Disclaimer: I still do not own DBZ, and I still have nothing worth taking, so don't sue me

Notes: New beginning for the prologue, hope ya like it…

Shadows of the Past: Prologue

Master Roshi's tiny island was once again home to a gathering of the Z- fighters, past and present. Krillin, Bulma, Yamcha and Puar sat on lawn chairs reminissing, about old times. Pan, Marron and Bra were watching Trunks and Goten's sparring match. While 18 and Videl helped Chichi unpack the food they had brought, Gohan and Piccolo talked quietly in the shade of the palm trees.

Forgotten by the others, a lone figure stood admiring the sunset. The magnificent colors lit the sky like fire and the rich hues of red and gold were reflected in the sparkling water as if a million tiny diamonds were being gently stirred by the tide. The night itself seemed to breath a contented sigh as the last rays of the evening sun began to fade, taking the warm color with it but leaving behind a peace that was reflected in the soft rush of the waves. As the first of the stars appeared in the ever-darkening sky, Vegeta smirked, one could see forever through the thin atmosphere of this planet. His Saiyan senses picked up galaxies that were not listed on earth's pathetic star maps. How many of those stars up there had he visited… how many of their planets had he destroyed…

After a while, they all seemed to run together… all except Arlia and Janson 3. The natives of Janson 3 had called their planet Astrea, and were once Frieza's allies, but they too outlived their usefulness and he had gotten the task of exterminating them… Did it matter anymore? Had it ever really mattered? They were dead, and gone, their planets completely destroyed and nothing could change that, so why did he still remember them so clearly? And why did he look away every time he remembered the emotions written so clearly on the faces of those two ugly bugs? The King and Queen of Arlia were nothing but giant bugs why should he care that he had destroyed them and their planet? There were countless planets and life forms out there, why should the Prince of all Saiyans answer to his conscience over the demise of these two over all the others he had destroyed?

Had he not destroyed Janson 3 Frieza would've beaten him nearly to death and sent someone else anyway. Nothing would have been changed with his defiance as an 18 year old. And Arlia? Well, they weren't on Frieza's immediate list of imperatives, but they were in the eventual list. Sparing them would've only forestalled the inevitable, but for some reason, this knowledge was of little comfort to him tonight. It was this world that was doing this to him, Earth, his mate and Kakarrot, damn all three of them.

Ever since he had allowed Majin Buu partial control over him, the conscience within him that Frieza had worked so hard to completely destroy had been getting the better of him about his past. Why had he allowed Buu into his mind and his body? He had always done everything on his own. Was it for power? Or was it something else? It seemed like a long time ago, but it wasn't. Kakarrot was still off training the brat, rather than here with his family. Even Vegeta, who had never wanted a family, rarely left his alone. Kakarrot, the idiot who could do no wrong it had seemed since his arrival here, had left his family in order to train a stranger? He would rather train Uub than his own sons? The very idea was preposterous, where was his Saiyan pride?

It was a shame really, Gohan was closer to Piccolo by far than he was with his father these days, and Goten? The brainless brat was exactly like him but hardly knew him… His kids were both very strong warriors, but Vegeta rarely acknowledged it, even to himself, but he had allowed Goten to train with Trunks, a lot more lately, telling himself it was just to see what Gohan had been teaching him…

Speaking of the two brats… their power levels were being suppressed, he turned around casually to where they had been sparring earlier and found himself surrounded. Pan, Trunks, Goten, Bra and Marron were all holding squirt guns aimed at him. One jet-black eyebrow arched smoothly and he smirked coldly as he gave the surprised demi-Saiyans a chance to run, only for the sake of the girls, though, and when Trunks and Goten bolted too, he was ready. Vegeta was in front of them instantly, and used a minor pair of energy blasts to destroy the squirt guns; Kami only knew what was in them this time, and he wasn't in the mood to find out. " Next time, Brats, don't get caught. I had destroyed 3 planets by the time I was 8. Why would you think it would be that easy to catch me off guard when I'm not even arguing with your mother? "

" Three? I thought you only destroyed Arlia. " Bra said softly, putting her squirt gun on the ground and coming over to him. Her eyes, so much like her mothers held him prisoner, he considered not answering, but one day he knew his past would catch up to him. If any of Frieza's men found out he was still alive, or if any of the planets he had purged had unknown colony worlds, his children would make prime targets, and he had told himself long ago that they deserved to know what he had done to endanger them.

" I destroyed Arlia on my way here, independent of Frieza's command. On Frieza's orders I destroyed 16 planets, and lead Napa and Radditz into battle on 8 outposts and garrisons of the legionaries of the Eternal Star. I accompanied Napa and Radditz as an observer on 6 missions and assisted larger forces on 7 occasions. None of that includes my search for Kakarrot after Namek, when I took out 12 of Frieza's old bases. "

" W…what? Daddy, how can you say that? How can you act like it's nothing? You… you said that like you read it out of a history book… " Bra stumbled back, her blue eyes filling with tears, when he moved to steady her, she threw herself into the sand as if he had attacked her. " I… I guess he was right about you after all… I never would've… "

" Who was right about what? " Vegeta interrupted, but was already glaring at Yamcha.

" Dad, forget it… " Trunks tried to say, but Vegeta wasn't listening.

" Yamcha said you were a murderer, and when I said you weren't he laughed at me and… "

" Bra… " Goten interrupted, " Yamcha was drunk… hell, he's still drunk. He didn't know what he was saying… Vegeta-san… "

" The idiot is of no concern to me, he knows nothing of my past, and he wasn't even man enough to fight for his mate 25 years ago. He wasn't worth killing then, why would I put him out of his misery now? You three better than anyone else alive… aside from Bulma should know me better than that by now. "

" Daddy… " Bra whispered, " When I was little, you always promised you would tell me what had happened to you… Why you can be such a good father now, but once destroyed so many places… Can you tell us now? Please? If you don't tell us, how can you expect us to understand? "

He hated it when his little princess did this to him. But at the same time, they were old enough now to hear this, and he had promised to tell them. Originally he had only meant to tell Trunks and Bra, Bulma already knew most of his past, because of their bond… but looking around at the others, he sighed. For a moment he wondered why he felt the need to tell any of them, but looking into his daughters eyes, he saw hope, and he swore softly. What he would have to tell them would crush her hope that he wasn't evil, the truth of his past was so bloody and laced with pain that it would've seen any lesser creature surrender to the pain he still felt whenever he thought of the things Frieza had done… Even he had considered death as an escape from the hell he had been put through, but then he thought of her… and found the strength to go on…

" Daddy? Please tell us. "

" Bra… you will not like this story. There are no knights in shinning armor, no big white castles and… this time the prince doesn't rescue the princess. "

" I don't care, I just want to know what happened to you… that made you the way you are… "

" It would be easiest to say Frieza, but that wouldn't be entirely true. He took me when I was five, destroyed planet Vegeta, took my birthright when he killed my father… but he also introduced me to the one thing that kept me from giving up. And in a way, I don't mean just revenge… "

" You were 5? " Everyone seemed to ask at the same time.

" Yes, Frieza thought of himself as something of a collector. He collected planets as other kings collect gems and gold. He also collected pretty things and royalty. "

" What? " Bra gasped

" Frieza had a vast empire, and there was a fierce rivalry between him and that idiot Koola. Physically Koola of course was stronger, but Frieza was smarter. He preferred to control his empire with subtlety and veiled threats, rather than straight conquest. To get leverage against those who interested or opposed him, he would take and train their heirs, at one of three schools. As long as he held their heirs and heiresses, no one he had alliances or trade deals with would dare act against him. To be truthful, these nobles even policed each other, to be sure that no one plotting against Frieza could succeed. He was true to his word with his young pawns. Frieza trained us well. Even without my scouter I can speak 25 languages, not to mention those I learned here. Philosophy, sciences, math, art, courtly etiquette, for all of those subjects he scoured his empire for the best teachers he could find… only I seemed to understand that the school was no more than a prison. The other brats went about their studies and seemed to enjoy it… "

" Why didn't you? "

" I'm not sure, instinctively I knew that my father was dead, but Frieza kept me anyway, and I was never sure why. I was pushed a lot harder than the other brats, but I was also smart enough and strong enough that at age 5, I was put with the third graders. Frieza took particular interest in me, but aside from the possibility that I would be the next super Saiyan, I was never sure why. "

" So, what happened first? " Goten asked, " Were you kidnapped or did the king give you up? "

Vegeta was not prepared for the pain that question brought. The fact that it hurt was a surprise, because he hadn't felt this pain since… he pushed his emotions aside and thought for a moment. " When I was training with my father for the last time, I was injured and nearly died. When I got out of the tank, I was summoned to a meeting… "

Vegeta took another moment to gather his thoughts. It had been so long, and yet he could still see everything so clearly, the unnatural, sterile scent of the medical palace wing, the bright glint of the lights on the polished metal walls… the tense look on that idiot Napa's face as he waited for him to finish dressing.

Throwing his scarlet cape over his shoulders, he fastened it securely. He could feel the gigantic Saiyan's nervousness as he waited for his presence to be acknowledged. The prince took as long as possible adjusting his velvet cape, and gave himself an amused little smirk, his tail twitching with mischievous intent. Finally though, he arched one eyebrow and scowled at his bodyguard through the mirror.

" My prince, your father demands your presence in the throne room at once. "

" So? "

" So we had better not keep him waiting. Your father is in a f… a meeting with Lord Frieza. "

" Why do they want me there? I'll be at court tomorrow as usual, his majesty hates me anyway, and I really don't want the second thing I see today to be that bastard Frieza. "

" My prince, you mustn't talk that way about our most powerful ally. Besides, your father doesn't hate you. "

Vegeta levitated to eyelevel in front of his bodyguard and smirked as he arched one eyebrow expectantly. " Really? And I suppose next you'll be telling me I'll be queen one day too? What time is it anyway, you idiot? "

" It is 03:00 my prince. "

Vegeta was nearly speechless. " I was in there for 12 hours? "

" Your majesty, " A white coated lab tech ventured, " If I may, answer, you suffered massive injuries from your shattered ribs and were in the tank for 6 days. "

Slowly, Vegeta turned a dark, smoldering eye on the small round purple alien addressing him. The lab tech began to back away slowly, then turned and ran through the doorway he had just entered through the moment before. " Has it really been six days? "

" Yes, that is part of the reason they request you now. "

' What so that he can blast me again? ' Vegeta wanted to say, but he didn't and forcing himself to look regal, he lead Napa through the empty corridors of the palace. At the antechamber of the throne room, he could hear his father's angry voice arguing, yelling at someone, but whoever was answering could not be heard yet.

Knowing that his father's scouter had picked up his approach by now, Vegeta didn't stop to listen at the door, instead he allowed Napa to open it for him and stepped inside. Near his father's throne, sat the small disgusting pink lizard known as Frieza, and next to the door, sat Zarbon and Dodoria… But where were his father's guards? Napa also had remained outside, and Vegeta glared at Frieza. King Vegeta turned slowly to glance at his son, and as he did, Vegeta saw the beginnings of a nasty bruise along his jaw. " What are you staring at, Brat? "

" Nothing. " The prince glared back, but in his heart he knew that the bruise was there because of Frieza, there was not a Saiyan alive capable of laying a hit like that on his father, except for him, and he had been in the tank for 6 days. Vegeta glared at Frieza, studying the alien lord who seemed to have as much control over his planet as his father did. The ugly alien would pay for his lack of respect for the Saiyan crown, Vegeta would make certain of that, no matter how long it took.

" Prince Vegeta, Frieza's face twisted into a mocking grin. " How nice to see that you seem to be fully recovered from your little accident in the training hall. Do you remember what we were discussing that afternoon? "

Vegeta frowned. He sort of remembered his father becoming angrier than he had ever seen him, about something, right before the blaze of silver white light had struck his chest. " No, Lord Frieza, I do not. "

" No matter, it will become apparent in a few moments… Do sit down and join us. "

Vegeta ignored him and turned his attention to his father, who was prowling the room like a caged beast. He was five, but he had a thorough understanding of Saiyan protocol, and knew better than to sit in here without invitation from the king.

" Sit down Brat, and don't interfere… He is a five-year-old Frieza, how do you expect to use him at this age? "

" He may only be five, but he is already nearly as strong as you are. Lord Vegeta, you must understand that I too, only want what is best for your son. In all likelihood he is the next super Saiyan, I believe someone of such power would be of interest to my empire, as well as yours. " Frieza purred, knowing full well that the Saiyan king had tried to keep it a secret from Frieza that he was probably the next golden warrior. " He has learned all he can from your guards and trainers, and I will even allow Napa to accompany him, to teach him properly in Saiyan customs and such. "

" Your demands have gotten out of hand, Frieza, and this is the worst yet. "

" I value the Saiyans, Lord Vegeta, why else would I extend to you such a generous offer? I am even willing to make a few concessions regarding a few worlds that were already supposed to be in my possession. I am being more than reasonable. "

" Perhaps, if I believed your intentions were benevolent. "

" You wound me Vegeta. " Frieza said softly, but turned his attention to the prince a moment later. Vegeta felt himself squirm uncomfortably in the chair as he felt the garnet gaze of the little alien lord on him again. " You must forgive our rudeness tonight, my prince, I feel as if we are neglecting you. "

" This is between us, leave the Brat alone. " The elder Vegeta snarled, and got a nasty slap from Frieza's tail for it. The king wiped the blood from his split lip onto the back of his glove.

" You are making all of this much harder than it needs to be, and I tire of this game. We both know I could take him right now, and you know you can't stop me."

" And we also know that I can't let you cast dishonor upon me, my throne and my son by saying such things and making such demands. "

" Indeed, that is why we tried diplomacy first. But, if you want to do this the hard way… Your son is coming with me. And I will train him and mold him into the leader, and the warrior I know he has the potential to become. This will come to pass whether or not you and your planet still exist! "

" You wouldn't dare? "

" Wouldn't I? " Frieza chuckled coldly, but whatever else he said was lost in the cry of outrage from the young prince as he leapt at Frieza, Vegeta was cunning and strong, but still too young to last long against Frieza. The alien lord chuckled to himself dodging Vegeta's kicks and punches, for a moment. But when Vegeta feigned a punch, and struck him in the chin with a kick, Frieza was no longer amused. Frieza's eye lasers connected with his armor at great force, throwing the prince against the wall, where he hit with a sickening crunch and lay still.

Well, how you like the new Start to the prologue?? My notes for the other beginning never showed up, and I had to start somewhere… Well, I'm happy to put it back up at long last, hope you all like this series as well as A Passion that Burns. Well, R/R… please!!!!!!