I'm aiming to get the next chapter up by Halloween.

To AnonymousDBZFan,

YOU make my day when I see your reviews! Thank you!

Yes! Vegeta sure as hell does need Raditz's and Nappa's help at this point, unless he thinks getting beaten up by a 3 headed dragon is ok, lol. Funny how he was teasing Zeygorn about how well the three fused dragons get along. He needs to do the same and cooperate with his own men.

Yes, I've seen that movie Misery, lol! Marenna is definitely not like Bulma. I love that you drew that comparison because it was something I aimed to illustrate near the beginning. Marenna parallels Bulma's early situation with Vegeta quite a bit: They're both powerful aristocrats offering him umbrage in their homes, they both accommodate him and his drives, and they both end up forming a relationship with him.

Their key difference is the degree of freedom they allow him. When Vegeta wants to fight or go off to train somewhere, Bulma says 'sure, I can't stop you'. When T. Vegeta declared he wanted to fight in the tournaments, Marenna tries to talk him out of it. Although she relents, saying 'I respect free will', she repeatedly tries to talk him out of it on several occasions. Marenna treats Touketsu a lot like her daughters: She's overprotective to the point of smothering. Her growing attraction to him starts to become smothering, too.

I am delighted that I could keep you guessing about Marenna. :D She's certainly become tricky to follow given how long this story has become (and for my hiatuses – sorry!). All will soon be revealed. ;) Thank you so, so much for reading and reviewing!

Judgement

Touketsu was again escorted across the courtroom's dark floor to its inlaid circle of white stone, albeit with even less dignity than before. Marenna's attendants, one a black hound woman and the other white, were each gently gripping him by his upper arms. His wrists were shackled behind his back, a chain trailing up from the center of the binds and attached to the back of a collar about his neck. Cobalt energy intermittently crackled and hummed over the restraints. Galvanized with Adjazo's stormy energy, any struggling rewarded him with powerful shocks that disrupted his dark ki flow.

The lacerations of Touketsu's flogging were hidden beneath his long hair, but there was plenty of evidence of his beating. His body was covered in bruises and scrapes, his right eye swollen near closed and his bloody lip split. Head lowered, he raised his eyes. Queen Marenna sat high upon her towering throne of black tourmaline, Zeygorn standing at the base of the structure. A sense of foreboding settled in Touketsu as he looked at the three empty seats behind the dragon. His newfound allies were absent.

Marenna's eyes swept up and down his battered form before turning her attention to the assembly. "Good people of Nav, thank you for your attendance to this important hearing. Considering the latest infractions incurred by the accused, I deemed a new trial necessary. As you can see, my daughters are absent. They confessed to me that they had helped the Inimicus Prince Vegeta evade arrest. For breaking the law, they've been placed under house arrest and the privilege of overseeing court proceedings revoked."

Gasps filled the courtroom, and Touketsu's stomach dropped. His features became underlit as the stone beneath him bled to red and the courtroom darkened.

"Prince Vegeta IV," Marenna announced. "In addition to desecrating the honor of your Familia, you now also stand accused of avoiding your sentence, evading arrest, public endangerment, breaking and entering, disturbing the peace, theft, assault on Nav's Executioner, and kidnapping…of a mortal child." The crescent upon the scepter in her hand waxed to a disk, and a projected image of Bra's sleeping, frozen form was displayed.

Murmurs filled the courtroom as Touketsu stepped forward anxiously, the attendants gently squeezing his arms as a quiet reminder to restrain himself. "What happened to her?" he asked, his face etched with tension. "What did you do!?"

"It would be far simpler if the child could testify," Marenna said, the image disappearing as the disc waned to a crescent. "However, she has spent nearly a day on this plane. As a result, her body is now showing signs of dissolution. Enduring a lengthy trial would subject her fragile body to further decay. I therefore put her under a spell to halt this process while it is decided if anything can be done to help her."

"What? What do you…" Touketsu looked at Zeygorn then Marenna. Did she know he had it? "The effigy. Let your daughters take-"

"Court is now in session. Queen Zarkala, you're being called to witness."

Zarkala stepped forward. "My son Chisto found the little girl wandering the streets alone. He brought her to me in the hopes that we could assist her. The girl explained that she had become trapped in Nav after she'd attempted to, as she said, 'give Mr. Touketsu his doll back'. My sons and I were taking the girl to see Queen Marenna for assistance. It was then that Prince Vegeta appeared and ran off with her. He was intercepted by Lord Zeygorn."

"I was taking her to the hotspot in the Necropolis. I was bringing her home when you bastards interfered!"

"You left her is what you did."

Snarling, he lunged. "Damn you!-" The attendants gripping his arms instantly transformed into a pair of hulking males and jerked him back. He glanced up at them and remembered himself. "I was bringing her with me. I know how to-"

"Order," Marenna called. "Lord Zeygorn, you're being called to witness."

Zeygorn stepped forward. "The defendant was discovered within the kingdom walls with a mortal child. The girl insisted that the defendant's name was 'Mr. Touketsu', and that he had claimed to be," Zeygorn snorted, "a 'god of travelers and crossroads'. He'd apparently lied to her in order to gain her trust."

"She asked me why I didn't have a halo!" He shouted as he leaned forward, the guards restraining him. "You're twisting the truth, I just– let go!-" he shouted as he wrenched his arms. He stiffened when the ki imbued shackles and collar shocked him.

"Lord Zeygorn has the floor, Prince Vegeta," Marenna calmly informed him as he was electrocuted. Lord Zeygorn, please continue."

"Of course, milady." Touketsu went limp, only held by the stoic guards. "He injured the child's wrist when she tried to get free of his grasp. He only released her after being ordered. He then attacked me and ran off with the girl while I was incapacitated. He was later apprehended outside the Necropolis." Zeygorn pulled the effigy out from his armor and held it up, grabbing Touketsu's attention. "The defendant had this on him at the time of his arrest."

"Queen Zarkala," Marenna asked. "Is this the doll the girl spoke of?"

Touketsu looked quizzically at Marenna.

"Yes. She showed it to us when we found her. He'd apparently lured her to Nav with it."

"I didn't lure her with it!" he shouted at Zarkala. "The blasted thing is magic, she crossed over to Nav when she picked it up! Marenna," he said he looked desperately up at her. "Marenna, tell them what-"

Marenna swiftly stood and swung out her crescent-tipped staff in his direction. He choked and stumbled back when a sickle-shaped blade of white energy struck him in the throat, imbuing his collar with a soft glow.

She sat back down, the crescent on her staff waxing to a disk. "Prince Vegeta, you will not speak out of turn again. Queen Zarkala, please continue."

Touketsu worked his mouth as Zarkala spoke, his eyes widening when he realized he indeed could not speak. It was as though his very words were frozen in his throat. Izo and Chisto next gave their accounts of events, after which point Marenna thanked them. She motioned for Zeygorn to release his hold on the effigy, and it levitated up to hover by her side.

"I will now present my conversation with the girl," Marenna announced. A projection manifested from the disk atop her scepter. It was a recording of Bra.

"What is your name, my little enchantress?"

"Princess Bra EschalotBriefs."

The conversation played out as Touketsu looked on helplessly.

"There, there. Mr. Touketsu can be very cruel. "I'm sure your father is a fair and just ruler, Princess Bra."

"Well, my mama is the boss of our company, but my daddy is a good man. He could have been a king, but his planet got blown up a long time ago and he was never…cur…car…carnationed?"

"Coronated?"

"Yeah, that. My daddy's a prince - Prince Vegeta the Fourth."

Touketsu closed his eyes in dismay as gasps and murmurs filled the courtroom, and he cast an anxious glance at Zarkala. Bra's testimony continued, Touketsu's eyes dropping guiltily when she recounted her near death experience.

"I saw him do bad things, and he yelled at me sometimes and said mean things, but most of the time he was really sweet. He kept me safe and treated me nice, and he taught me how to fly and use my ki for fighting and stuff."

"He was training you to fight?"

"A…a little."

The projection ended. The scepter's disk shifted back to a waxing crescent, and Touketsu felt the frigid hold on his vocal cords relent. "Prince Vegeta. Were you training this child to fight?"

He cleared his throat experimentally, his collar still glowing softly. "Yes." The jury grumbled in disapproval. "Some. I was training her to use her ki."

"Why?"

He scoffed. "So she could defend herself, of course."

"By forcing her to engage in unnecessary training exercises, you put further strain on her physical body. Are you aware that by doing so, you were hastening her death?"

His brows furrowed. "It…It didn't occur to me at the time," he answered guiltily. He had a flashing mental image of pulling Trunks's boneless body from red sands.

"What did you instruct her to do?" He hesitated. "Answer."

"I…instructed her to shoot me. Use me as a target."

There was a long pause. "Prince Vegeta. You are capable of absorbing others' energy. We've seen you use a draining technique many times in the arena." His mouth went dry at what she was implying. "Were you feeding off her?"

"No!"

"What were you doing, then?"

"I needed…I needed her…assistance. But I wasn't truly taking her energy! She sent it to me, I was cycling it."

"And you took precious energy from her in order to do this, correct?"

"It didn't…it didn't occur to me," he reiterated lamely.

"You were not training her. You were taking advantage of her. Is this why you abducted her? To take her energy?"

"No. Goddamn it, she followed me! She got her hands on the doll and crossed over!"

"The doll." She gestured to the effigy hovering next to her. "You claim this…doll enables mortals to access hotspots?" she stated simply as though he was talking nonsense. Several chuckles washed through the room.

His mouth dropped open as his brows drew together. "Just…just what are you playing at? You know what it can do, you gave it to me!" There were scoffs and snorts of derision. He looked around the courtroom, anger and a dangerous sense of helplessness growing within him. "That day after court your queen gave me a Night-Day Effigy so I could get whatever I needed from the Physical Plane! And you!" he said as he looked up at Marenna. "You were using it to monitor me!"

There was an explosion of laughter mixed with jeers. Marenna called for order. "Prince Vegeta, nonsense has no place in the courtroom, only truth."

He stared up at her. "…You corrupt woman," he whispered in disbelief. His face hardened. "The courtroom is only a place for truth? Then I'll tell everyone the truth." He looked out to the assembly. "The girl is not my daughter. She could have been, but she's not." Zarkala frowned in confusion as questioning murmurs arose. "The girl is the daughter of an unchanged version of me from a different timeline. I've been split in two…by her ex-husband!" he shouted at Marenna.

The audience was deafeningly quiet. It suddenly exploded in uproarious laughter.

His jaw dropped open in dismay. "It's true! Her ex transformed me into this! His name is Zhernobog!"

Touketsu looked around the courtroom, but he saw only expressions of disbelief and contempt. No one on this planet knew of Zhernobog and Marenna's ancient affiliation with him. He felt the strength begin to leave his body when the reality of the situation sank in: Marenna was a respected ruler of this world, while he was nothing but an untrustworthy criminal. This was a battle of words and reputations…and he was losing.

"The princesses," he said urgently as he turned to Marenna. "That effigy belonged to them. They know of its properties. I told them of Zhernobog. They'll vouch for me! Bring them here!"

"My daughters' bias and disregard for the law has rendered them ineligible to participate in these proceedings. No one is above Nav's laws, not even my daughters."

"And what of you!?" he snapped.

Marenna's eyes narrowed. "Prince Vegeta. Any more disrespect and slander from you, and I will hold you in contempt of court. Do you understand?"

"Damn it, bring your daughters here now! She's lying, she's lying to all of you!" he shouted out to the court.

Zeygorn swiftly strode towards him. "I'll take him. He's mad and unfit to stand trial." He grabbed the chain attached to the back of the collar, the attendants returning to their female forms as they backed up.

"Lord Zeygorn, hold."

"I'm not crazy, damn it! I'm two people. I can create a portal anywhere! Just bring the girl here and give her the doll! I'll send her straight home!"

"Prince Vegeta, you are in contempt of court. If we are to proceed you must calm yourself."

"DO IT!"

Marenna drove her staff into the floor. The soft white glow about the metal collar flared before traveling throughout the rest of his binds, and he grit his teeth when the icy energy drove into his marrow. The crescent on Marenna's staff quickly went into its waning phase, and his eyes widened: His airway was closing off.

Marenna's cold, authoritative voice rang throughout the courtroom as he quietly choked. "When you arrived in Nav, you used your altered appearance as a guise, and you gave a false name. You took advantage of my hospitality. You used your charisma and manipulated the Familia into changing tournament procedures. You are an Inimicus that has made a reputation for himself as a manipulator and a liar. You also appear to be unstable. I will conduct a psychological evaluation. You will speak only when spoken to. You will speak truthfully. If you do not answer every question and with complete honesty, your binds will know, and you will be penalized. Understand?"

He gaped at her incredulously, and the waning crescent reversed into a waxing one. Eyes wide, he drew in a desperate lungful of air before breaking off coughing. Zeygorn jerked back on his chain.

"Answer the queen!"

"Do you understand, Prince Vegeta?"

He quickly nodded his head. "Yes!" He gasped. "Yes, I understand!"

"Prince Vegeta," Marenna announced. "Your daughter said your planet was blown up. Is that true?"

His brows drew together. "What? What does that have to do with any-" Icy power drilled into his bones as it coursed through the shackles and collar. He stiffened, his eyes greying out.

"I will ask again, Prince Vegeta. Is it true that your planet was destroyed?"

Panting, he closed his eyes and scowled. "Yes."

"How old were you when this happened?" He hesitated, and again he was shocked with icy energy for his noncompliance. "How old were you, Prince Vegeta?" Marenna repeated, her voice hardening.

Why the fuck is she doing this? "Five cycles," he gasped, his eyes screwed shut. He'd told her all of this that morning she'd given him Ambrosia. He couldn't understand why she was orchestrating this farcical examination.

"How did you survive, Prince Vegeta?"

"I'd already been drafted into Frieza's ranks," he spoke quickly. "I was sent to live with him on his flagship."

"Your father, the king. He sent you away to live with this man when you were a child?" His eyes lowered, and he nodded. "Please answer, Prince Vegeta."

"Yes," he rasped.

"Why did your father do this?"

Touketsu shrugged one shoulder and answered in a subdued voice. "It…it was part of a political deal. Frieza was a powerful emperor and head of the Planet Trade Organization."

"This emperor must have had a strong influence over you, considering your age. What did you do in this Planet Trade Organization?"

"Cleared planets of the indigenous population for resale."

"You worked in this Planet Trade Organization since you were five?"

After a moment, he nodded. "Yes." More murmurs.

"Were you happy with the king's arrangement, Prince Vegeta?" He didn't answer right away, and he was shocked by the icy, magically imbued chains. "Were you happy?"

"No," he choked out. "I hated Frieza, I hated working for him. He told me if I didn't follow his every order, he'd kill my father." Murmurs and whispers filled the room.

"You were a captive, then?"

"No!" His binds shocked him.

"You were his employee?"

He was left panting after the onslaught. "Yes!"

"So you could quit his organization if you wished?"

"I…I-"

"Answer."

"…No."

Marenna paused. "Please answer truthfully, Prince Vegeta. Were you enslaved?"

His jaw worked, his brow furrowing. He was not comfortable hearing the admission in his own voice. "…Essentially." It was silent in the courtroom.

"That night in the arena when you mentioned this 'Emperor Frieza' you stated, and I quote, 'I was the one who was beat. I was the one who was humiliated.' Were you beaten as a child, Prince Vegeta?" Silent, his head lowered a little. "Please answer," she said gently. "I do not wish another penalty enforced against you."

"Yes." Whispers and murmurs filled the room.

"You said this Emperor Frieza threatened to kill your father if you did not follow his every order. Did you obey him?" He nodded. "Answer, please."

"Yes."

"He spared your father, then?"

Touketsu fought the frown pulling at the corners of his mouth, and he shook his head once. "No," he rasped. His furrowing brow hardened into a scowl. "Frieza killed him and destroyed my planet. Exterminated my people." Murmurs rippled through the courtroom. "He told me it was an asteroid collision. I found out the truth when I was 18."

"That must have been upsetting for you," Marenna said, her soft voice reverberating through the now quiet courtroom. Her tone strengthened. "As a parent and ruler of this world, I have great expectations for my children. I admit that they have disappointed me. Tell me, Prince Vegeta, did your father have high expectations for you?"

Eyes dulling, Touketsu's head lowered more to stare at the floor.

"Vegeta. You come from a strong bloodline, and you possess the potential power to join the Super Elite of all Saiyans. Never forget where you're from, and train very hard, my son. Because, if you've proven yourself worthy, perhaps someday you will become a Super Saiyan."

"Prince Vegeta. I will ask the question one more time. Did he expect great things of you?"

Blinking bleary eyes, he swallowed. His answer was strained over the lump in his throat. "Yes."

"Instead of becoming king of your planet, you worked for a man you hated for a long time. Your father's choices made it difficult for you to live up to his expectations. I imagine," she said slowly, "that you were a very angry young man." He didn't answer, and she continued in a softer tone. "Your father…he ultimately saved your life when he gave you up."

He spoke before he could stop himself. "Sometimes I'd wish he hadn't," he hissed resentfully. "He handed the future of the Saiyans over to Frieza. He left me with the burden of our people's pride, and then he tied my hands."

Zarkala's face was hard as her eyes swept the murmuring courtroom. Vegeta's testimony was going into the dangerous realm of garnering sympathy from the court. Next to her, Izo and Chisto looked at each other.

Vegeta's amused expression grew critical as he studied the sputtering king. "How the hell could someone so weak be the leader of his people?" he snorted, eyeing him with disgust. "Hn. Weak AND stupid. You've done them a great disservice." His eyes flicked over to the hysterical family before returning to the king. "You've done a disservice to both your people AND your family."

It wasn't the Luscepians' father that teenage Saiyan hated. It was his own.

"How long did you work for this Frieza?" Marenna asked.

"Adulthood."

"You obviously no longer work for him. Did you run?"

His head shot up. "No. I defied him."

"You defeated him?" His brow furrowed, and he dropped his eyes in shame. "Answer." He gave a single shake of his head, and he was shocked. "Answer."

"No!"

"How did you free yourself of bondage?"

"I died!" Gasps ripped through the courtroom, followed by utter silence.

"How did you…die?" Marenna asked as though he was crazy.

Touketsu's eyes were screwed shut. "Frieza killed me," he answered quietly.

"…You are not dead, Prince Vegeta."

"I know," he hissed in frustration. "I was wished back. With the Dragon Balls. That's…that's what I assumed."

"Dragon Balls," Marenna reiterated. The court was silent with disbelief. The Namekians were an isolated, private people, and the mystical orbs and their properties were a well-guarded secret. No one in the kingdom knew of them, not of Earth's or those of Namek. And as Namekians didn't cling to resentments, there wasn't a single one on Nav that could vouch for Touketsu's claim. "When were you…wished back?"

"I…I…" He didn't know. It felt like a short while ago. Everything after his supposed resurrection was secondhand accounts and fragmented memories. "I'm not sure. Ten, fifteen Earth years ago, I don't know."

"Earth years," Marenna asserted. He lifted tired eyes up to her, silently asking why she was continuing this charade. "You're referring to a planet on the Physical Plane?"

"…Yes, Marenna."

'What is the last thing you remember after being 'wished back', as you said?"

"…I remember waking up like this. On a rooftop on Earth. But, I'd been resurrected earlier. I just couldn't remember who I was until then. Not…not entirely…" He trailed off.

More silence. "Earlier, you claimed you were split in half?"

"Yes," he said, seething that Marenna was putting him through this public interrogation when she knew the truth. "There are two of me."

"Is the girl your daughter?"

"No."

"Who is her father?" His mouth pressed into a thin line. "Who is her father, Prince Vegeta?"

"…Vegeta is." Murmurs.

"You are Prince Vegeta, are you not?"

He sighed. "Yes, but-"

"So this is your other aspect that you are referring to, correct?"

"Yes. He stayed on planet Earth, took a wife, had two children. But…she's also my wife. And my first born, he…he's my son."

"Do you remember the day your first was born?"

He faltered. "I…" he shook his head. "I can't."

"Were you there?"

His eyes drifted closed for a moment. "I don't know."

"Did you rape that woman?

His head snapped up. "No!"

"Do you remember when your son was conceived?"

His brows furrowed. "I…no."

"If you can't recall, how certain can you be that the act was consensual?"

His furrowing brow hardened into a scowl. "Because I know!"

"What proof can you give?"

"Because…because…she told me she still loved me," he answered, hurt in his voice.

"Loved you. Does she still?" His face began to fracture. "Answer."

"…No," he choked out.

Marenna paused, the courtroom quiet. "What of your daughter? Do you remember when she was conceived?"

He was fighting to keep his voice steady. "I told you, she's not mine, she's his!"

"His," she repeated. "Your other aspect, correct? The one that is still married to and loved by your wife?" Touketsu said nothing, his expression utterly defeated. "Answer, please."

He blinked, his face pained. "…Yes."

"Thank you, Prince Vegeta. I've finished my evaluation," she announced as she lifted the magic from his collar. Touketsu's eyes drifted closed. Brows knitting together, his shoulders slumped as he lowered his head.

Ruminating for several moments, Marenna straightened and addressed the court. "This trial has provided a rare opportunity to understand the mind and motives of an Inimicus, something I encourage from the Familia every night at Susmir. People are influenced by nurture as much as nature, and the Saiyans were no exception. Prince Vegeta was doomed to become a slave. Had he been raised by his biological father, he would have become a slave to his warlike culture's bloodthirsty influence. Raised by his adoptive one, he became a slave to hate. Violent upbringings breed monsters. It makes one wonder how even a Saiyan could turn out if raised by a peaceable and supportive society."

The assembly murmured quietly in reflection as Touketsu's eyes screwed tight, utterly humiliated by their pity.

"It would be psychologically damaging for any child to be taken from their home and physically abused, let alone raised to kill. Prince Vegeta's binds did not react when he claimed to be two people. He genuinely believes this to be true. Permanent fusions and fissions are not genetically possible for Saiyans. It is apparent that Prince Vegeta has developed a split personality in his efforts to dissociate."

Touketsu's head snapped up. "I'm not crazy!-" Touketsu was shocked when voltage coursed up from Zeygorn's hand into his collar.

"Development of a fantasy prone personality often goes hand in hand with dissociative identity disorders, which would explain Prince Vegeta's myriad delusions. His mental disorder could well have been the catalyst behind his current form. The Saiyan race has proven capable of extraordinary physical transformations, some of which are not common knowledge but appear to be emotionally driven. The Saiyans' gold transformation is one such example."

Touketsu was shaking his head helplessly as Marenna continued.

"He fathered children under dubious consent during dissociative episodes before walking out on his family. He later underwent this transformation that enables him to exist on either plane. He traveled to Nav, either through a hotspot or one of these portals he claims he can create."

"That's not true!-" He was jolted into silence.

"It is apparent that Princess Bra had heard stories of her father and was convinced he was alive somewhere, but she could not have met him before his drastic transformation. She did not recognize him for who he was, nor did he tell her. Prince Vegeta kidnapped her and trained her to fight just as he was, and he made poor decisions that endangered her welfare. According to Princess Bra's testimony however, it seems he treated her lovingly for the most part. She seemed to genuinely care about him."

Murmurs swept throughout the courtroom as Touketsu's brows knit together.

"We cannot look past Prince Vegeta's misguided and selfish decision to kidnap his daughter from her mother. We also cannot look past his outstanding crimes against his Familia, or his egregious conduct in the arena. What we can do, is exercise something that the Lenitsa Festival itself represents: Forgiveness. It is through forgiveness that Familia are released and Inimicus are enlightened."

The curious murmurings increased as Zarkala anxiously looked on.

"I've decided to show this Inimicus leniency. Considering Prince Vegeta's unstable mental condition as a result of his traumatic childhood, in conjunction with his possession of a physical body, I am deeming him no longer eligible for capital punishment."

The courtroom broke out in conflicting sounds of surprise, support, and protest. "What?!" Zarkala cried out in dismay. "He must be punished for his crimes!"

Touketsu stared up at Marenna. Just what is her game? Whatever it was, it was obvious she'd been trying to protect her reputation. The woman hid a lot from her people. He'd have to trust that either she or her daughters would give Bra the effigy and escort her home when this was all over.

"Calm, my citizens. No matter the circumstances, the accused will be held accountable." She looked at Touketsu. "Prince Vegeta IV. You are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment to reflect on your wrongdoings and hopefully attain enlightenment before death. You've made many mistakes that must be atoned for. How ever you brought your daughter to Nav with your strange techniques, her testimony proves that she is now unable to go back." Tense, Touketsu's eyes went to the effigy and back to Marenna. "She must either remain forever frozen, or waste away and die. To save her from either fate, I will adopt her."

His brows drew together, his jaw dropping open. W…what?

Marenna looked out to the assembly. "Tonight, before you all at the Volkfangr Arena, I will carry Princess Bra into the Fire of Life."

"WHAT?!" he cried, the whole assembly now buzzing. "Marenna, what the fuck are you doing?! This is madness!"

"Order," she called out. "The Fire of Life grants renewal. I will ensure that the child feels no pain. She will be spared death and cleansed of Prince Vegeta's corrupting influence. Through my shared power she will be reborn as a goddess and my fourth daughter. This young woman will live forever as a beloved new member of Nav's royal family under her new name Princess Vehsna."

"What the hell?!" Touketsu shouted in anguish. "Let me send her ba-augh!" His protests were cut off when his binds shocked him.

Zarkala was watching Touketsu keenly. "Queen Marenna," she said as she looked back to the Nav queen. "Your ruling is fair and merciful, but as representative of Prince Vegeta's Familia I have a request."

"Very well. What is it, Queen Zarkala?"

"Let him watch her burn." Touketsu swung his head to her, horror-stricken as the assembly gasped and buzzed. "The purpose of his sentence is reflection. He should therefore know what he did to my boys. Let him experience my anguish through the loss of his daughter."

Touketsu looked up at Marenna, brows furrowed as he gave a small shake of his head.

"Granted."

"No!"

"Prince Vegeta, as part of your punishment you will watch your daughter leave you so that you understand the consequences of all your actions. You will be incarcerated while you await the first half of your sentence. Afterwards, you will be returned to your cell to carry out the remainder of your sentence. Court is adjourned."

Touketsu flinched at the resounding crack of her staff being driven into the floor, and the buzzing assembly began to depart. That one moment stretched on for a seeming eternity. It was happening again. He got his wife killed, his son killed, and now, a daughter he didn't even know he had was going to be erased from existence on his account. His very nature had led to his family's downfall. The first time around, his lust for battle had twisted into his fear of being controlled and a consequent drive for power. What aspect of his nature was to blame this time?

In an instant he realized, for it characterized Demon Sign.

Pride? he thought, dazed. …This all came about because of my pride.

It was his pride that spoke when he first faced Zarkala in the courtroom. It was his pride that refused to attend Susmir, drove him to physical and spiritual starvation and sickness until he finally snapped. It was the aftermath of his rash and prideful actions that lead him back onto the physical plane just for survival, and he ultimately stumbled right back into his family's life. Now, Bra was about to lose hers.

Zeygorn began to drag him away. "No. No, no, wait!" He strained against his chain, the electricity crackling up and down the restraints to shock him. "Gah! Please. WAAIIT!" His power flared, sending a jolt of energy up Zeygorn's hand and temporarily hampering the effects of the binds. Zeygorn released the chain in surprise as Touketsu stumbled forward. His eyes went to Zarkala.

History did indeed repeat itself. It would continue until he got it right. He had pled to Frieza to spare his son's life. He had gotten down on his knees and begged. It wasn't hard at the time, for he was not yet the proud Prince Vegeta. He was still just Touketsu the slave beast, accustomed to servitude and indoctrinated to take orders. Touketsu closed his eyes, his brows drawing together. He couldn't fail his family yet again.

For her life, the life of the Saiyan Princess, he'd sacrifice his pride.

Chains rattling, he threw himself to his knees at Zarkala's feet. A rush of surprised gasps and whispers ripped through the courtroom. Zeygorn was about to seize him when Zarkala held out a hand for him to stop. Zeygorn's right head and Marenna exchanged glances.

Head bowed, Touketsu took a breath. "Queen Zarkala," he said firmly. "I can safely send the girl back home to her family. Please allow me to do this. Bra doesn't deserve to have her identity erased. Her mother doesn't deserve to be bereft of her child over my mistakes." Whispers of surprise and agreement coursed throughout the courtroom as he continued. "Her brother doesn't deserve to have his sister taken away. Whatever you do, just do it to me. Send me to prison, torture me, take me apart, execute me, whatever you want. Just give me a chance to send her home. Please."

She studied him. "Do you have any remorse for what you did to me and my family? For the disrespectful way you killed my boys in the arena?"

Silent, he reflected on his nightly matches against Izo and Chisto, from the first to the last. "I…do," he admitted quietly. "Your boys were outclassed, and I resented them for the absence of honor in those matches. I resented them in life. I was disgusted by their innocence because…I envied it. I envied them." He swallowed when his mind swung to the look on Bra's face when he destroyed her innocence in the Necropolis. His eyes burned. "I'm sorry," he croaked, his voice cracking. "I don't believe I would have felt a thing for your boys before having a family of my own. But now that I do, when I look into their eyes…I see those of my children."

"And what of me? What do you see in my eyes?"

Slowly, he looked up at Zarkala's icy, blue gaze. His brows knit together when he saw the condemning eyes that cut through his soul, his son's dead body a rift between him and his wife. "…I see a woman affected by my actions." It was silent in the courtroom. Touketsu's throat bobbed, and he held Bulma in his mind. "It tortures me. I'm sorry for what I did to you. I'm sorry for what I did to your family. I'm sorry for what I brought upon my Familia. I'm sorry."

Zarkala's lip twitched into a disdainful smile. "You're sorry for what your actions brought upon you. Do you think I would give permission to have your shackles removed? So you can escape and evade justice as you did in the arena? No. You will know what I went through." Her eyes briefly glowed with purple energy.

Touketsu's eyes widened briefly, a chill ripping through him. "You would become me?" he rumbled. "You let that girl burn, and you're on the right fucking path."

Murmurs rippled through the courtroom as Zarkala narrowed her eyes. "The girl will not be harmed. She'll achieve immortality without pain, and most importantly, she will forget you."

His eyes flared, and he got to his feet as the courtroom came to life. "To hell with me! Think of her mother. You would separate a mother from her child? You?!" He turned to the courtroom as Zeygorn strode up to him. "You know what that is like, and you would allow this to happen!?" The murmurings intensified as Zeygorn grabbed his chain and jerked him back. "I can take her home. Grant me the chance to prove it!"

"Lies! He's deceiving you all, he's going to escape again!" Zarkala shouted.

'I'm not!" He looked up at Marenna. "Bring the girl here, lift your magic, and get these fucking chains off me. Give her the doll, and I'll send her straight back. I'll stay and serve whatever sentence the Familia decide."

"The sentence has been decided, Prince Vegeta," Marenna said. "Under no circumstances will your chains be removed."

Zeygorn began dragging him away. "You serve the people, don't you? Aren't you going to take a vote?!" Murmurs tore through the courtroom as Touketsu looked out to the assembly. "Where's your vote, people?!" Their voices became clamorous.

Marenna held out her hands to the riotous noise, and she motioned for Zeygorn to stop. "Very well," she announced, her cold eyes on Touketsu. "Familia of the court, we will take a vote as to whether to indulge the accused or to maintain his sentence. All those in favor of the sentencing as it stands, say 'aye'."

"Aye," Zarkala said, her cold eyes on Touketsu. One after the other, Famila voted in support of the sentencing. Some were convinced he was lying in order to escape. Others did so out of pity for a tragic, remorseful madman and now wished to save him from being tortured and executed. Regardless of the motivations, the results were the same. Scowling, Touketsu shut his eyes in frustration as his head lowered.

"All those not in support of the sentence say nay." The courtroom was quiet.

"Nay."

Touketsu's eyes flew open, and he looked up. It was Chisto, the younger Luscepian prince.

His older brother Izo stepped up to stand next to him. "Nay." He looked up at Marenna. We don't want to see this girl burn like us, and we don't wish for the girl's mother to go through the anguish that ours did. If he can send her home as he claims, then let him try." He looked at Touketsu. "Then he can serve his sentence."

Touketsu gave them a short nod of gratitude. Thanks, kids. Zarkala's fury was barely contained behind her face.

"Nay." It was Remmnya. She refused to allow that child to burn as hers did, not if the prince could indeed send her home. She'd vote against his execution. She hoped the rest of the court would do the same.

Sitting on his mother's lap, Amnon pulled his chubby fist out of his mouth. "Nay! Nay, nay, nay!" he babbled.

"Nay."

"Nay."

More and more voted against the original sentence. Touketsu straightened and looked around, hope daring to fill him. He looked at Marenna expectantly when the last vote was voiced and all were magically tallied.

Marenna sat pensively on her throne. "The courtroom is divided." She straightened. "As queen of Nav, I will make the final decision."

Touketsu's jaw dropped open in horror.

"The original sentence stands."

"NO!" He shouted as the courtroom erupted with noise. "Marenna, why are you doing this?!"

"Prince Vegeta, you've proven dangerous and unstable, and you are through manipulating this courtroom. Lord Zeygorn, please take the prisoner to his cell. Court is adjourned." She drove her staff into the floor with a crack.

"No, this is insane!" he protested as Zeygorn dragged him off, his voice reverberating off the walls amidst the clamoring of the assembly. "DAMN you, Marenna! Don't hurt her! DON'T HURT HER!" Marenna looked on stoically as he was dragged out of the courtroom.

Touketsu struggled and roared as he was dragged through the halls, the imbued cuffs rebounding and shocking him with each surge of his ki. They approached the doors that Touketsu had first emerged from, the doors that lead to Zhernobog's void. "Damn you!-"

Zeygorn slammed him into the adjacent wall, stunning him before flinging the doors open. Touketsu shook off the blow as he was hauled to the edge of the balcony where the stairs spiraled out far below.

"You're a tough little git. I think you'll survive taking the short way down," Zeygorn sneered. Touketsu leaned back futilely as the laughing dragon leveraged him over the railing and pitched him over the side.

Touketsu tumbled end over end before landing on his legs with a sickening crack. He howled in agony as he fell onto his side, his legs broken. Zeygorn landed next to him, the dragon's wings folding as he grabbed the chain at Touketsu's back. "That's what I wanted to hear," Zeygorn laughed. He dragged him to one of the many cells that lined the circular room, the bars of ice shrinking and melting away from his fiery form as he entered. He flung Touketsu into the craggy wall of the dark, icy prison.

Touketsu crumpled to the floor. He was barely lifting his head when he froze at what he saw beneath him. Skeletons. Various, interlocking skeletons of different alien races were frozen within the cell floor. Shocked, he leaned back just as a massive hand clamped on his shoulder and yanked him up. He cried out when his injured back was shoved up against the wall.

Zeygorn's three heads laughed heartily at his pain. "My, what a glorious day! I could not have hoped for a better outcome. As unworthy as you are, Vegeta, Queen Marenna has chosen you. After tonight however, it will be I that joins the royal family."

Touketsu looked up at him questioningly, one eye squeezed shut with pain.

Zeygorn's three heads smirked. "In gratitude for my loyal service and undying support, Queen Marenna is giving away her youngest daughter to me." Touketsu's mouth dropped open, his brow furrowing in realization. "While it is customary for the father to give away the bride, Queen Marenna will have full custody of your would-be daughter once she's made a goddess. So," he smiled, "you need not worry about a dowry."

"No! Stay away from her!"

The last thing Touketsu saw was the laughing dragon's giant fist plowing towards his face.

The attendants arrived at the princesses' quarters and gave them news of the verdict. "As promised, the queen is offering you a plea bargain," said the corvid woman. "She would like for you all to apologize and be involved with the proceedings. It is her wish that you properly receive your youngest sister Vehsna. By doing so, you will regain her trust, and your punishment will be shortened. She cares for you all deeply, and she wishes you to redeem yourselves in her eyes as well as in the eyes of the people."

The princesses were uncharacteristically stoic. They looked at each other and nodded. Likha stepped forth. "We acknowledge that our actions caused the queen great pain and compromised both her reputation as well as ours. We apologize deeply for the pain we caused our mother, and we wish to make amends." They clasped their hands behind their backs. "We will assist our mother in any way possible. We accept."

"I'm not crazy!"

Oh Vegeta, we all know you're at least a little crazy, lol.

"Whatever you do, just do it to me," and "Don't hurt her!" are of course direct quotes from one of my favorite scenes in Super (dub), when Vegeta is pleading to Beerus not to hurt Bulma.

The flashback of King Vegeta's words was, again, a direct quote from DBZ's English dub.

"Vehsna" is a play on "Vesna", the Slavic goddess of Spring and rival to the Slavic goddess of Winter, Morana. Thank you for reading!