DISCLAIMER:
Vetyga: (Is so busy reading the latest chapter for TTWV that she forgets it's her turn to do the disclaimer.)
Rath: (From somewhere out of sight) "Psst! PSSSSSSST! HEY! LOOK! LISTEN! HEEEEEY!"
Vetyga: (Jumps up in surprise as her concentration is broken) "Huh? What? Oh… Oh ya! Uh, neither of us owns DBZ! Enjoy the chapter!" (Returns to reading)
IN THE PRESENT WORLD, ON TOP OF DENDE'S LOOKOUT:
Goku sighed as Vegge faded from view.
"You okay, Dad," Gohan looked at his father with concern.
Goku gave Gohan a sad smile. "It's not me you should worry about."
Gohan frowned. "Ya… Poor Trunks…" he said.
"The Briefs' household has certainly seen better days," Goku agreed. "I know what you guys are all thinking, but please don't hold it against Vegge for what happened."
"How can you say that?" Chichi asked incredulously. "The little monster single-handedly ruined that household."
"You gotta admit, she has a point there, Goku," Yamcha remarked.
"I'm not saying I'm not disappointed by his actions," Goku said as he glanced to the sky. "But he's not a bad kid. Misguided perhaps, but not bad..."
"You're defending him," Piccolo noted.
Goku shrugged. "If any of you make the effort to get to know him, you'll understand why."
IN THE SKIES FAR FROM DENDE'S LOOKOUT:
Vegeta glanced back at Vegge, who was struggling to catch up. He couldn't even look at the boy without rage boiling up inside him. It had been a long time since he felt such anger.
Vegeta purposely set a pace that would be too fast for the brat, yet slow enough that his wife and daughter would not be uncomfortable. By the time Vegeta landed at Capsule Corp, Vegge was lagging behind considerably.
Vegeta waited impatiently for Vegge to arrive.
"I thought I told you to keep up?" Vegeta remarked when he watched his younger self land a short distance away.
Vegge had no words to that. His older self was too fast to keep up with.
"Wait here," Vegeta ordered as he turned to take Bulma and Bra inside.
Over an hour had passed by the time Vegeta returned. Vegge was standing perfectly still in the same exact spot he'd been left in, but it was not enough to curb Vegeta's anger for what the boy had done.
"You thought you could do whatever you want," Vegeta commented.
Vegge shrugged as he kept his gaze towards the ground. It was not the first time Vegeta made such a statement, but if his older self was anything like Frieza, contradicting him was not a good idea. He suddenly felt an iron grip on the back of his hair as his head was jerked backward. A hard slap impacted with the left side of his face.
"Look at me," Vegeta ordered as he forced Vegge to look in his eyes. "If you thought I was bluffing about what I would do if you did anything to jeopardize their return, you are about to see just how mistaken you were."
Vegge just barely managed to stifle the whimper threatening to escape from his throat. He warily stared into his older self's eyes. He was unsure if he should try to fight back or accept the inevitable.
"Every moment my son is stuck in the Past is one that you live to regret," Vegeta continued.
"But first, there are some ground rules. Rule number one, if either I or the woman tells you to do something, you do it without question and without hesitation… And should we ever contradict one another, my word, of course, is law. Understood?"
Vegge tried to nod, but Vegeta's firm grip on his hair prevented him from doing so. The next thing he knew, waves of sharp pain washed over him as a knee repeatedly impacted into his stomach. He cried out as blood began to trickle from the corners of his mouth.
"I thought asked you a question," Vegeta said as he narrowed his eyes. He did not allow his younger self to fall to his knees. "You will get no warnings here. No games. Do you or do you not understand the first rule? Speak up when I ask you a question."
"I-I u-understand," Vegge stammered.
"Rule number two," Vegeta continued. "You are not to go anywhere near my daughter. Do not speak to her. Do not look at her. Nothing! Understood?"
"Y-Yes," Vegge answered immediately.
"Rule number three, unless I allow otherwise, you are not to leave the premises. If you are not actively eating or something along those lines, then you are with me or else in your room."
"I understand," Vegge replied preemptively, but his reply was met with a slap to the face.
"I did not ask you to speak," Vegeta berated.
"I'm s-sorry…" Vegge apologized only to be met with another harsh hit to his face—this time with a balled fist.
"Care to try again?" Vegeta goaded.
This time Vegge remained silent. His face became an emotionless mask as blood slowly dripped from his nose.
"Better," Vegeta commented. "Everything you suffer from this point forward is a result of your own actions. Remember that. I warned you what would happen. By the time the year is finished, you may even wish you were back with Frieza. Perhaps I will even be merciful and grant you that wish once my son returns…"
Vegge's mask faltered as fear betrayed him. "Please d-don't…"
Once again Vegeta struck Vegge with his free hand for speaking without permission.
"Ungrateful brat!" Vegea growled. "You should consider it a mercy that I did not simply kill you on the spot after what you'd done… And don't think I wouldn't! What happens to you has no effect on me."
Vegge vaguely registered Vegeta's words. His eyes clenched tightly shut as more blows impacted with his slight frame. Some part of him was morbidly surprised he did not have any broken bones. He had to admit his older self controlled his blows remarkably well.
"Also," Vegeta paused as he eyed the boy's attire. Vegge was still dressed in Goku's oversized shirt. "I don't want you associating with Kakarrot anymore. Understood?"
When Vegge did not respond, Vegeta stuck him again and repeated, "Do you understand?"
"But h-he saved me from Master Frieza," Vegge's voice wavered.
Tears welled up in Vegge's eyes, but he didn't dare let them fall. If his older self was truly like Frieza, it would be a trigger for another beating. Vegge needed to figure out Vegeta's rules. The unspoken ones… Not the ones being listed out loud.
"And look where that got you," Vegeta replied as he released his hold on the boy. "And don't you dare cry either. You have no right!"
The sight of Vegge's unfallen tears angered Vegeta greatly. How dare Vegge cry when this whole situation was his fault in the first place?
"Let me put it in terms you will understand," Vegeta said evenly. "I will punish you each and every time I catch you around Kakarrot. No questions asked. Is that clear?"
Vegge nodded reluctantly.
Before Vegge knew what was happening, pain shot through his body and the back of his head impacted hard against the ground. His vision swirled around him as he felt fists smash repeatedly into his body. He instinctively curled up into a fetal position.
This time his older self offered no explanation for what Vegge had done wrong. Even though it was a short beating, Vegge was a bloody mess by the time it was over.
"I told you. No warnings. Now get up and follow," Vegeta ordered.
He was somewhat pleased when Vegge immediately did as he was told without him having to repeat himself. The boy was slowly getting it. Vegeta briskly led the way inside Capsule Corp.
At first, Vegge struggled to maintain his balance as he rose to his feet. He warily followed after his older self. It felt like an eternity as Vegeta led him up a couple flights of stairs and down a long hallway.
"While you are here, this will be your room," Vegeta stated as he gestured for Vegge to enter the door near the end of the hall.
The room was extremely spacious with a large plush bed. Off in the corner, there were two chairs angled towards each other with a small table in between them. On the opposite side was a large chest of drawers. The room even had its own bathroom.
"It's more than you deserve, but the woman insisted," Vegeta continued. "If it were up to me, you would be sleeping on the floor… There's a new set of clothes for you in the bathroom. Get cleaned up. I trust you can figure out how the shower works without being hand held."
Vegge was not certain if he was supposed to respond or keep silent in response to that. He chose the latter.
"Also," Vegeta added before leaving the room. "All inhabitants of this planet are off-limits to you. You are to harm no one. I don't care how angry or frustrated you are. Is that clear?"
"Yes," Vegge answered automatically.
"Good," Vegeta said as he left the boy to his own devices.
ELSEWHERE, INSIDE CAPSULE CORP:
Bulma was sitting on the floor in Trunks's room. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she numbly looked at her son's belongings strewn lazily across the floor.
Trunks was always terrible about keeping his room organized. Bulma found herself constantly picking up after him. Usually the mess bothered her, but this time she left everything as they were. In some ways it comforted her to see the room messy like this. It was like a part of him was still here with her.
"Oh Trunks," she cried. "I hope you are safe out there…"
IN THE PAST WORLD:
Trunks's eyes widened at Drinn's words.
"What do you mean 'there's no time'?" Trunks questioned.
"No time? No, there's always time," Drinn corrected. "Time continues regardless of their desires. Time continues regardless if they live or die. It's how it works. Most fail to understand that."
"But you just said…"
"Drinn said what?" Drinn asked curiously.
"You said there's no time to spare!" Trunks exasperated. He was getting annoyed how Drinn was toying with him. "Stop speaking in riddles!"
"So frustrated…" Drinn feigned a sigh. "He's mistaken though. Drinn merely said that Trunks has limited time before all is lost to him. This is not the case for Drinn. Drinn has no such urgency."
By now, Trunks no longer viewed Drinn as a potential threat. He wasn't sure what to think of the odd stranger, but it was clear Drinn did not wish him harm.
"It has something to do with the Rift," Trunks said. It was more of a statement than a question.
"The Rift that Trunks cannot pass? Partially," Drinn agreed.
"Does Drinn know how I can…" Trunks's face reddened as he caught himself mimicking Drinn's odd manner of speech. He corrected himself. "I mean… Do you know how I can get through? Did another Rift appear somewhere nearby? I don't want to be stuck here forever!"
Drinn shook his head as he replied, "Even if another Rift was near… Which there isn't by the way… Drinn could not let him through. This one was tasked to block the fifth from passing through in the first place. If he must know, Trunks's interference created a disturbance. It was a disturbance large enough to draw the attention of Drinn and the remaining Fates."
"You trapped me here?!" Trunks exclaimed angrily.
"Yes," Drinn replied simply.
"Undo it then! Return me back to my own time," Trunks demanded.
"Still so demanding…" Drinn noted. "Trunks does not understand the concept of balance, no? Drinn does not know how to make it any clearer. Drinn cannot send him back. Not without a price being paid in return. For every action there is a cascade of reactions, doesn't he know? Nothing is free."
"Fine, name your price," Trunks rolled his eyes. All he wanted was to go home. Was that too much to ask?
"Not Drinn's price," Drinn corrected once again. "The price of balance… They could return him now if he was willing to sacrifice another."
Trunks's blood ran cold. "What do you mean 'sacrifice'?"
"Exactly that," Drinn replied. "If Trunks wished to return right this moment, Drinn is certain he could grant him the opportunity to trade places with the child he originally tried to save. They all know Trunks does not belong here and that the child prince does not belong there. The only reason it remains as it is now is because, technically, it is already balanced."
Trunks's eyes widened. "But then what would happen to Vegge?"
"How would Drinn know? They only see what is, not what will or could be," Drinn answered. "The Fates could not do their jobs properly if they considered such things."
"There must be some other way," Trunks insisted.
"Must there?" Drinn's tone of voice was laced with amusement. "Trunks must know that Drinn himself is not bound by the terms of balance, does he? But why would Drinn help him?"
"Because if you wanted to hurt me, you'd have done so already," Trunks replied. "You said so yourself. That means there must be something you want that only I can give."
"The boy is wiser than they know," Drinn cackled.
IN THE PRESENT WORLD:
The water in the bathtub was overflowing to the floor with scalding hot water, but Vegge did not seem to notice as he sat motionlessly in the center of the tub. The water around him was tinged a pale red from his own blood.
He had received countless beatings in his short life, yet somehow this most recent one by his older self was among the most symbolic…
'The water is deep enough,' Vegge thought to himself as he stared blankly at Goku's oversized shirt tossed carelessly to the side of the tub. 'I could go under and simply stop breathing... It'd be so easy…'
As the traitorous thoughts invaded his mind, Vegge could not hold his tears back. He became overwhelmed by all the emotions he'd been bottling up. His body shook as soft sobs spurted from his mouth.
His whole life was like a giant downward spiral. Some sick joke of an existence where every passing moment was somehow worse than the last…
'Worthless monkey,' Frieza's words echoed in his mind.
'Worthless…' Vegge silently repeated to himself.
His body shook harder as memories from the last several days flashed through his mind. He knew Frieza was right. He was worthless. He had no planet… No family… No people… No one who truly cared about his well-being... His father hated him… His older self hated him... He was sure the universe hated him. The whole universe liked to see him suffer. He never made the right decisions… He had no control over his life.
'My suffering is my own fault,' Vegge thought bitterly as he recalled Vegeta's earlier words.
Frieza had told him similar things. Actually, everyone who hurt him told him such things.
By now, the water had flooded the entire bathroom and was seeping into the lush carpet of the main bedroom area.
Vegge did not notice and even if he had, he would not have cared. All sense of time was lost as Vegge just sat there staring blankly at the flowing water pouring from the tub faucet. For all he knew, he could have been sitting there for days, rather than hours.
No matter what he did or where he went, his story would always be the same… What did time matter anymore when every moment he continued breathing served as a promise of more suffering to come?
His tears fell more rapidly down the sides of his face as he seriously contemplated whether or not it was worth living anymore. He hated his life…
Rath: (Looks up at chapter) And that's that for this chapter! Poor Vegge… He's so depressed at the moment…
In response to reviews left for both chapters 33 & 34:
To "BeasCup": Vegge certainly made things more complicated for Trunks… Unfortunately for Vegge, his older self is currently blinded by his anger for what Vegge had done.
To "Mitsuru6": I have no doubt that Trunks would have let Vegge pass through and stayed behind voluntarily if only Vegge had told the truth; however, Vegge was not trusting enough to do so. Vegge also wanted to prove he could control his own life. (Plus the fact he resented his older self trying to threaten him into telling the others the truth…)
At "WildVegeta": I'm glad you like the Fates so far! I enjoyed creating and writing them. It's nice to know they are fitting well into the story. Drinn does have the potential to help Trunks. We'll see how things play out. As for the Present… Vegeta has become rather abusive towards Vegge, Bulma is currently too depressed to notice or do anything about it, and Vegge is sinking even further into depression than he already was… At this rate, I think they are all going to need some serious counseling…
At "Guest": Glad you enjoyed the twist!
At "mandy": Thank you for the huge complement! Hope you liked this chapter as much as the last.
At "Guest": You read it in one day? It's nice to know you liked it enough to do so.
At "zekbolt55": Thanks!
Also, I give another big thanks to all the others who continue to read & support this story!
Until next time… Sawatdee!