Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Chasing the Dragon ❯ Life on a Chain ( Chapter 1 )

A/N: This story is an A/U, it will not be your typical DBZ. As much as possible I will try to keep everyone in character, but this all takes place in a medieval world, so keep that in mind when you read. A lot of this is based on Arthurian myth, (operative word here is based, okay. I know the myths, (Arthur was always my first love!) and I do not plan to follow them exactly), not to mention some other good myths. I read way too much, believe me.

Warnings: Sex, violence, language, aganst, and other thing else that pops into my head along the way. Don't like any of that? Don't read it, trust me.

Special thanks to the "Scooby Gang" for betaing! You know who you are!

Chasing the Dragon

Chapter 1

Life on a Chain

Vegeta slowly came back to consciousness. His head was pounding, and he couldn't remember what had happened. He tried to focus his mind on the last thing he remembered. The battlefield…his horse falling…the sounds of swords…smoke filled air…the scent of blood…Reaching for his sword, he tried to leap to his feet, but there was no sword, and he wasn't on the battlefield. He dragged his hand across his face and tried to focus his cloudy mind. The room was dimly lit, and the heavy shutters were closed, he was unable to gauge the time, or see much of the room, but he could tell it was unfamiliar to him. He wasn't restrained in anyway, so it was doubtful he had been taken prisoner. He started to rise from the uncomfortable cot he was on, but someone was beside him, pushing him back with gentle hands.

"You must rest." A soft voice whispered.

"Where…" he began, but the effort to speak was too much on his lungs. Broken ribs, he realized, probably from the fall.

"Safe. You are safe. You've been injured though and need to rest. I promise we will tell you everything then." A wet cloth smelling heavily of lavender and chamomile was laid on his forehead. The figure moved away for a moment and when she entered the light from the fire he could see the figure was a woman, but it was her hair that caught his attention the most. It was blue; he'd never before seen a human with blue hair. He opened his mouth to ask another question, but she quickly turned and looked over her shoulder, almost in panic. She hurried over to him, pulling a shawl over her head. She leaned over him, and all he could see were huge aqua eyes, "Rest," she whispered again, running her hand gently down the side of his face, "Soon you will know everything." She quickly straightened and hurried toward the door.

Vegeta squinted to watch her figure leave, and thought he saw a hand grab her the moment she was out of the door. The door slammed after her, and as much as he wanted to follow, he couldn't find the energy to rise from the cot much less follow. He closed his eyes and slipped into the oblivion of sleep.

Bulma knew he was waiting for her outside the door, and the longer she put off leaving the room the worse it would be for her. With one last quick glance at the figure on the bed, she started toward the door. His hand clamped down on her wrist the moment she was in reach with a biting grip. "What the hell where you doing in there again?" he demanded, slamming the door.

She tore her arm away from him, thankfully he let go or it would have been broken, "He's injured you idiot. I wanted to make sure he wasn't dying. You were only suppose to bring him back here, not kill him." She snapped, starting down the corridor.

Radditz caught her by the hair before she could do more than turn her back on him, and pulled her against him, "He's suppose to be king." He hissed in her ear, "If he can't handle a few bumps and bruises than he's not fit to rule, is he?" He shoved her away, hard, "You have work to do, which is the only reason I haven't killed you yet, you know. For some reason Father thinks whatever stupid toy you are creating can help us win the war."

She moved away from him quickly, but turned when she was close to a safe escape route, "Your father is far wiser than you. And they say your brother is the one who is not right in the head." She heard his angry growl, and ducked into the room in front of her before he could catch her again.

All eyes at the table turned towards the door when it opened. Bulma quickly dropped her eyes to the floor, mumbling an apology she hurried to the workshop on the other side of the room. She knew they would ask that idiot Radditz about the prince's condition. He was not far from the truth when he told her if it wasn't for the weapon she was making both she and her father would be dead. For months they had been in her home, first planning for the battle, and now planning the next step. She and her father had finished the weapon days ago, but had yet to tell them for fear they would no longer be necessary and killed.

Thankfully, there was only a handful, although, Radditz and Nappa were enough. Bardock didn't seem bothered by their presence, but the Namek seemed to take an interest in her, that was unnerving at best. She hoped once the prince was healed, he might take some pity on them and spare their lives. She tried not to think of the fact that Frieza, a ruler who had destroyed entire races on a whim, had raised him.

Her father looked up from his work as she entered, "How is he?" he whispered, in general the Saiyans become suspicious if they heard Bulma and her father talking about anything other than work.

She glanced over her shoulder, but the Saiyans were busy arguing at the table, and the Namek stood in the corner with his eyes closed. "He is a Saiyan so the injuries should not be life threatening." She told him, "But you would have thought they were trying to kill him, instead of rescue him."

"You heard what they said, he may not have realized what they were doing. Who knows what Frieza may have told him."

Footsteps coming toward the room halted their conversation. Her father turned to talk to the visitor, but Bulma kept her head lowered, peering at the door out the corner of her eyes.

"Girl!" Bardock snapped, and Bulma raised her head, shocked, she was rarely addressed directly, he motioned for her to follow him to the other room. She cast a nervous glance at her father, but followed, trying hard to keep her fear from showing.

Bardock joined the others at the table, but Bulma kept her distance, trying to remain near the door.

"No one will hurt you, girl." The Namek said, although it seemed more of a warning to the Saiyans than a reassurance to her.

Bulma glanced nervously at the figure in the corner, wrapped from head to toe; the only thing visible was his eyes. She had never seen him, and wasn't even sure if he was a Namek. Everyone knew that they had existed, but Frieza had destroyed the race so long ago they were considered legend. There were stories of surviving Nameks, but they were considered rumors and nothing more. Something about his eyes and the way he looked at her made Bulma nervous, but she trusted his words, and stepped closer to the table, although she made sure to keep her distance from Radditz.

"You spoke with the prince?" Bardock asked her.

Bulma hesitated, "In a manner of speaking, yes. He regained consciousness briefly." She glared at Radditz.

"Is he aware of the situation?"

"I don't believe so. He was barely awake, so I can't be sure. I thought it best that he should hear any explanations from you, Sir." She inclined her head slightly toward him.

The barest flicker of a smile touched the corner of his mouth; girl wasn't as stupid as they had first believed. "Go and see if he is well enough to come and meet with us."

She gaped at him for a moment, shocked by the unusual request; even Nappa and Radditz shifted uncomfortably. It was obvious both wanted to question the decision, but were wise enough to hold their tongues. "Yes, Sir." Bulma mumbled heading toward the door.

"I will go with her." The Namek's voice was loud and sudden in the quiet of the room. Bulma froze and slowly turned toward him, trying to hide her fear.

"As you wish." Bardock shrugged.

Bulma watched nervously, as he walked past her and out the door. Pausing in the hall, he waved an impatient hand at her and barked, "Come." She hurried toward the door, careful to keep her distance as she followed him to the prince's room.

Bardock leaned back in his chair, and regarded the two Saiyans in front of him. "It begins now. This is the beginning of the end of Frieza's rule."

Radditz snorted, leaning his chair back on two legs, "I wish I had your confidence, Father. We have a prince who's sick in bed, and you have that blue haired bitch taking care of him, not to mention the Namek. That's hardly a worthy start."

Bardock swung his foot out, knocking the chair out from under Radditz, "I would suggest you don't question me further." He growled.

Radditz glared at him, as he picked himself up and righted his chair.

"Maybe it would be easier to believe if we knew the plans, Sir." Nappa said.

"In time." Bardock promised, "In time."

Bulma hung back, keeping her pace slow behind the Namek. It was strange that the Saiyans would take orders from him, and she wondered what they knew that she didn't. There was something about him that caused fear, but at the same time was calming for some reason. It was a disturbing combination to say the least. The Namek suddenly stopped and Bulma froze.

"Quit cowering back there and walk beside me." He snapped, not turning around, "Prove I was not wrong about you."

"What are you talking about?" she whispered, afraid to move, a sense of panic overtaking her. It took all her will power not to run.

He waved his hand motioning her forward, pointing to the spot next to him angrily.

She nervously moved forward, her heart pounding. She was unsure if it was fear of the Namek or fear of what he would tell her. "What…" she began, but his hand shot forward and grabbed her chin. His grip was gentle, but firm, as he tilted her head up to look in her eyes. He must have found whatever he was looking for, because he released her with an almost imperceptible nod, and continued walking.

Confusion and angry overpowered Bulma's fear, and she placed her hands on her hips, stomping her foot, "I am not moving from this spot, until you tell me what is going on!" she cried at his retreating back.

He stopped and slowly turned to look at her, a glint in his eyes. "We are going to bring the prince to the other Saiyans." He answered a command in his tone. "Now come." He snapped.

Bulma gulped and hurried to catch up with him, suddenly not wanting to make him angry.

Vegeta slept restlessly, never sure what was a dream and what was reality. Strange images clouded his head, battles he remembered as real and others that he was sure were a dream, figures moved through the scenes, none of the faces were familiar to him. It was the heavily cloaked figure that startled him the most, he believed it was the specter of death finally come for him. The figure leaned over him and he was unable to move.

Bulma watched from a distance as the Namek leaned over Vegeta. She couldn't see what he was doing, but the next thing she knew, Vegeta was choking and flailing. With a gasp she started forward, but he had calmed by the time she reached the bedside. She crouched next to the bed, and once she was sure he wasn't dead she spun around to the Namek, "What did you do? Do you know who the Saiyans would blame if he died?"

"Logically, the one who beat him." The Namek responded, calmly.

"Fine," she raged, "and what do you think Radditz would do to me after he received his punishment?"

"Do you know what the punishment for murdering a king is?"

"According to who?"

"Those who murdered kings are killed according to the old ways."

"The old ways are long dead." A tired voice said from behind Bulma.

With a shriek, Bulma fell and scuttled away from the bed.

"As you can see, I've healed him." The Namek told her, a trace of amusement in his voice.

Vegeta ignored them, glancing around the room with narrowed eyes, taking in the situation. Nothing in the room looked familiar, and he couldn't remember anything after he had ridden into battle. He could have been out for days, or weeks for all he knew, but he knew he couldn't ask. He was at a loss as to how to proceed, until the woman's shrill voice caught his attention.

"That is not what I was told to do!" she cried, stomping her foot, "Do you have some grudge against me? It sure seems like you are trying to get me killed!"

"Had you let me finish what I was saying, you would know better." The Namek told her clearly annoyed, "You will escort him to his rooms, and I will tell the Saiyans it was his command."

"But he didn't say any of that." She pointed out.

The Namek sighed, and appeared to crumple before them for just a moment, "I realize that, but it would hardly be fitting for a king to accept commands, now would it?"

"Ohhh," Bulma's face lit up with understanding, "Now I get it!"

Vegeta's patience was at an end; he would get no answers listening to the ridiculous conversation going on around him, he would have to take matters in his own hands. Kicking off the blankets that covered him, he stood up.

Bulma gasped and pulled her shawl over her eyes, "What did they do with his clothes?" she cried.

The Namek wordlessly tossed a pile of clothes to Vegeta. "Take the king to his rooms," he told Bulma, whom still had her back to them, "I will send some food and clothes, and let the Saiyans know his decision." He glanced at Vegeta, taking in the torn, bloody clothes; "I will bring them to him when he looks a little more regal."

"Wait just one minute…" Vegeta began.

The Namek stopped at the door, but did not turn around, "She will answer all your questions." He said simply and left.

Bulma turned around nervously, "I'll take you to your rooms." She motioned towards the door.

Vegeta crossed his arms and scowled at her, "I'm not going anywhere until I know what is going on here."

"I can explain it on the way," she told him, fidgeting with her shawl, her heart pounding. The look in his eyes frightened her and she found herself wishing the Namek hadn't left.

He moved forward before she realized what was happening, and wrapped his hand around her throat, "You will tell me now, and you will tell me the truth or I will snap your neck." He applied slightly more pressure.

Bulma sighed, anger overtaking her fear, "You know would it be too much of a luxury to go through one day without being threatened with death? Just one day, is that too much to ask?"

Vegeta tightened his grip, "Why am I here?" he hissed through clenched teeth.

"You really don't know, do you?"

"I'm tired of these games. Give me a straight answer now!"

"The Saiyans brought you here." She gasped.

"Why?" he loosened his grip slightly.

"To defeat Frieza."

"Why me?"

"Because you are their king!"