Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The King and Queen Diaries ❯ Kyoukou ( Chapter 24 )

Author's Note: Well everyone, this weekend I literally spent eight hours at the computer and wrote my butt off! I wrote like three chapters so I should be posting them relatively quickly...as long as you guys review hint hint ;)

Chapter Twenty Four: Kyoukou (Panic)

The panic that the city of Versai went into eclipsed anything that Bulma had ever seen before. It spread quickly that Lord Frieza was going to attack an unknown city within the next day. It was presumed that it was Mulani, but it could have been a ploy.

Immediately Bulma sent out transmissions to any cities that had active links, but very few did. She demanded that everyone evacuate to smaller towns and to the forests that covered the planet. She called her father only to discover that he had left planet side to come to Vegeta-sei in order to help. She had no way of knowing how long it would take for Anausia-sei's small army to come for she was unable to contact his fleet with her intermittent connection.

Her several thousand man army was immediately armed. She spoke with Bardock, Turles, and the generals to see the best course of action, and all decided the best idea would be to evacuate Versai as well, and to bring her army to Mulani at once to try to save the lives of the trapped Mulani Saiya-jins. Every life was precious at this point due to the millions upon millions that Lord Frieza had killed, so they had to save them if they could.

Many of the cruisers that Versai owned had been found disabled when Bulma had first retaken her city, but she'd had the foresight to have them repaired. She was thankful now that she had, for she had need of them. Some of the smaller ones were only able to hold a couple dozen men, but there were transporters that were able to hold a couple hundred. Repairs began in earnest for the ones that were inoperable, but Bulma didn't know if they would be ready by the time they would leave, for they were leaving as soon as she was dressed and her army was ready.

Brolli was sitting quietly in front of a dying fire reading aloud when she frantically entered the room. Immediately he stood as she ran into his arms.

"I have heard that you are leaving."

Bulma nodded against his chest and squeezed her eyes shut tight as he held her against him.

"I am coming with you."

Bulma gasped and pulled back to tell him no, but the look in his black eyes stopped her. "Yes. I want you with me if it is the end."

He nodded as he released her and went to collect his things. Together they dressed for war. Although Bulma knew that she was going to be unable to help due to how heavy she was with child, she wanted to be present to help rally her troops and give them hope. She had been told by several soldiers that the speech she had delivered before the battle of Tibernoa had carried her men forward and had helped with the ultimate defeat of Lord Frieza's men. She would not hesitate to speak to her men again if the need arose, and already she was thinking of what she could say to bolster their morale.

While she was donning her armor and cape, Brolli stood before her in full battle regalia very similar to hers. He had been given the same type of armor that she had after arriving back to Versai, for their storerooms had been full of it. Her army had also been given the armor, and almost every man and woman had a pair. His battle-worn sword and other weapons had been sharpened, and now they glimmered dangerously against his body. Bulma watched him as she herself donned on her own deadly weapons. Daggers strapped to her thighs, small knives shoved deep into her white boots, blades almost as long as her forearms were placed carefully into position on her biceps. On her hip she belted her beautifully crafted sword that had been gifted to her by Queen Hokora years before, and a smaller short sword on the opposite side. On her back, carefully sheathed, was not one, but two swords. Vegeta's own sword lay across Bulma's newer, just as finely made sword in a deadly cross. The monarch was covered in so many weapons that Brolli actually felt fear. Not for himself, but for any foe that may cross her path.

Her large belly was almost not noticeable with how well her cape and armor concealed it, and she even stated to him that with how tight the armor fit her body that she felt slimmer and it was easier for her to move. If he didn't know any better, he would think that she was planning on entering battle herself, but upon seeing her stumble and lose her balance, he chuckled and caught her smoothly.

Her becoming blush made him grin down at her as he held her against his chest. She was dipped low in his embrace, and she stared up at him as her fingers curled around his arms. "You are gaining strength," she said quietly, suddenly breathless.

"Y-yes," he said, then frowned. They both knew that when his emotions were running high that he tended to stutter more, but she just laughed softly and placed her hand on his cheek.

"I am so proud of you, Brolli."

His lips quirked upward as he pulled her to a standing position. He straightened her crooked cape and then stood back to admire her. "I am the one who should be p-proud. You have over...overcome s-so much. Now, with how close you are to delivering your c-children, you are g-going into battle as if you yourself are preparing to fight the enemy and va-vanquish them. You are t-truly an amazing Queen."

Bulma felt her blush return, but quickly realized that she was wasting time chatting with him. "Brolli, we must hurry. We have a long trip ahead of us, and we may not make it to Mulani in time if we dally any longer."

He nodded, and together they left the palace of Versai to meet with her army, their only hope to save their planet.

*********

Bulma urged the pilots of the cruisers and transport ships to coax the max out of the engines. As they flew with the whole ship shaking violently, Bulma did not feel fear that they were pushing the ships too hard. She knew that anything made by Saiya-jins could withstand almost everything, and she did not hesitate to order them to keep pushing the machines harder. Even with the engines dangerously close to overheating she did not order the pilots to cease, she told them to keep going. Keep going, she told them, for if they did not make it, then thousands of their brothers and sisters would die.

It was nighttime when they arrived, and Bulma felt excitement thrum through her blood at the sight of Mulani intact and whole. The quiet engines of the ships gave them only some cover, but the sheer heat and wind that they were putting off would alert the enemy quickly if they were nearby. With almost no hesitation Bulma commanded to touchdown in the air field inside the city. With her generals protesting in the background, Bulma yelled without preamble into the vidscreen visible on all the ships to attack as soon as they touched down. No stealth was going to be applied; it was going to be pure brute force. She felt a smirk twist her lips at the sight of thousands of Saiya-jins already growling and snarling in the backgrounds on the numerous vidscreens before her, their weapons ready in their hands. Saiya-jins were truly magnificent creatures in battle, and she felt their blood lust in the air. It was almost permeable.

The moment the doors to the cruisers and transports opened, Saiya-jins were pouring out, battle cries on their lips. Almost instantly the city was overflowing with her army, and she felt her smirk grow and her eyes grow wide as her excitement gathered and she watched her army overwhelm the white aliens that were inside the city. There were a couple hundred from what she could discern, and as she left the ship and set foot on the ground, she quickly went about the city with her guard to take care of any “diplomacy” that might be needed. Her men didn't leave many captives, the lust was in their veins and they wanted the enemy's blood on their hands. They had been living in fear for too long, and they felt the need to end it just as she did. When she was presented the leader of the pathetic battalion that had been garrisoned in the city, she quickly dispatched him to hell. She felt no remorse as the light left his eyes and the last thing he saw was the twisted smile on her face.

You will repopulate Vegeta-sei and bring it to its ultimate glory, is that right, Lord Frieza? I will die first!

The caged Saiya-jins were released the moment that the last alien was killed. Bulma urged any capable man or woman to arm themselves for they were possibly going to be attacked. Both eager and their morale soaring to unknown heights, the captured Saiya-jins went to the city's armory to adorn themselves with weapons and armor. Almost instantly Bulma's army swelled to over two thousand more strong. Her hope surged as she looked at Brolli across the field from her, their gazes colliding. He looked like a warrior god, his large, armor covered Saiya-jin body splattered in blood, his long, deadly sword in his hand, his hair and cape blowing in the fierce wind. He looked like so many other Saiya-jins around her, their teeth bared and evil grins on their faces.

She was walking across the field towards him when a cry went up. Almost as if out of a nightmare, everyone looked upward to see something, something so big that it literally took over the entire sky and made it night as it took the new morning light with it.

"It's the frozen lord's ship!" someone behind her cried, and out of nowhere Saiya-jins began running in fear. She felt herself getting jostled side to side, and she gasped as pain ripped through her abdomen. Falling to her knees, she felt fear that she was going to be trampled by her own people when she was suddenly seized. She felt terror freeze her body stiff until she saw that it was Brolli, surrounded by her guard. He had picked her up and he was running to bring her to safety. She wrapped her arms around him as he swiftly darted in between his fellow Saiya-jins, trying to get out of the path of the enormous ship. Bulma looked up, disbelief filling her face. She had never seen anything so large in her life. Even with the amazing technological advancements that the Anausians had made, none of their ships came even close to the sheer size of the ship she saw before her.

The city was quickly emptied as all the Saiya-jins fled to the ancient forest far outside the city limits. Once they were under the cover of the trees their fear quieted, but Brolli still held her in his arms, even though he was breathing hard from having run so far with such a burden in his arms. She protested to be let go, and quickly squirmed out of his hold. She had to gather her troops and calm them, for it was obvious that Lord Frieza had arrived and was planning on attacking Mulani first, just like they had predicted.

Almost as if on cue, dozens of transports began leaving the mother ship above them. Everyone watched as the ships slowly lowered into the city, stirring up massive clouds of dust and dirt. The alien technology baffled everyone around her. Being full-blooded Anausian, she was experienced with advanced technology, but this rivaled anything that she had ever seen. The sleek design of the ships drew her eye, and she briefly compared them to the clunky and large machines that the Saiya-jins used for transport. Saiya-jins had never been nowhere near as technologically advanced as any of their allies, in fact they typically bought everything off other races, and it was even the main reason why their prince had been matched with her, in order for their race to be equipped with technology that kept them in pace with the rest of the quickly advancing universe. But between the planet being plagued with a disease that killed off millions upon millions of Saiya-jins and being attacked and nearly invaded for almost a year, everything had been halted. What technology their rich planet had was severely out of date and didn't even compare to what she saw before her.

She did not voice her opinion and what she was observing. She already knew that these white bastards had far superior machinery and weapons, her men had witnessed it and died by it, so it was hardly a surprise as she heard murmurs erupt through the thousands of men and women around her, saying they were doomed. Children were crying, mothers were trying to desperately calm them, and fathers stood by, knowing that they would be unable to save their families. Soldiers hung their heads low, others vehemently declared that they should attack now.

The talk and cries grew louder and louder until she shushed them, making silence blanket them all with just a quick slash of her hand through the air and a quiet, "Enough." She could barely hear herself think with how deafening the talking was around her.

Bardock, Turles, Brolli, her generals, and her guards were surrounding her. She felt oddly exposed without having a horse, and realized that no one else had one either.

Looking around her, she felt an odd calm come over her body and mind. Drawing in a deep breath, she addressed the men around her.

“I wish to send out a diplomatic party to meet with these lizards in the city. I want to know if there are any terms to this battle or if it is going to be an all-out slaughter. Who I pick shall also do any scouting possible; I want to know if they are heavily armored and equipped with weapons, I want to know numbers. Are there mercenaries like there were during the battle of Tibernoa? Any information will be helpful.” She glanced around and closed her eyes, for she knew what she said next may possibly doom these men to their deaths.

“Who wishes to volunteer?”

It was quiet for a few brief moments before Bardock and Turles stepped forward, along with Senaka and Kutibiru, her two favorite guards. It had been a long time since they had been together, relaxing in her suites in Jighu and walking through the gardens. They had been guarding her when Jighu had been attacked and destroyed, and they had fled into the underground tunnels. It seemed like forever ago, and she could tell that time had not been kind to either of them. They looked like they both had aged years, and there were new scars that had not been there before.

These four men...she cared so much for all of them. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Brolli fidget, almost as if he wanted to volunteer. Before he could step forward, Bardock waved his hand through the air.

“Us four shall be sufficient. We need people who we know we can trust with the Queen.”

He looked pointedly at Brolli, who had already sacrificed so much for their Queen. They all knew that this man would not hesitate to die for her. He would stay.

Bulma felt a sharp pain lance across her abdomen and she flinched. The last day she had been getting minor pains, but when her people had panicked in the city and had tossed her around in their desperation to flee, the pains seemed to be increasing in intensity. It was nothing that hadn't happened before, in fact sometimes she was bedridden from pains, so she absentmindedly rubbed her stomach and began giving orders.

The men quickly dispersed, the group of four disappearing through the dark forest. Bulma saw Bardock look back before he vanished, and she nodded towards him before he followed the men once more. She closed her eyes, praying that she would see them all again.

Soon thereafter, a stirring in the crowd brought her back to the present. Glancing around, she saw that her men were nervous and it was obvious in their movements and constant shifting. She decided to stride through the crowd, hopefully lending them some comfort and answer any questions if they had any.

She gasped the moment she turned, her hands reaching for her belly. Immediately Brolli was by her side, moving down to her bent over height.

"Bulma, what's wrong? Is it time?"

She bit her lip, shaking her head. Around her she could hear the men talking and asking what was wrong in hushed whispers.

"No, I'm fine. I've just been having these sharp pains the last day or so...and I have just been getting a couple the last few hours. I think it's stress related and it's affecting the heirs."

Brolli helped her stand upright. Observing her quietly, he looked over every inch of her within a few moments to see if she was truly alright. "Do they feel different from the contractions you have had before?"

She shook her head again, biting her lip. "It's hard to tell, but they seem the same. I just wish they would go away...it's hard to concentrate when you're wondering if you're going to feel that pain again anytime soon."

Brolli gave her a soft smile. "You need to rest, your Highness. You are over your race's due date already, you could technically give birth at any time. Not to mention you are carrying twins, which makes this different as well. I suggest that you sit and rest until Bardock and the others return."

Bulma felt a slight tremble rack her frame. Resting sounded divine, but she didn't have the luxury of time. "I shall be fine," she decided, but just in case, she threaded her arm through his, and leaned on him for support. Walking was hard enough as it was, resting some of her weight on him would help some.

She moved through the men, smiling and nodding at acknowledgements, addressing others who called out to her. She answered as many questions as she could, but there was very little that she herself knew until the men returned. She just hoped that their enemy would allow them to come back safely.

As the hours ticked by, Bulma told her men to rest themselves for the upcoming battle. Many fell asleep on the ground right where they had been sitting, others unrolled portable tents that they had brought with them. Fires were built, food was cooked. It was almost like a typical camp.

Bulma found herself in her own tent shortly after her stroll. She felt weak, and her trembling seemed to be increasing. Brolli, thinking that she was cold, removed his cape and draped it over her shoulders. She was sitting on a stool, for the only other piece of furniture was a small table, where her generals were currently crowded around, discussing strategy.

Brolli sat next to her on the ground, his weapons removed. She had long since removed her armor and weapons, and the burden being taken off her body had been heavenly. She hadn't realized how much weight she had been carrying. Had she truly thought it necessary to carry that many weapons?

Brolli observed his Queen out of the corner of his eye, trying not to be obvious that he felt that something was wrong with her. She was breathing heavily, nearly panting, and her whole frame was visibly shaking. He had thought that she had been cold, but there was sweat beading on her forehead. As nonchalantly as possible, he took her wrist. Almost instantly he could tell that her heart was pounding unnaturally fast and her skin was heated.

"Are you nervous, Bulma?"

She blinked, almost startled that someone had been talking to her. She swallowed, then shook her head. "I am just trying not to think about it."

Brolli stared at her, almost as if he was willing her to look at him by just mere thought. When her eyes finally caught his, his expression became stern. Her eyes were dilated and dull; almost midnight blue they were so dark. Unceremoniously, he splayed a large hand across her abdomen.

Her skin was tight and the muscles beneath his hand were rock hard, and only mere seconds after touching her, he felt them contract.

His eyes flew to hers, and he nearly gasped aloud at her desperate expression. "How long, Bulma?" he said softly, not wanting to panic her and trying to stay calm himself.

Her entire body shuddered greatly. "Since last night," she whispered. Her eyes watered then, and tears fell moments later. "I was going to tell you, but...I wasn't entirely sure, and with everything going on...."

Brolli had never felt the urge to yell at anyone as much as he did at that moment. "By the gods, Bulma...how could...how c-could you? You just marched your troops into b-battle when you knew you could be going into labor...and you knowingly left your midwife! By the gods, you left Nana at the pa-palace! We cannot possibly move you now...what if we are attacked? What are we--?"

Almost as if those very gods heard him, the sound of a horn blasted through the air. Everyone in the tent became still, and moments later a guard burst through the tent flaps.

"They are returning! We caught sight of them running as if a demon was after them! They shall be here in a few minutes, your Highness!"

Bulma looked at Brolli, and as if he read her mind, he helped her stand. "How much p-pain are you in?" he murmured, wrapping both of their cloaks more tightly around her.

"It is controllable most of the time. Sometimes I get particularly violent ones that make me want to fall to my knees...but Brolli, I cannot abandon my men at this moment...."

He nodded, then shook his head as if changing his mind. "Bulma, I know you are immensely strong and have incredible willpower, but if it is t-time...you cannot prevent b-birth, my love."

She squeezed his hand. "If I am right, I have been in labor now for almost a day. Anausian births are extremely long and agonizing, Brolli. Nana told me that my mother was in labor with me for three days before she gave birth to me, and she almost died." She drew in a deep breath, almost as if it pained her to do so, and said, "I want you to stay with me. I will tell you the moment that I can no longer deal with this on my own." She stared into his black eyes, and took his other hand into hers, squeezing that one as well. "I need you, Brolli. More than I ever have before. You are the only one here that can help me."

He opened his mouth to reply, but at that moment, Bardock and Turles exploded into the small tent.

One of her generals spoke up first. "What news is there?"

Bardock looked grim. "We didn't even get to talk to them, your Highness. They were gathering their forces and preparing them the moment we reached the outskirts of the city. There are thousands of them, more than there were at Tibernoa. Mercenaries, just like the last time, but there are more of the white bastards this time as well. They are well-equipped, well-armored."

The generals nodded, and Bulma looked at him square in the face. She knew that what he was going to say next would not be good.

"They are marching towards us now, as we speak."

Author's Note: OMG!! Everything is going out of control! Bulma is in labor and they are about to go to war! What will happen? Will Bulma's army be victorious, or will it be a heavy loss? What about Bulma, is she going to survive the birth of her twins? Find out next time!