Chapter 2

The days passed in an uneasy calm as the rebellion prepared for the coming storm. The rebels, prideful but not ignorant, moved forward cautiously, aware of their risks. The King and Queen met with other important figures to plan their impending revolt, determined to protect the vulnerable from Frieza's wrath. Those who were too weak, old, or young had been relocated to a safe planet outside Frieza's dominion, where they could wait out the war in peace.

As the night of the full moon approached, tensions ran high. This night only came around once every hundred years and lasted only twelve hours. A few Saiyans within the rebellion knew how to control themselves in their transformed state. However, even if they couldn't, their combined strength would be enough to start the war with a bang. King Vegeta and a select few would board Frieza's ship to take the fight to him personally.

Kagome stood close to Bardock, the Saiyan warrior who had protected her for years and whom she saw as a father figure. She gripped his hand tightly, admiring his strength and perseverance. She wished she could be as strong as him, but she knew her powers were untested and untrained. They had placed her on a pedestal at birth, expecting so much from her because of her eyes and supposed power. But she felt weak and inadequate, unsure of her own abilities.

As tears filled her eyes, Kagome was afraid that she would die in the coming battle and even more fearful that Bardock would never know how much he and his family meant to her. They were the only ones who had seen her as a child, encouraging her and trying to train her. But even now, she felt out of control, unable to harness her powers.

Bardock squeezed her hand reassuringly, his charcoal-colored eyes shining in the dim light. "Stay close to me, and you'll be safe. I promise," he said.

Kagome nodded, grateful for his presence. As the moon rose in the sky, she felt her heart race. She had never seen the moon before, and its beauty captivated her. But she knew that the coming transformation would be dangerous, that she could lose control at any moment.

"Stay calm," Bardock warned, releasing her hand. "Your beast won't be able to take control if you stay calm."

Kagome nodded, taking a deep breath. Her eyes found the silver sphere of light that was the moon. She'd never seen the moon before, and its beauty immediately captivated her.

She lost all train of thought as the hypnotic light consumed her.

~o.O~O.o~

Kagome's eyes shot open, a sharp gasp escaping her lips as she sat upright in bed. Her room was a mess, and her clothes hung from her body in tatters. She surveyed the damage with confusion before her gaze fell upon Bardock, who stood silently on her balcony with his back to her. The sound of battle could be heard in the distance, and Bardock's entire body was tense with anticipation.

"You left quite the impact last night, missy," Bardock remarked, finally turning to face her.

Kagome's head throbbed as she tried to remember what had happened. "I don't remember anything," she groaned.

"It was your first transformation. I wouldn't expect you to remember," Bardock replied, his voice filled with tension. He had been in awe of the immense power she had displayed and the devastation she had caused to their enemies. It had been a sight to behold, but it had also left him with a sense of dread.

Despite his desire to fight, Bardock remained by Kagome's side, determined to keep her safe. "Go," Kagome said, a small smile on her face. "They need you more than I do."

With that, Bardock disappeared in a gust of wind, leaving Kagome alone with her thoughts. She dressed quickly and walked out onto her balcony, where Bardock had been only moments before. The city lay in ruins before her, the smell of blood heavy in the air. Kagome knew that this was a day that would be remembered for years to come.

Suddenly, a hand gripped the back of her neck, and she was pulled roughly backward. She turned to see Frieza, his trademark wicked grin on his face.

"Hello, my pet," he sneered.

Kagome swallowed thickly, refusing to be his pet. "Release me," she growled.

"I don't think so," he laughed, tightening his grip on her neck.

In an instant, Kagome brought forth her power, her ki pulsing with purple energy. Frieza's body was thrown across the room, and he glared at her with fiery anger.

"Capture her and take her to the ship!" he barked at his men before disappearing.

Kagome took a fighting stance, ready to face the armored and deadly-looking males who now surrounded her. She knew she couldn't win, but that didn't stop her from trying.

"Come now, princess. There's no need for this to get violent," a bulbous pink male chuckled, his body covered in spikes and tight spandex. Dodoria. She'd seen him several times, and each time, he grew rounder.

"I won't be going anywhere without a fight," Kagome growled, her energy crackling around her, fists glowing.

"As you wish," the pink monster laughed before charging her.

The first hit knocked the wind out of her.

With a growl, Kagome reared back, slamming his face into her knee. The crunch of his nose made her smile sadistically, and a laugh bubbled in her throat.

Each hit was exchanged with equal force, her residence being demolished in the fight.

Kagome stood her ground despite being battered and bruised. Her unwavering determination fueled her blows, each strike hitting with the strength of a thousand suns. Dodoria's minions fell one after the other as Kagome fought with an exhilarating fervor.

Yet, she felt a sense of both exhilaration and heartbreak. This was her final stand, and Kagome fought with every fiber of her being, though a part of her hoped that she'd die, anything but be captured to become Frieza's slave. Even as she pushed herself to the limit, Dodoria's power proved too great. His spiky exterior only added to the strength of each blow, leaving Kagome reeling and struggling to defend herself.

Despite her valiant efforts, she fell to Dodoria's might, but that didn't stop the onslaught of his attacks. The pain was unbearable, each hit causing a searing ache that echoed through her body.

As darkness closed around her, Kagome could hear his words taunting her, reminding her of her place.

~o.O~O.o~

Bardock was in the midst of battle when he saw Kagome's power spike and waiver on his scouter, causing panic to flare up within him and fueling his need to protect her. With a snarl, he charged towards his opponent, barely dodging a fist thrown at his head. Kagome's safety was his top priority, and he didn't have time to waste on the gray-skinned serpent.

"I don't have time for this!" he yelled as he caught the alien by surprise, bringing his knee up before slamming his hands into his back, sending him plummeting to the ground below. Bardock didn't bother to check if the alien was dead; his focus was solely on reaching Kagome.

As he headed towards her, he froze in shock; her power suddenly dropped drastically. Though she had been defeated, Bardock refused to accept that she could be killed so quickly and easily. With a fit of growing anger, he raced towards her, determined to protect his daughter and the rest of his family at all costs.

But as he approached their home, his heart shattered into a million pieces as he watched Dodoria fly off with Kagome slung over his shoulder. Blood dripped down her face and arms, and her hair was matted with sweat and blood.

With a roar of fury, Bardock charged after Dodoria, only to be slammed from behind by the same gray alien he had defeated earlier. Bardock gritted his teeth as he blocked every hit, catching the alien looking in Dodoria's direction.

"You're doing this on purpose!" Bardock yelled as he grabbed the alien's fist. The alien looked scared, but Bardock didn't care; he would die for his interference. Thrusting his other hand into his face, he released a massive ki beam that disintegrated the alien's head, letting the body fall to the ground carelessly.

Bardock's scouter alerted him that Dodoria had flown upwards, and he quickly flew after them, leading several other warriors who weren't fighting. He growled as he was met with hundreds of Frieza's men guarding the ship, challenging those who dared stand in his way.

Even as they tackled him, he kept moving forward, dodging and weaving the attacks while making some of his own. "Frieza, come out and fight me!" he yelled, his scouter falling off during the fight.

Finally, rising from his ship, sat Frieza in all his hideous glory. Bardock could feel the fear of Frieza's men, but he was even more afraid. He had dreamed of this moment for years, and it would shape the rest of history and begin the downfall of Frieza and his species' reign over the galaxy.

"You've lived long enough!" he shouted, gathering his own ki within the palm of his hand, the deadly energy glowing a pale blue. Kagome had once said the color of one's ki reflected the aura of its user, and Bardock hoped that his change had been for the better. His heart had been breaking for a long time, as he had killed so many in the name of Frieza and taken orders like a mindless machine.

"This is for the innocent people you made us kill!" he screamed as he thrust his ki at Frieza, only to watch in horror as Frieza's own red ki grew in size until it looked like a miniature sun. With ease, Frieza sent the blast at Bardock, consuming his blast before it consumed him and all those around him.

As Bardock took his last breaths, he thought of his children. 'I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, my children.' He had failed to protect them, and they would have to continue without him. But he held onto the hope that they would meet again someday, imagining the smiling faces of Kagome, Raditz, and his youngest, Kakarot, who'd he watched grow into a hero through his visions of the future.

'May we meet again.'