Improbables

Chapter 5

"I can't believe him!" Carmine growled and punched the bag of sand as hard as she could. "He's such a dumbass, throwing away an opportunity like that!"

Gine winced as she braced herself to withstand the young Queen's blows. "Perhaps he just needs some time- oof- to think about things. You aren't exactly- huff- the most calm-minded person."

Carmine huffed and stepped back, crossing her arms over her chest. Gine let out a sigh of relief and dropped the bag, leaning against the wall while trying to catch her breath.

"Well he chose to marry me so he should listen once in awhile, especially over things like this." Carmine grumbled.

Gine chuckled. "Well, you accepted so perhaps you should think things through more often."

Carmine scoffed and then burst into laughter. Gine smiled. "I still can't believe that you, of all people, decided to have kids, even if it is the King's son."

"No kidding. I still can hardly believe I gave birth to a Prince." Carmine laughed even harder. "And he says he wants another one!"

Gine gasped, feigning horror over her laughter. "You didn't agree so easily, did you?"

"Of course not! I told him I'd kill him if he made me carry another child!"

---bip---

Prince Vegeta landed outside the castle and couldn't help but smirk when the guards bowed as he passed. The Prince strutted into the gates and towards the massive doors of the castle. In his mind, the spiky haired boy was going over the mission, trying to come up with legitimate reasons his father would listen to, as to force Kyira to step down.

As much as he hated to admit it, he didn't have the power to personally overthrow Kyira so he was forced to demand his father's assistance, but not his mother, she liked that family too much. Despite what he'd been told, he was 100% sure the only reason Kyira was "in charge" of him was because their mothers knew each other and they liked Kyira better than him. Well, he didn't care and it didn't matter. He would get what he deserved! He was a born leader and he wouldn't have some 3rd class-turned-2nd class telling him what to do!

"Vegeta, son, is that you?" The Prince sighed when he heard his mother's voice. He turned to see his mother leading his brother towards him from a hallway to his right.

"Yes Mother, I'm home." The Prince smiled as Tarble laughed and waddled up to him.

"Bubba!" The smaller boy said, reaching for the elder Prince. Vegeta smiled and knelt down to pat Tarble's head. "Bubba." Tarble said again, smiling.

"Hello little brother." Vegeta chuckled. "About time you started walking on your own."

"Pew pew!" Tarble grabbed his brother's leg and pretended to shoot him with a finger gun. The elder Prince laughed and patted Tarble's head.

"Oh no, I am defeated by the mighty baby Prince." He scoffed jokingly and hefted the little one to sit on his shoulder. "Nice try Tarble."

The boy giggled and hugged his brother's head, nuzzling his hair. Vegeta stood up and rolled his eyes at his mother's smile.

"Is Father busy?"

Carmine sighed at her son's question. "He's in the middle of a meeting and won't be free till late tonight or early tomorrow, depending on whether he eats dinner."

The Prince sighed. "Of course." He grumbled.

"Is there something important you want to talk to him about?"

"No, just curious." Of course that was a lie, but Mother would never listen to him. She sided with Kyira. Father was right, women trust each other over men, even their own blood.

"I think I'll walk around with Tarble for while. Is that alright Mother?"

Carmine practically beamed. "Of course son. Spend some time with your brother, I'll be in the bath house if you need me. I need a bit of a clean up." She laughed and turned with a wave. "Do be careful with him, he is still a baby after all."

Vegeta rolled his eyes again. "Alright, I will."

With a happy nod, the Queen walked off in the other direction, beaming to herself.

The elder Prince sighed and looked to his younger brother. "Well, that plan's a bust then." He huffed. "Now I gotta find another way to overthrow her."

"Bubba don't throw people." Tarble scolded his elder brother.

"I'm not actually going to throw her.... Well, not right now anyways." Vegeta chuckled at the mental image his younger brother had given him. "You'll understand when you get to be an underling." The elder Prince shuddered as he hated the word, especially if it was referring to him.

Hopefully Table never would have to understand that feeling. He might be weak for his age, but he was still royal blooded. Prince Vegeta was not going to see his brother be anyone's underling, not even his own.

With a sigh, the Princes headed for the courtyard, Tarble giggling and pointing at random objects or people. Several servants smile and wave at the two or bow, offering a greeting of "Welcome back, highness," or a variation of.

The courtyard is an open area at the center of the palace filled with flowers and various plants from multiple planets. Some small and a few large herbivore animals roam about freely, skitting away from the boys as they enter. The bright colors and exotic smells always gave Vegeta a headache so he only went through the courtyard if he absolutely had to.

Unfortunately for the boy, Tarble loved to play in the gardens with the animals and Mother always wanted the older boy to watch the toddler.

It was at times like this, watching little Tarble waddle through the brightly colored flora, that Vegeta felt some form of peace. Him, his little brother, and no one to order them. Tarble would follow him anywhere, he knew, and he would protect him. Even if he was sure his mother sided with her and his father was nowhere to be found, Tarble would be there and he would be there for Tarble.

"Bubba!" Tarble called from several feet away, sitting amongst a flower bed while petting a small fuzzy creature whose species escaped him. "Bubba play too!"

A suppressed groan rumbled at the back of his throat as the elder Prince made his way into the brush, grumbling under his breath about the gods-forsaken heat. "Alright, alright fine."