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1
Father and son
I'm absolutely certain that, in my life, I have never been as livid as I am right now.
The walls slide past me at incredible speed. The marble floor cracks under the impact of my overwhelming aura, yet I don't even touch the ground: I just levitate on it. That's why it doesn't hopelessly split in half.
«If just you could stop and listen to me… Prince Frieza!»
His incessant buzzing is becoming increasingly bothersome. I have pretended to ignore it, but I am rapidly reaching my limit. The only reason why I don't slaughter this annoying being is that he belongs to my father, but that won't be a valid reason for much longer.
Stopping and listening to him… whatever could he possibly have to say that's so interesting?
I just keep going. The palace hallways are huge, but I can run across them in the blink of an eye.
«Prince Frieza, please, do not engage with His Majesty. If you would be so kind as to stop and listen...»
I'm turning around to disintegrate him. I clench my fists and stop suddenly, splitting the marble slabs under my feet in half.
He wasn't ready for it. He passes by and stops, his composure faltering just a few steps ahead. He turns around, attempting to maintain his calm, but I can easily read the sheer terror that overwhelms him just by looking at me.
«I have stopped and I am ready to listen» I say firmly, my voice cracking with anger. «I'm waiting. I hope you have something good to tell me, or I won't forgive you for this trouble. Speak, now!»
ZeroOne lowers his eyes, avoiding mine, his body shaking like a leaf. It's a pitiful show.
«Prince Frieza» he begins. «His Majesty has considered this decision of yours at length. I don't think it's necessary to question it.»
«Oh, do you?»
This being is so useless that, if I were not blinded by anger, I would erase him from existence without any further hesitation. If I don't, it's just because one of my energy shots could destroy the entire West Wing of the building.
«Do you know what I don't think is necessary, instead? Besides the presence of certain useless insects around me, I mean. It's unsolicited advice. Did you heard me request any advice, ZeroOne?»
«No» he admits. I can see his jaw shaking and feel his skin crawling. «King Cold told me he doesn't want to see anyone until morning. It is my duty to enforce the rules. I hope you understand, Your Highness.»
«So that's why? Do you really think my father's stupid rules apply to me as well?»
«Actually...» he says, stopping abruptly. He'd probably rather be in Hell than here at this moment.
«My patience is wearing very thin, ZeroOne. Talk, or I'll make sure you never can again.»
I need to vent my frustration. The palm of my hand lights up, the energy condenses, and the entire aisle shines in an intense purple. ZeroOne has no voice, but terror gives him the strength to go on.
«Actually, your father specifically told me that he didn't want to hear from you, Your Highness. He told me to stop you if you wanted to question his choice. I'm just following orders. Please.»
His panicked tone would be amusing if I hadn't just heard what he said. The sphere of energy vanishes into thin air, and I clench my fist.
Nothing will be able to dim my anger now.
«Go hide, ZeroOne, and make sure I never see you again.»
I march straight to the Throne Room. I won't care about anything, now: I just want to meet my damn father.
When I reach the large door, the guards do not stop me. They retreat. My aura is intense and angry, and it must have terrified them because they don't even try to talk to me. Undisturbed, I do as I please. I put my feet on the ground and take a few steps forward, pushing the golden door with a single gesture.
When the door opens, I see only a glimpse of the room inside, but I expected it. My father has always had a passion for the open space, and he can't observe at night with artificial lights. This is why on planet Cold Number One, at night, all light is abolished so that he can lie down on his throne to observe the stars and planets. And there he is, on his huge golden seat, peering into the glass ceiling of his personal paradise.
My aura lights up everything as soon as the door opens, breaking the spell.
If I didn't know him, I'd say he didn't see me. I walk towards him, but he doesn't look down.
«I have identified two new celestial bodies. One is a star, the other an asteroid. Look, son, they're wonderful, don't you think?»
I arrive in front of his seat, and now he's bothered by the light. He sits up and looks at me. He knows exactly what I want, and his disinterested attitude infuriates me even more.
«You seem nervous. In fact, I specifically asked ZeroOne not to let anyone in.»
«You told ZeroOne not to let me in, Father.»
He smiles. «It means he'll no longer have any authority to enforce orders, since he's unable to.»
«How could you?» I growl. «How could you exclude me like that? I'm the most powerful! I am! You mistreated and offended me!»
«Don't overdo it. That was not my intention.»
From his tone, I understand that he's serious. To me, all of this sounds like an immense mockery, and I will not tolerate it. No one can mock me. Not even him!
«And what do you call giving Cooler a planet by carefully avoiding telling me, so that I couldn't expect the same?»
«I call it foresight.»
Now I'm sure he's provoking me.
«Father, I will not allow you to treat me like that!» The glass of the window ceiling shines with the reflections of my aura, which intensifies with each passing moment. «I am the most powerful, and I have the right to possess a planet of my own! I will not accept such treatment! You...!»
I have no way of finishing the sentence. My father's aura suddenly explodes with incredible strength. The shockwave is so powerful that I have to prop one foot backwards to keep my balance.
«Don't forget who you're dealing with, Frieza!» he screams, his voice full of anger. «I am your father, and you will address me with respect!»
His power slowly wanes, but it hits me like a slap. My anger suddenly dissipates, replaced by the intense sensation I have been struggling to suppress since my creation: hatred. I am filled with hatred and frustration at having to submit to my father despite my immense power.
But I have no choice. I clench my fists even more, digging my nails into my flesh. I want to blow up this place and everything in it, but I can't help but lower my head once more.
«Forgive me if I lost my composure, father» I say firmly. Every word is a vicious attack on my pride. «Just imagine what it meant for me to discover such a thing. I've been waiting for this moment my entire life. And you gave it to Cooler...»
My father takes a deep breath, his composure returning. He gets more comfortable on the throne, regaining his royal composure.
«Yes, Frieza, that's right. I gave Cooler a planet, and I didn't give you one. If you're wondering why, think about what just happened.»
This sentence leaves me speechless.
«What just happened?»
«Don't you get it? Let's start from the beginning, then. Did you stop to think, even for a moment, about the reason why you didn't have a planet and your brother did?»
What is he trying to tell me? I analyze his words, looking for double meanings, but I don't understand what he means. The irritation returns to taunt me.
«Father, be clear. What are you talking about?»
He sighs, rubbing his forehead.
«Nothing, Frieza. This is precisely the point. You didn't stop to ask yourself why I made my choices; you came running over here to complain, and that's the first thing you did. And here's the reason why: you're too impulsive. A planet in your hands wouldn't even last a week. The inhabitants wouldn't last even two days.»
I feel the muscles tensing up into a spasm.
«Do you really think I could blow up a planet at the slightest problem?»
«At the slightest provocation. You're a lover of destruction, son.»
I know it's true, but I can't accept it.
So what? I would like to tell him. If I actually blew up a planet after being provoked, I would have a damn good reason to.
But admitting that would only confirm his words. I refuse to let him think he's right.
«You're underestimating me» I say firmly.
I look up at the sky: the galaxies would seem painted against the glass if they did not visibly move. Stars, the brightest. Planets, well delineated, all under our control. I understand why my father loves contemplating the sky every night: I would love to spend hours admiring the vastness of my possessions as well.
«I only wish you could understand the disappointment I felt. I felt inferior to Cooler. Can you imagine? I, inferior to him!»
«Stop comparing yourselves to each other. You two have nothing in common except for your power.»
«That's the last thing in common between us.» By now in training I have defeated Cooler so many times that there's no longer any doubt on which of us is the most powerful… if there was even before. «Father, I demand a planet. I'll show you I know how to manage it.»
«Just like you manage your power? Look at you, Frieza. You can't even walk without destroying everything you come across.»
He nods at the door I entered and I suddenly understand what he means. A long crack runs across the floor of the aisle, splitting the entire building in two. I grit my teeth.
«I was furious» I admit. I have no excuse and no reason to deny it. «It's not my fault. My power takes over me.»
«Then find a way to avoid it, and we'll talk about this again. Now, go back to your rooms and think about what we said.»
There is nothing more to say.
«Good night, Father.»
As he returns to oversee his possessions, I turn to leave the Throne Room, and I realize that my hands are injured. I pushed my nails so hard that they were now one with the palm. Blood, a dark and intense purple, began to flow, staining the white of my skin.
The pain intoxicates me. It's addictive. I want to tear, to destroy.
I suppress these urges on my way back to the East Wing, but I don't go to my rooms. I head south and enter the training room. The mannequins are new, just placed after the long day. They'll have to replace them again very soon.
I unleash my anger on them, burning, piercing, tearing, and ripping. My screams remain trapped between these four walls. I will not get out until there's not a drop of anger left in my body, until fatigue takes over.
And if not, I don't care: let them hear me.
Hello y'all,
my name is Giovanna, an Italian writer. I'm a scientist, freshly doctorated in Germany, but I'm also a restless mind who likes to imagine, shape and create. Also, I'm a nerd, in love with stories since I was a child. This was when I met Lord Frieza the first time, probably 20 years ago, and he's been a recurrent obsession for all these years. I was so fascinated from him and the potentials of his character that in 2018 I started writing this story about him, just for fun. Things escalated quickly: the Origins universe expanded and I had the chance to make it a trilogy, with the second book dedicated to Cooler and the third, currently ongoing, about their father Cold.
Writing about these characters has been a whole journey. They are very different from each other, but they also have some shared experiences that make them alike. The stories are deeply interconnected, giving details on the same event from different perspectives and also showing how each arcosian sees the world through his own eyes. I had so much fun writing about Frieza and Cooler, and I'm now having so much fun writing about Cold, that now that I have full command of my English I felt the urge to translate the stories to reach a wider platform. So… here we are! Brace yourselves for this adventure, it's gonna be turbulent.
See you very soon, and don't forget to leave a sign of your presence. Not gonna lie, that's all the fuel I needed to come up with the stories in the first place.
Ciao!