Among The Daffodils
Chapter 5: Strength & Snapdragons
AN: Hehe hi yall im back, i just want to point something out in case people ask, i am taking a fuckkkkkkkkton of liberties with materials from canon and mish mashing it. I know the lore behind Yamoshi didnt originally work like that but this is my AU and im spinning shit however i want
Another long chapter
Accompanying Song: Faces In The Rain by Kaho Nakamura
The silence between Trunks and Marron weighed on both of their hearts and souls. In truth, Marron wished to continue their conversation from earlier; and to Trunks, it seemed the most opportune moment dropped into his lap. Perhaps failure was avoidable for the young Prince. Trunks watched Marron carefully before rising from his seat.
"Why don't we step out onto the balcony," he motioned his hand, watching as the princess reluctantly followed his suggestion.
As they stepped out into the frigid and humid evening air. Trunks took a sharp breath whilst admiring the vast openness of the land. He glanced behind him towards the shorter woman, her eyes lost in thought as she gazed out towards the green pastures surrounding the palace.
The shimmering starlight littering the sky above them, it seemed the Earthling night sky was far brighter than any night on Vegeta-Sei. He was curious on what the Princess could possibly be thinking of but all he could see was the celestial bodies glistening in her eyes.
"How exactly is it that you are so well traveled and yet unaware of the dangers that lurk in the darkest parts of space and your own home world?" Trunks suddenly asked, drawing Marron's attention back towards him.
Marron's puzzled gaze amused him, her lips slightly agape, as if she were confused at his question. Just what was Prince Trunks attempting to extract out of her? As her eyes scanned Trunks harder…all she found was his genuine curiosity getting the best of him.
Upon her realization, Marron found herself with a polite smile averting her gaze. Her fingertips running along the rugged edge of the marble banister. "It was never my place to sit in the drawing room, I am to be a polite and obedient child," Marron replied with a small chuckle.
"And yet you are anything but," Trunks snickered.
"And how exactly would you know that?" Marron replied in protest. Trunks was getting far too familiar with her, and spoke to her with hardly any reservation. A part of that bothered her. Why did that bother her, anyway?
"Please, if anything you are much too troublesome at times," Trunks scoffed, casting a knowing glance in her general direction. "Isn't that right, Princess ?"
Marron was slightly miffed at the use of her title so improperly. It was meant to be a tease, she knew that full and well and yet she still felt inclined to respond.
"So much trouble and yet you insist on a union with me," Marron grumbled. "Enlighten me on your logic, Prince ."
"You know full well what my logic is," Trunks replied, more tersely than before. "Why must you insist on circling the same few talking points?" He asked as he sat beside her on the marble staircase leading towards the grounds.
"If I am to sacrifice my youth and all of my loving years to a loveless marriage, then I must find solace in knowing just what I'm entering," Marron sighed out, the heat of her breath warming the cold evening breeze.
There was a glint in Trunks' eyes; she seemed a bit more perceptive after his presentation. But it pained him to know she believed such a fallacy. "You are quite convinced that the marriage would be just that," Trunks pointed out, relaxing his posture.
"Yes, I am," Marron responded curtly, her eyes not tearing from him.
"And what if you allow me to take a look into your world for a change," he whispered, closing in on her, as he brushed a strand of blonde hair behind her burning ears.
It puzzled her how someone like him could also help elicit responses like the one she was having right at that moment. Powerful, intimidating and yet so gently beautiful. He has rewritten her understanding of her world, casting everything into a new light.
"That would require for you to drop all preconceived notions of what humans are like," Marron replied gently, her hands leaning over her knees. "Would you be prepared for that?" She asked gently.
Her throat felt dry, feeling as her heart rattled in her chest. The chills on her exposed skin running across her whole body.
"Certainly," Trunks responded. "Would you be prepared for the same?"
"I am not quite prepared to answer you on this quite yet…" Marron began, referencing the talks of their betrothal. "There is a heavy weight I must bear…it is much to contemplate."
"Of course…I understand the sacrifices one must endure for the sake of their people, but it is all rather taxing, is it not?" Trunks sighed out heavily as he turned from her glancing up towards the evening sky littered with stars.
"Yes, it is," Marron responded simply.
Trunks kept glancing back towards Marron, unable to tear away. Her hands trembled, as if she were gripped with fear of the unknown. Trunks had to remain steadfast in his decision, though it pained him to merely attempt to force such a situation on understood her plight in some capacity.
"If we were to marry," Trunks began, "we can simply divorce when the time arises."
This was a worst case scenario. The end goal was to keep her chained to the throne, but a part of Trunks knew that while this is what Vegeta-Sei needed, it's not what he wanted for her. For a beautiful jewel such as herself to be cast off into such a dreary planet, it was a painful thing to think of. And despite everything, he wanted his bride-to-be to feel comfortable.
"Vegeta-sei allows for such a thing?" Marron queried. If that was the case, that was quite the progressive law on their part.
"No, but as King of Vegeta-Sei, I'd be able to mandate such a decree when the time arose," Trunks mused, merely flexing the power he would soon wield.
Marron scoffed at his lack of foresight. "You could easily dismantle the noble houses of Vegeta-sei with such a callous act," she retorted.
He seemed amused that she thought so far ahead, despite being rather sheltered—the princess was quick. "And it would resolve much of the internal discord," he continued.
Marron glanced back out towards the field once more. There was no point in warning him of the dangers; he seemed convinced otherwise. Not that it should affect her in any way. "You know the people of your kingdom best…" she stated, withholding her own opinion on the matter.
"My point is…you can have an easy exit," Trunks replied, "and would be free to live the life you want."
"I'll take that into consideration."
As the Saiyan Prince entered his grandiose bedroom, he noticed a row of maids holding towels and robes, their heads hanging low. Trunks observed them with confusion struck across his face, he paused in front of one woman whose body trembled much like a leaf in the wind. Just why were they just standing there in utter silence?
"What is all this?" Trunks question whilst gesticulating at the maids. His dark gaze scanned the women up and down…it seemed almost inappropriate for so many ladies in his bedchambers at this hour.
"Your highness, if I may…" a maid began meekly, "we were ordered to help you undress and bathe, it is customary."
A flushed heat arose on his face, unable to distinguish if the order made him feel embarrassed or something else entirely. "Do I truly seem so incapable?" Trunks grit his teeth as he brushed a calloused hand through his hair.
Trunks knew he needed to relax, this was just human customs. "You are all dismissed," he groaned as he pinched his nose, "I can bathe myself."
Before anyone could protest, the maids hightailed themselves out of the bedchambers leaving Trunks to his lonesome as his gaze met towards the bathroom that was left with the light on. He carefully stripped himself from the overly complex garments, slipping his form into the steaming bath.
A sigh emitting past his lips as his arms hung on the sides of the expansive golden tub. His supposed betrothed was still contemplating her cooperation. His mind fluttered with thoughts of the conversation they had back on the spacecraft.
"You're a rake."
A man that craved and lusted after the flesh of a partner. Marron's flowery words, and way of speech certainly wracked his head. Though he knew that it'd be impossible to get so close to the untouchable princess, there was an untenable desire that was a mere whisper in the back of his mind.
A mere whisper to learn the ways of her flesh. He was but just a man, after all. He ignored those thoughts. Knowing full well what they were to think of eachother. He was always going to be the brutish Saiyan prince that snatched away the delicate Earthling Princess, nothing more than just that.
Nevermind his ties to earth, and nevermind his sensibilities to foolish human emotion. He couldn't quite ignore the dance of sunlight upon her gold strands of hair nor the clear blue skies that lived within her eyes.
His mind flickered to his favorite pastime aside from battle. His ears perked at the sound of a door opening and closing, his gaze cast behind his shoulder and the demure human maid who seemed to not have received the memo that the prince was to be left alone.
"Forgive me—!" The woman turned her head, her gaze only feigning aversion.
Trunks sighed, his mind bordering on the temptation of taking easy prey. Though his sensible side won over, as he waved the woman off. Leaving the Saiyan Prince to his own devices.
That following morning was quite eventful as Princess Marron and her ladies-in-waiting prepared to journey towards Mount Paozu to visit Lady Pan and the Ox Princes. Marron had been close friends with Lady Pan and her uncle, Lord Goten, for several years. Due to the nature of such a small jurisdiction of land, the royals of the Ox Kingdom held titles in both Kame and Ox Kingdom due to their tightly intertwined alliances with one another.
The Kame royals were all seated in a gilded airship, encased in clear glass that allowed for ample views of the scenery.
Marron's hair was pulled back into an updo, with gentle and soft waves of loose tendrils framing her face. She donned an exquisite gown with an encrusted, shimmering bodice and a satin, billowing skirt with delicate pink and silver floral embroidery. Voluminous puffed sleeves and high neckline covered her milky skin, only leaving her arms to bask in the sunlight.
Trunks wasn't one to turn a blind eye to the pure image of virtue and innocence that sat before him. His gloved hands covering his lips as his dark, blue eyes watched her carefully as Marron scanned a tablet over. So captivated was he by the ethereal scene that he hadn't registered that the King had been briefing him on Ox Princes and Saiyan troops.
"And so, it is imperative that we have you bolster the morale of the…" King Krillin continued before Queen Lazuli's hand was placed over the Kings' hand. Lazuli's eyes told the King a clear story as her gaze flicked between the despondent Princess Marron and distracted Prince Trunks.
"I suggest you don't bog the Prince down with so many details," Lazuli mused, a fan covering her face as she glanced over to her husband "He's smitten," she mouthed, garnering an amused grin from the king.
"How much longer?" Marron said, her eyes not lifting from her literature.
"Not much longer, dear," Krillin said, being able to see the Son Estate in the distance.
And mere moments later the ship landed, finding itself on the border edge of the Kame Kingdom. As Krillin rose, a guard ushered themselves to the door to allow the King to disembark.
"Your majesties, we have arrived at Mount Paozu."
The exited left the airship to find the Ox Queen awaiting for them. Trunks duly noted the sheer difference in attire from the Queen of Kame and Ox Queen. While Queen Lazuli's dress seemed expansive and grandiose, the Queen of the Ox Kingdom donned a deep purple dress, the fabric draping over shoulders like a cape. Her neckline plunging deeply towards her navel exposing a hardened body of a woman of great strength.
"Ox Queen Chi-Chi, what a delight to see your face," Queen Lazuli smiled.
The Ox Queen, who held total power over the Ox Kingdom since the passing of her father, was a figure of great respect. It was a nation of hardened people but ultimately an asset to the Kame Kingdom. They were granted autonomous freedom, so long as they granted the people of Kame protection and gave home to the Saiyan soldiers and their families.
"Your majesties, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the Son Estate, I see her highness and—" Chi-Chi paused, her gaze lifting to meet the Saiyan Prince.
"Prince Trunks Vegeta the V of Vegeta-Sei," Trunks introduced himself, "it is an honor."
"My stars—" Chi-Chi's voice faltered. Her dark eyes shone a bit brighter with the memory of the Duchess of Briefs. "You look just like her," she marveled.
Trunks was taken aback momentarily by the woman, her voice sprinkled with familiarity as if the two had known each other in some deep, long forgotten past. The ghosts of his mother's life coming back to meet with him.
"And just where is the Prince Consort," Krillin began as he glanced towards the distance to find the Ox Princes waiting.
Chi-Chi sighed as she glanced towards the back of the estate. "Goku is likely off somewhere training in the barracks with the Saiyans," she flourished her hand as her gaze returned back to Prince Trunks.
"Marron, why don't you introduce the Prince to your dear friend Lord Goten," Lazuli motioned the Princess toward the two siblings that stood further back.
"Oh…" Marron blinked, her gaze meeting Trunks momentarily as she motioned her gaze over to the men.
Trunks watched as the small woman gently brushed past him, the scent of florals grazing his nose. Quickly, he followed her.
Marron walked over to the two gentlemen, a smile on her lips as her eyes glanced back at the Prince. "Prince Trunks, this is Marquis of Mount Paozu and Ox Prince Son Gohan, and Lord of Mount Paozu and Ox Prince Son Goten," Marron introduced the hybrid Saiyan men.
Trunks paused, two titles? He knew that the Ox Princes ruled the land east of Mount Paozu, but it puzzled him that they held more than just one title. Trunks noticed the distinct energy that emanated from the two brothers was far too powerful.
"It is an honor to make your acquaintance, your highness," Gohan replied, though his gaze was clearly analyzing the prince trying to gauge the younger man.
"As it is mine, your highness," Goten interjected, a smile on his lips. "The Princess is a cherished friend of mine."
"Is that so?" Prince Trunks said, glancing over to Marron and her unbroken, toothy smile. A tinge of jealousy surged through him at the prospect that the Princess could have lied of there being someone else.
"Yes!" Marron blinked, a bit confused at the gaze Trunks held in his eyes. "We've been friends for many years."
"Your Royal Highness, Pan is right outside in the garden…" Gohan began
"Fabulous then– I shall go," Marron said, with a hint of eagerness in her voice. "Follow along Lady Valese…"
There was a moment when the brunette's shoulder brushed against the Prince, her eyes not tearing from the ground. Trunks gazed at her confused before his gaze locked in with Lord Goten…who strained his neck as he watched her go.
"I take it you are interested by the Lady?" Trunks asked, raising a brow watching as Goten's expression changed.
"Oh," Goten began sheepishly. "An old flame, really."
Trunks was pleasantly surprised by Goten's candor. The younger Ox Prince's gaze lingering on the woman who sashayed into the distance. "An old flame, or something more than that?" Trunks replied in jest.
"My brother is far too much of a rake to be tied down to a single woman it seems," Gohan commented. "Which is why he is yet to take a bride. "
"I see," Trunks replied carefully.
"Your highness, please—" Gohan motioned, "allow us to show you the barracks."
As Trunks stepped foot inside of the Son Estate, the reverberation of his footsteps echoed. There seemed to be an emphasis on white marble and a certain airiness to these manors. His eyes scanned portraits of the previous families of the Estate and the overly opulent decor that the home was filled with.
Though the Son Estate was nothing like the estate that he was currently staying at, it was clear to him that the family of this estate cared greatly for it and for its image. Passing a walkway, and spiraling down stairs they arrived into a different, cobblestoned section of the manor.
Trunks scrutinized the two men before him; they were both formidable opponents and perhaps, could even surpass him in strength. Clearly this was something he expected from the brood of someone as powerful as Kakarot. As the two walked ahead of him, Trunks observed the elder brother, Gohan, carefully. Despite Gohan's taller stature and physique, he still held himself in a different manner than the youngest. His bespectacled glare and somewhat chaotic hair leaned Prince Trunks to believe that the man was a learned gentleman.
"The Saiyan soldiers do not respect any form of command from either of us," Gohan remarked, pinching the bridge of his nose glancing towards the barracks where many of the rowdy soldiers were sparring.
"Your father, for as powerful as he is—still renouncing his own Saiyan heritage—it will be difficult to garner their respect in any kind of capacity as their progeny," Trunks pointed out as he observed the powerful blows exchanged between the Saiyans.
"I don't understand–aren't Saiyans supposed to respect power and strength over anything else–" Goten looked back at the Saiyan Prince whose lips were curled into a satisfactory smirk..
"That… Lord Goten, is where you are incorrect–" Trunks responded, "that is the commonly painted stereotype–we can be brash and barbaric, but much like Earth and it's strange rituals…we too follow our own set etiquette and rules,"
"How so?" Gohan peered his eyes back to the Saiyan Prince.
"See, to them, being low born and powerful is no grand achievement…it's expected those born in a higher standing to have even higher potential…they simply haven't unlocked it–" Trunks began to explain before Goten swiftly interrupted.
"But that makes no sense–"
"Yes, I agree, it is an idiotic arbitrary rule," Trunks was a bit thrown off by the youngest brother's interruption, "but I think that's just the way the world functions is it not?" Trunks asked, as he crossed his arms against his chest.
Goten piped down, his gaze glancing over to his brother warily. "And what of being part Saiyan and part human?" Goten asked, he knew Prince Trunks was a hybrid like them—though they were both so drastically different from one another.
"What of it?" Trunks replied.
"Well, aren't you concerned they will use that against you?"
Trunks let out a dry chortle. "Lord Goten–if you are to believe that as I as their Crown Prince cannot handle a few dissenting parties, then I fear you must realign your perspective," he stated firmly
"I'd like to witness it first hand," Gohan interjected, his arms folded.
Trunks could almost scoff, but he remained respectful, mindful that the Ox princes should be respected regardless, even if they were just a bit brazen in their attitude and speech. "Please, be my guest!"
The trio descended to the barracks, where several of the Saiyans abruptly ceased all motion. The royal insignia on Trunks' breastplate left no room for any doubt on his identity. Every single Saiyan in the barracks knelt, a synchronized thud as they lowered their head in the presence of the crown prince.
"Commander Caulifla!" Trunks called out authoritatively, searching the swaths of men for the Saiyan woman
"Y-You're royal highness—" Caulifla stammered, clearly flustered by the Royal Prince making an appearance.
"Do not speak to me like a babbling fool," Trunks chided.
"My apologies, Your Royal Highness…I simply hadn't anticipated the Royal family coming all the way to Earth…" Caulifla's eyes shifted nervously. She had a well known streak of being just a bit too lackadaisical in her approach.
"Yes, yes, spare me the boring details," Trunks waved his hand dismissively. "Tell me–why hasn't any progress been made with locating the Freeza Corps or mobilizing more troops."
Trunks' attitude was sharp, and his tongue sharper. He commanded the room with much ease. It was to his benefit that he was the crown Prince, however one must note he embodied the authority of King Vegeta in that moment.
"You must understand, our resources are a bit limited at the moment…"
"Enough with the excuses," Trunks began as he spotted a scrawny looking Saiyan. The gold tip of his boot tipping up the man's chin to gaze him in the eye. "You–tell me the truth."
"Well, Your Royal Highness, we don't serve Earth, nor its bastardizations of our bloodline–" The Saiyan chuckled with confidence as Trunks' boot lifted the man's face higher.
"Mind your tongue, I might just need to slice it off," Trunks growled dangerously. A mere soldier from the barracks dare try to insult his bloodline?
"But you are different, Your Highness. As you are the future Sun of Vegeta-Sei!" The man exclaimed, clamoring in an attempt to evade punishment for speaking so poorly.
"If you wish to serve my father well, you best heed the command of those in charge then," Trunks hissed, kneeling closer to the thin man, he seemed far too lanky to be part of the Saiyan warriors that sparred.
"What is your name," Trunks pressed.
"Mato," The man responded, his neck straining to hold up any higher.
Trunks took note of the man, he simply didn't appear like much of a Saiyan– nor would one be so willing to disrespect the crown. "Mato," Trunks repeated, his face scrunching like he licked acid.
"Forgive his insolence, Your Highness," Caulifla bowed before the Prince, her face grimacing from the words he dared to utter. "I believe our soldiers just have lost faith in the strength of the crown, and their elite status."
Trunks smirked. A challenge to his strength. "Then why not, let's spar…right here, right now," the prince mused as he scanned over the rest of the men who looked at the prince rather flabbergasted.
"Y-Your highness isn't that a bit–" Caulifla cautioned.
" No , I don't believe so," Trunks licked his teeth, flashing a toothy grin. He had been itching for a good fight, and versus so many lower ranking soldiers…the more the merrier. Trunks shrugged off the jacket he was wearing, tossing it towards the side, unbuttoning the dress shirt he donned.
He held his body low as he mimicked a fighting stance he'd seen time and time again by his father. "Allow me to see what you have been training for," Trunks shouted out.
Little did Trunks realize that Goku was watching from the sidelines for a change. "He is too brash, much like King Vegeta," Goku mused with an amused chuckle. "Like father, like son, ain't that right Krillin?"
Krillin chortled at the overly familiar way Goku spoke, it was always evident to him that he wasn't familiar with the way society behaved…and it was quite the relief. The duo watched as Gohan approached them, his arms folded over his chest as he glanced down towards the barracks finding the ensuing battle about to begin.
Goten still lingering below, as if he were a starving street urchin trying to catch the scraps of battle.
"Vegeta incarnate down there," Gohan chuckled, as he leaned back against the wall. "Do you suppose your daughter will be alright with such a man, your majesty?"
"Gohan please, it's just us," Krillin scoffed. "And surprisingly, the Prince is rather sensible—and I fear perhaps a bit too taken with my daughter."
"Oh I am sure Lazuli is just thrilled," Goku snickered before pausing to watch the wave after wave of Saiyan troops be knocked back by the powerful waves of Trunks' attacks.
Undeniably, the Prince held pure unadulterated power that seemed to have no controllable outlet. Goku watched the powerful strikes he landed and glanced at his younger son who matched the Saiyan Prince's speed. "Goten is the same age as the Prince, hm?" Goku pointed out.
"Indeed, both are twenty and one," Krillin said as he felt the pure surge of energy blow wind back.
"The prince would do well with a sword–" Gohan marveled watching Trunks' expert ki manipulation. It was like second nature, watching Trunks in battle showed the expertise in stratagems when using his own energy.
Ki was an unstable and fickle power source, and those who wielded it well held far more power than those who didn't, it was a destructive force of life.
"I'm sorry?" Krillin asked, "why would one need a sword when they have power such as his."
"Well—your highness, I've been developing a new technique…imbuing one's ki into a sword—" Gohan began to stumble as he pushed his glasses up, "it could be the key to stopping someone like Freeza."
"Freeza…" Goku hissed. The memory of their previous battle was a fierce one…and though he hadn't any success in killing the man he knew he had gravely injured him before he went into hiding once more.
"Stopping him takes more than just brute strength…it takes alliances, and internal discord to dismantle that empire," Krillin's voice was but a low rasp. "That's also if he doesn't keep himself in hiding."
The trio quieted down, watching as most of the Saiyans were knocked to the ground leaving Goten and Trunks floating. Goku leaned his arms over the banister, a smirk laced on his lips. "Things are about to get interesting…"
Marron lounged on the chaise in the courtyard of the Marquis' estate, umbrellas hanging overhead. From where she sat, she was greeted with an overly expansive view of the nearby river and pastures of greenery. Yet despite the beauty of the natural surroundings, the Princess sighed. She picked up her iced tea. The sweltering heat of the sun beating down on her had caused her to perspire more than normal.
Her gaze was fixated on the Saiyan Prince, Trunks, as he sparred with Lord Goten. A throwaway glance cast in Marron's direction allowed their gazes to connect—though at the sight of him realizing the Princess' attention as solely on him he noted just how coyly she attempted to glance away…pretending the landscape and landscape was what she was most intrigued by.
The powerful blow of their attacks triggered the Princess to jump in her seat as the glass drinkware rattled from the reverberating blows of each punch and attack.
"Is this every day my lady?" Marron asked, glancing over to Pan.
"Yes, Your Highness," Pan responded, as her shoulders hitched at the powerful blows.
Lady Valese leaned over to the Princess, her fan coyly covering her face as she whispered. "My…you weren't expecting such a display were you?"
"Not in the slightest, no," Marron replied coolly, her eyes remaining clung on to the Saiyan Prince's form. Even at a distance she can still spot the well defined musculature of his body. Hardened by rigorous training. "But it should be expected with men like the Prince, hm?"
"Have you changed your tune so soon?" Valese giggled as she leaned away from her, watching the battle from above.
Changing her tune was far from it, but she has taken a more serious consideration of just what Trunks may bring to the table, even in a loveless marriage such as the one she was being proposed to have.
Marron desperately wanted to change the subject away from the prince. "Lady Pan, my mother has taken it to host a ball of all things during the upcoming season," Marron announced.
"A ball?" Pan scoffed as she began to stretch out her limbs, huffing in frustration. "What more contrived things shall we ladies be subjected to?"
It was an attempt that fell flat as Lady Pan was no fan of balls, or any of the duties society had laid out for her. She couldn't help but try to go against the grain time and time again.
"Well I frankly find it most delightful," Lady Valese mused, as she sipped her tea. "The sooner you can get off the marriage mart, the better."
"Speaking of marriage mart," Pan's gaze shifted over to Marron, whose eyes were clung on to the battle occurring in the sky. "Is the Prince a prospect for her highness?"
"We are taking it day-by-day," Marron sighed as she nervously finished her refreshments. "Have you any as of yet?"
"Mother keeps insisting I meet with the Duke of Papaya," Pan grumbled as her fingers drummed against her arm. "He's a supposed recluse though so I am quite unsure how I could possibly meet him."
"I hear the Duke of Papaya is quite kind, Lady Pan!" Valese replied rather excitedly. "It could be quite the fabulous match."
As the conversation behind the Princess continues, Marron's attention was fully arrested by the charged spar that took place before her. She watched as Trunks and Goten exchanged powerful blows with one another. It seemed every move the prince made to be a performance just for her.
Despite Marron not being trained in the way of martial arts, she knew far more than the average gaze tracking the bouncing energy between Prince Trunks and Lord Goten. It seemed electric, the rapid fire movements that Trunks had as he slipped out of Goten's oppressive attacks. His gaze would look back at her momentarily.
The Princess felt quite uneasy at the idea that the Prince was seeking such attention from her. Or perhaps that was all a ploy, or some kind of idea that had sprung within her in her head. Valese and Pan rose from their sights as they felt the rattling power of Trunks and Goten's ki. But Marron remained, her arms crossed as her hair blew back powerfully.
"Your highness," Valese bowed politely as she turned her gaze towards the inside. "Let's go before you get injured."
Marron catatonically followed suit empty words as she found herself inside the dining room, grand windows displaying the powerful spar outside.
"It is quite impressive," Marchioness Videl pointed out to the other noble ladies as her eyes remained on the battle outside. Marron was surprised as her gaze looked back to the raven haired beauty, her blue eyes politely greeting the Princess.
"Your highness, you have grown so much since the last time I saw you," Videl mused. In truth, she was constantly venturing out into unknown lands–something that Marron could never imagine doing. She was far too accustomed to her creature comforts to forgo such luxuries.
"She is getting quite older, a fine Princess ready to take a husband if Kami allows," Queen Lazuli chuckled as she spun the chalice of wine in her hand.
"My, and who would the lucky gentleman be that gets to pick the jewel of Kame," Videl chuckled, watching as Marron became flustered. "Were you considering our dashing Ox Prince, Goten?" she teased.
Valese's expression was a bit too easy to read, as she tensed up, rather flummoxed by the orchestrated matchmaking Videl had brought to Queen Lazuli. Despite Valese knowing well that the truth was pointing toward Prince Trunks—one could never be so sure.
"Oh please, do not be ridiculous—" The Ox Queen replied.
"Yes, my daughter outshines far too many of the eligible men that are currently parading this season," Queen Lazuli mused, as her eyes glided over to Marron. "Isn't that right, dear?"
Marron felt rather queasy, it was one thing to be in such close quarters to the Saiyan prince but atop all of that of which she detested most—she also had to witness her mother hint heavily to a supposed grandiose sense of self that Marron hadn't carried herself with.
She could feel her stomach churn in pain as she clutched herself. "I-If you excuse me–" Marron's pale face.
"Your highness—" Shumay watched in concern as she stood in Marron's way.
"Shumay, I insist–please allow me to go alone," Marron insisted as she grit her teeth, her voice strained as she walked off, seeking a moment alone from all of the watchful eyes surrounding her.
Trunks and Goten's spar went on for what seemed hours. It'd been far too long since Trunks engaged in an equal match with someone of such vigor. The two men landed on a grassy field, a sunset blazed sky hanging over the scenery above them. Trunks laid on the freshly cut grass, breathless taking in the sensation against his skin of blades of grass grazing against his back.
"I've yet to meet someone who could meet me at my level–" Goten said, his voice heavy and breathy. "You are quite the worthy opponent, your highness."
Trunks smirked, knowing Goten's praise was nothing short of flattery. Lord Goten was formidable and oppressive, it was like the Ox Prince could detect and read just what maneuvers he'd attempt to pull. Almost as if it were second nature to do so.
"And you are too, Lord Goten," Trunks mused as he sat himself up.
"So what now? We have beat out the majority of the Saiyan troops. What was your plan after all this?" Goten asked.
Trunks sighed as he glanced towards the distance, the tepid spring breeze brushing past his skin and billowing through his lavender locks. "You seem like the most capable," Trunks pointed out. "Why don't we form a partnership of sorts?"
"A partnership, is what you have going on with the Princess not enough?" Goten snickered.
"I'd like to have a connection to all of the notable noble families of Earth, not just Princess Marron," Trunks smirked. "Especially with a Princess who doesn't seem too keen on a courtship with the likes of me."
"Her highness is truly not so bad," Goten said as his lips curled into a grin. "Or is it something else you seek?"
"Well," Trunks began, his hands now running against the fabric of his pants, "if I'm being frank, Lord Goten…she did call me a rake–and, she wasn't quite wrong in her assertion."
Trunks did indeed find her accurate assumption quite amusing. For as much as he was admonished in Vegeta-Sei for being a half breed, it seemed the same couldn't be said when committing the act of lust on any world he visited.
"I see…" Goten paused, pressing his lips into a thin line as he took a sharp breath in. "Well, there are plenty of women of the night for which you can fulfill your deepest fantasies."
As Trunks was about to reply, a hurried green haired knight arrived. Completely out of breath as her hands clung onto her knees. This was Marron's knight, seeing her all by herself did create a sense of unease within Trunks.
Both Goten and Trunks turned to look at her as she caught her own breath. "Your Highness," Shumay bowed politely through her voice surged with urgency and panic. "The Princess has gone missing—"
Trunks paused what he was doing, his shirt half buttoned as his gaze met with Lord Goten who seemed equally as concerned at the Princess' sudden disappearance.
"Is this par for the course for her highness?" Trunks asked Goten as he shook his head, rather confused at the circumstances.
"Far from it, your highness—" Goten muttered before noticing the focus and resolve that came over the Saiyan Prince.
Trunks' entire force of energy was now fully focused on the fluttering energy that he could only sense the fluttering energy that she could only describe with the color pink. The weak, incessant life force of a troublesome princess. It wasn't full of a zest for life–but a desperation, a plea of some kind of self preservation.
"When did she leave?" Goten asked, interrupting Trunks' flow of thoughts.
"Around early dusk," Shumay responded.
"And as her knight, shouldn't you be protecting her from getting lost," Trunks grit his teeth as his own senses were slipping from him.
Shumay's mouth went dry, nerves flaring. "She asked me to leave her–"
"Never mind that," Trunks interrupted, his voice becoming more stern and forceful as he watched as the knight stood straight. "She was to be protected, is that not your sole purpose to her highness?"
"Your Highness I–"
Trunks turned on his heel, though it could have been a foolish act to be defiant in the face of change…the Princess was not so strong as to be on her own unprotected. She was an untrained human after all. "There are certain things you simply do not listen to–" Trunks pinched the bridge of his nose as he kept his concentration on the weak ki.
"Are you incapable of finding her?" Trunks asked, "how do you expect to protect the future Queen of Vegeta-Sei when you can't protect her now?"
Shumay's gaze became rather dejected as she dropped to one knee, her gaze looking at the ground. "My incompetence has gotten us here."
"If we were back on Vegeta-Sei, I could have you tried for treason for abandoning our Queen–but I know how cherished you are by her highness…" Trunks' threat was only half true, he didn't and couldn't try Shumay for such a thing when Marron hadn't become a queen yet…but the intention was always there.
And when he felt a dramatic spike in Marron's ki, a rush of panic suddenly settled in. It could have been due to the dangerous implications of losing his ticket to the crown, it could have been the fact that knowing the Princess was defenseless and needed protection.
Perhaps it's some selfish bid to gain her affections…but regardless…Trunks couldn't quite pinpoint it but he knew he needed to get to her.
Terror gripped the princess, she knew she shouldn't have walked off alone so close to dusk. All she intended was to separate herself from all the violence taking place on the Son Manor. Just how could she bear witness to a brawl between Saiyans that was bloody and not want to flee?
Shumay was probably frantically searching for her in the dense forests of Mount Paozu. And knowing full well that she could cross danger at any given turn. But alas, what was the mere princess to do when such displays of power were being displayed before her. Her mind flitted back to the violence she witnessed the Saiyan hybrids display…
Particularly the prince, his glistening chest, his vascular musculature—she was curious to know what it felt like to touch such a hardened part of the body. Was he like steel? Or perhaps as soft and pillowy as flesh?
These were the very thoughts that haunted her at every corner of her existence. Had the Saiyan prince snatched her attention so?
What was meant to be a short walk about, has turned into a disastrous plight where the Princess grew desperate in an attempt to find her way back home. How many pathways must she have traveled…and just how many missteps had she gone through to wind up so utterly lost in the dense forests of Mount Paozu.
The crackling and crunching of leaves behind her was unnerving, as she continued to turn her head around to find nothing there. Her delicate hand gripping her chest. This was the troublesome Princess that Prince Trunks referred to.
The one who couldn't escape trouble at any cost.
But it seemed that she was a magnet for danger. As a cool blade suddenly met against her neck. "Shh, quiet useless girl," a voice that churned disgust within Marron whispered in her ear.
She wasn't useless nor was she helpless, Marron knew that much. As the blade met her neck, Marron held her breath, her icy blue eyes full of defiance.
"So, you intend to kill me?" Marron challenged. "And just what would that bring, if not the ire from the royal family?"
"The future that my people desire, " the assailant hissed as he grabbed the woman's shoulders, his fingers digging painfully into her skin. "Now be a good little princess and kneel."
Though she was just a mere woman, she was still a royal of Kame, and his command didn't quite sit well with her. Her arrogance getting the best of her as spat in the assailant's face. A bad choice on her part, because not long after–his hands wrapped around her neck pressing in on her trachea ruthlessly.
"You worthless little–" he spat out, vitriol encased in his voice. "Who do you think you are?
Marron could feel as the tears stung the corners of her eyes, as her breath escaped her. She could feel as she began to see spots all across her field of view. As she desperately gasped for air, she could feel herself choking from her own saliva from this man's relentless grip.
A golden beam ripped through the dense forest, as a searing heat licked the Princess' skin. Gusts of powerful wind causing the ancient trees to recoil, all coming from one source.
Prince Trunks stood in the center of his own stage, bathed by the light of the full moon. His tail flicked to-and-fro menacingly as he approached the hooded assailant that dared threaten his betrothed.
"One glance at the moon would transform me" Trunks pointed out as his finger pointed to the sky, "but for the sake of my bride, I'll go against my own biology."
Marron's swan-like neck began to bruise, her hands desperately attempting to cover the marks. The princess' words failed her as her eyes locked in with his. His cobalt blue eyes had a threatening glow to them–locking in on Marron's terrorized gaze.
The sight of her injury only fanned the flames of Trunks' ire.
The hooded assailant dropped the princess, his hands held up as he wordlessly stepped back.
As Trunks stepped forward, he watched the assailant take a step back. "Don't run now, coward ," Trunks taunted, a smirk appeared upon his lips as his elongated canines glistened. Trunks' physique was far more formidable, his human clothing straining against his enlarged frame.
The hooded figure turned, in a feeble attempt to escape. Trunks caught him, knocking the assailant against the floor. The prince pinned him with his knees, snatching the hood off to reveal the weakling Saiyan, Mato, who attempted to undermine him earlier.
Trunks let out a cackle, a sound that chilled Marron to her core. Marron watched as the Saiyan Prince glared at her, somehow she knew that he'd been overcome by something.
"Avert your eyes, your highness," Trunks hissed as he locked in on the assailant.
"Do not hurt–" Marron coughed out, finding it difficult to speak.
"This is my subject, and therefore I will see to it that his punishment fits the crime," Trunks snapped back, commanding her into silence. It took everything within him not to beat the man in a bloodied and broken pulp.
"Y-Your highness, have mercy–" Mato cowered, his voice trembling as much as his hands and knees against the damp and cold forest floor.
Trunks clenched his jaw tightly, balling up his fists. How dare this Saiyan sworn to live and die for the crown, beg for mercy before him? Such an audacious request sparked rage within him as he battled
"Mercy?!" Trunks' roared, his voice shattered through the eerie silence. His fist struck the soldier's jaw with a sickening crunch. It seemed as though even the ancient trees of Mount Paozu recoiled at violence.
"You." His voice was
An audible crack sliced through the cold air, his fist meeting bone once more.
"Are." Every single word Trunks uttered was punctuated by a ruthless strike, his hands painted with crimson.
Marron's knees stayed steady against the ground, watching in fascination and horror as the Saiyan Prince showed the side that she'd always known to be within him. His royal vestments splattered with blood.
"A disgrace."
With every brutal blow, the Prince was beckoned by the moon's call. The moonlight teasing him and urging him to become that which he hated most. He licked the blood of the soldier from his lip. This wasn't a lust for battle, it was lust for blood.
An execution.
"That bride of yours is the dis–" Mato began breathlessly but was soon interrupted by Trunks' formidable blue orb that manifested in the palm of his hands
"I do not recommend you finish that sentence, worm," Trunks' voice was frigid, a lethal edge underlying his words.
"Heh…" Mato chuckled, the blood choking him as it filled his throat "She's a disgrace," he spat.
There was a brief moment of silence, as Trunks hesitated. In a mere seconds, a blue orb manifested in Trunks' palm. It pulsated menacingly before the energy engulfed the Saiyan man.
Marron's breath was caught in her throat; the words simply escaped her. Though within her she always knew the nature of a Saiyan, this brutal display was a stark revelation of the power the Saiyans wielded. Horrific in nature, and yet…she found herself bound to the same spot. She was terrified of him, who wouldn't? And yet–he protected her from certain death.
Trunks could no longer hide behind the facade of a gentleman—he was far more primal than she could have imagined.
Trunks' tail swayed low, and tensely. He stood up slowly, clenching his fists as they dripped of crimson blood. The stench of burnt flesh permeated the air, the distinct odor became a testament to his violent nature.
His betrothed had no reason to see him in such a state, certainly not in all his chaotic disarray. He couldn't dare face her; his gaze fixed on the battered and bruised body of a Saiyan Soldier. Here laid the evidence of his wrath.
"I fear I've lost my composure," Trunks muttered, his voice hinted with regret. He should soon not forget how this lapse in character must have made the princess see him.
Princess Marron could no longer see him for who he was. He simply was but a man torn between his instincts as a Saiyan and the human that lived trapped inside of him
"Trunks…" Marron whispered out hoarsley, her voice was stripped of all formality for the first time. Her voice peppered in fear and intrigue. It pained her to witness such a brutal scene, and yet–she was relieved that he was here.
He turned to her, his expression showing a distraught man. He took a sharp breath in, mustering courage as he attempted to meet her gaze. "I've failed, haven't I?" Trunks laughed pathetically, "I can't be the prince you were promised," he confessed as he felt the weight of two worlds collapse over him.
" I wandered off on my own–" Marron insisted, attempting to alleviate the burden he suddenly carried. How could he possibly blame himself for her own tantrums and whims?
"And you were captured by a mere weakling," Trunks retorted, exasperated with the Princess.
His voice was laced in a terse tone, his jaw clenched tighter in frustration. Had the Princess any idea of the disgrace of a situation? A Saiyan prince failing to protect his betrothed–the crown would become a laughing stock.
Did she not see the humiliation that could have hung over the two of them at such a prospect. A Saiyan Prince unable to protect his to-be bride. A pathetic excuse for a king.
"Your highness, I apologize…"
"And what ever for, you saved me?" Marron replied somewhat flummoxed by his apology, "I've been acutely aware of your people's brutish tendencies…" Marron gave Trunks a leery gaze, feeling rather disgusted by the blood soiled clothing.
She stood up from the ground, her bare feet grazing the cool forest floor as she cautiously approached him. "But so long…as I am not at the end of your fist—"
Trunks knelt before her, taking her delicate hands in his soiled ones. "Your royal highness, you must never say such nonsense in my presence again," he implored whilst his lips pressed against her fingers. "You are the precious jewel of Kame, after all."
Marron sighed, her blonde lashes fluttering against her cheek, "Lift your head, Prince Trunks," Marron commanded as she awaited for his gaze to meet hers.
Slowly, Trunks lifted his gaze. He couldn't control the glowing of his eyes, and though he didn't dare gaze upon the moon—it seemed as though Marron acted like its vessel as he drank in the ethereal scene before him.
Moonlight cast itself upon Marron, emanating a pure aura despite being tattered from defending herself from an attacker. She still held herself with a sense of regality. Her blonde tresses twined with the moonlight, the silvery whispers of light engulfed her small frame.
Her gaze held no contempt, no malice.
She was the moon of Vegeta-Sei, he was sure of it then.
"You are moonlight, your highness," Trunks gently stated, his voice laced with sincerity.
"Really now?" Marron breathlessly replied, her cheeks tinted in red. "I told you flattery will get you nowhere–"
"I mean it," he insisted.
Marron rolled her eyes, the spell broken in an instant. "Rise," she commanded again, watching as he stood tall before her.. "Prince Trunks, I've told you I'd still be considering the prospect of this union."
"Yes I'm aware and I still plan to keep my word on what we have agreed on –we would merely play our parts until the end…I will grant you a simple and easy escape once the time draws near," Trunks responded, his voice quieter than normal, acknowledging the political waltz they have now engaged in.
Both parties had something worth protecting, though there was something Marron has yet to come to terms with and that is the disappearance of Queen Bulma. The unnerving, shaking feeling that the same could occur to her made the Princess feel a sense of unease.
"Though I still require assistance in navigating your courtship rituals, and well…human society in general," Trunks admitted to her, the timbre of his voice lower as if he didn't really want the Princess to hear him.
Try as he might, Trunks was much like a fish out of water—that much was made apparent in his interactions with the Ox Princes. They, despite being hybrids like him, conducted themselves in such a way that it mirrored the Earth nobility seamlessly. And while he could conduct himself in such fashion there was the fear and trepidation that came with being unable to understand the faux-pas of the day to day.
"Then, I suppose I should help," Marron decided. "That is the least that I could do to you, you saved my life meaning I am now in your debt…I should hope you do the same if I am forced to live on your dreadful home planet."
" Our home planet," Trunks corrected.
"You seem to enjoy pushing that narrative…but I truly don't wish to be despised by the Saiyans people," Marron smiled politely, veiling her concern.
Trunks watched her carefully now standing just a head above her, if there was one thing he noticed about the woman, it was the velvety way she covered her displeasure. And though right now what he offered was a temporary fix to the problem he had–he knew winning her over was instrumental in Vegeta-sei and Earth's survival through the next few years.
The fate of their two planets was on a pendulum swing.
"I shall cooperate, as I am bound to you as you are to me," Trunks lowered his head, his eyes peeking to catch the expression on the Princess' face.
"Grand, now…you and I are utterly disheveled—and quite frankly you reek," Marron quipped, scrunching her nose as she turned back towards the direction in which Trunks flew in on. "It's best we head back to the Ox Kingdom…"
The princess began to walk before Trunks scooped her in his arms, watching her stoic expression turn flustered and panicked at the proximity. Though her dress skirt was damaged it still had excess in fabric billowing around them.
"Y-You brute you will soil my–"
"Your dress?" Trunks chuckled, her curious blue eyes drilling into his. "It's already tattered fabric, no need to fret."
Marron quieted down in protest, feeling as he lifted in the air. She had never flown in someone else's arms before, and the feeling was quite nauseating. She'd seen her mother do such a thing when she sparred– and she never quite understood how she could simply float and feel comfortable in the sheet lack of stability.
"It will only be a second, do try to bear it?" Trunks whispered, though the stench and splotches of dried blood still appeared on his clothes and face–he somehow managed to still remain as princely as she recalled before.
How strange, the fluttering feeling that arose in her chest at his hushed voice against her skin. For better or for worse…she followed his command. Holding him tighter as her eyes remained locked on to him.
AN: this chapter kind of go away from me holy shit? Lmao anyway I hope you enjoyyyy and leave me a comment letting me know you thoughts besties 3