Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Potential ❯ Twists and Turns ( Chapter 12 )

Potential

Chapter 12: Twists and Turns

 

Hey guys, man I feel like I have done nothing but type for the past four days! I hope you have all been enjoying that feeling you get when school is ending…too bad I signed up for summer semester! Idiot. Now that everything's out of the way, let's continue.

 

I have got a few emails concerning how Vegeta's marriage to Bulma whether she's a princess or not matters, so I decided to address the issue with an outline of how the Saiyan monarchy works here.

 

Last we heard, Frieza had arrived at Vegeta's door with a bunch of other guys, demanding to see Bulma…why?!? Let me explain:

 

-If Vegeta married a servant girl (like he thought) then he could still be king, he could not gain full control of the conquered lands. Obviously this didn't upset him terribly, because Frieza's death would mean he would inherit all of these lands anyway. (Princesses can be hard to come by.)

 

-However, if Vegeta married a Princess, (Bulma to be exact) then he not only becomes

King Vegeta, and she a queen, but he retains ownership of all lands conquered by

Saiyans, plus lands belonging to the Briefs and other lords, and of course his home

Lands.

 

How does this affect Frieza? I'm glad you asked!

-Frieza thought at first that Vegeta had married just some servant and this meant that Vegeta was not as big a threat without the support of the surrounding lords and territories.

 

-but Frieza wants to find Bulma because his marriage to her ensures his place as King (since he isn't a true king, he can only become one by marrying royalty) and then he can eliminate Vegeta.

 

Get it now? Probably not, but that's okay. Here is Chapter 12

 

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CHAPTER 12: Twists and Turns

 

Bulma sat on the edge of her bed, their bed, crying.

 

Since she had been locked in there it had become painfully obvious that there was a very good chance that Vegeta would indeed do something drastic, not eliminating the idea that she would be handed over to Frieza on a silver platter and he would become king.

 

King! This was something that she could not allow. Should Frieza lay a finger upon her flesh, Bulma vowed to take her life…

 

There was one thing that haunted her more than the idea of being given to Frieza, and that was Vegeta's feelings toward her. When Bulma had snapped and told him that she hated him, the prince had not replied with his usual name calling that he seemed to enjoy so much. Instead she seemed to receive the one thing she never thought possible to escape the lips of an arrogant man such as himself…

 

 

::Flashback::

 

“I hate you, Prince Vegeta,” she hissed to him.

 

In one rigid movement, Vegeta turned toward her, exposing his stiff, emotionless face. With absolute loathing in his voice, he seemed to agree with her.

 

“So do I, Princess,” he uttered sadly.

 

::end of flashback::

 

 

What had he meant by that?

 

Bulma's thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.

 

The last thing she needed now was someone barking orders at her! Suddenly a thought occurred to her! What if it was Vegeta!?

 

She could feel her hear jerking in her chest at the thought of him. If only she could seduce him again, maybe then she could tell him how sorry she was, how she had never meant to hurt him…

 

Bulma considered this to be her best bet, and in typical Brief's manner, got to work on her idea. She ripped the sleeve of her light green gown and pushed on her cleavage to give a supreme view. As the knocking continued, she furiously ran her fingers through her hair, praying that if she looked wild enough, he would come to her, placing his fingers on her skin, teasing her with his lips…

 

“Oh right! The door!” she remembered, forcing herself out of her dreamlike state.

 

Bulma placed a hand on the door, preparing to open it and to jump all over Vegeta with her feminine wiles, but when she it, she didn't find Vegeta at all.

 

What she found was a beaten and bruised Launch.

 

“Launch, are you all right?!” Bulma asked as her friend limped through the door.

 

Launch sat down in one of the chairs by the doorway to take a rest, absent mindedly tending to her wounds.

 

“Tell me, what happened, who did this to you?!” Bulma demanded. Her handmaiden looked as though she could barely stand, and half her face was swollen as thought someone had beaten her.

 

“Please do not worry, Lady Bulma. I came here to tend to you,” she said softly.

 

Bulma would hear none of it as she got on one knee to make sure her friend was well.

 

“You will do no such thing!” Bulma screeched. “Tell me who did this to you?! Was it one of Vegeta's men? I will have them tortured…”

 

Suddenly Launch jumped up, unable to take her mistress' speculation.

 

“It was not one of Vegeta's men, my lady, but one of Frieza's! He cornered me in the stable and…”

 

She did not need to say anymore, Bulma knew what had happened.

 

Launch was one of the most beautiful women in the territories, and as a servant, there was little she could do to keep from being harassed by the soldiers every once in a while, but this…Frieza had done this to send a message.

 

“I swear Launch…I will make sure he pays for this!”

 

Once again, Launch looked horrified at the idea of Bulma going any such thing.

 

“No, please my lady, do not! If you do so, Radditz will find out and he will go after Frieza personally, with or without Vegeta's permission. I love him Bulma! I could not bear to seem him get killed by someone over me!”

 

Bulma was completely amazed. Launch had never made any mention of caring for another, much less Radditz, Vegeta's second in command!

 

“What? When? Never mind…what is important is…”

 

Bulma was being ignored. Launch was not paying attention to her words at all, but staring at her.

 

Launch looked absolutely surprised at her mistress' state of dress.

 

“Bulma!” Launch gasped. “What happened to your dress? Did Vegeta do this to you?!”

 

The princess nearly laughed out loud. Vegeta had ravished her before, but never to this extent.

 

Bulma could feel a sense of sadness as she thought about the fact that there was a very real possibility she would never be held in Vegeta's arms again.

 

“No,” Bulma lamented, “I did.”

 

Launch looked absolutely confused.

 

“Why?!” She asked.

 

Bulma waved her arm at her dearest friend as thought wanting to change the subject.

 

“So, why did you come up here, Launch? If anyone finds out you came up here…”

 

Suddenly Launch's polite manner shifted to a worried one.

 

“Everyone in the castle has heard about how Vegeta came to find out about your identity! I was worried sick, especially now that Frieza is downstairs speaking to him right now!”

 

It was at that moment that Bulma lost her balance and crashed into the side table with a dull *thud*. Launch ran over to her, terrified.

 

“BULMA!” she shrieked.

 

Bulma sat up slowly, inspecting her wounds. The accumulation of all the fear and loathing she had felt to this point had taken its toll on her. She could scarcely comprehend her fate that lay ahead of her.

 

“I-I-I…he's really going to do it. He is going to hand me over to Frieza,” Bulma whispered sadly. Her heart was breaking at the thought. Did she truly care so deeply for her Prince?

 

Launch took her friend into her arms with tears streaming down her face. How had things changed so much in such little time?

 

“Maybe not, Bulma. I don't think he would so gladly hand you to Frieza, even if he hated you above everything else in the world.”

 

Bulma looked up at her friend as a ray of hope crossed her face. Perhaps…

 

The moment ended as a sturdy, yet attractive man burst into the room.

 

“Launch! My-my lady! What are you doing here?!” Radditz stammered in surprise.

 

Launch rose quickly as she tried to help her friend.

 

“Rad- I mean, sir Radditz! I was merely helping my lady. She fell and-”

 

Launch did not finish her sentence. Before she knew it, Radditz was running his fingers gently along her face, examining her as though he was a doctor.

 

“Does it hurt?”

 

“No, I am fine.”

 

“No, you need to go to the infirmary, NOW.”

 

“Please, my lord, I am tending to Lady-” Launch used her eyes to indicate that Bulma was still in the room. Radditz suddenly remembered that there had been a reason he had come to speak to Bulma.

 

“Lady Bulma,” Radditz bowed.

 

Bulma felt a pang of guilt at the fact that she had not only lied to Vegeta, but also to every one of his soldiers who had been so kind to her, despite her hostility.

 

“Please, tend to Launch first, Radditz,” Bulma acknowledged.

 

Radditz smiled in appreciation and his attention turned back to Launch. Her face was slightly swollen on the left side, and her cheek had a large gash on it. Also her fingers were bleeding, and there was blood on her dress.

 

“Who did this?” Radditz asked with a deadly calm.

 

Launch turned away, afraid to answer.

 

“Launch, please! Tell me!”

 

Launch's big blue eyes gave way to a stream of tears, and Radditz took her in his arms, holding her small frame in his large arms.

 

“Frieza….one of his men….” She whimpered.

 

Radditz kissed her solidly on the forehead and looked to Bulma.

 

“I just came up here to tell you that Vegeta is not going to reveal you Frieza, not yet. He has a plan, and you might want to help him, my lady,” Radditz told her with a hint of question to his voice.

 

Bulma nodded her head indicating that she agreed and watched as Radditz made a last pass at Launch.

 

“Don't worry, Love. I will take care of this. I will make him suffer!” he growled as he rushed out of the room.

 

“Oh no, please let this end well…”

 

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Vegeta kept his hand at the hilt of his sword then entire time he strode toward the door to the guest hall. He never knew what to expect from his uncle, and this time was no different. If he thought that Vegeta would just hand over the one thing that kept Frieza from obtaining power throughout the kingdom, then he was sadly mistaken…

 

Frieza had a smug look of confidence on his lizard-like face as Vegeta entered the hall.

 

“Nephew! So glad to see you! We were just discussing how delicious that beautiful wife of yours must be in bed-”

 

Frieza's taunt was cut short as Vegeta drew his sword, just slightly enough to show that he wasn't in the mood for fun and games.

 

“What is it you want Frieza? State your business here,” Vegeta growled.

 

His uncle's look of merriment disappeared at the prince's harsh tone.

 

“You know why we are here. The woman you married is no servant, she is Princess Bulma, and the apparent heir to the Briefs land and country,” Frieza hissed.

 

Vegeta stood there unfazed. The only emotion he showed was the hint of anger at the mention of Bulma's name.

 

“I don't know what you are talking about uncle, but I assure you, I will look into it. Now if you will excuse me, there are soldiers to train,” Vegeta said coolly before bowing and starting to exit. His smooth plan was disrupted by a cry from one of the lords.

 

“Please, Prince Vegeta. I need to know if Bulma is alive! She means the world to me!”

 

Vegeta turned slowly to come face to face with a man in his late 50's with short curly brown hair and kind blue eyes. Vegeta was a good judge of character, and something about this man stuck him as good.

 

The prince strode up to the man who was an inch or two shorter in stature, but obviously a seasoned warrior.

 

“What is your name, sir?” Vegeta asked the man.

 

“I am Duke Leo of Westhill. I was a close friend to the Briefs,” he answered.

 

Vegeta nodded his head slightly in understanding. He had heard of the man before. Leo was perhaps the most powerful and most well liked lord in the surrounding lands, and had been a keen ally to Briefs himself.

 

“I understand my lord, but if I find this to be true, you will be the first I-”

 

Vegeta was unable to finish his sentence because it was at that very moment that Radditz burst in, sword drawn, and charged at the group.

 

“FRIEZA!” he bellowed as he ran at the tyrant.

 

Before his blade could hit its mark however, he was disarmed by a furious yet precise Vegeta.

 

Vegeta grabbed the blade and used his other arm to restrain Radditz, totally unsure of why his most trusted companion had suddenly become so enraged.

 

“Nappa, Tamahome! Restrain him, NOW!” Vegeta ordered.

 

As the two men did as they were told, the attention focused to Frieza. What had he done to inspire such rage in one of the most calm and straightforward men in Vegeta's troops?

 

His question was answered as Frieza let out a nervous laugh. It seemed his brush with death was a little more than nerve-wracking.

 

“It seems you need to teach your men a few manners, Vegeta,” Frieza hissed.

 

Vegeta looked over to Radditz again, who was now shouting slurs and curses in his uncle's direction.

 

“Frieza! You bastard! I know you were behind this! Your men will never lay another finger on her as long as I live!” Radditz spat as he tried to break the grasp of Nappa and Tamahome.

 

Frieza could see it was getting harder and harder to restrain him and decided it was time to go.

 

“Very well Vegeta, we shall make our leave now, but we will be back soon, and that wife of yours had better be in a more revealing mood!” he hissed.

 

Frieza and the lords left with the large door slamming behind them.

 

Vegeta's attention immediately went to his partner, who was finally released from his captors.

 

“Radditz! I demand an explanation!” Vegeta ordered.

 

Radditz was still engulfed with fury as he told Vegeta of Frieza's men, and how they had done unspeakable things to his future bride. Vegeta's mouth twisted into a look of pure disgust. One thing he hated was men without honor.

 

“You must not allow your anger to get the best of you, not yet. It is too soon. For now, tend to your woman, and I will handle Frieza,” Vegeta stated.

 

Radditz finally regained his composure and bowed to his prince. But before he could walk away, Vegeta spoke again.

 

“No matter what, I will be the one to kill Frieza, no one else,” Vegeta growled.

 

Radditz swallowed hard, for he knew that the temperament on his leader was more dangerous than any sword, and he was in no mood to be killed.

 

“Sire, before I leave,” Radditz continued, unsure of his fate after he finished speaking his mind.

 

Vegeta gave him an agitated look.

 

“Perhaps you should talk to O- I mean, Princess Bulma. I think that she feels remorse for her deception, my lord.”

 

Vegeta stared at his old companion for a long time before speaking again.

 

It was true that no matter how angry Vegeta was, he would not allow any harm to come to his wife. Perhaps she deserved to be punished, but he did not seem to know how.

 

“I know, Radditz. I know. But I cannot constantly go to her. She has bewitched me, old ally. I do not know what to do.”

 

Radditz was stunned. He had never in his years of friendship heard Vegeta speak of something so honestly and so deeply. It was obvious he had fallen for the woman in some way.

 

“Perhaps you shouldn't chase after her, my lord. Perhaps you should let her come to you,” Radditz said trivially before exiting the hall.

 

As the doors closed behind him, little did the second-in-command know that inside Vegeta's head, a plan was forming.

 

“Yes, perhaps starting tonight, I should wait for her to come to me,” Vegeta said to himself, taking a small blue flower out of his pocket as he did so.

 

It seemed he was not ready to let Bulma go so easily.

 

 

END OF CHAPTER 12

 

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OKAY! Now that I have popped out 2 chapters in 2 days, and both of them being relatively full of plot and intrigue. I HAD BETTER NOT GET ANY FLAMES OVER POSTING TIME! LOL, just kidding. In fact, all comments are welcome, and I am so tired of typing, my fingers are jiggling. PLEASE POST REVIEW COMMENT OR EMAIL!!!

 

Chapter 13 will be out ASAP, depending on how much you guys motivate me (*wink wink*)

 

Much love

 

Sophie