The Fall Of A Legacy - The sequel to A Father

Okay, people. Some of you might recall ages ago - back when shiny zapdos was my only active account and my team was still flourishing - that I wrote a fiction called A Father's Atonement, or AFA for short. Some of it was fairly suckish, but some was good. At the time, the writing skills were still being refined, so it wasn't wonderful, but it's worth a look if you find yourself being unable to understand the sequel. Failing that, ask me things over MSN, or I could just send you it to peruse at leisure. I assume that anyone who is likely to read this has my email address - if not, ask.

Anyhow, I left AFA unfinished, because I left/got sensationally banned. It was a chapter away from the ending, and all that would have happened is that Vegeta wished his family back to life, and Goku annoyed him. It wasn't the brightest ending ever, which is possibly why I left it unfinished. =P I did leave it with a cliffhanger, which is resolved right here in the prologue, so AFA readers will like me a bit more for canning the suspense (finally).

So, with all that in mind, I welcome you to the prologue of the sequel - and here's to a lengthy and better sequel. *Raises glass*


Prologue - Imminence


Collapsing inwardly, Capasca was rapidly crumbling, causing confused molecular winds to brew and storm around the final Galens, the like of which were about to meet their death. Ever the stubborn one, Tiroth was attempting in vain to disperse some energy and prevent their imminent demise - however, all he was succeeding in doing was making his mother worry, as his efforts weren’t even close to having their desired effect.
“TIROTH!” Asara screamed, the shield she had cast around her people steadily wavering, especially as she allowed a branch of protective energy to spiral out and embrace her son. He fought it off angrily, making it perfectly clear that he was not willing to perish under a veil of sorcery that was doomed to failure.
“I’ll never surrender. Not while there’s work to be done.”
Tiroth’s tone was strangely devoid of feeling - it was as though his regular cocky vitality had completely deserted him.
Even without utilising her impressive psychic abilities, Asara knew what her boy was trying to do.
“Some of us,” she spoke, loudly and imploringly over the crushing force of the dimensional collapsure, “are meant to die, Tiroth. It balances the universal order.”
Finishing his energy transfer, Tiroth flew down into Capasca’s epicentre, his face blank and his thoughts emotionless as he watched the carnage he was about to indirectly end.
“But he’s not,” the Prince replied, a little harshness worming its way into his tone. “And nor are we. Besides -”
He smiled suddenly as the image of his father reappeared, and with a single lunge of his arm, threw the energy backwards far enough to allow the stunned Galens to be teleported - destination, Earth.
“ - I never did have much time for Ethics.”
Grinning inanely now, he felt the familiar feeling of dimensional relocation envelop him, not missing the abhorrence shared between his parents in the blink of a shattered eyelid.


Tell me what you think, people, or if there's anything you don't have a clue about. =) Apologies for the lack of length - there's just nothing more to add to this section.

« Last edited by Solar Ice on Jun 19th 2006 »

nice work. Ill save real judgement til i see more, though. keep it up.

On 19-Jun-2006 Seos san Nekros said:

nice work. Ill save real judgement til i see more, though. keep it up.

Thanks dude. =D I'll post more ASAP. I'm certainly free tomorrow afternoon, so I'll write some then.

I'm sure I've said this about some fanfic at some point during this week, but this is awesome. I'd always like to see some more.

On 19-Jun-2006 Solar Ice said:

Thanks dude. =D I'll post more ASAP. I'm certainly free tomorrow afternoon, so I'll write some then.

alright. ill look forward to it.

Ask and ye shall receive, Cipher...

Chapter One: Disruption


It wasn’t often that the Saiyan Prince opted to enjoy some mindless self indulgence and momentarily flee his training - this afternoon, however, was one of those occasions.
Family barbecue. He was only there because there was way too much meat around, and the Saiyans were a naturally carnivore race, but still, the fact remained - He was skiving off training, albeit it to do the second most important thing in his life.
Eat.
Of course, the fact that he was seeing his resurrected wife and children enjoying themselves was nothing to do with it. The swelling of pride he felt as he watched his daughter light the barbecue with a spark of ki was also inconsequential to his presence, as was his inability to tear his gaze from his wife.
He’d missed them dearly when he’d been forced to destroy them in order to annihilate Remzu. He’d wanted to give up, die with them - but decades of harsh reality had taught him that several months more wasn’t anything major.
But it had been hard. So damn hard.
That had been almost a year ago now. He’d spent the first month devising a training plan that would improve his mental strength as well as his physical, determined not see a repeat of Remzu’s advantageous situation, and it seemed to be working somewhat - his mind had improved, his wit had sharpened, and his tactics were less flawed than ever. Whether it would stand the test against a psychic invader, he had yet to discover, but it had at least focused his cerebrum more efficiently.
“Oi, VEGETA!”
Too efficiently, apparently. He ripped his now angry eyes from Bulma, and snarled at one of the barbecue’s guest - Goku.
“What, Kakarott?” He growled, not bothering to stand up straight. He was comfortable leaning against the gentle slope of the Capsule Corporation building, and didn’t intend on moving for that third-class idiot.
“You seem a bit…” Goku began, walking over to his grudging acquaintance whilst trying to search for an appropriate word.
Vegeta’s eyes rolled.
“Subdued, maybe?”
Goku’s expression brightened.
“Yeah, that’s the one!”
His face crumpled for a moment, a thoughtful look flitting across it.
“I think…”
The Prince’s eyebrows raised.
“Is there a point to this interrogation, Kakarott?” He demanded haughtily.
“Not really,” the other man said happily. “Just thought you’d like to come and socialise.”
Sarcasm infiltrated Vegeta’s defined features.
“If I wanted to socialise,” he commented darkly, “I’d be socialising, and this whole pointless conversation would not be occurring.”
Goku’s face fell.
“Point taken. But if you wanted to come over -”
“ - You’re there. For… emotional support.”
The final two words were heavily laced with disdain, and Goku took it at face value and went to depart - before a flicker of life rushed through his senses.
Vegeta’s irises illuminated in alarm, realising instantly who he could sense, and instantly disbelieving it.
His sour look met Goku’s similar one, and they both glanced around, acknowledging that they were not alone in being capable of sensing this new force - everyone present with Saiyan blood had also noticed the sudden increase in ki.
“Impossible,” Vegeta whispered, almost silent, noticing out of the corner of his eye that Bulma was looking around, curious as to what was happening that she could neither see, hear nor appreciate the significance of any other way. Upon seeing her husband’s facial expression, Bulma decided to ask what was going on.
“Vegeta,” she breathed nervously, “what is it?”
Every single person present fused their eyes to his own, awaiting instructions as to whether or not they should inform their respective mothers and friends. Vegeta’s withering gaze quickly reiterated that they should keep quiet for the meantime, and he rose into the air, cautious now.
“Nothing, woman,” he lied, attempting to keep his emotions sincere enough to fool her through their connection.
He breathed in deeply, calming himself down, and stared into the distance in all directions. Nothing was visible, but he didn’t need vision to confirm who was now on the planet’s face.
The question was: How? He’d destroyed Remzu, and with it, Capasca…
… Or so he’d thought.
However furious this whole situation made him, he couldn’t help but feel slightly relieved, and also a little confused - relieved that Asara had not perished, but confused as to how they’d arrived here virtually a year after their first meeting. The destruction of their dimension had been imminent, not drawn out…
There was, of course, only one way to find out what was happening here - and in order to find out, he could go alone, or he could choose a suitable partner. He knew that not one member of either his own or Goku’s family would allow the former to occur, so he sighed, and attempted to choose a candidate quickly.
Trunks and Bura were out of the question, as was Bulma. He wouldn’t risk anyone related to him again, and Bulma would have no defences. Goku was a possibility, but one he preferred to avoid. If he offered, Vegeta would reason that it was because he needed someone here to guard the others - in reality, however, it was because he wasn’t sure he’d be able to stand the man’s company for too much longer.
So, that left the lower class’s family to choose from. And there was only one option available from those misfits.
“Gohan,” he ordered, to which the half Saiyan looked up, shocked. “Come.”
Surprise crossed Gohan’s livid face for a second, before he nodded, the image of dignity.
“Yes sir,” he responded, flying up to him and waving the others a cordial goodbye before the intrepid duet flew off in the direction of their sensations.

« Last edited by Solar Ice on Jun 20th 2006 »

looks pretty good. i cant really give a suggestion, i couldnt find much wrong with it. Keep up the good work.

Great job, Holly. I love the insane plot twists in every one of your fics. Oh, is this the one with alien "FUN" in it?

alien fun? oh well, i wont ask for a spoiler. i look forward to seeing more, though.

Well, although you didn't really wish, it's my command anyway. =]

Chapter Two: Reunion

“I thought you destroyed -”
“Ditto,” Vegeta snapped shortly, increasing his speed whilst attempting to keep his ki level down. He didn’t particularly want Remzu to acknowledge his approach. Gohan followed his lead, realising why Vegeta had decreased his power.
“Do you often fight in a suit and tie?” Vegeta asked, disdainfully eyeing the half Saiyan’s formal attire. Gohan tugged at his tie, embarrassed.
“To be fair, I didn’t expect to be doing anything physical today,” he defended weakly, to which the Prince quirked an eyelid. “Neither did you, it seems.”
Vegeta didn’t do himself the courtesy of staring at his own jeans and shirt, but merely snorted.
“Not something I make a habit of. But a true warrior must always be prepared, whatever he wears.”
Gohan’s eyes filled with disbelief, but he nevertheless ripped off the tie and suit jacket, tossing them casually to the wind.
A metre ahead of him, Vegeta smirked.
“A Saiyan in a suit. I ask you…”
Gohan gritted his teeth, still not fully used to Vegeta’s arrogance even after all these years.
“Better than the pink shirt…”
Vegeta growled and flew faster, leaving a trailing Gohan to grin to himself, pleased with his verbal victory.

*****

“Well, that was different,” the Duke commented, stretching his newly enervated limbs. He looked questioningly around, acknowledging the presence of around ten thousand Galens and several hundred of his former soldiers, and grinned at his wife. “It’s not often you get resurrected about half an hour after your death.”
His mind clouded over with rage for a moment as he sensed his murderer’s approach, before he smiled at his children and spouse, looking the latter in the eye.
“Well, my dear,” he said aloud, instantly summoning the gathering’s attention. “Ready for some global domination?”
Asara’s face split into a poorly covered sneer.
“It is not my wish to convert this planet into a personal export,” she said haughtily, too used to being in control to relinquish that power now. As Princess, it was the legislation of the Galen people that they would obey her and not her husband - however, she knew only too well how persuasive Remzu could be if the need arose.
“Oh, come now,” he answered silkily, a smirk viciously claiming his lips as he caressed her cheek. His internal satisfaction level rose as he felt her facial muscles clench together at his touch.
“We could crush this planet telekinetically, reform it - without the pitiful humans, preferably - and commence a new empire. The Second Galen Coming, if you will.”
He leant into her, a wicked streak crossing his demeanour, and whispered the next sentence into her ear.
“We could even have Vegeta as a personal slave. He could bring you coffee in the morning, my love…”
She recoiled in horror, openly snarling now.
“My people will not harvest humankind for their emotional or social benefits!” She shrieked in outrage, furious at the very suggestion.
“It makes sense, mother,” Tiroth drawled. “Think of all the luxuries we could obtain on an industrially fruitful rock such as this one…”
“Quiet, brother,” Asara and Remzu’s eldest daughter Solexia snapped, finally tiring of her sibling’s mouth. Solexia was very much the image of her mother, and had a personality that matched.
“How about both of you be quiet?” Asara suggested sarcastically. “Acknowledge your regal status, children. Follow your sister’s lead.”
Four eyes lowered to their shorter and more teenage-seeming sister, Alyssia. The younger one stood there, large, sorrowful eyes seeking out the compacted earth as a form of emotional solace.
“I do not expect to have a child who is seven Drafacian lunar cycles less mature than both of you to be able to accept her place without her older siblings following her lead. Are we clear, Solexia, Tiroth?”
Asara’s maternal authority shone through, gentle but firm in her orders. This was why her people respected her - she was peaceful unless it was otherwise necessary. However, in Remzu, they found a competent and ruthless leader, which led to his status mirroring her own.
They nodded in annoyance, disliking their mother’s power over them.
Remzu was about to add an ingredient to the mixture of reprimanding and scolding, but merely left Asara’s side and rocketed into the air, conscious of Vegeta’s imminent arrival.
“Time to meet and greet,” he called simply, waving at a distressed Asara. “Don’t wait up, honey!”
He laughed cruelly as he zoomed away, infuriating his wife immensely.
“Solexia!” She ordered instantly. “Tail him. Make sure he plays fair.”
The Galen Princess nodded, eager to assist her mother.
“And Solexia,” Asara assured, careful in her lexical choices, “keep a close eye on the Saiyan named Vegeta. Keep him safe, alright?”
“Will do,” Solexia answered in confusion, bolting after her father.
Asara sighed, collapsing onto a nearby boulder as she cursed her inability to be at Vegeta’s side.
Careful, Prince, she muttered telepathically, sending him a subconscious warning while simultaneously wondering why she cared at all.

« Last edited by shiny zapdos on Jul 20th 2006 »

Wow, I forgot this thread still existed. Not much happening yet, from what I can gather, but I predict a fight soon. Therefore, I shall wait patiently for it.

Nice work. Seems like more of a build up chapter than anything, but its still good. I'll be looking forward to later chapters.

Action. Finally. =] I will apologise in advance, as this chapter's lengthy.

Chapter Three: Here To Stay

Gohan was almost level with Vegeta when the Saiyan suddenly slammed on the aerial brakes, almost causing a mid-air collision.
“What in the hell are you doing?” The half Saiyan growled in annoyance, thanking his superior muscles for allowing him that flexibility.
Careful, Prince… So she was alive, then. Vegeta almost smiled at the revelation that there was a fraction of justice in the universe, and that it wasn’t just her ******* of a spouse that had been allowed another chance at life.
I will be, he replied, his mental training having allowed him a low level of telepathic ability. I will be.
“Vegeta!” Gohan shouted, trying to capture the preoccupied Prince’s attention, which was obviously away from the imminent confrontation.
“Yes?” Vegeta asked tersely.
“Why are we just standing here when Remzu’s -”
The Prince raised a steady arm and pointed at a tiny figure in the distance.
“- over there?” He offered icily, to which Gohan, surprised, nodded slightly.
“Yes. Over there.”
“Why run to a coward?”
The words were laced with fury, and Gohan eyed him nervously as he felt his power escalate.
“Shall I…?” He tried tentatively. Gohan was no stranger to potentially lethal situations, but he was never quite sure how to react around the more powerful and less well tempered Vegeta.
“Use your initiative,” the Saiyan snapped, now able to define Remzu’s every facial feature. “And use it quickly.”
Seconds later, the Duke was in their vicinity, and smirking in a superior fashion.
“Did you miss me?” He enquired cheerily, his expression as smug and as gaunt as Vegeta recalled it.
“Can’t say as I did, no,” he quipped coolly. “However, before I incinerate your pathetic frame, I’d like a little information out of you.”
“Incinerate me?” The Galen pondered aloud, amused at the threat. “I’d love to see you try it.”
Vegeta snarled, close to entering the boundaries of Super Saiyan.
“However,” the Duke said in a rare streak of fairness, “I will humour you with a response if you so desire it. Even if it’s only to see that rather witty threat attempt to be realised.”
A growl escaped the Saiyan, his circulation’s temperature increasing as his blood metaphorically boiled in poorly controlled anger.
“Tell me this, Galen,” Vegeta snapped, tight-lipped, “How did you survive?”
A shadow crossed Remzu’s face, his superior shield slipping a little.
“I didn’t,” he admitted, his tone livid now he had been reminded he was speaking to his killer.
Vegeta’s eyebrows raised, and Gohan clicked his tongue impatiently, enraged to be facing the murderer of his mother, daughter and wife and being unable to do anything about it thanks to Vegeta’s apathy.
“Then how are you here?” The regal Saiyan asked simply.
Remzu, already bored of speech, simply smirked.
“Galens, as you doubtlessly know anyway, share a telepathic bond,” he answered lazily. “The bonds between father and son are the strongest and most significant. By sacrificing some of his life energy, Tiroth was able to resurrect me.”
Somewhere in the recesses of his mind, Vegeta realised that he finally had a decent reason to detest Asara’s son - a boy whom he had abhorred on sight.
“I was therefore unable, as my death and subsequent dimensional collapsure had already occurred, to salvage Capasca. I was, however, able to teleport the remaining Galens - including my wife and children - to a spot a little over a hundred miles away before we were all annihilated.”
“All that should have happened a year ago,” Gohan finally interjected, interrupting Vegeta as his curled lips began to form a word.
Remzu actually seemed surprised at this.
“Should it?” He replied, apparently a little confused over that fact. “Not that it shocks me. The fabric of Capascan reality was crumbling. It never occurred to me to verify the timeframe.”
Vegeta very much doubted that this fact had been entirely truthful, but his next sentence was interrupted as he felt a power creeping towards them.
“Anyone you know?” Vegeta asked smugly, plotting ways to blast the oddly familiar female out of the sky.
Remzu’s face gave nothing away, but his countenance altered ever so slightly - which was all Vegeta needed.
“No,” the Duke lied instantly.
“Ah, I see,” the royal said, evidently unconvinced. “So you wouldn’t mind if I used her as target practice then?”
He smirked evilly as a sphere of glowing blue ki matured in his palm, shivering with unused potential.
“Try it,” Remzu snarled, his own hand shimmering with purple, psychic energy in response.
Vegeta grinned, acknowledging his small victory.
“Perhaps later,” he responded, the ball dissipating to nothing. “I think I might just have a little fun first.”
Remzu would suffer the dishonour of suffering taunts and mocks before Vegeta would be even halfway satisfied with his death. Stashing his anger in an unknown reach of his mind, the Prince calmed a little, and waited, his eyes never leaving his foe’s.
The Galen female came into view, and Vegeta finally recognised her as Asara’s eldest daughter, whose name he was unfamiliar with. He didn’t want to risk a mental war with her by delving into her mind to discover, so simply waited for her to join the fray before asking.
The first thing that struck Vegeta about this woman is how much of her mother she was. He could feel it radiating from her demeanour - she exuded a natural aura of intelligence and coolness under extreme pressure. She resembled Asara too - her features were infused with beauty, her scarlet skin and oddly tasteful humanoid shape were heavily scented with unseen potential and her soft, violet hair shimmered in the mid-afternoon sunshine.
Her most striking feature were her eyes; unlike Asara’s, they weren’t tainted with the bitter pill of regret, and were a gentle lilac hue. This female had led a charmed life, but wasn’t averse to struggle. Much like her heritage, it seemed. Her mind was still somewhat innocent, and oblivious to the hardships someone like him had been through, but she was intelligent enough to realise that first-hand experience wasn’t necessarily needed for comprehension.
She was shapely, pretty and generally a completely mature Galen woman, albeit one with a lot less personality flaws than her parents. Her curvaceous but slim frame was finished tastefully with a ivory silk dress. Before his acquaintance with Asara, he’d have considered attire like that a sign of unwillingness to fight - not now, however, for he could sense that this woman was certainly no pushover.
Vegeta considered vaguely for a moment that his son would probably quite enjoy her company, before his thoughts were interrupted by her very softly spoken voice inside his head.
Princess Solexia of the Galen people, she introduced. Vegeta cast a sidelong glance at Gohan, who seemed to have heard it too.
Remzu appeared not to have, but Vegeta could see that he realised what his daughter was doing.
“Why in Omega’s name are you here?” He shot angrily, evidently not having accounted for her presence.
“Mother sent me,” she said simply, her actual voice as gentle and smooth as her mental one. “As though you didn’t already know, father.”
Remzu looked like he wouldn’t have declined an offer of ritually sacrificing the young woman, but a sneer masked that desire well.
“Hold your tongue,” he growled lividly. “You are younger and less experienced, so I would not expect you to comprehend the severity of this situation -”
Solexia apparently wasn’t one to take comments like this lying down, and furiously bit back.
“Do not address me in that tone, Duke,” she cried in indignation, which seemed to stun Remzu momentarily. “I answer to the commanding force of my species, my Princess and mother. My dear brother -” she raged with the utmost contempt “- might be incapable of displeasing you, but I assure you that that rule doesn’t extend to myself or to Alyssia. You might be opting to forget, father, but you’ve been away. For twenty five years. You honestly believe that you can stroll back into the fray and act as thought you left yesterday? It’s bull. I know it’s bull, and so does mother, and Alyssia, and even Tiroth, although he chooses not to let it irk him. Omega, even the damn population knows it. So don’t you order me to hold my tongue, Commander - I answer only to those for whom I possess an iota of respect and loyalty for.”
Had the situation not quite been so sincere, Vegeta would have been tempted to laugh Remzu’s emotional cocktail of ire and amazement - however, all thoughts of that were displaced from his mind as Remzu’s calloused hand splayed across his offspring’s face, a fierce echo of a slap cutting through the air as she reeled backwards. She appeared to have expected nothing less, and smiled bitterly at him.
“I thought you were dead, you stupid girl!” The Duke shrieked, unable to prevent a note of pain from penetrating his voice.
“And it never occurred to you to verify that?” She said, a stark sourness permeating her tone. “Did the thought never once enter your mind that we might have used Capasca for the purpose it was intended, and fled there after Drafacus was destroyed?”
Vegeta had long pondered that question himself - surely, in twenty five years, Remzu would have thought to search there? Perhaps even if not to search, to take emotional comfort in hiding in the only place he had left…
Vegeta promptly stopped wondering this as he realised that he was taking the Galen for a compassionate individual.
Remzu rounded on his daughter, who faced him bravely, although the Saiyan could see a spike of fear in her eyes.
“I didn’t want anything to do with the place,” he snarled, a torrent of rage causing him to shake. “I had nothing. You don’t know what that does to a man, Solexia. You don’t know how much it hurts…”
Vegeta, despite detesting the Duke with every atom of his being, felt he was able to empathise on that point - the Princess had no idea how hard it was to lose all you loved. However, what he couldn’t decipher was why that had affected Remzu - evidently from this display and his attitude towards Asara, he didn’t only not love them, but appeared barely able to tolerate their presence.
The Saiyan’s eyes flitted back to the matter at hand as Remzu’s hand uncurled from the fists they were clenched into, shook himself off slightly and returned to the point of this situation.
“Time I showed you a little respect, I believe,” he muttered, though it sounded like a grudging revelation. “What do you propose we do about our ‘friend’ over there?”
He couldn’t keep the contempt from his voice when addressing Vegeta, and his eyes hurried Solexia along.
Vegeta himself was stunned, but went along with it, curious as to how the tactics were developing. Whatever the Princess would suggest, he intrinsically knew that this woman was her mother’s daughter, and that therefore he was in no immediate danger.
“Well, how else but by the ways of regal Galen conduct?” Solexia enquired placidly, giving her father a look that clearly informed him that she wouldn’t forget their earlier discussion, to which he acknowledged with a quick nod. Her tone was light, as though that had been the simplest decision she’d ever had to make.
“Who with, though?” Remzu asked eagerly, clearing hoping it was Vegeta.
The Saiyans were bewildered - what in Kami’s name was entailed in ’regal Galen conduct’?
They didn’t have to wait long to discover though as Solexia nodded at Gohan, adding a reason to her abashed father of “I never could trust the quieter ones, Duke.”
Remzu looked mutinous as his daughter drew a ruby encrusted sword from thin air, utilising her impressive Galen summoning ability, and tossed it towards the Saiyan duet. Although Vegeta was quite sure it wasn’t meant for him, he caught it anyway as it swooped gracefully through the still afternoon air.
Solexia threw him an amused look.
“Just as impulsive as mother said,” she commented nonchalantly. “I’ll get to you later, Vegeta.”
The sword was telekinetically lifted from his hand and moved over to Gohan, who seemed a little surprised, but took it anyway as it insistently hovered before him.
An emerald draped blade, similarly magnificent but seemingly more individually tailored to Solexia’s needs, appeared in her own hand.
“It is the ways of Drafacian Elite conduct that no spectator is permitted to either enter or participate in their own individual fights whilst ours is occurring,” she told the assembled crowd. “The same code also states that whoever draws the first stroke of blood from their opponent’s chest area will be pronounced victor. Are all gathered company clear on this?”
Remzu and Vegeta both reluctantly nodded, the latter internally seething - why was she opting to fight the weaker man? Surely she knew that he wished her no malice unless she warranted it fully.
I told my mother that I’d keep you protected, he heard her soft voice said, and he looked up to see her eyes staring into his.
His anger erupted.
Tell your mother that I’m perfectly capable of handling myself! He screeched in intense annoyance.
You can delude yourself, but not me, she replied, her voice hardening a little. You’re still no match for his mental skill, despite your training. I will keep your acquaintance here occupied. In the meantime, gain some ground. Find out some information. But don’t touch him. At least not until I can assist you again. It’s a suicide mission.
Sighing angrily, he snapped just one word of very reluctant agreement.
Fine.
She smiled, and took up her position twenty feet from the men and opposite the prepared Gohan.
Draw it out, he advised the younger Saiyan. I’m going detective. Gohan gave a tiny and barely noticeable nod, not bothering to take his eyes away from his opponent, nor to turn his head.
“Ready?” He asked, receiving a small inclination of the head from Solexia, to which they launched together, their swords clashing down in a fierce and synchronised blow.

« Last edited by shiny zapdos on Jul 21st 2006 »

Finally, a swordfight! I've been waiting for one of these for ages. Teh chapter is good.

Very nice job! I'm impressed... well, i cant really find much to suggest, so ill just say ill look forward to more and move on.

Thanks boys. Never say I'm one to disappoint the public, Panda. =]

You know I actually liked it it made sense than most of the times I read FF

Thanks, dude. =] Hello, by the way. Haven't seen you before.

Anyway, without further ado, time for the next chapter - and much swordfighting! Hurrah! =D

Chapter Four: Foreseen

Metal parted company with metal as the blades swirled through the otherwise still and silent air, colliding again in a heated frenzy of passion and distraction. The tone was mutual - they both knew what they were doing, and why they were both hanging back. Solexia’s gaze met the half Saiyan‘s, and he allowed a glimmer of a smile to momentarily claim his mouth as he thrust his sword towards her, feigning the malice with stunning precision.
Vegeta watched the fake but nevertheless impressive combat take place, chancing a glance over at a riveted Remzu, who seemed to have taken the situation as being completely legitimate and was now surveying with intrigue, his honour slightly more tarnished every time Gohan seemed to gain the advantage.
Vegeta vaguely wondering why he wasn’t reading the thoughts of the intrepid duet, and why the intelligent individual seemed to be falling for it so easily - although he had to concede that his rival’s son and enemy’s daughter were highly competent dramatists. His only conclusion was that the newly resurrected Galen Elite wasn’t quite back to full strength from his death. Vegeta felt a savage pleasure erupt within him at being the cause of this.
That was what he had to do. Keep him weak. The advantage - and the pain - would be his to manipulate.
And if there was one feeling that Vegeta revelled in more than any other, it was power.
He smiled a little, allowing himself to contemplate methods in which to maintain Remzu’s lack of power at his leisure. Gohan and Solexia appeared to be content in their spar, and his mind relaxed, sensing no need for urgency now he had discovered what he needed to. He watched the battle, ever on his guard against a potential assault.
The jewels seemed almost to gleam as Gohan’s rubies connected with Solexia’s emeralds, leaving them mere inches from each other’s faces. They shared a meaningful gaze before pulling apart. Solexia swung her sword around, darting at his more exposed flesh, and being unsurprised when she was swiftly and accurately blocked by the naturally competitive Saiyan adult.
This isn’t just a false battle, is it?
Solexia raised her eyebrows as her sword jabbed at his agile waist, which accordingly twisted out of the line of attack.
Since when were you psychic?
He grinned as he thrust his blade against her, warring for superiority.
Half my family died because I was mentally weak, he answered, his words as intense as his look. It’s not something I want a repeat of.
So you trained.
She sounded impressed; he looked a little indignant.
Yes. Now answer my question. Not a straight battle, is it?
Her eyelids flickered, although she gave no other sign of response, except from to telekinetically hoist her blade, and to watch her opponent’s eyes widen in reaction.
I suppose not, she commented.
What the hell are you doing? He demanded, obviously not having foreseen this development.
My father isn’t convinced, she answered simply. I’m sure you can handle it, Saiyan.
A glimmer of annoyance permeated his mind, before he smiled coyly.
Of course.
Her eyes illuminated as she raised her blade in an alarmingly quick motion. With his battle resistant eyes, he easily kept track of her direction as he formed a routine of dodging, swerving and blocking her movements.
She jabbed out of sequence, causing Gohan to spiral to the side slightly, his legs in danger of experiencing separation from his upper body.
Well maintained, she praised softly, meeting his gaze for the briefest moment as he broke away from her relentless motions and slashed his sword across her arm, drawing the finest trickle of blood.
Blood that, he was shocked to see, was green. A pale sort of green, an almost pastel shade.
She smirked, hardly feeling the cut, and was optically reprimanded by her disgusted father.
I’m an alien, she reminded him. You shouldn’t have assumed my blood colour would mirror your own.
Gohan was slightly encapsulated by this, and took the momentary escape from fighting to shoot Vegeta a look that told him he no longer needed to battle, as he’d figured out a way to defeat Remzu - or, at least, that he had some form of action plan figured out.
I’m half alien myself, he informed her.
An almost inaudible sigh left her scarlet lips.
Don’t tell me you’re an alien, my dear man, she chastised, resuming the battle by launching at him rapidly, causing their blades to clash once again. Your mind informs me that you’re a husband and father, that you’ve only left the Earth twice - once of which was a direct result of your death - that you were born here, and that you’re currently a professor of Mathematics.
She smashed the flat side of her sword into her knee, which buckled backwards, startling him somewhat.
That sounds fairly human to me.
His ego bruised by both the actual and the verbal blow, he smirked and leapt into action.
No longer was he faking a lack of strength. This woman was very impressive, but she couldn’t match him physically, and it was time she realised that however human he seemed, he really wasn’t.
He teleported behind her, surprising her, and slashed a shallow groove into her shoulder, which stung slightly for a moment.
A moment being all the half Saiyan required.
Gohan spied his target, and teleported a mere centimetre away, drew his blade in triumph -
- And was promptly thrown several feet away from the Galen Princess.
The common Saiyan’s son looked up, bewildered, and across at Vegeta, who seemed to be finished with his plot, before returning his eyes to Solexia’s. Her arm was drawn, and he watched as the purple glow that spread along it recede before she smiled.
“It’s not that easy,” she said simply. “You don’t teleport, I don’t use telekinesis. Are we in agreement?”
Despite themselves, none of the assembled males could help but admire Solexia’s class and sense of equality - even her father, although it was emotionally painful to admit this to himself.
“We are,” Gohan answered, nodding and raising his sword just in time to defend his chest against her attempted slash. He darted backwards and away from her newly energised swing, then moved in closer once more, Solexia’s gaze holding him in place momentarily. With that look, he finally realised just what she was doing every time she engaged him in a stare - she was discovering him. Who he was, where he’d been, what he’d done, who he’d been there with and how he battled.
He was being defeated by predeterminism.
He couldn’t help admire her strategy, although it was completely unfair - after all, it had probably been the reason why she’d been able to keep up with him for so long, and thus keep up their pretence. But now Vegeta’s thinking time had been utilised effectively by the Prince, there was nothing remaining here but honour - and retaining it would mean altering his tactics.
Placing his thoughts in the back of his mind where they wouldn’t be able to be perused quite so easily by Solexia, he steeled himself as her sword glinted menacingly in the hazy sunshine, ready to strike. Deliberately allowing her to strike him, he wasn’t disappointed as she arched her blade downwards and towards him.
Instantly, he reversed slightly, and in the nanosecond that her weapon was still drawn downwards, he glided effortlessly nearer to her elegant frame, and pressed his sword delicately to her throat.
Smiling at his victory, Gohan followed the lining of her breasts and swept an accurate and gentle stroke across her chest, drawing a perfect line of green blood.

« Last edited by shiny zapdos on Jul 24th 2006 »

Teh owned. Remzu won't be happy about this, methinks.

Very nicely done. No real suggestions. Just keep it up.