Chapter Ten

…

As soon as Vegeta collapsed into the ground, Goku ran forward, kneeling beside the prince.

"Vegeta? Vegeta can you hear me?" he shook the beast's shoulders. "Please look at me! You can't die!" Vegeta twitched, blinked up at him blindly, and his whole body shuddered once more before the great head rolled lifelessly to the side. Vegeta's hand fell open, and the last of the glowing balls faded into stone, seeping into the mud.

"Poor prince, didn't stand much of a chance," Freeza interrupted. "Good for him anyway, what a horror he'd turned into. I've never seen such a disgusting thing."

Goku stiffened, and delicately placed the ball back into Vegeta's hand, running his fingers over the soft paw.

"You seem rather fond of the beast," Freeza continued. "A pity I'll have to kill you. You're strong, managing to land an attack like that on me. I could use a soldier like you."

"Leave now," Goku ordered, voice laced with barely-restrained rage.

"Oh, is that an order?" Freeza laughed, stepping forward. "What will you do if I don't comply?"

"Your army had been disbanded and defeated. Leave now, or I will kill you," Goku said, standing up. Freeza's lips pulled back into a sneer.

"Of course you will." With that, the icejin launched himself at the saiyan, fist raised. Goku dodged the attack, springing back and aiming a punch at Freeza's torso. Freeza dodged, disappearing and reappearing behind Goku and slamming his tail into the saiyan's back. Goku grunted, landing face first in the softening mud. He struggled to his knees as Freeza laughed.

"All this for a stupid monkey who thought he was a prince." The icejin kicked Vegeta's head to the side, and Goku heard a sickening crack. He grit his teeth, rising. Vegeta, that cruel yet kind person, the lonely man that Goku had watched learn to laugh and to hope. That same, powerful, brave creature lay in the mud, motionless, because of this vile creature before him. Goku felt the anger build and stir within him, felt it grow into power and that power spread throughout him. He screamed, and suddenly that power burst from his body, and Goku felt strong.

Freeza stared, no longer laughing, as the saiyan's power level began to climb. The air around Goku began to crackle and snap like the lightning in the air, and suddenly, it burst from him in a dazzling yellow light. Freeza winced at the burst of power, a shudder running through his spine as the saiyan, the weak, stupid saiyan he'd pounded into the dirt just moments ago, stood wrapped in a brilliant glow, his hair turned to gold and his eyes to a dull, haunting aquamarine that sent a spike of fear into his heart. Freeza forced a laugh - him, Freeza, the conqueror of worlds, frightened by a glowing monkey. He growled, crouching into a fighting position.

"Give it up, Freeza," Goku called over the hissing of rain and grumble of thunder. "You have no place here. Leave these lands now, and you can keep your life."

"Don't think that a smidgen of extra power and some yellow hair is going to save you," the icejin snarled in return. Goku's eyes darkened, and he crouched defensively.

"Have it your way."

Freeza shot forward with a yell, aiming a punch at the saiyan's face. Goku easily blocked the attack, and parried with his own, which Freeza slapped away with his tail. The two leapt into the air, exchanging blow after blow. Finally, Freeza managed to land a punch on Goku's face, but the Saiyan simply licked the blood from his cracked lip and slammed his fist into Freeza's stomach. Freeza gasped sharply, only to be kicked up and seconds later, slammed down into the ground and pummeled by ki attacks as Goku sent wave after wave into the ground.

Finally, Goku dropped to the ground, panting slightly, as Freeza struggled to his feet, howling in rage.

"You damned…!" the icejin screeched hysterically. "I'll kill you all! You and this entire planet!" With that, the icejin leapt into the air, howling in laughter and summoning a huge ball of ki above his head. Goku grit his teeth and crouched, summoning the familiar attack in his hands.

"Ka, me," he began, feeling the energy grow and warm in his hands. Freeza cackled, looking down triumphantly.

"Ha, me."

Freeza threw down his arm, the ball of ki following after and shooting for the castle at an impossible speed.

"HA!" Goku yelled, lifting his hands and releasing everything. The ball of ki shot upwards, slamming into Freeza's attack and exploding, pushing the ki back. Goku watched as Freeza screeched, startled, as the Kamehameha shot through the barrier of energy. The icejin's screams were drowned as the ki enveloped him, shooting for the black sky and disappearing into the clouds like a giant bolt of lightning.

Goku gasped, arms trembling from the exertion, and stumbled forward. The golden glow faded away, and his hair and eyes returned to their usual, dark coloring. The rain washed over the silent castle, interrupted only by the irregular burst of thunder. Freeza's ki had disappeared. The threat was over.

Goku nearly collapsed, but forced himself upright as he stumbled towards Vegeta's body. The prince was almost drowned in mud, and Goku dragged him toward the castle, struggling under the huge weight. Finally, he collapsed beside the saiyan prince at the mouth of the castle, feeling the tears prick his eyes. It wasn't fair, he thought bitterly. How could the prince have been cursed and tormented for so many years, only to be killed as soon as he's become a better person? Goku choked back a sob, running his hand through the soft black mane he'd always yearned to touch. Tien, Krillin and Yamcha limped outside, rain dripping off their bowed heads. Chichi and Bulma hugged each other, crying, and Trunks and Goten stared, still startled by the fallen prince lying so still on the ground.

"I'm sorry," Goku cried. "I'm so sorry Vegeta. I wasn't strong enough. I'm sorry." He pressed his face into the saiyan's cold, wet chest. "I love you."

Goku felt a soft warmth on his face, soft at first, but increasingly powerful and glanced up, blinking when he noticed the ball, still clutched tightly in Vegeta's claw, had begun to glow. Its iridescent orange color returned, the four yellow stars glowing fiercely.

"Is it true?" a deep, reverbrating voice suddenly asked. "Do you love him?" Goku looked up, startled to see a tall, young Namekian standing above him, clad in purple silks and a long white cloak, a wooden staff in one hand.

"Who… are you?" Goku asked wonderingly.

"I am the Kami, the Guardian of this planet," the Namekian replied. "But tell me, do you really love this man?" Goku looked down at Vegeta. His eyes closed, he almost looked peaceful. Goku smiled softly.

"Yes, I do," he whispered. "But it's too late now. He's gone. He'll never know."

"This is not the end for him," Kami said sagely, bending over to pick up the ball. "Do you know what this is?"

"No," Goku said. "Though Vegeta guarded it possessively."

"These are Dragonballs," Kami explained. "Combined, they summon a spirit that can grant any wish the gatherer desires. I rendered them immune for many years on earth, for fear that they would be used for evil, but now I see that there are people like you, pure hearted and noble, capable of melting even the coldest hearts and defeating the cruelest of opponents. I will reactivate the Dragonballs, and return to you that which you hold dear."

Goku stared speechlessly as Kami raised a hand, and from the balcony of Vegeta's room, six orange balls floated down to join the seventh in a pile a few paces away. The balls began to glow brighter and brighter, and the sky blackened, blotting out the clouds and stars alike. The rain faded away, and suddenly, a great light burst forth from the Dragonballs, forming a great, snakelike dragon covered in iridescent green-blue scales.

"I am Shenron, the Eternal Dragon," the great dragon rumbled, "I will grant you one wish, and no more. Speak!"

Goku shook himself out of reverie and awe and stood shakily to his feet.

"Please," he supplicated. "Bring Vegeta back to life. Is that possible?"

"This is a simple task," the dragon replied. Kami suddenly interrupted, adding something in a strange, foreign tongue, and the dragon bowed its head obediently.

"I will return to you the prince Vegeta, and lift the enchantment that has been cast upon him and his castle." The dragon's eyes glowed, and Goku watched as Vegeta began to glow, and suddenly began to shift. His claws shrank and smoothed out into soft, pale fingers, the mane of dark fur faded away, leaving only a thick head of black hair, and the snout retracted to reveal a smooth, handsome face. Vegeta's eyes suddenly fluttered open, and he blinked, groaning.

"What?" he tried, voice hoarse. "Where am I?"

"Vegeta!" Goku cried, falling to his knees as the prince struggled to sit upright. Vegeta stared wonderingly at the saiyan.

"Kakkarot? What's going on? Why are you here? I thought I'd died."

"You did," Goku said, unable to keep the giddy grin off his face. "But Kami summoned the spirit of the Dragonballs, and he wished you back to life.

"I… I see," Vegeta blinked, and raised a hand, clenching and unclenching his fist. "I'm… human," he said wonderingly.

"Your wish has been granted." Goku and Vegeta glanced up as the great dragon interrupted, the prince's eyes widening as he noticed spirit. "Farewell." With that, the dragon faded away, and the glowing Dragonballs rose into the sky, gathering together for a moment before shooting across the sky in different directions with a crack. As soon as the balls disappeared over the horizon, the sky lightened, and revealed a cloudless blue sky, lit by the gentle rays of the morning sun peering over the eastern mountains.

Vegeta accepted Goku's hand, who pulled him upright, grinning.

"I've got real hair!" Goten suddenly exclaimed, Goku turned around, grinning as he noticed that the others had all been returned to their former human bodies. Yamcha was tall and dark haired, Tien large and intimidating, an extra eye still present on his forehead, and Krillin hadn't grown much taller than his enchanted form, though he looked far more human. Chichi had been transformed into a dark haired woman with eastern features, and Bulma into a blue-haired beauty. The youngest, Trunks and Goten squealed with delight, making faces at each other and pulling at their hair.

"You really did it." Goku turned back to Vegeta as the prince addressed him, smiling in a way that somehow reminded him of the toothy, self-confident smirk of his beastly self. "You broke the spell."

"It took two to break that spell," Kami said, smiling wryly. "You finally learned how to love, Vegeta."

Goku turned to the prince, surprised. Vegeta's cheeks heated to a deep shade of crimson, and he glanced away, mumbling. Goku laughed, taking Vegeta's face in his hands and kissed him deeply. The saiyan stiffened in surprise, but finally melted into the embrace, wrapping his arms around Goku's waist. The saiyans finally broke apart, Goku grinning stupidly, and Vegeta blushing so hard he looked ready to punch the grin off Goku's face.

Kami coughed, interrupting them momentarily, and smiled knowingly. "I think my work here is done. Vegeta, I have restored to you your castle, but it is up to you to restore your kingdom."

"That won't be a problem," Vegeta said confidently, glancing at Goku. "I've already got more help than I need."

Kami smiled. "Good luck then. I'll be watching, so best you behave." And with that, the Namekian disappeared.

"Vegeta look," Goku exclaimed when he turned around. Vegeta and the others turned around and gasped when they saw the castle, fully restored in its great glory, polished white stones gleaming. The destruction from Freeza's arrival had disappeared, leaving a huge bed of wildlflowers, and a clear pathway wide enough for five horses that cut through the forest, which had lost all eeriness and burst with the song of bird and creature.

Chichi and Bulma laughed, throwing themselves around the prince, while the others congratulated Goku for his bravery. Goku laughed at Vegeta's shocked and uncomfortable expression, and rescued his prince by lifting him up by the waist.

"You know, Vegeta," Goku mused. "I just noticed something."

"What?" Vegeta asked irritably, flushing.

"You're actually pretty short, aren't you?" Goku laughed, dropping the fuming saiyan prince, and tore behind the castle, Vegeta chasing after him with a curse.

…

News of the return of the prince Vegeta did not take long to spread, and by the end of the following moon, the entire kingdom rejoiced his return. After the defeat of Freeza, his army disbanded went into hiding, or left the kingdom entirely. Krillin and Yamcha returned to Turtle Village to continue training under Master Roshi's tutelage, but were welcome to return to Vegeta's royal guard whenever they desired. Turles and Bardock moved into the castle to live with Goku and the Prince, where Vegeta awkwardly professed his apologies for having mistreated Bardock. Like a true saiyan, Bardock laughed it off and insisted he was still young enough to conquer a few lands or two in the future.

The prince traveled the lands with Goku at his side, promising a future of peace, prosperity, and strength anew. Saiyans, humans, and Namekians alike were welcomed into the new kingdom, deemed equal under the new law and promised safety and sanctuary. Vegeta promised to amass an army and conquer the eastern lands across the sea to pacify the frustrated saiyans, but prohibited slavery, thievery, and needless murder. Under Vegeta's new rule, the lands flourished and the people prospered, rich in land and peace. Goku was always close to Vegeta wherever they went, and ruled alongside his prince with true advice and the adoration of his people. Those who proclaimed the common-born saiyan as unfit to sit beside the prince were thrown into the cellars for a day to contemplate their prejudices.

For over a century the kingdom prospered under Vegeta's rule, and would continue under his adoptive son, Trunks. But, until then, Goku and Vegeta lived long and healthy lives and, yes, happily ever after, to the end of their days.

THE END

...

.:Author's Note:. Done! Wow, this is the first multi-chapter story I've actually finished. What a shock!

Many thanks to all who have followed and reviewed this story to the end. Feel free to pass it on if you liked it, or leave a comment with your thoughts.

- Kerrigas