AN: It seems there was a bit of confusion as to where this story is in regards to the timeline, so I hope this clears it up for you guys. That's my bad honestly, something that important should have been included in the first chapter.
I wanted this to be out earlier, but somehow this one was harder to write than the first one.
Thanks to yasserkend8 for the comment of scene transitions, I tried to make them better in this chapter.
I own nothing except OCs
A thank you Akira Toriyama, for filling my childhood with wonder.
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Gine was at a complete loss for words. There was no probable reason for the king to be summoning low class saiyans like themselves.
"Did the chamberlain say anything else?" Gine questions Bardock.
"No he didn't," Bardock says "But judging by the way I hadn't even gotten to a medic yet it must be urgent and important. Knowing King Vegeta he's probably expecting us before the day is over."
"But why our son?! He's only just a few months old." Gine asked Bardock frantically. If there were a nefarious intent behind this she would make sure that nothing would happen to her Sprout.
"I don't have the slightest clue. It's not like we can refuse anyway." Bardock says. "If it were someone from a noble house then we could find some way around it, but there's no use dwelling on 'what if's'."
Gine opens her mouth to argue. That they can get out of this, but she closes it in the realization that they were going to have an audience with the King. And that was that.
She tells Bardock that she understands, and that they should leave for the palace as soon as possible.
The walk to the palace gave me way too much time for me to think about my situation. As the cliff side castle grew closer, so did what I thought to be my demise.
'So much for a second chance at life. Didn't even make it to six months.' I thought to myself.
I wasn't mad, surprisingly. Normally when something bad happens that's out of my control I get a bit pissed off. Though all I felt now was resignation. I did all that I could, even if it was fuck all, so what was the point of crying like a baby? It's better to face it head on and accept whatever happens.
Despite how much I was thinking to myself, Bardock and Gine were completely silent. Bardock had that same cool and composed look that he always had, and Gine's face looked like a blend of caution and curiosity.
'Are they not scared?' I wondered. If isekai has taught me anything, it is that you should never trust royalty. I feel that should certainly apply to the King of a race that conquers planets for sport.
We were nearing a side entrance to the palace now, and I was able to see the outline of the two guards at the entrance. Upon seeing us approach they merely opened the doors without saying a word. Were they really expecting us so soon after we were not not even a few hours ago?
"Bardock." Announces a man that seems to have been waiting for us inside.
"General Nappa, I can't say I was expecting you. My family and I are honored by this invitation." Bardock replied, not missing a beat. Strangely it sounded like he meant it.
'Also, Nappa?! What the hell this guy has hair.' I mentally reeled. I could recognize everything else about him. The pencil thin goatee, the sheer stature, and the presence of someone who could fuck your shot up in an instant.
"I'm glad you decided to come as soon as possible. I'll guide you all to the dining hall where the King is waiting." The very young version of Nappa said. Then without another word he turned around and began a brisk walk through the palace.
Bardock and Gine both nodded and followed him deeper into the heart of the palace.
I don't know what I was expecting when walking through the castle of a saiyan king. Maybe some weapons, portraits of past kings, or even paintings of important conquests in saiyan history.
While those things were still in the majority, there were way more things that showcased the wealth of saiyan royalty. It wasn't gaudy, but it certainly wasn't plain.
There were vases and sculptures that were clearly from a vast amount of cultures. Each item had a small placard that would read when and how the item was acquired. The whole thing looked and felt like walking through some kind of war museum.
After walking past a sculpture that was labeled as 'Prime Minister of Tuffles' , Nappa had stopped to open a large pair of doors. Inside was none other than the king himself sitting at the head of a dinner table that I expected to be much comically large.
"Bardock and Gine. Have a seat." Said the king of all saiyans.
Physically he was exactly like Vegeta, if a bit older. Short hair that tried to make up for the lack of height, a short beard and mustache combo, and muscle definition that would put Arnold Schwarzenegger to shame.
His attire couldn't set him further apart from his son though. Just looking at him you could tell that he was royalty. The red cape with golden clasps, the banana shaped necklace with what looks like spherical diamonds embedded into it.
His armor was pristine. The chest piece looked like the one that Prince Vegeta wore in the Saiyan saga, with a full body blue jumpsuit underneath everything. His black and white wrist guards were spotless, as was what I can only describe as a skirt.
Nappa went two chairs away from the king while Bardock sat at the other end of the table with Gine next to him, only three chairs away from Nappa.
Just as they sat down, four servers came from a doorway that was directly behind Bardock and they began to lay out food for everyone present.
"I hope you don't mind that we talk over dinner," the King said "Even though the war with the Tuffles ended a full year ago, there is still so much that I need to do."
After that, everyone began to eat. The food appeared normal. There weren't any bowls of purple tentacles, or living bugs, or anything like that. Just some normal looking meat and a salad.
Despite the intent to talk over dinner, no one had said anything for a while until Bardock had broken the silence.
"So what is this meeting about Vegeta?" He said
'Oh god is he trying to get me killed?' Who the hell talks to a king like that? Especially one who is known to be one of the most prideful people in existence.
"Straight to point, huh Bardock. That's why I gave you the chance to lead a squad of your own." Vegeta then looks up and smirks at Bardock. "I'm glad to see that you haven't lost that over the years." He pauses before saying, "As you know we lost a large amount of saiyans in the war with the Tuffles. Even now we are still in the process of recovering from those ten, brutal years."
"So what are you getting at?" The man with katchin balls asked
"The point, Bardock, is that there are positions, important ones, that need to be filled. Many of them require extensive preparation." He paused before looking directly at me. "Sometimes they need to be prepared from birth."
The room had filled with a sudden silence, before Bardock had once again broken.
"What exactly are you asking of my son King Vegeta?" Bardock said
The king paused before saying "You're strong Bardock." He then gained a sharp look. "But it is best you remember the position you are currently in."
Bardock please don't get yourself killed, I don't want to grow up fatherless.
Gine chimed in and said "My apologies my liege, our son is only a few months and I'm sure Bardock is merely apprehensive of him receiving any kind of training yet."
Go mom.
The king was silent for a moment before saying "You found yourself a good woman Bardock. I think it'd be wise to listen to her words." He loses the dangerous look in his eye as he continues. "As for what I wish for your son, I want to have him trained to be my heir's executive officer."
What.
The silence is loud within the dining hall. Bardock and Gine digest the while King Vegeta and Nappa had given them a moment to process.
"The previous candidate died before we ended the war." Vegeta goes on, "If the position had remained unfilled then Nappa would have had to take on that role." The king sighs and says "I'd much rather have him attend to his duties as my executive officer and the general of the saiyan army, so when I received a report saying that your son had a power level of 837, I figured that he would have what it takes."
Gine and Bardock look completely floored and Gine numbly asks "What does that mean for Sprout exactly?"
The king answers her question by saying "Nothing at the moment. When he's old enough to read he'll receive a formal education fit for his future position. Then when he's old enough to train, Nappa will personally oversee his training, along with whatever you see fit to teach him."
Ok so let's get this straight. A formal education, training from one of the strongest saiyans alive, and a position as the right hand of the next king. That's a whole lot better than dying. Except maybe the last part. Being stuck with child Vegeta might be worse than dying.
"My future heir is going to need someone a bit older to help guide him, but still close in age." The king says "I plan to marry my fiancé by the end of the month, so that would make the age gap ideal." King Vegeta then continues with "Of course you are free to reject the offer." As he says that last bit he has a knowing look on his face, one that says 'I already know what your answer is.'
And he's right. Bardock and Gine both know they can't reject this. Not when it's coming from the king himself.
It's not like it's a bad deal either. Their son would actually receive an education, something only saiyans with connections have the opportunity to get. Not only that, but personal training from Nappa. The general of the saiyan army, the man who had single handedly subjugated a planet with a threat level of eight, one of the five strongest men in the empire. How could they deny their child that opportunity?
"Of course we are honored to receive something this generous, and we humbly accept King Vegeta." Bardock said only a moment the king was done speaking.
The king smiles and says "As I hoped you would. Now," King Vegeta and Nappa both stand up to leave, "I have a meeting with Marquess Minji. Nappa will see you two out." Then just like that he leaves, as if he didn't just completely alter the course of my life.
"This way." Nappa grunts out, and we leave the same way that we came. Though this time I didn't look at the 'Three Blades of Oro', or the sculpture of 'The First Piece' as we passed the trophies. My mind was too busy to notice.
'Prince Vegeta isn't born yet, that's good I think?' It makes avoiding planetary destruction easier by giving me more time, but I'm also expected to spend a lot of time with him, which is just going to be the worst. If he's anything like he was as an adult, then I'm going to be fearing for my life every second I'm around him. He was a straight villain before Goku had been able to make him 'good'.
The benefits aren't half bad, excellent even. I don't know what kind of education it is, but since I'm being groomed for such a high position it has to be good. Not to mention personal trading from the king's executive officer and general of the saiyan army.
As we stepped out of the palace I dimly noted that night had fallen while we were meeting with the Bardock. It seems that meeting took far longer than it felt, or maybe it was all the walking in the giant palace.
"Bardock, is this really happening?" Gine asks Bardock, still unsure if all of this is some dream.
"Yeah, pretty sure it is." He told her. He then goes on to say "Let's go home. Today has been a lot."
"Yes, yes it has." Gine tells Bardock, and after a moment says, "I think we should both take tomorrow off honey."
Back inside of the palace though, the executive officer and the king were walking through the palace while the former questioned the latter.
"My king, I don't quite understand why him specifically. Lieutenant Paragus' plans to sire a child soon, so why not-"
Nappa is cut off by King Vegeta when he asks him, "How much do you know about Bardock, Nappa?"
Nappa thinks for a moment before saying "Well he's a low class saiyan for one thing." He pauses before continuing. "He's the leader of Team Bardock, aaaand that's about it."
Vegeta thoughtfully hums and says, "All that is true, but you missed perhaps the most important part of him." The king pauses and says, "That low class saiyan holds the record for highest power level difference since birth." He continues by saying, "He was born with a power level of three. By far the lowest in the history of our race. An utter disgrace. So, he was sent off world as an infiltration baby."
The king of all saiyans turns to his executive office before he continues, "Not only had he conquered the planet he was sent to, but he came back."
Nappa was taken aback. "Are you kidding me?! The survival rate for infiltration babies is near zero! Was there a full moon right where he landed?"
Vegeta shook his head. "There's no way of knowing. When the pod came back the surveillance was too damaged to actually see what had happened," He said. "What we do know is that upon his return his power had grown leaps and bounds of what would normally be possible for someone like him."
Vegeta looks at Nappa with a serious face. "Imagine Nappa, if he had been born with the same power level as his son. He would be one of the greatest soldiers in our glorious history."
Nappa had a look of realization dawn on his face. "So you think his son can really grow as much."
The king responds with, "That is my hope. Even if he fails to realize the potential his father did, his unique physique should prove to enhance his fighting capabilities."
"I'm sorry for doubting you my liege," Nappa said "I should have trusted your judgment.
King Vegeta scoffs and responds with "You have that position because you question me. I don't want some 'yes man' as my most trusted advisor." He then grumbles and says "Now let's see what the marquess thinks is so important."
AN: I liked the idea that someone as vain and prideful as King Vegeta would decorate his palace with trophies of his conquests.
If my characterization gets off let me know. I thought that would be the easy part considering I didn't even need to make the characters, but I'd say it makes it harder as you really need to stay in line with the source material.