Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ! The Ankh: Bulma floated in darkness, she tried to move only to find her frail limbs were useless. It was complete darkness, darker than the molasses nights on Mars. She had no idea of her whereabouts and was beginning to loose hope in this dank place when she heard a voice.
"Yes, my emperor, you must kill them. Rip their weak bodies apart, even their bowels cannot hold against your strength. Protect your Kirrorra, your love."
The voice was wicked, cracked and raspy. It spoke with power. It seemed so familiar to Bulma, so familiar.
"She is in danger, all around her is danger! Look at her, Vegeta. She is frail and needs your protection. She will never survive if you do not kill all of them, all who oppose your power."
`What is going on?' She thought. `Where the fuck am I?'
The voice continued to rant on to Vegeta and Bulma continued to float. She seemed to be floating closer to this evil voice. So familiar. Then there it was, the voice. Nothing was visible, you see. Well, you don't. It was power, a de ja vou. Bulma could feel it creep along her skin, and old familiarity. Like when you eat something so putrescent the taste and feeling of this vile thing will never leave your mouth.
"I know you! I remember!" Shouted Bulma no in hysterics.
The voice/Him eased over to her. Its power/being flowing around her body making her nauseous.
"It is you! Why are you here? Where is here?"
The voice laughed at her. "Here? Here is the bonded mind of you and Vegeta, the one entity that still connects you."
"What lies are you feeding him!?"
The cool nauseating laughter echoed again. "Lies? I speak no lies. You are always in danger. Why, anyone could kill you. You are weak and I need you alive."
"You need me alive?" Bulma asked skeptically.
The voice was silent for a moment. "Rest little Kirrorra and stop asking questions. You will not be leaving this prison of slumber. I cannot have you influencing Vegeta, can I?"
"Ankh?" She said in a whisper.
The power/being of the Ankh swirled about her dangerously. "Never speak my name! It is degrading, I am so much more than can ever be described by that ring."
Bulma was silent. She looked at her ring and read the inscription as she had done so many times before.
"The bane of existence. Watch mountains vanish and you will know."
The power swirled around her curiously now. "Do you know?" it whispered.
"Yes, I have known for quite some time. Ever since the death of my son, Trunks."
"Painful? Get used to it, you have an eternity more it to come."
"That's the problem."
"Hum?"
"I am used to it, that's the problem. Let me out, let us end this now."
"No! Don't you see, Blue woman. This is what I thrive on! Power! Destruction! Pain!"
"I am leaving and waking up whether you like it or not."
"You can not."
"Watch me" she spat at him. Bulma began to move limbs once more. It was like trying to move in sticky-glue: the more you moved the more you couldn't. The voice/Him laughed at her, his power circling her delightedly.
She struggled and struggled, but only seemed to sink father and father into the darkness. The Ankh became restless and moved away from her and spoke to Vegeta's subconscious again.
She began to loose hope as she sank, listening to Him. `Madness, this has to stop. I must get to Vegeta.' In a burst of frustration, she screamed to the darkness, pleading that it let her go. And it did.
Her black confines opened up to a blue sight. "Thank you" she whispered and let herself surrender to consciousness.
:::::::
Vegeta guarded Bulma carefully. `Must not let anyone hurt her, never.'
A doctor paced in the far corner, afraid that if this woman that his Emperor protected so fiercely did not survive neither would he.
Timidly, Vegeta touched the rejuvenation tank's glass surface and traced Bulma's lips and muttered incoherently to himself. As he did so Bulma's blue eyes shot open.
The doctor made a move towards the tank, but Vegeta shot him a look that said, "if you come near her I swear I will kill you, you little fuck."
Carefully, Vegeta managed to open Bulma's tank and lift her out of the rejuvenating blue goo. He cleaned her off with a towel and wrapped his enormous velvet cape around her small body.
Stroking her hair he mumbled softly, but Bulma could still hear.
"Yes, I will kill them all. Kill all that threaten her, my love. Never, never, never will anyone hurt you ever again, my Kirrorra. You are mine and I am yours for all eternity. Yes, forever."
Bulma gulped and touched Vegeta's strong hand.
"I'm too late to save you, my prince, aren't I?"
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Okay monkeys, this fic is almost over.
Keep reviewing! Love ya!
-Ifonly
Finding the Key (part 3)