Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Changing Horizons ❯ Prologue ( Prologue )

Just to clear up any confusion with the author's notes: I have posted this story on Fanfiction.net under the penname JungleKitty82, so disregard any comments about reviews and such although I would love some here as well…

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of the characters seen in the show, manga, movies, etc. Vegeta…aww yeah!

Author's Note: Hey, everybody. This is my new fic Changing Horizons. Title sounds a bit strange, I know, but I think after you read it you'll have a better idea where I'm going with this. It's a bit darker than my usually style of writing, and I can't even tell you what possessed me to write this other than the fact that it seemed like a really good idea at the time. You be the judge. I share the same sentiments as I did with my other fic; if you guys don't review, I won't know if I should continue this or not. I'm tempted to just say "Screw reviews!" because it wreaks havoc on my nerves all the time wondering if you guys will like it or not. But I like getting reviews, and you guys were pretty good with my last one, so you won't be hearing that phrase coming from me. This chapter might have you a little confused, and if it is, I apologize, but I think if I continue this, things will make much more sense. If you've already read my other fic, you'll know that I like constructive criticism, so if you have any suggestions, they are more than welcome. Not much else to say other than……enjoy……….

Changing Horizons

Prologue

The vast, shadowed hallways of the royal palace seemed cold and mocking as they echoed every footfall and dismal thought of the dark prince and the men following behind him. The light from the sparsely scattered torches occasionally and briefly illuminated their hard faces and tattered appearances, but they still appeared as noble and ardent as they were in the days when they ruled Vegeta-sei. There were not many of them, but they were a fierce lot of warriors and the guards standing watch at the entrances of the doors they passed backed away, almost cringingly. It was almost illogical for them to be frightened of the diminutive prince and his rag-tag procession of soldiers. They had been stripped of everything they had once held pride in: their power, their kingdom, and their people. They were being led to their doom, but in spite of everything, they managed to walk as though they still owned the grand and lavish halls of the palace of Vegeta-sei.

They reached the blood-splattered doors of the royal throne room in a matter of minutes, and when the heavy stone doors were opened for them, their masks of indifference slipped for a split second. Their eyes were fixed on their king, their once strong and proud king, kneeling resignedly on the polished floor before the throne. The creature to which he was kneeling to had one pale, scaly foot propped up on his shoulder. The sinister being was chuckling in delight at the pitiful state he had reduced the king of all Saiyans to. Prince Vegeta's clenching fists were the only sign of his rage towards the scene and the unholy monster now sitting on his father's throne.

"Vegeta," the high, almost feminine scratchy voice of Frieza echoed out to him in the large and expansive throne room. Frieza's reflective, ruby eyes were trained on the prince, and if Vegeta's severe and rigid upbringing had allowed him to shudder, he would have. "I was just telling your father how much I would have enjoyed your company. Did you have fun on your little excursion? You did well, my boy. It took them almost a week to find you. I must say I was rather surprised though by your disappearance. I was under the impression that you Saiyans never ran away from anything. It's funny how those old legends die hard when you've defeated what was supposed to be the strongest race in the universe." Frieza chuckled cruelly at his comments and his assortment of sadistic lackeys joined him.

"We did not run." Vegeta's deep, resonating voice held a tone of rage that conflicted with the calm, passive expression he wore. In truth, he could barely keep himself from powering up and attacking the cold-hearted beast that destroyed his kingdom and his people. The men behind him gave gruff grunts of affirmation, and Frieza narrowed his eyes.

"Oh? When Captain Ginyu informed me that you were no longer on the palace grounds, I assumed that you and your little group of bodyguards had run away from the inevitable. Are you trying to tell me you were away for other reasons?" Frieza smiled, showing off all of his hideously pointed teeth.

"We were trying to protect and defend our people. We believed my father had already made it out of the palace safely. When we heard otherwise, we came back."

"Your people are nothing more than my slaves now, Vegeta, as is your father. As are you. If I tire of you all, I will simply kill you. But I have a feeling the king here will entertain me for quite some time." Frieza nudged the king's shoulder with his foot. "How would your like to become my personal servant?" Vegeta watched his father's expressionless face twitch in horror. Vegeta knew right then that his father would try to end his life if Frieza carried through with his threat. He was sure his father's pride would not allow him to serve anyone else other than himself. Yet here he was, kneeling before Frieza. Why? Why didn't he just kill himself when Frieza had first infiltrated the palace? The sound of his father's voice startled him out of his thoughts.

"I will do whatever you want. Just leave my son and the remainder of my people out of it." The king's voice was low and weak and Vegeta nearly flinched at the defeated note it held. His father had been here for a week in Frieza's clutches. What else had Frieza done to him?

"Why would I do that? Your people are such fun to play with."

"No, father! Do not give yourself over to this sadistic and cowardly fool. We are Saiyans! If we die, we die with our pride!" Vegeta shouted in anger at his father, and the king slowly turned his head to look at his son. Their eyes met and Vegeta could see his father contemplating his words. Frieza's lip curled up into a sneer of contempt and he looked down at the king to watch his reaction.

"Father," Vegeta pleaded. He could not let the man he had looked up to and modeled himself after break in such a shameful way. "We may have lost everything, but we still have our pride. Let it be known that the Saiyans will never be ruled by someone like Frieza."

"It's too late for that, my boy," Frieza said sharply. "I have won. And trying to save your father from humiliation is a futile plan. Your people's lives depend on whether or not you continue to amuse me. But would you really sacrifice the rest of your people for the sake of your foolish pride? Are you willing to end the very existence of your pitiful race because you can't bear to accept what you know is true? Or are you even thinking of your people? Are you ashamed of your father? He is bowing down to the very man who nearly obliterated your people. And I still might." Frieza allowed an evil chuckle to momentarily interrupt his speech. "But your sense of pride seems to be a bit stronger than the good old king here. And that could be so much more fun. I think I have a proposition for you, Prince Vegeta." The glittering amusement in Frieza's eyes chilled Vegeta to his very soul. This was a game to him. The dread collecting in Vegeta's mind was almost a tangible substance clouding his thoughts as he waited for Frieza to make his offer. "I will allow your father to live under one condition. You take his place. Serve me, and I will let your father go to provide what little comfort he can to your people. You must admit, your people's morale is pretty low right now. Captain Ginyu has told me that about fifty captives slit their own throat. I guess they share your sentiments." Captain Ginyu's rumbling chortle filled the room, and Frieza waited until the purple-skinned giant had finished before continuing. "I will even let your people keep your stupid planet, under my reign of course. Your people have simply to pay tribute to me, your high lord and liberator, and I will leave them all alone."

Vegeta had been staring at his father throughout Frieza's entire speech. He couldn't read his expression, but the king's probing eyes seemed to question him. How was he going to respond? Vegeta himself didn't even know. He had expected his father to stop Frieza somewhere in the middle of his speech and dismiss his words as rubbish and absurdity. Then they could have gone to their deaths in blazing glory and no one would have ever questioned the valor and bravery of the Saiya-jin. But his father had stayed silent, and now he was looking to his son for answers. When had his father become so weak? If his father, the man whom Vegeta had once thought fearless and invincible, was bowing before such a monster, what chance did he have in succeeding? Vegeta knew deep down that his father's sense of duty must have been outweighing his fear for his own life as well as Vegeta's. His father seemed willing to sacrifice his only son for the sake of their people, just as he had been willing to sacrifice himself, and because Frieza had put the question to him, it was now up to Vegeta to see that his people lived to fight another day. It was as it should be.

"Fine. Let my father and my men go, and I will do what you ask." Vegeta's ears picked up the quiet gasps of his men behind him. He watched Frieza remove his foot from his father's shoulder and step away from him, a cold smile of victory shaping his hideous lips.

"You may go," Frieza said to his father haughtily. His father slowly rose to his feet, and for the first time since he had entered the room, Vegeta saw how battered his body was. Vegeta's fists clenched involuntarily but his face betrayed none of the emotions coursing through him.

King Vegeta limped off of the raised platform on which his throne was located and started towards the door. When he reached his son's side, he leaned in close to him and put a firm hand on his shoulder, whispering into his ear. "We will rise again. And when we do, I will come for you." Vegeta gave a nod of acknowledgment, and the king continued on his way to the door. Vegeta could hear the doors being opened for him then shut as he stood straight and proud, awaiting Frieza's next command.

"Did you monkeys not hear me?" Frieza hissed at his men. "Your prince has surrendered to me. You are free to go." Vegeta didn't turn around but he saw, out of the corner of his eye, one of his men step up beside him.

"We will stay with our prince. Kill us if you choose to deny us our right as soldiers of Vegeta-sei, but we will serve our prince until the day we die." Vegeta didn't need to look in order to recognize who was beside him. Kakarrot's resonant voice reverberated through the room, and Frieza gave the sturdy soldier an amused look.

"Well, you monkeys like to stick together. It's not a trait that I particularly admire, but for the moment I don't really care. You will all be my slaves, but you, Prince Vegeta, will be my most prized possession. I will take great pleasure making you realize that you are nothing without your title and your people. Your only redemption will be to recognize that I, and only I, hold your fate in my hands. Your will, will be my will. And if you choose to disobey me, I will make sure that all you hold dear suffers for your insolence. Is that understood?" Vegeta almost winced at the shrill note in Frieza's high-pitched voice. He nodded disdainfully in agreement.

"Good. Captain, take them to the slave quarters of the palace. I think now is as good a time as any for them to get used to their new life as a slave." Vegeta didn't respond to his comment. He simply turned towards the door, his back facing Frieza and began to walk in the direction of the exit. "Vegeta," Frieza called out. Vegeta stopped at the sound of his mocking voice. "Before you go, I think I deserve your appreciation for sparing your people's lives." He waited until Vegeta turned to face him before going on. "I want you to bow before me and pledge your loyalty to me." Frieza's look of glee sickened Vegeta. How could he do this? How could he be the proud leader he had been bred to become if he were to be subjected to this degrading humiliation whenever Frieza felt the urge? He would have to deal with it. His people's lives depended on it, and as his father said, they would rise again. Vegeta knelt in front of the nearly translucent-skinned creature, and began to recite the pledge of loyalty his soldiers had once said to him. He was careful to leave out the words `respect', `honor', and `pride' simply because he didn't think he could say them to Frieza without becoming sick. And while he said his empty words of allegiance, in his mind he was making a different kind of oath. He would kill the bastard, slowly and painfully as soon as he had the means to do it, and when his father was out of danger and Frieza's battered body was showcased in front of the palace for all of his people to see, only then would he address the one thing that had scared him more than even Frieza himself: his ascension to the throne.

Next Up: ???? Will there be a `next up.' It's up to you, the readers.

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