Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Reflections of a King ❯ Chapter 7

Reflections of a King

(chapter 7)

Vegeta's smile.

Exquisite. Breathtaking.

Like a gorgeous pearl, made only more precious because of its rarity.

Looking back, I remember every smile that ever crossed my son's face.

As a baby, his chubby little smiles, accompanied by coos of joy, when I blew on his toes and his neck.

Vegeta as a toddler, always asking "Was sat?" I would answer him and he would reward me with a big grin.

Vegeta as a young boy, his smiles few and far between, but when he did smile it was like the sun breaking through the clouds.

His familiar one-sided smirk, sarcastic, sardonic, a man's cynicism on a child's face. And I remember most of all the very last time I saw him smile.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A rare morning, indeed. I awakened to an unfamiliar sound…Vegeta's breathing. He was standing beside my bed, quietly, just staring at me. It was unnerving, considering

that the child had never before came to my bedroom. If he ever had nightmares, he had never once asked to sleep in my bed. I reached up with one hand, and touched his arm. He stiffened, almost as if he had been in a trance. "What is it? Are you alright?" I asked softly.

Vegeta nodded his head, and whispered, "Can I get in bed with you?"

"Of course, " I said, turning back the covers. He got into bed, and curled against my side. I held him around the shoulders. He curled his feet against my thigh and I yelped. "Hey, you, your feet are like ice!"

He started giggling, and I tickled his ribs. Vegeta tried to push me away, but then thought better of it. He bent his knees, and put his cold toes under the hem of my nightshirt. "Aaahh!!" I screamed, and he just laughed harder.

We wrestled for a while. I pinned him down and then let him pin me. I grabbed his arms and pulled his face down where I could kiss him. He moved his head from side to side, trying to get away from me. It finally ended when he got aggravated and bit my chin. We laid back down, his head on my chest, and went back to sleep.

Vegeta woke me up a few hours later. I had already missed most of my morning conferences, and he had missed his training. I don't think either one of us cared. I made him breakfast and as he ate, he talked. About everything. His instructors, his training drills, why he liked bacon rather than sausage, how much he hated his new cloak, his plan to be a Super Saiyan, about anything that came into his head…I had rarely heard him string two sentences together, but that morning he talked to me for hours.

Vegeta was having a match later that afternoon and he asked me to come. It was against a much older, much larger boy, but he was convinced that he would win. I agreed to accompany him, and I sent a message to my court saying that I was taking the day off… deal with it. I felt happiness surging in my chest. I had been forgiven. We were a family again, and somehow it was better than before.

I watched Vegeta as he dressed for his match. He was wiry, with lean, muscular arms and legs. As he pulled on his gloves, I shuddered to think of him using those long, slim fingers in a fight. It was like using a porcelain vase as a sledge-hammer. His feet were just as fine-looking, and I was struck by just how small he was. I was used to his size, but when compared to other children of the same age, he was incredibly miniaturized. I can't imagine why I let him fight, but I suppose that I could not have stopped him. Vegeta was born a warrior, and he will die a warrior.

The match was being held near the palace, in an open-air stadium. Others in Vegeta's classes were already there, fighting. Ki blasts were forbidden, the children not being old enough yet to control their energy. Vegeta walked into the arena, his head held high. We were, of course, greeted with much pomp and circumstance, something that never failed to please my son. I noticed that while most of the boys were gathered in a group, Vegeta stood with no one. No one greeted him, beyond the initial respectful bows. He was a loner, and I wonder now if this bothered him, or if he liked it better that way.

I waited patiently in the stands, in the box reserved for the nobility. None of my cousins or other family were present, so I amused myself by asking Vegeta's instructor to join me. The poor man looked shocked to be asked to sit beside the Saiyan no Ou, and I took pity on him. I asked him questions about Vegeta's progress, and he was quick to answer. He forgot himself many times in our conversation, so vocal was he in praise of Vegeta's accomplishments. This told me that he wasn't trying to curry my favor, but that the man was truly impressed by my son's achievements.

A gong sounded, signaling the next fighters to ready themselves. Vegeta marched out onto the field, looking every bit the Saiyan no Ouji. My heart swelled with pride. If he was nervous or afraid, it didn't show in the least. The other fighter was a twelve-year old boy, extremely large even for a Saiyan. The child's name was Nappa, and the instructor informed me that Vegeta had not only requested this fight, he had actually issued a challenge.

I was worried, I must admit. This child seemed to be more than capable of tearing the small prince apart. Vegeta barely reached the giant's chest, but he looked totally confident.

The beginning gong sounded, and before it had even stopped echoing, Vegeta was off his feet. He crashed head-long into Nappa's chest, his fists and legs flying. The other boy was slow to react, and Vegeta's natural speed and agility were to his advantage. Nappa swiped at Vegeta's head with one large fist. I cringed, but the blow missed by a mile.

Vegeta was moving so fast that I almost couldn't follow his movements. He would land a punch or a kick, then blur and reappear, only to land another blow. Nappa was becoming agitated. Vegeta kicked out and Nappa's head nearly twisted off his neck. He was growling so loud I could hear him in the stands. Vegeta wasn't intimidated in the slightest. He was working on Nappa's knees, kicking them each in turn. When the older boy reached down to fend off the attack, Vegeta head-butted him. Nappa raised his hand to his nose, and Vegeta flashed behind him and kicked him in the back of the knees. He dead-legged and toppled over. The match was finished in a matter of minutes, but Vegeta had a little something extra planned.

Nappa was writhing on the ground, moaning in pain and frustration. Vegeta stalked over, and leaned into the giant's face. I heard him say, "Now, who's the pathetic weakling?"

The older boy didn't answer. Vegeta sighed. He stood up and kicked Nappa directly in his face. Blood spurted onto the ground. He squatted down beside the boy again and asked, "Who is? Who is the pathetic weakling, Nappa? I'm giving you just one more chance to get this right. I know you're stupid, but you can't be that fucking stupid."

Holding his nose, Nappa began violently shaking his head. He groaned, "No, Vegeta-sama, I'm sorry, please, I'm the pathetic one."

Vegeta nodded his head. "Very good, Nappa. I'm glad we had this discussion. Now, on another note, I'm afraid I have to make an example of you. This way, I won't have to go through this with any of your friends." He grabbed Nappa by his waist, and picked the other boy up, high above his head. Everyone, including me, gasped in astonishment.

Vegeta said loudly, "Listen up, `cause I'm only saying this one time. I'm small. So what. Get the fuck over it. I don't care how big or strong you think you are, I will stomp your ass into the dirt. I've fought Frieza, and I'm still alive. I fought your muscle-man, Nappa, and I'm the victor. So, any of the rest of you motherfuckers wanna piece of this, just step your asses on up."

The gang of boys all seemed to step back at one time. I could hear them all begin talking at the same time, "No, Ouji-sama, we don't have a problem…" , "My lord, we're sorry if Nappa bothered you", "It will never happen again, Vegeta-san "…

Vegeta laughed as he hefted the large boy toward the crowd. "Yes, well, let's see that it doesn't." He slapped the dirt from his hands and knees, and walked off the field, completely unscathed. I was dumbfounded. This was incredible…if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes…

I rushed out of the stands to meet Vegeta. He was waiting for me, looking towards the palace. I called his name, and he turned his face toward me. My god. He was simply stunning. His eyes were lit with black fire, and his face glowed with pride. And that smile. His smile spoke volumes, it told me so very much…I'm proud, it said, are you proud, too? I was and told him so. I grabbed him around the waist and hugged him tightly. Vegeta didn't fight me for once, just gave as good as he got.

I pulled out of the embrace, asking, "What the hell was that all about? Why didn't you tell me this was going on?"

He just shook his head. "No, Father, I had to take care of this myself."

I ruffled his hair, and he glowered at me. "Well," I said, "you certainly took care of it, alright. Boy, you are Saiyan down to your very bones."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

We returned to the palace, and as soon as we did, I was met by a covey of anxious advisors. "My Lord, " they started, before I could even get inside. Vegeta just rolled his eyes, and started walking towards our quarters. I held up my hand, halting the flow of words. "Vegeta, " I called.

He looked back at me, that incredible smile still spread across his face. He raised one eyebrow. I called out, "I'll be home later. I love you." He nodded and turned away.

I wouldn't see my son for another two years.

I never saw him smile again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I looked back at my first advisor, he looked like he was about to piss his pants. "What the fuck is going on. It can't be that bad."

Their heads all started nodding in unison.

"Goddamn it, if someone doesn't start talking fast, I'm gonna blast the whole lot of you straight to hell," I screamed. Vegeta was a bad influence.

Second advisor yelped, "Highness, it's Lord Frieza…" He broke off speaking, and looked over his shoulder. The others just nodded. I waited. No one said anything.

"Well?" I asked impatiently, "What about Lord Frieza?"

First advisor whispered, "He's here, sir."

I just looked at him. Finally, I said, "And…?"

One of the others piped up, "He wants to see you, sir." That set the rest to bobbing their heads again.

"And that's the emergency? Frieza's here and he wants to see me?" I mocked. More nodding. I was exasperated. I yelled, "You stupid bastards stay here. I get so fucking tired of your incompetent bullshit."

I turned and headed toward the main throne room, but not before I saw the looks of gratitude on their faces. "What has gotten into them?" I thought.

I was about to find out…

(To be continued)

Author's note: Weirdness. I knew a few days ago, that I was gonna have Vegeta fight some kid. I wasn't even thinking about Nappa. Not even once. I was just typing, and there he was…Dasia's muse rears her ugly head.