Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The King and Queen Diaries ❯ Kyuusai ( Chapter 10 )

Author's Note: Sorry about taking so long to update, but as most of you know, I don't have a monitor on my computer, so I have to type all of this while I have free time at my business school. Well, I hope that you all enjoy...the next chapter should be excellent, and you'll read why at the bottom. ENJOY AND REVIEW!!!!

 

 

 

Chapter Ten: Kyuusai (Salvation)

 

“She is in trouble.”

 

Bardock looked at the aging Anausian woman and stared at her hard with narrowed eyes. The situation was precarious, but this had caught his attention. “What do you mean, `she is in trouble'? Is something going to happen to her?”

 

She was shoving as many medicinal supplies as she could fit into her large valise as quickly as possible. He could tell that she was just trying to be prepared for anything that may happen to the Queen.

 

“When Anausian women become pregnant, my lord, they are different than most races. The Queen's pregnancy is already going to be unpredictable because the father is Saiya-jin.”

 

Bardock handed her a large bottle of white cream that was labeled “pain relief”. She shoved it into the bag. “What does that mean? What are you trying to say?”

 

She bit her aging, colorless lips, and sighed as she placed her hand on her wrinkled forehead. Her whole body looked ten times older than what it really was. “When Anausian women go into labor, my lord, they go into labor for several days. It is a slow, very painful, very agonizing process. Even with the technology that they have, the women still sometimes die. And with the situation we are in, her highness is going to be having a labor with little to no help at all. She is going to have to do it as natural as her foremothers did hundreds of years ago.”

 

Bardock felt the blood drain from his face. Their situation was indeed very bad. They had no idea where they were going to be the moment she went into labor, and they had no way of telling of when she would, considering that the children were going to be half Anausian and half Saiya-jin. Saiya-jins carried longer than Anausians...it could be at any time.

 

“Is she going to be able to handle giving birth to twins?”

 

The older woman jerked around from her task. “She is with twins?” she whispered, so quietly that Bardock strained to hear her.

 

“Yes,” he said simply, not understanding why she suddenly looked ill. He hurried over to her side when her knees buckled and she started to fall. He caught her and helped her sit on the bed next to the valise, clothing, and supplies strewn about her.

 

“She is going to die.”

 

Bardock jerked his hands away from her when she uttered those words.

 

“What do you mean?” he said harshly, perhaps too harshly, but he did not care. “Why is she going to die?”

 

She looked faint. He understood why. She had been raising the Queen since she had been born. He knew they had an attachment, one that was almost like a mother and daughter bond.

 

“My lord, how do you expect her to survive twins, when she is going to have no help at all? I told you that Anausian women need the aid of technology and medicine in order to survive a single child! Our race had dwindled down to mere thousands before they acquired the technology to aid a woman in the birthing process. Why do you think we have no army? We cannot afford to lose our men for another hundred years! That is why we rely solely on technology!”

 

Bardock started pacing back and forth across the plaster-dusted carpet. The bombs had shaken the palace's very foundation, and had caused plaster to fall from the ceiling in the part of the palace that was still accessible.

 

“She will be fine,” he said determinedly, sure of himself. “She is very strong, stronger than even a Saiya-jin woman, in both body and soul. She would not let herself die from something as trivial as giving life.”

 

The old woman gazed at him with sorrow-filled eyes. “We will see.”

 

 

 

**********

 

 

 

Bulma watched as the orange suns started to rise and the men began filing out of their tents. Every morning they trained for three hours, and then they began their perilous journey to find a city or town that could transport them to Versai or help them in any way.

 

Resting her hand on the large curve of her abdomen, Bulma wondered to herself what she would find once they made it to the capital. She imagined that it was either completely destroyed or occupied by the enemy. If the enemy was smart enough, she imagined that they had not touched the huge, ancient stone walls that protected the city from raiders or marauders who would try to take the city or attempt to attack the villagers. That way, if they had not touched them, anyone, including the Queen of Vegeta-sei and her armies, would not be able to get pass them without laying siege.

 

Siege.

 

She immediately swore to herself. She had not thought of that. What if they had to lay siege to Versai just to get in? She knew that very few men had the skills that she had, and if she was not pregnant, she knew she would not have a problem getting into the city by herself.

 

But if they were going to retake the city, or save the citizenry, then they would need the whole army to fight off the invaders.

 

She wondered constantly what they would be like. So alien in appearance that they were not even remotely humanoid? Would they have incredible weapons, so that mere swords would not be able to fight against them? Would they be so skilled with fighting that her rogue villagers turned soldiers would not even stand a chance? Was this just a worthless cause?

 

Her small army was gathered together now, all practicing and learning how to fight. All the seasoned warriors, like Bardock, Turles, her and Vegeta's guard, along with a few of the generals, helped. She had been told by her advisor, who was practicing as well, that it would not be safe for her or her babies to practice or help.

 

He had also told her that as soon as they found the next town, that she was going to the town physician immediately.

 

What if I am with twins?

 

The question constantly plagued her. She had been young when she had left Anausia-sei, but she was not so stupid to have not picked up anything about the difficulty that her fellow womankind had when birthing children—that was why most families only had one child. There were special facilities just for birthing, so the women could go there and safely have their baby. But even then...they sometimes died.

 

A chill ran up her spine, and she unconsciously curled both of her hands around her stomach, which stood out prominently now that she was sitting.

 

“Are you comfortable, your highness?”

 

Bulma looked up to see one of her new guards gazing down at her with concern. He was wearing typical peasant clothing, for there had been little military issue clothing to go around. Only her guards and Vegeta's guards had carried an extra pair, and they were only given to higher-ranked individuals like Brolli.

 

“Yes, I am fine,” she said quietly, knowing that he was just watching out for her, as was his duty.

 

Bulma continued to watch the men train. The rows were twenty men deep and fifteen men wide, give or take a few. There were over three hundred men so far in her army. If they found a few more patriotic villages or towns, then they were well on their way to over a thousand men.

 

The “soldiers” were getting better every day. They each felt the tension to learn as fast as they could, and as best as they could. Some were short of swords, so they shared. A few even had to share tents, for there were not enough to go around. Horses were in short supply as well, and some had to either ride with another, walk, or hitch a ride on the few carts they had available to them.

 

Bulma knew they were close to the ocean, for she could catch a breeze of the fresh salty air occasionally. She prayed every spare chance she had that they would stumble upon a port city and find everything that they needed and more. There were just so many risks...her men starving, getting injured or sick; they had no supplies, and food was fast running out.

 

When the training was finished, the men went back to their tents and took them down. The fires were doused, the horses were untied, and the men began loading the carts with the limited supplies.

 

Bulma quickly made her way to the horse that Vegeta had used in Jighu. He was strong, but surprisingly very docile, which she supposed was good due to her pregnancy. She did not need to deal with a spirited horse right now. Thinking of horses, she wondered briefly about Ucukusii and Warui back in Versai.

 

She sighed and mounted with the help of Bardock, and they were on their way.

 

 

 

**********

 

 

Bulma sent out scouts just before night began to fall. Several men traveled around the area where they were going to set up camp, just to make sure that the area was safe and secure.

 

When time began to go by, Bulma began to worry. She nervously twisted her fingers and walked back and forth next to her horse, who was twitching and irritated from her pacing.

 

“My Queen, rest easy. They are just making a thorough inspection of the area. If they are not back within the next half hour, then we will send out more armed men just in case there are any hostilities.”

 

Just then, there was sudden shouting. Bulma and Bardock jerked around, watching as the horses and men parted so the returning riders could make their way to their Queen.

 

“We found it! We finally found it!”

 

Bulma nearly ran over to the men as they reared in their horses, the animals snorting and breathing harshly due to the hard riding they had just endured.

 

“What? What is it that you have found?” she asked, excitement rushing through her veins. “Food? Shelter? What?”

 

One of the men dismounted hurriedly, and Bulma found that it was Kutibiru. He was instantly by her side.

 

“We found shelter alright! We found that port city that you were looking for, your highness! They have somehow evaded any attacks from the enemy! They are waiting for you, your highness! In fact, they have been waiting for you! Apparently their scouts reported seeing you a few days ago, and they were going to send out a retrieving party tomorrow!”

 

Bulma felt tears come to her eyes in the thanks and happiness that she felt. “We are saved,” she whispered, and then began making orders.

 

“Men! We have found shelter in a nearby city! They are waiting for us! Tonight we will have food in our bellies and sleep in warm beds!”

 

A loud, ecstatic cheer went up. Almost immediately everyone was mounted. Bulma urged her horse to a fast gallop, uncaring in her joy, and followed the scouts so they could lead the way.

 

 

**********

 

 

Trumpets did not herald her entry into the city as they usually did. The royal colors were not flying on large flags on the ramparts and men were not lined up at attention. Bulma was amazed to see the streets empty as her small army made its way into the massive city; it was so quiet compared to when she or her husband arrived to visit somewhere. It was pitch black; hardly any lights were blazing in the windows of homes, or where not visible because they were covered.

 

Bulma was quickly separated from her soldiers. A group of finely dressed military men on horseback escorted her and her lords to the large, oddly futuristic palace on top of a large hill.

 

Bulma had never been to this city, but she was quick to learn that this place had been a favorite of the former King Vegeta. She was also very enthused when she learned that this was a major center for military movement and maneuvers. Many men were trained here, and then sent out into space for further preparation.

 

Bulma and her lords passed by huge military compounds, large stations where ships for space were housed, and she nearly danced with joy when she saw the large towering ships in the harbor.

 

A man beside her came closer on his horse. Bulma did not know him, but he seemed to have some sort of authority about him.

 

“Your majesty, I am honored that you have come to us for help. As you can see, we have evaded any attacks from the enemy. We have made many preparations for the time when they will try to take the city, but we doubt that they will. As you can see,” he said, swiping his hand through the air as they walked through the wide, paved streets. Only a few of the streets in Versai were paved...something was off here.

 

“You seem to be more technologically advanced here,” Bulma said, observing men silently marching down the streets in groups of twenty or more. She had been informed earlier that they were the night guards.

 

The man nodded. “Yes, we are. We have the advantage of having direct space travel, for we have launch pads, stations, and places that build what we need for space traveling. Because of this, we have more trading, business, and commerce. And to aid in this process, we are also the main center for any sort of military involvement.” He chuckled at her look of amazement. “We are also the richest of any city on the planet.”

 

Well, that certainly explained why Versai and this city were so very different. Apparently Versai was more antique. Why though? Why wouldn't Versai, the Capital City of Vegeta-sei, not be more like this city? She tucked the questions to the back of her mind for later.

 

“And your name, sir? I apologize for not asking earlier.”

 

“Lord Haschell, your highness. I am the caretaker of the city while royalty is not residing here. This city, I might add, is called Tibernoa.” He smiled warmly at her as they entered through huge gates that towered several stories above them. She craned her neck up to see the top of the steel and stone structure, but she could not see through the gathering night fog.

 

“Tibernoa was a city frequented quite often by the late King Vegeta, your highness. The late Queen, however, preferred the more scenic cities like Mulani and Versai.”

 

Bulma closed her eyes against the onslaught of memories. Hokora loved Mulani so much...she nearly lived there when her husband did not require her presence. I wonder if it is still there anymore....

 

“Thank you, my lord,” she said softly, feeling relief sink into her bones. Stress from the numerous days of traveling, worrying constantly if she was going to be able to feed the men much longer, wondering if she would have enough men to fight and protect Vegeta-sei. Those worries seemed so far away now. Tibernoa had everything they needed, and more. Just like she had prayed for. Thank the gods....

 

“I will require a meeting as soon as possible,” she said, strength in her words. “We need to discuss the situation.” She looked at the tall, broad man with a kind face, and added, “I assume that you have communication devices and have been in contact with other cities. I need to hear everything; anything in the capital or anywhere on the planet, if anyone knows where the enemy currently is, anything on their weaponry and race...and anything about King Vegeta.”

 

 

**********

 

 

“We have tens of millions of Saiya-jins enrolled in the military, your highness. Where they are however, is out in space. They are protecting other planets, stations, colonies, etc., and they more than likely have no idea what is happening to their home planet. We have very little trained men available on planet, because we never thought anyone would attack us. We are very vulnerable at this point, my Queen. What we need to do is contact the stations in space, find out what we can about this unknown enemy, and get our men home.

 

“They apparently have weapons that far surpass our own, and can travel in space. They have some sort of flying machines, but as far as we can tell, they can only travel for short distances in the sky. More like transport ships, if you will. We do not have a count of their numbers, but we have made an estimate of about ten thousand enemy soldiers. Saiya-jins on this planet outnumber them at least one million to one if that is the case.” Lord Haschell looked around the table at the large gathering. “That estimate, however, has only been gathered from a few cities.”

 

Bulma nodded in sad understanding to the large group of men at the long, square table. Her men, along with the advisors of Lord Haschell, were talking about war strategy, future plans, and what to do with the King missing and her being pregnant.

 

Brolli cleared his throat nervously when all the men started to become quiet after a particularly heated discussion over what had happened to the King. Many of the men declared that he was dead, and there was no point to search for him. Many wondered if the Queen was going to have the much needed male heir, for a female would be unable to inherit the throne.

 

Bulma had sat by helplessly as the men discussed her as if she was not even there.

 

“Surely the Queen is incapable of leading the resistance. She is a woman!”

 

“The Queen is pregnant and unknowledgeable in the area of war. She has been taught in nothing but how to sew and take care of her husband and household! She will have no idea what to do when the time comes down to it.”

 

“She is perfectly capable! She has already shown how strong she is, along with how intelligent! We are still alive! Sure, she is a woman, but she is the Queen! She just needs the help of her advisors!”

 

Brolli cleared his throat again when the silence dragged out. “My lords, I must address the issue of the Queen's pregnancy. We will need a doctor soon, for we believe that she might be having more than one child.”

 

Loud talk erupted around the table, mostly between the generals. Many were worried about the chance of her having twins or more, for the probability of one of them being a male was greater...and that meant the possibility of the line continuing, which meant one of them would not be getting the throne.

 

Bulma stood at the head of the table, and promptly slammed her hands down as hard as she could on the wooden surface. The men jumped at the loud, unexpected sound.

 

“Excuse me, gentlemen, but if you are unaware, we have not heard anything of King Vegeta's death as of yet. If he is still alive, then one of you greedy bastards will not be getting the throne. And have you forgotten that I am Queen until I am either dead or overthrown? Oh yes, and if you have not noticed, most of you are old enough to be my father! If I die of old age, you will long since be gone!”

 

Several men banged their fists on the table in acknowledgement. Bulma nodded to them, and then sneered in the direction of the men who did not support her. “I am here, my lords, whether you like it or not. And yes, I am fighting this war. I have intelligence beyond what many of you can comprehend, and I am a quick learner. I have been taught in the ways of martial arts and swordplay, along with many of the deadly arts. I have an idea on how to fight a war, and I will whether you like it or not.”

 

Bulma smiled when there was clapping. At least some of the men supported her. Her smile grew when some of those men included her captains, her advisor, and Lord Haschell. They were the most powerful among them, and they were the most needed. She was thankful for their guidance.

 

 

**********

 

 

Bulma sat in front of the large mirror, her blue eyes watching the pretty Saiya-jin maid behind her as she brushed her hip-length hair with meticulous, soothing strokes. For the first time in what seemed like forever she was clean, perfumed, and safe inside a warm building, with delicious food in her stomach and a cozy bed waiting for her worn-out, tired body. All she needed was for him to walk into the room and tell her all about his day, and how much he had missed her and how he had thought about her constantly....

 

She closed her eyes and reflected on the days when he would do just that. Thinking of it now, she realized how much she and her husband had changed since he had returned from space after his four-year absence. It was amazing thinking of it now. Vegeta had been a dishonorable bastard before then...he had hated any thought of her and had cared little for her and her very existence. She had despised him with every fiber of her being and had constantly wished that he would just die for taking away her childhood innocence and leaving her for so long.

 

But when he had returned...they had both matured differently over their four year separation—but they had both still held horrible grudges against each other. But those grudges had been slowly forgiven, and in the place of those grudges, affection had grown and love had quickly stolen their hearts. They had fallen so deeply in love with each other that they had become completely different people...Vegeta's soul had become less harsh, less violent in its nature, and hers...well, she had just become happier. Vegeta had been the one to change the most...he had a tendency to listen to people more, care more about what other people thought. His involvement in the people of Vegeta-sei after the plague had proven that to her. Because he cared about what she thought and how she felt, he had cared about how others felt as well.

 

He had treated her so wonderful, like she was the most precious thing in the world to him after he had recovered from the plague. She had saved his life, saved the lives of billions of Saiya-jins, and he had shown her his love and gratitude to her every day. She would notice even the smallest things—like how he would have flowers or sweets delivered to her every now and then, just to remind her that he knew she was by herself and waiting for him at the end of the day. He would even send her little notes, penciled by his own hand, delivered to her throughout the day, just to tell her something funny or that he missed her.

 

And then there would be the days that he would come into her room unannounced, saying that he had canceled the rest of his plans for the day just to spend time with her. What would ensue was always memorable, whether it was a private dinner in their room, going for a walk or out into the city, or even curling up in bed together for no apparent reason other than to be close to each other.

 

Sometimes he would bestow gifts upon her that were so rich and extravagant that she would always ask what she had done to deserve it, for she could not understand why he would ever want to get her something so divine. All of the jewelry he had bought her, or the rich, exotic dresses...or the sexy lingerie that he would always smirk devilishly about, knowing that she would blush, but would still wear for him.

 

And then when he had found out she was pregnant after her accident and losing their first child...he had been so ecstatic that he had just picked her up and spun her around the room. He had treated her so gently after those few short months they had spent together...he had almost been afraid to touch her in fear of hurting her, which, she had to admit, he had done a few times. A strong grip here, a rough grab there, would all make her flinch and her eyes water in pain because of the tender places on her body, but he would be so apologetic afterward that it would always make it better. Sometimes he would even play around and act as if she was as delicate as a feather, and pretend that she could not be touched, which would make her whine for his attention. Of course, that would be his intention, for he knew, just like her, that after ignoring her for so long that she would not be able to stand it any longer. She knew that he liked to be jumped upon now and then—it would boost his male ego.

 

And then, after Jighu had been attacked and they had been forced to flee...how upset he had been that she had been hurt...how his eyes had reflected the betrayal he had felt for himself, how he had broken his promise that nothing would ever happen to her again. It had not been his fault, she knew that, but she knew that he felt responsible for anything that happened to her.

 

He had purposefully tried to stay away from her for a while after that—she was not stupid—but it had not worked. She had needed him to take care of her, and thankfully he had gotten over himself and treated her injuries and helped her eat and bathe herself.

 

She had not even heard anything...any struggle, any fighting, any shouting or cries. She had been floating around in the water, completely oblivious to the fact that her husband was possibly dying right at that moment, while she was blissfully staring up into the night sky, waiting for him to come back.

 

She should have known that after only a few moments of being gone that something was wrong. She should have went with him instead of staying there, or even just followed him to the bank of the stream so she could see what he was doing at all times. They should have had a soldier come down and guard for them, anything at all, she did not care what it was...because if any one of those had been done, she had the feeling that he would still be with her.

 

He was gone. He had been gone for far too long...she had no idea what had happened to him, or what was happening to him. She just wished she knew that he was alive, so she could clutch the hope to her heart and know that there was some way that she would see him again, hold him again. To let him protect her and take care of everything, to let her know that everything would be perfect again, just like it had been back in Jighu before the attack.

 

Would she ever see him again? Would he ever hold her and tell her that he loved her again? Would she get to see the humor dancing in his eyes when she struggled to sit up because she was too heavy with child to do it on her own? Would he ever hold his sons or daughters? Would his children ever know him?

 

“Your highness, are you alright? Shall I call a doctor?”

 

Bulma opened her eyes, startled for a moment. She had almost forgotten where she was, and had apparently started shaking from the memories. Too much, too fast. Oh gods...too much....

 

“No,” she whispered, seeing her azure eyes blurred from tears in the mirror. “I am fine.”

 

 

 

Author's Note: Vegeta makes an appearance next chapter! We will finally find out what has happened to him all this time!