Bringer of Death

Cold Saga - Part 6: Dual Pride

Cold Saga - Part 6: Dual Pride 

The sun's rays shone with a blinding radiance, warming the battlefield. Two Saiyan warriors, one clad in blue jumpsuit with white armor and the other in red pants and a white ruffled shirt, huddled together. The shorter one, bent over on one knee, was out of breath but wore an expression that could stop a giant in his tracks. The man beside him, taller with mussed black hair, had a hand placed on the other's shoulder and two fingers touching his forehead. 

They had miraculously avoided a concentrated explosion of energy that had been on the verge of crushing the shorter warrior only an instant before. The enemy who had fired the blast stood only a hundred yards away, dark and menacing. Silhouetted by the sun, the spiked protrusions all over his armored body made him look singularly intimidating. 

Instead of expressing gratitude, the shorter warrior with golden hair growled in fury and yanked the other man's hand off his shoulder. 

"Of all the ridiculously impulsive, idiotic things you could have possibly done, Kakarott!" 

It couldn't possibly be a coincidence that the prince had been secretly longing for the help of another Saiyan mere seconds before. Kakarott had appeared as if summoned by Vegeta's will alone. The last remaining Saiyan besides himself-a man whom he had sworn to kill, who had had stolen his honor both by surpassing him and by interfering in his battle with Frieza-was standing beside him. He loathed the very sight of the Saiyan from earth. 

"How dare you intrude in ANOTHER of my fights, fool! I can't believe this!" 

Unaffected by Vegeta's fury, the other Saiyan reached his right hand behind his head and nervously scratched the back of his neck. "Oh, oops. I guess I did kind of barge in. But hey, I saved you from that blast, didn't I?" 

It was as if Goku had no appreciation whatsoever for the severity of the insult he had just delivered. The prince continued to stand there, his shock twisted with wounded pride and dipped in the fiery rage of his Super Saiyan transformation. "For the offense you have just committed, not even considering all the other ways you have slighted me, I am going to end your pathetic existence right now!" The prince flared his yellow aura in a sudden burst and pulled his fist back to attack. 

"Wait a second, Vegeta. Can't we talk about this?" 

CRACK! Vegeta's right hook launched Goku flying across the desert, his aura leaving a crimson trail. The thought that King Cold was watching his every move, amused enough to wait and see how their little squabble played out, never even crossed his mind. Kakarott's insult dominated his every thought. 

"No, Kakarott, we cannot 'talk about it'! Do you not recognize that by saving my life you have stripped me of my Saiyan pride? I would rather die than accept your feeble attempts to help me!" Vegeta had caught up to Goku, who had taken the blow rather well; his instinctive use of kaioken had raised his defenses and he was now crouched in a fighting stance. The prince charged again, this time flinging a ball of energy that Goku dodged by leaping upwards. 

"But, Vegeta! What about fighting Frieza's father? Can't we settle this little grudge match after we save the Earth from being destroyed?" Goku's pleas were desperate, but the Super Saiyan was blinded by emotion. He didn't care how or why Kakarott had appeared, he didn't care about saving the planet, and he didn't even care about defeating the last of the frost demons. He only knew that Kakarott's continued existence was an affront to his honor. 

'How dare this puny imitator blithely interfere in my battles again and again?' Kakarott was a traitor to his race. As a mere child, he had failed in his mission to eradicate the humans, losing his tail and becoming one of them, even taking the name 'Goku'. He had fought against his own flesh and blood, challenging his fellow Saiyans. In their first encounter a year ago, he had shamed the prince and surpassed him in strength, his easygoing attitude mocking Vegeta's battle-hardened resolve. He had even caused Vegeta to lose his tail.