Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Trials and Tribulations of Being Royalty ❯ The Moonlight Becomes You ( Chapter 18 )

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.

AN: Kami, I'm sooooo sorry. Three months. I feel horrible. I was going to give you a longer chapter, but how I ended this was just an irresistible ending. I have been spending so much time on my other story, "Where do I belong?", and school, that I've totally neglected this. I'm truly sorry. This story was my first one, and I love everything you've had to say about it. I think I just needed some time to gather just what to do and how to do it. I promise that I won't leave you guys like that again.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: ^_^;;;; I have another G/CC (some B/V) fic that has been out, but I never got to tell you guys. I always forgot. It's called "Catch a Falling Star." Look for more details at the end of the chapter.

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Chapter 18: The Moonlight Becomes You

King Maou's dark eyes coolly regarded his visitor, taking in the man's fiery eyes with a steady smirk. He had known that this would come; he was not surprised at all. "Come in Richard. Take a seat. I'll be right with you." He said, his voice dripping with distain. Turning to King Vegeta he gave an apologetic glance. "Perhaps we should continue our discussions tomorrow Vegeta. It seems I have some business to take care of."

"Of course Maou. We will speak tomorrow." The eldest Saiyan quickly exited the room, closing the door rather loudly. The noise echoed through the room as its two occupants merely studied each other. The tension thick, the anger volatile, and the hate heavily weighing upon their hearts.

"What did you need Richard?" The King asked full of contempt. His glare matching Richard's in almost every way, only lacking the pure principles that Richard's encased.

Richard was fueled with emotions and motivated by anger. He had been pushed too far and was ready to stand up for those he had hurt. With this evident, he opened his mouth to speak.

~*~

King Vegeta gracefully moved through the halls of the Maou Palace, heading to his room. His heart was heavy, his happiness tinged with guilt. He had found a way for the Saiyans to have power and a throne once more. Yet, it was coming at a price. Such a steep price they would pay. His own son was to be forced to marry a girl he viewed as his sister. The only other Saiyan survivor, son of his confidant, was being torn apart by this. He had felt the bond, he knew the truth. And the girl, in the middle of it all, was getting the worst of it. She was being forced into something she never asked for. She was merely a puppet in her father's life.

A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he trudged down the shadowed hall. He had never felt truly guilty about anything until then. Kakarotto had gone Super Saiyan over it as well. The old King had no idea just what to think of that. Chills ran down his spine as he approached his door. The haunting reflection of the third class Saiyan's eyes coming to his mind.

Reaching for the doorknob of his room, his body grew cold and fear rolled off of the man in waves as he was seemingly held in place. An ancient voice of a dead warrior echoed through the dark hall. Pushing himself into his room and locking it behind him, his heart pounded with the most fear he had ever felt. Making his way across the room, he tried to convince himself that it had been an illusion, his imagination. Anything but what it had truly been.

A man of pride and dignity.

A man many years dead.

A man calling out the final words to the ones he loved.

"Remember . . ."

~*~

Closing his eyes tightly, fighting back the tears and sobs that threatened to break loose, Goku leaned against the balcony railing. Silently staring out upon the surrounding lands of the Maou Kingdom, Goku allowed his mind to drift away from the castle, away from his problems, and away from the thoughts of the beauty that haunted his soul.

Lights from surrounding buildings flickered off as inhabitants settled down for a night, blissfully unaware of the torment that racked the young third class Saiyan's soul at that moment. Knowing this, the unfairness of the situation, anger welled up within his chest. Violently, his tightly clenched fist slammed through the railing, the polished stone crumbling to the floor under the force of the hit.

Swirls of energy quickly engulfed Goku as he took to the air. Flying off at an unmatchable speed, Goku joined the stars, streaking against the night's sky, disappearing in a flash of light. Speeding away from the place of torment, away from conniving fathers . . . away from the object of it all . . . Chi-Chi.

~*~

In a furious rage, Vegeta tossed the bench to the ground, destruction surrounding his place in the gardens. Releasing a final blast towards one of the marble statues, he slumped to the ground. It had truly hit him. He was being forced into a marriage, without any say in anything. His father was actually forcing him to do something that would last the rest of his life.

No amount of words could ever explain the complex emotions that swirled within him. Tidal waves of emotion threatened to overwhelm him at the acknowledgement of the newest fact that was consuming his life, as well as the lives of so many others. Now he truly knew just how Goku and Chi-Chi were feeling earlier. With their crisis, he had been unable to fully comprehend the most recent turn of events, but now he was fully aware of it all.

"Bulma . . ."

Anger fueling him, blue and white energy swirled around him as he took to the air. He couldn't stand the amount of guilt that was haunting him now, along with the over load of other emotions. He had to tell her . . .

~*~

"Why do you insist on destroying her life? She's your daughter! Your own flesh and blood, yet you are slowly destroying her!"

King Maou eyed the red faced Richard calmly. "You're right . . . she is my daughter, my own creation. And I gave her life. She is a product of an arranged marriage between myself and a mere commoner. My birthright gives me all the right to command her as her sovereign and her blood, produced of my blood, gives me the right to rule her. I am doing as I see best! A union with the Saiyans is a good thing Richard. They will give us added power, room for expansion, and a strong heir will also be produced! This will save the Saiyan race as well as ensure my kingdom's well being."

"She is human being! Not some object you can claim a right over. Besides, if you want her with a Saiyan, can't you see that she's obviously in love with Goku?"

"Goku? That third class boy? My daughter is a princess, not fit for him. Besides, she is not in love with him. Love does not exist. It is only power and succession! With time, she will grow to feel for Vegeta. I have made my decision Richard, and nothing you say or do can stop me. Now it is time for you to make yours."

Glaring at the King, Richard asked the question to which he already knew the answer to, not showing the fear that chilled his heart and soul. "And just what decision is that?"

~*~

Landing upon the soft grass in front of Capsule Corporation, Vegeta wistfully looked towards the door, hesitating to go towards the door that would lead him to her. Faintly, he wondered if he could really do this. Tell her that it was over, that they could never be together. The loyalty to his father and the crown of Vegeta-sei rest deep within his heart and soul. He couldn't choose between her and all the instincts that were buried within his royal heart. He was a Saiyan Prince. . . no, THE Saiyan Prince. One of the last of his kind. He had to do as his father wished, as his father saw best. Sighing, he made his way to the entrance of the building, his resolve as steady as the steel will that he carried.

~*~

Smirking, King Maou indulged him. "You once stood by my side as I attempted to make my daughter's life better. I rid her of the memories that haunted and destroyed her soul years ago when she witnessed my Queen's brutal death. You stood by me and my decision for what was best for her at the time. Now, will you go against me and betray your King? Or will you stand by me, as well as the Princess, and continue to serve us as you once pledged yourself to do?"

Richard made way to interrupt him; however he was quickly cut off as the King advanced upon him. "You pledged your life to the crown. You pledged yourself to protecting Chi-Chi as her personal guard. When you made that pledge, you said that you would do everything and sacrifice anything in the matter of her best interest and her life. Now, I hold you to that pledge." Maou's eyes hardened as he spoke to the guard before him. "The punishment to straying from my command is death. The punishment for breaking your vow is death. I ask you now to make your decisions. Will you continue this masquerade for love or bow down to my word and move in what is in her best interest, as well as the kingdoms?"

Richard's head bowed in thought. He wasn't afraid to die, but who would be assigned to Chi-Chi's side in his absence? King Maou would make sure that it was someone that would easily follow his will, leaving Chi-Chi without anyone to stand for her. But if he stood for her too much, he would die anyways. Sighing, he knew that he could only do so much.

Falling upon one knee, his right arm crossing over his heart, he spoke. "I serve you and the Princess, no other. I apologize for my words and actions; I have no right to question your judgment. I beg of your forgiveness and allow me to continue in my service to the crown. If you find that you can not forgive me, I offer my life to you in penance."

Appraising Richard with his eyes, King Maou turned towards the fireplace, extracting something that made Richard's heart rate speed up. From a sheath, the King drew a large sword, raising it to Richard's left shoulder. The ornate sword was very familiar to Richard. It was the one that both blessed and destroyed people of the Maou kingdom. The handle was bejeweled with rubies; the red gems glimmered like the flames that had often stood as a symbol of the Maou kingdom. The long silver blade, embellished with the words, `in hoc singo vinces'[1], lay close to Richard's throat. He could easily make out the flame like design that licked the motto of the Maou Kingdom. Swallowing hard, he closed his eyes, prepared to take whatever the King was prepared to do. He was at his sovereign's mercy, ready to pay for his actions with his life.

~*~

Now settled on the benches in Mrs. Briefs's rose garden, Vegeta prepared to speak the words that he dreaded. The two figures sat silently on the hard bench, the chill in the air causing bumps to settle on Bulma's skin. She knew not to speak, allowing Vegeta to sort out what he had to say. Initially she had been excited to see him, shocked that he had flown from the Maou kingdom to Capsule Corps just to see her. But it was a look in his obsidian eyes that caused her to remain silent. She could not shake the ominous feeling that ate at her as she waited for him to speak.

"Onna . . ." Vegeta's throat constricted on the harsh tone that he had spoken such a familiar word in. Taking a deep breath, the oddly un-composed Prince spoke again. "B-Bulma . . . Something's happened." Seeing as she was about to speak, the dread that haunted her blue eyes, Vegeta quickly clasped his hand over her mouth. Holding his hand to her soft lips, he ignored the moan that he wished to escape his mouth at feeling her silky lips upon his skin.

"No one is truly physically hurt, but we discovered just why we were invited . . . as well as why Kakarotto's name was not on the invitation." Ignoring the constriction of his throat, he pressed on. "It seems that my father and King Maou have gotten along quite well. They have made a decision, Bulma. One that affects us all. Not just Chi-Chi and I as their children, but it affects the group here. They . . . They have decided . . ."

Bulma placed a soothing hand upon his shoulder as his voice cracked on his words. Her stomach tightened as she wondered just what could be that bad that he could not speak it. Waiting patiently, she allowed him to collect his thoughts and prepare to speak as she traced relaxing circles upon his back.

After a minute, Vegeta looked up, his face an unemotional mask, his eyes staring at something unseen in the distance. His voice, as he spoke, lacked any emotional nuances, never revealing the emotions that raged beneath the surface. "As Prince of the Saiyan race, I am held to the duties that my father, King of the Vegeta-sei, holds me to. On this coming New Years, the Princess Chi-Chi and I will be joined in marriage to reign over the Maou Kingdom."

Bulma sat in a shocked silence, his words assaulting her ears with cold harshness. Part of her mind cried out, wondering if what she had heard was nothing more than a nightmare. One of her very good friends and her boyfriend were getting married in less than two months. In her mind, it had to be a nightmare, or a joke. It couldn't be the truth, could it?

Calmly, Vegeta stood and walked away from Bulma, leaving her upon the bench. Standing with his back to her, Vegeta allowed his energy to swirl around his form, enveloping him in a haze of silvery hues. The tears that Bulma could not see were quickly wiped from his face by the licks of his energy, devouring the only acknowledgement of the tightly reined emotions he held. Whispering his final words to the blue haired girl surrounded by white roses, his took off. The words, so full of his hidden emotions, floated in the wind that swept through the garden, its cold cutting through Bulma's shocked figure. Wrapping her arms around herself, she broke down and cried, her sobs joining the echo of Vegeta's final words.

"I'm sorry."

~*~

[1] Alright, I've never taken a day of Latin, but my roommate (thanks 'Lycia!) translated this for me a while ago. I'm not quite sure if it's fully correct or not. But basically, this is what it means. `in hoc singo vinces' means `in this we conquer' I have no guarantee, but that's what it generally means. If you know what it is definitely, feel free to correct me.

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I plan on working my tail off on this story over my winter break. Hopefully I can get you another chapter soon, but my exams begin this week. So, I should have you another one in two weeks! Better then three months ne? And thank you for staying with me on this one. Please let me know if you guys are sill reading this!!! I know I really shouldn't ask for reviews after the length of time it took for this relatively short chapter, but I need to know if you people are still reading this. So please, take a minute to tell me that you're still here and want more. Thanks.

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Catch a Falling Star: [My other G/CC (with some B/V) fic. It's relatively new. You don't have to wait long for G/CC action because they are already together. This is the summary. I will warn you; this one takes me a while to update because there is little to no interest in it right now. Maybe you guys can change that ne?]

Behind the beautiful smiles and happy facades of the rich and famous, a darker truth lives. Beyond every smile, a sad one is there to counter it. And for ever tear of joy, many more of sadness escape their eyes.

Introduced to the world of the rich and famous, Chi-Chi Maou's innocence is slowly destroyed as she's ripped from everything she once knew in her life. Her loving boyfriend, her supportive friends, even her step-brother are left behind as she's swept into their shadowed world, destroyed by distance and paparazzi.

But when the darkness is too much to bear and the tears never stop falling, can a broken spirit be revived at all?