Written for the google+ 'We're Just Saiyan Community's' 'The Royal Challenge' and if you're not apart of the community yet … what are you waiting for?

Prompt: Breaking the Curse

Yes, we're finally at the end of this short journey so I will leave all ramblings for the end of this chapter. Enjoy!

Breaking the Curse

Chapter Five

KING Vegeta stood tall and proud before the window his son had burst through not so long ago. He lifted the golden goblet to his mouth as he sipped deeply from it.

The knock on his work chamber's door resounded within the quiet room and the King called permission to enter without turning around to acknowledge whoever had stepped inside.

His mind was racing with thoughts and images, fast paced and blurry, some even incomprehensible but they were there. They were his in some bizarre way. They made the wise King remember an old legend his great grandfather had told him as a brat while educating him on the wiles of females. Regardless of race or culture.

"Sire." He could hear the uncertain submission in his subordinate's voice and he lifted his goblet to his lips again to avoid roaring in rage. "The Prince has arrived."

When the King finally spoke, his voice was calm and deceptively soft but the tone of it sent a shiver skittering down the messenger's back. "Then go and stop him."

Just as before the King could here the indecision in his subordinate's voice but he knew, to turn around now would break the stronghold he had on his anger. The waves of fury would come in a tumultuous flow that nothing and no one would be able to stop him.

He wanted to keep his anger in check to ensure they suffered. Long and hard.

"Of course, sire."

King Vegeta was unsure who would stand beside him, who would walk away from him and give their dying allegiance to his son; their Prince, but he knew the Prince was not infallible. He had weaknesses the King knew and could exploit. All he needed now was to ensure his son waned before he stepped in to deliver the final blow.

That was not the coward's way out. It was tactic and strategy. Sheer cunning and brilliance over impulsive charging in and brute force. That would the King's advantage.

He walked down the dark dungeons, his boots clicking softly in the silence as if every step he took was bringing him towards the end.

"Pri – Prince Ver – Vegeta. You are not supposed to – "

A beam of ki was shot through the guard's protesting, blundering chest as response and the Saiyan warrior fell back, dead.

The ki had not come from Vegeta though, rather from Nappa, who was walking protectively behind the Saiyan Prince. Vegeta knew this was not about emotions or feelings but the undying loyalty he had won from Nappa ever since he had been a cub. Now there was no one who would tread upon his path and tell the Prince of all Saiyans that he could not do something. If his hand that was crossed lazily over his chest did not move forward fast enough to deliver the unfortunate soul its end, then the guard behind Vegeta definitely would.

They had fought through dozens of soldiers upon arrival and Saiyan warriors who had tried to bar the Prince from the castle and Vegeta found it almost laughable. The King was obviously trying to weaken Vegeta, wear him out before the Saiyan made an appearance. Obviously he did not want to outright challenge the Prince and stand the risk of losing. Vegeta applauded his father on the idea, he appreciated cunning and shrewd intelligence. He would not fault his father for the King's actions, he expected no less. He had wronged his King and while he was punishable by every decree set in the stone of their great Arthra, he was not yet ready to give in.

There was no longer any uncertainty about his decisions. He would cross the borders of the Universe, scavenge the ends of his world and give up the pinnacle of his standing … all for her. And now, he would do so without batting an eyelash, not even with a second thought.

Because he was no longer the Vegeta he had been before he had met her. He had changed, in a short time given, but they were drastic changes. His mind, body and soul had undergone an evolution that he – one of the most powerful beings in the Universe – had no strength in stopping. And he had never felt more at peace with these strange, almost alien concepts that he now entertained, than he had with the notions that had been beat and lectured into him since he had been a Prince being groomed to take over the crown.

And he embraced it. He accepted it. Because this was always who he had been meant to evolve into.

"Where is she?" He demanded harshly from Nappa over his shoulder.

"Deepest cell."

The Prince repressed the indignant growl that threatened to rise from his chest and spill through his pursed lips at the thought of Bulma being held captive. Yet he pushed on. Vegeta knew that he was strong in mind and body and he could handle anything that awaited him. Nonetheless every time he placed one foot in front of the other he felt the distinct urge to run.

Not backwards but forward.

Maybe he could not handle anything that was in store for him. Certainly is she were … He stifled the thought and took measured steps again. The castle he had spent his life growing up in seemed cold and unwelcoming. It must have been the foreboding stillness that promised the raucous retribution to come. The one that Nappa promised him his father was bringing.

Still Vegeta walked with his shoulders squared and the infinite grace of his regal upbringing. Finally he reached the last vermin infested, blood stained cell. A remaining guard took one look at the intimidating figures of Nappa and Vegeta, covered in blood and immediately bowed to them. Vegeta scoffed at the Saiyan but ignored him completely and with a snarl from Nappa the foolish warrior scuttled of like the useless bug he was.

Vegeta's heart jerked forcefully in his chest. An odd sensation since he was positive he had never felt his heart beat before. Not even in the throes of battle that brought victory to his bloody hands. Yet this slip of a woman had the unworldly power of reducing him to a wisp of weakness with one simple look.

There it was again. That blue, blue eyes coyly lifted to his. When she recognised him her eyes lit up with something that should have not existed in her stunning gaze after everything she had been through. A light that had no place in the darkness of a dank cave that promised eventual death.

He shot two ki blasts at the chains that held her hands above her head and she stumbled into him. Uncaring about the cuffs banded around her wrists she flung herself at him and coiled her slender arms around his neck. The cold of the metal chains against his warm flesh felt like her marking him as hers.

"He … couldn't touch me … we're cursed … this is old karma … I ... you … you're … we're …" Her sentences were broken with hiccups and sobs and Vegeta understood nothing of what she said.

Though somewhere in the back of his mind he saw visions of what she had obviously seen earlier on and he started to fit an incomplete, piece missing puzzle at the back of his brain. Yet then was not the time to try and figure out the picture it formed. His thoughts were too engaged on removing her from the planet. She needed to leave Vegeta-sei immediately.

He curved a strong arm behind the back of her legs and lifted her into his arms. She made no protest at his actions but to bury her face in the crook of his neck, hands wound tightly around him as if she never intended to let him go. Her tears burned into his skin but he set his face into stoicism as he walked.

It was a long march towards the docking bay but he did not wish to fly because he needed to keep her in his arms for as long as he could. Vegeta wanted her pressed against him to remember what her warmth felt like when he was forced to relinquish his hold on her. He would have been disgusted by his sentiments had he not known what he was walking into. The winds of his land blew around him in warning and he knew what he could be setting himself up for if he were to fail. Knew where every soldier that had aligned himself to his father was now.

When he finally approached the docking bay he saw hundreds of Saiyan soldiers standing in formation on either side of his personal pod. Vegeta looked at none of the somewhat shaky, uncomfortable forces there. He searched none of their faces and deigned not to acknowledge their presence there. It was obvious they were sceptical about attacking him. After all, how many times had he proven he could handle more than his fair share. Nappa towering tall at his side was an added bonus.

He was uncertain of how exactly the events would unfold. The Prince was surprised his father had not yet made an appearance but Vegeta knew that the King had no intentions of letting Bulma leave Vegeta-sei alive. Just as the King knew of Vegeta's intentions. Only Vegeta would die trying.

He set Bulma down gently on her feet and she turned to look around her in undisguised fear at all the warriors present at the docking bay. "Vegeta." She turned large eyes on him, so blue and encompassing, so beguiling that he could drown in them.

If he could use one word to describe her at that very moment, it would have been everything. She was everything – imperfections and all – that he had ever desired in a mate. Irrespective of her race, she was worthy to be his. Even with what he thought he didn't want in a woman, she had showed him how challenging and exciting, fulfilling even, it could be to have her as his equal, his match.

"I have programmed a set of co-ordinates into the pod for you. A safe place." What more could he say?

He watched as her eyes widened when he thought it should be impossible to do so and she bit her trembling lip before shaking her head wildly at him. Long, blue tresses touched his face lightly and Vegeta frowned deeply at her. This was not the time for her stubbornness. "Come with me."

Vegeta growled at her stupidity. Earthlings and their pathetic emotions. He grabbed her by her arms and shook her slightly as anger flooded into his head and burst forth from his tongue. "If I get into that pod with you, who will stop the Saiyans here – who are reluctant to attack and are hoping to kill you without challenging me – from blasting you out the sky? Killing you instantaneously? Tell me!" Vegeta demanded and she began to weep.

Tears flowed freely from her eyes and every drop stabbed at his chest, piercing ice into his veins. She flung her arms around him once more. He allowed the hug before gently pulling her way from him. He took her hand in his and twisted the manacle around her wrist until the bracelet was crushed brokenly within his palm. Doing the same to the other cuff and wrist.

Then she reached for his face with free hands, cupping it in her soft palms and she kissed him. Vegeta realised then that that was what sadness tasted like. Brackish with heart ache. Potent and dastardly.

He watched her turn to step into the pod before she stilled. Then she looked around over her shoulder and watched him. "Where do you want to go to when you die, Vegeta?"

He would have snarled at her useless question and pushed her into the pod, engaging take off himself had the expression on her face not been so … endearing. Had she not been utterly serious in a moment where thousands of eyes watched them, while making Vegeta feel as if there was no one else present besides him and her.

"Wherever you are." He knew that was what she wanted to hear. More so than that though, more so than anything else in that moment, he knew without a shadow of doubt that he would be there for himself too. He simply wanted that too.

"I'll wait then, Vegeta." She told him softly before she turned around fully and embraced him again.

This time one of his arms snaked around her lower back and held her tightly to him as he inhaled the scent of her.

One last time.

"Now go." He pushed her gently towards his pod but she shook her head. Vegeta's eyes narrowed at her resolute face and the vein in his forehead pulsed. "What the fuck do you mean no?"

Bulma bit her lip before giving his pod one more wistful look, as if to make up her mind and she turned around more certainly then, blue flames dancing in her gaze. "No, my place is with you. It always has been."

Bulma felt the last ounce of uncertainty at wanting to stay with Vegeta dry up like a rolling droplet of water on a red sand dune at his answer. She knew she did not want to be anywhere that Vegeta was not. This was her chance to go back home. She could leave and be with her family again but that was not the path she wanted to follow. So she clung to Vegeta because she knew that with every fibre of her being, they belonged together. No matter where fate took them to.

It was not a romanticised notion, it was simply destiny.

"Woman – " He growled out impatiently but Bulma was not hearing any of it.

"Look inside yourself, Vegeta. You know what we're meant for." She pleaded.

He sighed, because she was right. That did not mean he did not want to fight against it with every last breath in his body. He was a warrior and he stood to challenge it all. He refused to hear he couldn't. Then again, there was no point in fighting a losing battle.

"I …" He was at a loss for words.

"Come for me." She said simply and all he could do was nod.

They both knew in that moment what she was asking, what he was promising and it would be fulfilled. There wasn't a doubt in either minds what lengths needed to be crossed, the boundaries that needed to be broken, just as they knew that it would happen.

With Bulma by his side a sudden surge of power and strength coursed through his veins that were once starting to frost over. The magnitude of the ki he felt rising within his being shocked even him and the Prince turned to face his people, one hand still curled around Bulma's wrist as she stood beside him.

"Come forth and fight if you will. But I promise death to whoever steps forward to challenge their Prince." He allowed himself a small smirk as warriors all around shifted uncomfortably before exchanging indecisive glances at one another. "Or bow before the strongest warrior in the Universe and I shall bestow honour and glory upon your shoulders and unto your names."

Instantly hordes of Saiyans bent down on their right knee, loyal beyond doubt and raised their closed fists of their right hands to the left side of their chests.

But still some stood.

Strong warriors of old traditions and values, set in their ways, loyal to the King Vegeta and horrified at their young Prince's choice to go against all that he was supposed to stand for in the name of a common, alien whore. There was no greater shame than that.

"You foolish, bereft oafs." It was Nappa's loud growling that had every eye in the landing bay turned to him.

Nappa stepped forward and pulled out the large armour he always war. Tossing it carelessly onto the ground and kicking up sand in its wake. Bulma watched as he clenched his ham sized fists purposely at the crowd before them and she felt a surge of pride towards Nappa rush forward. Her first ounce of real liking for the giant.

When Nappa spoke again, his voice was gruff and demanding but so filled with belief and faith that Bulma could only stare in wide eyed fascination. "I have been a Saiyan general for decades now. There is not a person alive who does not know of me and how hard we have fought to come to where we are. Through the Tsufur-jin war and many others we stand strong."

Bulma stared in awe as Vegeta directed a pleased smirk at Nappa's speech. She would never have thought the big brute to be so vociferous and sensible. So eloquent. His words loud and unwavering, like a politician's, and immediately there were whispers in the crowd that remained standing.

"Fight not because the King has lost his favourite whore, but because the Prince was strong enough to take what was once the King's. As Prince Vegeta will rise to seize all else." Bulma felt no ire at Nappa's words, like a legislator, selling half truths and full lies were imperative. "Our Prince, who was born to one day surpass the current King stands before you now while your King conceals his tail behind your strength and his stone walls. Well here we are Saiyan warriors, today is the day. Stand back and give Prince Vegeta the opportunity to fight honourably." Shocked murmuring broke out but Nappa continued. "Pledge your alliance to your future King as he steps forward to challenge the current King."

All around people started to talk more noisily then, their doubts becoming louder and louder as they wondered who they should stand for and who to stand against. King Vegeta was not an unjust King, Bulma weighed the situation in her own mind. He was not even an unkind man in his world. He was a fair King who did not rule with fear and pomposity. He had worked for and earned his respect; it was just unfortunate that he was the King and not the Prince. She felt irony at that thought.

"All hail Prince Vegeta." Napa shouted and raised a fist in the air after thumping it against the left side of his chest. He turned to offer Vegeta a smug smile. "All hail – fuck … " Nappa's words were cut off as a hand immerged from a hole in his chest.

Bulma screamed as blood splattered everywhere and Vegeta instinctively pushed her behind him. She felt the tension radiating off of Vegeta in waves. The silence that immediately paused the loud chants and cheers only moments ago, between so many people gathered together was deafening, until the King broke it.

"How touching." He whispered with a disgusted sneer and Bulma was unsure how much of it he had witnessed. By the blotchy shades of puce on his face, she hazarded a guess at much of it. He roared as he pulled out Nappa's still beating heart from the giant's chest and held it high in the air. "This is what awaits anyone who dares to defy me." He roared loudly so no one failed to hear his words and proceeded to fling the organ into the sands of his world before he stepped onto it.

The squish of the heart resounded throughout the still lands worse than an explosive bang, louder than any of the declarations and threats the King made and Bulma could almost hear the indecision in the ensuing silence amongst the people once again.

No one dared to breathe even.

"Father." Vegeta hissed through gritted teeth, nails digging through his thick gloves and into the palms of his hands. "I do not wish to do battle with you. I certainly do not think you wish to either." Vegeta left the underlying threat of his strength unspoken but his burning gaze left no doubt as to his meaning.

The King did not look pleased by his son's words yet he spoke calmly and loudly. "You have brought on shame and disrepute to the honourable house of Vegeta. I offer you a way out my son. Kill the woman and you may claim the title of rightful heir of Vegeta-sei and crown Prince once again."

Bulma's eyes widened as Vegeta turned around to look at directly at her. She could not help the fear that latched itself to her every nerve ending, burning into her veins and making the blood pump loudly in her ears as Vegeta's eyes glinted in the harsh sun of Vegeta-sei. Her skin heated and she was afraid that she would die, die from fear.

Die at Vegeta's hand as Izevel had died by Vejita.

It was not a matter of distrust; she had only hours ago witnessed a Vegeta from the past kill a woman whose soul resided within her. Of course Bulma was slightly terrified at her options.

This Vegeta however looked straight into her eyes, watching her intently and a small smirk formed at one corner of his lips. He obviously knew of her doubts and his mouth was arrogant and mocking. Even in tribulation she wanted to slap him and kiss him.

"No." He said simply, his gaze never wavering from hers and if Bulma had had any doubts before his fortitude swept them away like sand in a hurricane. They were the ones deigned to change the future, because they could. And they would. What they felt for each other surpassed everything else in the world. They were brave and courageous and Bulma knew that in all the time she had ducked and dived back on Earth, this was her moment. The moment the path of the noble had led her to. And she would not shy away from it, she would welcome it.

"Then you will die, son. I am still the King and these people are faithful to me alone." The King roared angrily and many Saiyans stood in a fighting stance.

Vegeta stepped almost imperceptibly closer towards Bulma but she felt no fear within her, only a sense of acceptance. After all, what was death when you were assured the presence of the one who mattered more to you than life itself.

When she had been younger, unencumbered by such silly things like fate and destiny and guardian angels and past souls she had never wanted to die. She had been afraid of the unknown. Not anymore though. She had grown so much in the year she had been on Vegeta-sei than the two decades she had spent on her home planet. She had become who she was always meant to be.

She knew it would be more difficult for Vegeta to accept, he was still missing all the facts but she had gotten her wish. She had seen him one last time, held him and kissed him. Even though her time had been short, she had satisfied her heart and soul. Even the edges that were broken and jagged, which did not belong to her.

Bulma took in a deep breath as she took in Vegeta one last time. Regal and proud, the unique flame shaped hair and the girth of his strong shoulders. She memorised ever angle and curve of his handsome face and the sculptured body, especially the curve of his backside. Bulma allowed herself a small smile as she gently closed her eyes and breathed in the clean but spicy scent of Vegeta that surrounded her like a blanket on a cold winter's night.

Then she took a step back from it all.

Instantly Saiyans surrounded them. Vegeta turned back to look at her and she knew, she knew that he wanted to keep her safe. He turned quickly from mid stride, leaving the launch on his father to shield her. His ki blasted from him in waves and pushed at every being near them.

It was chaos. Untamed and wild. Barbarians raging against each other if they were not directly attacking their Prince and Bulma wondered how anyone could win such a battle. Vegeta could not fight forever. He was fighting at too high a speed and intensity to keep going. He would wear himself out long before the droves of men were beaten.

She peeped through eyes scrunched shut as the King floated in mid air to avoid being caught in the midst of a war and watched with fierce eyes. He had planned this. He had always been uncertain of Nappa's loyalty and he had foreseen the possibility of Nappa's deflection from him.

She assumed that for his pride he wanted Vegeta to be the one to kill her. That was the best punishment for her and Vegeta both. It was cold and cruel and would callously rip into them, causing undiluted pain and suffering to curdle from their once pure and fresh emotions. The king knew this of course. And if he could not have that, then they would suffer apart until he could kill them together.

"Vegeta." Bulma called his name one last time as she was forcefully dragged back.

Vegeta looked up at her like the crazed warrior he was, his eyes almost blood red and the electric blue ki around him crackled like burning flames. He flew towards her at lightning speed but she never saw him approach her. Masses of warriors appeared before her, separating her from Vegeta and the battle raged on.

Vegeta was fighting off hundreds of Saiyans, his own kind … for her.

She had no doubt in her mind that he would win, yet it was hopeless she knew. It was time to turn the tables around on the King.

"Bulma." Puella gasped as the brown skinned angel took the frail girl from the soldiers who had flown her to the castle.

Puella had been surprised to learn that the King had been given memories of the past as well but she was not allowed to intervene. She had her orders from higher authority and who was she to argue with the Gods. Puella's duty was to ensure that everything finally came to an end.

"Puella." Bulma gave a sad smile; blood that was not hers spattered everywhere.

"Keep her here until the King requests for her." A soldier spoke harshly, with clear fear in his harried voice, before returning to the fight and just like that Bulma knew she had been right. The King intended to punish Vegeta and her for all he was worth.

"He's fighting them all for me." Bulma sobbed and she held onto Puella tightly. The angel ran her fingers through Bulma's hair and gently shushed her as she cradled the Earthling in her arms.

"I will draw you a bath." Puella suggested and led Bulma somewhat forcefully into the large bathroom.

Bulma knew that Vegeta would have had to make the choice freely to save her and he had. He had gone against everything he had once believed in and cared for because of her. That meant that he had already fulfilled half of his destiny.

She knew he had another half to go and she would help him along with it. Because she would not allow him to do it on his own. They would end it together.

She sat in her large stone bath, refusing to remove her dirty gown from her body, inhaling the fragrances of her scented water as Puella washed the blood from her face. Bulma reached out and held tightly onto one of Puella's hands. The angel stopped her ministrations and looked sadly and questioningly at Bulma.

"Show me." Bulma whispered as she allowed the tears to flow unashamedly from her sorrowful blue eyes. "Show me a life where Vegeta and I are happy together."

In the dim glow of soft candlelight Bulma thought she saw Puella's eyes mist over but it could have been the hazy steam from her tub. The mud skinned angel nodded. "Close your eyes then." She whispered and Bulma let her eyelids droop without further deliberation.

Bulma felt Puella cover the hand that was holding hers with her other palm and Bulma immediately arched back in the tub as her entire body reverberated with the sensation of moving through time and space. In reality only her mind ventured through those mystical portals.

When Bulma opened her eyes again she saw herself – another her – leaning over Vegeta's shoulder as he read something on an expensive looking, wide desk. The air around the couple was easy and intimate. There was no awkwardness and discomfort contiguous to them.

Bulma turned around in the room to take in her surroundings and her heart jumped in excitement as she saw familiar shelves holding books she had once read. During a time when she had been so young and innocent. She knew instantly that she was on Earth, back in her study, in her own home and Bulma felt tears of joy and yearning fall down her cheeks as she let out a happy squeal. Of course the pair in the room was oblivious to her inexplicable presence there.

"Mom, dad." Bulma turned around as a little boy with lavender hair burst through the door, excitement clear on his face.

"Trunks, how many times have I told you about knocking?"

Trunks. Bulma thought as she walked towards the little boy. She saw the sheepish grin he gave her counterpart and Bulma sank down to her knees. She reached out towards the boy and trailed shaky fingers gently over his face. His eyes were blue like hers, his hair the same shade of lavender hers had been as a child's but his faces was his father's. Vegeta's.

"I know mom, but I just couldn't wait any longer to hear what you and dad had to say." The little boy's voice was confident and excited. He was clearly secure and loved.

Bulma pressed her lips together to hold back the sob that was ready to break free form her heart when she realised that it was no longer her hand on Trunks' face. She frowned in confusion but noticed that the Bulma of this time was also on her knees, her hand also caressing Trunks' face as she was. As if they were both one.

Bulma felt pure pleasure burst inside of her heart as it felt like the little boy was feeling her touch as well as his own mother's. "We're proud of you." The other blue haired woman said and Bulma could tell it came from the bottom of her heart. Unable to take anymore of the unruly mix of happiness for her other self and sadness for the life she would never have, Bulma closed her eyes and cried.

"Urgh. You are such an egotistical, megalomaniac!"

Bulma opened her eyes as she heard herself – the other her – shriek and when she turned around she saw another version of herself. This one was dressed in similar gowns to the one she had worn on Vegeta-sei. Bulma quickly turned to find a window so she could get an inkling of where she was.

She felt trepidation at the sight before her, unsure what to expect in this realm.

"You are a loud mouthed wench who does not know her place." Vegeta growled and Bulma's heart panicked.

She watched as her counterpart glowered at this time's Vegeta. There noses were touching. "You are an absolute jerk and I have no idea why I married you."

Bulma gasped in surprise but she was unsure if it came from herself or the other her, for Vegeta had just grabbed her counterpart and kissed that Bulma. He did so with such passion it was easy to see why their fights never amounted to anything more than generous foreplay. They were both intelligent enough to work out their issues at a later time, when they were more calm and rational. As Bulma witnessed from a flash of a later vision, the couple lay satiated and peaceful moments later. The other her resting her head on Vegeta's chest as he idly played with the ends of her long blue tresses.

Bulma smiled as her counterpart's dress flew at her face from Vegeta's impatient ripping and when Bulma pulled it down she found herself in a completely different place. A thick, red curtain blocked soft whisperers from view.

She sneaked through and looked in surprise at a bloody and worn out Vegeta standing next to another version of herself. His clothes were torn and tattered as he stood proudly next to a fatigued and wan looking Bulma. Her eyes widened as she watched herself hand over a tiny bundle to Vegeta. The absolute uncertainty but determination and concentration he used to take the baby in his arms astounded her.

Bulma walked around quickly to get a better view of the child and noticed a tuft of blue hair peaking up from the red wrappings. When the little babe opened big eyes, the blue of it entranced not only her but the Saiyan himself. She felt tears pool in her own blue eyes as she noticed the look of pure pride on Vegeta's face. She lifted a delicate hand and caressed his cheek.

She watched as he closed his eyes but realised it was not really her hand on his face but the Bulma of his time. It was as if her hand went straight through and combined with Bulma's hand as she caressed her Saiyans face, the ring clearly visible on her hand.

Bulma quickly moved her hand as a child – another Trunks she was sure – burst though the doors, uncertainty in his blue eyes and worry etched on his small face.

"Come here." His mother called out and Bulmawatched as he gave her a huge grin and scrambled over onto the bed.

That Bulma cuddled him close to her and introduced him to his sister. It was only when she was asleep with Trunks curled at her side and the baby girl securely placed on her chest did Bulma bend down to kiss her counterpart well. When she opened her eyes and moved back she noticed that Vegeta's face was still near his wife's, his lips pressed against her cheek.

Bulma smiled, not only at the secret, rare display of emotion from Vegeta, but at the fact that these people could feel the love and hope she had for them.

When Bulma opened her eyes in her stone tub again she stared at Puella, whose eyes were watching her intently, with gratitude and appreciation. Even though sadness was etched in her gaze. "Thank you." Bulma's voice was husky and raw with emotion. "For showing me the happier times."

Surely there were times, like the ones she was fighting through now, when she and Vegeta would not be as fortunate as the other three she had seen. However, just knowing there were so many wonderful moments for her other selves, left Bulma feeling incongruously relieved. Light.

Puella shook her head. "With the selfless sacrifice you and Vegeta are making Bulma, there can be only happy times for your other selves. Regardless of how much your counterparts go through, they will always find a way to each other."

Bulma gave a small smile, it definitely was utilitarianism. "One for all?"

Puella reached out and touched Bulma's cheek affectionately. "Something like that."

"I'm ready."

Puella stared at Bulma for a very long time. The angel understood her words clearly but there was still doubt. "You do not have to do this, Bulma. You know that."

Bulma smiled. "I know. Vegeta is already so enamoured by me that he chose me over his father but I feel the same way about him. It's not even about the bond; it's the fact that I know even without it we're meant to be. He's my all."

Puella nodded but looked to protest. Bulma cut her off. "I want to be with him. Always. I'm giving every other me a chance to be with their Vegeta's and I want the same. We want to be with one another too. Regardless of how or where."

Bulma looked pleadingly at Puella and the angel stared at her. "I can see how absolutely indomitable you are. Unwavering conviction such as this truly is rare. You and Vegeta certainly brought to life the trueness and depth of a love beyond everything, including reason at times. With a story that had no hope of such profundity. You have overcome the deprivation that Izevel and Vejita formed; created a something so complete, that not even with the legend of their love story could they manage."

Bulma gave a rare smile, the ones only Vegeta could conjure from her now as she moved her free hand sharply across the hand held strongly by Puella, a sharp intake of breath immediately forming ice into her chest.

"That's because this isn't exactly love, Puella. Vegeta and I, we transcend the boundaries of ordinary and normal, don't we." A small chuckle escaped her blue lips. Tears streamed down her face.

"The alien prince and the damsel in distress. Fairy tales aren't even made of this." The water around her turned crimson. Her face became ashen.

"With the pain of a past and no other reasoning we still became." Bulma's eyes drooped in a manner that would be forever, but her lips still smiled. "All because we were, we are always meant to be."

The last words slipped from Bulma's blue lips in dying whispers as the once alive and vibrant woman slipped beneath the flood of water and blood in the tub. The last of her life flashing like the ripples that made circled patterns above the surface.

Puella gently let go of the hand Bulma had ripped into while she had made Puella hold onto it to ensure the veins that she cut open, spattered blood everywhere. Focusing her mind on acceptance while she spoke to forget that she was killing herself. Bulma did not want to watch the life spill from her, but she knew it was happening.

Pure love for her charge trailed down Puella's cheeks and mixed with the blood that had spurted from Bulma's hand to her face. Puella remembered the first time Bulma had tried to kill herself; the girl had thought that she had needed to be strong to end her own life. She was half right. Bulma had been strong, but maybe not tough enough. Now, Vegeta had given her that courage.

Vegeta.

Puella closed her eyes in pain and gently left Bulma's hand hanging off the end of the tub so it would not be missed. Sending a thought to Vegeta, Puella sighed gravely.

"We're almost there." Then the angel disappeared into nothing but air, heavy with death and despair.

He turned around in the direction of the castle as he heard Bulma call to him. But surely he would not be able to hear her from way out here. He knew though, he knew what it meant; only he refused to believe it.

With an angry cry his ki flared around him and mounds of soldiers were pushed away from him with the intensity of his attack. All the while his father stood above them and watched. Did the old man really think he was going to go back to serving the crown? Never.

Uncaring about his fight Vegeta kicked off the ground and blasted off towards the castle. Unaware that his father had called back the Saiyan warriors with the order to stand down. Vegeta flew to the familiar window he had become so accustomed to of late and kicked it open. He could not hear anything past the heavy beating of his heart.

"Bulma?" He called out almost desperately.

There was a fast becoming emptiness in his chest and he knew. He knew without a sliver of doubt that she had left him.

He sped to her bathroom, one of her favourite places in her chambers, after searching her rooms proved futile and the cut that still slowly oozed blood from a dangling hand made Vegeta stare in disbelief. Immobilised. Slowly, he crouched down on his knees and heaved Bulma out from the tub.

Watered blood spilled against him, the smell so inescapable to him. How many times had he slaughtered and killed people? How often had he rubbed the blood of his enemy on his face in victory? Yet the sight of one weak woman's spilt blood sent him into a fit of rage and wrongness.

"No." He whispered as he held her lifeless body to his chest. His nose finding her scent even in her wet tresses.

This was what it felt like to be sad. The first time he felt the alien emotion. It slivered from his eyes and down his high cheekbones, the heat of it fuelling his anger. This was what tears were like. Where it came from he knew not because he felt cold and dead inside.

"No!" Vegeta screamed as he rocked back on his knees.

The empty spaces within himself were being filled with a burning rage so bright it threatened to blind him. The very foundations of the castle began to shudder. Energy that was a violent purple started to flow from him. Such power was untamed and unknown. He did not know of its home nor if he could master it.

He gave in to the abyss of emotions both old and new, his and another's. He drew from the well of power that belonged to him and an ancestor of might from a past not entirely of his on. He died with the death of his lover and was reborn within the magnitude of the power being unleashed from within the very depths of him.

He would be unstoppable. He would conquer them all. He would make them all pay.

"Vegeta."

He growled loudly as the screams echoed around him and then suddenly he felt as if cold water was poured over the intensity of burning flames around him. His arms snapped back with an invisible force and the ki around him started to disintegrate rapidly. Without his hold on Bulma she slid from his lap and skidded across the room with the remnants of his last ki.

"Bulma." He instantly released the insurmountable energy within him again, reigniting the bitter emotions inside of him and gave them free reign, and he scrambled like a pauper towards her body as if she were last morsels of food to a dying man.

It was then that he realised, without his title, his pride, his blood and tail, that he was her. He was weak and fallible and he hated it. She was gone. He could not wrap his mind around it. He was the Saiyan Prince. Who would dare to take something that was his away from him?

"Vegeta?" The Saiyan Prince looked up to see the third class, Bardock standing poised above Vegeta, emitting a glow that radiated from himself as if he was a legendary warrior. "Come here, son."

"I am not your fucking son." Vegeta growled in a deadly voice.

The smirk that he offered Vegeta had the Prince standing up on shaky legs. He was bruised and broken, some bones were jutting out form charred flesh, blood poured from open wounds and he knew without a doubt the exertion of his little power trip now had left him helpless. He was almost dead on his feet.

Almost.

"I can take the pain away with reason."

Could Bardock, the Saiyan medic really?

Vegeta landed in the main arena where in another time, Izevel had been burned alive by the very soul that rested within him.

This was where it would all come to an end.

It was like coming full circle that he now had all the facts. He had contemplated running from it, fighting it but as Bardock had so callously reminded him, that was why Bulma had did what she had done. Gave up her life for the cause.

She had made her choice and she expected no less from him. He would have damned her if she was still alive but he knew that was a lie. He would have taken her away with him and fought tooth and nail to keep them alive. To keep them as one.

He saw what she wanted him to see though. That petty happiness of the others he really didn't care for. Why should he fight for them when he was burdened with someone else's sins? Then again that was what Bulma was all about.

Doing what was right for everyone even before she did what was best for herself. If she could give all of her for all whom she loved then what did it matter how he felt on the matter. He could have so easily, undoubtedly blamed the fact that she did not trust him enough, rue the day he had met her even, claim that she had not cared about him enough but he knew he couldn't.

Because he had seen it all. Seen what she had sacrificed, given up to come here with Raditz, even when he had given her the choice to leave, she knew full well that she was not the one who had needed to die but she had stayed. For him. To help him make the right decision. Right. He mentally scoffed. It was utter tripe to him. And he knew now why he had never ever made the right decision before.

"Were you really going to let me live if I killed her, father?" Vegeta questioned.

The King shrugged nonchalantly, eyeing his weary son with mild interest. Vegeta knew he was sizing him up, ensuring the possibility of a win was certain for him. "Perhaps. If you showed enough remorse."

Vegeta had never felt this much hatred towards the King before, even when the Saiyan had killed his own mother. The attachment had not been needed. Many would ask what made such a cold and arguably despicable Saiyan change then and all he could think of was blue.

"Is this enough remorse for you, father?" Vegeta asked with mock arrogance as he crouched into a fighting stance.

There wasn't much time before the King lashed at him. Vegeta was barely able to keep up with the blows then. He was fast losing and he knew this, but for the first time, he did not care.

Death was easy.

That was what Vegeta thought as he gave a humourless chuckle through swollen lips. The wheezy sound passed through a mouth where many teeth were missing. He closed his heavy lids, rimmed black and blue from strong fists and took in a deep breath. It hurt to breathe, he was certain his lungs were punctured from his broken ribs. He knew if he did not get into a regen tank this instant, he would die.

His latest enemy was merciless. A brute who took betrayal to his cold, bitter, blackened heart. His father …

"She preferred me so much more than she did you, father." Vegeta's chuckles turned into wracking coughs as blood clogged his throat. He would persevere though. So he swallowed the metallic taste of his own blood and the thick bile clumped there, pushing words from his lips.

"Shut up!" The King roared. His loud booming voice laced with so much bitter anger and volumes of rage …

"Do it." Vegeta dared as his onyx eyes whirred with the memories that were playing in his father's eyes. He would die with those very thoughts on his mind and one word on his lips.

Bulma

The way she looked in the darkness of the highest tower with nothing but moonlight highlighting the emotions on her beautiful face. The coy looks she gave him through hooded lids before she reached out and touched him. The way her mouth rounded when she was on the verge of climaxing from his assault. Her eyes gleaming with joy from his actions or words. The feel of her lips on his as sensations of unfathomable emotions passed through their connected flesh and into the depth of his very dark being, casting light into every nook and cranny there. Exposing him to her in luminosity he had never been viewed in before.

The King raised his fist to deliver the final blow and Vegeta saw the ki form in his father's large hand.

Yet all he could think about was Bulma. Her body weightless and light as a feather in his arms. Deceased in his embrace. Blood staining her being, the colour marring her silky blue hair. She was dead.

Dead.

He could hold it in no longer then. The last thing he saw before unleashing the raw power inside of him was his father's widening eyes. He would damn them all as they had done to him and his Bulma.

A scream ripped from his chest and bellowed through his throat and it was like the cry of the harbinger of death and destruction. It caused his ki to ripple out from him and the adulterated energy it possessed obliterated everyone in its wake.

Starting with the Saiyan King.

It was the life essence of a Vegeta from the past and a Vegeta of the present. It was the hopes that Bulma had left upon his shoulders for every other Vegeta in the Universes, including the ones still to come. It was the Prince of all Saiyans fulfilling his destiny in this time.

"I, an old Angel chosen to forfeit thy immortal life for the power of love hereby declare my soul an everlasting gift to fate. And there will come a day where fate will intervene and love will rise to conquer these brute forces that know you not. Every Vejita will know only servitude on these mortal plains until one of your own sons learn true, unconditional love …"

"… by sacrificing his very being; mind heart and soul for my own."

Izevel's last words resonated within the Saiyan Prince just as the red ball called Vegeta-sei exploded into embers of red against black velvet space.

It was one chosen Vegeta … breaking the curse.

"Come for me." She said simply and all he could do was nod.

He stepped from within the shadows and there she was waiting for him as she said she would be. Her lids were closed and it reminded him of the very first time he had ever laid eyes upon her.

This time however her face turned towards his with his approach and she smiled. Such a pure untainted smile. Her hair was almost glowing around her and her skin was smooth and unburdened by lines of worry and distress. Flawless.

He watched her with his arms crossed over his chest, legs spread shoulder length apart, even though they itched to grab her and bring her to him. To feel her warmth again. She opened one eye and peaked at him playfully and he felt free, finally seeing the enchanting blueness again.

"You did it." She told him proudly, standing up slowly. He noticed she was not wearing the dresses she had normally worn on Vegeta-sei but an odd ensemble of garments.

"Did you doubt me?" He asked gruffly.

She smiled then and noticed his eyes on her clothes. She did not bother with a reply because they both knew the answer to his question. "Do you like it?" She gave him a playful smile and twirled around like a ballerina for him.

"You waited." He asked then, more to ignore giving a reply to her question, yet his smouldering black eyes took in every inch of her body and told her all she needed to know.

She cocked her head to her side and watched him. Raising a perfectly shaped, blue eyebrow she asked, "Any doubts?"

He smirked at her, one that slowly turned into a feral grin and before he knew it she jumped towards him at the same moment he put his hands down and landed safely in his arms. Where she belonged. He held onto her with all of him, without the strength to break her of course.

Here, they were untouched, pure like the white snow that covered every inch of land around them. Even with the faint sunlight spreading abnormal amounts of radiance upon them, blending into them as if they were light incarnate, he knew then that they would never be cold or go without anything because in his arms, he had all he need.

`The End`

Author's Note:Please don't kill me, at least they ended up together right?! And they're finally happy too. I think Bulma and Vegeta deserved the peace really.

Alright, so a couple of things; first I always knew Bulma and Vegeta were going to die here, from the prologue if you could tell, although I admit that I intended for their souls to go into another Bulma and Vegeta that were happier in another time. However I thought that would not break the curse completely as they still had Izevel and Vejita's souls inside of them. That would have made for the poor Bulma and Vegeta they travelled into to have three many souls (three many, get it, too many … ah well, I never was that funny).

Anyway, I really enjoyed writing this and I thank all those who took the time to read and review, your thoughts kept me so encouraged and motivated and I say that it is you guys that make the story, not me. So my humble appreciation to all you wonderful readers.

I still have some ways to go in the BV fandom so there'll be more writing on our favourite DBZ couple to come from me.

Again, thank you all!

Nova*