blue eyes wide. "Explain," she commanded.
Zeema blushed sheepishly. "Um…We were talking about how he changed…in the bathhouse."
"We were spying on him," Kuma piped up, far less concerned with her public image than her other two sisters.
"We were curious," Likha added.
"And what did you see?" asked Mareena.
A furious blush rose to Touketsu's face. After having the mind and form of a monstrous animal for eons, he had no reservations about his demonic body. That is, unless he was being groped by a seductive ice queen. He just discovered that public discussions concerning his Saiyan body were equally and unexpectedly mortifying.
"After he submerged in the Water of Life he changed into someone different."
"Describe, please."
Gods. Fuck, what the hell? His cheeks burning, Touketsu locked eyes with Likha; he almost choked when he thought he saw her lips twitch into a fleeting smirk. He glared hard in warning and gave a subtle shake of his head.
"He became a man with tan skin and black eyes, and he had a monkey's tail covered in short, brown fur. His hair was shorter, and it looked like a flame." Touketsu let out a breath, inwardly grateful the lustful redhead didn't go into details.
"A description that perfectly matches that of my assailant," Zarkala announced before turning to Touketsu. "The Water of Life speaks the truth. That despicable Saiyan, General Nappa, finally confirmed all my suspicions when he addressed you by your true name last night. Are you finally going to admit who you really are to everyone here? Or must Lord Zeygorn impose upon you a public dunking into the Water of Life?" There was a ripple of quiet chuckles throughout the courtroom, and Touketsu's entire face flushed in indignation. "The truth will come out either way."
"What is the defendant's answer?" Marenna prompted.
His fists clenched in outrage. Zarkala obviously considered him a coward if she thought coercion was necessary. "Yes," he growled. "I was Prince Vegeta." Gasps over the admission swept through the courtroom.
"Was? You are. Were you too afraid to admit your true identity when you arrived here? Or did you just want to continue living well in the palace like a privileged tyrant?"
Some of the strength seemed to go out of him at that. "Look at me," he rumbled, gesturing half-heartedly to himself. "I'm not Prince Vegeta anymore. That is the only reason I didn't claim that title. I'm not hiding from anything, understand?"
"Not even your past? I don't care how many times you change your name or your appearance, Prince Vegeta. You will answer to everyone you've wronged, just like the rest of the brutish Inimicus serving their time here."
His eyes hardened; his pride was through with being on the ropes in this farce of a battle. "How righteous," he sneered. "Give me a break. This isn't about justice for all, this is about justice for you. And I'm sorry if I offend, but I don't remember you because you are nothing special. You were just another job. I've killed thousands upon thousands with my bare hands, wiped out billions in the planets I've razed and destroyed. After a while you all look alike." Condemning murmurs resonated throughout the courtroom.
Zarkala marched up to him. "I'll jog your memory then! Planet Luscep. Emperor Frieza deployed his worst to stop the rebellion we were forming against his tyrannical forces. You made a sadistic game of killing our men. You decapitated my husband, traumatized my children. You shot me through the stomach and mocked my pain - humiliated me and insulted my honor while I was on my knees! I remember the screams of my children behind me before you broke my neck. I could do nothing! My two boys told me you burned them to death!" she shrieked.
He listened to her, his expression stoic as the growing susurration in the courtroom reached a fever pitch. He remembered. That assignment was paired with one of the more brutal and psychologically underhanded punishments that Frieza had ever doled out to him. What was Frieza's reason for tricking him into drinking poison before beating him within an inch of his life? The emperor gave him two: Theft of the Luscepian Chain of Office, and failure to bring back the Luscepian royal family alive.
"Ah. Well, madam. I remember you now." He turned his attention to the young men, his ego demanding he win this fight. "And do you remember your three lessons, kids?"
The older prince, Izo, stepped forward, his expression grim. "I do. You told us attachments are for the weak, the weak die, and death can be a mercy."
An ugly smirk crawled across Touketsu's lips. "Veeery good," he drawled patronizingly, his Ice-jin mentor reawakening within him. "I'm very proud of you. Death can be a mercy. And let me tell you, your deaths were guaranteed. It didn't matter if I did it or someone else carried out the deed, your fates were sealed when your oh-so-wise king, your father, conspired the uprising. You can blame him for your deaths."
"Bastard," Queen Zarkala hissed, recapturing his attention as the jury rumbled around them. "Coward! Everyone is to blame but you, aren't they? You tortured my boys when you made them watch us die. You reveled in torturing us all!" she screamed, tears now streaming from her blue eyes.
The eyes of Bulma and Trunks flashed through his mind, and Touketsu was horrified to feel his heart clench. He heard those boys scream again when he felt that familiar, constricting feeling in his heart.
"Mama!"
Beneath his impassive facade he almost desperately clung to his pride. This was just another form of battle, and he lost to no one. He crossed his arms. "Everyone needs a hobby." A wave of vocalized reprobations swept through the courtroom.
Zarkala glared icily at him. "My sons Izo and Chisto will face you in the arena tonight."
His face suddenly cracked before he threw his head back in mocking laughter. "BWA HA HA! Oh, please! The Luscepians were no fighters. A race of weaklings suited only for underhanded politics. Well, if you wish to actually see your sons burn, and forever after, then I'll happily oblige." The jury erupted in a passionate furor, shouting him down.
"Order," Marenna said calmly. Zarkala seethed at the prince before turning to the queen. An arrogant sneer on his face, Touketsu's defiant eyes raked over the immense jury, challenging them. His sneer faded when he saw them. Amnon in her arms, Remmnya slowly shook her head as tears of betrayal filled her golden eyes. He forced himself to maintain eye contact, scowling as the razor sharp edges of guilt drove deep into his heart. Remmnya's brow furrowed and she looked away.
"I will announce the verdict," Queen Marenna stated. "Mr. Touketsu, aka Prince Vegeta IV, has admitted to committing these crimes. By doing so he has joined the ranks of the Inimicus. He will serve his time here as by Nav rule and live on the outskirts of the kingdom like the rest of his kind. His nightly attendance to the tournament is required, at which time he will participate in both the 3rd and 4th quarters. All those in favor of this ruling say 'ai'"
"AI!" came the resounding response throughout the courtroom.
"All those in disagreement say 'nay'."
"Nay." It was Zarkala. Confused whispers rippled throughout the jury. Touketsu raised an eyebrow. "Queen Marenna, with all due respect, this…demon is alive. He poses challenges to the laws as they currently stand. What would be done if he were to shun tournament attendance out of sheer spite? It won't be a simple matter of banishing his soul for a time."
"You make an excellent point, Queen Zarkala, which brings me to an important issue that I will address. Prince Vegeta's presence in Nav is indeed truly unprecedented. Under these circumstances I find it necessary to make amendments to the laws to allow for his condition."
Touketsu scowled. Condition?
"The first law that will be amended is the Law of Attendance. As you all know, failure of an Inimicus to attend the tournament results in his banishment to a lower purgatory." She looked at Touketsu. "As you still have your body, Prince Vegeta, it will be relieved of your possession before your soul is banished from Nav."
Touketsu stiffened, not really listening as Marenna continued. The woman had been practically tripping over herself for his wellbeing since day one, and now she was casually threatening to strip him of his very body?
"I want you all to bear in mind that when Prince Vegeta's body and soul are separated, his soul will automatically be sent to King Yemma and thus will be beyond my jurisdiction. King Yemma alone will determine which hell Prince Vegeta will be sent to, and how long his sentence will be before being transferred to the next. It may be some time before he returns to Nav."
"Then his death before banishment must count!" Zarkala cried out. The jury erupted in noisy support.
"Order, please," Marenna called, her hand held up. She looked to Zarkala. "You and the rest of the Familia are within their rights. If Prince Vegeta fails to attend the tournament, he will be apprehended and placed under arrest. Following that, he will be publicly executed.
Touketsu's eyes widened in shock. What the…hell?
"Queen Marenna, As representative for all of his Familia, I request that I be the one to determine the manner of his execution."
His head whipped to Zarkala. WHAT THE HELL!?
"I will receive input from all I represent," Zarkala went on, "but I advocate an event. Familia may have to witness the death of their Inimicus many times over before they are able to move on. Prince Vegeta can die only once here, so his execution should therefore be a spectacle." The court erupted in cheers as Zarkala continued, her voice ringing out over them. "His death…must…COUNT!"
Queen Marenna held up her hand, and the court silenced. She nodded. "Granted."
Touketsu's brows drew together in bewilderment as the courtroom again erupted in cheers of approval. Up until the day Marenna tried to kiss him, he had gradually come to believe that she was in fact on his side. He realized a part of him still held out some hope that she actually was. Now she was agreeing to killing him in a humiliating public execution. An unwelcome but familiar sensation began stirring within him: Betrayal. His lip curled up over a fang. A woman scorned, huh?
"All those in favor of this ruling say 'ai'," Marenna called out.
"AI!"
"All those not in favor say 'nay.'" The courtroom was silent. "The amendment to the Law of Attendance has been passed."
Touketsu seethed. They would never see the day of his execution. As if he would ever duck from a fight to be slaughtered like a chicken.
"Next are the rules of the Volkfangr Arena," Marenna went on. "If an Inimicus vanquishes his Familia, he goes on to the 4th Quarter where he will battle until his death. Under the Rule of the Last Man Standing, if he survives, he must face the Royal Executioner Zeygorn."
There were murmurings throughout the court, and Touketsu allowed himself a little smirk. He could actually feel Zeygorn fuming in embarrassment. He was the only one to ever defeat that blowhard…twice.
"Prince Vegeta will be exempt from facing Lord Zeygorn."
There were gasps throughout the courtroom, but the most surprised and dismayed of everyone there were Touketsu and Zeygorn.
"Why the hell is that?!" Touketsu exploded.
"But my queen!" Zeygorn blurted out. "The defendant has consistently been the last man standing! How can I carry out my duties as Royal Executioner if I'm denied facing him!" After all the training Zeygorn had done, he knew he would emerge victorious this time. He wanted to mop the arena floor with that little bastard!
The entire courtroom was clamoring. "Order! Order!" Marenna's voice rang out, and the courtroom stilled. She looked sternly to Zeygorn. "Your duties are to the Familia, Lord Zeygorn. Your role as Royal Executioner is simply a means to fulfill those duties. Do not forget that." He quickly bowed his three heads in deference. "Your services will be called upon when needed, and until Prince Vegeta is defeated you will be kept on retainer as Royal Executioner. Understood?"
"Yes my queen," Zeygorn's three heads grumbled, his fears confirmed: The queen was displeased with his performance. As executioner, he should not have ever lost. He silently cursed out this…Touketsu-Vegeta, destroying his reputation and corrupting Nav's laws with his unnatural presence. I'll make you pay, demon. I will get back into the queen's good graces.
"Lord Zeygorn, my reason for the amendment is thus: Your power has reached new heights." Zeygorn perked up at this. "If you manage to kill Prince Vegeta in the arena, his Familia will be denied retribution for an indeterminate length of time."
"AS IF HE COULD DEFEAT ME!" Touketsu thundered.
"Order…"
"I'll take this freak right now!" Touketsu was now talking over Marenna's continued calls for order as the courtroom again came to life. "This is an insult, treating me as though I was fucking handicapped! Why? Because I have a goddamn body?!"
"Prince Vegeta, calm yourself or I'll find you in contempt of court."
"I DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT YOUR-"
A blast of electricity jolted through his body when a massive hand clamped around the back of his neck. Muscles seized and jaw clenched painfully shut, he felt as though his brain was ricocheting inside his cranium. He fell limp when it mercifully stopped, Zeygorn gripping him firmly by the back of the neck like he was a half drowned kitten. There was a sigh from the Nav queen.
"Thank you, Lord Zeygorn."
"Not at all, my queen."
Touketsu regained control of his rubbery legs, and Marenna motioned to Zeygorn to release him. Touketsu gave a shake of his head, blinking once as the queen addressed him. "You are on trial today, Prince Vegeta. This is not about what you want. This is about justice for your Familia." She turned to Zarkala. "What are your thoughts, Queen Zarkala?"
Zarkala considered this before speaking with her sons in hushed voices. At length, she looked to Marenna. "The privilege of Prince Vegeta's execution should be reserved for his Familia. I agree with your proposal."
"All others in favor of this ruling say 'ai',"
"AI!"
"All those not in favor say 'nay.'" Silence reigned. "The amendment to the Rule of The Last Man Standing has been passed."
Touketsu stewed as the courtroom cheered. As if they have a chance in hell of ever scratching me, much less killing me!
Marenna looked at Touketsu. "You are hereby banished from the palace. Any armor and weapons you may wish to use in the upcoming tournaments will be supplied to you, after which point you will depart immediately. Zeygorn will escort you. You are only permitted back on kingdom grounds in order to attend the nightly tournaments in the Volkfangr Arena. Like all Inimicus, however, you are welcome to attend Susmir upon the conclusion of the tournament."
Touketsu felt so insulted he could scarcely breathe. That last tacked on bit was a slap to the face of his already severely injured pride. He spat on the floor. "Fuck you." The crowd erupted in outrage.
"Court is adjourned."
Zeygorn immediately grabbed him by the upper arms and swung him around, pushing him towards the doors.
"Hold, Lord Zeygorn. Bring him to my throne room. I have some words for him before he departs.
"I have nothing to say to you!" Touketsu spat.
"Yes, my queen."
Touketsu was taken to the throne room. He didn't have to wait long before Queen Marenna arrived. "Thank you Lord Zeygorn, you are dismissed. I will send Prince Vegeta out shortly by which point you are to escort him off the premises."
"With pleasure, milady."
Zeygorn bowed and left, leaving them alone. They stood across from each other, the silence between them oppressive. "Would that you had listened, Touketsu," she said quietly.
"I'm DONE listening to you, woman! What the fuck was that about in there?! You treated me like a stranger - a commoner!"
"In the courtroom all are treated impartially. Do you think I enjoyed being put in that position?"
"Yes! Yes, I do!"
"Your first morning in Nav I warned you what could happen if you continued to participate in the Tournament. You are unwilling now to reap the consequences of your decision?"
Scowling, he took a breath. "I am accountable, and I stand by my decision, Marenna. There was no way I was going to spend the rest of my days idling about in the palace like your pet. But you," he hissed, "you went out of your way to humiliate me."
"Your behavior and words in the courtroom were merely being reflected back to you. Remember, Touketsu. Anything you do will always elicit a reaction."
"Thought the cool Queen of Nav was above reacting like an animal," he growled.
"The Queen of Nav has her duties, one of which is to maintain order in the courtroom," she answered succinctly.
He seethed over how she had effectively silenced him at the beginning of the trial, causing him to lose face in front of the entire assembly. "You were ready to oust the both of us."
"I'd argue that you were. I was endeavoring to stop you from making a rash and ill-thought out move motivated only by your pride. You had already exposed your past as Prince Vegeta, and you also risked exposing yourself as an interdimensional fugitive. It was apparent that you were not considering that until I reminded you."
It was taking every ounce of his discipline to not take a swing at her. He kept reminding himself that he hadn't beat her yet. "Like it matters to you who carries out my death sentence. You proposed my pubic execution. At the hands of that weakling female, no less!"
"Yes. If you failed to attend the Tournament. Your Familia had to be placated. Are you telling me the proud warrior Touketsu would not answer the call to battle?"
It infuriated him that she knew him so well. "I am a proud warrior, and I don't have to put up with this shit. I almost left the same night I arrived, or are you forgetting? I could go right back to those doors-"
"You believe they are still there?" He growled at the reminder that she could manipulate the palace like pieces on a chessboard. "Your past has been uncovered and you now have a debt to repay your Familia. You may attempt to flee for the doors if you wish, but Zeygorn will stop you."
Touketsu snorted derisively, smirking. "He can certainly try."
"Would you have more faith in my ability to stop you?" His sneer dropped into a scowl. "You placed me in this position, Touketsu. Your Familia have identified you. As ruler of Nav, I must uphold the law."
Touketsu dropped his eyes, his fists clenching. The powerful desire to raze the palace to the ground and obliterate the souls of the Nav residents ripped through him, the darkness pulsing through him once as he fought to maintain control. Every time. Every time he tapped into the dark ki, possibly every time he so much as engaged in a dark thought, he was feeding Zhernobog. Slaughtering the souls here and destroying this realm could give the god untold power.
She watched him struggle against himself. "Is that truly what you want, Touketsu?" she prodded softly. "To return to Zhernobog's realm?"
He grit his teeth. No, it wasn't. He never wanted to go back there again, but these circumstances hardly seemed better. Time after time, this life and the next, he always seemed to be relinquishing his freedom. It was all the more infuriating considering he had a skill that could take him potentially anywhere he wished.
Marenna accurately read his train of thought. "If you are to go back on your word and resort to your technique, remember the consequences. If the Shin are alerted to your presence, they could find you."
He stood quaking for long moments when he took a breath. Then another, then another as he employed his meditation practices. He let the rage pass through him, and he quickly cleared his mind. His autonomy was taken from him after being drafted into the PTO. He nonetheless trained his body and mind, working towards the day he'd reclaim his freedom and power. He would do so again. He'd work with what he had. He'd stay here and learn to control his power, the obnoxious Familia be damned. He'd attain this ability to convert the dark ki to true ki, and he'd master it. He'd wield limitless power while Zhernobog starved. No god - not Zhernobog, not Marenna, not this so-called Beerus nor this rumored Zeno would be able to touch him.
He looked back to Marenna. "I'll stay, and not because I fear you gods. From the beginning I decided to fight and perfect my abilities, and I'll continue to do so. Your little verdict doesn't change a damn thing."
"Very well." Just then the three princesses entered the throne room, each carrying an item. "My daughters, thank you for fetching them." Zeema stepped forward and presented him with his preferred armor. Without a word Touketsu took it and began suiting up. "Endeavor to keep your armor in good condition from hereafter. You will not be issued a new set."
"Yes," he said dryly as he dressed. "I think you reminded me enough that I'm not permitted back in this place."
"This brings me to a related matter of greater importance: Take care of your body." He looked askance at her as he affixed his gauntlets. "The Water of Life flows throughout different regions in Other World, but in Nav it exists only in the bathhouse through magical means. You will no longer have access, so any injuries you suffer must be endured. Also, get adequate nourishment," Marenna continued as Likha handed him a bundle of food. "I know this will not last, which is why I implore you to please attend Susmir. The game on the outskirts of the kingdom is scarce, and it will not meet the needs of a mortal for long."
"Thought you were their mother, not mine," he snorted, nodding towards the princesses.
What could have passed for a smile ghosted over Marenna's sapphire lips. "Lastly, please take this and know that you are looked after."
Kuma approached holding a small object of woven cloth, one side black, the other white. Kuma smiled glibly at Touketsu who took the bauble before glancing down at it. He glared at her beneath stormy brows before turning his attention to Marenna. He opened his mouth to speak, huffed through his nose in annoyance, and tried again.
"This is a doll."
"Yes?" Marenna replied in a tone that seemed to ask what his point was.
He cocked his head, his eyes narrowed incredulously. "Do I look like a little girl to you?" Behind him, the daughters tittered in amusement.
"It is a Night-Day Effigy. Please put it in the parcel and take it with you."
"What the hell is it for?"
"A last resort. I'm leaving it to your own judgement when you'll need aid, but when you do, please notify my daughters and they will show you how to use it. They will check on you from time to time."
He stared at her for long moments. "This standard procedure? Putting together picnics and gifting ragdolls to Inimicus? Assigning your daughters to babysit them?" She looked disarmed. He took a step to her, his seething voice dangerously quiet. "You publicly humiliate me, turn me out like a dog, and you think these useless gestures will smooth things over?"
"Please just take it, Touketsu."
"I told you before I can take care of myself!"
"Please."
He wished to hurry this along and leave already. His eyes not leaving hers, he indignantly stuffed the faceless, piebald little effigy into the parcel of food. He'd throw her ridiculous 'gift' into the nearest ocean as soon as he had a chance.
Marenna stepped up to him. "Remember to keep up with your rehabilitation. Look after yourself, and continue to improve yourself." Touketsu held his ground when Marenna reached up to gently embrace his face. She looked him earnestly into his ruby-hard eyes. "May you emerge victorious and find peace."
Touketsu whipped his head out of her hands, glaring at her, but Marenna didn't reciprocate his ire. "Goodbye, Touketsu. We will see you again at the tournament tonight. I hope that you will join us for the feast afterwards."
Don't hold your breath, he thought bitterly. He turned to leave.
"Goodbye, brother," the princesses chorused. The doors slowly swung open where Zeygorn was waiting.
Tall and statuesque as though carved of ice, Queen Marenna looked on, her daughters by her side. The doors closed, and the strength in the queen's stature seemed to melt away. "Thank you for your assistance, my daughters," she whispered, her voice sounding tired.
"It's not like you gave us a choice," Likha grumbled.
Marenna suddenly rounded on her. "No, I did not!"
Outside the throne room, smug smiles firmly affixed to his three faces, Zeygorn looked down at Touketsu. His smiles faltered at the sight of the bundle he was carrying. This Inimicus was getting special treatment; the queen favored him still. Zeygorn quickly pushed aside his annoyance. "Ready to leave the palace…prince?"
Touketsu didn't acknowledge him. Stone faced and head held high, he walked with his detestable company up the hallway before reaching the vestibule. The many attendees were still slowly filing out of the courtroom as the two made their way through the crowd when red eyes locked with gold. Touketsu slowed to a stop. Zeygorn did the same, deferring to the Familia that stood across from them.
Remmnya. She stood stock still, her snoozing infant held close while the other attendees moved around her. She then began walking towards them. She stopped and looked up at Touketsu, her eyes beginning to glisten with fresh tears.
He scowled. "What? You want to hit me too? Go ahead." Silence. He tilted his head towards Zeygorn. "Want him to hold the baby?-"
"How could you?" she whispered.
He fell silent.
She took another step towards him. "Did you ever care? Was it all just for your own glory? What you did for me…" she trailed off and shook her head, her voice coming out a cracking whisper. "You were my champion. I cheered for you. And all along…all along…you were just one of them." She turned and began walking away.
He stayed where he was. "Remmnya," his authoritative voice rang out after her. She kept walking, and his hard eyes grew dull as he watched her disappear into the sea of souls. Remmnya…hit me. Get back here and hit me, damn it.
A heavy hand fell over his shoulder and began pushing him towards one of the halls in the other direction. Touketsu angrily shook Zeygorn off, and he was escorted off the premises.
TFS Krillin: "Good ol' Goddamnit Nappa!"
...I couldn't help myself. I still stand by the personal belief that some of Dragon Ball Super's gags (at least in the English dub) were influenced by the Team Four Star guys' contributions.
So there it is: the silver-skinned royal family featured in a flashback from "Touketsu" has been waiting for Vegeta in Nav all this time. At least, the mother and her children. More on that later. Zarkala, Izo and Chisto are all based on Russian words for "mirror", "image" and "clear" respectively. Zarkala's husband, King Chevalo, was named for a cheval mirror.
The last scene where three gifts are bestowed to Vegeta is a reference to a common theme in fairytales. The gifting of the doll in particular is a reference to the story of Vasilisa the Beautiful, wherein Vasilisa's mother gifts her with a magic doll that later aids her when she seeks out Baba Yaga. That's right - I put Vegeta in the position of a would-be princess, lol. The exchange itself I drew inspiration from that scene in Pirates of the Caribbean 2, when the Voodoo priestess Tia Dalma (Calypso) gives Jack Sparrow a big jar of dirt.
The Slavic tradition of a mother gifting a doll to her adult children is in fact a real and old one: A daughter was gifted one before her wedding, while a son was gifted one before joining the army. The Night-Day effigy is also based on a real thing called a "Day and Night doll", one of a variety of Slavic faceless dolls. A home guard, it was turned to the light side early in the morning, and in the evening was turned to the dark. A brief prayer would be recited: "The day has passed, and thank God, so let the night pass."
Did I mention I'm a big ol' rock hound? Man, I love describing minerals. Thank you for reading!