Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Trials and Tribulations of Being Royalty ❯ Trail of Tears ( Chapter 17 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball/Z/GT or its characters. I do not own any other licensed products that may appear throughout this fan fiction piece.

Chapter 17: Trail of Tears

Richard watched the spectacle, his eyes never wandering from the boy on the bench. Just what was occurring, he had no clue, but it seemed of great importance. Silently, he merely observed. Watching as the boy seemed to fight himself, battling against a mental demon. His hair flickering between gold and black, his eyes between a jade green and the obsidian wonder. Rocks and other debris seemed to float up as lightening flashed in the dark night's sky.

Brilliant flashes of electricity streaked across the sky in moment with the flashing of the boy. Anger dwelling on his thoughts. Finally, an inhuman scream filled the air, chilling the royal guard to the bones. `Chi-Chi.' That single name held more meaning to the solid figure by the lake than it did to any other person. That soul bearing, heart felt name was screamed with such anguish, tinged with darkness and despair.

Richard's heart truly ached for the forlorn boy. Love was something so pure and innocent, something misunderstood by so many. The Princess and this lower class Saiyan had found it, truly found it in its purest form. But now, all due to the selfishness of royalty, they were being torn, their love being twisted into darkness.

With awe, he watched as the seemingly innocent Saiyan transformed with a final brilliant flash of gold. The lightening and thunder rocked the land with the pure power it carried across the sky. As his eyes recovered from the golden flames, he noticed that the now standing boy's usual sin black hair was now a brilliant gold. His usual kind black orbs transformed into a furious jade. Darkness riddled the young man's countenance, the hurt radiating from his torn and bleeding heart. His generous build, a fighters build, expanded, his muscles rippling as his shirt tore away from the pure strain and energy that crossed it.

As his yell faded into the distance, tears fell from his eyes, only to evaporate in the midst of his golden arch of energy. Richard's heart weighed knowing the true grief the boy was experiencing. `Damn you Maou. Damn you to the fiery pits of hell. Why does everyone suffer for your greed and selfishness? Can't you see what you are doing to these youths and their innocent souls? Must everyone suffer before you are satisfied?'

~~*~*Capsule Corporation*~*~~

The gentle flickering of the television cast pale shadows of light around the impenetrable dark of the room. Dancing on the walls, flickering over the sill bodies of the youths as they were enraptured with the events on the screen that played the gentle light's games. Even as the drama of their television's character's lives pervaded their senses, their lives would soon take their own twist.

Two figures jolted from the floor, standing the darkness, their eyes wide, filled with a number of emotions. Energy surged through the fighters' blood as they were able to feel their friend. Long ago Goku had taught them to feel a fighter's life energy, reading one's emotions, abilities, and personal limits. Now, the ability that had been an advantage was now haunting them as they felt a dark well of energy within a usual calm of warmth and innocence.

Krillin turned to the others, his dark eyes wide and haunted. "What the hell!?!" he murmured.

"What's going on guys?" Bulma asked, confusion plainly written upon her porcelain face.

"G-Goku . . . his energy . . . i-its enormous!"

"Enormous, but dark. Something is seriously not right."

"I'm sure you guys are just over reacting." Juuhachi said coolly. "Just an energy jump from a spar with Vegeta." She said in an attempt to reassure the gathered friends.

However, deep down, she knew it was untrue. She too felt the cold chills of darkness on dance on her heart. Something was wrong, but they would find out sooner or later. Besides, Goku was a pure hearted soul. Nothing would happen that they had to worry about. Vegeta maybe, should he get his hands on the overwhelming energy Goku was radiating, but not Goku.

Bulma was not convinced with Juuhachi's logic. Sure, Goku was pure hearted and all, but even he could be pushed over the edge. If the events of the Maou Kingdom were bad enough, even the purest of souls could go over the edge. But what had happened? And just how bad was it? If it could be weighed by the amount of dread that hung within her heart, then it was bad. Not bad, horrible. Or more. However, she could do nothing, merely watch television and forget about the shivers of dread that pierced or very soul. Nothing could be done, not until they knew.

With that, she turned her attention to the flickering of the television, becoming lost in an artificial world of problems solved within the air time of the movie or show. Nothing like the real world, merely an escape from their lives, an escape from the haunting unknown.

~~*~* The Study *~*~~

"Chi-Chi? Chi-Chi?" King Maou called as he shook her paralytic body. Shivers of pain and emotion ran through her taunt figure. Her obsidian eyes were glazed over, staring blankly at the large form of her father.

Vegeta quickly snapped out of his reverie, pulling the King away from her body. "She's going into shock, baka!" He spat, clearly indicating his blame on the Kings and their untimely news.

Pulling a pillow from one of the study's couches along with an afghan, he moved to cover her twitching body and elevate her feet. He tried to ignore the rising dark power from the outside and focus upon the girl. His instincts kicked in, feeling her tormented ki, noticing a faint link to the rising one from his fellow teenage Saiyan. Sitting back, he merely stared at the quivering form. The once strong girl, the one with a backbone of steel, had been reduced to a shuddering mass of emotions. The link he could feel was the explanation.

Turning to the Kings that watched him with a satisfied air of superiority, he projected a cold glare of utter hatred and blame. "Watch her, your highnesses. I will be back." He hissed, venom lacing his every biting word.

Stiffly, he stormed from the room, only slightly glancing at the girls still form. He knew what he had to do. As a Saiyan, he had been able to follow her emotional tangent to Kakarotto's. This could only be made through a bond. As incomplete as it was, the two were still linked, so both were reacting to two sets of emotions. Chi-Chi's human emotional limit had been surpassed, overloading, sending her into shock. Kakarotto, on the other hand, was dealing with his in an overwhelming manor. His emotions had always spurned his battling capabilities, leaving him with a higher battling power. Now, with such raging emotions, he was transforming them into power, pure energy. But if Kakarotto couldn't control them, they would overwhelm him, destroying his sanity. It was now that Vegeta truly understood the nature of the Super Saiyan. The ability was caused by such heightened stress, transforming into a battling machine, but if the emotions took over, he would be uncontrollable. The ultimate self destruction . . . an emotional suicide.

The legendary Super Saiyan had been that way. Transforming into the epitome of power, unable to be matched, outclassing all other fighters. But the immense power had come at a price, sanity. When the transformation had occurred, he had nearly wiped out the planet. His power had broken free of the mind, making the Super Saiyan a mindless destroyer. Bowing to his own power, destroying whatever was in his path. Ultimately it had been the demise of the legend; the power had been unrestrained, burning the Saiyan's mind, destroying it slowly. Finally, the power had truly overwhelmed the body, resulting in the death of a legend.

This knowledge ran through Vegeta's mind, knowing that if Kakarotto had actually gained the ability, all could be lost. No one would be able to match the strength he was generating; the pure power had outclassed Vegeta time and time over.

Flying at top speed, the Saiyan Prince rushed to the garden where he sensed his companion. As soon as he reached him, the energy that supported him midair was drained, leaving him to fall unceremoniously to the ground. The shock was too much; it was all just too much.

A golden warrior, a golden god, stood by the water's edge, energy rippling from every cell of his body. His golden hair stood up, wavering in the energy that swelled around him. His jade orbs pierced through the darkness and golden euphoria of the area. The tormented greens swirled with emotion, each driving the incomprehensible power skyward. His muscles stood tense, as if waiting for a fight, whether being presented by an opposing force or his own self.

With a jolt, the Super Saiyan's head jerked up, meeting eyes with his Prince by blood. The piercing eyes narrowed, meeting the Royal's emphatically dark ones, contesting his every right to what was his. Shivers ran down the Vegeta's spine as he suppressed the fear that ran through his Saiyan blood. A soft murmur passed through his dry lips, staining his words with awe and edging them with unspoken fear. "K-Kakarotto?"

An inhuman growl flowed through the golden God's ripe mouth. His stance changed to threatening as he regarded the one who dared to expose himself to the wrath of the Legend. In some part, it was already mounting anger to the one who would receive the Love (as in the person, not the feeling) of the Super Saiyan. Torn, Kakarotto stood merely surveyed the Prince, searching for the threat, probing for a reason to attack. Certainly, if one was provided, he would come through.

Vegeta merely stood, not allowing himself to gain a defensive position, know that would provide the angry Saiyan with a reason to attack. He knew that he could not take him on, although it angered him to no point knowing that a third class Saiyan had transformed to the legendary Super Saiyan rather than he, the Prince of the Saiyans. However, he could not relay any of these feelings. The threat was too great.

Instead, he used his natural Saiyan abilities and tapped into a telepathic link with his father. `Bring the girl now!' He exclaimed, easily conveying the absolute need in this. He could feel his father follow the orders given as he felt him move toward them at a slow pace, making sure not to hurt her further.

If her link was to him, then seeing her should calm him, enough for Goku to actually gain control of his ability. Then, things would be fine. However, Vegeta knew that this would do nothing to stop his father and King Maou to bring them together, uniting Saiyan Royalty with Maou Royalty. Only death would do that and death wasn't exactly what he was looking for. Despite the bond, the union would still be on.

A bond, a historic and amazing Saiyan concept, was truly the heart of Saiyans. It was the way that the unemotional Saiyans would convey their deepest sentiments without giving into weak and petty emotions. Comrades would join together, sharing a sort of friendly bond. Parents formed them with their children, a proactive sort of defense in order for a parent to locate and assist their child at a moments notice. And the elusive mating bond, one that truly linked two souls together. Rarely would it start between two people, however it could occur. It was generally formed during the mating ritual, linking the two's life force, heart and soul together for eternity. One of the amazing things about the bond between Kakarotto and Chi-Chi was that she was a human, not Saiyan. However, it had begun to form, thus the reactions of the two teens. However, it was an incomplete bond, and if the Kings had their way, it would never complete, only broken.

Soon, the Kings made their appearance, slowly approaching the facing off Saiyans. Kakarotto's green orbs flickered to the pair before back to Vegeta, only to be dragged at the limp form held in the King's arms. The King quickly, but gently, laid her down on the soft grass so as not to threaten the enraged and unstable Super Saiyan.

Tremors still shook her body. Kakarotto quickly made his way to her side, dropping beside her before bringing her to his chest protectively. Gently rocking his Love back and forth, he came to control his power, his eyes taking on a more humanistic look, some of the golden aura dieing down, his power leveling out.

Looking up at the surrounding Royal figures, his eyes questioned her state. His heart probing hers, causing the tremors to stop. Within his arms, Chi-Chi's state leveled as well, his calmed emotions calming her own inner storm. Together, the two breathing rates matched, their heart beats flowing together, meeting beat to beat.

Slowly, her eyes blinked, finally focusing on the world around her, only to meet the unfamiliar green orbs of her love. A tentative hand reached out, tracing his jaw line before moving to his golden hair. His hand met to hers, holding it on his face. "It's me Chi-Chi."

Her eyes slowly gathered with tears as she was held safely in his arms. No questions were asked, no words spoken. Just a mutual meeting of emotions, a mutual acknowledgement of their torn hearts. Slowly, Goku moved to stand, his golden aura moving from him. His golden hair easily transformed back to its original sin black, his jade orbs making their own transition to coal once more. A slight smile appeared on her lips as she watched the energy flow back into him, back into its dormant state.

Without acknowledging their audience, he slowly walked back to the castle. However, King Maou's gruff voice permeated their calm aura, piercing their happiness with reality. "Where the hell do you think you are going boy?"

Quietly, sadness tainting his rich voice, he responded to the angry King. "To her room, sir. She needs her rest." His eyes dropped to the ground, knowing that he could not win. With all the power he possessed, he could never gain the one thing he desired. He could never hold his love forever. She would always be out of his reach. Super Saiyan or not, he was still third class, not for her royal hand. A lone tear made his way down his sharp features, landing slowly upon the tear that trailed down Chi-Chi's own face. The two liquid drops of emotion merged, forging their own path down her cheek, dropping onto the unforgiving ground below.

King Maou watched as the two disappeared into the castle. Anger swept through him, yet, satisfaction did as well. The boy's final look had acknowledged the acceptance of the truth. The two would not be together; it would be Vegeta and his daughter. Not the low class Saiyan trash she loved. Love didn't matter. It never had, only opportunity. "Come Vegeta! Let us speak of the arrangements. There is much to be done."

With that, the two Kings left the Saiyan Prince to his own thoughts, heading inside to destroy the lives of their children. Watching them leave, Vegeta let a small sigh escape his own lips. He had seen such death and torment in Kakarotto's eyes. He had tasted death tonight. However, he had yet to fully realize what was happening. His eyes picked up as another figure tailed the two Kings. `Figures,' Vegeta though. `Of course that baka guard of the onna's would want to join in on the fun.'

Slowly, he pulled his cellular phone from his pocket. Should he tell her now? Or wait to do it in person? Could he do it at all? Silently, he put the phone back into his pocket. This wasn't the sort of news you said over the phone. It had to be done face to face. Dread swept though his system as he realized what he had to tell her, as he realized the truth of tonight's events. A strangled cry broke through his well formed barriers, the blockades to his emotions. It all cracked with a realization, one so similar to the bonded pair's mantra. All because of greed and lineage, he had lost her, he had lost Bulma.

~~*~* The Study *~*~~

An easy smirked decorated the two King's faces as they discussed the inner workings of their deal. However, their discussion was quickly cut as the wooden doors flew open with a deafening roar. A sole figure stood in its entryway, his continence displaying only seriousness, his body portraying confidence. Deep in his eyes, fury raged, unspoken anger.

"King Maou . . . I want to speak to you . . . NOW!"

~~*~* Chi-Chi's Room *~*~~

Goku gently laid her sleeping figure onto the deep violet silk sheets of her bed, covering her with the matching coverlet. Placing a chaste kiss to her forehead, he pushed away the strands of ebony hair that crossed over her face. Stroking her cheek, dispelling the traces of the tears she had shed, he felt his emotions stir once more. With a last look, he moved from her slumbering form and out of the room. Resting against the door, he struggled for control of the tears that threatened to overwhelm him.

His father, a man whom Goku had an amazing amount of respect for, would surely be disappointed in youngest son. In the small amount of advice he had ever bestowed upon his offspring, he had revealed feelings and wisdom Saiyans rarely ever exposed. However, Goku had failed him. Deep within him, he knew that. His heart was raked with hot nails of guilt and sorrow. In that one moment of truth between father and son, an amazing amount of wisdom had been passed down. Yet, even with the strength of Super Saiyan, he had failed. He would never have her, he would always watch from afar. He was destined for this misery, doomed for eternity.

A faint voice called into the wind that swept down the corridor of the East Wing. A voice of the past gently calling to the youth standing in the shadows of the hallway. It's whispering word taunting him.

"Remember. . ."