Outside his window, the red sun bathed the trees with its scarlet light. Slowly as it rose, all the city was engulfed in its splendid shine. It was morning. Vejiita-sei woke up like any other planet to its daily commotion.
The palace halls were alive with the bustle of the people taking up their usual activities. Guards pacing up through the halls putting on last minute touches on their armour; courtiers busy with their jobs, counsellors carrying their smelly books, and the many servants taking up their various tasks. From the courtyard came the yells of trainees warming up in the early morning. Perfection was to be attained, he heard the trainers yell at them.
Away in the city, he saw from his window, the common folk were waking up as well. He could hear them getting ready for their routinary jobs. The men and women rose to do the little things that kept the planet alive. The merchants opened their stores, the forgers began to hammer in their workshops. Food vendors brought out their best, displaying them on their booths. Young children ran in the street regaling in the early morning cold. His ears caught the bustle of busy life in the buildings were the common Saiyan folk live; from the crammed corners. He heard the commotion of the construction of a new street. He saw palace soldiers departing through the gates to the clamouring streets of the city.
Outside his window.
Prince Vejiita's eyes left the view outside and focused on the board before him. His old teacher was falling asleep as he witlessly repeated the facts that he was trying to teach. The teacher himself was the only one listening.
"The area of the circle is thus..." his boring voice drooled on. He was drawing squiggly lines, his arms shaking. His circles looked more like butterflies on the board. The prince's eyes rolled as he let out a sniff. *Boring!* He smirked at the old man's pitiful drawings. Crossing his arms over his tiny chest, he began to tap his little fingers impatiently, willing the lesson over. It was annoying having to sit through the old man's lesson so early in the morning. He hated to have to listen, specially since he found that he knew all the things in them before the old man began to explain. He found himself angry most of the time as he wondered why he had to learn them at all. Another one of those things he had to tolerate because he was prince. * Hmph *
The clock on the wall above the board was about to pronounce the lesson over. A smile spread through his lips. *A few more minutes and it's over for you old man!*
As the minute hand hit the appointed time, Vejiita rose from his seat, not bothering to acknowledge the old man of his departure. The teacher was now explaining the area of a new, smaller circle he had just drawn.
"If the radius of the circle is 56 vitumeters, then the-" The old man didn't notice when the prince walked pass him, his long red cape flowing behind him. The young prince didn't even look back at him, as he left the room.
Once outside, he heard the old man grumble. "Denka! These are important lessons in geometry..."
*Hmph. And dreadfully boring also.*
The Saiyan prince took one of the many branched halls that led to the courtyard. He wanted to get into other, more important things.
Life in the palace was completely different from the one fighters lived outside. His home was filled with every luxury that any prince could ever desire. He had huge rooms and servants in every one of them to carry out his every whim. He smiled as he saluted some of those old idiots. They bowed their heads as he walked past them. The palace was huge. Lofty marble pillars, rising imperiously towards the dark and vaulted ceiling, flanked him on each side as he walked. The best artists from Vejiita-sei's quadrant had been contracted to carve out these colossal pillars. Paintings featuring his illustrious ancestors had been placed among them. The eyes of the impeccable line of Vejiita-sei's kings looked down at him. A smile crossed his lips. He could almost feel the approval of his mighty forefathers.
Vejiita has always known that he is special. Some unknown destiny had marked him at birth. He was born to be the greatest warrior of his race!
He was young, still a child, his body has not yet developed into the fighter he will be. Yet, those who see him know instantly that he is not an ordinary child. There is a certain power to the way he carries himself on the halls, the way he speaks. Like any prince, he has been painstakingly trained to be knowledgeable in every subject, perfect in every way. He knows he is beyond those of his age. Dressed in his military royal armour, serene, quiet, his face set, devoid of the feelings found in ordinary children, he feels dignant to be called prince of his mighty race.
Since he was a baby, his caretaker reared him to be unmatched. Nappa has always known as well that Vejiita was chosen to be grand. He could feel a powerful burning inside the child's body every time he was near him. The power level he had possessed when he was born had been incredible. Every day they trained together, he could feel it rise. He saw King Vejiita's greatest abilities in the boy. He possessed his father's arrogance, self confidence, and strength. From his matching appearance, to his incredible power, to his pride, prince Vejiita equalled his father. There is no doubt that the young prince is the rightful heir to the throne.
The prince looks to young. This he knows very well. He looks younger than his age because of his height, but there is power latent inside him. All he needs is to wait until he is ready. Walking down the hall, he felt a certain rush of excitement as the guards bowed their heads when he passed by them.
His caretaker was waiting for him in the courtyard. Most mornings they would train together. That was the proper way to start the day. He was nearing the courtyard, the sun made its way into this part of the palace.
Nappa was waiting faithfully for his favourite pupil to arrive, his hands folded over his chest, his eyes closed, a smile on his lips. Vejiita's eyes shone as he crossed the sunny stone yard towards his mentor.
This sort of lesson he always enjoyed.
Sweat ran down the young prince's brow. His hand reached up to mop it away. His heart pounded excitedly in his chest. The training session had been rough. The way he liked them. His arms hurt and he was out of breath, but he liked the way he had done that morning. He always felt his strength rise after such exercises. He closed his eyes, composing himself. He had taken a good beating.
"Take time to improve the attack, Denka" his trainer said. He handed the little boy a towel, grinning at his pupil. " You did good"
Vejiita dried his face with the towel he gave him. A small smile crossed his lips. The huge guy had been excellent, at his best.
"Nappa" he said "The session was great." The prince handed the towel back to his mentor. He glanced over his shoulders at the doors that lead into the sunny halls. They had been training in a private chamber, so as not to be disturbed by the other courtiers.
"I'd like to remain some time alone" he told him " Make sure I'm not disturbed"
The big warrior bowed his head in approval. He turned to go. "As you wish, Denka" he said "but don't take too long. Before long they'll start to bite down my neck, harping about where you are!" He chuckled at his own sarcasm. The prince smirked.
"There's nothing you can't handle, Nappa" he said "even kisama like those"
With that the huge trainer left the room, heading for the showers to take a cold soothing bath. The young warrior was getting better everyday, he thought. Real good.
Once alone, the young prince let his arms fall on each side of his body, relaxing his mind. He had felt stronger as he wrestled his trainer, lighter, as he moved. Knowing he was alone in the room, he let his soul break free from his body. He concentrated on the fight they had just engaged. He felt his breath quicken, as the memories returned. He had done many mistakes. The way the battle had gone, he had managed to clear the incoming attacks of his trainer, but he needed to perfect those tiny slips if he was to beat him again tomorrow. Nappa was an incredible warrior. The best there was in the palace. He pushed him to grow and search for better techniques every day.
As the recollection of the battle overtook him, his mind was lost in practice. His eyes closed, his body rushed to meet the unseen opponent. The thrill of the fight possessed him.
Her breath quickened as she saw him fighting alone. His small body entwined in a dance. he didn't usually remain longer to practice. She had never seen him like this before. She gasped silently as he turned in rapid successions, closing in on the invisible opponent with skill.
Hiding in the walls of the training room, totally lost in the movement of his body, she didn't hear herself speak.
"... powerful ..."
His sharp hearing caught the diminutive sound in the silent room. The only sound heard before had been his own breathing and the air as he cut it with his attacks. His concentration was broken.
There was someone in the room.
He stood still, silent. His eyes narrowed, searching for the source of the noise.
Behind the wall, the little girl tensed. Why had he stopped training? She gasped. He had found her. Her hands reached to cover her mouth. Had she spoken aloud? Her little hands began to shake. Did he see her? * No. This wall hides me perfectly. Besides, I'm too high up. He can't possibly see me... *
His fist suddenly smashed the wall that had been hiding her.
He knew exactly were she was.
She let out a scream. Her eyes met his angry face, his brows furiously together. her heart was about to explode in her chest. She had been too careless.
"What are you doing here?!" he yelled.
How in the world had this little girl managed to hide in this wall?! Vejiita gasped as the little intruder leaped out from the hole that had been her hiding place. She let herself drop on the ground below. She reacted faster than he could think. He cursed. She was getting away!
Not daring to look up where the prince floated, still looking at the wall where she had been, she ran for the door. He was fast, she knew. He'd come after her.
Prince Vejiita cursed again as he saw her heading towards the door. She was a warrior, he noticed. That explained the way she leapt and ran. That answered how she had cleverly hidden on the wall. Her legs carried her with incredible speed. Yet, she was a common outsider and she had been spying on him! He landed angrily on the floor, rushing after her. He was faster than her. She reached the heavy door quicker than he could catch her. Yanking it open, she dashed outside.
"Yaro!" he yelled. She was a good runner, true, but he could fly. A smile crossed his face as his body lifted from the floor and he increased speed.
The small intruder kept on running. She was retracing the way she had come in. Quick as an animal, she disappeared through the yard. She avoided the halls, leaping into the bushes. Crawling fast on her hands and knees she found her way back to where she had come in. Some careless Saiyan constructor had left a large piece of wall uncovered. She had been happy to have found his little mistake. She wasn't so sure now. Swearing under her breath, she looked backwards. She didn't see the prince following her. *Good. I must be lucky*
She growled at her cockiness as she turned her head around again and saw his figure waiting for her. He was blocking the way out. A smile spread on his lips. He knew where she had been heading all along. Cursing her foolishness, she closed her eyes. There was only one thing she could do now.
She increased her speed.
He laughed at her sudden change of tactics, slowly rising his hand before him.
An incredible pain shot through his chest. His eyes widened as the impact hit him, rendering him unable to finish his attack. He cursed in pain. The increase in speed had given her incredible strength. Quicker than he could recover, the little girl let herself slide on the floor, changing her direction. The speed of the movement took him completely by surprise. She slid past his groping hands, his tail brushing her face as she jumped into the hole she'd come from. The stone bit into her skin, bruising her. She heard him growl in pain.
She had gotten away!
"That was a silly trick commoner!" he yelled. Wheeling savagely, he grasped the sides of the stone wall hole with his tiny hands. He flung his body after hers. *You are not getting away! No little girl gets the best of me!* The little prince landed on his feet on the grass outside the palace wall. He took a moment to gather his bearings. He caught sight of her, running faster than anyone he had ever seen into the city.
Without thinking about his actions, he flew after her. She turned on a corner and ran into a dark alley. Angry at her agility, he followed her.
He
didn't notice that he had left the palace behind