Zafira's Story

CHAPTER 4: Frieza's Return


      Frieza's ship was flying through space. Zarbon and Dedoria stood behind Frieza as he stared through the large window of the ship. "So, it's been this long. We'll finally be taking the girl back with us. It's obvious her power level will be incredibly high," Dedoria thought. "Finally, after so long, I'll be able to see her again," Zarbon thought. "I'd say that our little venture was...fun," Frieza said, recalling all the rebels and planets they destroyed. Zarbon and Dedoria both nodded. "And now that this rebel nonsense is all said and done with, we can go back to that monkey planet and retrieve Zafira. I'm sure she's grown a lot after so long, don't you agree?" Frieza asked and the two men behind him looked at each other and smirked.

      It had been about 4 or 5 years that Frieza was gone. It was perfect. Zafira would be incredibly powerful, just what Frieza would need. He felt that Zafira would be just as dependable as Zarbon and Dedoria and she would feel much more comfortable with three by her side, instead of just two.

      King Vegeta had noticed that Zafira had gotten over the Brolli incident rather quickly. He shrugged it off, thinking that she just needed some time to cool off and realize the importance of the matter. He stood before his window, which gave him a view of the entire galaxy, as his now 5 year old son, stood beside him. "You see all those capsules, son? They hold all the weak saiiyans, so we send them away to distant planets where they cannot be harmed by any of our enemies," King Vegeta said. The prince scoffed, now where the exact same outfit as his father, save the red cape,"So long, pests." "You will grow up to be the greatest king, this planet and galaxy will ever know. You will follow the footsteps of your ancestors and myself, and take care of your mother when I am gone," the king said. Prince Vegeta nodded. Just then, the doors opened and two servants came in and bowed. "Yes?" the king asked. "We-We just got word. Frieza's on his way," one said, nervously. The king's eyes widened. "Vegeta, go to your mother," he said and the prince ran out of the room. Frieza couldn't take his mate from him, no way.

      Inside the throne room, King Vegeta and all his men stood perfectly still as Frieza entered the room. Frieza walked up the steps to the throne where the king welcomed him. Frieza chuckled and sat in his seat. "It's been a while since we've seen each other, hasn't it?" he asked. "Yes, it has," Vegeta said in a nervous tone. "Tell me, how has Zafira been fairing?" Frieza asked. Vegeta's eyes widened,"She has become quite the warrior."

      In the hallway, Zafira came walking down, unaware that Frieza had even arrived, when she came face-to-face with Zarbon. Both gasped and stared at each other, wide-eyed. "Zarbon!" she said. "Zafira! What on this galaxy are you wearing?" he asked, examining her clothing. He wanted to hug her the instant he saw her, but his pride wouldn't allow it. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" Zafira asked. "Yes, it has," he replied. "While you were off on your little venture, I was given the status as queen of Vegeta," she said, much to the surprise of Zarbon. "I don't believe it. You don't really expect me to believe that you're the second-reigning monarch of this monkey planet," Zarbon said. "Mother, mother! You won't believe what new attack I just learned!" Prince Vegeta exclaimed as he came rushing down the hallway to the two. He stopped short when he laid eyes on Zarbon. "Mother, who is this?" he asked. Zarbon stared at the boy in disbelief. "Where are my manners? Vegeta, this is Zarbon, an old friend of mine. Zarbon, this is Prince Vegeta, my son," she said with a smirk. Zarbon's jaw dropped. "You mean you had a baby by their king?!" Zarbon yelled. "You catch on quick, dear," Zafira said, squeezing his cheek. Just then, Dedoria came walking in. His eyes widened at what he saw. "Z-Zafira?" he said. "Hello Dedoria. I see you've lost a little weight," she said in a calm voice and he smirked in return. "I like the new look. By the way, Frieza is VERY eager to see you," he said. Zafira grew nervous,"Vegeta, go back to the training area. You can tell me all about your new attack at lunch, all right?" "All right, mother," and he ran down the hall. Needless to say, Dedoria was shocked to learn that Zafira had a son.

      The throne doors opened and Zafira came walking through, much to the surprise of Frieza. "Why are you dressed that way, Zafira?" Frieza asked. "I thought only the queen, wore that attire," he said, and then paused, quickly catching on. He began chuckled,"Oh you are a slick one, Zafira. I leave you here for a few years and you're already their queen!" he said, getting up out of his seat. He walked down the steps towards her and hugged her! Everyone grew nervous, Zafira especially. Frieza leaned over to her ear. "I've missed you a great deal, my dear. But enough of this nonsense, I'm taking you back with me first thing tomorrow," Frieza said, and with a smirk, left the throne room. As soon as he left, Zafira glared before her. The king was well-aware of what had just been said.

      Zafira stormed through the hallway, (and guess who she ran into). "It's for the best, anyway. You don't belong here," Zarbon reassured her. "I spent five years here. I became a queen, a wife, and a mother. And now in one second, you're taking that all away from me and all you can say is that "it's for the best"?" she said angrily and pushed past him and into her resting quarters. Zarbon sighed and headed for the training grounds,"Let's just see what's so special about this saiiyan brat." Prince Vegeta was quite the fighter, making short work of the third-class saiiyan fighters he trained with.

      As Zarbon headed back to Frieza's ship, he couldn't help but peek into Zafira's room. (Yes, once again, we've got another peeping tom.) And he wasn't too happy with what he saw. King Vegeta was trying to comfort Zafira with the problem of leaving the planet. "Maybe we could work something out," the king suggested. "The only way it would work is if you and the prince visited us and that would be a rare occurrence because we constantly travel," Zafira said. Then King Vegeta took her in his arms and looked into her eyes. (^^ I'm a sucker for mushy stuff!) "Just have faith in me. We will find a way to make this work. If not for us, then for our son," he said, and with that, he gave her a long kiss. Zarbon balled up his fist and stormed down the hallway. "I've trained her since as far back as I can remember and we're merely friends, yet she meets this blasted monkey once and he's already married to her and a father to her child! So, Frieza needed a reason not to trust these monkeys, eh? Well, I'll give him one!" he thought.

      Zarbon exited the palace and flew above the nearest city to the palace. He looked around for someplace, inconspicuous. "Ah, that looks just fine," he thought. Then he pointed he palm at it, and fired.

      Immediately afterwards, Zarbon was called into Frieza's quarters. "What was the meaning of that?! We're trying to establish planet trade with the saiiyans and here you are destroying their buildings! Explain yourself!" Frieza scolded him. "Lord Frieza, it's urgent," Zarbon said. Frieza turned around.

      Afterwards, all of Frieza's men were gathered before Frieza. "I'm afraid we'll have to cancel our contract with the saiiyans...permanently. It seems that, like the last few planets we destroyed, the saiiyans themselves now dare to defy me. If you've made any business there, I suggest you take care of it soon. I will destroy the planet, first thing tomorrow," Frieza said. Zarbon smirked and headed back to the planet Vegeta.

      The next morning, Zafira headed back for Frieza's ship, much to the disagreement of her people, and Prince Vegeta especially. He held onto her dress. "Why do you have to go, mother?" he asked for the millionth time. "I have some business to take care of, my son. Don't blubber over me, be strong," she said without looking at him, and headed onto the ship. As she did, the men there all stared at her. "What's with the new outfit?" one asked. "It's been a while since she showed up," another said. "I heard they made her queen." "Well that won't matter once the planet's destroyed this afternoon," one chuckled. Zafira gasped when she heard this and grabbed him by his collar. "What's this about the planet being destroyed?" she asked. "Z-Zarbon found a nest of rebels in one of the nearby cities and destroyed it before telling Lord Frieza. He's gonna destroy the planet in a few hours," the soldier said choked words. Zafira dropped him and sprinted into Frieza's quarters. When Frieza turned around, he smirked. "Welcome back, Zafira," he said. "What's this about the planet being destroyed?" she asked. "The saiiyans are treacherous monkeys. They were planning to attack my ship and I'm making sure that they pay for their insolence," he said. "That's absurd. The saiiyans are loyal. They'd never attack you without a good reason," Zafira said. "Well, according to Zarbon, he found rebels discussing destroying my ship and putting an end to my reign as "the most powerful being in the universe." And you and I both know that Zarbon would never lie to me," Frieza said. Zafira gritted her teeth. Zarbon, who stood beside Frieza, smirked. Dedoria stood at his other side. "Why are you defending them, Zafira? Don't tell me that you've actually developed feelings for them?" Dedoria asked. "Lord Frieza, please. Don't do it," she pleaded. "I've made up my mind!" Frieza yelled. Zafira knew that she couldn't argue with him about it any further, but then she thought about her son. She pictured him dying in a blast of light, turned into oblivion. "Lord Frieza, please, spare my son," she said. Frieza grew wide-eyed. "Your, what?" he asked. "My son. The king and I had a son. And if you must do this, please allow me to take my son with me," she bargained. "Hmm..." Frieza pondered. "I don't know. If he's anything like his father, he'll try to stab me in the back like the rest of his race," Frieza said. "No! No, he won't. I've raised him myself, I'll see to it that he remains loyal to you, sir," she said. "Very well, but let me do it," Frieza said.

      Frieza came walking into the throne room again where all the guards glared at him as he passed through, the king especially. "W-What brings you back so soon, Frieza?" the king asked. "You have something I want, Vegeta," Frieza said as he sat on his throne. "Y-You've already taken Zafira from me," the king said, hanging his head. Frieza chuckled,"No, I mean something else. Someone, rather. I want the prince," Frieza said. Vegeta's eyes widened. "M-My son? Why?" the king asked. "I've taken a liking to him and I've decided that I want to take him with me," Frieza said. "At once, Lord Frieza," he said and Frieza laughed.

      The prince had no idea why he was being taken inside the ship, but he didn't argue either. He was placed inside a small, dimly lit room where he sat on a chair, quietly. After Frieza returned to his ship, the king called a meeting of all his best fighters, the ones that were defeated by Zafira. "I've had enough. He has taken our dignity, he has taken our queen, and now he dares to take our prince! This is the last straw! Let it be known all throughout the planet, WE ARE DECLARING WAR ON FRIEZA!!" the king yelled and they all cheered. Everyone on the planet got prepared. Inside one house, a saiiyan with tanned skin was pulling on his boots. "Be careful," his wife said and she tied a red bandanna around his head. He stood up and kissed her. "Stay well, my love," and he left. "Good-bye, Bardock," she said as a tear rolled down her cheek.

      A servant rushed into Frieza's quarters. "What is it?" Frieza asked in an icy tone. "The saiiyans are all flying from the planet! And they're headed this way!" the servant said. Frieza bursted out into laughter. "And I take it, the king and his best fighters are leading the charge," he said. "Yes," the servant replied. "Well then, let him in," Frieza commanded. King Vegeta and his fighters came running through the halls of the ship, blasting anyone who got in their way. Zafira sat sadly in her room, awaiting the arrival of her son, unaware of the battle until she heard blasts coming from outside. By the time she doors slid open, all that remained in the hallway were dead carcasses and burns on the walls and ceilings. All the lights were blasted out and there were holes in the walls. Zafira quickly ran down the hall to where she could hear the destruction take place. "We're almost there, sire!" one of the men said, activating his scanner. "Good," the king said. They reached Frieza's door and blasted it. Unfortunately, none of their weapons would work, so they fired ki blasts at it. Soon, a horde of Frieza's men came and another battle took place. At that moment, the doors slid open and the king ran in. The doors quickly closed behind him. Zafira, wondering what was going on, entered a separate room that had a large window, giving her a clear view of Frieza's room. "Vegeta?" "You have bullied my people long enough. First you take our queen and now our prince. I won't take it anymore!" the king yelled. Frieza merely chuckled and Zarbon and Dedoria soon joined in. The king fired a strong ki blast at him, but when the smoke cleared, Frieza and his men were fine. The king gawked, wide-eyed. "I've had enough of you monkeys," Frieza said, and then pointed his index finger at the king. And with one pencil-thin blast through the king's heart, he fell on his face and died. "NOOOOO!!!" Zafira screamed as tears streamed down her cheeks. Frieza laughed. Outside the room, all of the king's warriors lay dead on the floor, along with a few of Frieza's men. "Leave me," Frieza said and Zarbon and Dedoria exited the room. The window suddenly opened up and Frieza got a clear view of all the saiiyans flying towards his ship. Frieza pointed his hand at them and large blast fired at the planet. It began to glow as bright as the sun, blinding all the saiiyans. Resounding cries filled space as a large explosion was heard through space. Frieza broke out into a hysterical laughter,"Oh look at the saiiyans! A ha! Oh look at that!" Zafira sat on her legs and buried her cries in her hands. Prince Vegeta still sat in his room when a lizard crawled along the wall. The prince was completely unaware of the destruction of his planet and blasted the lizard to nothing.