Royal Pain and it\'s Sequel Boundaries

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball Z.

Chapter 1

“Goku slow down we’ll make it there in plenty of time!” Goku turned to notice for the first time how far he’d pulled ahead of the others. He stopped in his tracks and waited for the others to catch up with him. The first to pull up was Vegeta; he came to a stop beside Goku but continued to face forward towards their designation. His impatience was apparent and Goku knew in the old days he would have refused to wait and flown off on his own. Now a days he’d learned to be a little more control. The next two to arrive were his son Gohan (now full grown) and his Nemecean partner Piccolo. As always the two remained side by side. Goku had been quite surprised when Gohan had told his father of his love for Piccolo but not angry. He understood how his son felt; after all he himself was going through something quite similar. Next came a young Trunks and a younger Goten. The two had refused to be left behind and since this wasn’t supposed to become a fight he’d allowed them to come just as long as they stayed back. Still he worried about the two, Gotten seemed to have a knack for getting Trunks and himself into mischief.

Now that they were all here Goku continued on towards the spot the ship was supposed to land. Goku was uneasy even though the ship\'s signal was one of peace. The entire situation worried him. Vegeta seemed to sense it to, maybe even more so then Goku. He could see Vegeta glance up at the place the tiny dot of the ship had appeared just a little while ago. His face showed worry though seemingly small Goku had learned any emotion he saw on Vegeta’s face was stronger then that which the Prince showed. There was something familiar about that ship, though Goku knew he’d never seen a design of that kind. Something, homely almost. Goku sighed and picked up speed just a little. He’d know soon enough.

Daikon stood at the viewing window of the Tensai, the last ship left after his home planet was destroyed. He was the Tensai’s captain now, he was also one of the four Saiyans left alive. Daikon was thankful their journey was finally nearing its end, but at the same time regretful. He stared down at the water-covered planet they were approaching. It was strange that the recently discovered Prince Vegeta had chosen this particular planet to live on for all these years. It was a pretty pathetic little planet of all those he could have chosen. It was strange indeed.

Pushing the thought aside he went to tell Nassu what was happening. He rapped on the door softly he called out to his Prince, “Nassu, we’re nearing the planet.” A yawn came from with in the living area. “Alright, alright I’m up already!” Daikon smiled thoughtfully as the ragged Prince steeped though the door. Nassu yawned once more and then turned to his bodyguard, “Daikon? Why’d you walk me up we haven’t landed yet.” “With all do respect my Prince you DO need to clean yourself up before we meet with Prince Vegeta.” Nassu yawned again, “Ya ya alright I’m going already.” He garbed a fresh suit of armor before heading to the showers. Daikon smiled after his Prince, time had changed him so much. He still remembered when he and the Tensai were first assigned to the Prince and his mission. His father had still been in command of the Tensai then, and he and the Prince had just been boys. That was before Freaza had destroyed their planet. Back then the Prince had been as hard and stubborn as all Saiyan royalty. Daikon had hated him then but now they were the best of friends. Indeed being adrift in space so long had changed them.

They had thought they were the only ones left. Now there seemed to be two more survivors, a low-level fighter named Kakorot and Prince Vegeta himself. Things were about to change again. Back in the days before Freaza the two Princes were supposed to join together when they came of age. It was the way things were and the way things still had to be. Nassu and Prince Vegeta would have to become mates, and Daikon could no longer have his Prince. Daikon garbed Nassu\'s blood-red clock from its hanger and carried it over to his forgetful Prince wondering what this Earth would be like.

~~~~

The ship was close to the size of capsule corps models. Only it was diamond shaped, not round, and colored coal black. Goku was thankful for it’s size, a ship that size couldn’t carry to many people abroad it. True the ship had been transmitting a peace signal but Goku was still nerves. He didn’t like one thing about that ship.

He liked the two that came out of it even less. The first stood off to the side and behind the second. He had long black hair that streamed up and back behind his head in a dagger-like waterfall. He wore a chestnut colored suit of armor and black boots. The second also had black hair though the tinniest bit in color. He too wore chestnut armor and black boots. He was a about Goku’s height and the blood red clock he wore drifted just above the ground. His hair was quite a bit shorter than the first and he had some of it forced down into a stubborn ponytail. Both on the two had dark eyes and determined but non-threatening faces. But it was none of this that made Goku uneasy, it was the small rather clumsy looking tails that were twisted around there waists. The tails of the semi-extinct Saiyan race.

Vegeta sat gazing at the two. Rarely had Goku seen him so stunned. Goku edged closer to Vegeta, a sudden urge to protect him overwhelming his mind. His experience with other Saiyans in the past had been any thing but peaceful. The Second stepped forward, his blood-red clock swirling around him in a forbidding dance. “My name is Nassu, Ouji to the Saiyan race. I have come to take Price Vegeta back to wear he belongs.”

Vegeta raised an eyebrow at Nassu’s words, “and what if I refuse?” Nassu’s mouth dropped open, “refuse?! But don’t you know who I am!?”

Vegeta snorted, “Who you are doesn’t matter. What matters is who I am and I don’t take orders especially from you!”


~~~~

Nassu stared, “but, but you weren’t supposed to do that!” Daikon hit him lightly over the head, “Nassu he’s a Saiyan Price!” he hissed in his ear. Oh right, he’d forgotten Vegeta\'s reputation, he sucked in a breath trying a different approach. “My body guard Daikon and I have been searching for you for a very long time.”

Prince Vegeta crossed his arms in front of his chest. “I can believe you’ve been looking for me but that doesn’t give me any reason to come with you. My life is, suitable here.”

Nassu gasped, “you jerk!” He turned to Daikon, his feelings badly hurt. “Daikon did you hear what he said to me! He’s acting like a, like a…”

“Like a Saiyan Prince.”

“Hey what’s that supposed to mean that I don’t?” Daikon didn’t answer he just stared down at Nassu with that “look” that just drove Nassu crazy for a moment than turned to Prince Vegeta. “Sir surly you know of your responsibilities to your people. As a royal Prince of the Saiyan race you must complete this mission.” Prince Vegeta didn’t answer. Nassu didn’t know whether to hate him or thank him. At least he had some time left with Daikon this way. But if the Saiyan race were to rebuild itself from near destruction he didn’t have much of a chose.

Goku watched the two new comers and Vegeta fighting with a mixture of humor and concern. Concern at the two new Saiyan’s request, humor at Vegeta’s response. Goku stepped forward; maybe he could get things settled. He opened his mouth to speak, and then he saw Vegeta and his mouth huge farther open in shook. Vegeta stood in his usual angry stance; arms crossed in front of him, his jaw sat in a grim expression. Only in the corner of his right eye a tear, a signal small tear threatened to fall. The others hadn’t seen it, but Goku knew.


~~~~


Vegeta turned to glance at Kakorot, then his glance stuck when he saw Kakorot staring at him. What did that baka think he was… Vegeta was suddenly filled with horror, ‘dam he knows he saw it. Ah shit not that,’ Vegeta thought as Kakorot’s face filled with pity. ‘I can’t take this from you, not right now.’ He backed up to steps, ‘why did this have to happen? Why couldn’t they just leave me alone?’ Then, unable to take it anymore he turned a blasted off, wanting to get as far away from all of it as possible. He would never understand, none of them would. For once he wished he were someone else beside a Saiyan Prince. If he were a low class fighter like Kakorot they wouldn’t have to do this. Yet it was his honor that was at stake and as much as he wished he could, he would never abandon his responsibilities to his once powerful race. Vegeta let a same sad smile cross his face, I’m sure they’ll be happy to see me go…