Vegeta Muyo!

by Llwchwr

A year after the Buu saga the Z warriors continue life in peace until tragedy strikes, a family is shattered and hearts broken. One Saiyan excommunicates himself and lives as a hermit training day and night until one day a visitor crashes into his life.

131. Vegeta Muyo! Chapter 131

Chapter 131

Sand is absently kicked about. Black eyes look out at this desert landscape of this foreign world. The heat feels nice on her exposed skin as her tail restlessly curls about in the air. She does not see why this whole celebration is necessary for Saiyans. It is and continues to be an extravagant waste of time and resources. Queen Vegeta sees this as too alien a tradition. Gathering all family and friends to make a show of your mated partner would never happen with Saiyans – it would guarantee violence for so many to be in one space. The only thing of interest to come of this is meeting a Kai and seeing those strange energy wings. Pranis takes a moment to scratch her hair and think. If the option were there she does not know if she would have married King Vegeta, or if she would have been glad about anything but it as an accomplishment and not of being with him. He was strong, a great fighter who could entertain and challenge her, but he knelt to Frieza, there were thoughts going on in his older mind she never understood, never tried to understand. She got children from him, and that is all she was after, got her title and acclaim as short lived as it was. Thinking on that a hollow emptiness fills the pit of her stomach.

"It is an unnerving thought, the revelation of that so-called Kai, and it will be a great loss to this universe when the mighty Saiyan race no longer exists even in the lowly form of spirits." She speaks as she sees a shadow on the ground near her of spiked hair and tail.

Her son stands silently behind her. His shadow on the ground warps and fades as he transforms back into Super Saiyan 3. Whilst the wedding congregation are underneath the shelters and starting the wedding reception he finds his mother stood atop this dune far off and in thought.

"Should the great Queen of all Saiyans count this as a blessing? Now I am but a mother to a Vegeta, and only a Vegeta. But then … what did I die for?" Her voice is unnaturally loud as she forces herself to sound fierce. The man behind her has outed all of her and so she tries to talk without reserve to him but still, that name cannot be spoken by her. He is gone in all essence of existence and stripped from her so utterly. It terrifies her that thought that many years from now she might not even be herself, but be cursed to live out another life as some other somewhere in the cosmos with all that she is undone and erased.

"You died because Zarbon induced premature labour in yourself by his assault. You were murdered as were millions of others by the forces of Frieza. There is no reason for death. I do not grant purpose upon those I kill, do not search for it unless you intend to greet death upon your own accord. I have faith that you should be successful in a simulated battle against Dodoria. When your power reaches at least 30,000 then you can join me in becoming one who has killed Zarbon."

"I gladly accept." Queen Vegeta nods with a sad smile on her face.

30,000 once sounded unimaginable for a single Saiyan to hold without a moon in sight, now it is but a stepping stone for her. Her vengeance shall be had. It is reassuring to no end to hear her son talk of his confidence in her ability and hopes for her victories. There is still a future for her as a Saiyan even if she trails behind all others of her species. She is glad that this son is still here for her. Queen Vegeta turns about to face him and Pranis looks upon her son. It is a fun musing that if she gains his transformation then she might get her hair back to its natural length.

"You are a strange Saiyan, a strange son, but both of those you still remain. You-you said much to me today. Your Queen, your mother, is not fond of talk. Too much like your father, you are, he was mighty of fist but at the same time one who knew when he need not strike and could instead simply speak to break those beneath him. My time was one ruled by that of moonlight. And I did not last enough to see when the moon faded and gave way to the brilliance of blazing light..." Pranis shuffles closer to her child and raises her ki to its pitiful maximum next to what he is putting no effort into emitting.

"Bulma used to say that when this planet had a moon, that it was not uncommon for it to be seen during the day, in the same vista as that of the Sun. This planet also exists at the correct distance from its star that years ago when the right time came the Sun itself would be hidden behind that of the moon. … Shall I wax philosophical more, or do you get the gist? You have work to do. And work you shall do." Vegeta smirks down at the melancholy matriarch. There is nothing he can say about the revelation of Tarble's fate, he can minimise what damage he did to her though.

Pranis lets a smile grow on her face. Queen Vegeta can hold to those words. The Queen nods and thumps her son firmly in the middle of his sturdy chest.

"Queen Vegeta has made her choice. I know of all 3 techniques that I require from the Prince to offer unto my throne. You shall educate me first in the ways of Instant Transmission, this is essential to my combat ability. Then, you shall teach me how to ascend to the ultimate transformation that you hold, whether that be Super Saiyan 3 or something newly discovered as our power grows. Finally, I wish to be taught a technique that grants me absolute dominion and power after death. I shall not fade. I shall not be one among billions of dead. I have to be resolute and in control once my mortal body perishes, and continue eternal."

He raises an eyebrow at her greed and avarice. Those are promising goals she has set her sights to. Vegeta is unsure if the last ask can be achieved but it is something he himself does want to discover, Kais be damned. It will take years to get her to his level of power, but he has no other way to keep her occupied on this planet than through training so no matter how long Super Saiyan 3 takes it might as well be power she is after. She holds a hand out to him to shake on the matter. Vegeta is no fool but can play what part is required here. As he goes to shake her hand it closes into a fist and sucker punches him in the gut. She does not get to see his own hand move before she is buried metres under sand several hills away.

Trunks flies over to his dad to see what family matters are going on as a distant dune of sand erupts and his grandmother makes her way back. She chuckles to herself that a good strike has proven far more entertaining than this grandiose celebration of Washu. Trunks looks between the source of his Saiyan heritage to make sure they are not about to throwdown. They seem to be just acting out in Saiyan swagger and not intending to brawl.

"Gran-geta, do you want a bunk-bed?" Trunks casually asks. His grandmother is confused – that is not her name – and then a cold chill seeps into her blood for she knows that Trunks heard all about her fears. "You sleep under beds. A bunk bed is a bed under another bed. Will that be a stepping stone you need?"

Some of the will of Queen Vegeta shrivels upon hearing her grandson speak of her greatest failings as a Saiyan with no tact. She is aware of bunks, when she was young and trapped by the blaze she was hiding beneath a bottom bunk built into the metal of the ship, this reductive observation wounds her. Queen Vegeta firmly fixes her eyes on her grandson and then has to slowly shake her head. It is not a solution. Her son then tells her grandson that the greater concern is preventative measures to stop her lashing out with destruction in her sleep. Queen Vegeta winces. That lack of control has already cost her the ability to stay with Kakarot.

"We all have 'war dreams' here? The son of my son has seen combat and death, so he should also be visited at night by its recollections. Battles in the night to occupy our sleep." Queen Vegeta probes. With no hiding she is unsure how to speak of these things. Being chastised, beaten or openly mocked is all that she knows if any would previously try to talk of such things to other Saiyans.

Vegeta steps forward before his son and denies Queen Vegeta this. He firmly states that his son has seen a few battles yet nothing on their scale nor anything that has needed him to seek aid or therapy from his father. The Saiyan Prince then inhales deeply and looks about the scene. He is not qualified in any state to make efforts in the mental and emotional health of his mother. Strict discipline and utmost control grant him the abilities to repress what night terrors he has. However, a main way he diminishes any trauma attacking him when asleep is by his own destructive sleep schedule and near constant state of exhaustion through training. That and when he did have his wife by his side in bed he had such great cause to limit any danger his strength could pose to her and also how she soothed his mind and granted him respite and solace.

"What was your uncle's name? The few stories I have heard about yourself and flame he has been mentioned. Who was this warrior?" This angle Vegeta chooses. Not caring how this man would be his great-uncle, he sees it as a route into Pranis' troubled mind and quite possibly being one of the few Saiyans she might have truly cared for based off of how she speaks of him.

"He was Rammow. Strong, large, the adult I was assigned to as he led his squadron in battle. His own 3 children did not last much longer than he as they failed against the Tuffles. If not for the wounds from the fire he protected me from he held a good chance of getting to the higher ranks of the Saiyan. He knew many of our farmers to secure ourselves food. He ensured that I knew what was Saiyan. It was usually his bed that- … underneath I slept. 4 swings it took to sever his head. "

Under one of the many shaded gazebos that hosts the wedding reception, Goku, arm in arm with his wife, receives a telepathic prompt from his rival informing him that Queen Vegeta intends to learn Instant Transmission and so his only course of action during their season shall now be to hole up within the training room. Many conversations are going on and with his identity revealed the Kai has found himself reluctantly at the centre of attention amongst the regular earthlings. With eyes no longer needing to be upon her at all times, Misaki does feel relieved that one target from her back is removed. Yajirobe heard talk of swords and is now stuck listening to Yakage lecture on about this subject matter whilst Korin has the fascination of Sasami and Tchaba for being a talking cat. Master Roshi approaches Kombu and she ignores his flirting and instead focuses on his age and knowledge on the past to his dismay. Tien whispers to Piccolo that he does not trust that gathering of Vegetas over yonder and the Namek puts his mind to ease that he can hear all they say and their talk's topic is favourable to Earth's safety. Utsutsumi and the groundskeeper of the Taitans baseball ground seem to have become friends following last night's stag-do.

Light music plays as the chatter continues and refreshments materialise upon floating silver trays for guests to help themselves to. There are plenty of tables and chairs to accommodate more than are present so that none are forced to sit near those they would rather not, and a level of trust is being given to the guests for there are no reserved seats with name plates dictating where they should go. For all her newly found marital bliss, Washu can only hide behind the festivities and her husband for a short while before she finds Lady Seto, Emperor Azusa and Sasami – who is just kind of tagging along with her father – as her wedding dress requires some answers. The scientist manages to flicker her Light Hawk Wings decorations on for 2 seconds before having to admit that the ki reserves she uses from Yamcha, and her multitude of energy reactors in her lab, are utterly drained from this showing. Sasami compliments that they were really pretty and if she can make them appear then her wedding has to be blessed by the Goddess. In terms of any practical application her reports to them are true. Visually she can manifest them, the power and force behind them is severely lacking.

It is only a few minutes of interrogation Mrs. Hakubi is subject to before Queen Vegeta leaves her son and their most uncomfortable talk and barges her way through to the Tuffle. Her reason for being here is only observation and learning. So she asks for some rudimentary explanation of what is happening now and what will happen later. As this Saiyan has been behaving beyond expectation Washu will indulge, but to the bare minimum as this guest she would rather were uninvited. She reaches out, grabs her husband, and quickly denotes that this is a part to celebrate and come night she and Yamcha will consummate their marriage – then gives the definition of that word. The cheeks of the Saiyan monarch blush at brazen talk of sex and seems averse to talking further. She knows she is being insulted by this Tuffle thinking she can be rid of her by making her feel awkward. Queen Vegeta does not like these acts being so openly out of what she understands to be their only and correct time to occur, but without most other species sharing Saiyan mating periods she cannot argue back about it being some perversion. Pranis shuffles her feet and looks about. She has something she can fire back, something she feels she has to say and at least speak aloud.

"I have confirmation from that jester of a Kai that neither- that there is zero spiritual existence of your Tuffle brat anymore, nor could your son ever be revived." Queen Vegeta growls with a confused intent to wound.

Yamcha goes to make his presence there felt to ensure Queen Vegeta does not try anything to ruin Washu's day, but Washu puts a soft hand out to stop him. His intervention is not necessary. Those words do hurt, and likewise Washu can empathise with how clearly those words affect their speaker. Queen Vegeta would have only asked one person here surrounding Otherworld, and Pranis would have only asked about one individual and that would not have been Mikumo. Washu might not have had a chance to act as Mikumo's mother, yet she at least got to see him live out his life to fruition whilst Pranis got nothing but her child perishing whilst she was already deceased. She goes to speak to counter Queen Vegeta so she shall understand to not bring this up to her in the future.

"... I knew of the Namekian dragonballs over a month prior to them being wasted upon your own resurrection. The exact specifics of when and where reincarnation occurs in Otherworld is not currently known to myself, yet Mikumo is sadly not one I ever fancied could be brought back to me. Natural death is the sole ruling that stops your own son from meeting his wife again, and I know that my son passed peacefully with no external intervention. Do you know if it is only Tarble or-"

"What Tarble? There is no Tarble. I am mother alone to the blood of Vegetas, to a family of Legendary Super Saiyans as opposed to your feeble brood. This leader of the great Saiyan Empire is not impressed by this tomfoolery and time-wasting of what you class a wedding. … I have matters to take care of with the bearer of the partial Saiyan, Chibusa." Pranis turns her heels and leaves, her tail carefully tucked within her flower girl dress, and stalks over towards Chichi and the ki she can sense growing within her.

Yamcha has to shake his head at what he heard from Queen Vegeta. She might try and hide it on her face but he can sense her ki and it tells all. He looks to his wife and has to see that the silver lining here is that a conversation between both Washu and Queen Vegeta can occur without bloodshed or tears. That and he jokes to her that she has gotten herself her own rival Vegeta just like Goku has. Washu coolly responds she still has plenty of weapons to dispose of her with if given half the chance to fire them, but for now it appears her life is causing her enough pain as is.

Having Queen Vegeta hanging around closer to her than her husband is quite bizarre. Her questions, some of which she has asked prior, all concern how she feels and how the baby is developing and plans for its future and incubation. Pranis stays by this ki she can feel of this unborn. She fetches snacks, and ensures that this other soon-to-be Saiyan female is provided for, and eats to distract herself.

Chuntering and complaints come from Yume. She recognises this mellow music and she looks to its vain composer in her bridal gown, the gall of Washu's ego and how that accomplishment of Light Hawk Wings furthers the gap between the two scientists. That is not an area she can research. Access to Jurai like that is forbidden to her. And now, Washu stands with her husband, and Yume stands single and alone. She finds a floating tray of champagne and helps herself to 2 glasses. Her eyes go about to see which men present also took from Washu's bouquet. None of them she cares for. One man appears to have the attention of both Lady Seto, no other female company, and is known for his association with the artificial lifeform of Buu. Yume downs her glasses and heads over to investigate.

The similarities between Buu and the Counteractor are the common ground that Seto is using to learn of this Majin and its handler. Buu is not one for words and so most of her dialogue is with Mr. Satan. In the realm of mystical fighters and planetary destroyers she does enjoy this man and what he brings to the table in pacifying an evil by friendship – or at least a part of the evil that was Buu. In some way his boastful nature and charisma reminds her of her daughter when she was far younger and at the height of her fame when she first started accomplishing victories in her own tournaments. He is an odd fellow but a good man and he shall be thanked accordingly in his actions taken to aid in the attack of Buu, and how his involvement guaranteed the success of the Spirit Bomb. She commends him on his bravery and his great value of putting a public face on the otherwise terrifying ordeals Earth has gone through.

The lithe and small figure of Yume is noticed by the loud and moustached man. His black afro of hair has been combed and slicked down his shoulders to be more presentable and yet his expensive suit he wears has a fair few buttons undone so his signature bear-like chest is on display. The large eyes of this alien inspect him before she introduces herself to him as 'the number 1 unmarried scientist' and then she goes to reach for more alcohol. Hercule asks Seto if she is allowed to be drinking since she looks younger than his daughter. To this Yume interprets it in a less offensive way than everyone seeing her as a minor and replies that she is neither pregnant nor on any medication and so is fine to drink. Drink she does as another 2 glasses of champagne vanish down her throat. Seto gives a side-eye to this diminutive miscreant who once attacked Jurai. Playing match-maker is a fun hobby of hers, here she shall watch an attempt horribly crash and burn.

Inexperience shows as Yume gets closer to Hercule. She talks about herself to him to boast and show how magnificent she is – most of her accomplishments sounding grand but going over Mr. Satan's head for the most part – and as she asks about himself Yume tries to be flirtatious about it. Attention from women is nothing new for the 'Champ' so for a bit he lets it slide to be polite. Yume's furry ears start wiggling about as she makes a more direct ask of him concerning if he came with any female companion. Being accosted by fans seeking him romantically he knows how to handle, her he is unsure of. From her anecdotes he can tell she is older than himself but it does not dissuade from her physically looking like a small teenager, and an alien to boot – which he does not know how rude it would be to turn down someone due to those reasons when they travel space and the like would be more common.

There is a smile on Seto's face as she goes to leave having her fill of amusement. Yume can tell she is not getting anywhere and he is being awkwardly defensive which gets her to loudly moan and complain about the unfairness of Washu getting all the prestige and a lover and her not. She clutches at his waist and then the yellow mittens of Buu appear and move her off. The pink destroyer then parrots a line of getting away from Mr. Satan and he appreciates her care and affection that he was taught for when more rabid groupies accost him. Noise from a woman sounding desperate for male company gets the attention of a certain Turtle Hermit who makes his way over.

"Not got a sister with a bit more meat on her?" Lowering his sunglasses to inspect her, Master Roshi finds Yume not suiting to his tastes.

This insult does not go over well with Yume. Time after time when in Washu's company she has to rectify the misconception that she alters her age or appearance like the Tuffle does, she is a full mature adult for her species and not lacking in size or physique for what is expected of her age and gender. Master Roshi is not the most pure hearted in how he views people of the opposite gender and can only ask if she has such trouble posing as attractive to other species why she does not do the sensible thing and find someone of her own species that will not think she is underage or petite. A harrumph comes from her that Washu managed it, and she is far greater than any of her peers back on her own world. Her ego matters little to the 300 year old Turtle Hermit, who can only look to fellow winner of the Martial Arts Tournament Hercule and neither have any idea of what to do with this desperate trouble-maker. The idea of throwing the child-sized Chiaotzu to this wolf exists but Roshi doubts that would work for either individual involved. He shrugs to himself and wanders off, there are more attractive women here for him to pester.

Ryoko ensures that Vegeta does not look like some strange loner stood by himself by keeping him company. He tells her for safety he is going to have his mother spend her nights sleeping with a simulation in a training room as the odds are greatly in their favour that any destruction she causes will not sunder half a city or his in-laws. She teases asking where she gets to sleep as her attempts this morning were foiled. On the other side of Vegeta Trunks clears his throat loudly and tells his dad that Queen Vegeta is causing issues again. The prince sees that Chichi has gone over to the Briefs with the intent of discussing paying back what the Son family has been lent over the years to keep them afloat now that Gohan's large income allows for this. With Queen Vegeta having been hovering by Chichi she sees this as a chance to take a dominant position in this debt – for she sees this as a debt to the Vegetas and not to the humans she sees as well beneath her and not part of her blood. The price she wants is of course Kakarot.

Trunks would press further for his dad or himself to intervene but Prince Vegeta tells him that there is nothing to worry about except for how long they have to waste in this place. Sure enough given a minute or two the will of Queen Vegeta seems to peter out in sustaining any argument and goes quiet on the issue. She simply does not have it in her any longer today to exert her authority or energy like that. The fires within her are barely smoking embers given all that has transpired. Any further exclusion or humiliation is too risky for her to warrant triggering, and so she chunters appearing disinterested or as if she has any want to listen to the logic that none of the money was given by a Saiyan or earnt by a Saiyan.

Around half an hour is given for socialising to carry on with most disruptions between the eclectic collection of characters being minor. Sticking to her time schedule, Washu raises a glass and clinks it to gain peoples' attention. The time has come – as this part of the proceedings is following Yamcha's culture more than her own – for the wedding speeches to be given and the guests to sit for them. Yume remains near Hercule and sits at his table, which does garner a raised eyebrow from Videl. Queen Vegeta scurries over to where her son and the Briefs are and Ryoko makes a nuisance of herself by going to sit next to Ayeka as 'friends'.

Traditionally, first in order would be the father of the bride. Those who were standing in to give her away during the wedding ceremony are not people who personally know her well enough to write or give a speech about her like that. This is not a major concern for Washu. It is no recent thing her parents having passed and this is no shock to her. Foregoing that, leads onto Yamcha as the bridegroom being up on the chopping block. As if this were not nerve wracking enough for any groom, he has married Washu and her standards are exceptionally high at the best of times. He perseveres through, having to improvise a few moments of levity and joke to hide areas he forgot his next line. Yamcha has to speak a good while for singing the praises of Washu is a song she never tires of listening to and then the time comes for her to return the favour. Mrs. Washu Hakubi has her 9 times fully proof read and edited immaculate speech fully memorised, all 17 pages of it. Then comes the maid of honour of Mihoshi and finally Puar as the best man.

The Vegetas finally start paying any attention again as the culmination of the speeches and the cessation of the annoyingly high pitched voice of Puar, leads on into the wedding meal. The servers are fully automated to ensure correct dishes go to the right patron and Queen Vegeta is given a quick tip from Trunks on the correct order of cutlery to be used for dining etiquette. Sat away from Prince Vegeta, Ryoko takes the meal as an opportunity to gossip and bad mouth her royal fiance and chat to Ayeka in as jokingly and pestering way as she can to amuse herself. Haruna is finding all this very interesting as a high class wedding that she supposes is what she shall be getting with Prince Yosho. Strangely enough, due to Yume's persistent acts of friendliness towards Hercule, Buu maybe thinks of her as being a new friend for him and so actually shares some food with her. Yume is trying, but she now sees that the watchful green eyes of Washu are having fun observing her and the bride plays this up by flirting and being fed by her husband.

Entrées, mains, fish dishes are had – by those partaking of each course with Namekians being exempt from food – and there is no waste for Buu and Saiyans make a veritable unstoppable force of gluttony. The meal gets completed gradually and the top class cuisine consumed utterly before the automated waiters beam away the dirty dishes – with it being unclear to all but Washu if they were teleported for washing or just disintegrated. Before both Mr and Mrs. Hakubi is placed a small and round desert that at most could serve only themselves. On top of its icing is one of Washu's small puppet-like robots that spouts flatteries of herself and next to it one of Yamcha's sports figurines. She has ensured her wedding cake is for her and her lover, and them alone. Other puddings and cakes shall be available later for the guests, but this is hers. No multiple tiers, no gaudy designs, just a single tiered and small wedding cake for the newly married.

Together, hand in hand, they cut their wedding cake. Applause is had and many stand from their dining seats as they congratulate them. 1 man does not sit down and starts raising two fingers to the top of his head. For him, this is where official proceedings for a wedding terminate, and thus his freedom from here granted.

"Uh, no. Prince Vegeta, unless you are thinking an even more generous wedding gift than a time machine for myself, then you can be seated. My wedding's not over yet. It does appear that maintenance for all Saiyan training rooms started when my wedding did, and they shall not be finished for … 83 more minutes. At that point, if anyone else has such a busy schedule they wish to leave, then they can – but, it would be appreciated if a few of the stronger guests remained to help tidy up at the end. Till then, and once any have had cake, we can dance." Washu tells Vegeta to sit back down. He is not going anywhere yet. How can they complain back when it is merely maintenance to fix their training rooms and improve their security further after Kagato's trap, she is too integrated to their lives now and both sides are trapped towards the other – which she shall use to her advantage for her wedding day.

Vegeta does suppose people do dance at weddings. His wife did reprimand him slightly over his eagerness post cake-cutting in him carrying her away immediately to the marital room as he did not have a first dance with her – at least not on that day. He is stuck here now. Being in Super Saiyan 3 is at least some efficiency training for him. She has played her cards well. Of course, he suspects the great issues of dancing at weddings involving himself, his fiancees and whatever his mother will or will not do. Eyes are upon him as the lone person standing and being addressed. Saiyan pride makes him awkward. He strides off to the bathroom instead of following her orders to sit.

Those who want wedding cake at this moment are welcome to the ones left out for guests whilst Washu and Yamcha enjoy their own and she savours her own little victory over the Saiyans. Most of this is all quite novel to those from off-world. Learning of this new culture of Earth is refreshing for some. Ayeka and Ryoko however are only now learning of dancing at weddings. Both have prior experiences dancing with the Saiyan Prince. The princess does not want to publicly dance with the prince, yet is unsure what the expectations here are. Ryoko has to question aloud why Vegeta's wedding never had a dance they saw on the recording of it, and why instead consummation followed on from the wedding cake for him – and no Juraians near her can answer or want to.

Sufficient time has passed now since the glorious sunrise that kissed the scene of Washu and Yamcha becoming one that the environment they are in is making its presence felt. Leaving the shelter or shade is now unwise. This is a desert. The scorching sands and harsh sunlight are ready to beat down on those unprepared and the dry air is being battled by humidifiers around the reception area. For kids like Sasami and Tchaba they have not been to a desert before and find their want to indulge their childish curiosity swiftly curbed by their parents and the oppressive heat. Luckily, the climate control of the gazebos is plentiful to allow all guests to be at a comfortable temperature. And so, with dining complete, and tables moved to the edges so there is a large centrally space, the dancing can begin.

More of Washu's own compositions are on the playlist. It is quickly explained for all the order of the dances and the participants – so that no one will intrude upon her first dance. Both herself and Yamcha step hand in hand to the middle of the floor. As they come together and begin to move she has her Light Hawk Wings birth from her back once more for several seconds before their power is drained. In response, red flames burn off of Yamcha's skin as a careful Kaioken flares from him to show the power he holds since she is showboating as much as she is. Slowly and tenderly they dance in the arms of the other with no extravagance in their movements. Back and forth steps, swaying with each other, is all they require.

In terms of the second dance this is supposed to be where the marriage partners dance with their opposing in-laws. For Yamcha he goes over to Mihoshi's mother as the closest approximation within Washu's bloodline and she happily goes along with it – she does not know him much but she trusts he is a nice enough man from her daughter's stories and her own intuition. The great scientist in her bridal gown turns about to the elderly gentlemen within her guest list that she dwarfs in age. One with a white beard and the other with a greyed moustache exchange glances between the other. Master Roshi pockets his sunglasses and steps forth claiming that Dr. Briefs has his own shot at this with Tights as opposed to himself and he helped raise the boy just as much in his youth. The fact that he is short in his age, she a tall woman and her dress leaving minimal amounts of her cleavage to the imagination might also be a factor he leaves unsaid. He acts the gentleman though. Roshi's eyes stray but a small amount considering his more outgoing actions towards other women. Washu bends down as they dance and whispers in his ear he does not need to try and behave to impress her, whilst she is on her honeymoon Gohan will deliver a youth serum to him so that he can join his sister in enjoying a younger body. He grins up at her with what few teeth he has and commends Yamcha on his choice of women, murmuring under his breath how she is less threatening than the wives of his other disciples.

Later on both Puar and Mihoshi join in. The small and floating blue shapeshifting cat bobbing in the air. At this point the floor is opened up to all. For those with partners or spouses who they dance with is an easy choice, for the most part. Azusa is faced with the impracticalities of 2 wives and dancing and for now Misaki sits it out reasoning her Counteractor arm and not being familiar with it in dancing. For once Ryoko plays it smart. She does not go on the offensive and pressure Vegeta into escorting her to the dance floor. Instead she goes to Trunks to see if he will dance with her instead. One woman has to wait through 2 songs before someone dares to approach her and ask her if she would like to dance. The frightening Queen Vegeta is not a dancer by any means and the Ox King towering over her is trying to be friendly since she is by herself. She calls him old and unworthy of her strength.

"Just tryin' to be kind is all, since I notice the care you're putting through to my girl's little baby. If this is some Saiyan pride thing don't worry, my boy Goku dances – not that well though so you could probably show him up if you put your mind to it."

It is a tall ask for a woman struggling to reach 5 foot tall to pair with the man taller than any Namekian here and with more bulk than Buu. She keeps her tail tight about her waist. Her hands appear so dainty and petite when inside his own, for there is nowhere else she could even contend to hold this colossal human to dance even if she levitated. She does not smile. Queen Vegeta goes along with this in hopes of upgrading to a suitably stronger dancing partner when available. Wide berth is given to both on the dance floor. Part due to her fearsome reputation and part to be out of the way of the large Ox-King.

Vegeta senses Ryoko's intent before she arrives. Trunks gets himself palmed off to the teenage daughter of one of the baseball players and she makes his way over to him. He first asks her if she will be OK with this and to not push herself if things get uncomfortable, for the last time they danced did not end on the best of notes. The Saiyan Prince senses more eyes on him than there should be as they watch the great novelty of him dancing, and he ensures there is no flaw in his physical performance which strangely enough invigorates his mother to try harder at her own attempts. One set of those eyes belongs to Ayeka as she sedately dances with her brother.

"You can just ask him. If you want to dance with him you can go, so long as you don't cause a scene." Yosho chides his younger sister as he can so easily see through her.

"Me? Have to go and debase myself into going to ask him of all people? Surely if that man had a sense of chivalry it should be myself being asked."

"You are almost the youngest Juraian here, so don't go throwing around like you are some great traditionalist. I like the blue hair by the way."

She scowls at his teasing of her. Ayeka will not make a show of herself by dancing with Vegeta, not with her parents or her grandparents here to read into every small action she takes. He has not earnt the right to dance again with her. Ayeka bites back that he should not insult her actions at last night's party with how uncomfortable his own frivolity made Haruna feel.

"Men find it attractive when a woman asks instead of them." If she wants to bring up how he conducts himself in his own relationship he can throw that right back at her, and knows full well she will not dare to delve deep into any conversation concerning intimacy.

Yosho brings the dance to an end next to 2 other Juraians. He gets Haruna back to dance with him, and leaves his sister next to Yakage. Ayeka really does not know Yakage as a person and neither does he her beyond her rank in Juraian society. She looks at him and then bows her head and excuses herself that she might not be currently fond of her fiance yet she still is engaged and so is not willing to dance with another man. Yakage is understanding and is not about to speak out towards royalty. She walks off for refreshments as an excuse and finds her mother Misaki more than willing to be her partner for the next song.

At the edge of the tables a peculiar gathering of beast and machine has Dr. Clay perplexed. Zero is not keeping its morphing abilities secret and as such has been discovered by 2 others that naturally can perform a similar feat. Both Oolong the Pig and Puar the Cat can freely shape-shift at will and this novel robot that can mimic them is quite interesting. Copying either of them grants Zero their own repertoire of changing shapes which is faster than what the red robot is capable of itself but with the downside of only granting the physical shape and no memories or abilities. Otherwise, Dr. Clay is not participating in the dance, even at the goading of Washu.

At one point Ryoko is persuaded to cease dancing with Vegeta for a moment as her cabbit meows insistently at her for attention of her own and the Prince of all Saiyans finds the bride of the wedding stood offering a hand out to him. He nods his head to her and takes her hand.

"Don't come bothering me on my honeymoon if it can be avoided. Gohan and Yume will be available, so leave me out to have some fun in the sun somewhere."

"Yume is a pawn of the Saiyans now, my esteemed mother would rather not entrust any of her technological wants to someone who made her wear a dress."

"She can try to be useful to you. Not the Number 1 scientist is she, and you Saiyans don't like second best. The news about Tarble, it might not mean anything to you, but I am sorry."

They slowly sway side to side. Vegeta is silent. Until she came back to life his mother was but dust and echoes to him, his brother a few scattered remnants of memories. Tarble's fate is the same as all Saiyans. It matters little to him but hears the sympathy that Washu dutifully speaks from.

"And I can promise you Kagato's demise. So what next to stop him since he was too cowardly to defy all the powers he wants dead here?" Parties are a waste of time for him, Vegeta wants something that matters and his anticipation of any Kagato attack today has fallen through.

Solemnly Washu shakes her head at him.

"No. Not here, not today." The bride will not speak on those matters. She lets them stay in silence for a minute. "I know that having the door to my lab is useful for both Jurai and yourself, but with me having a husband now I do not want to be tied to your house or where your mother might be. Me and Yamcha want a place of our own. I of course have to finance it like I did this, but we shall be looking and you should not be expecting our return at the end of my honeymoon. Even if it is a small capsule cabin somewhere whilst we find something more permanent. We are moving out. And you, you ain't stopping or following us."

"As I said before, you will make a great mother, and I shall scatter the ashes of Kagato about whatever hole I root him from." Vegeta understands. He shall not keep her as a prisoner – not when he can teleport to her – and knows that her want for a home is born from her deep desire for a family. As a Saiyan he shall do all he can to ensure his power is of use, and if someone needs to die then it can rest on his conscious before others.

The maligned time-frame of Washu whittles away whilst the sun is still high in the sky and suddenly both Vegetas are gone from the scene. Both Goku and Gohan split multi-forms so that they maintain a presence at the wedding reception and go off together to train as father and son for a bit, with Piccolo equally tagging along as social gatherings are not his forte. Before he trains, the Saiyan Prince spends a short while thinking at his wife's grave, and then the call of power claims him.

Ayeka realises all too late that any opportunity with Vegeta is gone when she hears Ryoko loudly complain at his absence. By her side her grandmother sips a glass of wine and tuts that Ayeka did not think to offer a dance over the harsh words or sexual assault of the hen-night, for even she managed a short twirl with Vegeta to his dismay. The princess just replies that she is no gift to be offered around, and that her grandmother should not be proud of what she had the son say to his mother this morning. Lady Seto runs a long finger around the rim of her wine glass so that it hums. She states that she would rather the thing she brought back to life be neutered of all threat to Jurai, and to witness what the Saiyan Prince would both do and reflect on what he did.

"Sasami was there. Do you have some perverse wish for Lord Vegeta to execute his own mother before both his own son and my sister?" She seethes in disgust at the callousness of the Devil Princess.

"That poor princeling owns far too many hats. None of them fit atop his head, as inflated as it is. The one of 'killer' has not fallen off and merely sits askew. If he did decide of his own accord that his mother had failed at being a Saiyan, it would not have been within that room he would have murdered her. His anger is still too quick to boil. I do not like his rage, it is ugly, much like your own temper tantrums. His own version of half-hearted remorse for what he did was … less than endearing. From what I saw." If her granddaughter expects an apology for how she shall handle the Saiyan menace then she shall go wanting. Things went as they should. The Queen of Saiyans is cowed and subdued, and her son has faced Ayeka to have his own failings brought upon him. A killing is not needed, though she would not be against any accidental demise of Saiyan-kind.

"Where are these insults of his remorse coming from when you are empty of your own? You keep your histories shrouded and hidden. At least Vegeta has the common courtesy to be honest that he does indeed wear this hat of a killer – if you must put it that way."

"I do what my Emperor, and the emperors before him, have asked of me. If you want to know if there is any wet-work done in the name of Jurai itself it is not my place to reveal, nor would my hand be any more implicit within it than your father, the Emperor. Since Mrs. Hakubi did not rid us of Queen Vegeta in their spats against the other, I have to ensure that the family of Vegetas pose as little risk to Jurai as possible. Do you not find it more pleasant when the great Queen of Saiyans silently goes along with the wishes of Washu and puts up but small token arguments here and there instead of making this gathering be ruined by having Saiyan culture at its forefront?"

"With your tongue you speak to them of ceasefires and peace treaties, yet you sharpen the blade hidden behind your back. To what-"

"Darling Ayeka, to what end do you think a diplomatic agreement to the Saiyans will serve beyond gifting freedom unto yourself for your elopements. No words will be honoured by them. No paper shall stop their aggression. Any peace we hold, will be held by the flimsiest of hopes that one day the clan of Vegetas does not either grow tired of our existence or make a miniscule error with their unfathomable power." She states her reasons, and her lack of faith within the Saiyans. Any decision or mistake they make is an end to Jurai they have no weapon or shield to stop. Prevention is all Seto has. Believing all can be friends and abide by a common code of decency is a nice thought and only that, it is naïve and innocent and betrays how little from being a child Ayeka strays, if the people she has to deal with cannot comprehend basic morality then Seto shall not think them to be above possibly breaking their word. Lady Seto then drops her tone and speaks only in archaic Juraian for privacy. "It also comes to my mind that when Jurai holds a leash around the few Saiyans that it should never come to pass that they seize the dragonballs and extend their lifespan."

Ayeka is aghast at this. If indeed what her grandmother speaks is her true beliefs, then peace with the Saiyans will be but a mask worn by either side. She cannot allow this. The morality of her own grandmother she knows to be a grey with what position she has claimed and held for millennia within Jurai, but even so this is sounding undoubtedly evil to her. She has to counter this. To argue this. Doubt has germinated its seeds however if it is only her grandmother who thinks this way. She goes to respond but her grandmother shushes her until she joins the conversation equally in their formal variant of high Juraian.

"Why would you want for my marriage to Vegeta to be met with harsh sorrow in a few decades? What can I even do with so little time? I-"

"I do not care with what you do in that time. So long as you stay the course and keep any plans of a family but a distant thought. Saiyans cannot linger. Think to yourself on the exponential issue to the universe on what both Vegetas can do in the time-frame of a Juraian lifespan. Give it a decade. Another 2 years even. What power will they hold? Will it be safe for them to even contain and control? Is that a risk that every being in existence should take so that their lust can be sated, and your widowing distanced?" Pure logically reasoning is what the green haired Devil Princess gives. She speaks as if talking about the cull of a pest residing within a garden, and not the ensured extinction of a dying race. They both were witness to the power level that Vegeta managed to reach. An end to the Saiyans is what she speaks of.

The calmness of it all disturbs her as much as when Vegeta lets his bloodlust rampant when training. Her grandmother does not seem perturbed at all by what she says. She condemns people to death and that is that. Her own grandmother speaks of her never having children with the man she loves as if that is some decision she holds over her. Ayeka cannot counter that the power of Saiyans is terrifying. She has to think. There has to be some thing she can say to persuade her that her marriage to Vegeta should not be left so unfulfilled that by the time she is out of formal education he has one foot in the grave.

"And so you would have mum die!" Ayeka finds it as she roars out in rebellion. There is one threat equal to them of Saiyan and deaths she knows even her grandmother will never allow.

"You do not-"

"The Kai said it himself. 1 more outburst. Is there a shadow of a doubt that when Tsunami welcomes Prince Vegeta back into her fold that my mother shall not grieve for his passing and my sorrow? With the Saiyans dead … then too does all hope of stopping the Counteractor. Is the guaranteed destruction of Jurai by your daughter in a few decades such a better future than that of believing in the goodness of heart of a few individuals?"

"And how long have you been thinking on this? Just the past few minutes? The Kais are not without weakness, their plans are not without exploit. Missy's fate is not set in stone and even then so many chances and opportunities will be presented to us to mitigate and solve the curse upon her. I know-"

"You believe! You have no way of knowing this."

"I know. My job is to know. If you think you can do a better job at safeguarding our galactic empire from all, I would love to listen."

" … Why should you have to listen? I could just take your seat from you." The young Juraian growls back in threat. Seto remains unflinching in her attack. If the plan is of her grandmother, then surely if she usurps her power then it cannot be enacted.

A tut of disappointment comes from the eldest Juraian. She scratches with a long nail at the bridge of her nose and looks down at this upstart. The will is there, but misplaced. Seto can hear the origin to those words. She knows where Ayeka learnt to argue like this. To the lesser minds of Saiyans perhaps this verbal spat would prove sufficient. As a grandmother she is not impressed that Ayeka has picked up these habits. She shakes her head. Ayeka shall have to try harder than some minor threat.

"Cute. 827 years to get this role. I made sure to knock out as many rungs as I could on the ladder I climbed, be you a princess or not. You are not even out of school. Try and intimidate me like a Saiyan would, and you shall fail as they will. Curing and saving Misaki shall be done, with or without Saiyans. … And then, would you allow the power of the race of Great Apes to endure and bolster and strengthen when they rely so heavily on anger to summon their transformations? We have to face the Counteractor. We do not have to live our lives in fear of the Super Saiyan. All I say is let him meet his wife in a natural passing. His mother, that I can allow to be less than natural if the need arises." Her glacial tone continues as she destructs the points her granddaughter tries to throw up in defence.

" … What of the children? What of the babe in her mother's womb? 3 pure blood Saiyans are not the full extent of their 'Empire'. Trunks. Goten. Gohan. Chibusa. 4 at the moment. Likely Saiyan blood shall continue, spread – even if diluted. I understand their wants and drives are not wholly Saiyan. Even so, you fear them. Their power challenges you. What is your recourse for the hybrid-Saiyans?" She becomes desperate. There has to be some appeal she can make.

"You so want to bring Tokimi from my mouth and have me speak as some pompous tyrant. No. Nothing I say suggests re-enabling the sabotage of incubators for Saiyan children. I am not going to contend with sterilising them. They can live their lives freely, and shortly – or at least short for us – Washu will have to sadly replace her apprentice. As I said; what a Saiyan can do in a Juraian lifespan. None of them are involved with the desire to extend their life. You, Ms. Ryoko, and Tsunami forbid even myself, stand as reasons towards the Prince of Saiyans that a cause for a Saiyan surviving centuries could occur. The hybrids on this planet have no strong urge for power, for conquest, and I say this under general assumption of them as hybrids and not some sweeping generalisation of their personalities. The era of the Super Saiyan shall fade. Blood may linger. It has to stay mortal, contained, with their culture fading to distant echoes and below what ludicrous imaginings the current Saiyans fancy themselves worthy to reach for."

"... And so for that reason alone, I- there can be no child with Juraian heritage. Then … then how would you take matters into your own hands?"

Ayeka's blood runs cold as she asks. She hears that argument. With humans it matters not, with her a child would live and grow in power for millennia. As that is what Seto fears, then, she needs to know what stands against her if her want for a family arrives earlier than expected. She reaches out a hand and holds onto her grandmother's sleeve. This is a plead. If she speaks of horrors now, there can be no good will between them. Ayeka could not bear it if her grandmother would wish for the death of her baby.

"I will not have to. You are smarter than that. I am too old for that, and Ryoko, ineligible. The correct choices shall be made. Accidents will not occur." She places her hand cupping the fearful face of the princess. Seto has faith that Ayeka is both intelligent enough and reasonable enough that if anything should come to pass that no child of Juraian and Saiyans shall be born. A few grim dark years might be promised to her granddaughter, yet then she shall have thousands to live anew.

Silent, Ayeka stands, processing those words. Being complicit. That is what is being asked of her. To marry Vegeta and deny him children and to let him wither in age, keeping him about for a few scant years like a disposable pet. The logic is there for the greater good. Her red eyes search around her. Seto notices and nods. Ayeka does not have to be alone in this.

"Tell whomever you want, whatever you feel you have gleaned from our conversation. Think on it though. Be smart. You know Saiyans. You even know the current batch of Saiyans better than myself. Do not let your emotions lead you to siding with such a perilous route. Please. Just think on what I have said. Who is to say that Super Saiyan 3 is the end of it? And yes, I am aware the threat could remain in Otherworld. My influence is not stemming there yet. There is a Kai to speak to on this. At this point I am still devising what I can. Do not take this as hatred, Ayeka. I am your grandmother still. I do love both yourself and your mother dearly. Some small cruelties must exist. Vegeta had to survive to a point so that Frieza could die. And now, Vegeta shall have to age as he should and die so that our galaxy shall not be one ruled by fear of Saiyan outburst."

"I- I – but only 50 years? Ryoko will not agree to your terms."

"… And shall I care? For the Saiyans to be long-lived a wish to the dragons must be made. At that point, when their time should have come, all it will take is for the reverse of that wish to be made – and I have already proven they do not guard the set upon New Namek."

The kindness of the grandmother gives way again to the steely pragmatism that Ayeka usually only expects from Vegeta himself. Those words are murder. However Lady Seto views that, to wish away his life so death can take him is murder in her eyes. Ayeka has to shake her head in dismay. She thought she would have longer than that, far longer. It might be greedy yet Washu is here marrying with the intent of prolonging her groom so she assumed much the same. That is not enough time for her, or for Ryoko. With a heavy heart she has to remove herself from Seto. The Devil Princess watches and hopes that no more rash and emotionally driven actions shall come from her granddaughter. She looks behind her to see the bride a short distance looking at her intently. Seto gives a nod towards Washu who mouths back at her to not be disruptive at her wedding – for Juraians are not the only ones knowing their language – on the subject matter itself the scientist does not speak.

Where, or more correctly, who to go to, Ayeka cannot decide. She sits at a table by herself and looks for a while at some wine before her blue hair convinces her not to walk that path. If she knew how precious each year of Vegeta's life were to be she would have protested against his training in dilated time. That is a year gone he cannot have back, and years more he has lost in preparation against Cell. No matter how much his ki sustains him for it will not be enough. He is close to 50. Without any additional longevity, she will be about that same age when his Saiyan body could start to fail – and when age becomes any kind of factor to how he fights then he will seek what he would deem a worthy end. If the Kais have no influence and if her grandmother finds no solution to Otherworld, therein lies the only hope. Goku grew massively in power when dead. Saiyan power might only be a threat in a different place if they grow old and die and destruction within Otherworld is even more severe – if that threat can remain then there is little reason to allow Saiyans to age.

The princess looks about. Ryoko. Trunks. Gohan. Her father, her mothers. By her grandmother giving her freedom to speak and conspire with others the blame and fault for any consequences have been shifted to her. What if speaking to any Saiyan causes all hope of democracy with Saiyans to fail, what if it enrages them to take action to ensure they are dominant. What would Ryoko do against Jurai to protect the one she loves? And, what if her parents reluctantly agree with the plans of the Devil Princess. She might not like Vegeta, but if reconciliation and forgiveness can come then what would be the point of it all if she barely finds her feet as an adult before being widowed.

This is not a secret she can keep. This will be found out. Ayeka must take the plunge. She walks over to where Ryoko is drinking and chatting with Mihoshi and asks if she could have a private word. From across the large tent she can see that her grandmother is observing her choice. Ryoko takes some persuading but floats up and away with Ayeka towards the door to the bathroom. The princess asks for them to go back to Capsule Corp for they both need to have an urgent talk with Vegeta. Even tipsy the rogue can see something is eating at the insides of Ayeka. She could read her mind right now, but if she is being included in this talk she shall find out anyway. Ryoko places a hand on Ayeka's shoulder, rids the alcohol from her system and they both vanish back out of the heat of the desert and to Capsule Corp. HQ.

Their ki is noticed prior to them knocking on his training room door. Fully transformed in Super Saiyan 3 with a dumbbell in either hand he opens the door with his powers and Vegeta looks to the interruption unimpressed. Both of them being here and now is strange as the wedding should still be ongoing.

"Lord - … Vegeta. I- I have learnt about a plot from my grandmother, Lady Seto. It concerns you, us. Please. Please, it- it is not something I want to ask but have to. If you knew … that Bulma would pass and when, would you have married her at that time?" It is a delicate question whose answer she must have. Ayeka desperately hopes this is not some betrayal of her people and her family.

The Saiyan raises and lowers the dumbbells mechanically as he looks at her. A plot. A question about making use of what little time before the separation of death. It does not take a genius for him to put the pieces together. The question remains as to the how. If his death is wanted then how will a Juraian try to make it come to pass. It does not worry him. It also should not worry Ayeka unless there is some secret to his death that she seems convinced could work.

"... So when does Seto plan to have me killed? And … the me now would answer yes, back then who I was it might have been a different answer. I choose whatever would grant me the most time possible with Bulma." He nods and gives her his response. Those were the best 10 years of his life, he is not going to rescind them for fear of his current depression.

"Your growth in power terrifies her. You have mocked how despite my mother's age she has such low power, the exact inverse is why my grandmother does not want to tolerate your existence to ever be prolonged. Year by year you get stronger. She- she wants you being Saiyan to be the harsh limit to how many few years you can gain the power you want. She wants you to die when I would be young, when you grow old as a Saiyan shall with no wish to the dragon, and that I-I could never risk to have a family with you for the predicted lifespan of that child."

The distress in Ayeka is clear. His couple of decades of expected life is not some sudden assassin for Vegeta, it is a natural limit he has known of and was accepting until these long lived women came along. She does not want him to die when she is young and hold the regrets Vegeta has now of a romance not completed and so many unfulfilled acts. All this sounds reasonable so far to Vegeta from his perspective, expected almost that people would not want his astronomical power to forever grow, him living longer is preferable – especially with his damnation waiting for him upon death. Growls come from the pirate and her hackles raise. Jurai is not taking her happily ever after away from her by either Ayeka or Vegeta's youth failing.

"That ain't happening. That is not enough time. I'm having my Vegey forever!"

"Grandmother has already made a wish unimpeded. She assumes that any wish for Vegeta to live for our ages can simply be undone. I don't like this. I hate this. But, but there is reason and I detest it. Vegeta …"

Ryoko is agitated by this, her distrust in Jurai growing anew, and Ayeka is imploring him for some solution. As a Saiyan he will never stop trying to strengthen himself and improve what he is. Logically as time goes on his power shall keep ascending to more absurd levels and he can see the reason that lessening the time he can do so puts less risk upon the fabric of the universe itself and its inhabitants. The telling of this plot to Ayeka he can see the merit to, to choose the needs of the many over the few, and he can see she is torn by what might be the right action to take. What is right does not concern Vegeta.

"I can counter her. Easily." He states confidently.

"Vegeta this is serious-"

"Pumpkin, bring her before your prince." Vegeta gives an order to Ryoko.

She would normally be unwilling to be obedient but in this she will oblige to see what he dishes out to Seto. He winks at her with this nickname. This is no great concern. He can wrap this up and deal with this handily.

In the few seconds she vanishes he continues his exercise. Now Ayeka's fears equally go out to her family. She tells Vegeta to not harm her grandmother and he absently nods. Above the ground in the air Ryoko appears and lets Seto drop a good few metres to the ground to land heavily. The elder Juraian lets out a moan as she rubs at her ankles and knees from that shock of impact before rising to her full height to address the one summoning her. Her legs ache from that. She is not her daughter and physical activity like that for someone so great in years will be felt for a few days. Ryoko hovers down and Ayeka looks with fear for what could be a physical interrogation of her grandmother.

"You seem to have been upsetting my fiancees whilst I do my duty gaining power, power your civilisation only exists due to. So, I destroy Shenron and Porunga when they have no further use to me. What do you do then?" He raises an eyebrow to her in question. They can be civil about this, for he does not feel threatened by her or her wants nor does her intent come from any place of malice. If Ryoko wants to hurt her that is for Seto to prevent of her own accord, as this is of her own doing. Only his hand he will stay.

"Is the process for repairing the functionality of dragonballs not as simple as repairing some statue? Convincing one Namekian to agree with myself is not that troubling a matter. It is pleasant that your first thought is destruction. What next, do you kill all Namekians? Or, have I been brought here as some threat against my own life?" Her eyes narrow. A Saiyan spouting death is a crass beginning. As her granddaughter went to Ryoko she foresaw some meeting, now she can see if Saiyans can be reasoned with.

"I warned you this morning to not entertain such thoughts as being able to mess with Saiyans with impunity. Thanks to all that I'm sure it is not that hard to get my mother to see the merits of dying young in a blaze of glory, and you know well enough your life is guaranteed by the noose of the Counteractor around your daughter's neck. Evidently from little Missy you personally have absolutely no clue what you are talking about in regards to ki, and true power, not whatever fake power you believe yourself to hold. You'd rather I was dead on the spot now, but, alas, you do not have that power and so all you have is hope that time can take me."

Vegeta gives his summarisation of this annoyance. The unknown of ki, control, and its mastery of it he lords over the weak Seto who could not even lecture her own daughter in anything beyond basic shield materialisation. As a warrior it is imperative to him that all power he has is his to wield as he sees fit. Control above all is what he strives for with his ever growing strength. This is his dominion she is stepping in. Last time someone tried to prevent the battle power of Saiyans rising his son from the future diced his mechanised body upon the land. His destiny shall not be abated and if he wants life equal to that of Jurai then none have rank above him to stop that.

His confidence however has the irate Ryoko feel that enough is not being done as punishment to Seto for planning all this. She knees Lady Seto in the gut, doubling her over, far too quick for Ayeka's feeble shield to raise to protect her family member. Ayeka has to rush between her grandmother and the violent pirate and is there to support and help up the aged Juraian. That hurt her. Physical intimidation does not deter Seto. She has made many enemies before who thought slapping her about would put her in her place, and they have paid the price for their hubris.

"See I have enough issues contending with the rowdy nature of Ryoko. Now, it is hard to help and deal with Ryoko's own issues with infertility and so now you trying to make it so both my fiancees are troubled over future children is unwanted by me. … You cannot stop me, Seto. Make peace with that." There is no compromise. His will above all. She shall not add more troubles for him to deal with. Vegeta shall have her obedience.

"Do not put everything at risk over your own selfish wants. You have no authority to put a guarantee on everyone's galactic safety. 1 mistake, 1 small misstep is too thin a thread for us all to walk on. Maybe you have loopholes. It is aggravating. All I ask for is reason. I had no reason to not keep this a secret for a century and then have you undone in secret but for whether Ms. Ryoko may come for my head after. The onus is on you to make the choice that is correct. I do not need any more power than I hold to ensure the downfall of Saiyans does come to pass in time." Seto's response is equally absolute. There is no wrong in her view. However small a chance the Saiyans think they could destroy the galaxy is too large for her. They invite conflict and with that one emotional mishap could spell the doom of all like it could for her daughter. This has to be nipped in the bud before it spirals into madness.

"You do. Our power is the invisible crutch of Jurai. If any half decent warrior trained for a fair decade with half as much potential as my toe nail clippings then your Empire would fall. The troops of Frieza were giving you issue, and Frieza expressly never wanted for his soldiers to grow in any power so no threat could be posed to himself. Without Saiyans, and with a few hundred years shrivelling up Piccolo, are you going to rely only on Buu itself to guard your realm? Or do you think it wise to entrust whatever soldiers you can rally with whatever those wings Washu can now make, soldiers without enough discipline or will to gain what strength they need themselves. I also highly doubt you have had any talk with the good doctor herself. He is not Saiyan, but how long will Washu keep Yamcha around for? He holds Kaioken to boost his strength, there are greater heights he wants to reach as a fighter and as a protector to his wife. Was your wedding gift to Washu an hourglass already half drained?"

"The protection offered by Saiyans is covered in falsehoods and risks. I am not blind to the reports on the incident with Kagato's beast. That was a very real threat. Yet, due to your avarice and greed you suicidally only chose to think to tackle it when its strength was worthy of your attention. How many minor threats to you would have to scorch our worlds before the almighty Saiyans deem it appropriate for their intervention? All acts of defence are facades or self service. You also know as well as I that without Saiyan blood and without access to transformations Yamcha can safely grow his power for a hundredfold your lifetime before becoming close to your level of threat. Not to mention his emotional and mental health compared to what Saiyans wield. Plateaus and being content with oneself are not phobias that humans hold. Personally, I also worry less for the time Washu spends married to her lovely husband as opposed to what years might bind my granddaughter to yourself, or how little time would pass until Ms. Ryoko and yourself have some self destructive feud and your emotions cause instability in your power."

"You are a fun one. However, all this is moot if the powers of Saiyans themselves are what sustain us. The dragons could not effect the power of our own that is outside their might."

A lone chuckle comes from the Saiyan Prince. She does put up a good argument. The keystone of hers of being able to somehow strip immortality from him is one he removes. She cannot fathom the depths he shall plunge in his eternal quest for power. If something is achievable by his own will and power, then he shall. He watches as Seto allows a frown of confusion to play across her face. She ponders him. He is not idly saying this as some bluff, albeit his bravado is great enough he could falsely believe this to be true. What Saiyans might accomplish is her fear, and so he rightfully has what a Saiyan might accomplish as the thing to stop her. She sighs heavily. These Saiyans are an annoyance.

"Senescence is not a trait the Oozaru can rid themselves of." Seto shakes her head disagreeing that he can rid himself of ageing through whatever power he can gain. She lets slip her annoyance in how she refers to him.

"It is not something we have aimed at, yet. My mother has had some crushing news that has given her a want to stave off the inevitability of death and what follows it. Together it is assured at some point the Vegetas will claim what we need, with thanks to you leading my mother into this delicate position for her to make said choice. You have directed us well. When I outlive you, I shall bring flowers to your grave." With an arrogantly smug grin he is sure to spite her for her actions this morning and prove herself to be her own downfall. Going against Saiyans has consequences.

"Understand-"

"Do you want me to? Myself and Ryoko have utilised techniques for free passage of thoughts and memories between the other. Will the most feared woman of Jurai offer up her mind to the Saiyan even she is in terror of? If this gets you off my back, then equal exchange. Share. Put your trust in me." Like a Devil himself he offers up an agreement to the Devil Princess. Jurai shall not be a thorn in his side. Vegeta knows that his private memories are not ones wanted by Seto, he is open to her and she the spymaster supreme with much to lose in this.

Vegeta drops a dumbbell to loudly clang onto the tiles of his training room and holds out his hand to her. A wry smile plays on Seto's lips. He plays this game well. This in itself is her only true way to ever hope to persuade him, and yet it involves putting utter faith in a man she wants dead due to not having faith in him. If she knew this side of him existed then she never would have bothered with resurrecting a Saiyan. Lady Seto looks to his hand and to the Super Saiyan 3. What is in her mind she knows his apathy will hold no interest in beyond this moment in time and her reasons. She then looks to her side, to Ayeka, and asks her what she thinks. A loud bark comes from Vegeta with bared teeth as he tells Seto to leave Ayeka from this and the decision to be hers alone – that plan will not work of dragging in a confused and exploitable Ayeka. Lady Seto nods her head. The Devil Princess states that she accepts, and makes no motion towards him or his offered hand.

"Ms. Ryoko, your experience with this technique, give me a brief run down on how it functions, what I can expect, and the trustworthiness of whatever mental projections will be conjured."

Her granddaughter is not her only pawn. As Ryoko scoffs at her that she does not follow orders from Jurai, Lady Seto is quick to remind her of a large sum of money in Ryoko's possession. The blackmail is clear. She has much to lose in refusing her and the kick she received is earning her no favour. Expletives roll from Ryoko's tongue. In as brusque a way as she can she describes her and Vegeta's technique and how she has tried to lie through it but Vegeta can catch it, yet from what she knows he has never lied to her or hid what she seeks. Satisfied that someone here can behave, Lady Seto nods. Looking at Vegeta she asks if she is required to be an active participant. She does not know this technique, she is not gifted in ki, this shall all come down to Vegeta being active in both showing and searching throughout their minds. A multi-form splits from Vegeta with a black haired version stepping to her and the Super Saiyan 3 lifting up his dropped dumbbell and retreating back into his training.

"What date did your parents get killed?" He asks, predicting one memory above all he holds that Seto has personal attachment to.

"You make many assumptions." She tuts at him. It aggravates her how this is something meaning so little to him he has no clue even to when the Saiyans struck down her own parents.

"Correct assumptions."

Ego butts against ego. It is loathsome her inability to strike this man down from lording above her for such a simple thing as brute strength. He raises an eyebrow in silent question and she nods. For the second time today he reads the mind of a Juraian as he places his open palm upon her head.

Labyrinthine depths of a neural atlas stretch far as the mental gate is opened. Millennia of her is there. Aeons of memories, of opinions, of facts, and grudges and emotions. Ryoko may be older than he but so much of her life is unremembered for the blank continuum of her imprisonment and intoxication, this is far different to her open and expressive way of thinking. Seto is guarded and disciplined and always mentally attuned to what is going on and how she both views and reacts to it. As she stated, there is also no activity from her mind towards his own. She has no way to interact with him and so Vegeta uses telepathy to speak to her mind directly and read her current thoughts as a response.

For minutes the two stand in silence. Ayeka looks on hoping things will be alright at the end of this and Ryoko grumbles that her special technique with Vegeta is being tainted by another woman. Both of them hold suspicion as to whether or not Vegeta can achieve immortality, but it is something they both want him to gain – especially for Ryoko who could benefit from it herself as she knows her lifespan is longer than a Saiyans but not reaching the lengths of a Juraian. The pirate knows this can take a while from her sessions sharing with him. She kicks back in the air, floating, and has to ask Ayeka about her being led from Vegeta and sounding partially persuaded by Seto.

Frowned brows furrow on the Saiyan's stern face. Goosebumps prickle down Lady Seto. Her face hardens and then the tension in it releases and as Vegeta removes his hand from her both of her wizened eyes loose a few scant tears before she stems the flow. The two stare at the other. All that they are is all that the other knows. Lady Seto takes a deep inhalation looking at this Saiyan in a glacial silence before she turns to Ryoko and curtly tells her to take them back to Washu's wedding now. The question on Ayeka's lips is harshly shushed and Seto puts her grip firmly on Ryoko for teleportation.

Whilst Prince Vegeta himself did not personally slay her parents, his compliance within the act she knows and bore witness to. He watched it all in its entirety. In the excruciation detail of a killer, with his heightened Saiyan senses he smelt the acrid air of the burning world and their blood spilling and heard their worthless pleas and agonised screams. He made no action to stop it. The sadist that he is took small enjoyment in the slaughter before him as Raditz toyed with the weaklings before breaking them utterly. However, boredom towards it all was his main takeaway. Unremarkable, another death among billions of people who matter naught to him and shall just join the piling corpses. How he views death and his past with Frieza is abominable and reprehensible and she utterly detests it even with the contrast of his modern day psychology. Her parents died without reprieve or mercy as they as elders of the planet tried to dutifully protect its people, and all Vegeta could think on is how his scouter read them as meat to be thrown to his underlings and beneath his own attention. That was her mother ripped apart. Those we her fathers who died in vain whilst Saiyan tongues mocked their weakness. All the while an aloof prince battled his ennui.

Lady Seto lets a derisive snort from her nostrils as the Saiyan Prince clicks his tongue in disgust and his multi-form fades. Mutual understanding and compromise is not found. They are at loggerheads. Maybe if they talked they could have skimmed their way to some partial reasoning, but diving so utterly into the personas and inner held beliefs of the other leaves no wiggle room. All was absolute in knowledge. Lady Seto abhors the past and his Saiyan ways and above all the revelation of his power, his ki, his unrelenting hunger she cannot stem. Likewise, Prince Vegeta is offended by her psyche. What he brought to light within Ayeka's mind in how degrading it views himself and Saiyans was but a fraction of the manipulative Juraian's feelings. Neither will back down. He will not bend to her feeble protests, her supposed superiority or intellect, and her want for the demise of Saiyans shall be thwarted.

Hours pass as late afternoon comes to the desert as the wedding party truly begins to wind down and departures empty the tent. Both Yakage and Dr. Clay take their leave from the planet itself now the event is complete. As numbers whittle down Yamcha's oldest and closest friends stick around to aid the tidy up – with capsule technology easing the process further. Then, once all is complete, a short farewell wave is given and Yamcha with his new wife in his arms raises two fingers to his forehead and smirks as he uses Instant Transmission for the first time. Krillin and Tien have to look to Goku who says that he did not teach him that, Yamcha has to have learnt that himself from Vegeta's usage of it.

Night has been upon West City for a good time as Jurai and the Briefs and the Kuramitsus return. Lights are on within both training rooms still. Many are tired from the festivities and Misaki is thankful that she can now sleep without needing to be observed. Tights is going to stay the night rather than get herself home at this time and Yume is already off and within Washu's laboratory now that the bride is on her honeymoon. Her advances on Hercule did not yield success. Now the fun within this laboratory can begin and a little corporate espionage never stood in the way of their friendship prior.

Under foreign stars in the middle of the night sits an old man by himself nursing a whiskey offered to him from Dr. Briefs. The light show of gold from a training room gradually begins to dim as midnight is left behind. Upon the steps leading up to Capsule Corp he completes his weary vigil long after his wife went to bed. He brushes at his green moustache and mutton chops absently with a finger as he watches the bulkhead to the training room get wrenched open. The Saiyan's chest heaves as he breathes deep in exertion and his tail flicks the metal door shut behind him. That is an end to his training today and so Utsutsumi raises his glass in silent beckoning to Vegeta. He strides towards him and looks down at this elder.

"Silence and small little lies come and go all the time from Seto. You've been roughing up each other's bark for a bit now. She isn't some delicate flower, she would never let herself be considered one, but she is still just a person. Her and little Ayeka seem to have some small conspiracy going on between them. You're in the middle of it – 'cos who else. Just tell me, what has got my wife looking that upset?" Utsutsumi talks calmly to Vegeta. Understanding is what he is after. Seto would not condone this, but she is not here and why he waited so late. To get her that agitated and emotionally compromised is no small feat, and he is not so unreasonable as to not see why Vegeta himself might have want to cause that.

"We had a talk – of sorts. Her want is for my natural passing to prevent whatever I will achieve in later years. Naturally, being familiar with death and what it holds for me, I was less than enthusiastic with this. To see if we could come to some understanding I utilised a technique that would allow unfettered access between our minds – an act of trust. She found the memory from years back of her parents. This is not some grand secret she needs keep from you. You have set a bad precedent in allowing her to deceive you and not standing against it."

The old Juraian watches him. Both with a stern expression. Utsutsumi takes a small sip of the whiskey and leans back and sighs. That will definitely do the trick. Only a few things can get Seto to break character, and her parents' death is right up there. It ruined both her and Misaki for months. The indomitable and all knowing Devil Princess failed to save her own parents and that fact haunts her and brought doubts to her previously unwavering belief in her abilities. He doubts what she was shown was pleasant. He lived life as a soldier for a while thousands of years in the past and those things do not leave you easily. Those things Seto rarely sees if at all and then it would be from the comfort of her desk from reports of cameras. The past of the Saiyans has never been in question. What Vegeta was they always knew. Statistics and numbers are horrific, seeing your own parents mowed down brings it to a new and personally gut wrenching level.

"What was-"

"Kakarot's brother. One at a time. The woman, then the men – shorter, blue haired man first if that makes a difference. He made an example of them. They suffered greatly and what few guards and warriors remained broke and routed as he did his work, the city ours within a few hours. … I did not kill them. I was there as a commanding officer to keep an eye on my squad, that and to challenge any air support you might raise in the area." Vegeta gives the brief details of the gory sight, and his verdict of his own innocence in raising not a finger against them.

" … They were good people. On weekends I regularly went out drinking with her fathers and my own. Her mother thought she could have done better than myself, but she was more relieved than anything that finally her daughter had taken a proper interest in a relationship. Tsunami holds them now in her company. They deserved better than that. … I have seen battle-field reports following Saiyan attacks. I can hazard a guess at their final moments, though I would rather not. Tell me, do you believe this absolves you in some way? That you did not kill them yourself? We talk of orders all the time. Comes with the territory. My wife gives out enough – and you having seen in her mind you know she does issue death from afar – and it has been the excuse heard the most often concerning your killings; that they were of Frieza's orders. So, with you as their commander, was your order the one that consigned them to death?" Utsutsumi holds Vegeta with a gaze almost as glacial as his wife's.

Vegeta's neck and shoulders crack as he stretches. He is disinterested. Again, questions on all the bodies he has left in his wake. The truth was shown. Someone else killed them. Even if he was the one to shoot a blast and end them he was there to set the planet aflame and leave no survivors, all were perishing regardless and he had no care nor idea who any of the Juraians were. This Juraian thinks himself some interrogator to get a revelation from him. Vegeta does not care for how many fingers point his way and shout 'killer'.

"Absolution? Fool. There was a Kai to ask about morality of actions. Whether it does absolve me or not is inconsequential. If you think you are here outsmarting me or making me feel uncomfortable then you overreach. Only if you were either my son or my late wife would this topic bring me cause to be choice with my words. 'Leave none alive', 'You know the drill', 'Have your sport', I gave what little motivation I needed to my 2 subordinates. That world was going to be purged. All were going to die. I am no innocent. I had as innocent a role in their deaths as I could have however. Hate me if you want. Yearn for my death like Seto does, and the rest of the damn galaxy. I. Don't. Care."

"Ayeka cares. She's visited their graves, both public and private memorials. Have you said anything to her about it? Does she know?" He presses on. There is a fallacy in the statement of the Saiyan. Beyond his wife and son he knows that the depths of his darkness he hides from Ayeka on purpose. Talk from both his granddaughters and his daughter shows to him how Vegeta keeps details from her and will reject her trying to fully understand his mindset due to knowing what it could do to her young mind.

"There is a strong reason why her seeing within my mind will never happen. I shall talk to her when she shall listen. If she wants. Otherwise, I have no reason to explain myself to the more accommodating Ryoko – who Seto will remove her claws from. … You should talk more with your own wife, whilst you can. This is something she should have confided in you. I gained what blackmail I can from within her. I know all about her thoughts and schemes involving her own family and Ayeka. She has no right to call myself evil with her own deeds behind her, and before her with the plans she concocts. People she has sentenced to death were parents of whatever other hapless worms are out in the cosmos. In the last 5 hundred years she has had 3 cancer scares, only 1 of which she told you of as she could not hide it well enough. All sorted and taken care of, but she should never think people she loves are ones she cannot trust and talk to. Leave me, bother her. I shall keep a watch on her, and protect my own mother and son from her machinations with my power – something you Juraians like to forget to be a viable option."

This is an end to the talk. Vegeta has no reason to waste further time on this with an old man who should be bothering Seto and not himself. He shows a few cards within his hand, he took enough from Seto's mind to see him through what she will throw his way. This should buy some wiggle room for Ryoko from whatever strings Seto yanks. All he kills and all evils he commits are in the open, hidden only if he forgets them within the mountains of corpses, as such he deems the villainy of Seto as the more treacherous and untrusting, almost akin to Frieza and Cold. Those who plan and make orders with no push to act themselves are not people who earn his respect. He is tired from training, and has more training to start mere hours from now. This old Juraian shall not keep him from his bed chamber.