To end a story...(o.O Don't ask me where I got the chapter name from)...

Disclaimer:  WOULD YOU BELIEVE ME IF I SAID THAT I OWNED DRAGON BALL Z?!

Author’s Shout Outs:

Yugi:  Whores and faggots?  ROTFL!

LadySnowy:  The Golden Hair award?  **Sniffs and takes it gratefully, a tear forming in her eye**  Thank you so much… I’ll treasure it forever!  ^_^

  Vegeta:  **Blinks disdainfully at statue **  Oh well.  At least it’s of me….

Dedication:  Yes, I have to have a WHOLE section of my fic to dedicate this last chapter to.  This chapter’s dedicated to Stef-chan.  ^_^  She’s a really awesome writer, and a great friend.  She even helped me out with this thing when I kinda got myself stuck in a hole.  ^_^  And I know everyone says, “Go read so-and-so’s stories because of blah blah blah”, well, I’m going to say that AND give you the link to her bio, so all you lazy people (like me) won’t have to search and try to find her!  So when you finish reading my chapter (and **cough cough** REVIEW  **cough cough**), just click on this link, and GO READ SOME OF HER STUFF!  YOU WON’T REGRET IT!  ^_^  **Does a happy dance**  http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=147277

Author’s Comment:  I think the majority wins…  ^_^  So I decided to do the last part in ONE BIG CHAPTER!  ^_^  Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I present to you with great pleasure the grand finale: Chapter 17, the last chapter of Steal after my heart, would you?

**Blinks at everyone**  Ok, I’m not THAT much of a Disney fan.

Vegeta:  Yea right…  **Stares pointedly at an empty Beauty and the Beast video case**

Pudgoose:  Oh… shut up, you!  **Smacks his shoulder, blushing**  Yes, I like Beauty and the Beast, but no, I do not like Snow White.

Vegeta:  What’s that?

Pudgoose:  A movie in which this girl bites an apple and falls under a spell, and she has to have a prince come and kiss her to break the spell.

Vegeta: **Blinks** No way in HECK am I going to kiss any dumb female!

Pudgoose: **Looks at Mistletoe in her hand, and hurriedly puts it away** Damn….

Vegeta: o_O

Pudgoose:  ^_~  Ok, I suppose I need to get to the point of this comment, no?  Well, some people (Yes, it was more than one) read the part in my last chapter about Bulma biting the apple (I still can’t believe this…), thought of Snow White, and put two and two together.  NO!  Would you people have been happier if I’d said she’d bit a BANANA?!?!  …Or a strawberry.  **Snorts with laughter**

Vegeta:  o_o  …Calm down.

Pudgoose:  …Ok then.  Fine.  You do the rest, Vege.

Vegeta:  ME!?!

Pudgoose:  Yes, you!

Vegeta: **Grumbles and takes a sheet of paper from a grinning Pudgoose**

Q/A:

Vegeta: **reading** Uh, it says here that there have been several questions as to how Pudgoose got her name.  **Looks up**  Because I am educated in this odd field of… knowledge stuff, I’ll tell you!  When Pudgoose was a little weakling that still couldn’t walk, her mother called her all sorts of baby names.  Particularly “pudding” and “goose”.  Well, Pudgoose’s cousin’s stepsister suggested to her mother that she just combine the two and call her Pudgoose.  Pudgoose also figured that no other Fan Fiction author would have that name, so she used it to make life simpler for people that were searching for her.  There.  End of story.

Vegeta:  Pudgoose would like for me to let you all know that she is putting in several first person segments in the story.  Yes, she doesn’t normally do that, but she just felt she’d have a go at it.  **He shrugs**  Not that I care.

Vegeta:  Pudgoose would also like to thank all you… people for all the reviews she’s gotten.  **Looks down at the slip of paper**  Great!  That was the last one!

Steal after my heart, would you?

Bulma strolled down the palace halls behind the plump woman that had brought Bulma her dress.  Despite the fact that Bulma didn’t normally get this little sleep, she was wide-awake and nervous.  Never had she felt so nervous in all her life.  She had promised herself that’d she be cool and wouldn’t fret about this thing, but that was one promise that she obviously couldn’t keep.  She kept biting her bottom lip nervously, absentmindedly straitening out her dress of wrinkles that only Bulma’s mind could see.

“Right here, darling,” the plump woman said, motioning Bulma to a room to their right.  The woman opened the door for the human female, and Bulma peered inside, trembling slightly.

It was an empty room, spare a small table and a chair.  On the opposite side of the room was another door that Bulma couldn’t help but wonder about.

“You’re to stay here for the next two hours, until the ceremony begins.  I’ll be checking up on you about, oh, every half hour or so.  If you need me to brief you on the ceremony again at any time, just ask.”  The woman smiled sympathetically as Bulma stumbled slightly in her high heels, catching herself before she fell.

“You sure you’re all right, dearie?” she asked.  “Need a different pair of shoes, or something?”
Bulma looked at her, her blue eyes shelving away her confidence.  “Uh… no.  I’m just…”  Bulma swallowed, but the probing look that woman was giving her forced her to continue.  “Terrified.”

“Terrified?” the woman asked.  She laughed softly.  “Don’t be, dearie.  You’ll do wonderful!  If it makes you feel any better, I was just as nervous as you are when I got mated.  But the ceremony was quick and I did fine.  Or so everyone told me.”  She smiled kindly at Bulma.  “Don’t worry, dear.  Don’t worry.”

Bulma humored herself for a moment, picturing what type of guy would want this odd Sayian female; surprisingly, the humor seemed to do her some good, as she felt less tense.  “Thank you.”

“Need anything, dear, before I leave?”

“No, thank you.”

The woman nodded curtly, and left, closing the door behind her.

As if that door was shutting out Bulma’s confidence and refuge as well, she suddenly felt terrified again.

“Calm down Bulma,” she said to herself.  “What are you afraid of?  I mean, it’s just the entire Sayian population that will be watching your every move.  And plus, you’re just getting married… uh… mated to a prince that you’re not sure you love.”

Bulma swallowed.  “What have I gotten myself into?”

Her hands were shaking from an overdose of adrenaline, and her stomach seemed to want to cave in on itself.  Bulma paced back and forth slightly, busying her mind with ideas of what a mated life to the prince would be like.  She dismissed every negative, imaginative thought that seemed to want to voice itself, only focusing on the good.  She’d be a queen, right?  Queen Bulma.  Bulma humored herself for a moment, picturing herself as a badgering old queen that bashed her subjects on the head with her staff.  Yea… that’s what she’d do.  When she was queen, she’d bop every Sayian she didn’t like on the head.  Hehehe.

Bulma sat down at the chair and leaned back in it, her fear reduced for the moment.

~*~*~

“But Dad!  It doesn’t say we have to dress up!”

“Nonsense.  It’s Prince Vegeta’s big day, and I won’t have my son walking around in everyday clothes!”

Kakarroto sighed.  “Ok.  Just, do I have to wear a tie?  Those things are so uncomfortable!”

Bardock gave him a stern look that answered his question, fixing his own tie himself.  Kakarroto sighed.

“Alright….  But Dad?”

“Yes son?”

“You’re going to have to fix it for me.  I’ve forgotten how….”

~*~*~

I creep along outside the palace walls.  A broad grin is on my face, for this is the big day, and Zoë’s plan is faultless.  I have to hand it too the bitch… she really can come up with some great stuff sometimes.  And not only that, but Prince Vegeta has helped as well.  Yes, the bastard will regret cutting my tail off… for if I still had my tail, I’d have to be present at that ceremony thing.  And me being as important as I am… I mean, was… they would have certainly noticed me if I disappeared.  But ha!  This dishonorable shit is going to have the upper hand this time.

Yes, Bulma will be mine.

Her beautiful face enters my mind.  If there was only one thing I’d like to have in this world, it’d be her.  Ah shoot, I’d give up my tail and my pride ANY day for her!  She’s just so… different from the other Sayian females, yet, at the same time, remarkably alike.  I love her shiny… soft, blue hair.  And her eyes.  They’re a wonderful, bluish color.  And her frame’s wonderful… like that of a goddess, or something.

And the thought me being denied her drives me mad.  For Phoenix gets what he wants… he always has, and he always will.

I stop short as I spot the shipping dock, scanning the ships numbers.  Yes, there it is.  My getaway….  I can’t help but grin wider.  All I have to do is wait.  Wait for a couple of hours, and she’ll be mine.

All mine.

~*~*~

Bulma looked up as the familiar door opened.  That plump woman looked at her, smiling softly.

“Anything you need, dearie?”

Bulma shook her head.  “No, thanks.  But… could you tell me what’s behind that other door?”

The plump woman smiled.  “Yes dear, that’s the door you’ll go through to get to the stage.  When Prince Vegeta announces your name, you’ll come out and join him.”

“Oh.”  Bulma forced a smile on her lips.  “Ok.”

The woman nodded and was about to exit when Bulma called her back.  She looked up.

“Yes dear?”

“Why do I have to be here so early?” Bulma asked.

The woman smiled.  “I checked up on that, actually, just in case you’d ask me again.  It’s a safety measure.  There are guards outside your room that remain there just to keep unwanted people out.”

“Oh…”  Bulma thought some more.  “Do they just not join in witnessing the ceremony, or something?”

“They come,” the plump woman answered.  “Yes, they come and watch.  After you walk out onto the platform and join Prince Vegeta, they come after you and remain in the shadows of the stage, unnoticed.”

“Oh.”  Bulma smiled at the extra step of security.  “Cool.”

The woman nodded.  “Anything else you need me for?”

“No, thanks.”

And she left.

~*~*~

(AN:  Ok people, Vegeta will be a little OOC here, but I figure it’s all right.  I mean, keep in mind that, in my story, Vegeta’s never met Frieza, so he’s not all that cold and mean.  Heck, Frieza doesn’t even exist!  Just wanted to “warn” you all.)

Why does it feel like there’s a damn CANNIBAL in my stomach?!

Am I nervous?  Must be.  Odd feeling, though.  Never once have I been nervous or scared in my life.  Well… I was scared at my mother’s death, but I was young and foolish about feeling emotions too strongly.  Heck, I don’t want to even think about that.

My foolish father keeps checking himself in the mirror like he’s the one that’s getting mated.  Then he’ll look at me and give me a smug smile.  I wish he’d stop.  I think I’m going to enjoy getting rid of the old man once I’m king… heh.

Once I’m king… those words ring like an echo in my head, for I have always dreamed of the things I’d do when I was king.  But… it feels odd, now that it’s here.  I had always pictured it to be so much different.   I pictured myself being cocky and satisfied, not giving a damn about the woman I would have to mate to claim the throne.  She would just be there to get me the title King Vegeta… and maybe to satisfy my bed needs… but I had never pictured her being this… important to me.

The thought of her makes that cannibal in my stomach chew harder than ever, and I cross my arms tightly.  Sure… love and attachment are accepted here on Vegetasei.  Sayians just, by nature, aren’t too open about it.  Now that I think of it… the thing that has probably made me avoid love so long… is my mother’s death.  She was the only one I really… loved, at the time.  And then she was taken away from me.  Just like that.  Father seemed crushed too.  We both were, but, for some reason, didn’t try to comfort one another that much.  Father and I have never been that close, really.

But now there’s this other female I care for.  I think I must have forgotten the rewards and ecstasies of love, for whenever I look at her now, something inside me just seems to cry out with longing.  The only thing that would satisfy me more, now, than claiming the throne, would be to be able to wake up every morning and find her wrapped up in my arms.

So I have decided to go through life with her by my side.

It’s a shame, though, that I have to feel like I’m being eaten from the inside out to get her.  I smirk with amusement.  She better be worth it all….

~*~*~

“Chi-Chi?  HEY CHI-CHI!”

Chi-Chi’s head whipped around, and her anxious face cracked into a small smile.  “Hey Kakarroto,” she whispered softly.  “How’re you?”

The Sayian smiled, placing a kiss on her cheek.  “I’m ok.  And you?”

“A little nervous.”

Kakarroto’s face grew grim and solemn, and he nodded.

“Yea….”  He wrapped Chi-Chi up in one strong arm.  “Don’t worry baby.  At the first sign of something… odd happening… I’ll take off towards the stage.”

“Well good luck seeing anything,” Bardock muttered from behind his son.  Kakarroto and Chi-Chi looked at him.  “Of course, we have to be at the very back.  And there’s this tall dumbass several feet in front of me…. I can’t see over his stupid head.”

Kakarroto grinned wryly at his father.  “Looks like old age is making you smaller, huh Dad?”

Bardock shot him a very unamused look.  “I’d watch that mouth if I were you,” he said.  “I’m not that old.  And keep in mind, I’m still taller than you.”  (AN  Ok, I have no clue if Bardock is taller than Goku or not, but I’m too lazy to find out right now.  **Shrugs**  Oh well)  Kakarroto lifted a hand up to the back of his neck, and laughed.

“Oh yea!  Hehehe… seems I forgot.”

Chi-Chi giggled while Bardock rolled his eyes and shot Chi-Chi a small smile.

“Nice to see you, Miss Chi-Chi,” he said.  She nodded.

“Yes sir.  Nice to see you too.”

Bardock nodded curtly, turning back to the rest of the crowd, trying his best to look over the tall Sayian’s head.  Kakarroto and Chi-Chi exchanged glances, doing their best not to laugh.

~*~*~

Twice more that pudgy woman had come in and checked up one Bulma, and twice Bulma had responded to her by saying she didn’t want anything.  Now Bulma was waiting, feeling like she had to vomit, for the time when she’d hear her betrothed speak.

Bulma shuddered out of nervousness and began to gnaw at her fingernails.  Her stomach seemed to have built itself an amusement park, and was now going up and down a wild and bumpy roller coaster.  Stupid stomach.  Stupid nerves.  Stupid anxiousness.  Stupid… walls.  Stupid chair.  Stupid table.

STUPID EVERYTHING!

It seemed like hours must have passed by since the last time that chubby, servant woman had come by.  Wait… what if the ceremony had already passed?  What if Prince Vegeta had called her name, and she just didn’t hear it?!

Bulma calmed herself before she became too panicky.  That was a rather stupid thought, actually, as she could hear the murmuring of the Sayian population outside.  No doubt she would be able to hear Prince Vegeta when he began.

But shit, if she had to wait much longer, she was sure she’d just lose it!

~*~*~

“Excuse me,” Zoë muttered to a guard nearby.  “I need a bathroom break.”

“Well hurry back!” the guard said.  “The ceremony will begin in five minutes, mind you, and Prince Vegeta would not appreciate you missing it!”

“Yea Zoë!  Make sure you come back in time!” Cleopatra added loudly, a stupid smile on her face.

“Right,” Zoë said, slipping out of the crowd and back into the palace.  So she had five minutes, huh?  Good.  Five minutes was all she needed.

Just as she had expected, the palace’s halls were devoid of people.  Everyone was at that stupid mating ceremony thing.  The mating ceremony that SHE should be participating in.  It was her right!  She should become Queen of Vegetasei!

Zoë continued to stalk down the halls, until she turned a corner and stopped short.  There were guards in front of Bulma’s door?  Shit!  Of course!  She hadn’t thought about that!

Zoë brushed a strand back behind her ear.  Well, there was only one way; she’d just have to get rid of them.  They still hadn’t noticed her, the stupid fools, so she’d have the element of surprise on her side.  Zoë gathered a large amount of energy in her hand, and, when she was satisfied it would get rid of them completely, faced it in their direction, an evil grin on her face.

~*~*~

Bulma stopped short of her pacing, feeling her nose itch.  She scarcely breathed as she felt it approach.  Closer and closer it came… she closed her eyes, bracing herself.

~*~*~

Zoë released the Ki beam so quickly the guards didn’t have a chance to defend themselves, or even notice, for that matter.

~*~*~

Bulma sneezed loudly, the sound echoing in the small room, drowning out any and every other sound.  Bulma breathed once again.

She inhaled deeply and commented, “Woo… that one was a doozy.”

(AN  _-_  I know.  Lame excuse for why Bulma didn’t hear the guards outside die.  Just work with me here people, ok?)

There was a knock at the door, and Bulma blinked.  Could it be that pudgy woman again?  Possibly.  Very likely, in actuality.

“Come in,” she called.

The door opened, revealing the witch she hadn’t trusted since she first met her.

“Hey Bulma,” Zoë said softly, a hurt look in her eyes.  Bulma’s eyes softened slightly.

“What do you want?” Bulma said, trying to make her voice sound cold.  The nervousness had suddenly vanished from her stomach.

Zoë sighed and looked down at the ground.  “This isn’t easy for me to say,” she began slowly.  “But I came to apologize, Bulma.  For… for being such a bitch to you over these past couple of days.  I’ve been… really mean Bulma.  I suppose I was just jealous, or worried you’d win, or something.  I’m sorry.”

Bulma’s face softened even more, and she smiled.  As much as she wanted to taunt Zoë for losing in the competition, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.  That would be real low.  “Apology accepted, Zoë,” Bulma said.  “It must have taken you a lot of guts to actually say that.”

“Yea,” Zoë said, looking up at Bulma shyly and smiling.  “It did.  And thanks for accepting my apology Bulma.  I certainly don’t deserve it.”

Bulma walked up to the burgundy-haired Sayian, placing a hand on her shoulder.  “If the apology is sincere, then I feel I just have to accept it, you know?”  Bulma smiled.  “Everyone deserves the chance to start over again.”

Zoë blinked.  “If the apology is sincere?” she repeated.  Bulma nodded.

“Yup.”

“If the apology is sincere…”  Zoë’s eyes focused on a spot on the wall behind Bulma for a moment, and Bulma quirked an eyebrow, a little nervous about Zoë’s suddenly interest in that statement.  Zoë looked at her, smiling sweetly.  “Then I suppose I can’t have you accepting my apology, can I?”

Bulma blinked.  “Huh?”

But that was all she could say, for Zoë had reached behind the blue-haired female’s neck, hit her in just the right spot, and knocked Bulma unconscious.  The Sayian female caught Bulma before she hit the floor, lifted her up, and threw her over her shoulder.

“You’re so gullible, Bulma,” she muttered to herself.  “I expected you’d be much quicker than that, for a girl with your brilliance.  I really did.”

She chuckled evilly to herself as she sprinted down the hallway towards the shipping docks.

~*~*~

Phoenix’s eyes brightened as he saw movement.  Yes!  Coming out of the palace was Zoë and Bulma, right on schedule!

Zoë soon spotted Phoenix, and she smiled triumphantly at him, strolling over.  “Here’s your bitch,” she said, handing him Bulma.  Phoenix caught her in his arms, his excited, happy eyes scanning every inch of her body with delight.

“She’s perfect,” Phoenix muttered, bending down and kissing the unconscious Bulma’s forehead.  Zoë rolled her eyes.

“We don’t have time for that, dumbass.  You need to get out of here.  You still have that ship’s password, I trust?”

Phoenix grinned.  “Yes.  And it’s true… I… I mean, we, do need to get out of here.”  He looked up at Zoë and smirked at her.  “Now that I have Bulma… I almost don’t regret meeting you.”

Zoë rolled her eyes.  “Asshole… just get going, ok?”  She turned and ran back inside the palace, obviously heading back towards the ceremony.

Phoenix glanced at Bulma again, his eyes mainly on her breasts, grinned, and trotted over to the spaceship #00438, the ship’s password still written on his palm.

~*~*~

Prince Vegeta strutted onto the stage, his father behind him.  He had shoved away his nervousness for the moment, and was masking it with a proud, honorable look.  Everyone in the crowd was so silent that you could hear a pin drop.  Vegeta stopped in the middle of the stage beside a podium with a bowl full of water, which he and his mate would drink from, on it.  King Vegeta stood several feet behind him, watching with kind eyes.

“People of Vegetasei, subjects of King Vegeta XXI,” the honorable prince began, his voice booming.  “Today, you will no longer belong to my father, but to me and my mate!”

There was a slightly excited murmur among the crowd.

“About a week ago, I was asked to choose that mate.  So I selected five respectful women, who I studied even more carefully, seeing who I figured would be best for me… and best for you!”

The crowd cheered.  Prince Vegeta smirked, allowed them to stop, and then continued.

“I have chosen that female!” he boomed.  “And we will become mates here, now, so that you all will be able to witness and honestly say that she and I are your new rulers!  Now, let me introduce your new queen: human female, Bulma Briefs!”

Vegeta turned to look back towards the door she would emerge from, his stomach tied in knots again.  Everyone followed his gaze, waiting with bated breath to watch for this amazing female that had astoundingly captured their prince’s heart.

Seconds passed.  She didn’t come.

Vegeta’s face faulted, his eager, nervous expression now turning into one of concern and confusion.  He cleared his throat.  “BULMA BRIEFS!” he yelled in the door’s direction.

Still no response.

The crowd began to murmur again, the volume steadily growing louder.  Vegeta’s fists clenched.  Was this some kind of game she was playing?!  Damn it, he was as nervous as he could be, and here she was toying with him!

“SILENCE!”

The crowd hushed at their prince’s yell.  Vegeta stared pointedly at his father, who understood immediately, and hurriedly walked over to the door.  Prince Vegeta swallowed, his face in a scowl, as he saw his father raise a hand to approach the door.

But he didn’t knock.  Something interrupted him before he did.

Emerging from the silence that everyone was in, an earsplitting roar burst forth.  Vegeta looked up, surprised, and recognized the sound to be that of a spaceship taking off.  But… no one was supposed to leave during this ceremony!  Everyone SHOULD have been here!  Everyone was present, were they not?

…Except for Bulma.

Vegeta felt a lead weight drop in his stomach at the sudden realization, and he paled several shades.  She… she wanted to leave him?  But why?  How?

That last question stung his brain, bringing him back to life.  That’s right… how?  He figured that she didn’t know how to operate a Sayian spaceship, and, even if she did, she needed a code to get inside one.  She was on there with someone.  But who?  Who wasn’t present?

The answer hit him hard, and he growled, overcome with incredible fury.  Phoenix!  Of course!  It was so obvious!

He knew then that Bulma hadn’t left him by choice.  Somehow Phoenix had taken her away from him.  Somehow.  And that spaceship was flying away fast… with the only one he loved on board.  And he couldn’t stop it.  He couldn’t.

The thought was maddeningly painful.  Vegeta sank to his knees in his anger and agony, oblivious to the questioning crowd and his curious father.  And at that moment, he honestly didn’t care about anything but Bulma and her safety.  He could fly and try to catch the spaceship before it left Vegetasei’s atmosphere.  But even as he thought it, Vegeta knew that would never work.  The ship was leaving too quickly, and he just didn’t have the speed.  But… but he just had to help Bulma!  He needed to!

He was blinded with anger and hate, and didn’t even realize that his hair was now flicking an odd color: gold.  Everyone else had their eyes now on the furious Sayian prince, their eyes wide as saucers.  He suddenly turned his head back and yelled at the Heavens, his hair permanently staying blonde, and his eyes a bluish/green.  Everyone gasped as a shining yellow flame encircled him, generating off his awing presence.  And everyone knew.

Their prince was a Super Sayian.

The crowd was speechless as the prince stood back up, shaking with anger.  It almost looked like he hadn’t even noticed he’d reached this stage.  But he did.  And he didn’t have time to stop and marvel at his accomplishments.  He had to save Bulma, now.

And the prince shot after the spaceship, moving so fast that no one could keep track of him.  Just when the Sayian thought he might pass out from lack of oxygen, he was able to wrap his arms around part of the spaceship, and he slowed it down in an almost gentle manner, aware of the special passenger on board.

“No one… misses… my ceremony,” the prince grunted, dragging down the spaceship, which began to malfunction at the odd direction it was moving in, despite its hardest attempts to escape.  Vegeta listened as the engine sputtered and died, shutting off and giving in completely.  Vegeta smirked.

“Of course.  Not even space ships can resist the great Prince Vegeta….”

Everyone was watching from above as the prince, still glowing from the aura of being Super Sayian, slowly descended back onto the large stage.  The space ship could barely fit on it, but Vegeta was determined to humiliate Phoenix as much as possible.

As soon as the ship was on the stage and sturdy, Vegeta took off and punched a hole right through the metal door.  People began whispering again, excited, anxious… and definitely nervous.  For most had not figured out just who was in that space ship, spare two Sayian males and one human female.

There was silence for a couple seconds.  Then for a minute.  People began to become impatient, wondering if something had happened to their prince.

But he suddenly emerged again, grasping two limp figures.  People whispered even louder, but still, their prince didn’t notice.  He dropped one figure, the one that was male and looked oddly familiar, and gently laid the other on the ground.

“Good Heavens…” King Vegeta breathed.  “Phoenix?  Miss Briefs?!”  The King was silent for a moment as he studied both their figures.  “Vegeta… they’re not both… dead, are they?”

Vegeta looked up at his father and shook his head.  “No.  That dishonorable piece of shit is, though.  Bulma’s just unconscious.  She’s still breathing….”

Phoenix’s normally handsome face was not nearly as handsome anymore.  Blood was leaking out of an area near his left temple, and bruises, a sickly color of purplish-green, had already begun to form.  His mouth was slightly open, blood trickling out of it, and his blank, dead eyes were halfway shut.  His left arm was broken, sticking out at an odd angle, and there was a huge indention in his chest, signaling the breaking of several ribs, including his sternum.  Even the Sayian King found himself slightly horrified at the sight.  (AN  I think I’ve just grossed myself out… excuse me!  **Runs to the bathroom, covering her mouth**)

Everyone seemed to be startled and curious, but not scared and disappointed.  Well, one Sayian was.  A certain burgundy-haired female.

“PRINCE VEGETA!”

Vegeta looked up at the two who dared call his name in his worried state.  Two Sayians were flying gently over the crowd, and he recognized one immediately.  His eyes widened.

“Commander Bardock?” he asked.  Bardock landed on stage.

“Sire, please forgive me and my son”—Vegeta glanced at Kakarroto, who had landed beside his father and given the prince a quick bow—“but I must speak up.  Phoenix was not the only one involved in this!”

Vegeta had barely heard the older Sayian speak, as the crowd was now gossiping busily about these two, strange Sayians.  Vegeta growled.

“SILENCE, FOOLS!”

Everyone shut up.

Vegeta snorted, and turned back to Bardock with curious eyes.  “Go on.”

“It’s a rather long explanation,” Kakarroto suddenly burst in.  Vegeta glanced at him, the smallest trace of a sneer on his mouth.  “So we don’t have time to tell the whole story right now, but Zoë’s in this too!”

Vegeta blinked.  “Zoë?  Zoë Halimanger?!  Preposterous!”

A large number of eyes darted in Zoë’s direction, and the female began to tremble, watching her prince with frightened eyes.

“Sire, please,” Bardock said, very softly.  Vegeta looked at him.  “You have to believe me.  Would I lie to you?  Especially when I know my strength doesn’t nearly compare to your new power?!”  Bardock paused, his eyes and face totally sincere, not daring to look away from his prince.  Vegeta continued to consider the possibility.

“Please,” Bardock continued, before he could stop himself.  “You know you can trust me, Your Highness.  Zoë Halimanger was in this all along, too.”

Kakarroto looked nervously from his prince, back to his father, and back to the prince.  He swallowed nervously.

Vegeta opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, someone took off from the ceremony, flying as fast as she could.  Vegeta growled and, faster than any expert could see, took off after her, catching her in record time.

Vegeta grabbed Zoë by her hair, forcing her to look up at him, not 10 feet above the crowd of people.  Some were in denial that anyone could fly that fast and catch up with her.

“BITCH!” the angry prince spat loudly in her face, so that everyone around could hear.  “I wouldn’t have believed Captain Bardock and his third-classed brat… but you’ve really convinced me now!”  He sneered down at her, keeping his voice loud so everyone would surely hear him.  “IS IT TRUE THAT YOU HELPED THAT DISGRACEFUL BASTARD STEAL MY FIANCÉE?!”

She swallowed, her eyes wide and fearful.

And then she stammered,  “N—n—no—”

“LIAR!” Vegeta screamed, slapping her face.  “Don’t you DARE lie to Prince Vegeta!  UNDERSTOOD?!”

“Y—yes—s—s—sir.”

Vegeta snorted, glaring at her with an incredibly cold gaze.  King Vegeta stood, behind them all, looking thunderstruck and dumbfounded.

“I think you need to be back with your lover, eh, bitch?” he asked.  “Partners should always go down together….  Don’t you agree?”

Zoë swallowed once more, tears now running down her cheeks.  “He—he was not m—my lover—”

“OH THAT’S RICH!” Vegeta interrupted, laughing sadistically.  Chi-Chi, unable to fly, watched the prince in awe from the back of the crowd.  He really could scare the crap out of people.  “PLEASE woman!  You’re such a slut!  You’d have sex with anyone and anything.”

Zoë’s mouth opened and closed wordlessly.  Vegeta sneered at her, raising a palm to her face.

“I don’t know how I could have ever liked you,” Vegeta said softly, coldly.  “Because you disgust me, woman.  You really do.”

And seconds later, a headless corpse fell on several people below, a wad of singed, burgundy hair still grasped in the prince’s hand.

Vegeta sneered at his hand and dropped the hair, as if fearful he might get lice from it.  His anger slowly seemed to fade away, and everything was becoming… foggy.  He wanted to check up on Bulma.  He had to see if she was ok….

But the level of Super Sayian was very overwhelming, and he fainted, falling back onto the crowd below.

~*~*~

“KAKARROTO!”

The Sayian blinked and looked up, smiling wide as an ecstatic female jumped in his arms.  He caught her and spun them both around in several circles, Chi-Chi laughing blissfully, almost crying with tears of joy.

“You did it!  You did it!  I can’t believe it, Kakarroto, but you really did it!”

He stopped spinning her and placed her back on her feet, still keeping his arms wrapped around her.  For a moment the two just stared at each other with happy eyes, grins on their faces.  Then Chi-Chi began laughing, and kissed his cheek.  A Sayian woman nearby scowled at the public display of affection, but the couple couldn’t have cared less; they were too absorbed in each other to notice.

Bardock landed softly next to them.  “Prince Vegeta’s been taken back inside the palace,” he informed them.  “So has Bulma.  Both of them are unconscious, interestingly enough.”

Chi-Chi nodded softly, and, before she could stop herself, launched at Bardock and wrapped her arms around him.  Bardock’s eyes were wide as Chi-Chi hugged him tightly.

“Uh… Miss Chi-Chi?”

Chi-Chi let go of him, smiling.  “Thanks for saving Bulma,” she said.  “Thank you so much for saving my best friend.”

Bardock’s eyes twinkled at seeing this human female so happy.  He smiled and nodded.  “You’re greatly welcome.”

Kakarroto grabbed Chi-Chi’s hand lightly, smiling at her.  He looked up at his father, and Bardock smiled wryly back.  “Um, Dad?” Kakarroto began.  “I’ve got something to tell you.”

“And that would be?” Bardock prodded, smiling wider, his eyes still twinkling.  Kakarroto swallowed, exchanged glances with Chi-Chi, and looked back up.

“I’m in love with Chi-Chi.”

Bardock didn’t seem surprised at all.  “I see,” he said slowly, the expression on his face still the same.

“And I love your son,” Chi-Chi added softly.  Bardock looked at her and nodded.

“My son and this human female,” he muttered softly to himself.  Kakarroto swallowed.

“I… I’m sorry if you don’t approve of it, Dad,” he began, his chest swelling with bravery.  “But I love her, and I… I want her to be my mate.  I don’t care if she’s human or not… and you shouldn’t either.”

Bardock blinked at his son, then smiled proudly at him.  “You’ve got a great heart, son.  I’m very proud of you.”

The couple stared at him for a moment.  “Uh,” Goku began.  Bardock held up his hand, silencing him.

“I could care less what race Miss Chi-Chi is,” the elder Sayian said.  “And I’m very proud of you for sharing the same line of sight as myself.  I believe she would be a very great mate to have and love.  But it’s a very tough commitment you’re both agreeing too.  I trust you’ll love each other wholeheartedly, caring for the other when in need?”

The couple looked at each other, and nodded.  Bardock grinned.

Son… you really have made me proud….

~*~*~

I wake up slowly, and damn does my neck hurt!  Maybe if I just go back to sleep, everything will be ok, and the pain will go away.

I inhale deeply, and my eyes open with surprise.  This place smells just like…

A hospital room.

I look around carefully, aware of the pain in my neck.  I’m back in the palace’s hospital wing.  Wait… what day is it?  Was all that… getting mated to the prince… a dream?

Well if it was, that was a cool dream!

My eyes dart to the clock on the bedside table, which, thankfully, lets me know of the date.  And today is… Monday?!

Whoa… so everything WASN’T a dream!

That means that Zoë really did hurt me!  Where is the little bitch?!  When I find her, she’ll be so dead!  OH will she be DEAD!

My thoughts are interrupted as some nurse enters my room.  She seems pretty pleased to see that I’m awake.  She smiles.

“Hello dear,” she says, “how are you feeling?”

“My neck hurts like the devil,” I respond, “but there’s something you need to know!  Zoë’s the one that knocked me out!  Zoë Halimanger!  She needs to be—”

The woman raises a hand, silencing me.  At first, I’m pretty furious that this woman felt she could dismiss my accusation without a second thought, but then she speaks.  And… she tells me Zoë’s dead!  Well, the bitch deserved it, but… how?

“How?” I ask.

And she tells me of everything, every little detail.  I swear, if I had a mirror in front of me when she finished her story, my eyes would have been as wide as plates.  I swallow.

“Prince Vegeta… saved me?” I whisper.  The woman nodded.

“Well of course.  You’re his mate-to-be.  He’s still unconscious, however, and is in the room right next to yours.”  She smiles.  “Is there anything you’d like, dear?  Water, food, anything?”

I shake my head absentmindedly, thinking.  She smiles.  “Well, I’ll leave now.  Let me know if you need anything.”  And she leaves.

So this Prince Vegeta has saved my life.  Twice.  Gosh, I can’t believe it.  It’s like he’s my knight in shining armor from some sort of fairy tale.  What a guy… and to think, he really loves me that much.  I wouldn’t have believed it if his actions hadn’t spoken so loudly.

And… the funny thing is… I think I really do love him too.

This last action has finally convinced me.  I really did, and do, love him.  And the thought of being his mate… doesn’t confuse me any more.  The only word that comes to mind when I think that is:

Happiness.

I creep out of my bed, testing my feet.  Sure enough, they’re sturdy, so I pad silently over to my door.  I creak it open and peer outside.

No one’s in the hallway, and my lover’s door is only feet away.

I softly tiptoe over to his door, and gently open it, letting myself in.

As I close the door behind me, I watch my prince’s face.  He’s so… beautiful when he’s sleeping.  His face doesn’t contain the hard, rough exterior it usually does.  Instead… he seems very much at peace.  His being is flawless, and very, very welcoming.

Goodness, do I ever love that man.

I tiptoe over, careful not to stir his sleeping form.  And gently, oh so gently, I climb up in his bed and lay my head on top of his muscular chest, the feeling of it somehow comfortable, like a very odd pillow.  I sigh with happiness, snuggling my head as best I can under his chin.

And if I had a pair of extra eyes; if I had another being, watching the whole scene; if I had someone who could have told me what had happened just then, before I dozed off to sleep, that person would have told me one thing:

He had smiled.

**Wipes a tear out of her eye** Man, the ending’s even got ME crying… and I’m the one who wrote it!

Vegeta:  **Rolls eyes**

Pudgoose:  Oh my… what a great ending!  ^_^  **Sniffs, wiping another tear out of her eye** I know I’m complimenting myself, but I just can’t help it!  Go me!

Vegeta:  Get over yourself, woman.

Pudgoose:  Oh come on Vege!  You have to admit that was a pretty good ending!

Vegeta:   **Shrugs**

Pudgoose:  Oh well.  That’s probably the biggest compliment I’ll get out of him….  -_-  Anyway!  Before this fic REALLY ends, I’d like to thank EACH AND EVERY REVIEWER!  You guys have been there for me, encouraging me, even when I thought of quitting.  Thanks so much you guys!  You all have showed me that, no matter what, things do turn out ok in the end.  GROUP HUG!  **Hugs everyone**  Oh yea, and thanks for taking the time out to read my story.  ^_^  I certainly appreciate it.

Vegeta:  **Wraps an arm around Pudgoose’s shoulders and walks off**